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

FLEA MARKET BOXES

   It's been a strange couple of weeks.  Firstly, we did not get away to the Gold Coast as planned.  Staying home was not a problem for me, as I had plenty of sewing to keep me happy!  During the week Brisbane was hit by a terrible dust storm.  It was a horrible day.  Red dust absolutely everywhere!  We stayed indoors with everything shut up tight, but still every benchtop, cupboard, book-case and floor was covered in a fine layer of red dust.  We started cleaning up, but then the weather report suggested we might get another storm by the week-end.... and sure enough on Saturday afternoon the wind picked up and the storm arrived through the night.  It was very hard to breathe and once again our home was covered with red dust.    I think the big clean-up can wait a few more days!  We have had water restrictions here for a long time, but it looks like they will be lifted for a few days so we can hose down our homes and cars etc etc.  So looks like next week will be a "housework" week!

   My quilting project for the past few days has been the Flea Market Boxes quilt.  I have had the blocks cut out for months, all neatly packed in a zip-lock bag, so it was an easy quilt to work on.  I'm making it for my Niece Mahala.  I think she will love the retro fabrics and the brightness of the quilt.  

 I have joined a siggy swap with Annelies van den Bergh in The Netherlands and have sent my first siggy away this week.  The block is from the "Dear Jane" quilt, block D13 - square in a 

square.

Yesterday we went down to the Gold Coast for an afternoon swim and coffee.  It was lovely down there and even though it was only for the day, it made up for not getting down there last week.

It's back to school on Monday and I am happy to see the end of this school holiday.  Next Friday my friends and I are heading off to the Gold Coast for a "girls week-end".  We are stopping at a few patchwork shops and having our own "ruler workshop" - we have so many rulers that we want to play with.... wave ruler, x-block ruler, wonder-cut ruler .... so many rulers and so many quilts we could make with them!!!!!  But! first we have to figure out HOW to use them!!  We'll have lots of fun I am sure.

I'm off to cut the backing for the Flea Market Boxes quilt so I can get it finished over this coming week-end,

Happy Sewing!