All posts tagged sewing

More Chinese fabric makes

I was playing with the Singer and I rather enjoy making bags so I made another one! This time with the red lucky cats fabric that my daughter purchased for me when she was in Taipei.

It’s the usual make-it-up-as-you-go-along kind of bag, lined with Moda red solid and a zip closure.

I did some inch wide straight line quilting to make it a bit more luxurious…

…and gave it a bit of a boxy bottom.

The singer has no problems quilting without a walking foot. I just made the stitch length a little longer as if it was for top stitching.

The bag has now been gifted, along with an easy peasy scrappy bookmark (because the recipient likes to read proper books) and some veggie gummy caterpillars from Marks and Spencer. Nom nom!

I should have bought myself some of those ;-). Too late now.

16 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on April 27, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged bag, bookmark, Chinese, fabric, handmade, lined, pouch, quilting, sewing, Singer, Taipei, Taiwan, zipper

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on April 27, 2018

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/more-chinese-fabric-makes/

Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year Everyone!

It’s been a busy year for me again and the patchwork has taken a bit of a back seat. I did finish four projects namely the sausage dog, the green stars quilt, the tardis and the F2F quilt. I can’t take credit for all the blocks in the F2F quilt but I did assemble and quilt it myself. I spent lots of time this year making the tiny blocks for the Loyal Union Sampler and also lots of 12 inch blocks for the F2F Block Swap organised by Kate. So, there’s been loads of partial finishes but not many completed projects as far as patchwork goes. You can see lots more pictures of everything by clicking the “Finished 2016” tab at the top of the page. If you click on the photos on that page, you’ll be taken to the relevant posts.

I’ve been more active on cross stitch projects this year. You can see those on my other blog Sewing Beside the Sea.

Thank you to everyone who supported my blog last year, whether you’ve been reading anonymously in the background or actively liking, commenting and emailing. It’s nice to have you stop by.

11 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on January 1, 2017 • Permalink

Posted in Quilting and Patchwork

Tagged craft, fabric, Happy New Year, interior design, Loyal Union Sampler, machine quilting, moda, project, quilt, quilting, sewing

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on January 1, 2017

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/happy-new-year-2017/

Sausage Dog Fun

Hello everyone,

I can now share something that I made for my daughter for Christmas. She’s been wanting a sausage dog for along the bottom of the door for a while. I came across this pattern and just had to make one.

He’s got lovely ears…

…and a proper stand up tail.

He was very easy to put together. I made my own slight alterations to the pattern instructions regarding the construction methods for the gusset under his chin and attaching the ears.

You might recognise the shiny fabric. I’ve finally chopped up a sari that my daughter brought for me from India.

I think he looks very smart in his shiny coat. He’s stuffed quite firmly in the head and tail. I also bought him a collar with red flashing LEDs but haven’t got a photo of him wearing it. He’s very well behaved and has taken up residence along the back of the sofa. It’s too draughty down by the door 🙂

18 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on December 31, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Quilting and Patchwork

Tagged craft, Dachshund, Draught excluder, fabric, handmade, interior design, pattern, Sausage Dog, sewing

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on December 31, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/12/31/sausage-dog-fun/

A lovely surprise!

Isn’t it wonderful when a surprise package drops through the letterbox? It’s even better when that package contains something as gorgeous as this.

It’s a mini quilt, sent to me by my great friend Jule from Germany. Jule writes a fantastic blog called Beyond the Boudoir. I can’t thank her enough for taking the time to make something so beautiful for me.

I love moving it around and looking at it from different angles.

The fabric is folded and sewn along the raw edges, giving a 3D effect. Piecing perfection! I must try it myself. Thank you so much Jule 🙂

22 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on June 25, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Quilting and Patchwork

Tagged 3D quilt, craft, fabric, geometric, handmade, interior design, mini quilt, patchwork, quilt, sewing

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on June 25, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/06/25/a-lovely-surprise/

Doctor Who’s Tardis

Hello everyone,

I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long. I’m not able to spend much time at the sewing machine or the laptop at the moment so I’ve been concentrating on hand sewing which you can see on my other blog. It’s so much easier to pick up and put down a hand stitched project when you only have a few odd minutes to spare here and there.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I was browsing the internet for inspiration for future projects, as you do, and I found this free pattern. I’m not a particular fan of Doctor Who but one of my friends enjoys the programme and I was looking for a small project to keep me out of trouble. So, I made my own version of the pattern and this is how it turned out.

I had wanted to make a mug rug initially but it sort of grew into a mini quilt, suitable for a wall-hanging or table topper or whatever my friend decides to do with it. I added some personal touches by embroidering the white text onto black evenweave and also printed the door notice and the St. John Ambulance logo onto fabric before the final piecing took place. Here’s a close up.

I finished off with some blue metallic thread window panes and door details. You may notice the mistake in the text on the door. Well, technically it isn’t a mistake. I found out all sorts of information about the various versions of the tardis from here. You will see that the words I’ve used did actually appear on one version of the tardis prop.

Anyway, I had lots of fun making this and my friend is really happy with it too. That makes me smile 🙂

31 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on May 26, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Quilting and Patchwork

Tagged blue, craft, Doctor Who, fabric, handmade, interior design, machine quilting, patchwork, pattern, project, quilt, quilting, sewing, Tardis

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on May 26, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/doctor-whos-tardis/

Another Happy Dance

Hi everyone,

Ta-daaaaa! Here are some photos of my finished quilt which I promised to share with you the other day. I hope you like it.

If you visit and read this blog regularly you will know that I’ve been participating in a block swap with eleven other ladies who live all over the world. The swap, called Foot Square Freestyle, was organised by Kate and Sue. We were asked to choose a colour scheme for the blocks we’d like to receive and I chose bright blues and purples.

My original plan was to set the blocks on point but the quilt would have been way too big. My finished quilt has turned out to be a very usable 82 inches square. I tried to achieve a stained glass window appearance by adding the thin black sashing and broad frame. I’m really happy with the overall effect.

The backing is a rich purple print and the quilting is simple, so as not to obliterate the strong lines of the blocks. I wanted this quilt to be squishy and snuggly because it is going to be used.

Here are a few photos showing each quadrant.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers, Kate and Sue, and all of the other ladies who sent me these beautiful blocks. I couldn’t have made this without you. It has been so much fun to be part of this group. I’ve already made my final blocks to send all the way to Australia, so apart from tidying up a few loose ends on my own quilt, that’s me done. I look forward to seeing all of the other F2F quilts as they appear in the gallery during the coming months.

Come on ladies, if you’ve received all of your blocks, make a run for the finish line. It feels so good to be Happy Dancing again 🙂

47 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on March 13, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Quilting and Patchwork

Tagged Block swap, blue, craft, F2F, fabric, Foot Square Freestyle, geometric, handmade, interior design, machine quilting, patchwork, project, purple, quilt, Quilt block, quilting, sampler, sewing, stained glass, traditional

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on March 13, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/03/13/another-happy-dance/

F2F Parcel 11

Good evening everyone,

You may remember that I’ve been taking part in the Foot Square Freestyle block Swap organised by Kate and Sue.

When one of the ladies participating in the swap became very poorly, and subsequently unable to sew, my lovely friend Claire wrote to Kate and asked if it would be OK for her to step in and make three blocks for me. Here are the blocks she made.

The exploded disappearing nine patch with a touch of Kaffe Fassett gorgeousness.

A traditional log cabin with lots of lovely thin strips.

The rail fence block.

Claire’s fabric choices are really lovely and I love the block designs that she made, especially the log cabin. She knows what I like 🙂 I’d asked for bright blue and purple blocks and they certainly meet my expectations. I have to say that the back of these blocks is as tidy as the front. She’s so clever! Not only is she very kind and thoughtful for doing this but she also proved she can keep a secret. I did think it rather strange when she asked how I packaged my blocks to send to others because she wasn’t taking part in the swap. Then, a few days later, a parcel dropped through my letterbox, parcelled up just as I’d described. Claire didn’t even hint that she was toiling in her sewing room on my behalf. I’m so thrilled that she made these for me. Thank you Caire 🙂

Finally, I have a secret of my own to share with you today. My F2F quilt is finished and it’s gorgeous BUT I can’t show it to you yet. It’s a monster! I stood on a dining chair holding it up for photos but I can’t hold it wide enough to show it all. My daughter will be around at the weekend so I should get proper photos then. All will be revealed as soon as I have photos, I promise.

Please pop back in a few days to see the 36 blocks in all their glory.

20 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on March 11, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Quilting and Patchwork, Uncategorized

Tagged Block swap, blue, bright, craft, fabric, handmade, interior design, patchwork, project, quilt, quilting, sewing

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on March 11, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/f2f-parcel-11/

The Loyal Union Sampler Block 11/121

Hello everyone,

I’m so pleased I’ve managed to get the top row of the Loyal Union Sampler finished this month. Block 11 is called Broken Window and you can find it in the book by Jennifer Chiaverini.

This was a great exercise in fitting 56 pieces of fabric into a six inch square. Now that the top row is done, I can see that this project is achievable for me … eventually 😉 Considering the first row has taken almost 13 months to complete, I could maybe have the blocks finished by 2028. Then there’s all the sashing, cornerstones, borders…not to mention the quilting. Fun, fun, fun!

Here’s how the top line will look when the blocks are sewn together.

Have fun sewing!

18 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on February 29, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in The Loyal Union Sampler Quilt

Tagged blue, Broken Window, craft, fabric, geometric, handmade, interior design, Loyal Union Sampler, moda, patchwork, project, quilt, sewing

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on February 29, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/the-loyal-union-sampler-block-11121/

The Loyal Union Sampler Block 10/121

Hello everybody,

Block 10 is now complete. I would really love to get the top row of this quilt done before the end of February. This is Broken Path, the 10th block in the Loyal Union Sampler which can be found in the book by Jennifer Chiaverini. Pure and simple colours and design with only 15 pieces.

Here is the virtual quilt.

I’m off to make the last block in the top row now 🙂

6 Comments

by Oh Sew Tempting on February 26, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in The Loyal Union Sampler Quilt

Tagged blue, bright, Broken Path, craft, fabric, geometric, handmade, interior design, Loyal Union Sampler, moda, patchwork, project, quilt, sewing

Posted by Oh Sew Tempting on February 26, 2016

https://ohsewtempting.wordpress.com/2016/02/26/the-loyal-union-sampler-block-10121/

The Loyal Union Sampler Block 9/121

Hi everyone,

I’m really enjoying these tiny blocks from the Loyal Union Sampler. I’ve been following the book by Jennifer Chiaverini. This pattern is called Blockade. Having only 16 pieces meant it was extremely easy to sew compared to recent blocks. Oops, I’ve just spotted a thread to snip!