Saturday 22 March 2014

I'm back!

I've just checked and it is 3 weeks since I last posted. Manic time with childcare and putting the house on the market added to the mix. Now I've had a few days to recover and feeling myself again.

I decided to really push and try to finish the two quilt tops I was working on so……

Firstly, it's the Hummingbird quilt for my grand-daughter's bed.



This was a free pattern from Rita of Red Pepper Quilts and I am super pleased with how it has turned out. Lexie likes pink but I decided against a pale baby pink and used a tone which is nearer to the Pantone Radiant Orchid so very on trend but there is also lilac, green, orange, beige and red. A real riot of colour. The backing will be one of the prints from the fat quarter bundle of fabrics I bought; Nel Whatmore's Secret Garden, Hedgerow in Linen. It's super bright!


I am having the quilt professionally quilted so I will take some better photos when it is finally finished.
I'm linking this to Quiet Play's Paper Piecing Party

Paper Piecing Party

I've also been working very hard on my Medallion Sampler quilt and all I need now is to add the border. I added the sashing today but started to make a few mistakes so I have left the border for class next week. I have also redone a couple of blocks to make the colour balance better.



Finally, I have finished and wet blocked the waistcoat I am making for my Mum for Mothering Sunday (March 30th). I'm linking up with Wool on Sundays with this. 



There was a bit of sunshine this afternoon when I took this so I apologise for the shadows. The waistcoat is an edge to edge design from Sirdar and knitted in Sirdar Softspun. This yarn is now discontinued and to be honest I did not enjoy knitting with it, However, the finished garment feels soft and looks good after blocking. I hope she will be pleased.

My new crochet project is another  shawl for summer evenings. This time it's the Ricicles shawl I found on Cherry Heart
I'm using the Rico baby cotton soft yarn which is a 50/50 cotton/acrylic mix. Lovely soft colours too!






I think that's about it! Supper is cooking and delicious smells of a lamb tagine wafting through the house. Time to go….. have a good weekend,

Catherine








19 comments:

  1. I love your quilts - especially the hummingbird one. The colours are really lovely. And your Mum's waistcoat has turned out beautifully. I also think your shawl is going to look great in those colours. I'd be interested to know how you think the baby cotton compares with 100% cotton. I'm particularly wondering if it's lighter and more elastic at all?

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  2. Two gorgeous quilts! Amazing piecing!!!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks Esther although I am glad to finish the sampler quilt. It seems to have been on the go for such a long time. Love the beautiful quilts you do. This was my first attempt at FPP and I think I'll be doing lots more

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  3. Adore the colours you used in the Hummingbird quilt, so gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you so much. I'm really pleased with it and it makes a change from the grungy colours I have chosen before. I've decided to go "spring-like" with my next project; soft apple greens and pink

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  4. Love your quilts the hummingbird is colourful and so is the back. I love the colour and shape of the waistcoat. Pretty colour wool :)

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    1. Thanks Teresa. Its great to have a couple of "almost finishes" at last.

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  5. Love the colours of both the quilts - I must get on & actually finish one of mine!

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    1. All this quilting/crochet and knitting is costing a fortune! I went with Jane and Cathy from Busy Bees to Newent to visit the fabric shop there and bought fabric for my next project.

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  6. You have two gorgeous quilts there!! I particularly love the hummingbird quilt....it is singing such a sweet song!! Such a lovely vest...looks a treat hanging very smartly there!!

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  7. Thank you Kim. I'm really proud of them! I am so in awe of all the work I see in the blogs I follow. I hope in time mine will improve.

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  8. I love the colors in the Hummingbird, an the designs in the Medallion. Love to see your work.
    Lin

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    1. Thanks Lin but they are not half as complicated as your Celtic Solstice. Still I'm happy for a Newbie!

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  9. Thank you for sharing, loved to see your finishrs! Well done!

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  10. You have been busy! Your sampler quilt is really looking good and the quilt for your granddaughter is so sweet ;)

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  11. What beautiful, accomplished quilting. That Hummingbird quilt is just stunning. x

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    1. Thank you so much Gillian. I'm so new to this and enjoying it immensely. Love your blog too.

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  12. Your Hummingbird Quilt is just gorgeous! I love your fabric choices and your backing fabric - the brighter the better right?

    By the way, the Medallion Sampler Quilt is stunning! Your piecing skills are superb!! Thank you so much for sharing. Rita x

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