#xplusalong Reveal

Thank you for waiting patiently, the sunshine was noticeable by its absence today, but at least it wasn't raining or snowing, or both; so, ta-dah...

I love this quilt, there's no denying it.

Each + is made of a different print, with my favourite, the white pins, smack bang in the middle.  I got the Sew Stitchy layer cake from Aneela back when I attended her embroidery class in September last year.  It reminds me of a happy day back when things were feeling really bleak.

As I mentioned the other day, I love the backing too; I have never made a simple pieced back like this before, why?!  I think it complements the busy front perfectly.

So that's my fourth quilt made this year, and I am champing at the bit to know what the next #QAL will be.  In the meantime, I have the Siblings Together fabrics sorted and 11 out of 12 Brit Bee blocks almost ready for attention, so I am hoping for No.5 by the end of the month!

For those who like stats...

10" xplus blocks adapted from AmyBadskirts' tutorial c/o Mrs Bone
60" square finished
1 Layer Cake & 2 Charm packs of Sew Stitchy
Sew Stitchy yardage for borders, binding and backing
Kona Ash & Coal backing
Aurifil 50wt 2021 Off-white for piecing and quilting
Quilted a 'walking-foot's width' either side of the + seams; unquilted squares c.7"
Sew Simple cotton batting, pieced with a zig-a-zag-arh!

Pretty Preview...

I can only give you a little preview of my finished Sew Stitchy #xplusalong quilt, because by the time it emerged from the tumble dryer, it was dark already, and the colours really do need daylight to show them at their best...

I did get it finished last night though, and it wasn't at stupid o'clock either. 

I love this little quilt, it has made me happy on a day when I have been sweating the small stuff at work and school.

So weather-permitting I will give you a better look at my latest addition; 4th quilt of the year, tomorrow!

Frankenstitchy

This morning we kitted out the girls for their forthcoming Rainbows investiture and then took a family trip round Sainsburys, (you can imagine my joy at that).  This afternoon, therefore, was clear for some stitchy business.

I was all geared up to make a longtime-listed Sidekick Tote; but not as geared up in the hardware department as I had hoped to be; so I cut all my pieces and fused my interfacing and then put everything aside.

My #xplusalong quilt was practically screaming for attention!

So I sashed the xplus panel, taking the quilt top to a now 60" square, made the binding and pieced the backing.  I have been consciously trying to just use stash fabrics, so I had to spend a bit of time trying to work out how to use the yardage offcuts and some Kona Ash and Coal, and love the simplicity of what I came up with.

I then had the unbridled joy of trying to frankenstein a large enough piece of wadding.  It did it, eventually.  So please, let us remember that in quilting, it is definitely what's on the outside that counts!

In the last hour I have basted it and feel rather pleased with myself.  Hopefully this time tomorrow I will be stitching down the binding.

Calm before the storm...

Today it was bitterly cold, so as soon as the kids were deposited at school, I was on lockdown.

Firstly I whipped up my last 5 #xplusalong blocks, then spent some time arranging all 25 on the floor and getting them into nice numbered piles.

I then made my husband a Valentine's present, but that will remain under wraps until next week.  Without giving the game away, I can tell you it's a Zakka Man-Style gift!

Then the Postie came with a secret Stitch Tease block from Danny and my loot from Kerry's destash.  Wonderful lovely lady that she is, she added in a couple of treats of the fabric variety to supplement my Hoey-love!

And Kerry was also integral in the present that came for my sister yesterday.  Having posted an update on all the lovely tea towels Al has on sale right now, I had to have this one...

This is how I like my animals!

I can't rate Al highly enough; I reviewed his online store last year too, and the speed he mails things out and customer service is second to none.  My bargainiferous tea towel was ordered over the weekend, with free postage and a free coaster, (which I have forgotten to photograph, but you can chose your own on promotion right now, and I chose this one), and it arrived on Tuesday, from Ireland!

Back to today, and I snuggled up with a film, Source Code, Sky+ed from the weekend, until pick up time.  I don't take time out like that often enough, so I may need to make it a regular habit; unfortunately I lose next week's freetime to an Inset Day swap on friday, but maybe the week after!

With no more ballet; twin 2 decided to leave after Christmas (hurray!) as both girls are now going to Rainbows, and Wednesday Beavers has become Tuesday Cubs, so I was able to get a bit more sewing in before teatime.

My Sew Stitchy blocks are now all sewn together...

I have sashing to add, to take this from 50" square to 60" square, and a backside to ponder.  It is so bright and fun, it already makes me really happy.

Tomorrow I will don my metaphorical crisp-lady hat and spend an unpleasant hour at the Key Stage One disco, so please don't expect me to be in quite such a jovial mood when we next cross paths!

Woo Hoo Wednesday...

I love my days off, especially when there is a decent amount of sewing, an absence of children and a total lack of rain.

Today was one such day.

Last night I put away all tech and rotary cut my Sew Stitchy layer cake and a couple of charm packs.  I ended up with all the necessary pieces for my #xplusalong quilt.  It took a while, even without squaring up those not 100% true pre-cuts, (what's with that!?), probably not helped by only using our tiny side table pulled up next to the sofa instead of a more practical cutting station!  Before bed though, I had 25 little stacks, all ready to be made into 10" blocks.

This morning I thought I better try piecing one block, you know, just for size.  One turned to 5, then six, before I headed out to mail my PLPS6 pouch.

Job done, I came home, and armed with tea, toast and old CSIs on TV, I worked my way through a day's worth of blogs and over 200 emails.

With an hour until school pick up, I made another 3 blocks.  I feel I am having to work in only photo-friendly numbers!

I love how it is looking already; I am making 5x5 blocks and a 5" border of the darker pink birdy print; it's going to be so girly.  I have also been saving the tiny triangle off-cuts to make into 200 1"HSTs; waste not, want not!

There have been other distractions and diversions today, but I am saving those for my Random Thursday post ;)

See you tomorrow xxx