Tuesday 31 January 2012

Liberated Baskets finished at last!

Liberated baskets from book by Gwen Marston called Liberated Quiltmaking

And there it is, my first attempt at Liberated Baskets. The technique was taken from the book 'Liberated Quiltmaking II' by Gwen Marston. I just love the book and the way she talks about quilts. For this one I made the 15 baskets using recycled shirts for the background. I also used the 'liberated square-within-a-square' block to make the border (again using a shirt to make the background).

I have now bought a little bias maker that I am going to try out for the handles but for this quilt I just followed the instructions in the book and cut them by hand. I think the handles are the trickiest bit but they get easier the more you do.

p.s. thank you to Jolene over at Blue Elephant Stitches for the inspiration to make this quilt after she posted about the book last year.

Sneeky peek-more later

Finally, just a sneaky peek of something else I've been working on in a liberated way, but it's a present so I will have to show you later!


Monday 30 January 2012

Stairway to the top of the ash tree.


It is a bit wet here and the cloud cover is making photos of sewing a bit tricky.

raindrops on the hedge

The liberated baskets are finished but will get a proper picture when the sun comes out..

Liberated baskets finished but I need some light to get a good picture

I just love these 'stairs' created at the weekend in the ash tree...

Great steps

I don't suppose the carpenter's dad would be too pleased to see where he left the hammer out in the rain though!!

Hammer left in the tree!

I have had to recover the neck cushion I made last year as it was worn out from so much use..

Neck pillow from pattern from Sewing Green by Betz White

Pattern from Sewing Green by Betz White.
This time I made the reverse from some thicker linen mix in anticipation of all the wear. I also used a straight stretch stitch around the inner curve to reinforce it.

Neck pillow from pattern from Sewing Green by Betz White


After some deliberation and a bit of help from my Mum (thanks Mum!), I have exchanged my Janome for a different model, and am very very very pleased.
The new one is a top loader (probably not the technical term) and is smoother and quieter which is a big bonus when you like to sew late into the night and have neighbours. It also has a speed control switch on the foot pedal.

The new machine mark 2-thanks Mum!

I'm off to try it out some more.

Friday 20 January 2012

This year's peg bag.

The 2012 peg bag

I've made myself a new peg bag as the old one was looking very sad.

The old one is a good example of the problem of using a totally wire hanger if you have alot of pegs like me..
last years peg bag

The poor hanger is sagging a bit.
So the new one has a plastic hanger with a metal hook. I'm just hoping that it can take the strain.
I'm having trouble finding the right cords to finish the curtain but will keep looking.
The liberated baskets are being quilted by hand so it is taking a while.

Happy weekend.

Monday 16 January 2012

A curtain from old cords..

I need to make a warm curtain for a bedroom window and luckily Mum gave me a load of of old corduroy trousers that she had used to make a door curtain.
Curtain from old cords

I need one more pair to make some border strips so that it is wide enough and am also considering a bit of applique. Will keep you posted.

Also played a bit more with the new Kaffe Fassett fabrics and some scraps to make a pin cushion..
Pin cushion


Saturday 14 January 2012

Sunshine and flowers.

I have been doing a bit of playing with the new fabrics in the form of a liberated log cabin mat/miniquilt..

Purple miniquilt

The baskets have got no further but I think I have plans..

Outdoor baskets


The snowdrops are up..


First snowdrops of the year

 the hellebore flowers are out..

Hellebore flowers

And the daffodils are on the stalls in the village..

Daffs in january

The girls are enjoying the sunshine as much as me..

The ladies sunbathing

Happy weekend!

Monday 9 January 2012

Liberated quilt so far..

The squares were to go around the edge of the baskets!
Liberated baskets and squares so far.

I'm stuck now.
Not sure what to do next. I am not convinced that I want to make a curtain or it will spend alot of time scrunched up. So I think it will be a wall hanging and I need to decide how to edge it.

Nipped to Cowslip last week for a few supplies including these..
A few fat quarters

Now I shall probably do my usual trick of starting something else and leaving the quilt top as it is for 6 months before it gets finished!!

Friday 6 January 2012

Thank you cards and some liberated squares.

cards made from pattern at mmmcrafts

I found a brilliant pattern for these lovely little cards over at mmmcrafts.
A great way to use up small scraps that you can't bear to throw away.
Now all I need to do is get the kids to write in them, so you might get it by February Mum!!

I decided on liberated squares, so have started a production line..

liberated squares

Will keep you posted..

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Fifteen baskets hanging on the chicken wire.

Liberated baskets- from book Liberated Quiltmaking II by Gwen Marston

I have just joined my 15 baskets together and am really enjoying them.
I am planning a curtain so it's border time next.

Mmmmm squares, stripes or wild goose chase!

Liberated baskets- from book Liberated Quiltmaking II by Gwen Marston