Archie The Wonder Dog

I thought I'd share a nifty technique for adding accurate (and straight!) quarter inch strips to a project - it could be for some teeny tiny piecing/strip piecing (just think how accurate and square a 3/4" finished nine patch would be!), an accent strip in a block or on a pouch, or for some Seminole work.  It can also be adapted for other widths, particularly three-eighths or half an inch, simply by using a different foot (I use my number one foot, which is the all-purpose zigzag foot which came with the machine) and moving your needle to the right. For this tutorial, my sample piece is a table runner.  As you can see, I've got both dark grey (the accent) and pale grey (the background) strips, but you can adapt this however you like, it's just to demonstrate the technique. You'll need to cut 1" strips of the fabrics you wish to join as quarter inch strips (mine is the dark grey Oakshott) and whatever size piece you wish to add it to (I'm calling ...

While you link up your finishes (and maybe even try to squeeze another one in before the deadline), we have arranged a series of tutorials to keep you entertained.  Okay, and perhaps help you extend your list for quarter four!  Today it's my turn and I'm going to show you how to make this needle book for your machine needles: You will need: Assorted scraps of fabric, some around 11" long and others smaller.  I have only made this with scraps and remnants, but a couple of (metric) fat quarters should be enough. Fusible wadding (I used Vilene H640 - I used scraps and remnants, but a (metric) fat quarter should be enough) Fusible interfacing (I used a lightweight cotton lawn because that's what was in my box.  A heavier weight would also work) Hair bobble and button for the closure Thread to match/contrast with your fabrics All the usual notions. Cut: From lining fabric(s) (mine is the pink solid): 1 x {11" x 5"} - inside background 1 x...

Today is my turn on the Oakshott Lipari blog hop , which is being hosted by Lynne  and runs for the month of May and showcases  Oakshott's Lipari collection .  I've made no secret of the fact that I'm a huge fan of Oakshott's fabrics - they're beautiful to look at, as well as being lovely to sew and I'm honoured to be part of this blog hop.  Thank you, Lynne and Michael, for inviting me to take part and trusting me with the fabric! Oakshott's Lipari collection contains eighteen colours, and each of the colours has a black warp and a different coloured weft which results in luxurious colours that shimmer and shine.  The fabrics subtly change shade depending on the light and this gives projects a really special look that you just don't get with other fabrics. Also, the fabrics are 54" wide so you get a lot more than you'd expect in a fat eighth bundle, which is always good!    You can find out more about the inspiration for this collection he...

Sometime in May, Lynne  asked if I'd be interested in making a project with one of Oakshott's new fat eighth colourshott bundles .  (These will be available at the Festival of Quilts  in August and, I assume, on the website somewhere around the same time.)  After a little ponder about whether I could manage to make a whole project (and write the tutorial) within the time frame (deadlines and pacing don't necessarily go together!), I said yes and I'm so glad I did! I missed all the pointy elbow emails that came as a result of us calling dibs on our chosen bundles as I was out with my mam and so I was left with the 'mystery' bundle which, a couple of days later, was revealed to be a 'neutrals' bundle.  Not my usual stomping ground but I decided to decline the kind offers to swap (we hadn't yet seen a photo of this bundle so I had no idea what I was going to get!) and accept the challenge.  Again, I'm glad I did as this gorgeous 'Metro...