quilt

Ages and ages and ages ago, (like September 2010) I started to work on my very own quilt. My mum has been making quilts for years and is amazing at it, but quite frankly I do not have the patience for complicated patchwork, one of my most treasured possessions is the quilt she made for me when I went off to uni, it is on my bed and gets used nearly everyday. I do really enjoy projects I can do on the sofa – and when I used to do Viking re-enactment I learnt to embroider.

So, I decided to make a really simple patchwork quilt which was focusing on my embroidery.

I had no idea it was going to take as long as it did, or be as such hard work as it was. I think if I had known, then I probably wouldn’t have started.

It took me through to March 2011 to complete it, although it has taken me months to get around to photographing it. As usual the light in my house is rubbish for photos.

Here it is, complete with imperfections and mistakes, because if I had gotten hung up on perfection I would have thrown a temper tantrum and it would have never been finished. I handed quilted it, as well as hand embroidery it, so this represnts hours of work about 40 minumum I think by me and about 10 hours of patient coaching and adivce from my mum.

modelled by the handsome OH (hands and feet just visible!)

I have to say I really enjoyed having a project to work with my mum on – I learnt a lot and we got to spend lots of time together, so thanks mum!

Lots of sock creatures!

On a much lighter note than the last post – after a friend brought me a book on making sock creatures for my birthday I have been making quite a few of them. They are great fun to make, just require a pair of socks, some thread and buttons/embroidery thread.

It has made me realise that I really enjoy hand sewing things and was the starter for me working on my quilt. If I have to get the sewing machine out, it turns into a major project -  I have to get it out, clear the table and, and, and….! In reality it is not that much work, but there does appear to be a mental block.

I also like projects where I can talk to my OH, or watch some TV in the evenings. To be honest I have discovered one of my favourite pastimes is working on a project on a Sunday afternoon, watching Agatha Christie’s’ Poirot. Sad really, I am only 31, not 61. Nevermind, it will be our little secret!

First of all, apologies for the photographs, I have got into the rather lazy habit of using my iPhone to take photos, rather than a proper camera. I will sort this out at some point, I promise! I have another post of iPhone pics before I start getting my act together.

Work in progress!

Here is an empty version – with the legs and body sewn.

Sock rabbit, sock monkey and sock elephant!

The monkey is for an adult – the friend who gave me the book, which is why he has button eyes, the rabbit and elephant are for a one year old and a one and a half-year old, so I thought that embroidering their eyes would be a more child-proof option!

Snug little rabbit!

This is a close up of the rabbit, who is for my niece. He is sat under the scarf I also knitted for my niece. To be honest I think she preferred the colouring crayons I also got her. Oh well!

Last, but not least: the sockodile!

And, finally the sockodile I made for my OH. This was the most complicated to make, because of his back and the teeth, which you can just about make out.

So there you go, a whole host of presents made from simple socks and a (quite) bit of time.

Baby quilt

I am finally getting around to posting about all of the Yule/Christmas presents I made. It helps that I am on half term at the moment and have a bit of time to think. You have probably guessed this as I have posted for the last couple of days. I have also written a few more posts, including on the story of stuff, so that will be coming really soon!

Cot quilt in really bright colours

I made this for my fiancee’s nephew who was born a couple of days before Christmas. I love, love, love this fabric. Using my mum’s sewing machine (which is a special quilting one) I can make this look like a proper quilt. Actually, it is two bits of fabric with wadding in the middle and then I quilted on the fabric lines.

Basically its all a cheat, but I think it looks so cool and bright! I would be delighted to have this. I bought too much fabric as I hadn’t figured out it was a cot panel when I was in the shop, so I have enough to make another 2. One is going to be for a friend who is expecting in July and the other will be made into a wall hanging for my niece’s 1st birthday.

Close up - each block is a letter of the alphabet, with an animal illustrating it

I was so pleased with this – it is sooo bright and funky!