Saturday, March 16, 2013

A weeks worth of stitching

Panel 10 of the Trailing Vines pattern is ready for download at long last. You can access the panels as I do them over here or by clicking on the link below my header.

I'm behind myself on this project, I've started stitching on the ninth one and it makes me realise how much I've missed my leaves.
Pop on over to Dorothy's post to see her single bed size version done in a different colourway. It's looking pretty awesome.
I'm kept pretty busy these days with the Auntie Green and at the last class we got the instructions for the next stage which is the woven bias border and floral sprays that fit inside them.
These are just the leftover bias strips with plenty more to cut and stitch later on so they won't go to waste.
In the true style of the old quilt, the bias is laid down without a pattern so the end result will not be perfection. Oh the thrill and charm of having some inconsistencies is a nice change from trying to be exacting. This part is going to take awhile, it's slow but oh so pleasurable.
I did manage to get the last Mary Mannakee block finished, I took my sweet time with the finger shapes on the leaves and I know my circle is a bit oval but what the heck, it's staying put.
The next block won't be for ages, I'm trying to focus on just a few projects right now and am working towards a finish on one that's been hanging around for years.
Last weekend I popped out to attend the Stitches and Craft show. I've only been once before when it was mainly scrap booking and beading.
This time they incorporated the woodwork show which gave DH something to see. There weren't a lot of quilting stalls but I enjoyed the Japanese ones. I even got to play on the sit down Sweet Sixteen quilting machine and no, I have no plans to buy one.
I didn't buy much but I did pick up a tool that I've been watching out for and I must share with you.
This is one by Clover and looks like the tiniest crochet hook ever but in fact it's not for crochet.
You can click on the photo to get a closer look.
You've probably had those annoying coloured threads between the layers of a quilt with a light background. They are a real bear to get out with a pin which can damage the fibers.
Put the end of this tool between the layers and hook out that nasty thread without damaging the quilt, brilliant I say. It's also great for the getting snagged threads through to the inside of clothing too. It won't do any harm because that end is like a tapestry needle which separates the threads as opposed to piercing them.
 
Until next time, Janet

33 comments:

Betsy said...

Janet, your projects are stunning! What do you think about cutting the leaves on the go cutter?

Jane in Cumbria said...

I am so impressed with your vine leaves! The Auntie Green project looks great fun, I can't wait to see more.....Love your MM block too - the centre looks fairly round to me.

Kimme said...

Janet your projects are so beautiful, all quilts i want to make, and your circle doesn't look oval so I wouldn't worry too much, we are too busy looking at those fab fingers on the leaves. And I want one of those great clover tools. It took me hours to pick out red threads from my vortex quilt!

Shirley said...

I have one of those hooks Janet and have used it several times and it works beautifully. I use it mainly to pull threads back into the quilt that somehow find their way out onto the surface. Love the stitching. I can tell you love it too.

antique quilter said...

looking good, challenging for sure.
love the newest MM block....I have to get mine out again. you should see the box of scraps I have to look thru for the leaves :)
Kathie

ria vogelzang said...

Such gorgeous applique!
Thanks so much for showing it to us!

Unknown said...

Janet I am Loving your Auntie Quilt it is Lovely...
Hope you are keeping well..
cheers

Dorothy said...

Everything is looking wonderful. I've now got to find handwork that is ready for the pick-up and go project. The leaves was always great for that. Auntie Green is looking wonderful.

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

That tool looks very interesting!
Your Aunty Green is coming along beautifully, I am looking forward to watching its progress!

Aunt 'Reen said...

Your applique' work is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing so many beautiful pictures.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I love your projects! I also love your thread hook - I didn't know you could get them but now I do I'll be on the lookout!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I will need to be on the look out for the tool it would come in handy for sure.
beautiful, beautiful work you do

Laurie said...

The vines, the bias, the green fingers... all is so beautiful, but I am amazed by that little tool. I thought I was the only one who fished for dark threads inside a white quilt with a needle. Thanks for the tip!

Dolores said...

I do hope your temperatures cool down so that you can stitch in comfort. Thank you for showing us your progress.

Anonymous said...

That looks like a very cool tool!! Thanks for sharing.

Terry said...

Your projects all look wonderful! That crochet hook thingy sounds great! :0)

Karen said...

I love your comment "in the true style of the old quilt". This is my philosophy exactly! The quilt is going to be so gorgeous (as always). Can't wait to try that little hook - that has happened to me many times.

Pat said...

Not seeing oval at all - the circle in your MM block looks nice and round! So fun to watch your progress on the vine leaves. Interesting note - one of the ladies in a hand quilting forum I recently joined shares ancestry with Susan McCord.

Always look closely at your tool recommendations - this one looks good too and definitely worthwhile. Thank you so much and Happy Stitching.

Kaaren said...

If I could put in a request, I'd ask if I could come back in my next life as prolific as you are when it comes to applique, stitching or anything that's done with a needle. You are one amazing lady with talent that I can only dream about. I just love looking at your work and can never get enough of it.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Leave it to Clover - they have the best notions! I've been using the tiniest crochet hook I have and it's so nice to see one even smaller.

I love the look of the woven bias border. Great job! It's always nice to see what you're working on.

Janet said...

It's always exciting to see progress on your vine quilt! Your MM block looks marvelous to me. I can't wait to see more of the woven bias - it looks really interesting. You make me want to sew, and sew, and sew! :0)

Carrie P. said...

lovin' your projects.
someone at my bee just mentioned the same thing about the crochet hook. pretty great idea.

audrey said...

Thanks for the update on all your wonderful projects! Love how they're coming along.:)

Wanda - Scraphappy Blended Quilter said...

Your Mary Mannakee block looks great! You accomplish so much! Those tiny pieced leaves are incredible! It is ALL the most beautiful work! I just cut out Mary M. palm leaf pattern yesterday - for some future sewing. I'm not quite ready to start it, but it will be ready for me.

Happy Quilting!
Wanda in Oklahoma

gracie said...

Very nice...

Julia said...

Janet I am Loving your Auntie Green Quilt ..
Your making great progress with it, I look forward to seeing again with more done on it..
All those tiny leaves Janet, I don't have the patience to do that..beautiful.
Julia ♥

Pinkadot Quilts said...

The vines are looking good you will be finished before you know it! How many applique projects do you have going at once? Curious minds need to know!

Thimbleanna said...

Looks like you're hiking right along on your projects. I LOVE that free-form woven border. And thanks for the tip on the pick -- that looks like an awesome tool!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Perfection is overrated and nothing handmade is ever perfect. Your work is always so beautiful and obviously you craft with great joy and love. It shows in your projects.

Cool tool.

Heather said...

I so love following your progress on Auntie Green. Thanks for the info on the tool, I will have to keep my eye out for that one.

Lori said...

It is so nice to see a full post of beautiful quilt projects.
Love your Auntie Green border!! Your latest Mary M block is gorgeous as well.

Rachaeldaisy said...

It's always a joy to catch up on what your doing. You projects are so wonderful!!! Was that a photo of you on the Quiltsmith blog?

Kyle said...

Your appliqué is wonderful. I love the thought of " in the old style". A good reminder for me. I need that tool! I've been quilting on my red and white sampler and I'm shocked at how many random red threads have wandered into view!