Sunday 28 July 2013

Busy stitching

Hello, how has your Sunday been? The garden got a good soak last night, apparently there was a big thunderstorm but I didn't notice it, when my head hits the pillow I'm a gonner. It's been mainly dry today, apart from a couple of short thunderstorms, then the road outside turned into a river. I've been getting on with the patchwork squares, there are four ready now.
Well I thought they were all ready. When I did the green one top left, which was the last one, I noticed that the plain green fabric wasn't very thick, so I put two layers on those squares. Then I noticed that the cream fabric also wasn't very thick and I can see through it to the seams at the back. So I cut a slightly smaller piece and put it into the back of the square on the left. You can see it gets rid of the problem, the one on the right hasn't had an extra piece and it looks a bit amateurish. So now I am going to have to do the same with all the plain squares. I shall have to watch out for that in future. The next plan is to put some plain squares around them using a different colour. I shall keep adding to it untill it is big enough. Still not sure what it is going to be.  
Can you see my one sun flower peeping out from behind a leaf. There are quite a few buds, just need them to open up now. I've measured it tonight, the middle plants are seven feet tall, from the decking to the top. I had to put extra canes to support them at the back, and I've tied a rope right across from the door on the front of the garage, to the wooden shelving at the other end. It's been a bit windy at times, but they seem to be holding out. I think now I should have planted them two to a box, well I'll know next time.
My dinner tonight. The usual, ha ha. Steamed broccoli, carrots, broad beans, spinach, courgette, radishes and swede. Topped with mushrooms. Fantastic, I never tire of this, could eat it till it comes out of my earholes.
My food for the reast of the day was as follows. Bran flakes and a banana for breakfast. A nectarine and some grapes with a small yogurt, for elevenses. Two toasted crumpets for lunch. A toasted teacake for mid afternoon, to keep me going till dinner at 6.30pm. Mug of coffee first thing this morning, and very weak dilute juice during the day. Not sure if I will need anything else, I am pretty full. Might have a slice of toast later. 
Tomorrow morning there is a crafting club starting at the village hall. I'm going to see what it is all about. I'll take a bit of sewing with me. 
Toodle pip. 

18 comments:

  1. I wouldn't worry so much about fabric being too thin or see thru. Assume that this may be a pillow, if not a quilt. Inside will be white pillow stuffing or white quilt batting, unless you are making this a zero cost project and using strips of what have you as a stuffing to fill a pillow or perhaps a colored yet tattered or stained blanket for the quilt.Another option would be to simply do up the quilt squares and then sew a plain, white or beige sheet across the entire back and be done with it. The entire piece would then be reinforced, and thin material, or transparency would be a non issue. You have a keen eye for color. Do you follow Frugal Queen? She did a scrappy "around the world" I think it's called, quilt that is simply gorgeous!

    Your dinner looks lovely, quite healthful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice work Ilona, very neat joins!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The dinner looks appetising Ilona, I am going to use my Nectr points and buy a new steamer, my last one was worn out and right now it would be handy, I am getting tired of these ready frozen meals, they taste like nothing on earth. There is a new Vegan&Veggie Restuarant opened up in Scarborough, a few yards from the sea front, it was a run down pub thats been empty for years and a group of friends have opened it, When I am able I will check it out but I have heard that the 1st floor is a normal eatery with meats etc, so not sure thats good.

    Mabe you could line the reverse of the squares with an old blanket or a thermal throw , that will give you some padding before you do the final backing, I have done this when I could not afford the expensive wadding at the craft shop. I hope you can join the craft class, in fact you could even show them a thing or two, Good Luck Danneke

    ReplyDelete
  4. I always press the seams to the darker side when I make patchwork blocks,, don't see the seam allowance that way. Love the sunflowers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Once you get something on the back it will be fine, it is your creation and you must do as you please. I usually press seams to the dark but sometimes there isn't a dark side. I have been toying with the idea of pressing seams open, maybe on the next project.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wish a craft club would start in our village hall, though I guess I wouldn't have time to get there at the moment. I think your patchwork looks fine but I dont know anything about patchwork! Sorry your arty bits didn't win prizes or get sold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi SSS. The art exhibition is on until the end of September, so you never know, they might sell. And pigs might fly, ha ha.

      Delete
  7. I have been stitiching squares today also and I always press to the dark side and once you have the batting/wadding in they don't show anyway. Yours in a nice cheerful quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice colours you've chosen, Ilona. I wish I could sew, especially seeing as how, when I washed my wheelchair cushion cover, the cheap plastic zipper broke...A new cover costs $80.00 USD so sitting on this til it gives out all around.

    ReplyDelete
  9. love your patchwork, really nice and your dinner looks really yummy as well.

    Gill in Canada

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm really enjoying watching your squares coming together. Yes I am a male, but I really enjoy arts and crafts and I have always admired those who can knit and sew as I am hopeless in this area lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alex. Give it a try, get a book of embroidery stitches out of the library, and do a sampler. I remember making a sampler when I was at school. Start small and gradually increase your range.

      Delete
  11. Loving the patchwork sewing! I might give this a go as a cover for a dog bed I bought, which I want to turn into a beanbag :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I never quilted before but love how yours is turning out. Did you decide what you are going to use it for? The colors are so vivid and very pretty. Also, great dinner! Do you ever eat fish? Just wondering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi KG. I haven't decided yet what I want to use it for. I don't want a bulky bed quilt which will be difficult to get in the washing machine. Might make it lightweight with a backing to use as a throw. I will keep adding to it and stop when I've had enough. I thought a curtain might be a good idea.

      I have reduced my fish eating to the occasional tin of mackerel fillets, might buy one when I go hostelling, that's all. The price of it has made it unaffordable for me, plus the fact that it had to die to feed me, has put me off it. Have stopped buying tuna and salmon, and I have never liked seafood.

      Delete
    2. Thanks Ilona for getting back to me about the fish. It is very expensive here in the US too. I occasionally buy it when it's on sale. I didn't know whether or not you ate fish being you don't eat meat. Some vegetarians eat fish so it's a personal choice I guess. I have been having guilt trips over the meat/fish eating thing myself. I do like mackerel filets but they are also expensive here. There's nothing that isn't!

      Delete
  13. Those sunflowers are going to look magnificent in a few days :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. You have very neat hand sewing, and I love the colours you have put together.

    I cant wait for photos of those beautiful sunflowers in bloom all at once :)

    x

    ReplyDelete

Some comments will be accepted. I decide which are published.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.