cut&alter Christmas 18 QAL :: Week 1

..... and it's started Week 1's instruction have just been mailed out.

I am looking forward to seeing what fabrics people choose!

What's it all about?  Head over here to see ....

Want to join in?  Get the pattern over here ....

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!

cut&alter Christmas 18 Quilt Along is live!!

I have been working on some secret sewing for the past couple of months and all can now be revealed ....

The timing is incredibly inopportune because, during one of the longest heatwaves that I can remember, I am launching a Christmas Quilt Along!!

The actual launch day was last Wednesday and you can read all about over here.

The pattern has been released in my UKQU shop - head on over to have a look!  

There is an early bird discount of 20% until the end of July, and any purchase in a UKQU shop until that time automatically gets entered into a giveaway for a copy of the latest EQ8.

To celebrate the launch of my first pattern over at UKQU, I am running a competition.  

For the chance to win a copy of the pattern, full access to the QAL and a fabric bundle from the Silent Night range by Makower, who kindly provided the fabric for this project, then head on over here.  

The competition runs until Wednesday 04 July 2018.

The full details can also be found at the tab at the top of the page - CHRISTMAS 18 QAL.

I would love it if you could join me and, of course, it doesn't have to be a Christmas Quilt it can be made in any fabric you choose.  I will have some examples shortly so stay tuned! x

cut&alter Christmas 18 Quilt Along

So we are due a heatwave this week and here I am putting up a holly wreath picture!!  

I've been working hard getting a quilt ready for a Quilt Along starting in September.  The pattern release is this Wednesday, 27 June 2018, and should you wish to use the fabric I have made it in, the gorgeous Silent Night range by Makower, then fabric kits are also going to be available from Wednesday, from The Cotton Patch.

For more information head on over to the UKQU website where my latest post will tell you more .....

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - a tutorial

In November I received a package as part of a Travelling Bee I am in.  I realise now that I have never blogged about this Bee .... hmmmm not sure how I have managed to miss that because I love it.  Anyway that post will be for another day because today I am going to share a block I made for Jessie (@jessiemarie1202).

She loves Christmas and always knew her quilt would have a Christmas theme.  I had seen 4 months of blocks being made for her and I had an idea in my head what I would make for her.  However, whilst her notebook contained lots of ideas the one that struck me most was a little pixelated reindeer. 

I quickly got out my graph paper and made a sketch and worked out some cutting measurements.  I was delighted to find that it all came together well the first time!! 

This is the one I made for her ....

 I decided that I would like a Rudolph cushion and thought that I would do a quick tutorial at the same time so here goes.  I decided to do the antlers and face in different fabric as shown below:

I have created a simple .pdf tutorial which you can see over here

If you make one I would love to see it so be sure to tag me in (@cutandalter on IG) or leave a comment below. x

Linking up for the first time in ages to Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts.

Finish Along Quarter 3 No 15 :: Christmas Quilt

A quick post to show you my second completed project of my 2016FAL Q4 list, which was to quilt a Christmas top for my Mum.

She 'found' it in the cupboard recently ....

but she doesn't remember making it.

She didn't realise that it had 24 pockets in ....

but she does happen to have a box of little wooden Christmas figures in another cupboard and there just happens to be 24!

So now it is quilted and she can bind it and attach the ornaments .... that is if it's not forgotten again!

Works in progress ....

I have had my first illness of the season these last few days and, lacking in energy and with a head that hurt to move, I thought I would slowly give my studio a sort out.  I know I have lots of WIPs, a fair few made it onto my 2016FAL Q4 list, but I wasn't quite sure where I was on them all or what I needed to proceed.  So here is a summary:

My Bee Hive Quilt

I was Queen Bee earlier in the year and having seen Michelle tackling her blocks I was motivated to get mine pieced together.  

I had also asked for signature blocks so I pieced these, along with two blocks, into the backing - I love how this worked out.

All I have to do is cut the wadding and then it's ready to quilt.

New Zealand fabric Christmas Quilt - what a catchy name that is!

This quilt didn't get touched last quarter, or the quarter before, but I am determined to get it finished to use this Christmas.  I needed to make some more blocks to get it up to size and happened to have some pale green solid fabric, Kona Pond, on my cutting table whilst making them and so decided to outline several blocks in that instead of the red wickerweave.

I need to order a bit more Kona Pond to make a small border before a larger red border.  I happened to have a suitable backing in my stash.  I bought this at Quilts UK in Malvern earlier this year as a bargain so I am delighted it works with this quilt.  This quilt is proving difficult to photograph because I can't get a true reflection of the colours.

So to proceed on this one I need to order fabric, get borders attached, piece a panel in the backing, cut wadding and then it will be ready to quilt.

Feathers Quilt

This is a quilt for my daughter who chose for the backing Feathers from the new Lewis & Irene To Catch a Dream collection.  I have never ordered fabric for backing before and usually like to touch fabric before buying!  However, I am hoping this is the same quality as all the other Lewis & Irene fabric and that both my daughter and I will like it when it arrives.  There has been a delay in it arriving in the UK but it is in the country now and I am just waiting for it to be dispatched.

Once the backing has arrived I have to cut the wadding and then this will be ready to quilt.

Rainbow Rose Quilt

This is ready to quilt right now.  I know what design I am going to quilt on the grey background but still undecided on the coloured parts ..... I think I just need to load it onto the rollers and start!

 

 
Back to Front Quilt

This needs to be cut into again and have some more improv blocks placed in it.  There is a chartreuse/lime accent in a few of the fabrics and I have decided to get some solid fabric in that colour to highlight some of the areas.  I had wanted this done ready to gift next week but in reality I think I will have to deliver it myself a few weeks later.

Accent fabric needs to be ordered, some more piecing needs to be done, backing needs piecing, wadding cutting and then this will be ready to quilt!

In an effort to be more efficient and tidy I have decided to use my hanging hooks for all my quilts in progress ....

So there's the five quilts listed above plus an extra one - a customer quilt!  It is so exciting to be starting to quilt for other people and it's a real honour to be entrusted with their quilt tops.  This one is a pirate ship for the lady's grandson which should be great fun to quilt.

And, as if 6 quilts wasn't enough, I sorted out all the blocks I wanted to make into cushions or minis.  My husband kindly got me the cushion inserts on Monday, I have figured out what zips I need to purchase and I have found suitable backing fabric.

So that's me - as soon as I feel well enough I will be quilting up a storm!  It feels good to get organised and my studio now feels clearer even though nothing has actually been moved out yet.  I am hosting a sewing day in early December where 5 ladies have to be able to sew so I am slowly working towards that goal.

I am linking up with Lorna's Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts today.

A Dog Gone Cute bag ...

Back in August I signed up to be a participant in the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop.  My make for the Blog Hop was a great quilt for my daughter's 9th birthday, which can read all about here!  However, I made two initial practice blocks which had languished on my shelves since September.

 

So here I can now show some secret sewing that went on a couple of days before Christmas and tick off another finished project from my FAL Q4 list, which is hosted by Adrianne over at On The Windy Side.

I quilted one with cross hatching and one with echo quilting around the dog, which took a lot longer than I thought.

 

That moment when you're not quite sure you did it right!

A gusseted bottom!

 

 

And fully lined.

 

I was actually really pleased with how this little bag turned out.  I haven't ever made a lined, gusseted, zippered bag before!  The recipient, my eldest daughter, was also really pleased to receive it.

 

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday.

Another Advent Calendar ...

Oh my goodness how does a month go so quickly?!!  Well I do know the answer to that - illness and Christmas!

 

So I realise that I have a few things I still need to post about for the FAL Q4 before the linky party goes up over at On the Windy Side so here's hoping for a post a day!

 

I have already posted about the first Advent Calendar I finished but there was another one for my other daughter.  The weather yesterday was beautiful so I managed to get some good shots outside.  Of course all the pockets are now empty!

 

I freehand guided the quilting and was really please with the result.  Some lovely holly leaves in the night sky!

 

Straight lines without ruler work - I actually found it easier to do without a ruler but these are simples shapes.

I wasn't that keen on the fabric for the binding but at tea time on 30 November you have to go with what you got.  My daughter chose this one so who am I to argue.

When I finished this was the last time I felt up to speed with things.  Three of us caught the flu which wiped us out for a fortnight and then Christmas came ..........  Slowly catching up and have even started some new projects, because you always need more projects on the go don't you? x

 

Going to link up with Lorna over at Sew Fresh Quilts for her Let's Bee Social.

Just in time No 1 ...

I have finally made an Advent Calendar - and it was made in time!!  This Makower panel was chosen by my daughter, who stated she was going to make her own Advent Calendar.  This was in August ........ 

 

Several times I asked her - shall we start your Advent Calendar?  To which she replied It's still summer Mum/It's only September Mum etc, etc.  Two weeks ago, with December fast approaching, she passed the baton on to me!

 

I cut it out and sewed on the pockets on Saturday whilst sewing with a lovely group of ladies from my quilting club.  Isn't it just wonderful to sew with other people?!

 

 

 

I then put it on my frame yesterday afternoon for a bit of playful quilting ....  loop de loops .....

 

 

some straight line ruler work .......

 

 

some scribbling and some holly ......

 

Have to say I love the holly!!  I attached the binding by machine and then sewed down the back by hand whilst watching TV last night ...

All done ....

and actually hanging on the door - hooray!!

She's very happy with it and is especially interested to know what will be going in the pockets!!  (A mixture of edibles and activities - but ssssshhhh it's a secret!)

This is another item ticked off my Finish Along Q4 list and linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts over here.

WIP Wednesday

For those who remember I participated in the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop over at Sew Fresh Designs, that ran through October.  The quilt along, which ran through September, generated lots of interest.  Now all those people who have made something from the lovely Lorna's pattern have a chance to win!!  I have entered into the linky party over here and VOTING's now open!! 

 

Of course, I would love for you to vote for me .... but why don't you head over and see some of the amazing creations and decide for yourself who to vote for!!!  Hint:  My entry is No 30 .....

 

As a visual reminder, this was the quilt I made from the pattern, Cats and Dogs, for my daughter's birthday.

I had a very productive weekend in the studio finishing of two Project Linus quilts, here, here and here, and also working on a couple of WIPs.

At the beginning of November I sent off my package for the Schnitzel & Boo mini swap.  It arrived safely with its new owner yesterday  and, thankfully, she loves it!!  I have made some ATC cards to swap in the past and once I have sent them off I wish I had one for myself.  This time I made some extra squares as I was going along and now just have to finish it off.  It's not going to be an exact copy but more a reminder of the swap.

 

 

Then I finished piecing the top that I started at a Project Linus sewing day in August. 

All the blocks made on the sewing day

On my design wall waiting to be pieced together

And finally onto Christmas things ...... I have made a start on one of the Advent Calendars.  OK so it's a small start having just cut and ironed the pocket seams but it's a start nonetheless!!

I bought this when my youngest was 1, she recently turned 9 - whoops!!  It is an item on my Finish Along Q4 that I will be really pleased to tick off.

Linking up to Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday today. x