Bountiful Berries

The first piece that I stitched up on my long arm was built from a fat quarter of berry fabric that my husband had picked out many moons ago.

I started by picking a green dot fat quarter from my stash, to use for the back, and put the two fat quarters on the machine with a double layer of cotton batting between them.  Then I found this berry design that fit perfectly and stitched it up with Superior Omni Light Sage thread.

When the piece was fully stitched, I took it off the machine and brought it back to the cutting board for trimming.  You can easily get four 7 inch squares from one set of fat quarters!

They weren't completely made from my stash, because I turned up shy on coordinating fabrics to bind with, but now all four squares have the first machine binding stage completed and I am slowly working on hand stitching the binding to the back.  I even took them out on the deck because the day was just to lovely to sit inside!

First Block Finished!

Linking up with Let's Be Social and Slow Sunday Stitching.

Four Knots

Once one knot has been spotted, more knots are sure to follow.  And apparently, knots on a design wall are no different!

Four down, five to go!

I have learned, courtesy of block two, that taking apart partial seams is not much fun, so I've been trying to slow down and double check what I'm sewing together. I'm very glad that blocks three and four went smoothly!

Linking up with Let's Bee Social.

June Finishes

I had two goals I wanted to work on in June: to assemble my crochet blanket, and to sew a piece up on my long arm.  And I was able to check off both!


The piece that I worked on the machine ended up not being the the runner I had intended, but a piece of strawberry fabric destined to be cut up for some pot holders.  The choice was ultimately dictated by a lack of free bobbins on which I could load the grey thread, so I quickly fired off an order for a dozen more bobbins and stitched up some yummy berries in the meantime.

Stitching on the last square!

And in slow stitching, I successfully finished my first crochet blanket!  In part because of how long it took, I feel a huge sense of accomplishment just for making it to the end!  I just attached the last square, tied off the remaining threads, and gave it a good cuddle test.  It passes!  I think I'll just hang out under here until dinner!

Linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday.

Celtic Test Block

The Parfait Cafe's Interlocking Seasons.

Yesterday I made the first block for a new quilt.  The original block is 12" square, but I decided to follow in the footsteps of Ladybug Lovelies and try making a 24" block.  I think the design works very well as a large block and with the first one all together, I only need eight more!

Finding all the fabric was a bit of an adventure because the original store didn't have enough of the background fabric.  A fabric which, after I bought what was available, turned out to be older and not easily found anymore!  So I may have gone a little overboard when I did manage to find another store that was still selling it, just to be sure I had enough.  But now I won't run out and it never hurts to add to the stash, right?

Linking up with Let's Bee Social.