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.

Memory quilt is finished

The improvisational quilt I have began some days ago is finished.
It is the fast finished quilt - about 15 hours work in two days.
I had to finished because it was a memory quilt for the 30-th wedding anniversary of my beloved brother.

Happy I can took some pictures in home, where we lived and played as kids.

Here is the top view from above if someone is interested in.

Recycled lap quilt

Today I began a new lap quilt - some jeans and shirts have been waiting to be recycled.

It is absolutely improvisational top.

Removed the waistband, inner seam allowances added some triangles to build a rectangles shape and gathered them at the end.

Fast and furious :)

Instead of batting I will add a polar blanket.

It will be a picnic quilt/ lap quilt size and I am wandering about backing.

I will digging in my stash tomorrow.

Recycling jeans : a clothes peg bag

Sometimes I am sewing things  following strange ideas.
I have to repair the old clothes peg bag. Suddenly saw the leftover from jeans I used for making a roll for my everyday gym.
 Voila.
I made plan to make a bag and use the pockets.

I have the hook hanger from the old one.

Some directions if you like it .

1. Cut out the inside pocket bag of the front pocket.
2. Stitch the side and bottom seams.
The tricky action - because the waist band is very thick I used additional bias piece to bind it. Make as quilt binding.
3. Stitch along the waist band , put the hanger and finished by hand to keep in place.

Easy, right? One hour project.

Leap denim quilt

Do you think the people born on 29 of February are younger, as a spirit of course.
They celebrate once every four years, but their age is the same as the age of people born in same year, but not on 29  of February.
I was invited at the birthday party of a 60 years old man.
Thinking of present decided that a quilt was one possible choice.
I want to make a tied quilt for a long time.
I want to use a blanket for the back.
So the Leap denim quilt was born.
I have bought a blanket 200x150 cm.
About the top - recycled denim seemed a good idea for a man. I have one pair of his own jeans.
60 pieces as 60 ages, every forth is decorated with a piece of shirt, some are embroidered with events as children's birth, finishing schools etc.

The back is a KOH blanket - soft and cozy.

 After finishing I have packed and add a card, made with small leftover pieces.

Another QAYG project

I am back!!!
Almost 5 months away.
I am so happy to be here again. The shoulder pain which caused many problems has almost gone. The movement of my hand is getting better and better.

This project was last I have made, but I could not share with you.

I had to made a single bed quilt for my nephew.
I recycled his jeans, his father's shirt and some blue fabrics.

Having a cushion prepared before I decided to use similar design.

And the back is almost boring :)

A cushion from recycled shirt

This idea is not new, I have made such cushion years ago.
Now I developed the idea much more - I used the pocket of the shirt.
From the front sides of the shirt cut 15 inches square.

As in the old tutorial you can use the back of the shirt.
This time I used another fabric.

Different ways of use :)

Improvisation and QAYG for a big quilt

First quilt for the 2019 is finished. I am absolutely satisfied with the result.

Improvisational piecing within the blocks and strip sashing between the blocks.
I have seen this method some years ago here. I liked it so much and promised to myself to use it one day.
The most beloved thing is that the back side is absolutely different and can be used sometimes too.

I used fabrics from man shirts for the top and fabrics for man trousers :) for the back. I was given many fabrics, bought years ago and want to use them as the main idea of the patchwork is to utilize different materials.

Here is one of the blocks.
First of all I stitched the batting and backing with 4-5 straight lines to hold them together. Then began from the centre like Log Cabin and added different colors and sizes. In fact I have added what I had by hand. At the end trimmed the block to desired size.
Prepared 6 blocks this way.

Then had to stitch together two blocks.
I have Bernina with zig zag stitch, bu at this time I have by hand my Janome 1600P only. It has straight stitch only, so decided to try connecting two blocks with FMQ.
It works!!!! Not perfect stitch but the stripes cover and hide all the stitches.

The edge of the block push other and there was no problem that they were separated.

The look from the back.

I cut 1,5 inches stripes for the back and 2 inches for the front.
First added on the back then on the front.

 


Definitely this was the fastest sewn quilt ever.

Excuse me for some "night" pictures, but I was in a hurry to see the final result.

The last blocks from 9Patch sampler

Although I ordered the block according their difficulty think that Block number 10 happened too easy.
I could not found the name of it. Some of the blocks in EQ7 has no name but number.

Block Number 11

Block Number 12 - Time&Tide.
I found an interesting video at Youtube.

Here is the whole pattern quilt.

My project turned out very nice.
I like the touch of mustard as background in each block.

Next steps are the quilting and binding.
Stay connected here.

The 9patch game

The game 9patch continues.
Even I am the part of designers team I was slightly nervous after sewing the first block.
I decided on recycling and using corduroy shirts so combining different colors seams a little bit difficult.
Adding new colors to this block made me calm.

And the place in whole project.

Wall pocket organizer

All emotions about my participating in Road Home Row along are in the past and I played yesterday with a wall organizer for dear friends of mine.
I have some leftovers from worn jeans and began cut and sew spontaneous.
Pockets - they have to be on the wall organizer.
Two of them I used direct from the jeans.
The third one was made very fast and easy from a piece of organza and a piece of batik fabric.
To prevent fraying of organza I burned the edge by a soldering iron.

The closer view.

 

There are left the buttons only from this pairs of jeans, but I have idea to use them, too.

Visit here soon to see this project.

Happy sewing!

Upcycled Denim Apron

I have had interests in recycling for years.
I collect interesting velvet shirts, bandanas, satin pieces, taffeta, silk and organza.
My friends know about my passion ad help me in my efforts.
Sometimes I have no idea about future usage of any piece I receive, but collect them accurately.
This habit pays me back when need an interesting accent for my new creation.
I like making contemporary quilts, so having various pieces never is enough.

Denim scraps are always a good decision for making different gadgets, so I have started a special board named DENIM on my Pinterest account.

Last my idea is to make an apron from old denim.

Rip the side seams and stitch together the trousers' legs to receive a rectangle about 32 x 23 inches.
Draw a pattern on the "new fabric".
Here are the measures.

If you have zig zag scissors use it.
I like rough edges so decided on using a method like rag quilt. Sew a stitch about a presser foot from the edge an clip every quarter inch.

For the neckstrap cut 25 inches long from waistband stitch firmly.
I have added buttons.

Do you wander about pocket?

Cut one of the back pocket and applique.

 

If the fabric is worn out somewhere add some darning with stitching or adding a patch.

 

The back of the apron

 

Recycling

Happy New Year!
I wish you 365 days full of creative ideas and joy!

I received an question from a reader about this post, so I want to explain a little bit detailed here.
It is a geometry question, but I am glad to help Suzy and everyone who need additional explanations.

The question is  - Why I cut off the centre?

When I collect strips different width at the end I have a rectangle, not perfect square. So I have to cut off centre. See the diagram I have attached.

Why I use rectangles?

If I trim to square the last strip could be too narrow so I prefer to leave it as it is. After cut diagonally and rejoin I could trim to desired shape I need.

Usually I use the block as they are and if needed add strips to adjust the size.

Hope now it is more clear.

Good luck to everyone who want give a try.

Memory quilt warms the heart

What days were passed away!

I have finished the memory quilt for my Mum jubilee.
Last two weeks my thoughts and actions from morning till evening were dedicated to making a present.
I decided making such quilt in July when cleaned a wardrobe full of old clothes - a skirts given her as a wedding gift , some blouses and jackets, a dress, a costume I have sewn for her for my brothers' wedding.

I have seen many memory quilts and waiting for an ocassion to make one.
Especially like Sherri Lynn Wood from Daintytime.
It is great pleasure to do improvisational quilts so the fun began.
I put my mum's favorite music in the player and keeping her in mind began cutting and sewing.
I remember many days spent together, lessons I have learned, my childhood.
Here is what has happened.

The very first block was made from her favorite blouse.
Embroidered flowers surrounded by tiny pieces from other blouses.

Next one was first my patchwork block I have ever made - Marple leaf.
This time made using rotary cutter, ruller and mat. How easy is to make it now instead of using scissors.

And cute accent with buttons and yo-yo. One of the button is from my fathers jacket :)

Mum like yo-yo so much a year ago and I taught her to make them.  She decorated some cushion covers.


Mum loves gardening. She adores flowers and trees so many blocks were quilted such FMQ.

 

For the back I collected a wedding gift dated more then 50 years ago.
The time left only 3 small holes so I repaired them quick by small applications.

And of course added a pieced heart with embroidered date of the birthday.

Sweet dreams under this quilt dear Mum.
I am sure the memories and our love will warm you.