Two down

Not so long ago I decided to use one of my oldest bits of unfinished patchwork - a large log cabin square - making it into a table protector for a coffee table. However, we have two square coffee tables so the task didn't just involve making up one, but also creating a second one from scratch so that both tables have a new cover. I changed the design for the second one but used similar fabrics so that they look good together. This is the UFO:

and here are the two table tops, each with a new protector:

Another one which has been lying unfinished for years relates to my attempts to make things from plastic canvas. Finally I've succeeded in finishing something which has a purpose - a tissue box cover.

The Bells of London

I bought a second embroidery kit when I visited Taylors bellfoundry last year, and had the noble intention of making it up as a gift for the bellringers at Stepney church (mentioned in the Oranges and Lemons rhyme). The band celebrated its 10th anniversary in May, and it would have been lovely to present their gift then - but it wasn't ready. Now it will be a New Year gift instead!

The design, by Chris Berry who works at the foundry, included pictures of four churches - I added a fifth (top right), representing the tower at Stepney.

Another one bites the dust!

My first attempt at English paper pieced patchwork was a very simple hexagon pattern which I started several years ago and left aside when I started to learn other techniques. This last week the wind has been too strong for me to be gardening, so I got it out and finally got it finished! Whether it will be of any use or not remains to be seen (too small for a bed but probably too big for a cot), but at least it's no longer a UFO...

A rare sight

This may not seem very special - but is in fact an incredibly rare sight! My desk is normally covered in piles of paper waiting to be actioned/scanned/filed/sorted and I have just dedicated two full days to clearing the backlog (which included at least one paper over ten years old). So clearing it definitely counts as having eliminated another UFO!

Just two thoughts spoil the current euphoria: firstly, that I have another home... with another desk... with other piles of paper; and secondly, doubt that this one will remain in such pristine condition for very long... 

My first quilt

It's been almost a year since I wrote anything here - not that there was nothing to say, just was too busy to get round to it! Whoever said retirement was the busiest time of their life, I agree...

Anyway, my biggest ever project (not the longest lasting, but the physically biggest) is now finally complete. This is my first (who knows, maybe also my last!) full (double bed) size patchwork quilt - based on Lynne Edwards' Sampler Quilt book.

The blocks and the border were made from scrap fabrics, though I did purchase fabrics for framing, joining and binding. The batting and backing fabrics too were "pre-loved" - the batting taken from curtain interlining and the backing from bedlinen. In this way I think I more or less used the original idea of making patchwork quilts.

Each block was quilted separately before being joined to its neighbours - I had decided on this after making a throw which I found extremely difficult to quilt using just a standard sewing machine. Only the final joins of the borders had the whole quilt on the sewing table. 

In time for winter...

My remake is finally complete! After pulling some of it apart (having lost the original pattern), completely changed the pattern, run out of one of the colours, tracked down a replacement... at last the job is done. Another UFO off the list, and old yarn out of the stash.

Retrieved from hibernation

At the last meeting of my French stitchery group, we got the bindings cut for the two quilts which have been ongoing for the last year or two, and I now have one of the quilts bound. I can't describe it as complete yet, though, as the hand quilting isn't all finished. The target for completion of both quilts is now November, when we have a showcase event planned.

Travelling by train from the south of France to London gave me plenty of time to get the last bits of my art nouveau peacock embroidery done. The canvas is quite grubby in places, though, so will need careful hand washing before it can be framed. I did find the second kit for this design which I had planned to make up as a mirror image of the first one. Whether or not this will ever get made I don't know; so many hours went into this piece of work that it's off-putting to consider starting all over again.

I'm about to make the return journey by train now so have retrieved (from the box in the loft where she has languished for many years) a knitted rag doll which I made. About half of her knitted clothing has been done - I will now try and complete the clothing so that she can be dressed... I have a feeling that I lost my impetus with this project when I was unable to make a reasonable job of embroidering her a face. If I do get all her bits done, I think I need to find someone a little more artistic than I am to give her nice features!