I love to sew, mainly quilts and bags. I am 66, married to Fred and have one son, Matthew, who is 27. I enjoy embroidery and applique and prefer to machine piece and quilt my projects. I love my vintage Singer sewing machines especially my Featherweight 222K. I’m enjoying treadling on my 201K Singer and I collect Miniature Sewing Machines and currently have three Essex , one Singer 20, one Singer 40, two Vulcan Miniatures and my latest, a Grain. My love of sewing I believe comes from my Grandmother - I still have the drawings she made for me to embroider on tea towels many many years ago!
Showing posts with label Majestic Mountain blocks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Majestic Mountain blocks. Show all posts

Friday, 21 April 2017

MOUNTAIN MISHAPS

Hello!

Did you read my previous Post re how I make my Majestic Mountain blocks?  well......  I have some explaining to do!!!  and a few "things I learned when I made a mountain".......

1.  You start off making a HST and then cut that into 2" strips...... I pressed the one seam on that HST open as it does make joining each 2" strip together easier BUT...  it DID NOT help when it came to press the finished rows before joining them to the next row.  So in hindsight I should have pressed that HST seam to the dark fabric.  So that's Lesson One.


HST 
TRIM HST (IN MY CASE TO 8")



PRESS HST SEAM TO DARK FABRIC
CUT 2" SECTIONS
TURN TO MAKE ONE HALF OF A MOUNTAIN

2.  As I made each Mountain block (ie: joined the two half mountains)  I pressed the centre seam OPEN and then pressed the other seams away on each side of that open seam.  WRONG!  I would have been better just leaving each block unpressed until I had all the blocks lined up in their rows and then join the blocks into rows and THEN I could press each row in opposite directions so they would nest nicely when I wanted to put them together.  I would like to make a few samples to trial if it would be better to perhaps press the seam between blocks OPEN as that seam is quite bulky if you lay out the blocks and rows as I did with this quilt (note: there are many layout options for these Mountain quilts).  Open seams are a bit trickier to "nest" but there is just so much bulk when you come to nest those rows together.   So that's Lesson Two.


3.  I am a stickler for check measuring units, blocks and rows but I think I might have missed a few of my blocks (probably too much watching tele and sewing at the same time) as I did have a few dramas with the completed size of the blocks.  A few 1/4" seams were very "full" so I then had to trim down a few rows so they met nicely with the next row.  Measure each segment as you go - in this case, measure the two halves of your mountain, ensuring you have your 1/4" seam at the points of the mountain.  Measure the whole Mountain once you have the two halves together.  If each segment, unit, block is check measured, your rows will go together so much easier!  So that's Lesson Three.

JOIN TWO SECTIONS AND CHECK MEASURE
(IN MY CASE 3-1/2" X 8")
JOIN THE TWO UNITS TOGETHER AND CHECK MEASURE
(THIS UNIT NOW MEASURES 6-1/2" X 8")
MY ONE HALF UNIT ALL READY, FINGER PRESSED

So back to my quilt.....   I now have my rows together and today I purchased a border fabric so that will go on over the weekend I hope.  Then the tumbler border.

Happy Sewing!
Cheers from Helen

NOTE:  I HAVE PUT WORD VERIFICATION BACK ON AND HAVE HAD TO LIMIT WHO CAN COMMENT - TERRIBLE SPAM COMMENT YESTERDAY.






Sunday, 9 April 2017

My Mountains

Here is how I make my Majestic Mountain blocks -   If you only use one set of squares and you are using stripes or plaids, you will end up with your stripes and plaids going in different directions in the one Mountain block.   I didn't like that so I cut two sets of squares so I can have my stripes and plaids going the same way and I end up with two Mountain blocks.  I spray starch my fabrics prior to cutting out my squares.  These fabrics come from Op Shop / Thrift Store second hand mens shirts, all cotton.  I try to buy XL shirts with long sleeves.

In this set my dark pink stripe is vertical 
Place a check square RST with pink square - my squares are cut 8-1/2" square


 
Cut on the diagonal- I use the 45 deg angle on my ruler. 
 
This set has the dark pink stripes running horizontally - my 
black plaid was not directional  - cut this set on the same diagonal without
moving the set, it must be cut on the same diagonal as the first set without moving or rotating
this set. 


Chain piece the triangle sets
Square up your HST to 8" and cut into 2" strips.  I don't have a photo but
I press the seam on my HST's open.  It makes it much easier when
you come to join the strips later.




Lay out the 2" strips to form your first half mountain

Joint the strips in sets of two then four and then joint the two halves together.

This is the back of one block.  I like to press the centre joining seam open and then
press the seams on each side away from the centre.

This is the block that used the horizontal stripes


and this one has the vertical stripes

I am enjoying making these blocks.  Hubby is away at present, so I've set up a sewing station out in the lounge room right in front of the tv.  Bliss!

Happy Sewing,
Cheers from Helen














Friday, 30 December 2016

I'M A FARMGIRL

Hello!

I received the book Farm Girl Vintage from my lovely friend Erica for my birthday this year.  I have been collecting fabrics and this week I have started making the blocks.


Block # 1 -  Apron Strings

I thought I had made this block incorrectly but when I looked at other blocks on Facebook I found they all looked like mine!  in the book the block looks a little different and I have figured out why.  I will make another one of these and see how that one comes out.

I found the perfect box to hold my blocks

A cute little kookaburra box to house my completed blocks.

My 222k is perfect for these little pieces

Block # 2 - Autumn Star


Block # 3 Baby Chick

I love this block - I did the Chick's legs on my cute little Essex miniature sewing machine.  It only does chain stitch so I traced the legs on the back of my patchwork block and stitched on the lines.  The chain stitch is then on the front of my block.  This is the first time I have tried this method and I'm pretty happy with the results.  Bit loopy here and there but I think it adds to the charm of the block.


Essex Miniature Sewing Machine


Holly from next door is helping me

I'm looking after Holly at the moment and this is the first time in all these years that she has come into my sewing room.  I think she's lonely plus there has been a lovely breeze coming through the door.  The overhead fan is also on!


My friends will have a laugh at this one...... Baking Day !   never happens in my kitchen!!!


Block # 4 Baking Day


I'm thoroughly enjoying the process making these blocks.  Yes they are small pieces (some teeny tiny ones) but I like to challenge myself with different techniques and methods.  I'm not rushing this project, I have all year if I want to take that long!


Block # 5 Butter Churn
Christmas was very pleasant.  We had a cool day for a change (it's usually scorching hot and humid) with some rain showers.  Lovely!  I'm now the proud owner of a Dyson Stick Vacuum cleaner...... and I'm not afraid to use it :-)    It's a great little cleaner - perfect for our home and lifestyle!  Some would say that it's not an exciting Christmas gift......  well I think it's perfect!  I needed a lighter vacuum cleaner and this one is just right! it's very powerful too!



I've had a pleasant few days in my sewing room this week and apart from the Farm Girl blocks I have also made another Majestic Mountain block....
Majestic mountain block - made with recycled cotton shirts

I really must get this one done ! - By Air, By Rail, By Sea.
I'm up to the By Air row
Machine blanket stitch on my Brother Quilters Edition

I did a bit more on the By Air, By Rail, By Sea quilt - two clouds to be exact!   I'm making this one for my brother to gift to his grandson (my great-nephew Amos)  .... I really must get a move on!  I've been making this for over a year now!
Pavlova!  what more can I say? :-)
My sister makes the best desserts!

Cheers from Helen


Sunday, 5 June 2016

SEWING AND SEWING AND SEWING



Farm Quilt for our neighbour's granddaughter

Hello!

Thought I would do a catch up on my sewing of late.....  let's start with the Mothers Day Sales Table sewing I did for my Craft Group.....
Market Bag 


Sewing Project Bag ?  knitting bag?
Vintage Doily Bag
another Vintage Doily Bag

Bookmarks made using the Double Diamond Ruler

Keyring

Sewing Station

Sewing Station

Sewing Station

Pin Cushion

Infinity Scarves

Needle Books

Inside the needle books

List Taker

Inside List Taker

Magnetic Needle Minders


Other sewing.....   I've had heaps of fun making Majestic Mountain blocks using recycled mens shirts from the Op Shop...  these are such fun to make!   Check out Bonnie Hunter's free pattern here

My Leaders and Enders project... tumbler blocks using the mens op shop shirts!

Another Majestic Mountain block

and another

Another Bonnie Hunter inspired project...  string piecing on phone book papers!  I'm using
Selvedges

One days work!

You can't stop once you start making these!!

Up to the pinning and quilting of my Boats quilt... this one is for my
ODIBAG stash (one day I'll be a Grandmother)  

My new bag!!  naturally made with my selvedge string blocks!
Submarine tee shirt for Amos

My latest hand sewing project ..  little planes on winter tee shirt



Cupcake bag for Maisy
Popsicle Posies quilt, still working on this one

Flea Market Boxes - up to quilting this one
I'm sure I've missed a few things, but you get the idea!  lots of sewing going on at Aunty Henny's.

Happy Sewing!
Cheers from Helen