Wading through treacle

There are times when it doesn’t matter how many hours or effort you put into something, you just don’t see any progress or forward movement.  We have always referred to this state of affairs as “wading through treacle” and we have both had our fair share of it over the past week or so.  Chris is working really hard to get class handouts, requirements lists, and samples done in good time for our evening and Saturday classes.  Barbara thinks she’s working really hard at the same things but there has been no tangible or helpful output.   There is however some slight movement on the samples for one of our Saturday classes -

and all the units for another Drunkards Path variation (Sampler Quilt class) have been stitched and decisions need to be taken on the final arrangement

Whilst we were wading through coffee and brownies at our favourite local coffee shop

we remembered that we had said we’d post pics of 4patch sampler blocks from one of last year’s quilt.  Here’s the first batch – Carrie Nation Quilt, Hour Glass, Old Maid’s Puzzle

These are blocks taken from a quilt which began life as demo blocks at Quilts in the Garden at Trentham last year.  Definitely no wading through treacle at that time – the blocks were all together within 3 days and then went off to be quilted by those nice folks at Quilters Trading Post in Whitchurch.   It’s wonderful what some quilted texture can do to disguise indifferent piecing.  All that’s needed now is for the binding to be handstitched down – and a little less treacle on the floor!

Free Pattern

Another block in our Sew-Along Sampler has been posted on our website, www.chrisandbarbara.co.uk. This time its Old Maid’s Puzzle – lots of half-square triangles for you to play with. We sometimes wonder whether anyone out there is making any sampler blocks, or quilts from the patterns. Or are you just saving them for a rainy day? Which is what we find ourselves doing with all sorts of patterns, designs and other interesting things we come across, but somehow the promised ‘rainy day’ never arrives. Months later (years, even!) one or other of us finds a folder (that organised?! – Chris) when tidying and remembers, vaguely, meaning to make it when the right fabric was found, or ‘after these classes have finished’ and yet, here it is, still unused. Hey ho. Did you hear the old saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions? We have however been making virtual quilts on Electric Quilt using the blocks from the Sew-Along. Here are a couple of Old Maid’s Puzzles – you will find some others on our EQ Doodles page.

We’d love to see photos of any blocks or quilts you’ve made from these patterns. A sampler quilt with these blocks in does exist somewhere in Barbara’s quilt cupboard, when she finds it we’ll post a photo!

Those darn hexagons

Never post links when you’re not concentrating 100% – we’ve corrected the link we gave for the fabulous hexagons, and, just as a double check, here it is again -

http://dragonflyquilting.blogspot.com

We may just retire to a darkened sewing room for a couple of days and make bags!

Found – totally fabulous hexagons – a must-see

Following on from the vintage fabrics and hexagons we came across some completely luscious hexagon pieces on this blog

http://dragonflyquilting.blogspot.com

you’ll need to look for the February 1st post and scroll down the page but it really will be well worth it! 

First night of the new Sampler Quilt class went really well and we were so wrapped up in what was going on that we quite forgot to take pictures – must rectify that next week!  Everyone seemed to have a good time and the homework we’ve set is to make one block chosen from the 4patch patterns we’ve given them.  Here are our class samples as a reminder -

 

Sampler class starts today

We’re both doing that well-known teaching activity – filling boxes and packing  cars!  It’s the first class of our Sampler Quilt series tonight and it will probably take what feels like hours to get everything assembled and ready to go.  The venue at Stone Station is great, with a very helpful caretaker who will set out tables and chairs for us, and the parking is easy and level.  But there’s so much stuff!  The sewing machines, the display boards, the demonstration things, the handouts, the books and magazines to browse, the fabric basket, the big refreshments bag, the irons and ironing boards – by the time all this has been collected and packed into the cars, unpacked and set out, packed up and back to the car, then out of the car and back indoors we feel like we’ve done an intensive workout at the gym! 

Here are a few more of Chris’s Sampler blocks that will be on the demonstration table tonight -

Vintage fabrics and hexagons

Some of you already know that, over the years,  Barbara has gathered an assortment of vintage quilts and patchworks.  Just because we can, we thought we’d show you some close-ups from a small unfinished hexagon piece – look at the closeness and size of the stitching, not to mention the piecing of fragments to make a full patch.  The fabrics are delightful, ranging from classic small patterned chintzes to detailed roller prints, and probably encompass 1850 – 1880 in date.   Hope you enjoy the views! -

The blurry line across the bottom of this pic is a 12inch ruler, just to give an idea of scale.

More triangles

Chris’s post about triangles had an unexpected effect on the piles of stuff awaiting attention on Barbara’s worktable.  Here’s a potentially very large ufo that was begun at least two years ago and could be finished up with just one day’s focussed effort  (especially if they were given a darn good pressing first, having spent a long time stuffed into a tote bag ) ….. 

 … lots and lots of half square triangles made from an assortment of reproduction blue prints and already joined into long strips ready to be turned into a Tree Everlasting strippy quilt top.  This was one of those “make zillions of units with no plan and see what happens” projects when the rotary cutter first sliced into the fabrics, and, having been rediscovered (!) it is now sitting on top of all the other projects on the worktable and it may get made into a top very soon.  ( and, once more, pigs might fly!  Chris)

Our Sampler Class starts next week – where did the time go?!  Here are a few of Chris’s blocks  – don’t you just love the bold stripe?

Free Pattern

The latest Free Pattern in our Sew-Along sampler is now available at www.chrisandbarbara.co.uk/freepatterns. This week’s block is Hourglass and is also used in the current quilt Free Pattern on our website.

Hourglass introduces half-square triangles along with squares in the block. As their name suggests these triangles are half a square and are really easy to piece – just remember to add a 7/8 inch seam allowance to the finished size of your square.

One of the quick(ish) ways we like to use is to cut squares, draw a diagonal line on the lighter fabric, stitch 1/4 inch either side of this line, press, cut, open out and press again. An emery board is excellent as a ruler because it won’t slip onthe fabric.

Sampler blocks

A great day out at Nantwich, lots of familiar faces, lots of goods at good prices and not forgetting the bacon sandwiches!  Again, Chris had to talk for both of us as Barbara’s voice is still unpredictable and mostly absent.  Being voiceless does have its advantages though – Barbara managed to finish stitching up the Drunkard’s Path sampler block even if she did forget the original placement of the units so that it looks VERY random and unplanned!

And here’s the basic LeMoyne Star block, also finished at the weekend -

Maggi is going to do wonderful things with felt and the circles bag pattern from Saturday’s class – we’re keeping a careful watch on her blog to see all the lovely things she’s making and planning – http://todreamtostitch.blogspot.com/ - and we’d better get on and finish up our class samples into something usable.

Basically bags class

A great time was had by all – no snow or ice to negotiate, and cake as well as chocolate biscuits - everyone had at least one bag well on the way to completion by the end of the day.   Barbara had lost her voice (a blessing perhaps?) so Chris had to do even more work than usual and was looking forward to a few quiet hours at home before starting all over again at the Nantwich Fabric Sale!  We’re looking forward to seeing some of the bags doing sterling carrying service at some of the quilt shows this year …