As 2015 is slowly, but steadily coming to an end, I have sorted my stash, cleaned up my sewing room and I am already back home from my trip to Prague.
So this post is all about 2015 finishes – a photo journal of my quilting year 2015. Lots of pillow covers and a few quilts.
Wishing everybody all the best for 2016, lots of ideas for new sewing projects!! Enjoy the last day of 2015 with your families and loved ones, Barbora
More animals after the hedgehogs! It was such fun to work on the “large” hedgehogs, that I decided to do some smaller ones. I used the idea from Elizabeth Hartman’s website and made pillow covers with a hedgehog between two foxes. The real Mickey cat is enjoying his animal company!
The fox block was sewn quickly as there are not so many pieces. To get a good result when sewing the small hedgehog, I started to check the unit sizes after each step. So when I sew all units together that they match. The small hedgehog as an ideal block to train an exact 1/4″ seam allowance and precise pressing. Anyway it was fun to see how the block comes together. The hedgehog/fox pillow covers are free-motion quilted – stippled.
Since I have passively followed the Dog Gone Cute quilt along by Lorna from Sew Fresh Quilts, I thought it was time to make some more hairy friends. I decided to make some pillow covers that will stay on our sofa. As I am a big fan of Kaffe Fasset, the fabric choice was made quickly – both for the hedgehog/fox and dog blocks.
Lorna has made a superb job with the pattern, it is understandable and easy to follow. I have quilted these covers using the walking foot in an irregular wavy pattern.
On this place I would like to share photos from Andrea of the table runner I gave her. Andrea likes bright colors and it can be seen also in here home. Love it!
This is my last sewing project in 2015, I am slowly getting packed for my trip to Prague. I have sorted out my stash, cleaned up my sewing room and I am getting ready for the festive season.
Have a wonderful week, thank for stopping, Barbora
Here is my hedgehog parade :
Christmas is coming quickly. This year I am going to spend the festive season with my Mum in Prague. As I have 5 kids in the family, I was thinking about some sewn presents for them. Two years ago I made these pillow covers : birds and planes. This year I came over a wonderful hedgehog pattern for a pillow cover or a quilt by Elizabeth Hartman.
So here I am – sewing 5 little hedgehogs for the kids. The pattern is very clear and all steps are well explained. I have followed the color palette suggestion in the pattern. This time I got out my stash box with all the solids. I am happy how the hedgehogs turned out – gloriously colorful and bright!
All pillow covers are free-motion quilted, each with a color matching thread. I have used different quilting threads from my stock : Mettler – Quilting Cotton 40/3, Cotton Patch – Cotty 40/3, Superior Threads – King Tut 40/3 and Gutermann – Sulky 30.
The backing fabric I have bought some time ago. It has in the pattern all the colors I have used for the hedgehogs. All pillow covers have zippers on the back – here a quick and easy to follow tutorial by Riley Blake Designs.
Happy quilting, have wonderful weekend, Barbora
My husband’s niece Andrea and her partner Dietmar visited us the last week. To my surprise Andrea brought me some fabric as a present. But she also got some fabrics that she liked and wanted to make a pillow cover, a pattern for a patchwork beginner. We looked through a few books and magazines and Andrea found the design she liked. It is a minimalist bento box block with a border, finished pillow size 18″ x 18″ with an envelope back.
Andrea doesn’t have much sewing experience, but together (and with help of the seam ripper) we managed a perfect 1/4″ seam allowance and straight line quilting. First of all we cut the fabrics :
The next step was to piece 4 units with the pink and turquoise squares together. Press seams open and add the rectangles. Press seams open and check the size of each pink and turquoise unit : 6,5″ x 6,5″. Piece units together to make the central minimalist bento box block. Add the borders on the top and bottom, left and right. Make a quilt sandwich with wadding and light muslin backing fabric.
Andrea quilted the pillow cover with straight lines (using the walking foot) following all the seams. For the envelope back we need to 2 pieces 18,5″ x 14″. Sew a hem on the longer side of the rectangles. To finish the pillow cover lay the quilted top and the back pieces (with hems overlapping) right sides together and sew 1/4″ around the edge. Turn right side out, insert an inlet and place your finished pillow on the sofa!
Please visit Teje’s blog to see a nice pink bunny!! Happy quilting, Barbora
This is my very first feather block I made. Today I have added binding and 2 triangles as holders to the back so that I can hang it up in my sewing room.
I have also finished one position from my UFO-list. The knitted pillow covers sat for some time on the shelf as I knitted them already in the winter. I have lined them with muslin and made an envelope closure.
Have a wonderful August, thanks for stopping and happy quilting, Barbora
skalabara quilts 