The new kawandi - made by machine

 Today's post is about kawandi - but this time I decided to sew by machine.

It is mug rug again and happened more faster. I used the same manner as traditional one.

Hand sewn kawandi is more soft and nice to touch.

This one took me only one hour from start to finish.

Which one do you prefer? Have you tried any of them?

My first kawandi

 I have seen siddi quilt many months ago and loved improvisation and recycling' possibilities.

This month have red an article and understand that it is called kawandi. Siddi is the name of Africa's women who moved to India and make such quilts..

There are many tutorials, but I have watched one and started with a small piece - a mug rug.

I was hooked. It took me 2 hours from start to finish. 

The most important thing I have learned:

* The outer row is the most difficult to make -  once you stitch the second round it goes fast and pleasant.

* It is easier to use old (used) fabrics.

* Thimble will help, but it is not a must.

* I have to take a rest every hour - making some stretching. I was so obsessed and forget about short rest with a gym.

Halloween pumpkin quilt block

 Happy to announce the finished paper pieced block on 1 of September.

The pattern is very versatile - you could rotate or make a mirror block so the quilt surface will be interesting.

I made a test block which intend to implement in a cushion case.

Love and beyond

The month of Love began.

February if you wander.
Although for me each day have to be filled with love.

Here is winter and warmth of home push me to sew more things.
The ideas come in my head and with Internet :)


If you are looking for inspirations visit Crafting news. They have selected 21 ideas for Wedding Quilts.
They all are interesting and have story behind.

One of them is my wall hanging Love hearts. There are different hearts – Yo-yo, stripped, wonky, crazy, french braid, broken heart, patched heart, and double hearts.
Sometimes love brings you to the heaven, sometimes it hurts.

Let happy moments be more!

Mini quilt block

The participation in the play 9patch sampler is to challenging.
Some of the quilters began making two parallel quilts different colors, some makes two blocks different sizes.
I was challenged by a fellow who made 16 inches block as 3 inches.
Some days ago while playing I made the same pattern as 1 1/2 inch .

It turned out as mini patchwork block. Better say as bonsai patchwork.
Believe or not it was much easier than I expected.

Here it is on the original 16 inch block.

Oh My Deer or sewing small squares

 I always like sewing little items.
Do you know these tiny pieces - sometimes sewn improvisational sometimes ordered with perfect matching corners.
Till one morning a week ago.
I have seen a tapestry diagram on Pinterest with reindeers, trees and snowflakes.
I knew I had to make it as a quilt - this time mug rug only.
I made a sketch of squares and began cutting.
Ordered the small pieces on a fusible interfacing with little help of glue stick.

Ironed when finished and began sewing.

  Here I realized how small is one inch square.

 But I kept sewing.

I wish I knew another way for using a fusible interfacing.
Elizabeth Hartmann from Oh Franson shared an interesting and helpful method.

I wandered a little bit about binding, but finally have a finished mug rug

The diagram is very versatile - use different size of grid to sew mug rug, cushion case or tablemat.

Enjoy your creativity!

Leaf alone quilt block

I couldn't believe this paper pieced block pattern is finished and introduced to the quilters .
I love joking and like the idea for name of the pattern. 
I have made a leaf and use it in my wall hanging The four seasons
Outside is a beautiful autumn so after making a mug rug for a friend of mine I realized it will be great pattern for creating many items - totes, pot holders, wall hangings.

Combining fabrics different palettes gives interesting seasonal look – you could easy collect all seasons in a wall hanging.

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter 

 

Giveaway 2015 - Year of the sheep

2015 is the Year of the Sheep according Chinese astrology.

The Counting sheep paper pieced quilt pattern contains 6 paper pieced blocks of different sheep characters:

Spring Lamb with bell, Ram in the spring, Pasture sheep, Sleeping sheep, Lonely lamb, Sheep by night 

You could find them as separate blocks in my shops.
HERE is a free pattern Sheep by night, with step by step tutorial for paper piecing.
HERE is one idea for combining blocks in a quilt.

 

The giveaway is running from 4 ^th February to 25^th February 2015.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment telling me

 

     Do you believe in horoscopes?

Bonus entry:  followers , new and old, please leave a second comment.

I will close Giveaway on  25^th February 2015, I  will announce the winner (chosen by Random generator) here on my blog and send the pattern by e-mail no later than March 1.

Good luck! 

 

********* Happy Year of the Sheep ! *********

 






 

Star coaster tutorial

I have seen this star in an amazing book - Carefree quilts by Joy Lilly.

There were described place mats, but the idea is the same.

All you need  for two coasters is:

• two rectangles contrasting colors about 8 x 9 inches for the front,
• two rectangles of batting about 8 x 9 inches 
• two rectangles contrasting colors about 9 x 10 inches for the back. 

 Let's get started.

 

Step 1. Place the rectangles right sides up, align them and make two parallel cuts.

Change the middle strip and stitch two neighbouring pieces right sides together.

Step 2. Repeat step 1 with the new rectangles.

Pile the them right sides up again, align and make two parallel cuts.

Change the middle strip and stitch together.

Step 3. Repeat step 1 with the new rectangles.

Pile the them right sides up again, align and make two parallel cuts.
Keep in mind to align not the outer side , but points where seams crossing.

Note where the cutting line runs - you should have 3 similar triangles.

Step 4. Trim the tops to desired size.

 
Step 5. Cut batting and backing.
The back fabric must be 2 inches wider and longer than the top and batting.

 


Place as shown and quilt as you like.

Fold twice by iron and stitch.

Red, dark red, violet

My blue green scrap mini patchwork has been laying in front of me more than one month.
I want to make in different colors so collect all the rests in red. They were not so much and I have to cut from entire fabrics. The piece was going to be "too hot " with all these red scraps, so I have added some violet.

I leaved the wavy edges as they are. 
Compare to blue green piece this one has smaller parts.
Like both of them , but honestly said I have sewn the first one much more easy and fast. It was like a game.
Collecting pieces was a fast solved puzzle.

Do you wander what I shall do with them?
Might be make in other colors and collect them in a bigger wall hanging or make separate framed works.
The last one I have framed turned out great.

A mini quilt on a frame - tutorial

I know, I know so long without posting here.
Too much ideas, too much to do.
Finally I did and succeed to write a post .
At the beginning it was an idea to participate in the quilt contest in Main, Germany.
The theme was Light and Shadows. I like it and have some ideas, but I am not absolutely sure I could make a competitive quilt. I have made different quilts, but still I am a low spirit quilter.
Anyway I decide to make a mini art quilt and stretch on a frame.
The pieced work in front of the window.

Finished top

You will need:
>   a batting and back fabric.
     It is better to use fusible batting. 
>  four strips of felt - each strip shorter than one side
> a tacker for upholstery
>  And a frame with a loop of course.

Note that the backing and batting have to be smaller than the top itself to prevent bulk.
In traditional quilting backing and batting are bigger.
Lay the top right side down, then fused batting with backing.
Look at the picture how are trimmed the corners.
The exceed  fused batting has to lay on the sides of the frame.

Displace the frame and basting . I used thread, but you could spray if prefer.

Quilt as you desire.
Using zig-zag  zsitch atatch a felt strip at each side.

At this step you would have such result.

Now it is time to add the frame.
Lay the quilted top face down and place the frame on it.

Fold the upper side and tack.

Slightly stretch the quilt and repeat with opposite side.
Fold the corners as you wrap a parcel with paper and tack the next two opposite sides.

Screw the loop and stitch a label.

I found that it would be much more easier to stitch the label before framing :)
So don't make my mistake.

I suppose you are wandering about size.
I tried to hide it all the time ;)
Here it is -  6 inches square- what a mini quilt.

I am still wandering about necessity of quilting for such small pieces.
What do you think?

The white poppy

I have seen it in a field of poppies and took a picture immediately.

So beautiful and so lonely.
Because of its difference.
This happened almost 2 months ago.
Yesterday I remembered this picture when cleaning my hard disk.
I had to make something - mini quilt, wall hanging or mug rug. Let everyone names it as he likes.

I have made some sketches and began applique the poppies.  The background is sky and green field.
Each poppy is made from two hues of one color. Do you remember how looks the petals of the poppies.
They are so tiny even transparent. And when two petals cover each other they look darker.
I had two fabric' choices for the binding - dark blue striped

and light blue striped.

The first one would look like framed.
The second one would be as extension of the picture.
So I have chosen the second.
Chain stitched the handles, add some embroidery for the stamens in the center of the white poppy.

I love the final look. 

 Some people say my mug rugs are like a mini art picture and have to be hang.
What do you think?