A Finish.

I'm feeling very good today.  I finished sewing on the binding last night whilst watching an archived version of Bonnie K Hunter's latest Quiltcam.  If you've never seen her on Quiltcam, have a look at her channel on YouTube , it's not a class but rather a sew along which feels like you're sitting in a room together.  I don't need to see what Bonnie is doing, I just listen to her talk so I sew away merrily whilst she chats on and keeps me company in my sewing room.

I love the textured look of the quilting. 

One of those days.

Today was a perfect day to sit inside and sew.  Cold, grey and raining all day.
I was feeling quite pleased with myself- I finished quilting my little quilt and started to sew the binding on by machine.  This is what happens when you don't check the binding length before you start!

I spent a very stressed 10 minutes looking through my scrap box for any remaining offcuts of the red fabric.  Luckily, I had a couple of short pieces left.

So, more binding made, and on with the project.

I don't normally like having joins this close, but unless I unpick quite a bit, it will have to do.

Oh, so close.

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Netherfield out of the corner.

Well, Netherfield couldn't stay in the corner for ever,  so onwards and upwards.
As irritating as it was that the pattern seemed incorrect, I've worked out a solution that works for me.  It does look a little wavy, but sits flat.  Just needs a good press.
Flying geese have been added as the next border.

I still really love the look of this quilt.
The next border is lots and lots and lots of hexagons.  I know what I'll be doing for the next few weeks.
I'm trying very hard to stay on track with this quilt as I have another in this series started, and my eldest DD has REQUESTED a quilt.!!!!!  She was walking past as I was looking at a quilt online, and asked if I would make it for her!!!!  How can I say no?  I figure a perfect 21st birthday present, which gives me a few years.  Believe me, it'll take me that long.  

Hand Quilting.

I recently came across a Blog Hop looking at various people's handquilting, on Celebrate Hand Quilting.  The Hop has finished, but the links are still available, please go and  have a look around at some handquilting.
I love the look of hand quilted quilts.  So much softer looking than machine quilting.  However, I've always done basic machine quilting because handquilting takes soooo long.
I've been making some small quilts, so decided that given they are very manageable in size, I would try to handquilt some of them.
Back in October, I finished this little quilt.

 I finished quilting the little logs a few weeks ago, but couldn't decide on what to quilt in the borders.
Something simple seemed best, so I opted for a row of diamonds.  Two needles made it even quicker.

I think it looks good.  Now to do the other side.

Just Takes 2.

My Just Takes 2 quilt is enjoying a bit of time out of the project box.  Whilst Netherfield is sulking in the corner, I'm taking the opportunity to get a few more JT2 blocks finished.
Before I started this quilt, I really disliked foundation piecing on paper.  Truth be told, I still really dislike it.  I always manage to get some fabric pieces around the wrong way, or trim the whole patch off rather than trim the seam allowance.
JT2 seems to be mostly foundation pieced.   I do feel that I have gained some skills in this method, but I don't think I'll ever really love it!

The first 3 blocks are all foundation pieced.  The last 2 are hand appliqued- my favourite thing ever.

Quilt intermission...

Netherfield is having an intermission for a few days.  I'm having "Issues" with the next border.  LOL.
The pattern measurements don't quite add up mathmatically, I've adjusted the next border to try and make it fit, but I'm not sure if I like the slightly stretched look of the previous border.
Whilst that quilt is in the "time-out corner", I've re-discovered my Just Takes 2 quilt from last year.

I got a little creative with the seams on this block, to get it to sit nice and flat.

I remembered reading on Jo Morton's Yahoo Group about clipping seams.  Works very well.  I twirled the other seam intersections.  Too many seams in a small block.
These blocks all came together relatively quickly.   I'd cut out the pieces some time ago in preparation for sewing, very easy to just pick up the pieces and sew.

Coming together...

Netherfield is coming together nice and quickly at the moment. 

 Full steam ahead and on to some flying geese.