cut&alter Christmas 18 QAL :: it's nearly here!

Can we talk Christmas now that it's September?!!  

During that rather long heatwave we had in the UK this summer the cut&alter Christmas 18 QAL was launched.  The timing couldn't have been worse but now the summer holidays are coming to an end, the temperatures are dropping (hooray I can finally sleep under my duvet again!) and the days are getting shorter.  If you have yet to decide on your next project or would like to make a Christmas Quilt (in time for Christmas 2018!) then it would be great to have you join my QAL.

Finished quilt made in Makower Silent Night fabric

The QAL starts next week on Wednesday , 05 September, with a general introduction, fabric selection and cutting.  Then there is a Block a Week for 9 weeks followed by sashing, borders, basting and quilting with several catch up weeks included, because we all know that life can get in the way of quilting - isn't it so annoying when that happens?!  We finish on Wednesday 12 December with, fingers crossed, a lovely quilt ready in time for Christmas.

I love the house fabric from this range

There'll be lots of skills to learn or build on, a lovely group of quilters. maybe some random prizes and, of course, a quilt at the end of it - what more do you need?  The pattern can be purchased from my UKQU shop, upon which further information and a full schedule will be sent straight to you - make sure that email address is correct!  Then each week that week's pattern and instructions will be sent direct to your inbox.  If you don't want to make the whole quilt but like the look of a block or two then standalone patterns for each block will be released each week throughout the QAL.  These will be available to purchase in my shop.

Whilst I made my quilt from the Makower Silent Night range of fabrics, which The Cotton Patch have kitted up for this QAL, it can, of course, be made in any fabric - seasonal or not.  My pattern testers had free rein over their fabric choices and it was fantastic to see the blocks coming to life in different fabrics.

These blocks, made by Kim, show a different layout and a different block from the finished article.  They were test blocks after all and I did make some changes!

Tandy also made up all the blocks and these will give you an idea of the quilt in non seasonal fabric.

The pattern testers were invaluable for this process and I would like to thank each and every one - so a BIG thank you to Kim, Sue, Tandy, Rebecca, Tracey, Amy, Anneliese and Sarah.

For further information please head over to my Launch Post and if you have any question please just ask!

Quarter 3 Finish Along - the Finishes

Quarter 3 of the Finish Along finished last Friday so here is a round up of my progress .... or lack thereof!  Yet again my list was long this quarter - let's see how I fared, all work this quarter in bold ...

1.  Studio Blind - I really want to get this finished ... especially before the nights draw in and the cold returns!  Not even touched :( :( will be rolled over

2.  EPP hexagons - not touched - but I do think I know what I am going to do with this now!  Not even touched AGAIN - will be rolled over

3.  Crocheted hexagons - having asked for some advice on IG I now have a second plan for these, and bought provision this morning!  Have decided on what to make, a basket, and did buy the necessary for making it strong enough but did not get any further - will be rolled over

4.  Italian Houses - this was started in October 2015 at a workshop with Gillian Travis.  It had to go on the shelf for a while because I didn't have the right blue for the sky ..... but now I do plus I have the wadding for inside.   Now all I need is the time! Not even touched AGAIN - will be rolled over - do you see a theme emerging here!

5.  Pears - from a workshop with Gillian Travis.  This will be made into a wall hanging.  Not even touched - will be rolled over

6.  Hearts for Project Linus - in the new year I put a call out for heart blocks for Project Linus and lots came in.  It's now time to get these made up into tops.  I'm not sure how many there will be in the end! Hooray we finally get to a finish!!! UPDATED - this is done - click here for the finished post.

 7.  A Christmas top already pieced, from the same box of donations for Project Linus!!  Yet again it needs to be quilted and bound ready for distribution.  Maybe if I keep adding it to my list it will be done in time for Christmas!  UPDATED - this is done - click here for the finished post.

8.  Back to Front - this started life as a pieced backing but had a life of it's own!  With a little bit more work it will become a quilt of it's own, probably for my niece.   This has been moved to a more accessible spot in my studio and I really want to get this done by the end of October to gift to someone moving into a new home.

9.  Maia's quilt - back to 2nd plan - feathers - background fabric sorted - let's get this one done!!  Lots done on this one - yeah!!!  The top is now finished.  I now realise that I haven't posted any updates of this on here but there has been a record of it over on IG - click here to see the finished top 

10.  What was Maia's quilt - not sure what to do with this but thought if I got it off the shelf it may be finished in some shape or form!  Not touched - I am going to take this off my list for now and maybe revisit sometime next year!

11.  The start of a birthday bunting.  One like this was on my list this time last year - I did finish it but my sister in law liked so much I gifted to her - which left us without one!  Found a completed birthday bunting in our shipping from New Zealand so this didn't really feel necessary - will take it off my list for now!

12.  Rainbow Rose - this was started in June as a QAL and I now have to decide how to finish it and quilt it.  Finally put the borders on at the weekend.  I was all set to quilt this on Sunday but realised I didn't have the right coloured threads.  I am going thread shopping in the morning so I hope to get this done very soon! 

13.  The Stash Bee quilt  All the blocks have now arrived and I have made a couple more.  I have decided that I would like this to be Queen size but I know that's not going to happen before Christmas so will take it off my list for Q4.

14.  The Siblings Together Mini Bee quilt  UPDATED - this is completed click here for finished post

15.  The Bee Hive quilt I had such great intentions to get this pieced and quilted straight away - going to roll this one over to Q4

16.  Project Linus - this was made by my daughter for Project Linus.  I now have quite a lot of smaller quilts to distribute so I think I will add some borders to increase the size and then quilt and bind it.  UPDATED - this is done - click here for the finished post.

17.  This quilt was made by a local Home Educators group for Project Linus.  I am going to quilt and bind it for them.  UPDATED - this is done - click here for the finished post.

18.  These Polaroid blocks were leftover from my Say "Cheese!" quilt and I am going to put them together to make a small quilt for Project Linus.  I have found some fabric that will work with these blocks to make a larger quilt and will roll this one over.

19.  A Christmas quilt - whilst it is really early for me to think of Christmas I would love to have this finished for this Christmas so if I get it on here now it might just happen.  This will happen ....... so definitely rolling over and really looking forward to working on this again.

20.  These couple of blocks were made when I first tried my Quick Curve Ruler and rather than let them sit on the shelf I am going to turn them into something!  This was so close to a finish, see here, it just needs a couple of seams and a fastener so definitely rolling this one over!

21.  This panel was an impulse buy at the Festival of Quilts last year and whilst I like it I have no idea what to do with it.  I have decided to just go head and get it cut and then inspiration my strike.  Not touched - will take this off for now and come back to it later.

22.  My Favourite Colour - this was a challenge run by Popular Patchwork for show at the Festival of Quilts.  The design is made and fabric has been chosen so I really need to get this started and finished quickly!  UPDATED - this is done - click here for the finished post.

23.  A gift for a friend who is turning 40 - obviously no picture here because it's secret!  Sadly this did not get done ..... and is now very, very late - not sure what to do about this.

24.  This is a challenge piece for the Modern Group of the Quilters Guild - "Black and White plus One"  This was another almost finished, see here.  I could not decide how to quilt this but need to get a move on with it and get it sent off so will be rolled over.

25.  Make a Caravan Tote - pattern by noodlehead  Not touched - going to roll over because this is for me and this quarter I realised that most of the things I make are for other people.  Going to put this up high on my list!

So only a few finishes and all in the last fortnight of the quarter.  I have started making my list for Q4 and am really motivated to get cracking on it early this quarter.  I have nearly completed all my commitments and swaps for the year and look forward to some festive sewing once we hit November. 

I am linking up with the Finish Along over at Mrs Sew and Sow but the hosts are all over the globe this year.

Smaller than imagined!

When I added a project from Welcome to the North Pole to my FAL Q4 list it was with a rather large end product in mind.  Well life has a funny old way of changing your plans and idea doesn't it?!

So I did make something ..... in fact I made three things, all fabric postcards for Christmas.  This was inspired by a swap over on a FB group I am a member of.  The size requirements were minimum 6"x4" to a maximum 7"x5".  Mine finished up at 7"x5" and are made up of 4 layers:  the top layer which is applique with Heat 'n Bond, wadding, very stiff iron on Vilene and finally a piece of calico for the back.

 

 

I really like how this turned out and it was hard to send it off!  Luckily my swap partner loved it too.

 

Two other people loved it aswell ..... my daughters!  So, of course, some more had to be made for them for Christmas.

 

They got to open them on Christmas Eve, along with a Christmas decoration.  They were really happy to have one of their own each and they looked lovely on the mantelpiece over the holiday period.  Now I just need to start my 'large project' sooner rather than later in order for it to be done in time for Christmas 2061! x

2017 Finish-A-Long Quarter 1 - my list

Just in the nick of time I have managed to clear and tidy my studio and make my list for Quarter 1 of the Finish-A-Long.  Some are rolled over, some are new but all I would like to finish.

1.  Moving this right to the top of my list because I want to make one for me - a Caravan Tote.

2.  A Happy Birthday bunting - it's my birthday next in the family and I would love a bunting up having given away our other one.

3.  Turn these crocheted hexagons into somthing - the item in the background is very rigid interfacing because I am thinking a bucket/basket type thing!

4.  Radiance Wholecloth design challenge - everything about this is new to me and rather scary at the moment but hopefully it will all fall into place.

5.  My Bee Hive quilt from 2016 - all pieced, backing ready just need to get it quilted.

6.  My daughter's Feather Quilt - quilting and binding to be done.  Need to work our quilting design and get this done ..... hopefully first or second up.

7.  My Christmas Quilt - which I was sure was going to be keeping me warm right now but with the change of plans our family had this went by the wayside.  Quilting and binding to be done.

8.  Quilt this gorgeous quilt made by Susan at Canadian Abroad for Siblings Together.  UPDATED - this is finished and can be seen here

9.  Back to Front quilt - finish top, quilt and bind.

10.  Turn these spare blocks from my Polaroid cot quilt into a small quilt for Project Linus.

11.  Quilt this sample from a Gillian Travis workshop I took last January :(  UPDATED 21/02/17 this is now finished and if you head over here you can have a look!

12.  Make another Lighted Houses piece from an Anne Hellyer workshop - it didn't get made in time for Christmas so I had to gift the one I made for me!

13.  Turn this sample from the Cloud 9 New Block Blog Hop into something - wall hanging or cushion.  UPDATED 22/02/17 - this is now finished and you can read all about it here!!

14.  Turn these two blocks from the Bee Hive into a cushion.

15.  Turn this sample from the Cloud 9 New Block Blog Hop into something - wall hanging or cushion.  UPDATED 23/02/17 - this is finished and blogged about here

  

16.  Decide what to do with this!  It was a jelly roll race quilt I started making for my daughter, before she changed her mind.  The top is actually finished but as she doesn't want it anymore I'm not sure whether to cut and re-use the fabric in something different - any ideas?

17.  Make this block into a cushion cover.

18.  Make this block into a cushion cover - I am either super early or rather late!  My tutorial to make this block can be found here.  I felt rather ashamed because other people who used this tutorial had their cushions all finished and in use for Christmas whilst mine languished in my studio.

19.  Christmas Tree wall hanging - do you see a theme here?!!  I am going to be well prepared for this Christmas!

20.  Finish making these samples from trying the Quick Curve Ruler into pouches - one down, one to go.

21.  Fabric pull and design inspiration for a Charley Harper themed mini swap.

22.  Rainbow Star Mini No 2 - to re-create a mini I made last year for a swap which I loved, and begrudgingly sent to my partner!!  I've thought about it for almost 12 months so figured I need to scratch that itch!  UPDATED 16/02/2017 this is now finished and blogged about here 

23. Rainbow Star Mini No 3 - whilst playing around with EQ7 I came up with similar but different design and I would like to see how they compare in real life.  I am sure I can find a recipient for one of these once they are made.

24.  Finalise my Union Jack flag pattern and get it out there!  It is so close, what's really stopping me is the technical side required to convert to a .pdf but hopefully I will now be able to concentrate and get this done.

25.  Quilt this Beatrix Potter embroidery quilt for my Mum.

26.  Back this quilt for Stratford Hospice for Project Linus.

27.  Make pyjama bottoms for my youngest - I am hoping that the pattern I drafted last summer will still fit and I just have to make the legs longer.  NO LONGER REQUIRED!!

28.  Liberty and linen Easter/spring bunting to be made.

29.  Actually finish this Granny Square blanket - it is sooo close, it just needs ends darning in but it's been at this stage for over 4 years ...... admittedly it was packed up in a box when we returned from New Zealand and I have only just unearthed it!  UPDATED 20/02/17 - finished and in use!!!  Blogged about here.

So that's it.  Not exhaustive but a pretty good reflection of my WIPs and UFOs.  I still have other projects to work on this quarter and some learning to do on EQ7 so I would say that I will be rather busy!  Hope you have linked up all your unfinished project and I look forward to seeing your progress and finished over the next three months.