Stack and Whack

To day I did a workshop at the IPS in Galway with one of our members, Mogs McDonnell. We started with 8 x 9inch squares.  If you don't want to use the same fabric twice in two of the blocks, only start with 6 fabrics or cut the 8 fabrics 8 times instead of 6. Place a paper number on top of the pieces so you don't forget which order you are sewing them in. (You can see I lifted one of the blue pieces off so you can see the other fabric underneath)

To make our pattern we used a piece of paper the same size as our squares. We divided the the page in six shapes and used these lines as a guide to cut  our fabric squares all at once. Each piece has a number and you must sew each piece together starting with the last number first. In other words sew 6 to 5 then attach 4 and so on.

As you can see I chose a different colour for each shape. Note if you cut 8 squares and only 6 shapes you will have to use the same fabric twice in two of the squares Can you spot this on mine? I can now chose to make more squares to make this into a bigger quilt, or I can put sashing around each square. This was a very quick and easy way to make a block. It works very well with christmas fabrics and could easily be a table runner.

My twins born 18 years ago weighted in at 2lbs 9oz and 2lbs 10oz. Carl and Millie arrived 3 months early on the 15th of November I hope they injoy their party tomorrow night.

Knitting and Stitching Show RDS

The knitting and stitching show this year seemed to have a lot more in the line of knitting and yarn so who could blame me for purchasing some wool. I love the idea of knitting a pair of slippers  then throwing them into the washing machine at a high tempeture which shrinks and felts them. Another idea I got from a friend is to buy old wool jumpers from charity shops and wash them into felt. You can then cut them up and make mittens or I guess what ever you like. What a great way to recycle in a recession, just think how warm we will all be this winter.

Christmas is coming

Well I guess it's time to get ready for Christmas. Here are some tags I made they can also be hung on the Christmas tree. I have also started to make some cards. These are fun and quick to make. Glitter glue is cheap and really sets the tags of nicely. 

Pumpkin Patch

On a recent visit to the US I came across this pumpkin patch.