Oh Dear, Don't Look Now!

 I'm just back home after a lovely weekend with family in Melbourne and I didn't get a lot of time to stitch but I did get the chance to attend my Melbourne group's Sit and Sew. I seem to be working on many UFOs at once now and most of them are up to the quilting stage, or almost there. I am still piecing the vintage Sawtooth Stars but as I didn't take my sewing machine I also needed another hand piecing project. I'm up to hand stitching the Joseph's Coat blocks to the borders and also making the half square triangles for the outer border.
   I have been inspired to make a red and white quilt since I saw the Red and White quilt show that Linda recently held at Quilts in the Barn. I wanted to make a Pickle Dish quilt in red and white and started the piecing shown in the second photo. I realized that I can probably stitch that one on the sewing machine and I also wanted to work on the more intricate pattern by Chris Serong, shown in the first photo. This one uses diamond shapes and it will be much easier to make by hand-piecing. I couldn't help myself and just had to start piecing some of the arcs. It will be a long-term hand piecing project but I'm already loving the crisp white diamonds against the red of the arcs.
 As we arrived home, my paid work rang to ask if I could work an extra night shift tonight so I'm off to bed soon and the quilting will have to wait until I have some more awake hours. In the meantime I think I can work in some time for more hand piecing so check back to see my progress. I know I didn't need any more WIPs but I stitch for pleasure and I'm really enjoying the hand piecing projects I'm working on. Now I need to focus and not start any more new projects. lol!
Hugs, Jan Mac

Late Night Stitching

 Last night I got the Sawtooth Stars out again and made 14 more blocks. I was so happily sewing that I worked until 11.30pm and could have kept going but common sense prevailed. You can see the new stars compared with the old ones which had frayed seams and they were coming apart. I should have counted the number of stars before I took the quilt apart but I expect to end up with almost the same amount. I'm also using some of the sashing pieces to make more stars to replace those beyond repair and you can see one in the 4th row, second from the right. I'm also going to use some of the backing fabric to make stars and I am using some of the white/cream background fabric from the original quilt as well as cutting more pieces to replace those which are too small to use.
  I'm pleased with my progress and will probably use a much narrower sashing and may even set them on point. This is a "make the blocks and see what happens" project and I think it will be worth all the extra work to remake the quilt into something pretty and functional again.
  Thanks for stopping by and a big thank you to those lovely readers who have left comments. Everyone loves some feedback on their blogs. I usually comment on blogs too but have given up commenting when I have to type in two nonsensical words as more often than not, I get it wrong and it just wastes time I could use stitching. lol
Hugs, Jan Mac

Another UFO in Progress

 This UFO is one that I purchased from an antique dealer in the US and It seems to be from the 1940s or 50s. It is in very good condition and has never been washed but there are some fade marks on the top where it has been folded. It is entirely hand pieced but the points where the stems of the tulips intersect were not stitched and they varied quite a bit in size which made it difficult to finish them off.
  Finally I decided to applique a button over the intersecting stems to disguise their irregularities. I had planned to use the colour of the tulips or the green of the stems but it was difficult to match the right shade so I decided to use a soft yellow, typical of what was used at that time and I think it will make them look as if they were planned that way. Then I will be able to quilt it and get it finished to display.
   I've also finished quilting my 1940s star quilt top and just have the binding to hand stitch in place before I show a final photo. Oh and I need to make a label too. I'm also working on the Sawtooth Star blocks that I'm re-making using the vintage fabric so there's lots happening and I hope to have more finishes to show soon. I also have more UFOs and WIPs as well so I won't be short of things to stitch for quite awhile.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

While I Was Sleeping

 This week seems to have disappeared while I was sleeping and working night shift. I enjoy the work but it does cut into my quilting time. On the other hand it does pay for a lot of the donation quilts and I've been ordering more books to enjoy.
 Luckily while I was sleeping other lovely quilters have stepped up and have been very busy sewing and knitting for the needy. The first large parcel came from Kerry Shelberg (NSW) and she was also the very generous quilter who sent the mystery box a week ago. Kerry has been very busy and sent more fabric, many pieces of which were sewn into long strips for Chinese Coins quilts, as well as more large pieces for a top and backing. They will make more lovely quilts so a very big thank you for your help, Kerry.
 Ruth Crocombe from New Guinea has also been very busy with more knitting for the needy. She sent a lovely knitted vest for a child as well as two more knitted beanies. I can imagine how hot it must be up in New Guinea so I really appreciate all your lovely knitting for the needy too Ruth.
 I have also finished taking apart the embroidered 1930s quilt so I can make some repairs and then re-quilt it using a new backing, which will prolong its life. The top of the quilt was quite ragged and I will be replacing the borders as most of the fabric is too worn to be used again. I'll be checking the blocks too to make sure they are all in good repair.
  The last few days have been busy with family commitments so i hope to get some more stitching done very soon before I have more paid work.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Retreating Weekend

 I had a lovely couple of days retreating with my local quilting group. I have recently re-joined and received a lovely welcome so attending the retreat allowed me to renew old friendships and get to know new members. It was beautiful sunny weather and the tables and lighting were ideal for sewing. We went to a lovely camp amidst farming country, just 30 mins from home which made it very convenient.
  I took far too many things to work on but was happy to have a variety so I could change from machine quilting when I needed a break. I have almost finished quilting the 1940s vintage star quilt and have finished deconstructing the 1930s /40s Sawtooth Star quilt blocks.
  I also started taking apart another vintage quilt I'd bought some years ago from the US. It is also from the 1930s or40s and the top has worn away with the fabric being shredded from use. The batting is also quite patchy in places and the backing is very thin. It was quilted in Baptist Fans and it was OK but not that close together that it would be a shame to remove it. There is also a large burn mark on the top. I'm taking it apart and will repair the blocks where a few seams have frayed, and I'll remove the outer border which is quite worn and use the better pieces to replace the fabric with the burn mark. Then I'll make a new border using reproduction fabric from that time but I will probably choose a print as it will be hard to match a plain blue as the fabric has faded. The embroidery is in very good condition and repairing it will help to prolong its life, so although it's a slow and somewhat tedious job, it will be worth it.
 I enjoy doing some hand work so it is a nice project to have when I need a break from the sewing machine.
  I had a lovely time and it was great to spend time with such a friendly group. I'm working night shifts again for a few nights so I hope to get back with more progress soon.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Still Deconstructing and Secret Donation

 The mail man brought another lovely parcel of fabric for backing as well as more beautifully pressed and sorted strip pieces for more QAYG blocks. I can't thank the sender as there was no note or return address so I hope you are keeping an eye on the blog so that you know it arrived safely. These will be used up quickly as I want to get more quilts delivered/donated for Christmas.
 I've had a busy couple of days with family commitments but I have also managed to almost finish taking apart the Sawtooth Stars quilt. You can see the amount of thread I've removed and this is the second container of thread from this quilt. I also found a shredded piece of fabric in the centre with the petticoat and this is probably a used sheet. It has just fallen apart as I've removed it so this piece will go into the rubbish.
 Now I'm off to my local quilting group's weekend retreat. I'm still trying to decide what to work on and I should be appliqueing the borders for my Baltimore but I'm also tempted to remake the Sawtooth Star blocks now that I have almost pulled them all apart. I'll probably take a mix of projects to work on so I don't get bored and in case the lighting or seating isn't comfortable enough for using my sewing machine.
 The weather is lovely and sunny and I'm looking forward to some more stitching and chatting time.
Hope you all get some time to stitch too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Unexpected Discovery

 I've continued with de-constructing this vintage quilt and almost have all the star blocks removed. As you can see they are in a state of disrepair with frayed seams and worn blocks. The quilting thread had mostly disappeared as well and there was a stain which looks like coffee on some of the quilt.
    Within the quilt I was very surprised to find a petticoat with some pale blue embroidery on the bodice. There were two layers of calico or a mixture of pale fabric and one of them was the petticoat. The batting had disappeared as well and it seems that the cotton batting may have been sandwiched between the two layers of calico or pale fabric. I'm guessing the cotton batting was uncarded as the quilting was quite close together but only a very few remnants of batting remain and must have disappeared with heavy use.
    This was a utility quilt and as you can see by the new blocks I've made, there is a hidden gem under all that mess of frayed seams.  I'm really enjoying rescuing the fabric and making it pretty again so keep an eye on my progress.
   For now I'm back to washing and re-cutting the fabric into its new pieces.
 Hugs, Jan Mac
 PS I did finish taking apart the suffolk puff piece and will use the fabric to repair other quilts from that era.