From the weekend.

I'm a day late posting the latest number of klosjes but here's the next twenty which brings the total to 149. I have to repeat fabrics but that doesn't bother me, it'll still look scrappy. 

It was a gorgeous sunny day yesterday so we headed off down south for a drive. I went to a shop called Japanache which sells antique homewares, furniture and Kimono's. They also have a small collection of patchwork fabrics and I came home with these. Don't ask me what they're for because even I don't know. They have texture in the weave and the red one is my favourite.

Another stop at the patchwork shop and these were picked to come home with me. There was a sign on the door which said absolutely no photography allowed so sadly I think that spells the end of showing off any shops here.

You might have seen the purses and needle keepers I sent to Kathie on her blog. These are the items I made for myself awhile ago that came with a pattern. The scissor case was too big so I made a smaller one but it's not practical since the scissors fall out.

This is the inside of the needle keeper. You put your thumb on the reel of thread and take out the last threaded needle to quilt or hand sew with. Then you take the next one and so on. If your eyes aren't good, you can get someone to thread them for you ready for a stitching session. The pattern for this item apparently dates back to 1849. I recieved one similar about twelve years ago in a secret Santa swap.

The accessories came with the pattern for the giant mother of all pincushions. You can get the pattern here.

Thank you to all who take the time to leave me a comment, they make my day. I reply to all of them unless you are set as no reply blogger. If you don't hear from me that's the reason. Some ask questions that I can't reply to and I'd feel bad if you thought I was ignoring you.

The links to my tutorials, including my applique techniques are on the side bar. If you click on them it'll take you to the post. This is for those who've asked.

What a week.

I had a crummy week last week,  but this week is more than making up for it. I felt like a bit of wool therapy, just enough so that my blinkers would stay on my current projects. It only took a couple of hours to whip up this gnome and it makes me smile so what better reason could I have to make it?
The pattern is free here and if you want to see what one hundred of them look like check this out. 

I had wanted to buy some flowers last Sunday and couldn't find anything that I wanted to bring home. Mr Quiltsalott bought this gorgeous Moth Orchid home for me on Monday. He heard me a long time ago when I said I was looking for the huge original classic white one with it's big blooms.

Then my cactus decided to flower.

That's not all folks, I got luscious mail from Liz at Broderie. I had won a giveaway to celebrate her 200th post and I nearly fainted when I opened the surprise package. Be still my heart! Check out the perle threads. Their varigated loveliness had me playing, arranging them according to colour, sigh, talk about overwhelmed.

That wasn't all, there's more. Kaffes, and one I didn't have and another that I'd run out of, double sigh, doing the happy dance.

If that wasn't amazing enough, there was this cute panel too. Something to make for the grandchildren. Thanks Liz, you made my week extra, extra special.

On the sewing front,  I finished three applique blocks.

I'm so happy with the progress I'm making, those blinkers are working. Four rows, five to go.

This one funny photo of a portion of the back of my work is for another Janet (no blog) who asked to see it.

I've been hanging out with handsome men too, Richard Armitage.

And Patrick Swayze, from the miniseries, North and South. Yup, he's in 24 hours of period drama with amazing costumes to boot.

My applique tips

Tip #1 The invisible stitch.

I keep control over my stitching by holding my work between my thumb and forefinger close to my stitching.

The tip of the needle slides down and slightly under the seam allowance.

The stitch is taken behind the thread that has just come through. This is to make sure the stitch you take next  is perpendicular to the stitch already taken. The needle goes through at an angle and if you take the stitch in front or opposite the thread, the stitches will end up being angled and you don't want that.

As the stitch is taken, I use my left hand to fold down the work and bring my needle up. This will ensure that you are catching the background fabric and makes the stitch easier to take. Pick up a couple of threads in the seam allowance, not on the top of the applique piece. Practice and it will become natural after awhile.

Not every stitch I take is hidden but doing it this way has improved the look of my applique over time.,

Tip #2 Controlling the tension.

Remember my puckered work around the stems? I had been pulling the thread too tight so I've fixed that problem now by paying attention when sewing on bias stems. I like to glue baste the stems in place and it's important not to stretch it when you are positioning them.

As I pull through  the thread for each stitch, my last two fingers are placed so that the thread wraps over them. This controls how tight I can pull the thread. With a bit of practice, you can get into a rhythym. You don't want the stitch to distort the applique but on the other hand you don't want the stitch too loose and popping up.

Tip #3

I like to use cotton thread but some like the YLI silk thread for applique. The silk is hard to keep in the eye of the needle because it's so fine and slippery.

Here's one way to secure the thread. Thread the needle and place the tail end between the thumb and finger. Grip it tightly. Push the sharp end of the needle through the thread to pierce it. Pull the needle all the way through and you should have it secured at the eye.

The second way is to wrap the tail end over your thumb or finger and pierce the thread with the tip of the needle. Pull the needle through.

In both cases, this is what it will look like before you pull the needle through.

I always cut my background larger than required because there will be some distortion. Don't judge your applique until it's pressed. I press on the wrong side with a folded towel underneath before trimming the block.

I hope these tips are useful to some of you. I don't consider myself as all knowing when it comes to applique. I consider it an ongoing learning experience and am always looking to improve.

More of the same.

I've not been myself, I've had sinusitis for two months which I thought was allergies. After a dose of antibiotics, I got better. Then we ran out of coffee, real coffee and I've been drinking the only pods we had left which were decaffeinated. Disaster! Headaches happened and in desperation, I bought coffee. At the counter there was a sign which said 1/4 strength capuccino available. What the heck is that? Why don't they call that a "don't bother coffee"? Today, the coffee arrived and I'm ready to bounce off the walls! Happiness reigns at my house once again.

I ordered two more thimble kits from Ma Mercerie in Japan that are bigger than the last one I made. I do believe my stitching is improving.

The last one I made is tiny in comparison and I think I like the bigger size. My poor eyes are surely going to thank me. Everything is bigger including the silk thread. They take me an evening to make.

This is the other kit I bought, the pincushion insert is made of wool felt and is included but there are no instructions so if you want to have a go and order something, get the starter thimble kit which has photo instructions. I want to get going on these, I'm enamoured with them and want to learn some new patterns.

I've been getting on with my applique and  I wanted to show you this block and it's big flaw. Can you see it? Well, let me just point it out in case you don't. Take a look at the background fabric behind the stems, see the puckering? Ugly, ugly, ugly but I'm not changing anything. It'll quilt out, I hope. It will won't it?

Now check out this one, as yet unfinished and not ironed. See, no puckering. I am constantly learning with applique. The problem is with the tension when stitching and the fact that I wasn't paying attention.

I have learnt a technique to control this and I'll see if I can get Mr Quiltsalott to take some photos and show you next time.

Quilting with blinkers on

I've decided to knuckle down with just a few projects at a time in the hopes that I can work faster towards an elusive finish line. I have my blinkers on and I'm not going to listen to tempting thoughts on quilt alongs, blocks of the month or the myriad of projects in the sewing room that deafen me with their calls of pick me, pick me.

First thing I decided was which project was the one that I was going to love working on the very most and the Stars and Sprigs won in the applique section. Great choice because now I have the third row of nine done.

I've been trying to make use of my Kaffe scrap box for applique pieces, I love digging around in it and finding just the right piece. The only pieces I would throw out would have be tiny.

And I have to tell you about some exciting purchases that have come in the last week. I plan to make some more of the thimble rings I posted about last time so ordered these Japanese silk threads, love the box!

Love the colours!

Beautiful Ikats from Glorious Color

Stunning shot cottons also from Glorious Color, better than a box of crayons. Now you know why I'm on a silly budget. I do have plans for some additons to complement these fabrics but they'll have to wait.

I thought I'd just try and post an applique tip now and again for those who might be interested. It might provide a little insight in how I tackle things.

First up, invisible stitches.

I don't take my stitch in the background directly across from where the thread comes out., I think that the stitch would show. Instead, I insert the tip of needle into the background behind the thread just stitched and slightly under the seam allowance.

When I come up into the applique piece again, I aim to come up at the bottom of the seam allowance, not into the applique. So aim for the seam allowance and see if that makes a difference to the stitches. When I take that stitch, I'm only picking up two or three threads on the needle.

For the following photos, you can click on them to get an even closer look. Often with the Kaffe Fassett fabrics, thay have more than just one colour, I choose thread to match the dominant colour or go for a tan or grey thread. I love to use Mettler cotton, 60 weight embroidery thread.

For this one, I chose a gold.

This one was stitched with a tan thread.

I'll see you next time with an update on how I'm going. Until then, happy stitching!