Christmas Stockings

A friend of mine from Sunday Stitchers belongs to a group - Knitting 4 Brisbane's Needy (K4BN).  

Each year they supply stockings with lollies to the "needy". 
This year they are likely to provide at least 6,500.
I had thought I could knit one stocking a week for her - mmmm - somehow that didn't happen - so I decided I could easily make 50 little felt stockings - here they are:

I used a decorative stitch in silver for the top and then just sewed around in red, adding a ribbon.

It was a very fluffy job.

FNSI - October

Yay For Fridays -the end of the week and time for relaxing, unwinding and sewing.

Tonight I crocheted while watching TV - BH&G.  I make crochet or knitted squares to give to a friend who makes them into blankets for the needy.  I find this a good thing to do in the car during the short trip to work - or on  a longer trip - and also when my head is just too overloaded to do some stitching.  I used to only knit them, but the crocheted one grow so much faster and are easier to carry around (since the crochet hook is a lot smaller than the needles).

After BH&G was finished I continued on with another project. 
I bought a new sewing machine in August - it also does machine embroidery - so to make sure I get the most out of the machine I signed up for 3 classes - we had to make a quilt and then quilt it.  The pattern was chosen for us - its quite a dense pattern and probably not one I would have chosen - but it has been a great learning tool - I seriously need to work on placement and lining up the patterns - but I did intend this to be a sampler and it will probably be donated to an aged care home or similar.

I still have a lot more blocks to stitch - 11 minutes per block (and I cannot count how many bobbins of thread!!!) - so I read or trace patterns or hand stitch while its happening.

Thanks to Wendy for rounding us up again - although I probably would have done some sewing without FNSI - it makes me get back to my blog - I have some serious catching up to do!

Click here to find everyone else - there is always a huge variety of projects.

No Fuss Stitch-a-Long progress

Today was a meeting with Sunday Stitchers.  It's a great hand stitching opportunity so I took my blocks for Ruth's Quilt - doing this in conjunction with the No Fuss Stitch-a-Long.
I finished two blocks today.

Added to these already done...makes a total of 7. 

 Happy with that - as Christmas approaches there will be other things to occupy my hands so it's good that I am a bit ahead of "schedule" - though really it's a very loose arrangement - there are no rules over at No Fuss and certainly NO Quilt Police.  

FNSI - September

Apparently it's footy finals time - yippee...(as in nearly the end of the season)

There are two adult males living here at the moment - two football games on - two TVS - so I was "stuck" in my sewing room...so sad.

Once dinner was over and done with - just in time for the 7:50pm start - I escaped - music on - a few emails and a bit of tidying up done - then into some stitching.

I finished off block 4 for Ruth's Quilt.

I do find sitting on a regular chair means I am not as likely to drift off....so tonight was more productive than most Friday nights.

Thanks to everyone for keeping me company - thanks as always to Wendy for hosting us.  I hope to catch up with some fellow FNSIers over the weekend.

And in case you care -  I believe the right teams won (ie Cats, Broncos) - even though the Ref/Umpire didn't do everything right in the AFL game.  

Ruth's Quilt - No Fuss Stitch-a-Long

Some things just "happen" . . 

Helen of the Tuesday girls decided she would make Ruth's Quilt - over a period of time...the other Tuesday girls were quick to join ...then it spread to the Sunday Stitchers group...now it's the No Fuss Stitch-a-Long and an IG tag #nofussstitch

I had the book - so I joined in (got sucked in...)   I found fabrics sitting around - planned for another project which is not likely to happen for many a day if at all now....

bought some background fabric and found a Cottage Garden Thread (#408) in my collection.I've traced a row of the stitcheries - Here are 2 that are finished:

and I have cut plenty of rectangles ready for sewing together when the mood strikes - or in between other projects...maybe a leaders & enders project for now.

The "plan" on the blog is just 3 stitcheries a month and a finish in 15 months.  At the rate most of us are going it will be easy enough.

If you would like to join in - the book is available from overseas but - maybe your friends might have a copy??  or just ask around...

Pop over here if you'd like to join and share your progress.

FNWF - September

I am still on Annual Leave (and recovering from a jam packed sewing retreat) so I was able to do a bit of sewing stuff during the day as well as at night time.

I am booked into a series of classes learning how to use some whizz bang techniques on my new machine - and for homework (!!!) I have to make a disappearing 9 patch quilt.
Part of my FNWF was making the first set of squares:

Whilst sewing I saw this message on my machine:

Love it - and you can even set when the warning message appears - mine is set for half a metre.

Thanks Cheryll again for hosting and organising us all.  Pop over here for the linky of all who joined in.

Retreat Day 5

Sadly, our last day - and only half a day.

Nolene finished off this quilt - Louise named it "Mt Alford Fires".

I worked on my SAL blocks - getting ahead of schedule where I can - shhh - don't tell the whip crackers!!!!  I couldn't fir the 3rd row on the table - but I it will get there.

I also made up a needle case - this is the current Tilda project from Quirky Quilts

(I changed it a bit - of course!!!)

Louise & Maureen were both busy for the remaining time, but no additional finishes.

The final tally board:

I think collectively we all did a great job. 

Watch out girls - remember I have the post it notes and I will be asking about progress next year.

We are all booked in for 2018...I wonder how many sleeps til then . . 

Back to semi-reality now - and back to work on Monday....

Retreat Day 4

The numbers are dropping slowly....by the end of tonight - only 5 left - we started with 12.

Some more finishes:

 My SAL block for August

 Dianne's gorgeous Pierrot doll

 Nolene's jelly roll quilt

 a very dedicated grandma's efforts - all up 8 dresses for 2 grand daughters.

 Louise's baby quilt

 Maureen's embroidered quilt as you go quilt - the embroideries were started in 1986 - who's counting??   They are designed by Margaret Rolfe.

My baby quilt - not finished but at the "planned" stage:

Finally for tonight - the Tally Board

Not too many to go!!!

and still a morning.

Retreat Day 3

To start:  A bit of Show & Tell
One of our "newbies" brought along some dolls to show us:
The heads are from the 1930s - made of paper mache.  The bodies are newer, some of the clothing is from the 1920s.   Boudoir dolls.

Each year we organise a secret "Challenge" - 

This year we each made a non slip mat for the foot pedal of our sewing machines.
No-one has to make it...but everyone seems to play along.

I also offered another project - the teeny weeny pincushion

Here is the collection

As I was the "teacher" - my new one didn't quite make the "collection" shot, so it gets its own picture:

A group shot before some go home.

Those of us staying went to the Mt Alford Pub for dinner.  This time I had bangers & mash.

 Although we were all very busy, I don't seem to have too many pictures, but here is the Tally Board at the end of day 3.

There are still 8 of us staying on , so there will be more tags moved over on Monday & Tuesday.

Retreat Day2

Some finished projects from Day 2

Gail's bag

Donna's Toolys

Maureen's Love Faith & Hope

Rachel's I Spy

and the tally board: