Jingle All the Way

The Sunday Stitchers UFO Challenge was #1 for March.  So out came Jingle All the Way.

This is a machine embroidery design from Kimberbell.
I started this at my local quilt shop in January 2018. I had it almost done in August 2018 (missing a block and the borders)......but once home from retreat, it went back into the “black hole”.

But now the top is done, so sometime I will need to think about quilting it.....or having it quilted.....

When the embellishments are on I will do some close ups.  
There are lights on the houses, bows on the presents..... 

I really like the snow globes...

Like everyone, my world has changed.

On the plus side;
I still have a job, I can/must work from home, so no need to get dressed in work clothes....though I do NOT stay in PJs all day.
I can either work longer hours   OR spend commute time sewing or walking the dog.
Dog is loving me being home all the time.

No friends or family have been affected health wise or job wise

On the negative side;

shopping is so much harder

sewing gigs are cancelled

hairdresser and beautician are closed (on the plus side I save $$$$$)

the economy will go down the tubes and it will be a long time til we recover

This is not the place to get into the "what ifs" etc . . .just my take on it for now.

I do have more sewing time and am busily working on my #2 for Sunday Stitchers and will have it ready by the Due Date...and won't show it before that.  

I am also getting through a lot of crocheting so will have a huge bag full to handover when I can.

Stay Safe

Stay Home

Wash your hands

Elbows to all

FNWF - March

As is often the case, a quick and easy meal for dinner.  Then watching Better Homes & Gardens.  I started off a new crochet block.

Then into SSS....I am trying to get my #1 project for Sunday Stitchers UFO list done, so added in the last 2 blocks to the top, and prepared both borders.....Too late in the night to iron and measure and cut and sew etc.....but it’s ready for Saturday night sewing. (hopefuly)

I hope you were all happy and as productive as possible.

Many thanks to Cheryll for encouraging us. Pop over here to catch up with the others.

I have a bonanza weekend of sewing - time for the first Saturday group 

and the second Sunday group.

It's hard to fit in domestics like grocery shopping. Thankfully, shops are open til late on Saturday nights these days.

Wonder if I will be able to buy toilet paper?

Retreat Day 4

And today we have:
Inca's Leaders & Enders Charity Quilt top

Louise's Bread basket

 Alison's Jelly Roll Quilt #1

 & #2

Maureen's Tilda blocks from Tula Pink's 100 modern quilt blocks

Finally something from me - Jingle All the Way Quilt top with one star block to go

 Another dress from Erica

 Maureen's Table topper

 Cheryl's crochet rug

  
Belle & Pearl - these girls go on one yearly outing.

Most of my time here has been spent machine blanket stitching these blocks...still a way to go - but I've made good progress.

 Just a few hours of sewing on Tuesday ....then sadly we wait 12 months to return.

Saturday at the Chookshed Party

Today at Loose Threads - I took my Best Friends Forever project - one of those long term - pick it up when nothing else is ready - projects.

I didn't get a lot done as for some of the day some of us helped one of the group who makes stoles for Communions - so we sewed some decorations on for her.

Tonight I did a bit more on Jingle - put a few more bits together....

and then decided I better get quilting a baby quilt that will be due to be delivered sometime this month.

Wonder if I will be able to sneak in any more sewing tomorrow??

I am sure the real party goers are having a ball - hopefully they are sewing as much as they are talking and drinking!!!!

Chookshed Party Time

Chookyblue is having a Chookshed Party this weekend - and has invited all to participate via blogland.

Who needs an excuse to sew?? especially on a Friday night ???

I indulged in a bit of cross stitch whilst watching Better Homes & Gardens

Then into SSS I drifted...

I decided to put all the blocks for Jingle All the Way up to work out what extra bits need to go where - naturally I could have stuck to the pattern and the kit - but - me?? nah - I do like to challenge myself!!!!

I started here:

and sewed a few together and cut some of the extra bits and stuck them up on the design "wall".

I would say to Chooky & friends - Have a great time!!! - but I know they will be - drinks, nibbles, good food & good company and hopefully plenty of sewing.
Tomorrow is Group #1 (Loose Threads) sewing day so more sewing on the horizon.

Jingle All the Way progress

Once a month a I go to a class to work on "Jingle All the Way" - a machine embroidery quilt designed by Kimberbell.

I did the first class (January) back here - just before the Australia Day long weekend - so was able to get through a lot of the homework for that month.  Since then things have gone down hill a bit.

This month (May)- we had three house blocks to make and as I had pre cut my fabrics I was able to get 2 done in the class and have now finished the third one....

In February we made flying geese - "In the Hoop" - this is a very accurate method - very similar to paper foundation piecing.  But it does use a lot of fabric...and there is a bit of waste.
There are 4 sections in total and I have made them all.

It was perfect timing as I was able to then use the same method to make the flying geese for a border on a Round Robin quilt - more on that later . . . .

In March we made Snow Globes - 2 of the required 4.  They each have loose items in them - so you can shake them up a bit to move the sparkly bits around.

In April we made chenille trees - 3 of the required 4.  (I haven't "roughed" them up yet.)  There are also 2 stockings with chenille tops to do.

So, you can tell I have some catching up to do - as well as what I still need to finish of the actual embroideries - there are also quite a lot of pieced blocks to make, which should be fairly quick & easy - once I have prepped them!!-

I'm enjoying the classes and I do learn things - tips & tricks - as I go....just need to catch up so I am ready for the "putting together" class......
And I can use bits of these blocks for other projects - for example the houses have fringed wreaths on the door - I have only fringed the one on the black house - but I can see me using that on another Christmas quilt that is on the To Do list.  And the flying geese pattern was very useful.

Next month we are making free standing "lights" to adorn the houses....really looking forward to that one too.

Quilt Class begins

I enrolled in a class to make a quilt - a Christmas quilt - I have told my self - again and again - NO MORE CHRISTMAS QUILTS - 

but I got sucked in with this picture:

(Can't resist houses   -   or trees - and there are a few of them too)

To justify this - I will be learning all sorts of features on my new monster machine...although I had an embroidery machine before I had not had any lessons, just picked things up as I went - or asked those in the know.
We will be doing a lot of applique blocks and "In the Hoop" blocks.

Here is what I achieved in Lesson 1 

This is "applique in the hoop" - the machine stitches an outline of the number 2, then you place a piece of fabric over the shape - another outline stitch is done - then you remove the whole thing from the machine and trim away the excess fabric - that is quite tricky around those curves - then you put it back in the machine and it does the satin stitch...not a process to be rushed...and "apparently" I should have had some tear away underneath it as well...next time!

We also had a 9 patch block to make but I can do them separately.....so, although we didn't achieve a lot of finished blocks - I did learn quite a few things and there was a bit of information that had to be shared before we started..
Here is an idea of what it might look like when I've finished.  We are using a few different fabrics, but mainly the same.



AND I was given homework for next month - some candy canes and leaves & berries and peppermint twists ..etc!!!
But fortunately this has been a long weekend so by Sunday night I have manged all but one of the homework blocks.  That green background is so much darker than the picture.

Next month we do "in the Hoop" flying geese....but I might sneak in a practice house sometime.