Slow Progress

I'm struggling to get going today, so far this morning I've ripped out the paper from one row of quilting and I've started sewing another row. I've also been for a walk, had lunch and then had a post-lunch nap. Better get to it if I'm going to make any real progress today :o).

Glace - Quilting Started

I've done a little of the quilting on Glace over the last few weeks, but it's been slow progress. However, we've got a Christmas Quiltalong coming up on Saturday, so I'm hoping to hit it hard :o). I've done the most difficult one down the centre, each row should be easier than the last.

Glace - Top is Together

I've spent the last couple of days off and on putting the blocks together and I'm pleased with how it's looking - the dark red around the outside was definitely the right choice. OH says it looks very rich and Christmassy. We're off on holiday for a few days (a short break in Brecon), but I'll be thinking about the borders and should have come to a decision by the time I get back. Actually, I think I've already decided, but I'll let it stew for a bit longer. Then I'll need to get searching for a holly pantograph for the centre. If I use the dimples red for the large border, I'll do a separate design around the edge. The quilt looks slightly different to before because I've photographed it upside down, I thought for a moment I'd got some blocks turned around!

This is the thread that I'm planning to use for the quilting, it looks quite pink in this picture, but it's not that far out from the reds in real life, and it will be fine by the time it's just one thread. It's Wonderfil Tutti, a 50wt cotton, and it'll be my first time trying this thread. It seemed very expensive at £8.20, but it is a 1000m reel, so it's cheaper per metre than the King Tut - that is assuming you need 1000m!!


Yesterday I bunked off and went to Quilts UK at Malvern. I had a lovely day, as did OH who went for a walk on the Malvern Hills. It was great to get out and do something normal, even though I was pretty cream crackered by the end. I fell asleep on the sofa at about 8:30pm and then had no trouble at all sleeping through the night - I must have needed it and I feel much better today for it, which is just as well as self-catering always involves rather a lot of packing. Here's a quick snap of my haul from the quilt show - notice, no fabric!! That must be a first. The bobbins were all in my possession already, it's just the box that's new. I looked at the bobbin boxes and they seemed very flimsy, this is a bead box from The Quilted Bear and there's plenty of room for expansion. It has a nice solid feel to it and sliding locks - essential for the day you inevitably drop it! A bargain at £2.79! Oh, now I feel cheated, I've just looked it up online and it's only £1.98 on their website. Oh well, at least I didn't have to pay the £3 postage :o).

Glace - Layout Final

I have taken Hazel's advice and moved a couple of blocks around and also cut the red setting triangles - what a difference they make! I think I'm happy with this layout, the next decision is borders.

Glace Quilt - Layout

I'm liking this (I think!) ... have I got the reds and blues distributed evenly enough?

Glace Quilt - Blocks Done

It's taken a few days, but I now have all 32 blocks completed. I started out sewing the base block onto a long strip, then cutting it to length with scissors. However, after 5 blocks I decided this wasn't accurate enough (though measuring the blocks shows they're all the 10.5" they should be), and also the method didn't lend itself to chain piecing which I prefer to do. So, most of Sunday was spent cutting my strips into the correct sized chunks, which made piecing the blocks much quicker. I also found a nice red dimples fabric at Hobbycraft, so I'm going to make the setting triangles from that, then decide what looks best for the borders. I think this quilt is going to be scrappier than I like, and I'm hoping that by framing it with a strong colour it'll tame it a bit. I'll do a layout on the carpet tomorrow and see how it grabs me.

May Christmas Quiltalong - Three More Blocks

I haven't spent much time sewing this afternoon, we had a little outing to a local village (library, butchers, kitchen shop and a flower festival in the church where I also was able to admire the recently made quilted banners behind the choir stalls), but here's my progress so far. I've used some repeat fabrics in these blocks, I'm sure they'll be more spread out in the final quilt.