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Sunshine and Shadow: Manx log cabin coverlet
It would be nice to write about all the things I made this year before the end of the year is up!
One of the makes I'm most proud of, I finished in early autumn and it had been a while in the making. I started making this coverlet when Jenni Smith taught the Manx log cabin technique at Stitch Gathering in 2019.
This traditional technique involves measuring and ripping fabric strips by hand, folding and sewing the blocks by hand and sewing them together front and then back. I made all the blocks by hand, sewed the fronts together on the machine and then hand sewed the back of the blocks.
My previous posts detail the process and my decisions a little more. I used fabric, mostly scraps, from my stash for the blocks. The centre squares are metallic Essex linen. A lot of the backing fabrics were bought for this coverlet though because I wanted to use woven fabrics, there's some shot cotton and lots of gorgeous Robert Kaufman Fabrics - yarn dyed, herringbone and gingham.
I did think about doing a normal quilt binding, I wasn't sure I could be bothered with the traditional butted edge. I guess this is like a knife-edge but there's no sewing around the edges or trimming of wadding required like there is with a quilt, so technically I don't know what it's really called. Anyway, I did decide to finish it by hand the traditional way. I turned the edges under 1/4" and did a ladder stitch closure.
The whole thing is far from perfect and, to me, that's what makes it so absolutely wonderful. It's not about being precise, it's so personal and handmade.
I arranged the blocks in a traditional Sunshine and Shadow layout. There's no doubt that I will make another Manx log cabin at some point, next time with a different layout. I love this though. The pink, mint and navy are quite dramatic and give it a modern look.
Big thanks to my youngest for being such a good helper with these shots!
Here's the back. You can see how the light shine though the centres of the block, where there's just two layers of fabric.
A close up of the quilt label I made last year. I did try to make the 1 into a 2 but it didn't really work! That'll teach me for counting my chickens before the coverlet is hatched!
Pretty pictures of it draped on the tree, just because.
The texture is what makes this so different and special. It's still warm like a quilt but so light. It's tactile in such a lovely way and this is my favourite make to date.
It's funny that I'm writing this as I sit in the living room where I spent so much time with my Nan, given my last post. I'm currently visiting my Dad and since I can't go to sleep before around midnight, I thought I'd stay up and try to catch up on writing about things I've made this year. There's a few more posts I'm hoping to cram in before 2023, stay tuned!
quilt label X gold needles
An important part of the process is quilt labelling. Do you label your quilts?
Despite not yet having a finish, the idea for a label came to me and I jumped right in! There's no point in waiting to create, might as well stitch when the mood strikes. Here I show you my process for making this label, share some favourite tools and there's a chance to win a jar of Hemline Gold needles.
wip woo
I have a few works in progress and finishes to share with you today, so settle and get comfy as this might be a rambling one. There has been a lot of sewing happening and thought I would put (nearly) everything in one blog post to show what I've been up to - there are two more finishes that will feature in separate posts coming very soon!
First up is a finished quilt top - this is the Land of Magic quilt pattern by Kid Giddy The star, crown and castle blocks I pieced sometime ago. I had started the dragon but ran out of the background fabric and ordered more - then didn't get back to it. As this quilt was destined for my niece and she is now three, it seemed like a good idea to get it finished so she could appreciate and use it.
Thankfully, although some of that background fabric was used in other projects I had more than enough to finish the block. The bright Amy Butler fabric works really well for the dragon and I love that it looks as though it has an eye due to the placement of the print.
Then I made the mermaid block, with the most perfect Carrie Bloomston fish fabric for the background. Many of the blocks contain precious fabric scraps I have hoarded, like the Pearl Bracelet print used for her top. This one contains some very small pieces, like the little crown and the waistband section but it's so worth it because that creates movement to make it appear as though she is gliding underwater. Kerry's patterns are clever like that.
100 days
There are lots of lovely sew a-longs going on to keep us busy and creative during this crazy time. I feel like I need a focus. The thing I have most been looking forward to starts today, the 100 day project. You can find all the info about the project here. It's open to all sorts of artists + creatives and really any project you can think up. I've joined in before and this year is perhaps my most challenging yet for various reasons. Everything is set up, my planner has the 100 days noted with a sticker and I will check it off each day. Notebooks at the ready for my writing and designs. Fabric for creating. Brain bursting with inspiration.
The project I will be doing is '100 days not letting dreams be dreams' #100daysnotlettingdreamsbedreams, you can follow the hashtag on instagram to see what I get up to! Inspired by this, my idea is to do a little bit everyday to make my dream come true. The actual project I want to make is a bit of a secret, it will involve some reading, sketching, writing and designing. Where I can't show pictures I may well just chat on stories or show something else and write about my progress instead. Not really sure how it will work out but my friend Michelle has encouraged me and knows this is an important project for me, so here goes!
I have had a rearrange of my sewing space / our dining room. Which involved moving my sewing desk from one side of the room to the other. In the process I did have a clear out and now, despite it's messy appearance, it is well ordered and everything has a place. There's just a LOT of stuff. It has made me want to spend time at my machine and currently I am finishing off sewing blocks from the Land of Magic quilt pattern by Kerry Goulder of Kid Giddy and really enjoying it.
There has been some progress on my hand sewn Manx Log Cabin blocks and I caught up with the Peppermint Purple Stitch-A-long - a great free blackwork SAL for 2020, with a new section of the pattern released each week. I'm using Aurifil Brillo and Aurifloss to stitch on 18 count Aida. Hopefully the nice weather might stick around for a bit and I could spend the bank holiday working on this in the garden
Yesterday after work I nipped out to get some shopping for us and a couple of neighbours. I decided to wear this Liberty silk scarf, which belonged to my grandmother. She had good taste. It feels so incredibly soft and it brightened my spirit. There is joy to be found in small things.
But I will need to cut my own fringe soon.
This little one has lost three teeth recently, two since we have been on lock down. My son has also lost one. I've heard that the tooth fairy is now out of pound coins and won't be using cash because of the virus so there will have to be IOU notes given should my children lose any more teeth. Let's hope not!! (note to self: hoard pound coins)
Stay safe and well at home x
fabric and day off frolics
I'm gearing up to prepare for next year, despite this definitely being the time of year where I feel like hibernating! It's time to make plans, thinking about what next year will bring and sorting out sewing projects. I'm hoping to get things in order over the Christmas break, sorting out my sewing stuff ready for a fresh start in 2020. Recently there have been a few stash additions, I've been out in Manchester stocking up and enjoying cheese toasties, and finally sneaking some project finishes in!
As I continue to work on my Manx Log Cabin blocks I realised I wouldn't have enough Essex Metallic for the centres so ordered a bit more from Sew Hot and the other prints were just irresistible:
clockwise from top left: Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Metallic in Oyster; Camo in Yarrow, Gleaned by Carolyn Friedlander; Dottie in Coral Metallic, Basics by Cotton + Steel and Pop Off in Peach Fizz, Pop! by Rashida Coleman-Hale - this print is one of those that I HAD to have and knew if I didn't get some I would wish I had. Honestly it's pretty easy to resist these urges nowadays but when it comes to Rashida Coleman-Hale prints I have no control because they are always fabulous.
This next selection was a surprise treat, a very kind lady that came to one of my classes had been to Standfast & Barracks and picked up these big cuts of Liberty Tana Lawn. She knew I loved Liberty and so I got all this for less than the price of 1/2 metre! These aren't scraps, they are large folded pieces. I'm very grateful she let me buy them from her and these snowdrops have already found their way into my log cabin blocks.
a (somewhat) needed sunday stash
I bought fabric at Festival of Quilts and the Stitch Gathering - supporting those artists and shops I love - but there's not been much fabric shopping going on and that's mostly down to the fact that I want to be using what I have. There are plenty of times I do 'fake shopping', adding beautiful fabric to online baskets but I don't hit 'checkout' because I know that it will ultimately end up in the piles and piles of fabric I already have. The decision to buy fabric now has to be because I need it for a project I am actually working on. For my Manx log cabin blocks I am using woven fabric for the back of each block. I thought I had quite a selection but turns out no where near enough, so I picked up this gorgeous selection of fabrics from Patchfinders. It's a mix of shot cottons, Robert Kaufman Fabrics - yarn dyed, herringbone and gingham.
As the blocks are similar to quilt as you go, it's going to be so cool seeing a patchwork back of the woven fabrics. I've realised (thanks to comments on instagram) that this will be a coverlet rather than a quilt because there's no wadding in it. We have so many quilts in our house I am excited to create something slightly less structured and more blanket like. My Manx coverlet started with a peachy/pink and navy combo but I decided to add some mint to the mix too. I pulled all the mints from my stash but it was still lacking so I added these three from Patchfinders.
Stitch Gathering 2019 ✁
"This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive." - Alice Waters
Last Sunday was Stitch Gathering, the wonderful day retreat organised by Jo Avery of myBearpaw, in Edinburgh. It is always a full day of fun, with great classes and company and it's always over too soon. I was there teaching a class - something a little different, more on that later! - and also had the opportunity to take a class. As someone that relishes learning and trying new techniques it was very exciting. And oops... I've started a new quilt!
Now, as I type this, something has occurred to me. For the first time I did not have the overwhelming anxiety I've had before every social occasion/journey/outing/time being around other people that I've had for the past three years or so. It could be because life has been extra crazy busy and I didn't have time to stress, though I suspect that's disbelief talking because those negative/anxious thoughts shout really loud. Mental health is fluid, with ups and downs - I am under no illusions but right now it does feel that gradually all those things that previously felt SO difficult just aren't. Usual worries like 'have I got everything?' and 'will people enjoy my class?' were fleeting and manageable. Thoughts like 'I can't do this' and 'I don't want to do this because of x,y,z', which would usually flood my brain, didn't take over. I know I batted a few of them away, they weren't non existent but they were quiet and didn't feel real. Anyway I'm taking that as positive and, however I may feel in the future, it feels nice that there wasn't a dreaded build up and it was all enjoyable!
At Stitch Gathering, Jo asks us to create a 'ticket' and each year these are swapped between participants. This year it was an 8" hoop, which we could stitch and embellish as we liked. It was fabulous to see them all hanging together and a nice variety of hoop art! Here's a closer look...
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