Hello
After months of dithering about, I have finally taken the plunge and opened a Folksy Shop. I love sewing and my cupboards are getting full of things that I have made. So I have decided to open a small shop that I will be able to stock up with my handmade treasures when the weather is bad and I can't do my normal gardening job.
If you fancy a quick peek, here is the link http://folksy.com/shops/GrannysButtonBox I would love to know what you think.
Well the sun is shining so back to the day job - 2 gardens to do today. Yesterday, actually took a layer off while gardening, first time my coat has been off this year. I love this time of year, the first spring plants are flowering, don't you just love snowdrops and helebores. Can't wait for the rest of the bulbs to come through.
Cheers
Sharon
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Thread Catcher
Hello
Visited a friend in the village who quilts. Her friend had made her a thread catcher. I have never heard of them before but what a good idea. Even though I have a bin next to my sewing table, I never hit it with threads that I cut off my patchwork, they consequently end up on the floor and then into the hoover! So how about a bin for threads close at hand. I haven't any excuses for missing this! It took a bit of working out how to make one but here is my version, if I do another, it will be slightly smaller.
It is also very useful when I am hand sewing on the sofa, I normally balance cotton reel, scissors etc on the arm of the sofa, they usually get knocked off and end up on the floor or worse still, eaten by the sofa!
The cushion at that goes on the table is weighted with lentils (you can use sand) and it doubles as a pin cushion if you need one.
In real life, its not quite as pink as it looks, the camera decided it needed to be shocking pink for some reason!
Cheers
Sharon
Visited a friend in the village who quilts. Her friend had made her a thread catcher. I have never heard of them before but what a good idea. Even though I have a bin next to my sewing table, I never hit it with threads that I cut off my patchwork, they consequently end up on the floor and then into the hoover! So how about a bin for threads close at hand. I haven't any excuses for missing this! It took a bit of working out how to make one but here is my version, if I do another, it will be slightly smaller.
It is also very useful when I am hand sewing on the sofa, I normally balance cotton reel, scissors etc on the arm of the sofa, they usually get knocked off and end up on the floor or worse still, eaten by the sofa!
The cushion at that goes on the table is weighted with lentils (you can use sand) and it doubles as a pin cushion if you need one.
In real life, its not quite as pink as it looks, the camera decided it needed to be shocking pink for some reason!
Cheers
Sharon
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Garden Bench Quilt
Hello
Finished my quilt for the garden bench. I have called it "Ready for Summer Quilt". Making this quilt has made me think more about the summer as it is covered in my favourite flowers Roses. The sun is shining but not quite warm enough to sit outside.
I have just realised that my indoor Cyclamen plant will be 30 years old this year. It was given to me when I bought my first house in 1983. It has flowered every winter since. It gets dried off every spring when its finished flowering and spends the summer under a bench in my greenhouse, in Sept it starts to grow again so is re-potted in fresh compost and stays in the greenhouse until the frost start and then moves into the conservatory, where it flowers.
Cheers
Sharon
Finished my quilt for the garden bench. I have called it "Ready for Summer Quilt". Making this quilt has made me think more about the summer as it is covered in my favourite flowers Roses. The sun is shining but not quite warm enough to sit outside.
I have just realised that my indoor Cyclamen plant will be 30 years old this year. It was given to me when I bought my first house in 1983. It has flowered every winter since. It gets dried off every spring when its finished flowering and spends the summer under a bench in my greenhouse, in Sept it starts to grow again so is re-potted in fresh compost and stays in the greenhouse until the frost start and then moves into the conservatory, where it flowers.
Cheers
Sharon
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Patchwork Cottage
Hello
Just a quickie - found this patchwork pattern for a cottage so thought I would have a go at it.
I had some tiny flower buttons and had bought some tiny bees and dragonfly buttons without having any idea what to use them for but they seem right on the cottage. I hand quilted the cottage, put some card in the behind the backing fabric to stop it flopping about and sewed a handing loop on the back to make it into a picture. An idea project for an afternoon's crafting.
Cheers
Sharon
Just a quickie - found this patchwork pattern for a cottage so thought I would have a go at it.
I had some tiny flower buttons and had bought some tiny bees and dragonfly buttons without having any idea what to use them for but they seem right on the cottage. I hand quilted the cottage, put some card in the behind the backing fabric to stop it flopping about and sewed a handing loop on the back to make it into a picture. An idea project for an afternoon's crafting.
Cheers
Sharon
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Finished Quilt
Hello
Had a couple of days at home again so managed to complete my Snuggle Quilt - might be using it later today to keep my toes warm if the predicted snow arrives.
Was going to put it on the line for an al fresco photo shoot but its blowing a gale and it would have ended up in the next field!
Cheers
Sharon
Had a couple of days at home again so managed to complete my Snuggle Quilt - might be using it later today to keep my toes warm if the predicted snow arrives.
Was going to put it on the line for an al fresco photo shoot but its blowing a gale and it would have ended up in the next field!
Cheers
Sharon
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Summer Quilts
Hello
Well the weather has been rubbish recently which has meant lots of days off so I set myself a challenge to make a complicated quilt (well for me it is). Checked out U Tube for a suitable pattern and found this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7DFo-mIa47A It's another Missouri Quilt Company video - I love this company, their demos are really good and easy to follow. They call this quilt the Serendipity Quilt and it has the advantage that you end up with 2 different quilt tops. I was going to try and explain how this works but its easier for you to watch their demo.
I bought some lovely rose printed fabric fat quarters at the Harrogate Flower show and I couldn't decide what to do with it so there it sat for 9 long months, I found a matching ditsy print fat quarters to match so out came the rotary cutter.
Because I only had a certain amount of fabric it limited to what size quilt I could make (there is a lesson in this - impulse buying of fabric) but I wanted to have a go at a quilt block that would make me think. I made up all the blocks I could and it made a small narrow quilt - my intention was to have small square quilt to snuggle under when hibernating waiting for Spring to arrive! I couldn't arrange the blocks into a square as I didn't have enough blocks.
But all was not lost, I remembered that I was going to make a quilt to fit my garden bench, I started a hexy quilt (when I first got my Singer Featherweight) last year with Laura Ashley vintage hexys that my sister gave me, got totally carried away bought more fabric and ended up with a huge quilt! Which is still waiting to be hand quilted (got side tracked). So measured my narrow quilt top and hey presto, just the right size for the garden bench - relief! So a garden bench seat quilt it will be.
The second set of blocks that is a by product from this quilt pattern were pieced together to make my required snuggle quilt, if you look closely, you can see that they are pinwheels with another smaller pinwheel in the middle - how clever is that (the pattern that is not me!)
I have loved doing these quilts, the fabric makes me think of the summer to come (hopefully) and brightened up my winter blues.
All I have to do now is the hand quilting and put the bindings on - I will let you have a look when they are finished.
Cheers
Sharon
Well the weather has been rubbish recently which has meant lots of days off so I set myself a challenge to make a complicated quilt (well for me it is). Checked out U Tube for a suitable pattern and found this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7DFo-mIa47A It's another Missouri Quilt Company video - I love this company, their demos are really good and easy to follow. They call this quilt the Serendipity Quilt and it has the advantage that you end up with 2 different quilt tops. I was going to try and explain how this works but its easier for you to watch their demo.
I bought some lovely rose printed fabric fat quarters at the Harrogate Flower show and I couldn't decide what to do with it so there it sat for 9 long months, I found a matching ditsy print fat quarters to match so out came the rotary cutter.
Because I only had a certain amount of fabric it limited to what size quilt I could make (there is a lesson in this - impulse buying of fabric) but I wanted to have a go at a quilt block that would make me think. I made up all the blocks I could and it made a small narrow quilt - my intention was to have small square quilt to snuggle under when hibernating waiting for Spring to arrive! I couldn't arrange the blocks into a square as I didn't have enough blocks.
But all was not lost, I remembered that I was going to make a quilt to fit my garden bench, I started a hexy quilt (when I first got my Singer Featherweight) last year with Laura Ashley vintage hexys that my sister gave me, got totally carried away bought more fabric and ended up with a huge quilt! Which is still waiting to be hand quilted (got side tracked). So measured my narrow quilt top and hey presto, just the right size for the garden bench - relief! So a garden bench seat quilt it will be.
The second set of blocks that is a by product from this quilt pattern were pieced together to make my required snuggle quilt, if you look closely, you can see that they are pinwheels with another smaller pinwheel in the middle - how clever is that (the pattern that is not me!)
I have loved doing these quilts, the fabric makes me think of the summer to come (hopefully) and brightened up my winter blues.
All I have to do now is the hand quilting and put the bindings on - I will let you have a look when they are finished.
Cheers
Sharon
Monday, 28 January 2013
Things I have learned about Quilting
Hello
I am recapping over what I have learnt (sometimes the hard way) about quilting.
Firstly, quilts are not cheap - fabric is expensive often the fronts are cheaper than the backs, all your fabric scraps can be used for the front but the back needs to be a whole piece of fabric that you like, the quilt top takes a long time to make and scrimping on cheap backing fabric would spoil it, I have found double sheets are useful, especially if they are on sale, they are the right size and normally good quality cotton.
Its probably more cost effective to just buy fabric when you have a quilt planned that way you have all the colours but if you are like me, I am a kid in a sweet shop when pretty fabric are on sale. I can find fabric anywhere! Went to the Harrogate Flower show last year to buy gloves and gardening equip but came back with 6 fat quarters of pretty rose (see the garden connection) fabric. It has sat in my projects basket for 9 months- couldn't bring myself to cut into it!
Quilting is addictive, once you start you are on the slipperly slope to a lifetime hobby.
Hand quilting is an ideal thing to do on in cold winters, there is nothing better than having a cozy quilt draped over you. New quilting thread is bouncy and easily knots, I have started using vintage cotton thread, it doesn't bounce as much. I buy my vintage thread off Ebay, my latest purchase worked out at 18p per reel, OK some of the reels might be part used but I have had some reel (sorry) bargains. But beware, once you start buying vintage thread, you have to remember to stop when you have enough, it can be addictive!
Don't use cheap polyester thread, I was kindly given a lovely sewing box complete with loads of new thread in all sorts of colours, I did some blocks using this thread but when I went to set the seam with the iron, the thread melted and seam fell apart. It obviously wasn't cotton, it must have been polyester and poor quality so beware, test first. All the books say you should use 100% cotton but it is getting harder to find and a lot of the new thread is polyester, even the good quality ones. Coats cotton from Boyes is 100% but its £1.35 for a small reel so vintage is cheaper and its fun when you get a bargain
This is some of my vintage thread in my lovely Sylko drawers. Another auction find, the
drawers have doubled in prices since I bagged this gem.
I use a vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machine made in 1957 so you don't have to have the latest computerised machine with zillions of stitches on it, mine does straight stitch and that is it.
To match my vintage Singer machine, I have some lovely old Singer scissors (they are on the top of the Sylko box above) which I like to use, I sharpened them and they work well but the other day, for some reason, they became extremely stiff to use, goodness knows why, they don't have an adjustable screw holding the blades together but the blades were tight together. I was going to put a tiny bit of oil on the hinge bit but thought that was a bad idea, oil and fabric don't mix. Then I had a brain wave, remembered that a joiner once used a pencil to make a door catch work better, he said that the graphite lubricated so out came my pencil, scribbled where the two blades crossed near the holding nut and hey presto, working scissors again.
Basting/tacking the quilt, I found this handy little tool, it puts tiny tags through the material instead of having to baste. It seems to work OK and saves loads of time. If I do baste, I use my large cutting mat under the quilt so that the needle glides underneath and doesn't damage my dining room table or stick into the carpet if I am doing it on the floor.
When cutting out, keep all your scraps of material, it is surprising what they can be used for.
YouTube have super demos on - if you want to learn quilting - have a look.
A quarter inch foot is essential, invest in one, I have tried doing accurate seams using the markings on the machines throat plate and using a seam guide screwed to the machine but it is loads easier with a foot, I bought one for my 1957 Singer Featherweight, its got a guide on it, it works a treat is is much quicker to use. A walking foot is useful too, I use mine for putting the binding on but haven't as yet used it to do the top stitch quilting as I love to do this by hand.
Quilts make super presents for those special people in your life.
Lastly, don't forget to make a label for your quilts with your name one and date - it makes them more special.
Cheers
Sharon
I am recapping over what I have learnt (sometimes the hard way) about quilting.
Firstly, quilts are not cheap - fabric is expensive often the fronts are cheaper than the backs, all your fabric scraps can be used for the front but the back needs to be a whole piece of fabric that you like, the quilt top takes a long time to make and scrimping on cheap backing fabric would spoil it, I have found double sheets are useful, especially if they are on sale, they are the right size and normally good quality cotton.
Its probably more cost effective to just buy fabric when you have a quilt planned that way you have all the colours but if you are like me, I am a kid in a sweet shop when pretty fabric are on sale. I can find fabric anywhere! Went to the Harrogate Flower show last year to buy gloves and gardening equip but came back with 6 fat quarters of pretty rose (see the garden connection) fabric. It has sat in my projects basket for 9 months- couldn't bring myself to cut into it!
Quilting is addictive, once you start you are on the slipperly slope to a lifetime hobby.
Hand quilting is an ideal thing to do on in cold winters, there is nothing better than having a cozy quilt draped over you. New quilting thread is bouncy and easily knots, I have started using vintage cotton thread, it doesn't bounce as much. I buy my vintage thread off Ebay, my latest purchase worked out at 18p per reel, OK some of the reels might be part used but I have had some reel (sorry) bargains. But beware, once you start buying vintage thread, you have to remember to stop when you have enough, it can be addictive!
Don't use cheap polyester thread, I was kindly given a lovely sewing box complete with loads of new thread in all sorts of colours, I did some blocks using this thread but when I went to set the seam with the iron, the thread melted and seam fell apart. It obviously wasn't cotton, it must have been polyester and poor quality so beware, test first. All the books say you should use 100% cotton but it is getting harder to find and a lot of the new thread is polyester, even the good quality ones. Coats cotton from Boyes is 100% but its £1.35 for a small reel so vintage is cheaper and its fun when you get a bargain
This is some of my vintage thread in my lovely Sylko drawers. Another auction find, the
drawers have doubled in prices since I bagged this gem.
I use a vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machine made in 1957 so you don't have to have the latest computerised machine with zillions of stitches on it, mine does straight stitch and that is it.
To match my vintage Singer machine, I have some lovely old Singer scissors (they are on the top of the Sylko box above) which I like to use, I sharpened them and they work well but the other day, for some reason, they became extremely stiff to use, goodness knows why, they don't have an adjustable screw holding the blades together but the blades were tight together. I was going to put a tiny bit of oil on the hinge bit but thought that was a bad idea, oil and fabric don't mix. Then I had a brain wave, remembered that a joiner once used a pencil to make a door catch work better, he said that the graphite lubricated so out came my pencil, scribbled where the two blades crossed near the holding nut and hey presto, working scissors again.
Basting/tacking the quilt, I found this handy little tool, it puts tiny tags through the material instead of having to baste. It seems to work OK and saves loads of time. If I do baste, I use my large cutting mat under the quilt so that the needle glides underneath and doesn't damage my dining room table or stick into the carpet if I am doing it on the floor.
When cutting out, keep all your scraps of material, it is surprising what they can be used for.
YouTube have super demos on - if you want to learn quilting - have a look.
A quarter inch foot is essential, invest in one, I have tried doing accurate seams using the markings on the machines throat plate and using a seam guide screwed to the machine but it is loads easier with a foot, I bought one for my 1957 Singer Featherweight, its got a guide on it, it works a treat is is much quicker to use. A walking foot is useful too, I use mine for putting the binding on but haven't as yet used it to do the top stitch quilting as I love to do this by hand.
Quilts make super presents for those special people in your life.
Lastly, don't forget to make a label for your quilts with your name one and date - it makes them more special.
Cheers
Sharon
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