A TISKET.... A TASKET..... A LITTLE DOLLY BASKET

"Boats on the Open Sea"

The Boat Quilt is now finished!  I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, especially the hand stitching.  I would like to make another one but would simplify the steps a little.  The ocean waves were a bit fiddly to stitch.  I took a long strip of the blue fabric, ironed on a strip of vliesofix, peeled off the paper backing and then cut the waves with my Wave Ruler (if you cut them with the paper still on the back, the fabric frayed up the top of each wave when you pulled the paper off).  The fabric still frayed a little so if I did make another version I would not do raw edge appliqué for the waves.  The actual pattern (found in an old magazine) did raw edge appliqué but used a template to cut the waves.

I needed a little gift to go with the Boat Quilt.  The quilt is for my little great-nephew so I wanted to make something for his big sister.....  decided on the Dolly Basket.  Geta's tutorial uses patchwork strips to make the bag but I only use two pieces-- one front and one back.  My finished measurements were approximately 15" across  X  8" down  X  5" deep (base).  I followed Geta's tutorial for all of the steps like handles and boxing the base and topstitching details.  Geta has a neat trick that makes the bag stand up so well... check out her tutorial HERE.    You could alter the measurements to suit smaller or larger dolls.

I made this basket on my Featherweight 222K... I love sewing on this machine.  I did the FMQ on it too.... such perfect stitches... front and back!  

I put a little pillow and quilt in the basket.  The little quilt has single fold binding as there is no need for double fold binding on such a small project.  I really like single fold binding, always finishes so neatly but for large quilts it's not suitable.

My current project in the making is a Farm Quilt (yes, another one!).  I'm making this one for my "one day I'll be a Grandmother" stash :-)   I do like to have lots of hand sewing and this quilt gives me plenty.   I'll be back with another Post very soon..... I've been playing with Sketchy Appliqué... and loving it!

Happy Sewing!!

Cheers from Helen

Meandering on my 222K

A dolly basket... FREE tutorial by Geta's Quilting Studio ..  Quilted Basket

Of course it needed a little pillow and quilt

A very old Blue Bunny to test drive the basket

Notice how well it stands up on its own? Geta
has a great trick to achieve this.

The backing fabric is so cute!  a little label of course and
I always include a book.  Three little bath time
fishees to keep with the sea theme.

The parcel is ready for the Post Office