I Spy Quilt

Another I Spy quilt finished.  Black isn't something I would normally choose for the border but it was hard finding something to work with this one ................

 

 

  

I don't yet have enough different squares for another on but there's plenty of UFOs and other "must do things" to be getting on with.  

The knitting bucket looks better with the handle shortened a bit .........

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Bits & Pieces

A couple of bedroom cushions.  The buttons too large to use the automatic buttonholer on the Juki, I used the "two step" program ......... it was a disaster, stopping and changing to a bar tack whenever it felt like it!  I've not had cause to use that machine for buttonholes before so I need to have a really good play before I attempt them again!

Another colourwash I Spy Quilt in the making - I've got so far as piecing the top:

A few pieces of fabric which I hope will combine to make a pretty bag (my current project):

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I Spy Quilt Finished ..............

The last stitch on the binding finished literally just seconds before Kate arrived at the abbey.  My first quilt and no matter where it ends up I'm always going to remember when I made it or else what I was doing when William and Kate married.

 

Though I loved it as it was, I had to wash and dry it if only to see for myself how it would behave should it find a new home.  A couple of colour catchers in the machine (half hour 30 degree cycle with a low spin) picked up quite a bit of dark blue and there was quite a bit of shrinkage.

Though I really, really like it there is still room for improvement.  Quilting "in the ditch" with one of the general feet I have was not as easy as I thought.  Some of the stitching isn't quite in the ditch and it shows more than I would like - particularly in the darker areas.  Maybe I should have used a different stitch length and/or perhaps tightened the tension a little more?  It's been a great learning curve and I still have much to learn.  Having chosen a beige thread, I feel I could have gone darker too.  Still, it's not exactly a showpiece so probably not that bad for a first effort!

I'll have to look out for a good patchwork/quilting book - one that explains/advises on the tensions/threads/stitching/feet etc..

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Quilt Top Done .........

All pieced and pressed ............... my first I Spy Quilt top

There's a few bits I would have moved and a couple that perhaps don't sit so well but which I was determined to include because I like them.  Damn I am just too finicky for my own good sometimes.  It's not going to be hung on a wall and, after all, it's the "I Spy" game that's the important thing ............. lots of different novelty prints!

This will be my first every quilt.  I've quilted bags and done some experimental stuff but not an actual quilt.  It might not be bed sized at 48" square but a quilt it is.  I don't have a walking foot so have got some fusible wadding which I hope will minimise shifting whilst machining - time will tell no doubt!

Now to work out the binding.  What to use?  Straight or bias?  How wide in which case will the wadding and backing need to be bigger?  Some googling is in order I think to see if there are better ways to do it than my way which happens to be no idea at the moment!

I do wish I hadn't started messing about with the template/colours of my blog a short while ago as I can't seem to get it with anything I'm happy with now .......... a few hours playing about with the options is needed!
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The First I Spy Quilt

 Enough squares to lay out for the first I Spy Quilt ............ 256 different ones

 

It was difficult trying to fit it all in the pic (next time I'll try and remember to stand on a chair) but it's enough for me to see what's happening and can spot a few that will probably get moved around in the next day or so before starting to stitch but not too much as it's so easy to get just too finicky.  I have plenty of squares towards a second quilt already but have to get this one out the way first and need to collect more of certain colours ........... I kind of struggled with pinky girly ones in particular.

Update:  Changing a few around (apologies for rubbish pics but I can't move this around into a different light .......... it's just about clear enough to use as a working design) .............. 

 
I think it's just about there now.  Husband thinks I should just mix them all up and go with it but that really wouldn't be me ............. much as I might like it to be sometimes.  Can't wait to start stitching now!
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Scraps and Swaps

My first ever fabric swap.  Tahlia in the US sent me some amazing prints for my I Spy quilt.  I love them all but here's a few .................

Cherry sent me some beautiful pieces left over from the I Spy quilt she made for her grandson.  Am starting to sort all of them into colour groupings but I really must resist fiddling about with them too much as the edges will be so frayed before it's time to stitch them all together!

Ali of Very Berry Handmade organised a fabric scrap swap.  I love scraps and, as much so, the challenge of bringing them together for an actual item.  I had a beautiful package from Helen of Find a Happy Place.  As well as some pieces that are just perfect for the I Spy quilt there were a few squares that just had to stay together.  Very "Heritage" colours that I probably wouldn't buy myself ................

With a bit of jiggling, 4 x 5" squares were just enough for a "Heritage" elephant (maybe destined as a scissor keeper) with just a little bit of machine stitching in keeping with the Heritage theme and not detracting from the fabric too much ...................

Part of my personal challenge with the fabric scrap swap complete, I really must press on with the log cabin patchwork blind before it starts to become a chore more than fun .............

So a special thankyou to everybody who has swapped fabrics, it has been great fun receiving the surprise packages (all of which will be put to good use) and I hope everybody enjoys the fabrics sent in return.
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I Spy Quilt Squares Swap Anyone?

Needing something "easy" to distract my mind from everday life for a bit I'm collecting fabrics for an I Spy quilt having been inspired by others I've seen recently on the web.  Deciding on 3.5" cut squares (finished size 3") to accomodate some Makower farm labels, I started to sort out my fabrics.  About 30 different novelty and kids fabrics doesn't make much of a whole in the 250+ different ones that I'd need ..............

Attempting to decorate some myself ...................

Stamping with Dye-na-flo onto cotton squares didn't make much of an impact so out with the fabric pens ...............

A couple are ok but the half inch images are making it very fiddly and time consuming so I'll probably stop there with those.  Purchasing some larger ones or print blocks is out of the question at present and defeating the object really but I might have a go at painting some larger pictures.

Would anybody like to swap some fussy cut squares of childrens and/or novelty 100% cotton fabrics?  The top picture gives some indication of the type of thing I am currently using for this project.