Joy Of Stitching

Recently my son gave me two pairs of his old jeans and a shirt he loved wearing when gigging, and asked me to make him a new quilt as the one I made him for the Millennium (The Millennium Quilt - which has a wonderful story of it's own) was showing signs of wear and he didn't want it to wear out. Anyway, I've just finished his new quilt 'Two Pairs of Jeans and a Gigging Shirt' I really enjoyed working on it. It's quite organic and proudly shows the signs of wear on the jeans, lots of big bold stitching and inside out seams. I kept some of the pockets whole from both the jeans and the shirt - it's the first quilt I've made with pockets in! As Craig plays both acoustic and bass guitars I printed out actual pictures of his guitars to use as templates for the appliqué guitars.  After I had finished the quilt I decided the appliqué shapes needed some hand stitching around them - so I had to finish it twice. As always it's hard letting go of a piece of...

I've signed up for the Contemporary Group Challenge 2014 (part of The Quilters Guild of the British Isles) It's one 8" Quilt a month for the year and there has to be a line, vertical/diagonal from one edge to another. Far far below, is my January Challenge Quilt 2014. I began with some scraps of fabric from Welsh Costumes  Here is a picture of my daughter Sarah wearing her Welsh Costume   This was about 30 years ago! But Every March 1st (St. David's Day) you will see lots of little girls going to school in their Welsh Costumes. St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales - which is home for me.    I got a new Needle Felting Machine for Christmas and Keen to try it out I needlefelted the fabrics onto a black felt background.  I layered up wadding and a red flannel backing.   Hand Quilted in white red and black thread. And finished by turning the backing over onto the front for the binding. I'm thrilled...