What are you doing today?

Sharon has posed this question as part of her fat quarter give-away to celebrate her 25 posts and 25,000 visitors to her Chester County Criswell Quilt blog. If you leave a comment on her give-away blog post you could win these repro fat quarters.

Sharon's blog and her family's Chester County Criswell quilt inspired me to start my own blog so I'm more than happy to celebrate her milestones. So pop on over and leave a comment about your day, the give-away is open until April 25th.

Today I had to work and didn't do any sewing on the bus - I had the CCCQ #9 block ready to applique but didn't have the right thread, frustrating! But I did manage to make a start with the needle-turn this evening. 

I also did some squaring off and finishing of the blocks for the first row in my Morrell quilt. For instance I had completely missed sewing around one of the butterflies.

First row all finished and pieced. It's very exciting to be finally putting this quilt together. Each row has 8 x 10" blocks - it's going to be big!

This is the layout that my sister helped me work out yesterday. 
This is the first attempt...

Then after a number of changes and swaps 

this was the final layout that we were happy with.

As well as numbering all 61 blocks it's great having a print out of the layout to refer to whilst sewing it together - thanks J!

First Block Last

This is the first Morrell block I worked on and now I think it's the last to be finished! Over the years (!) I just avoided doing the diamond border and then I ran out of the background fabric for the borders, then I mucked up the corner pieces and so it got banished to the 'naughty corner' (to use an expression from another blogger). Now that I have learnt to hand piece I have been able to finally finish off those pesky corner pieces.

I'm going to lay out all the blocks for my Morrell at my sister's place tomorrow, I literally don't have a large enough flat surface area (wall or floor) in my home. Plus it'll be great to have a second opinion on which blocks will work well together as I won't necessarily be following Di Ford's layout - wonderful as it is, the colours and fabrics I have used may lead to something else. I'll keep you posted.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I think this one of the last pieced blocks required for my Morrell quilt. I ran out of some my favourite cheddar fabric so I could only use it on every second point of the star  - the one with the white floral pattern (I have no idea what it is) but I actually think it makes the star more interesting.

CCCQ Block #7

This week I've finished William and Harry Clendenen's Royal Palm block for my Chester County Criswell quilt. The fabrics are from the Somerset Shirtings range by Windham.

CCCQ Block #7

Not feeling quite so behind now and it's great to be able to put the 6 in one picture to see how they are coming together...

I also baked a very delicious tea cake (even if I do say so myself). 

Perfect with a cup of tea.

Broderie Blocks finished

I haven't posted for a couple of weeks as we have been living on the other side of the city and I haven't been sewing. Most of what you see below I did before we moved.

Anyway I have now finished the last two broderie perse blocks for my Morrell quilt. HOORAY!!!

I'm afraid there are going to be a lot of peacocks in this quilt...

Who says you can't make lots of colour thread changes when sewing broderie perse by machine?

I have also finished another block for my Comfort Quilt.

Comfort Quilt Block #9

And my sister and I are making a baby quilt for a new family member.

I need to quilt and bind it. Just LOVE the caravan fabric.

Have a safe and peaceful Easter.

Carole

Halfway There

My sister and I visited Mill Rose patchwork and quilting supply shop in Ballan and all I can say is wow! I's well worth the trip and there is a scrumptious restaurant as part of the complex. The range of fabrics is just amazing. I was thrilled to get some difficult to source Japanese taupe fabrics at an incredibly reasonable price. 

The beauty of these fabrics is that because the pattern is woven into the fabric you can often use both sides for a different look.

This purchase inspired me to complete a couple more blocks for my Comfort Quilt.

Comfort Quilt Block #7

Comfort Quilt #8

I have now finished eight so I am halfway there - yay!

Broderie Blockbusters

I've completed another 4 broderie perse blocks for my Morrell quilt - all of these are from a piece of '1840's Birds and Basics' by Harriet Hargrave for P&B Textiles. These were done by machine. This time I tried a 100% Gutermann silk for the cream areas. I love using silk for hand needle-turn so thought I would give it a go on the machine.

Only need to do two more blocks, then I will have completed all the broderie perse for this quilt. Looking forward to that!