Scrappy Sea Scene

I know things have been quiet around here lately, but it has all been going on over on my blue hare blog, some good, some not so good.

Things are starting to settle down around here and I have lots of things planed for Quilt Routes, but I am
sure you know how hard it can be to get back into the rythmn after a break.

I find that just diving in and doing anything creative helps even if it is not something you should be doing. It is just nice to do a fun activity and get the creative juices flowing.
When I saw this post from Alisa Burke I knew it was something I wanted to try.

So using strips of painted fabric and an old canvas not needed any more I did this. 

I covered the canvas in gesso, sticking the strips on whilst the paint was still wet. When dry I made sure everything was secured into place with a couple of coats of artists varnish.
It was so easy to do and very satisfying.
Why don't you give it a try?

fabric friday

sun printing, a photo by Quilt Routes on Flickr.

Thinking of Sunflowers

Snuggled in the far corner at the back of the house away from the sea winds I have managed to grow a sunflower. No mean feat I can tell you.



I have also been thinking of sunflowers in my stitching.

Using one of my Solitary Sunflower kits I have put together a little wall hanging using up some scraps.

Here is the original with simple straight line stitching around the edge of the applique shapes, but I wanted to try something different.

Beginning with the leaves....

I have dropped the feed dogs and put on my darning foot to do some free motion stitching, but I have set the machine to a narrow open zig zag. This is a great stitch to practise free motion because the needle is going from side to side which means it is not running away from you gives you more control.

I have used a variegated thread and gone around the edges twice.

Same for the petals.....

Here are some more sunflower that have been intensively stitched.

Sunflower applique template pattern available to download here and from my other online shops.

Happy Stitching!

fabric fabric

hand painted fabric, a photo by Quilt Routes on Flickr.

One from the archives today.

fabric friday

Stamping, a photo by Quilt Routes on Flickr.

Stamping

Beach Huts Tutorial Part 2

I think the photos speak for themselves at this stage. Using a fusible of your choice cut out the pieces of the Beach Huts and fuse to the back of your chosen fabrics. You can download a pattern template here.    PLEASE BE BEAR WITH ME WHILE I FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO DISTRIBUTE FREE PATTERNS AFTER CRAFTSY VERY SUDDENLY DELETED MOST OF THE PATTERN SHOPS THEY WERE HOSTING.

A lot of stitching has gone into this piece and so keep everything smooth I like to stitch the details onto appliques before attaching them to the quilt. Fuse them onto a stabilizer as shown below.

I also like to get all the lines stitched onto the background before adding the huts as this saves having to twist and turn around the added pieces. I use mono filament thread for this.

I have added some birds with fabric pen.

Now I add the huts and straight stitch them into place. They are stiff enough for this to be done easily. Just add a few pins to keep them in place.

Here is the finished piecing using an envelope facing. Below is the original one which was pieced with an added border and appliqued first before adding minimal quilting and a traditional binding pieced from left over pieces.

I added 5 huts to this one and let them sit over onto the border for variety.

There we are. I hope you have a go and if you make one I would love to see it.

Beach Huts Mini Art Quilt Tutorial

Need some sunshine in your life?
How about making this Beach Hut mini art quilt.

This tutorial will show you how to do a diagonally pieced sky using two different fabrics and looks at some different stitching options. It is not a definitive lesson on what you must do to create this quilt but rather something that will help you set you off and give you different options to follow.

Requirement

                           

Naturally I have used had painted fabric, but any fabric can be used.
I am not going to give sizes. Make it any size you wish.
The only thing to remember is that you need  two pieces of sky fabric exactly the same size.
Also
one strip of sea fabric
one strip of sand fabric
a selection of scraps for the beach huts

Piecing the background

Right sides of fabric both facing up, place them one on top of the other.

Using a ruler and rotary cutter, slice diagonally through the two layers of fabric.

Move your cuts out from the inner corner to the outer corner in increments just remembering to make them wide enough to allow for the seam allowances which will come later.

Now alternate the pieces of fabric like shown.

                           

When stitched together it will look like this.

But can then be trimmed to look like this.

                           

Those observant among you will notice that this one is the sister of the previous one as you get two for the price of one with this method.

Now add your sea and sand strips, in whichever order you like.

Here the sea is behind the huts,

and here it is in front of them.

Next time stitching and applique of the huts!