Quilt as you go - direct join technique

Do you love the idea of quilt-as-you-go

but don't want to add strips between each block.

Then this direct joining technique is for you!

There are 3 key points to remember to make this easy to achieve
1.  Several blocks can be joined into a strip of manageable size before quilting

2.  Cut the backing & wadding at least 1" larger than the piece you are quilting

       i.e. 9 1/2" square block requires minimum of 10 1/2" squares of backing & wadding

3.  When quilting you leave at least a 1" margin unquilted around the edges of the piece

 
 I quilted this project as 3 long strips of 4 joined blocks
When the quilting is finished it is time to trim up

First trim the wadding back to to the edge of the block
















If you have cut the backing 1" larger than the block you will not need to trim it.

In this photo I had been more generous and needed to trim the backing back to 1/2" along the edge that I would be joining to the next strip

Join the fronts right sides together with a 1/4"seam. 

Ensure the wadding & backing are flipped out of the way.

NB: Remember Key point 3 - 

If you have quilted to the edges of the block it is not

possible to join the fronts in this way!

View from the back while making 1/4" seam

View from the back after pressing seam.

With the edges of the backing still folded out of the way, smooth the wadding into place with one layer on top of the other. Carefully cut away excess wadding with scissors so that the edges of the wadding meet exactly.

Finish the backing by smoothing one side flat over the wadding.

Then with the edge folded under, position the other backing on top so that the folded edge is on top of the seam underneath. Use a ruler if you need.

Pin fold in place and handstitch closed with invisible stitches.

Note: Don't stitch through the wadding if you need to add another piece to this edge.

This quilt and its borders were assembled using the direct joining technique.

Back view of quilt showing machine quilting & handstitched joins.

Please try this technique and vary it to suit your project and your skill level. I often go back and add some lines of quilting across the joins. Any edge that won't be joined to another can be quilted closer to the edge for example the binding edge of the borders in my photo.

This quilt was a UFO for a long time because I chose a brushed cotton backing fabric that frayed badly and was very difficult to work with. On the other hand it is a lovely soft and snuggly finish so I am glad that I perservered.

Sewing & Sunshine

Don't look now

I took my sewing machine on holidays and made this

bright & cheerful cushion designed by Australian

Kellie Wulfsohn and called  

First Day of Christmas

This pattern comes with fabulous instructions and tips for free motion machine sewing and inserting a zipper into the back of the cushion. Find this and all of Kellie's patterns at her blogsite

http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/dont_look_now 

Next I had a scrap quilt to finish

(This one had been lurking in the back of the cupboard for a few years) 

It is a quilt-as-you-go scrap quilt that I had sewed one border on. I'd packed it away and then lost track of where the rest of the backing fabric was. Finally during a clean out I found the backing and set my sights on finishing it off. It has a flannel back so it is really cosy and soft.

Here I am quilting continuously up and down the border strips. Note that I leave 3/4" unstitched where I will attach it to the quilt. For this quilt I used the direct joining technique for the front and hand stitched the back joins.

I attached a scrappy binding and here it is all finished. This one is for Dad to snuggle under this winter.

Sunshine Coast, Queensland , Australia - Holiday Destination

Come on down and enjoy all that Australia has to offer 

Watch the sun rise over the ocean

 Take an early morning beach walk

You can walk for miles & miles on white sand

 Go for a paddle on a tidal lake by the ocean

 find something interesting on the beach

like this shell encrusted rope

 Watch the 'wormers' at work

and in the late afternoon

join the people making the most of the afternoon sunshine at Mooloolabah Beach

or watch the lifesavers do some off duty training at Kawana Beach

I was trying out some special effects with my camera  - black & white with only warm colours

 

 Here is a quick preview of what I am working on next 

it is big, bright and bold

 Bye for now - Linda

-

Website Launch

http://urbansewinglounge.com.au   

Do your eyes look like this when you've been searching the net too long?

Me too! Hope you find what you're looking for at our site......

 Go to our website to:

• view the gallery
• order a 'Linda Mahoney Designs' pattern
• find our location 
• watch for new pages as we populate the site

Designed by Sandy Gervais and made by Natalie Bird
Kits for this owl are available from Thread & Ginger Patchwork Boutique 07 38209052 for $10
Free pattern download from www.modabakeshop.com search for Owlivia

Raw Edge Applique

We have been having lots of fun doing raw edge applique.

Even the youngest sewers were very enthusiastic. Join me soon for a class to learn this technique.

Starting on the poppy stems - poppy fabric from Voodoo Rabbit

Learning to bring the bobbin thread to the top

as you begin
doing this keeps the back of your work tidy

Stitching a design from the book Scandinavian Stitches copyright 2010 Kajsa Wickman
All outline stitched in black using Signature 40wt thread

Finished Projects

Also from Scandinavian Stitches

                Apple coasters

Miss 7 proudly shows off her apron.

The applique is from one of her drawings.
The straight stitching was done with a regular machine foot by Miss seven and the curved stitching was done with a free motion foot by me.

So that the young students can experience free motion stitching I get them to rest their hands on top of mine as I stitch.

This is another delighted student 

 with her very own design stitched on her apron.
Again all the applique tracing and cutting out has been done by the student but the  fusing of the applique was done by me.

We stitched it together

I particularly love the angels wings


Below is a work in progress.
Up to stitching the blades of grass.


Lots of practice stopping with the needle down, lifting the presser foot and turning the work.

Finally this is 'Pippi' from the Melly & Me stable

I made her with fabric I purchased in Tasmania at Picture Patchwork in Deloraine

Bye for now.....................

Comfort Sewing

Here we are and it is almost March! 

What have I been doing?

   Dots Bag
Pattern copyright 2009 Susan Wasinger
from the book 'Fabricate' 
published by Interweave Press


The kids who come here are
totally in love with this bag!


Much more importantly
I have been doing some
compassionate sewing

Sunday Sewing

Making pincushions & needlecases for the flood affected sewing community of Ipswich & Lockyer Valley 


Many other ladies
made items at home.


Thank you so much everyone
& Special thanks to 
Thread & Ginger for the venue

Happy to help

Pincushion Design copyright 2010 by Kajsa Wikman from the book

'Scandinavian Stitches' from C & T Publishing Inc.

This is a beautiful book which is full of wonderful images and projects to inspire anyone interested in raw edge stitching. Get yourself a copy. You will be truly inspired.

 

We made these to go in the 50 sewing bags made by

The Country Quilt Co. ladies in Ipswich

Next project was the Snuggly Squares Baby Quilt

Loved this pattern too

It comes with very detailed instructions if you are new to patchwork

Free Pattern from Moda Bakeshop
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/09/snuggly-squares-baby-quilt_07.html#more 

Nearly finished

I love binding quilts

Hope the baby likes it as much as I do

 Then I made some sample notebook covers

 Designed by our talented Aussie Anni Downs

I will be teaching these at Thread & Ginger on 7th March
Then the sunglasses case from the same book on 4th April
Book in buy a book and enjoy the fun


Next time I will bring you pictures from tomorrows
'Raw edge applique' class at Urban Sewing Lounge

Patchwork & Flowers in Tasmania

Holidays are over & Sewing classes have started again

Tasmania in January is a glorious location for a holiday

Think rasberries, cherries, wildflowers, hydrangas, sunny skys and twilight

 

 Launceston Gardens

Inside the walled garden at 

Woolmers Estate - Historic Homestead & Gardens

 

At Deloraine which is a short drive from Launceston 

We discovered 'Fresh Fabric'

This shop houses a feast of modern bright prints, books, patterns and samples. 

Janet the lovely lady who served me made me promise to crop her out of the photo!

Definitely stop & shop here if you get to this part of Tassie.

Next it was on to Bridestone Lavender Farm

Yes that's me and my roomy 'Meadow Bag' by Melly & Me

The lavender was in full flower and harvesting had commenced 3 days earlier

Harvest takes approx 3 weeks each January

This is the Lavender Oil being distilled- mmm that place smelled good

Perfect pears ripening in the garden of

'Hob Nobs' cafe/deli

in Westbury

The food was so delicious and the service so friendly that we made a return visit

The garden courtyard setting is picture perfect

Hungry teenager studying the menu!

Yellow Roses at the National Rose Garden - Woolmers Estate

Pretty climbing rose

Very unusual Hydrangea

 We flew on this sea plane over Strahan 

and the Gordon & Franklin Rivers

Yes we did land in the gorge 20km upstream

AND Yes my knees were wobbly

Dove Lake below Cradle Mountain

Wildflowers at Cradle Mountain

We loved this road sign on the way in to Cradle Mountain

Back to reality now - fire up those sewing machines - Bye