Sunday, September 30, 2012

Scrappy door-mat

A friend of mine, working in a sewing company, gave me four cardboard boxes full with  fabrics, pieces and samples of fabric they had used for their new collection. There are many cut squares - jeans, woollen and cotton.
Somebody could neglect this fact, but I am so happy. I like using different pieces for small projects.
I need a new door mat so, the small squares were perfect for my idea. They were small - 3 or 4 inches.
I decide to collect them random order in stripes and add more if it is necessary for desired size.
Add polyester batting and back fabric and began qiulting.

I thought it would be good for practice some different samples with free motion.
To my regret it has so thick seam allowances that it couldn't go under my darning food.
I made some running stitches by hand to keep all three layers together and binding.
Anyway I like the colors and the scraps' combination.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Ragtime

After finishing my first rag quilt I received many orders from friends to make similar rag quilts for them. All like the quilt. I told them it is not something special - just many hours collecting fabrics, cutting squares, sewing, clipping the seam allowances and fraying.
This time I used a tiny fusible polyester batting. I recommend it to you if decide to make a rag quilt. Sewing is much easier.
And one more thing I made. I used a paper tape when quilting diagonals instead of drawing a line with a pencil.I think it is very helpful because the tape prevent stretching the top fabric when stitch diagonally.


My table is small to order all the pieces, so I used a floor.


The final result.








 And the back
I appliqued a little heart instead of label.

 

Monday, September 3, 2012

Fly little Ladybird

"Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home
Your house is on fire and your children are gone
All except one, and that's Little Anne
For she has crept under the warming pan."
German folk song

I had an order from a friend of mine for an interesting potholder. I know the shape, but what fabrics to choose.
The original idea is butterfly, designed and made by Laurraine from Patchwork Pottery.
Mine is working similar way, but has a little bit different shape.
I was gifted with a fabric with printed lady bird on it.
What an idea. That will be great!
I have no red fabric with black dots, so I had to applique small dots on the red fabric.
Put some heavy batting for insulation.
And the gorgeous back.
In addition I made another potholder in my favorite orange.
Does it look like an insect? Butterfly? I don't believe.
But they are going well together.