Monday, May 30, 2011

Kids Holiday Sewing Classes



Only 3 to 4 weeks now until the school holidays and I am looking forward to a great couple of weeks meeting & teaching a new generation of sewers.

Each young sewer learns a combination of machine and hand sewing skills tailored to their age and skill set. 

They always get to make something they can take home even in a half day class and most are delighted with their achievemments.

A couple of days allows them to learn more skills and make several small items or one more involved piece.

Classes are limited to 4 to ensure that each child gets individual attention.
To view the class list scroll to the top of this page and on the top right click on
School holiday classes 2011



Sunday, May 15, 2011

Quilting those quilts for Winter

The colder weather has everyone thinking about snuggling under a quilt. Lots of finishing off and quilting going on in classes. 
I thought I would bring you pictures of some of them.
 
This is a very pretty twenty-piece dresden plate block worked in florals on a white printed background. I particularly like the cornerstones and the way Lesley has mixed the colours in the sashing.

  Jeanette started sewing & quilting about 18mths ago. She has just completed 'Charlotte Sometimes' designed by Sarah Fielke from the book Material Obsession Two. I have loved this quilt from the first time I read the book and I am very proud of what Jeanette has achieved. It will be hand quilted.


 Here is Karen stippling a quilt called 'Avalon' which is designed by Kathy Doughty and appears in Material Obsession Book One. It is a great pattern using large squares of feature fabrics with wide sashing. Karen's enthusiasm and love of colour is contagious!

 Maxine made this 'Surfs Up' quilt last year for a grandson and is about to start another. She has quilted in the ditch and around the applique.The boys absolutely love it. We have made it bigger by repeating and reversing some of the motifs. Pattern available from Hot Possum http://www.hotpossum.com/products/Surf%27s-UP-%252d-Lap-Quilt.html 
 We kept the gorgeous edge on Robyn's baby panel by adding a picture frame shaped  piece of backing fabric (orange) and wadding under the scalloped edge and sewing around each scallop. We then trimmed away the excess fabric & wadding and turned the facing right side out. (see top of the photo) After pressing we turned it over to the right side and stitched along the edge line where the white meets the green (bottom of photo). Then it was just a matter of fitting a piece of wadding  & backing into the back and quilting. The backing is turned under and slip stitched along the line of machine stitching visible on the orange fabric at the back.



Some free motion quilting
practice for Robyn

This was an echo of the fabric design

We used 13" squares to practice on. This is the back of the work.

If she does one every day she will be able to join them into a quilt-as-you-go quilt.





This is Lillian's first quilt. We have added a peeper border and  2 other borders to the alphabet panel. Using the walking foot, Lillian has quilted a diagonal grid in the centre and lots of parrallel lines and hearts into the borders. 


I have been working on quilting a couple of baby quilts, making a bag & finishing this jacket. Hopefully next time I show you the jacket it will have sleeves......... Until then get those quilt tops out, layer them up and start quilting.  It is so much fun to finish your quilt.

Cheers Linda