Monday 7 January 2019

January Quilting

 Happy new week dear readers.....my week has begun rather slowly but hopefully i will speed up as the days go on...…….when my scrappy tilda irish chain quilt showed up as a work in progress in my best nine on instagram i realised i hadn't written about the finished quilt...so here it is now...
 ………..i had lots of pretty tilda scraps from various collections left over from my blog hop projects and decided to use them in this design with kona cotton in white for contrast …...the patchwork squares are two inches finished….there are lots of tutorials online for the irish chain quilt and its variations.....i love it and want to make more.....
 ……….it was longarm quilted for me in the baptist fan pattern by my lovely quilter debbie holland...….
 ……….here are a couple of close ups...i do love the combination of squares for the patchwork and curves for the quilting....
 ……….like many of you i've been busy getting everything put back again after christmas, especially the kitchen dishes and all the decorations…...
 ……….the kitchen is beautifully scented right now by this big basket of gorgeous hyacinths which were a present from my two biggest grandchildren as a thank you for picking them up from school several times a week...….there was a very sweet little note with them too......
 ………..it's so grey and gloomy often during january here that any colour and scent from indoor bulbs is always a treat i love......yesterday we went on a family walk through a country deer park in cheshire......it was grey and damp but mild....we were with both girls and their families....the baby was in a pram (occasionally throwing things out of it onto the muddy ground) and also children's scooters, footballs and two dogs on leads accompanied us on our walk.....with one thing and another  it was very slow progress but great fun...…..and ended at the tearoom of course.....
 ………….so back to my slow starting week...……..i wrote a big long to do list but after doing only a few things on it i found myself sorting out the quilt cupboard and refolding and arranging the quilts (not on the to do list)……..hopefully i will do better tomorrow and tick lots more off...……...
 ……….i even had help from molly with the quilt sorting.....she is lovely and cuddly and woolly at the moment but next weekend is due for her haircut so will be like a little shorn lamb then....
 ……..and here is one of my new projects.....making lots of flying geese for a quilt border....
 ……...loving making these and am sewing the actual geese part by hand in the evenings then joining them by machine to the quilt...…….more of this coming soon...……

……..thank you for your kind new year wishes dear readers and for coming by to see me here....hoping your year has begun well and you have a happy week ahead.....back soon xxxxxxxx


18 comments:

Kate said...

I'm looking forward to the flying geese quilt project. Your Tilda Irish Chain quilt is gorgeous! Your post is like a breath of spring - I thank you for that. ^^

Jacky H said...

The days here in Spain are cold but bright. Its warm in the sun. Like you I'm trying to sort things out in my craft room.
I did manage to make a dear friend a get well card.
I love your Irish chain quilt which I've never heard of before.
Ive learn such a lot from following your blog other the years.
Always an inspiring read.

butterfly said...

Lovely post such lovely colours , love your quilts .

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Beautiful quilts. The fan pattern adds elegance.

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I sure do love that quilt...lovely pattern and colors!

Mickie said...

Helen,
I do love an Irish Chain quilt, and always with a crisp white background. Yours is very pretty, and the baptist fan pattern is perfect for it. I have one ready to quilt for my youngest daughter, and another one with only the nine patches sewn.
It is a gray and gloomy day here, and I have not been very productive, getting over a cold and cough. I did manage to put a pineapple upside down cake in the oven and a pot of soup on the stove. Maybe now I will pick up one of the knitting or crochet projects that I have in my basket, or just read a while. I am currently reading Still Life by Louise Penny.
Thank you for sharing.
Mickie, Indiana USA

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Your Irish Chain quilt is so beautiful Helen, its such a pretty pattern. You have so many amazing quilts, love the new one too. :)
Your walk sounded like a lot of fun!!
Little Molly will need a sweater when she loses her woolly coat.:)
happy new week,
V x

Lorrie said...

Your Irish Chain quilt is so beautiful - I saved your Instagram post so that I can go back to it and perhaps make something similar. I have projects to complete before beginning a new one - trying to be disciplined.
The Flying Geese look beautiful.

Teresa Kasner said...

Love the finished quilt and the fan quilting on it.. spectacular! And fun to see your new quilt, flying geese. As a non-quilter, I so admire what you do. I'm working on the Sweet Pea Trellis CAL that Lucy at Attic24 is doing. It's a fun design! Enjoy your week! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I was also going to say that the effect of the squares and shell pattern in your first quilt is really so lovely. I can't imagine cutting all those tiny pieces and sewing them together. I'm not very good at sewing anyways but would really love to do some slow stitching. Molly is adorable. Sounds like your walk was of the slow variety with that many in tow. :) We've had many gray days here lately. Have a good week!

Christine B said...

Happy New Year Helen! What a beautiful post.... just love your Irish chain quilt and can't wait to see the finished flying geese! Just beautiful! Christine xx

Little Quiltsong said...

You always have such a lovely post and pictures, Helen! I too have had a slower start this week - with a lot of laundry and cleaning after guests had left; and since my sewing room hadn't been in use for a few weeks, I felt lost as to where to start again :) - but no worries, that soon dissipated, and I was back in my element again. Enjoy your beautiful flowers - they are often the best gifts!

Jo said...

Your chain quilt is really beautiful. I am using scraps at the moment making a 5cm postage stamp quilt. It is very addictive! Jo x

Jane said...

Wow Helen your latest quilt is really gorgeous. The swirls do look so good with the squares. Your family walk sounded perfect, special times indeed. Molly looks so sweet in her woolly coat, bless her. Looking forward to seeing your new makes this year. Hugs xxx

Anonymous said...

I love the white background. Can I ask what brand and colour of white you use?
Thanks
Sarah

Amy DeCesare said...

That Tilda quilt is so timeless and lovely. That’s the kind of quilt that first drew me into making my own quilts. The Baptist Fan quilting polishes it off. So inspiring!

Autumn said...

Your Tilda quilt came out beautifully. I love the Baptist Fan pattern, it is very sweet. Your pictures always make me smile with happiness, they are so cheerful and beautiful.

Elderberry-Rob said...

flying geese? is that a sewing term I wonder - no idea - it all looks delightfully colourful.