Saturday 28 January 2012

In an English Country Garden and a quilt for my Mum

Well, I've finished it!  The hands are complaining but I've managed to finish the piece I started at Peterborough and if I can just get it in the post early enough on Monday I may be in time to have it considered for the Celebrating Diversity Quilt which will be displayed at the Quilt Museum in York.


I am really pleased with this little piece.  It is 20cms square (not 8" which is slightly bigger than 20cms, ask me how I know!) and is made entirely from recycled fabrics.  I decided to continue the decorative stitching around the yellow rose even though it is part of the base cloth and therefore didn't need securing but I felt it balanced everything to have it stitched.  I finished the edge in a very close hand stitched whipped or satin stitch which took several hours to complete and then 'quilted' the open areas and the crinoline lady by invisibly stitching tiny stitches throughout to hold the top layer firmly to the wadding.  

I've also finished the bed topper I was making for my Mum. (Ooh! I don't think I told you about that before).


Stylishly modelled by the invisible man (otherwise known as DH) the quilt is 120cms by 150cms and has been backed with a fleece that I bought in Sainsbury's.  I designed the quilt around the centre panel that I had bought a year or more ago at The Stitchery in Ruskington, a village near me.  The two panels started out life side by side so I cut them apart and put them one above the other. They are a design from Clothworks called Garden Path, quite appropriately.   The strips were cut at 3.5" as that fitted in better than a 2.5" strip and was less sewing!  I've turned the edge under and stitched it down so that the fleece shows at the front and embroidered Mum's name so she can feel safe that it won't get lost in the home.


Excuse the ropey machined hearts around the edge.  I had a hard time controlling the flow of the fabrics under the needle and got some very wonky shapes in the hearts! 

After all that creativity I am in need of a lie down in a darkened room but there's not much likelihood of that this week as I have lots to do including an exciting day out planned for Tuesday, more of which after the event ;-)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your hand stitched piece is so rich Julie, and the quilt for Mum, well she will just love it, so cheerful and happy and those batiks, oh la la! xox Corrine

Emma said...

You HAND STITCHED that beautiful satin stitch? After making all those other beautiful stitches? Amazing. You integrated that rose just perfectly.

Fabulous quilt for your Mum, she will be touched.Lotls of other lovely quilts in the last 2 posts, you've earnt your lie down! (only to plan the next one, od course ;)

imac said...

I married a clever Girl,lol.

Jackie said...

Oh Julie...the hand stitching is incredible! It's beautiful...absolutely beautiful. What pain-staking work you did!
I love embroidery...such details you have in your work.
Your Mom's quilt is very very pretty. Tell Stewart that I looked for his hands and/feet in the photo, but I couldn't find them. He is indeed 'invisible'...but what a great helper he is!
Hugs and smiles to you, Julie.
Jackie

Amanda said...

What an amazing little quilt! Fabulous work. I do hope it is chosen for York.

I'm sure Mum will love smuggling under her topper too. Good idea about stitching her name on it.

ju-north said...

Fabulous work! Your mum will be so pleased with her quilt!

Anonymous said...

Goodness you've been working hard!! Love the quilts and I bet you're mum will the thrilled.

Heather said...

I love your little recycled fabrics piece Julie - all that beautiful stitching too.
Your Mum will love her bedcover too - so pretty but practical too. No wonder you are tired - you must have been working like mad to get them both done.

Angela said...

Well done the country garden is beautiful. I'm sure your mum is going to love her quilt. Have a nice time on Tuesday, what ever it is that you may be doing.

Odile said...

your embroidery is absolutely beautiful. I like it a lot. Congratulations.

Julie said...

Jackie, thank you so much for your wonderful compliments. I have passed your remarks on to Stewart and he's so glad his talents have been recognised lol I love to have some hand stitching on the go, I'm not a proper embroiderer but I do enjoy pottering about with the few stitches that I can do. I find it very relaxing and calming especially if I'm stuck somewhere with time on my hands like waiting for a hospital appointment or on a long journey.
love
Julie x

Maggi said...

I do hope that you quilt is chosen for York Julie, it is lovely. I bet your mum loves her quilt too and such a lovely thing to do to add her name to it.See you Tuesday.

Sandra Wyman said...

Both these pieces are beautiful Julie: I'm sure your Mum will love her quilt which is beautiful - and I'll eat my CQ@10 piece (though I haven't actually started stitching it yet)if your piece doesn't get chosen for York! Unfortunately haven't been able to finish mine due to illness - CFS back with a horrible vengeance at present.

pam said...

Oh the English country garden piece is gorgeous - I remember doing embroidery like that on a table cloth for my Mum - a few years back!!! Your Mum will love the quilt especially with the hearts around it.