Christmas is not far away ...

... so I thought I had better get a start on some items.

First I wanted to make some Christmas Stockings for my grandaughters.

 I had a template cut out of thick cardboard. I layered two calico inner layers, two bamboo wadding layers, and one fabric background.

 I layered each fabric in the right position to cut all out at once.

I used fabric markers to write Cooper's name on calico for the cuff.

Cooper chose all the colours. For the main centre block, cooper choose a purple / teal mini block that I had made with left-over sections from Amy Gison's BOM blocks - I never waste anything!

I had a variety of different width strips pre cut, and some odd shaped left over Christmas fabrics to use.

I continued to add pieces to fit.

I layered the background with the bamboo wadding and one calico inner lining to quilt.

I did a plain straight criss-cross pattern

It was easier to rule the criss-cross lines.

 The finished front.

 For Coopers stocking I sewed back and front right sides together and turned it out.

This made it very bulky around the edges, so when I made Ava's I used binding to add the front to the back.

 For Ava's stocking I chose my favourite block - log cabin - as the main centre block.

 Ava's is now in the post, so I hope it gets to her before Christmas.

 As I like to use an anchor cloth and I had lots of strips of Christmas material cut, I decided to make some string piece blocks.

I cut 9" squares out of a catalogue and sewed stripes on a diagonal.

Each time I needed an anchor, I sewed another strip :).

 Happy sewing

Allison

Modern Mystery Part 3

Part 3 was similar to Part 1, only an extra rectangle around the first 2. I made 18 of these.

Now to wait for Part 4 - half way - woo hoo.

Happy Sewing
Allison

Catching up on Craftsy BOM - May

Been so busy and once I had finished reports, well the first stage of reports - I decided to catch up on some sewing. May Craftsy BOM was first on the list.

 First was to fussy cut a center for the block. 

It is a log cabin block - and I love log cabin blocks.

This is the finished block - well......................

I wasn't so happy with it, so went back to the instructions.

Yes..instructions - and I read them incorrectly. So back to the sewing machine.

So this time I did it according to the instructions.

 ...and it looks much better.

 The second May block was named a wonky log cabin.

I actually made the two blocks at the same time. I used each one as an anchor cloth the other.

This block is more like a crazy patch block and it would have been better if I had used more irregular shapes like a crazy patch.

I like it, but may re-do it later as a real crazy patch.

 This is my anchor cloth. I have always used an anchor cloth and feel it helps with each end of the block pieces and tends to stop stitches falling out.

Happy sewing.