Getting ready

........for the Colouricious Craft Fayre tomorrow.  There will be a highly select selection of goodies available.  It has been really hard to make the amount of things tht I feel I should have.  In fact, too hard - so VERY select!

It's my first time "doing" a craft fair so I have no idea of what to expect, and no idea of what to charge.  I am feeling very much out of my comfort zone!

Binding a quilt

I've been really busy making things for the Colouricious Christmas Fayre this Sunday, and have made a lovely cot quilt.  Making the top and quilting it was quite fast, and then I worried about how much time it would take me to bind it.  I remembered seeing that Ricky Tims has as fantastic machine only binding style, and checked that out, but it needs piping, and I don't have a piping foot.  So I improvised!

1. Taking 4 x 1 1/2" strips each one the length + about 6" of one side, I added the binding strip to the BACK of the quilt by machine - flat, RS to RS to the back of the quilt.
2. The trick for Ricky's mitred corners is that you leave an overhang either end of the quilt; start and finish stitiching 1/4" in.  The way he does this without measuring is to fold and fingerpress the binding strip so that it's at right angles to the quilt so you get a great 45 degree angle.
3. Attach all 4 strips in this way, making sure that the "mitred" folded edges line up beautifully.
4. Join each of those "mitre" folds with straight stitch going into the corner and trim.
5. Turn to RS of quilt and just tuck under a small hem allowance.
6. Choose some beautiful thread for top and bobbin - match to the fabrics, then choose a nice stitch - I used my applique stitch, you could use a blanket stitch, a feather cross stitch - whatever!  Just make sure it looks good from the bobbin side too.
7. Stitch the binding in place
8. When you turn it over you get a lovely decorative stitching line about 1" in all around the back of the quilt.  There is no binding showing on the back.

Is this a new method?

I will post photos, and for anyone that wants to try it out get in touch and I'll do proper instructions if you want them - or you could IMPROVISE!!

Don't know that the Quilt Police would like it, but I do!

So this is blogging!

Encouraged by friends (Thanks Tracie) I have decided to start a blog about my journey towards becoming a professional quilter.  When it happens, my company will be called Green Man Quilts, and I intend to sell quilts and quilted gifts.

I've quilted for quite a few years but last year started on a City & Guilds course at Missenden Abbey with the marvellous Barbara Weeks - I've learnt such a lot, and am realising how much more there is to learn.

I'm busy learning about Ando Hiroshige at the moment - a Japanese printblock artist from the 16th century, and his work - particularly "The Whirlpool at Edo" and "The Dyers Quarter" is the big influence on my work this term.

I've been busy doing lots of patchwork samples for my homework ready for the second weekend of my term - this coming weekend.

I've loved learning about fabric dyeing, and producing my own hand-dyed fabrics which I am using for some of my assignments.

This is a photo of my applique assessment - a green man waistcoat.