The silly season

Well the "silly season" has certainly started around here and I always enjoy digging into the cupboard and bringing out some of my favourite Christmas quilts.  This one is my all time favourite design which I hand pieced and appliqued but machine quilted.
"In the Spirit of Christmas" by Frances Leate
In the studio I have just been flitting from one thing to another with nothing yet ready to photograph - some days I just seem to take one step forward and two backwards but I am sure it will finish up alright in the end.

I am getting ready to start on a another project involving lots of blocks so I decided to prepare some boards where I can lay out the pieces for each block as I cut them and in this way I can cut and sew several blocks at the same time.  I have used some stiff cardboard rescued from discarded packaging and covered it with an offcut of 100% cotton batting.  I fold the batting in two and cut it approximately an inch larger than the card and then sew down each side with my walking foot.  I don't sew the bottom part so that I can slip the card out if I need to use the block boards when travelling.  When you live in my tropical climate the fans and air conditioning often blow fabric pieces of a block about so this is a quick and easy way to keep everything in its place and works well for me.

Talking of wadding I thought I would show you the method I use to join pieces of wadding.  I have made a few runners in recent times and there never seems to be an offcut long enough to do the job so it is very easy to join a couple of pieces.  I first cut a straight edge with a rotary cutter and then I butt two of these straight edges together and then stitch them together on the machine using a walking foot.  My favourite stitch is a curved one and is stitch No 4 on my Bernina.  I usually increase the stitch length slightly and stitch down the join with a matching colour thread. 

Till next time
Frances

Comments

Shirley said…
Great idea for the block keepers. May have to try that one. Love the peaceful Christmas quilt.
November 22, 2011 at 5:46 AM
Sue-Anne said…
I love your Christmas quilt and what a great idea with the block boards!
November 22, 2011 at 8:10 AM
Linda said…
Love your quilt Frances. The pieces all fit well together. Great block keeper idea, never thought of that!! I have always joined my wadding like you've explained, and yes, on my trusty Bernina/s too......LOL My sewing life would never have been the same without my beautiful machines. I hope your humidity isn't too unpleasant at the moment. We are looking for some 'promised' rain.....
November 22, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Maureen said…
Pretty Christmas quilt, Frances. Thanks for the tips!
November 22, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Joy V said…
Love the Christmas Quilt Frances and the block idea - will make some for myself. I also join my batting the same way, except I use a 'stepped' zig-zag on my Pfaff - it is 4 small stitches across then 4 back. I feel it is flatter (no pulls on the thread) than the normal zig-zag stitch.
November 22, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Radka said…
What a lovely Christmas quilt, Frances. Yes, it is the silly season, but it will be over before we know, might just as well enjoy it :) I hope it is not too hot and humid for you. We still have more autumn weather then winter and I don't mind, I don't look forward to the real winter.
December 1, 2011 at 10:33 AM
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