Birthday surprises!

It was my birthday last week and I'm happy to say I received a few nice sewing things, so I thought I would share!

A new (to me) overlocker!  Yay!  Now I can wave good bye to raw edges forever and ever.  This picture was taken during a project - I threaded it myself and felt pretty smug about it.  Going to spend some time collecting different colours of thread.

A copy of the Harriet Bra pattern by Cloth habit, which I am currently excitedly assembling all the bits and bobs for.. After all, if I can figure out bras, I will never have to buy anything from a clothes shop again.

A copy of the book about the 1718 coverlet that I saw at the Festival Of Quilts this year.  The fabrics here are all pulled from my stash and I like the jewel-tones that are emerging.  I finally have a project to use my little pile of Oakshott cottons on!  I think I need some stripes though.  Super excited about starting this one, shan't lie!

Last but definitely not least, some custom tags.  My sister in law drew a little caricature of me and she and my brother had them made up - they are awesome!  It says 'Hand made from Beth' then on the back says its 'made from 100% free range Beth' and the care instructions are 'Eh, throw it in with the rest of the load'  They know me so well :)

First attempts at hand quilting...

Having never quilted by hand before, ever.  I honestly feel I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Turns out you can learn how to use thimbles really effectively when your fingers start to hurt.

I have no idea what I'm doing... but the results aren't horrible? I plan to get lots of practice on this as I go through all the cosy winter evenings with it on my lap.

Quilt top all done

It's my birthday next week.  I was hoping to get this top all done in time so that I could start other things as my gifts are usually new fabrics, and I am amazed to say that thanks to a big push at the last of those clam shells - I did it!

I didn't have enough space inside to take pictures of it, so I took a couple while it was all squooshed (that's a real word!) up waiting to be pressed.

 It looks so cosy.

Then I managed to get it outside with small helpers... It measures about 55"x 58".  A bit on the small side maybe, but it's big enough to cover me :P

I was concerned with the mitred corners on the clam shell border as they don't match in any way at all, probably because it's a rectangle and duh- maths.  But as I look at it now, they just don't bother me - it adds to the busy-ness of it all and I love it.  The plan now is to hand quilt it over the winter in the evenings, just need to motivate myself to do that pesky basting stuff, oh and choose a backing. 

:)

The End of Summer Report.

The elder children have returned to school after a long summer. Hopefully I will start finding a little more time to sew now.  I did finish the boys much needed winter knitting just in time for this colder weather.

The jumper is a pattern by Stylecraft knitted up in Stylecraft Wondersoft and James C Brett Stonewash DK.  I like the subtle striping that came out of mixing up a solid and a non solid colour, I will probably do that again.  The hat is just 2x2 rib in leftover aran weight yarns, it sports a massive 10cm bobble that I made with a proper pompom maker instead of the old fashioned cut-a-couple-of-rings-out-of-cereal-boxes method that my Nan taught me.  I have to say, the pompom maker is loads better than my old method (sorry Nan).  I like how they came out and the boys like being warm, so everyone is happy.

Clam shells continue.. 

I have almost completed 3 of the 4 sides now.  I have about 3 clam shells left to sew onto the 3rd side - it's slow going but I am really enjoying the mindfulness of it.  In fact I have enjoyed the handwork so much that I am going to quilt it by hand too.  Now I know I said I wouldn't buy new stuff but I have never done it before and had to spend the last week or so acquiring the bits and bobs to do it with.  That doesn't count right? Because it's for an ongoing project? Right? Right.