The Farmer's Wife Quilt Challenge - ready, set, GO!

Quilt Challenge 2013-2014 is The Farmer's Wife Quilt!  I purchased the book a few years ago when I was looking for a pieced project with NO applique... However I didn't get started straight away cos I was stuck on selecting colours.  Stuck until I saw these colour variations!  This gave me the idea that I could do this in fresh, bright colours - so I have raided my stash (and purchased a lot more fabric) to use in this project.  It is a massive project and I'm not quite sure how I will fit it, University and work in but I'll give it a good go - it will also be the only project I'll work on this year... LOL!

Anyway I have decided to use mostly Tilda Fabric - not all of it is from the one range, I'm trying to go for a scrappy look so the different ranges and the fact that I have not selected any background fabric will hopefully give it that look.

Today I started with washing my fabric.  I stopped pre-washing a few years ago but recently read an article that outlined the pros and cons of pre-washing and the look of the quilted project after the first wash.  Most fabric shrinks the first time washed and I'd rather it shrink before I use it rather than when in a finished quilt, the shrinking of the fabric gives your completed quilt a slightly puckered look and while I don't mind it there have been some quilts where this happened and I was very disappointed.  Pre-washing also gets rid of all the chemicals that the fabric is treated with to keep insects away - great when you are making a walling hanging that you don't plan to wash, not so great  for you while sewing as you are exposed to these chemicals!

Washing line full!

Now I'm off to iron all forty-five pieces!

The only time I like ironing!

A busy few months...

I know I haven't written anything since October but I have been busy...

I went overseas for Christmas...

Germany for Christmas - no snow at all, very disappointing!  Rest of the experience was fantastic.

Christmas Market in Nuremberg

Christmas Market in Nuremberg

Then I went to Scotland for Hogmany, yet again no snow... And Europe is not that cold in Winter!

Edinburgh - loved it all!!!!

Loch Ness - and I slept through the 10 minute snow storm on the way back to Edinburgh!

Hogmany fireworks in Edinburgh

Hogmany fireworks in Edinburgh

We caught the train to London, I can recommend traveling by train over a flight - you don't save any time but you don't wait at an airport!  And yes, there was no snow, I went all that way for a white Christmas and didn't see snow once!!!! However there was a big dump right after I left, so much so that friends had difficulty getting home.

Greenwich

Piccadilly Circus - lost Mum here!

Tower Bridge

And then once I go home... couldn't be bothered to do any quilting!!!  Went to concerts instead!

On a more serious note I have been having problems with my left hand.  Perhaps I should listen to the doctor and give both hands a rest - that means trying to limit my sewing and computer time... what will I do?

trying to finish My Favourite Things Quilt

So I am limited to machine piecing... cutting is a problem though so I can only do a little at a time...

My version of a Pink Lemonade quilt

I have seen several pink lemonade quilts that I have just loved, thought I would give one a go so I raided the stash and made this over the weekend.  Colour doesn't look great as it has been photographed at night.  I'll try and remember to take one in the morning in day light.  I think it needs borders and am thinking of a narrow green with a wide boarder... I have the perfect wide border fabric - it has pink, yellow and orange.

I have also come full circle, twelve or thirteen years ago I started quilting when I finished my Masters degree.  I wanted to learn something new and something different so walked into a quilt shop and signed up for a class that started two days later.  Now I'm about to go back to Uni and complete another PostGrad Diploma... not sure I want to give up quilting time for study!!!


Be back soon... I promise!