Moore Patchwork & Quilting

Laundry Bag

I've finished another Christmas gift.  This one started with my Washing Day pattern.

When the pattern first came out, Hanne emailed me and said that she was going to use the stitchery to put onto a laundry bag that she could take with her when travelling.  At the time I said to her "Wish I had thought of that".

 I've been thinking about it for a while and thought it would be a nice gift- a handy drawstring bag with the stitchery on it.

 I had this lovely fabric in my stash.  I think the range is called London Cats and I originally bought it with a bag in mind so I had some larger pieces. I chose the purple fabric for the main and the checky fabric for the lining. I also had the tea stained calico left over from Nice People Nice Things quilt and decided to use that for the stitchery. The thread is DMC 3726 and I added some green ric-rac braid to give it some contrast.   

I made each twisted cord with 3 skeins of DMC thread - 2 green and one purple.

You could make the bag any size you wanted - mine is 24" x 14". I made it with travelling in mind but it could easily be much bigger.

I'm pleased with the end result and think  I will have to make one for myself. (Thanks for the idea Hanne.)

Until next time

Lyn

Hatched and Patched and Shetland Rug

Two more patterns from Hatched and Patched arrived in store today.

Neither of the patterns are 'new' but both are good.

The first one is another of the little pincushions.  This one is called Larry Lamb.  

All of the pincushions make such nice presents and are really quick to make.

The second one is My Angel Garden.

This pattern includes the lovely table topper and a handy bag. Both have stitchery designs on them.  I love the angels flying around the table topper and the scallopped edging just sets it off beautifully.

The patterns are available on my website.  

Shetland Rug...

Well, I bet you've been wondering how my shetland rug is going?  I hope you didn't think I had given up on it? 

These are blocks 27 and 28 and I know it's hard to believe, but both are made from the same 2 balls of yarn.  Isn't it amazing?  I love the way they both look - the one on the right has a very striped effect which will be a nice contrast in my rug.

I have actually picked up the last month from the yarn store and can't believe that I'm nearing the end of the project.  The best thing about the project has been doing it in a group.  The group has provided me with encouragement and inspiration.  Some weeks I haven't felt like knitting a square, but knowing that my group meeting was a couple of days away gave me the movation I needed.  If it hadn't been for the group I know I wouldn't have made it this far.  Now that I can see the finish, I'm really motivated to finish the remaining blocks and see how they look together.  

Until next time

Lyn 

Project Bag

As promised, I can now show you the Christmas present I made from the lovely
Rouenneries fabric by French General.

Do you remember my Hooked on Crochet pattern?  I decided to make the project bag and small drawstring bag for a friend.  She does a lot of hand stitching  and I thought the bags would be ideal for her.   

I didn't do any stitchery or applique on the bags but let the lovely fabrics do all the work.

I made a twisted cord as I usually do with 2 different colours of DMC thread.

This is how they finished up.

Don't the fabrics look beautiful?

I lined the project bag with the same fabric I used for the top of the pocket.

I was really pleased with the end result and so was my friend! Inside the bag I put a packet of hexagon papers and some fat-eighths of fabric. She's now set for some holiday stitching.

I'm now making another gift with some more the French General fabrics.  I realise that I have to get a move on - Christmas is only 2 weeks away. Gotta go - there's stitching to do.

Until next time

Lyn

Natalie Ross and more fabric

2 new patterns from Natalie Ross arrived in store today.

Summer Surprise is a pieced bag (16" x 19") with a summer stitchery on the front.

I like the handles!

Slumber Party includes a quilt (57" x 57") and a bag (19.5" x 19.5") to carry the quilt in.  They both feature blanket stitch applique flower pots.

I love the fabrics.  Very cheerful.

The patterns are available on my website. 

French General fabric....

Every since I first saw that Rouenneries range of fabrics from French General I knew I had to find a project to use them in.  I had kind of given up until I started thinking about making some Christmas gifts and decided that it was a perfect opportunity to use those beautiful fabrics.

On Saturday and I went down to Peppermint Stitches and bought a few fat quarters and then yesterday I went to Patches and couldn't resist buying a few more.

I've finished one of the Christmas gifts but I will have to show you tomorrow (don't want to spoil the surprise). 

After seeing Gail Pan's lovely new quilt Provence, I'm not sure why I waited so long to buy the fabric. Better late than never!

Until next time

Lyn

Winners, Gail Pan and Sue Grafton

Thanks for entering the giveaway for Home for Christmas pattern.

The winners are:

Diana Sutherland

Susan D

Nessie Shand

Congratulations.  Please email me your address and your patterns will be on their way.

Gail Pan...

Just arrived today is this beautiful quilt by Gail Pan.

The quilt is called Provence and Gail has used the beautiful French General fabric Rouenneries.  I saw this quilt on Gail's blog the other day and just couldn't wait for it to arrive.  I think it's just beautiful.  The design really suits the fabric so well.  There's a bit of applique, some stitchery and piecing. The finished size is 59" x 59".

I just love it.

The pattern is available on my website.

Sue Grafton...

Well what can I say?  Sue Graftons' latest book U is for Undertow is just terrific.

Ever since I stumbled across the first of the series A is for Alibi in the public library years ago, I've been an avid fan of the books featuring Kinsey Millhone. The only problem is that the interval between the books seems to be getting longer and longer and I think it's been 2 years since Kinsey's last appearance.

In this book Kinsey investigates an unsolved kidnapping after a client recalls an incident from his childhood that he believes holds the key to the case. Even though this leads to an apparent dead end, Kinsey can't let it go and investigates on her own. (I won't give too much away - but gradually the full story unfolds.)  In the meantime, information from Kinsey's family with whom she is estranged, helps start her on the path to healing. (Reminds me a bit of Tony Hill!)

I love these books. They are written from the viewpoint of Kinsey and are in the form of a report written at the conclusion of the investigation of the case that she's been working on.  This means that we gain an understanding of the processes that Kinsey goes through as well as her insight into the other characters.  There are some regular characters - like her landlord Henry and his family and the slightly eccentric Rosie who keeps Kinsey well fed.  Their relationship with Kinsey add depth to her character and the story.

My only concern is - I hope I don't have to wait 2 years for 'V is for....?'

Until next time

Lyn

  

Janelle Wind and Hatched & Patched

New patterns to arrive in store today.

 

Stitch a Little Christmas is a fun new design from Janelle Wind.

The pattern includes 2 little bags which would be great gift bags and double as a handy decoration.

They would be quick to make and great stash buster projects.

Hatched and Patched....

I'm always on the lookout for quick projects to make for gifts and I think these are perfect.

  Gilroy Goose Pincushion (4.5") is just one of a whole range of pincushions from Anni Downs.

It would be a really nice little gift.

Other pincushions to arrive are My Cat Claude (my favourite - being a cat person and all) and Dudley Dog.

Champagne and Roses is a small notebook cover with this lovely little stitchery.

My Mum is currently making a covered recipe book for a Christmas gift and it made me think that covering a notebook would be a nice way to personalise a gift.

Other patterns of Anni's in store are Home Life (a quilt) and Let's Celebrate (a stitchery project - tablerunner and present box).

All of the new patterns are available on my website.   

Until next time

Lyn

Home for Christmas

I've finished my new Christmas design called Home for Christmas.

The finished size is 20" x 24" and it has a blanket applique design in the centre with a stitchery border with the words 'All hearts come home for Christmas.'

I like that sentiment because I'm looking forward to my boys coming home for Christmas. 

My intention is to use it as a table topper for Christmas.

The pattern is available on my website.

Giveway...

If you would like to go into the draw to win a copy of the new pattern, just leave a comment between now and 10.00am Tuesday 8 December. 

Christmas readiness...

My usual practice is to put up our tree and my numerous Christmas decorations (quilts, dolls, etc) on 1 December but this year it seemed to creep up on me unnoticed. I had completely forgotten about putting up my Christmas tree until I saw on a blog that someone was putting up their tree on 1 December.  I thought "Gosh is it time already?" It has seemed to come quickly this year hasn't it?  Anyway, by the end of this weekend our house will be a Christmas wonderland.

Until next time

Lyn

Natalie Ross, Melly & Me and Rosalie Quinlan

More new patterns arrived today.

 

From Natalie Ross, there's this cute backpack and lunch bag set called The Little School House.

Both of them feature fun applique designs and Natalie has included some novelty buttons as well.

The fabrics really add to the sense of fun don't they?  Make it as a gift for some one special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Melly and Me -My Folio and Folio Jnr.

Something nice to carry your notebook and pencil in.

The pattern also includes the complete monogram alphabet so you can personalise your design. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier this week, this Christmas stitchery from Rosalie Quinlan also arrived.

Finished size is 16" x 16" when framed - so you still have time to stitch it for Christmas.

The design is called Friends and Family.

The patterns are available on my website. 

Knitted Things

I'm so pleased at the moment because I have finished knitting my 'red' jumper.

I'm actually more than pleased - I'm proud of it.  It fits me perfectly, and the yarn is so soft that it drapes perfectly as well. What makes it extra special is that it's the first time that I've substituted a different ply for the one specified in the pattern.  I wasn't confident about it at all but all the ladies at knitting encouraged me and I'm glad I listened to them.

It is short sleeved which is perfect for paradise winters - I can wear it over either long sleeve shirts (for 'cold' days) or short sleeve shirts(for 'cool' days). The front has a lacy part on the bodice that gives it some shape.   

On the back, there's a lovely lacy panel too which gives it some shape as well.

The pattern is called Sage Remedy and the yarn is an alpaca. I bought the pattern on Ravelry.

I'm really chuffed with it.  I can't wait for cooler weather so I can wear it.

Knit-a-long....

I've also finished the knit-a-long I was doing with Tangled Yarns.

The yarn is Noro sock yarn which makes it look striped.

The pattern is called Simple Yet Effective Shawl but it's more like a scarf than a shawl.

 Because I've finished it before the end of November I will go into the draw to win a prize. Fingers crossed.

Until next time

Lyn

Natalie Bird

The postman brought a couple of good things for me today.

The first one is this new pattern from Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse.

The pattern is called Daring Dragons and includes a pieced quilt (60" x 86"); a bed runner (49" x 17") with a row of applique dragons; and a pillowcase (28" x 18") with an applique dragon.

Aren't they great? Would suit either a boy or girl as well.

The pattern is available on my website.

Fabric Club...

 

I also received my fabric club instalment from Patchwork on Stonleigh.

The fabrics are a nice mix and I'm sure I'll find a use for them.

My favourite is definitely the mustard colour on top.  Very handy.  I also like the blue (second on the left in the top row) - very nice.

U is for Undertow...

One of my favourite authors is Sue Grafton. She writes a series of books featuring Kinsey Millhone and each novel starts with a letter of the alphabet - starting with A is for Alibi. The last one was T is for Trespass and that was I think 2 years ago.  I've been patiently waiting for U ever since.  We were at the Mary Ryan bookstore on Sunday and Robin said "What letter are you waiting for again?" He then produced U is for Undertow from behind his back.  I was overjoyed! Finally!  So after a scorchingly hot day in paradise, I retired to the back deck in the cool of the evening and started to read.  Almost half way through and all I can say is - it was worth the wait!

Until next time

Lyn