Search This Blog

I am a quilter living in Woodbridge, Suffolk who has made quilts since I was a teenager. I also ring bells! Both are great British traditions....I will try to feature some of my antique Welsh and Durham quilts, the quilts I make myself, my quilting activities and also some of my bellringing achievements. Plus as many photos as I can manage. NB: Double click on the photos to see greater detail, then use back button to return to the main page.













Sunday 7 April 2013

Progress on quilts...

Well, its been a very busy few weeks for me...as you know, I work as a bookkeeper, and the HMRC is introducing a new payroll system/routine in April. I'll be really glad when all is settled in and the yearend reports are sent off!

Progress has been made on the two "quick" quilts (do we really believe that phrase?)


For Tom and Lily's quilt, the blocks are mostly made, I just have to arrange them and then sew together in rows. This has worked pretty well and the seam joins have been no problem..or maybe I'm just getting better...


The other quilt is looking good too - all sewn together...


The cathredral windows blocks are mostly sewn down....we had the AGM of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers yesterday, and I took the oportunity to make the six Suffolk Puffs, will have to sew these on. I will probably sew on a border to this quilt - or make it a bit larger. I have more charm squares left.

Sophie and I skyped the other day - she is coming back from Singapore in May for a good friend's wedding - Laura - and we agreed that this quilt could be a wedding present.  The new Ipad makes Skype so easy and it was easy to look at the partially finished quilt together.


I also did a little experuiment and made some "dryer balls" - essentially felted wool balls that go in the clothes dryer to help the drying process. Essential oils can be used and these supposedly hasten the drying process and can replace fabric conditioner... I had a lot of wool odd and ends so I thought that I would have a go - this is Icelandinc Wool....
 The wool balls are the size of a tennis ball and have the ends darned in...they are then washed on the hottest setting, in nylon tights, so that the wool felts....

Here is the result -  not as pretty as the example I saw on the internet - the cats were not impressed and refused to play. I will try them in the dryer, but suspect that I have used a wool with too long a staple. They look a bit hairy or is that hoary - the last thing I need on my clothes is extra fibres - two cats see to that in this house!

5 comments:

  1. Hi, I'm a teacher and used to live in Felixstowe but now live in Harlow. I just love your quilts

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never done a cathedral windows quilt but you certainly have made this one look tempting~!!~

    :-)
    libbyQ

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Pippa. Thought I recognised your 'quick' quilts. I've was inspired by the It's Quicker by Tube one too and it has been great fun. Don't know if I can post a pic on comments but happy to e mail. About 50% free motion quilted so far.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've posted a pic of mine here http://firstquiltsteps.blogspot.co.uk/ Thanks for getting me going on the blog again,; other things took up all my energy for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A fabulous cathedral window quilt there. I wonder if your felted balls are a little too large to get he cats playful?
    Maybe making them smaller would make them tighter and neater after washing?

    ReplyDelete