Secret Squirrel Quilt - Update

I've been working on my secret squirrel quilt today.  It's for a friend of mine so I can't say too much here, as I'm not sure if she reads my blog but I'm really hoping she will like it, 'cause ya know, every girl needs a quilt!

Moda Bake Shop - Plates For Your Table

Now I found this Plates For Your Table Tutorial at the Moda bake shop, it has four parts but the one I'm basing this quilt on is the Dresden plate table runner.

So to have a break from cutting out all the wedges, my least favourite part, I thought I'd make one Dresden to see if I needed to adjust my seam allowance. While I'm trying to follow the pattern, I am varying it slightly by also adding a couple of little backstitches where the point of each wedge will be, for some extra security.  Ive also been making friends with the quarter inch foot Ella come with.  I have tried it before and wasn't impressed but this morning its been going pretty well.

After a little while I ended up with this. I was pretty happy with it, until....

I measured it :(  According to the pattern its meant to finish up at 8 3/4". Mine, as you can see above, is almost 10", as big as the square its meant to go on.

SO, I had a re-read of the pattern and yes, I had cut my rectangles slightly wider than required. That didn't matter. Then I realised that the ruler I'm using to cut my wedges, the Easy Dresden by Darlene Zimmerman-

might be different that the one stated in the instructions. So I had a quick look and sure enough it is.  Darn it.  I then hunted (for a fair while, since small people don't tend to file like I do) for the instructions that came with the ruler.  Once I found them I saw that my ruler suggested a half inch shorter wedge.  Aaaargh, more cutting....

But WOW! What a difference. The right size wedge, a slightly bigger seam allowance and it went together beautifully. Only 23 more to go...

For those who are wondering, I have used the same fabric as in the  moda tutorial.  I thought she'd like it and its got a nice variety of colours rather than just three or four. But remember if you know who its for, Secret Squirrel!

A Ballerina Bag.... and the Naughty Corner

Now last year for Christmas I planned and started to make my Goddaughter a Ballerina Bag or a Tutu Bag. Then I got told she was getting a Tutu for Christmas from someone else, so instead I made her a little doll quilt and pillow which, thankfully, she loved.(I'll post some pictures soon!)

So in my New Year enthusiasm, I thought that I'd finish the bag early and give it to her for her birthday in July.

But, the tulle annoyed me so much, that I put the project in the Naughty Corner and it has been languishing there for months.  Does anyone else have a Naughty Corner? My projects go there when they've annoyed me by not doing what they've been told, when I'm waiting for that "Aha" moment or when I need to make a purchase before I can finish it.

Last week I took it out, gave it a stern talking to, introduced it to my new machine(Ella) and everyone was happy. The bag was happy I was finishing it, my machine was happy to be played with and I was happy it was finally working out how it was meant to.

The pink sparkly fabric is Make Believe Star in Pink(I'm sorry I don't know the designer), the lining a basic pink pinstripe. The Bling(sequin trim and buttons) I got from my local spotlight.

The pattern was published in Patchwork & Stitching Vol 8 No 12, however Jodie from Ric-Rac has it as a free pattern, which is where I found it. So Thank you!  Now I have to say, I find it very difficult to follow a pattern, I always think "what if I?"... so I redesigned the pattern to make it more 4-year old friendly, added a second layer of tulle and shortened the handles.

So after all the delay, including an extra trip for more buttons, 'cause I broke the first ones-long story, its finally on the way to her. So Happy Birthday beautiful girl, I hope you love it and take it to dance class with you.



A Scarf

My Son was invited to a birthday party and confidently said "I think she'd like a scarf for a present". How could I resist his big blue eyes? So he happily helped choose fabric and trim to make her a scarf.

The fabric is Sweet Dreams by Henry Glass, the trim a cotton broderie and a lovely soft white wintella for the reverse.

Who doesn't love something with their name on it? Well, hopefully....?

I think it turned out lovely.  We went to the party today, he had a great time, the gift was given and received gracefully. The best part for me was I got to use my new sewing machine(her name is  Ella), to make the scarf, so really, it was a win-win situation!