28 February 2017

17 in 2017 February Progress

I am linking up with Meredith over at Pomegranate and Chintz to share my UFO progress for February
https://pomegranateandchintz.wordpress.com/2017/02/28/17ufosin2017-february/

I have had a very productive month! My full list of projects is here:
http://emilyscupboard.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/17-in-2017.html

(If you click on any of the photos they should enlarge )

No. 3 Remember When

I completed another block, it felt good to work on this ancient WIP...


No. 4 Estonian Lace Scarf

I have knitted the sections for January & February


No. 7 Stonefields

I have a plan for the hexagons :)



No. 8 Berry Cardigan

I finished knitting the last sleeve and have started stitching everything together



No. 10 Wedding Quilt

I have sorted the fabrics from my stash that I want to use



No. 13 Goldfinch Silk Shading Embroidery

Progressing well...




No. 15 Down the Rabbit Hole

January section finished




22 February 2017

Stonefields - Jasper's Flower Garden

No. 7 on my list of WIP's is Stonefields. You may remember that way back in September 2014 I attended a class with Susan and was fortunate enough to see the original quilt.


I took loads of photos (with Susan's permission!) you can see more of them on my blog here:
http://emilyscupboard.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/stonefields-more-you-look-more-you-see.html

I had recently joined a BOM and after seeing the original quilt I changed around a lot of the fabrics, I kept up for a while (!) and pieced 60 blocks



I also pieced quite a few of the small 3/4" hexagon rosettes for the border


and prepped even more...


I then got distracted by a shiny new quilt project! and these have been languishing in a box ever since. I decided quite early on that I didn't want to do the hexagon border, and as I have a sort of plan percolating for the 6" blocks, I need to come up with a project that uses all these hexagons :)

At the same time as I was piecing these, I was also working on this embroidery of Jasper in the garden of our cottage.


I have always loved the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts especially the 'Garden Path' design with green triangles and diamonds like this 1930's design


I am thinking of something similar with my embroidery at the centre.  I think the rosettes are too strong on their own next to the embroidery, but might work as a second border


 I plan to add a ring of cream to the first border and then I might use this lovely sage green for the 'paths'


I have printed out some more papers from Incompetech onto card and am ready to go


I glue baste with a Sewline glue pen and then like to use Aurifl 50wt thread in off white or pale grey for stitching and these Tulip size 8 piecing needles.


19 February 2017

A Year of Estonian Lace

I have joined in the 2017 Year of Estonian Lace MKAL over at Ravelry, the pattern is by Elizabeth Ravenwood, you can find all the details here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2017-year-of-estonian-lace-mkal


The yarn I have chosen is a gorgeous Jaipur Silk Fino which is a 100% Mulberry Silk, it is so soft and I love the teal green.

I have to confess that I knew nothing about Estonian Lace before I started this KAL :) This book is proving an interesting read

I am also ashamed to say I only had a vague idea of where exactly Estonia is (It's just south of Finland in case you were wondering!)



I had some trouble initially with the 'nupps' a common feature in Estonian Lace where you knit into a stitch 7 times and then purl through all 7 loops on the way back to make a sort of bobble


as you can see my 'nupps' need some work :)



I had more success with the 'Ligonberry' pattern for February


It is difficult to see the beautiful patterns with lace knitting until it is finished and blocked but I am happy so far


16 February 2017

We All Need a Home

Jenny over at Elefantz is offering a free BOM this year based on the theme of 'home' the blocks are design to be stand alone rather than make a full quilt.
you can find all the details here http://www.elefantz.com/p/2017-bom.html

I really loved the Goose block for February, it reminded me of the Mother Goose nursery rhyme and I immediately pictured it in bright 1930's colours


I had a fun couple of afternoons with some simple appliqué and embroidery


I decided to turn my block into a drawstring bag for my knitting


Thanks Jenny! I am really happy with the way it turned out :)



06 February 2017

Down the Rabbit Hole Part One

The first part of Sarah Fileke's 2017 BOM 'Down the Rabbit Hole' was released at the end of January.


I spent a lot of time deliberating over my fabric choices, I wanted something bright and more modern than the colours I am normally drawn to. I found this fabulous fabric and decided to use it as a starting point.


This is Moon Stories in Ash (NTF 67903) from the Nightfall range by Maureen Cracknell for Art Gallery Fabrics.

I have also ordered a FQ pack of co-ordinating basics from the Fat Quarter Shop in the US

I added a few more Teals, Pink and Purples to the mix to come up with this


I am way out of my comfort zone with these :) They are all such cheerful, happy colours, I know I am going to love working with them this year.

We started off in the centre as this is a medallion quilt; accurate seams and some gentle persuasion with steam (!) was needed to get the circle to lie flat.  The stems will have lollipop flowers added to them in as many colours as I can manage.


02 February 2017

Remember When

Flushed with success on progressing my WIPs in January, I have started to think about my February Goals, focusing on one project at a time is really helping me to see progress. I have decided to link up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal February Linkup.

The next project on my radar is my oldest WIP ...

On the 16th of September 2010 a friend and I had a wonderful day out at the Aztec Rose quilt shop in Zwijndrecht, Holland. We both fell in love with a quilt hanging on the wall 'Remember When' by Libby Richardson.

I knew I had some Mary Rose fabrics by Quilt Gate left over from a summer coverlet I had made and decided to use those along with some others I bought from Shabby Fabrics in the US. I also bought a charm pack of 'Victoria' by Nikki Russell for Benartex for some of the applique and I found 2 yds of a lovely border fabric in my stash from 'Heaven Can Wait' by Ro Gregg for Northcott.


We had a planning meeting on the 3rd of November where we cut out all our fabrics and started tracing the embroidery designs. I carried on and prepared all the applique etc, storing everything together as a take along project.


And then I left Holland, and this along with all my stash went in to storage. I haven't really looked at it until this week...








There is a long way still to go, but some progress is better than no progress :)