By Stephie, on Thursday 16th July, 2009 at 12:25 pm
 The nine patch is growing, slowly...  Sashing detail It’s a while since I’ve shown you the progress of the nine-patch I’ve been making as part of the Crazy Mom Quilts Quilt Along. That’s because I kind of stalled. I didn’t stop sewing, but I had to stop buying fabric and I’d run out of interesting prints to use for the blocks. I had the off white fabric and the fussy cut flowers for the sashing though, so I got going with that instead. I’ve still got a few blocks to make, but I’m happy with the progress so far. If I can get my hands on some fabric I should finish the top in a week or two! It’s all hand-sewn don’t forget, so that’ll be good going. I know that other people in the group have finished their tops, so check them out on Flickr!
Sorry for the quality of the photos above, it’s peeing it down here and my cameraphone is just not up to the job in dull light! I’m not sure the colours are even close to reality, but it does give an idea of how far I’ve got, if nothing else!
How’s your nine-patch coming along?
By Stephie, on Tuesday 9th June, 2009 at 00:18 am
We had glorious weather last week so I decided to take my creative space outside. I thought it was time I got on with Kim’s star quilt, which is way, way behind where I’d planned it to be by now.
 Apologies for the legs, just try to focus on the patchwork! Think the sun might have gone to my head though…
 Can you spot the not deliberate and really rather irritating mistake? Grrrrr...  Time for a cup of coffee, I thought, before I unpick that lot Unfortunately, within the few seconds between lifting the mug to my lips and taking that first delicious sip, I managed to spill it all over the basket of sewing you can see in the picture above. So, no coffee, no unpicking; instead I made an urgent dash to the kitchen sink to find the washing powder. I rinsed it all out so hopefully there won’t be any stains…
 Drying in the late afternoon sun After the ‘coffee incident’ I decided the sun was obviously trying to tell me something: stop trying to do stuff, lie down and enjoy the moment – you never now how long it’ll last!
By Stephie, on Monday 1st June, 2009 at 23:25 pm
 Sewing in the sun  The patchwork lawn! This is officially the nine-patch quilt-along half way point: week 5, 35 blocks. As I’ve mentioned before, I mean it’s the half way point of making the blocks, not the half way point of making the quilt!
I realised that I’d made this week’s 7 blocks ahead of time, so I thought I’d have a bit of a play for the rest of the week and make up some of the sashings (that’s the white bit between the nine-patch blocks). I got a bit carried away! I found it very motivating though – all those squares are actually going to become something really rather lovely and my first real glimpse of it is making me a bit excited! (No, you’re right it doesn’t take much.)
Trouble is, my ‘stash’ is now well and truly depleted and I have to purchase more fabric so that I can continue. And not only have I run out of fabric, I’ve run out of cash!!! Still, I do have plenty of white for sashings, so week 6 may be more about joining the blocks together that I’ve already completed, rather than making 7 new ones. On the other hand, I may just blow the overdraft…
Check out more of the quilt-along group’s photos on flickr, some inspiring stuff.
By Stephie, on Wednesday 27th May, 2009 at 22:22 pm
Progress? Well, I’ve finished my 4th week of nine-patch blocks – although I’ve made this week’s quota of 7 blocks as well, so I’m offically at the half-way stage (week 5, 35 blocks). Well, the half way stage of the blocks that is, which is no where near half way through making the whole quilt. I could be doing this for some time! But I love doing it, so no matter.
I’m going to a monthly quilt group tomorrow morning (my second time…) and as I’m a few days ahead with the blocks, I thought I might have a go at cutting out some sashings and getting those on the go. Trouble is, I forgot to buy the fabric… My friend Sally, who runs the group, may have some of her lovely stock with her though, so even if she doesn’t have the plain white I want, I could of course just add something to my lacklustre stash to make up for it! I do seem to be on a bit of a Kaffe Fasset fabric fest at the moment though, as you can probably tell from the photos…
 My little helper...  Week 4 blocks all finished, woohoo!  This week's patches all ready to go... Check out how our host Crazy Mom Quilts is getting along on her blog, and don’t forget to have a look at my other pictures on flickr!
By Stephie, on Wednesday 20th May, 2009 at 13:05 pm
This morning was the first time I laid out my all nine-patches to see how the quilt is really progressing. I’ve made 22 blocks so far, only another 48 to go… That’s one thing that laying them out has done for me: made me realise just how big this quilt is going to be and how long it’s going to freaking take me! Who’s idea was it to do this by hand? Oh, that’s right, mine. Shouldn’t complain then really, I guess. It’s just that I like it so much, so far, that I want it to be finished now! Still, there’s a lot of pleasure in the making so I’ll just shut up and show you how it looks so far:
 Trying the blocks on the bed - the Kaffe Fasset fabrics are fantastic  I love the little flower blocks in the sashings! I really am going to have to do something about getting a decent camera. And a sewing machine. I think I’ve moaned about that before… Of course what I need to do first is get some grip on my meagre finances, at the moment it’s tenous to say the least!
How’s your nine-patch quilt coming along?
By Stephie, on Monday 18th May, 2009 at 19:47 pm
 Nine patch play Today is the day that I post pictures of this week’s nine-patch blocks to the Quilt Along flickr group. I made most of the blocks yesterday and finished them off today, still sewing them together with a small running stitch. Very relaxing. The best bit is getting to choose colours and fabrics. Although I used up as many scraps as I had, there’s no way I’d have enough to make an entire quilt, so shopping is required! This is fun, but not good for the pocket: making quilts is not cheap. I think I’m going to have to search on line for the next batch of fabric I need because my local fabric shop is running out of inspiring designs – I don’t want twee and traditional.
I have a regular look at the group’s progress and it’s surprising how many different designs you can get from such a simple 9 patch block. Some desings are really stunning, others, to be honest, are a bit run of the mill. I really hope mine won’t be one of those!
Check out how Crazy Mom Quilts is getting along on her blog, and don’t forget to have a look at my other pictures on flickr!
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