Wednesday, October 31, 2012

WIP Wednesday: The One With Victoriana

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

WIPs

It's All About Eternity

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

I have to say, I've been struggling with this quilt. There are a LOT of pieces to put together. Sometimes it feels like I can't see the end of it.

Eternity quilt: rows 4-7

It makes it easier when I have some of it put together. Then I can look at it and wonder what possessed me to think I could make this in a month!

IMAG1815

Although I've gotten a stretch on the deadline (it was never a very fixed deadline) there's still so much piecing to do! And arranging. And piecing. And more arranging, and pressing. So. Much. Pressing!

IMAG1818

And so we reach the story so far. 7 rows out of 30 – with the rows due to get wider and wider and wider. It's not the best light, but good enough to see by, and to get a feel for what the full size will be and how the quilt pattern will look.

Eternity quilt: 1st 7 rows. 23 to go!

There are already mistakes in the layout, but I don't think they're too noticeable...

Steampunk Costume

Started for Halloween last year (until we had a heatwave of 32C and I decided against it), and finished for Halloween this year. All that really needed doing was the lace on the sleeves.

Steampunk sleeves

And the outfit, with everything finished but the buttons. I was wearing a corset underneath - and probably just as well or I'd never have fit everything in!

Steampunk dress

Unfortunately I don't seem to have pics of the party and me wearing the dress. Maybe later...

--

What have you been working on this week? Have you linked it up at the linky party over at Freshly Pieced?

Friday, October 26, 2012

Instagrams!

Not many of them. Have mostly been home and recovering from an exhausting cold and flu virus. Alas, mostly requires R&R.

Although I have been sewing some Eternity Quilt together!

Snoozy kitteh.

The ceiling at Wow Cow Parramatta.

Eternity quilt layout: Oh my!

Tagged by @pennypoppleton #widrn working from home, eternity quilt in background, waiting for meeting. Tagging @buschhy and @mirvettium if they have time

Eternity quilt: Rows 4-7 of 30.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

WIP: the one with Eternity

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

And Done!

This week was the week the WiCKED blog hop began - a Halloween themed bloghop with giveaways and tutorials.

My contribution was a "bat logo block" - a pieced, geometrics block in the shape of a bat.

Wicked: Bat Logo Block

I'm kinda shocked at the number of comments it's received! Definitely not what I was expecting!

In Progress

I've finally made a start on laying out the Eternity Quilt pieces. And am trying not to think about how many pieces there are!

Eternity quilt: pieces laid out

Right now, each piece is laid out according to the pattern:

EternitySolution

I sew the half-triangles together first:

Half triangles to eternity

Then trim them:

Trimming

Then put them back in the layout:

Oranges and Pinks

Then I sew the whole row together:

Eternity quilt: closeup

One row done...umpteen to go!

Eternity quilt: sewing together

I'm not laying the whole pattern out all at once. As it is, by the time we get to the full width of the quilt across, I'm going to be very short of space...

Eesh. So much sewing... *tries not to think about it*

To Be Finished

I have two projects I'd like to get done before the end of the year. (Actually, I have a dozen projects I'd like to get done before the end of the year, but realism dictates I'm only really going to manage two.)

1. The Terrain Challenge - which is looking horribly undone right now:

Terrain challenge. Just sitting there.

2. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner (a.k.a. "Scrap Attack QAL") - which was supposed to be done before I started on Eternity but just didn't manage to happen before Eternity comes due...

Scrap attack

So many things to do and not half enough time!

Anyway, what are you up to this week? Have you checked out the Linky Party over at Freshly Pieced?

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Welcome to the WICKED blog hop!

For the next 9 days there'll be a blog hop with Hallowe'en themed blocks and giveaways all over the blogosphere.

Wickedly Mournful Monday - 22nd of October
The Quilting Alleycat
Words & Stitches
Geema's Wonderings
Quilt Doodle Doodles
Bacon Then Eggs
Inga
Briarside Lane
Quilts And Smily Faces
Why Knot?
Quilt Matters
Mad Quilter's Disease
Susie's World
Sew Paint Create

In my case, I have a tutorial for a 12½" (unfinished) bat block!

Bat block

Wicked: Bat Logo Block

This started life as the logo from the recent Batman movies, but has since morphed somewhat to this:

Wicked: Bat Block

You Will Need:
Colour 1 (Bat)
(In my example, it's grey.)
1 - 3" x 3"
3 - 2½" x 2½"
4 - 2½" x 1½"
4 - 1½" x 1½"

Colour 2 (Background)
(In my example, it's black.)
1 - 3" x 3"
2 - 3½" x 3½"
2 - 1½" x 1½"
3 - 1½" x 2½"
2 - 3½" x 2½"
1 - 3½" x 12½"
1 - 4½" x 12½"

IMAG1728

Step 1: marking

Take a pencil or washable marker, and draw a line down the diagonals of:

1 Bat-colour square 3" x 3"
4 Bat-colour squares 1½" x 1½"
2 Background-colour squares 1½" x 1½"

IMAG1730

Also draw a line down the diagonals of the 2 Background-colour rectangles 2½" x 1½", but make sure one runs from top right corner to lower left corner, and the other runs from top left corner to lower right corner.

IMAG1734

Step 2: sewing the units together

IMAG1731

(a). Take the 2 Background-colour squares 3½" x 3½" and place 2 Bat-colour squares 1½" x 1½" in the top right corner as shown in the picture, matching the edges.

(b). Take 2 Bat-colour rectangles 1½" x 2½" and place the 2 Background-colour square 1½" x 1½" at the top of them, ensuring one pencilled diagonal runs top right corner to bottom left corner, while the other runs top left corner to bottom right corner as shown in the picture matching the edges.

(c). Take 2 Bat-colour squares 1½" x 1½" and lay one of them down on the Background-colour rectangle 2½" x 1½", with the diagonal running top right corner to bottom left corner as shown in the picture, matching the edges.

(d). Take the Bat-colour square 3½" x 3½" and lay it on top of the Background-colour square 3½" x 3½" as shown in the picture, matching the edges.

Sew on the pencilled line for (a), (b), and (c). Do not sew (d) yet!

(a)

IMAG1732

Lay your ruler down ¼" from the seam, and cut off the small corner:

IMAG1733

Press seams open.

(b)

IMAG1740

Lay your ruler down ¼" from the seam and cut off the small corner. Press seams open.

IMAG1741

Lay your ruler down ¼" from the seam and cut off the small corner. Press seams open.

(c).
You should have sewn just the first Bat-colour square on the Background-colour rectangle.

Lay your ruler down ¼" from the seam and cut off the small corner. Press seams open.

Then lay down the second Bat-colour square at the other end of the Background-colour rectangle, making sure that the pencilled line forms a 'V' with the seam. Sew on the pencilled line.

IMAG1739

Lay your ruler down ¼" from the seam and cut off the small corner. Press seams open.

Now we're going to deal with (d).

(d).
Sew the seams ¼" either side of the pencilled line:

IMAG1748

Lay your ruler down on the pencilled line and cut in half. Press seams open.

Trim your half-square triangle units into to 2½" squares.

IMAG1752

(e).

Remember those two Background-colour 1½" x 2½" rectangles with the diagonals on them?

Take the Background-colour rectangle with the diagonal running from the top right corner to the bottom left corner and lay it on the right side of one of Bat-colour 2½" x 2½" squares.

DO NOT SEW IT.

First, take your ruler and lay it down ¼" from the pencilled line and cut off the small corner.

Then, take the Background-colour rectangle, rotate it upside-down, and flip it over so the 'thin' end of the triangle is at the top of the unit.

NOTE: If you haven't used a solid, as I have, you'll have to cut the opposite side before sewing it, so you get the right sides of the fabric together. Read to the end of the section and it will become clearer.

Sew the seam ¼" from the edge of the fabric. Press seams open.

Now, take the other Background-colour rectangle with the diagonal running from the top left corner to the bottom right corner and lay it on the left side of the unit.

IMAG1742

Take your ruler and lay it down ¼" from the pencilled line, cutting off the small corner.

IMAG1744

Then take the Background-colour rectangle, rotate it upside-down, and flip it over so the 'thin' end of the triangle is at the top of the unit.

IMAG1746

Sew the seam ¼" from the edge of the fabric and press the seams open.

IMAG1747

IMAG1750

Now you have all the units ready for assembly!

Step 3: Sewing the block together.

I recommend laying all the pieces out so you can see how everything goes together:

IMAG1757

I sewed the 'wing' units together, and attached the 'bat ears' to the 'head' and 'body' units to start with.

IMAG1758

Then sew the backgrounds onto the 'wingtip' units.

IMAG1759

Then sew all the vertical seams.

IMAG1760

Don't forget to sew ¼" seams all the way!

IMAG1761

Add the top and the bottom pieces and we're done!

IMAG1762

One bat block 12½" x 12½", suitable for that wonderfully WICKED Halloween quilt or cushion!

Thanks so much for coming by, and I hope that you've enjoyed the WICKED blog hop! Don't forget to drop by the other blogs and check out their tutorials and giveaways!

I don't usually do much for Hallowe'en - living in Australia, it barely makes a peep on our holiday radar. However, in the last couple of years I have acquired an American friend in Penny Poppleton who enjoys throwing a party right around Halloween, complete with decorations and dress-ups. So, come Saturday night, I'll be putting on a costume and heading off to Penny's house! There probably won't be any trick-or-treating, but we're going to have a great time all the same!

What are you doing for Hallowe'en? Do you do anything at all?

Friday, October 19, 2012

Instagram Friday!

This one is going to need some explanation in parts...

Okay, so, kitteh need no explanation. They just is cute. (If cuteness was an Olympic sport, my kittehs would win gold every time, I swear...)

More kitteh!

Some testing of collage makers for the HTC Android while at the Sydney Modern Quilt Guild sew-in at City Extra. (Every second Thursday - next one is Thursday 25th October - if you're a Sydneysider, we'd love to see you there!)

Testing a collage maker!
Finding new templates while handsewing.

The Eternity quilt, laid out, up close, and in piles. I did the calculations (I shouldn't have): there are 1672 pieces lying there. 1672. And now I'm skeered.

Oh Lordy! 209 colours laid out and marked. Phew! Now to prep for sewing in rows...
closeups
Eternity quilt:organised piles.to be sewn next week!

I went off down to Melbourne for the weekend by train and plane! Train to the airport, plane down to Melbourne.

The next train to arrive on platform number six goes to... #cityrail

In Melbourne, Saturday morning at GJs Fabrics out in Brunswick. After five years visiting Melbourne once a year, I've learned how to use the tram system in Melbourne! (The phone apps available are amazeballs. I'm just saying!)

Mmm.  Fabric.

Confession: I'm a geek. I love conventions where people get dressed up. I've even gotten dressed up for a convention myself - DragonCon 2009, I went as a Number Eight Cylon (the "Sharon" model) in a Number Six Cylon red dress. Made the dress myself - it wasn't the best and I've always intended to redo it for a future con, but never gotten around to it. I love costuming and always have, and so going to these conventions and seeing the costumes is a great kick!

No, not everyone dresses up as Star Trek and Klingons!

They dress up as Disney!

I always forget how much I love conventions until I'm back there again!
Mulan! (Be a man!)

Or Lord of the Rings!

Boromir from Lord Of The Rings
Yes, that is Indiana Jones to the left. I didn't get a photo.

Or Pirates of the Caribbean!

Captain Jack Sparrow!
I'm pretty sure that isn't actually Johnny Depp. Almost.

Ghostbusters!

Who ya gonna call?

Historical costuming!

Cromwellian (?) soldier

Steampunk!

Steampunk is a big thing.

Iron Man!

Iron Man
A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To The Hotel...I caught a matched set of Avengers (plus Loki, plus USO girls) playing frisbee with Captain America's shield. Unfortunately, I could only get a video, and I still haven't worked out how to post those. But, just as an example, this is the kind of hilarity that happens at these conventions!

Pokemon!

Pikachu! (Bless you!)

And yes, some Star Wars. (Different to Star Trek. If you have to ask how, just accept that you're not a geek and we'll leave it at that.)

These are not the droids you're looking for.

And Dr Who.

Weeping angel!
For the Whovians reading this, my t-shirt says "KEEP CALM AND DON'T BLINK". I basically saw this girl dressed up as one of the Angels and went, "Uh, hi, I'm sorry, but I really need to have my photo taken with you!" Sometimes I just can't help myself...

And back to the fabric-related Instagrams! (All the non-geeky people breathe a sigh of relief...)

While down Melbourne-way, I went to visit a friend in Ballarat, and went to a couple of quilt shops there - specifically the Eureka Patchwork shop in Ballarat (although I also visited Ballarat Patchwork, I didn't take a photo).

Eureka Patchwork Ballarat

And that's my week in Instagrams!