The Victoria Line

Progress on my hexie quilt is definitely linked to the fabrics I can lay my hands on. As a newcomer to quilting I have a very limited stash, in terms of quilting cotton, but quite a few odds and ends of other fabrics. 

The light blue Victoria line is definitely growing the fastest. I already have enough scraps cut for the section that I have drawn out so far - 43 pretty blue hexies. 

These fabrics are actually mostly cotton. From left to right:

some blue silk the colour of a pale summer sky

two bits from fat quarters I bought and can't remember what I bought them for

Zoom in Teal from the robotics range by Rebekah Ginda for Birch Organic Fabrics

scraps from my daughters' school shirts, no longer needed since they're all grown up now

some Kona cotton that matches the Robotics print perfectly (if I ever get it finished I'll show you what the robotics prints were for)

and, at the top, a pale spotty fabric that I only had enough of for two hexies. I found these little square scraps in the scrap bin at The Village Haberdashery

I really do need to draw out the rest of the map, other wise I'll end up with the edge sections using completely different fabrics just because I haven't allowed for them.

And that wouldn't look good at all. 

All hexied up

For a while now there's been a weird idea rattling around inside the fluffy, cloud-filled place known as my brain. Then last week it exploded out into little piles of paper and fabric...

...and a flurry of thread and soul-soothing teeny little stitches. 

So why the weird and wonderful mix of colours going in odd-looking directions, I hear you wondering. Well, maybe this will help you to guess...

It was sort of inspired by a class I signed up for at the Village Haberdashery - a paper piecing class to make this gorgeous cushion. 

Rather worryingly, my coloured-in sheet / pattern / map isn't actually all of the map. It isn't even all of the central section of the map, but it's already around 1,900 hexies big. And there's so much white! I think maybe 1,500 white hexies altogether and I'm not a big fan of white. If anyone has any 2 1/2" squares of white or cream fabric needing a new home....

The best thing of all is that I've sewn most of it on the tube on my way to and from work so far. I do like the irony of that 

 

 

Happy Hump Day

One to make you smile...

 Two that make me smile...

And Damascus, just because...

 

Playing catch-up

I have fallen waaay behind with my penny sampler quilt blocks. The first four weeks were appliqué, which is slow and frustrates me as my curves weren't turning out smooth. I tried the two methods that we were taught, hoping I'd improve after my Dogwood cushion, but gave up and went back to needle turn. It may be slower, but at least I'm happier with the results. 

The first blocks I did were the heart blocks - super cute blocks with fabrics that I've had for years. One heart made from crimson velvet saved from the cutest dress my daughters wore when they were toddlers and three hearts made from sheets I bought from Oxfam and tie-dyed to make curtains for my very first home. 

Next came the sunflower block. There should be two, but so far I've only made one. This was where I went back to needle-turn. Much better edges. Happy me. 

 Only another six appliqué blocks to catch up on now ~sigh~

One day I'll be organised and stuff. 

 
 

The seasons turn

Summer is definitely over. The British weather is flicking between grey, sticky humidity and drizzle, with occasional burst of bright blue skies. The London tubes are horribly hot and everyone already seems to have forsaken bright summer clothes for dark blue, grey and black. 

Yesterday morning I went in a little later than usual and the train carriages were emptier than the normal Jubilee morning sardine can squash. A few people were standing, but there was a clear view along from carriage to carriage through the lowered open widows at the end of each compartment. Then as the train gathered speed a glorious cool wind rushed along the train, unhampered by standing bodies, blowing my hair back and taking away all the hot stickiness. I stood with my eyes closed and my face turned delightedly into the moving air - it was one of those amazing moments that makes you glad to be alive. It lasted until the next stop then I got off and wandered on to work with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. 

 

My all-grown-up Giraffe Girl started sixth form today. As a tiny celebration I sat up last night when she thought I'd gone to bed and stitched the binding onto the unfinished Dogwood blossom cushion. (she'd had her eye on it as it was being made). And a new school, with new challenges needs some sort of gift to mark it's significance. 

Still love those big, strokeable, pearly buttons on the back. 

I made a wonky house for Amy's amazing wonky village - I can share it here now that I know it's safe and sound in it's new home.

If you haven't visited Amy's Crafty Shenanigans to see her wonky village growing you really should - it's wonderful!

Linking up with Brit Sewing Thursday over at Maybush Studios

And the Small Blog Meet at Lily's Quilts