Sunday 11 May 2014

Gently does it?? Me?!

I am really happy to be sewing again. It's been 6 weeks since I broke my arm ... that's gone quickly! Did you know I was impatient? And stubborn? And a perfectionist? Hmmm, not my best characteristics :) That's why quilting is a great hobby for someone like me - it forces you to slow down, accept mistakes and go easy on yourself ... apparently!

On Friday, I started making a cushion (pillow) ... yes, I could have 'stayed simple' but I wanted to try out a new pattern and I've had this book for weeks, it was calling to me:


This is the block I was attracted to because I wanted to use lots of fabrics. So I raided my stash:



And started cutting. I'm going for an 18" cushion so I reckon 4" squares and 2 1/4" corner squares will make a nice size inner block which I can then frame with the backing fabric:


I could eyeball or draw a line across each of the 2 1/4" squares but it's easier on my arm to iron them in half and sew corner to corner just to the left of the crease line:


Before cutting off the corners, I sew another line - now I'll have lots of 1 1/2" squares to use up. For what? I have no idea!



Here's the first block ... almost perfectly square:



And all four sewn together:


I then added the border, quilted it, made the envelope back:



And voila! Took a lot longer to make than usual but it was worth it. Thanks for the inspiration:


Now to make something simple?! Yeah, right :)

11 comments:

  1. Your cushion looks great, Jen! So bright and cheery. I want to make a bunch of quilted pillows... sometime.

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  2. Good to see you back on track!

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  3. It´s so great that you are back on track and it also makes me feel a little bit ashamed.
    I have had that book for a while now and haven´t started to sew anything from it.
    Lazy is my second name...
    Good work, Jen and pretty too!

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  4. Oh how very lovely!! - both your creation and the fact that you are now sewing again!! Love the yellow, it's so bright and cheery! I have been eyeballing that book too - all the projects look so fresh.

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  5. It's so good to see you back at sewing again!!

    I too am a perfectionist and impatient and way stubborn! Just ask my hubby!! Guess thats why we like each other. =) You and me, I mean. =D Whenever I give a quilt to someone, I inevitably say, "It's not perfect..." I even tell myself I won't say that, but it falls out of my mouth every time...My things will never win a prize, but they make me happy to make and to share, so I guess that is all that matters. Perfect or not. =)

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  6. That looks lovely! Go you :D It looks like you are healing well if you can churn out these bits of loveliness. All the best for the rest of your recovery xxxxxx

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  7. That's such a fun block - one I've never seen before. Your fabrics and colors are beautiful. You don't waste any time, do you, Jennifer. You just cut to the chase and get it done! Sometimes I wish I could make quicker decisions.... (And have the results turn out so well as yours.)

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  8. Lovely pillow! Glad to see you are back at it. :)

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  9. Very pretty! I'm loving yellow right now. I'm feeling the need to welcome the sun and ask it to stay, I think. :)

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  10. So pretty Jen. Glad to see you are managing some sewing now, it must have been driving you crazy not being able to do any! Hope your back up to speed soon

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I love reading all your comments, I know it takes time to write them but they make me smile so thank you for dropping by :)