Sunday, 26 January 2014

Foundation Piecing with interface

Recently I joined a Yahoo group called Dear JaneSQT.
This group is for everyone who is making or wants to take on the journey to make a Dear Jane quilt and it is a great way to share and also for support.

Onlangs ben ik lid geworden van een Yahoo groep genaamdDear JaneSQT.
Deze groep is voor iedereen die een Dear Jane gaat of wil gaan maken en is ontzettend leuk om op deze manier met anderen te delen en ook voor steun.

Some of the ladies in the group asked me about my method of foundation piecing using interface, so I've made a little tutorial.

Sommige dames in de groep vroegen mij naar mijn werkwijze van "foundation piecing" (het werken op een ondergrond) met vlieseline, dus hieronder een korte uitleg.


I will show you my method by making a relatively easy Dear Jane block,  called Snowball (F-3).
I copy all my patterns directly from the book.

Ik zal jullie mijn methode laten zien tijdens het maken van een redelijk eenvoudig Dear Jane blok, genaamd "Snowball" (F3)





For my foundation piecing I use a very thin interfacing, I believe this one is "Vlieseline L-11"

Voor het werken op een ondergrond gebruik ik dunne Vlieseline, L-11 is dit geloof ik.






As this block cannot be pieced in one, we will need to divide it into sections (see red lines on picture).

Aangezien we dit blok niet in een stuk kunnen maken, moeten we het in stukken verdelen (zie de rode lijnen in de foto).






Trace each section onto the interfacing.
I always use a fine mechanical pencil for two reasons, you never need to sharpen it and it will always draw fine lines.
For straight lines I normally use my ruler.
Be careful with the interfacing as it is very delicate, press too hard with your pencil and it will tear easily.

Neem de lijnen van de delen over op de Vlieseline.
Ik gebruik altijd een vulpotlood ten eerste vanwege het feit dat je nooit je punt hoeft te slijpen en ten tweede geeft het een mooie smalle lijn.
Voor de rechte lijnen gebruik is meestal mijn liniaal.
Wees voorzichtig met de Vlieseline, als je te hard drukt met je potlood kan het makkelijk scheuren.



If you like you can put numbers on the pieces to show the order in which to sew. (see picture)
Please note that because we will be sewing on the drawn lines of the interfacing and the fabric will be at the back the block will eventually be a mirror image. For this block it doesn't matter as it is symmetrical. If not you can always redraw on the reverse side of the interface.


Als je het fijn vindt kun je de stukjes nummeren in de naaivolgorde. (zie foto)
Let op..omdat we naaien op de getekende lijnen en de stof aan de achterkant komt van de vlieseline hierdoor wordt het blok spiegelverkeerd. Voor dit blok maakt het niet uit want het is symmetrisch. Anders kun je de lijnen eventueel nogmaals overtrekken aan de andere kant van het Vlieseline. 


Cut out all the pieces you will need with a generous seam allowance. Better to cut a little bit off than to be just that little bit too short.
I always add a little extra on the outer edges of the block as well. (I mark them with "X" on my interface)

Knip alle benodigde stukjes uit met een ruime naad. Beter een stukje afknippen later dan net een klein stukje te kort komen.
Ik neem ook altijd iets extra naad aan de buitenranden van het blok. (ik zet voor het gemak een "X" bij deze randen op het vlies)


Pin your fabric to your interfacing wrong sides together.
As it is see-through you can easily "fussy-cut" a specific part of your fabric.

Speld je stof op je Vlieseline, verkeerde kanten tegen elkaar. 
Omdat het doorzichtig is kun je heel goed een specifiek stukje uit je stof selecteren.




Flip around, now pin your next piece of fabric to be sewn right sides together. If you've numbered this piece will be number 2.


Draai om en speld je volgende stukje stof hieraan met de goede kanten tegen elkaar.
Als je hebt genummerd is dit stukje 2.




Flip again and sew the line between piece 1 and 2
Sew the drawn line of the interfacing through all layers.

Draai weer om en naai de lijn tussen stukje 1 en stukje 2. Naai op de getekende lijn op het vlies door alle lagen.
Carefully fold back the interfacing and cut the seam allowance even.

Vouw voorzichtig het vlies terug en knip de naad netjes bij.
Fold over the piece you've sewn and finger press (or better use an iron) the piece.
In this matter sew all the pieces together.

Vouw het stukje dat je hebt genaaid om en strijk met je nagel of beter met een strijkijzer. 
Naai op deze wijze alle stukjes aan elkaar.


Once you've done that you should now have three completed sections and all you now need to do is sew these together..

..and your block will be finished!

Nu heb je als het goed is drie stukken compleet en het enigst wat nog rest is deze aan elkaar te naaien..

..en je blok is af!


I hope this explanation was helpful in some way to someone?
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me, feel free to ask.

Ik hoop dat ik met deze informatie iemand heb kunnen helpen?
Als iemand vragen heeft neem gerust kontakt op.

"Till next time!
Essie

Friday, 24 January 2014

Great Bee evening out..

Last wednesday we had our first ever evening out with our Bee.

We were invited to visit our local quiltshop "Da's Tof".  

After a warm welcome by Anita en Magda we first took it easy with a nice cup of coffee/tea and the cat came looking for some company too, of course taking a look around the shop in the mean time.







Afgelopen woensdag hadden we ons allereerste Bee uitje.
We waren uitgenodigd bij de quiltwinkel "Da's Tof".  

Na een hartelijk welkom door Anita en Magda eerst even lekker bijkomen met een lekker bakje koffie/thee en ook de poes kwam nog even de gezelligheid opzoeken, en ondertussen natuurlijk gelijk even rondsnuffelen in de winkel.








We got really spoiled too, we each got a little packet with 5 different spools of Aurifil threads and also some embroidery threads.

Anita from the shop told us a lot about the variety in threads and we also had a little fabric sandwich so we could try them out. 

We zijn nog goed verwend ook, we kregen allemaal een pakketje met 5 verschillende klosjes Aurifil garen en ook nog wat borduurgarens.
Anita van de winkel heeft ons een hoop verteld over de verschillen in garens en we hadden ook een kleine stof-sandwich erbij gekregen zodat we de garens gelijk konden uit proberen.



After saying our goodbyes and with promises to visit the shop sometime very soon, we went home very happy and satisfied.
Anita and Magda, thank you so much for a successful and fun evening!

Na een hartelijk afscheid en met de belofte dat we allemaal binnenkort een bezoek zullen brengen aan de winkel, gingen we allemaal tevreden weer naar huis.
Anita en Magda ontzettend hartelijk bedankt voor een zeer geslaagde avond!

Till next time!
Essie


Sunday, 19 January 2014

First two "Janes" for 2014

Been back at work for 2 weeks now which I must admit did take some getting used two after spending the last year at home on a kinda sabbatical... 
so haven't really had a lot of time to do any quilting.
Have finished these two blocks for my Dear Jane, which I actually started between the Christmas and New Year period...but just didn't get around to posting them on the blog yet.



E-3, "Paddle Wheels"
This one I pieced traditionally...













... and E-4, " Buffalo Tree Hopper.
The larger sections were traditionally pieced and the smaller pieces of the corners were foundation pieced.
Love this blue fabric!


Working on block E-5 which is nearly done, still need to applique the middle circle.  Also done the foundation piecing on the middle part of block E-6.

In between work I have been working on my "Old Masters" quilt design for the OEQC competition this year.
Took the final design to the printers to get it enlarged on Friday and will pick it up tomorrow on the way to work. So fingers crossed it will come out OK.
From this pattern I will transfer the design on to the fabric. Before that I will need to make a couple of tests though..will keep you posted!

See you next time!
Essie



Sunday, 5 January 2014

A new year = new beginnings

First of all a very good 2014 to everyone! May all your dreams and wishes come true for you.


With a fresh new slate/year ahead of us we all try our best to do the right thing.
We all start the new year with the best intentions, and just like everyone else I too will try to lose some weight, exercise more, eat more healthier, tidy up a little more often and so on..
But I won't get into too much detail with those, I'm sure you know what they are all about.. ;-)) LOL

I will however share with you my to-do list for this year when it comes to the "quilty" side of things.
Done it last year and I must say..it worked for me! So here it is for this year..

1) Continue with my Dear Jane, try and do 1 block a week as I have done last year.
2) Make a quilt for this year's OEQC competition, theme "Old Masters"
(entry date probably by May some time, so this one has a deadline)
3) Try and do a post at least once a week on my blog.
4) I've been asked to make a quilt for my local quilt shop "Da'sTof" (which I'm quite excited about!)

Don't want the list too big, because I'm not sure how things will go this year in terms of work, but if there is time I want to try and finish some UFO's as well.

Do you have any plans for this year?

Essie




Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Finishing the year with a Jane finale..

Last day of the year, the fire works are going off like crazy here already...and its only 1 o'clock in the afternoon!

Time to look back on this last year, Dear Jane has been with me for a great part of my life this past year.
I have completed all 52 blocks that I intended to do this year (one block per week). YEAH!!!


Here is the last block I made, D-11 "Snow Crystal"


Here they all are..
looks a mess doesn't it?
One day it hopefully will become a complete quilt..


I haven't cut them to size yet, so some blocks are larger and some are smaller.
Here they are all together



I tried to lay them all out to take a picture.
But it was too large to get it all in the frame so instead I took 3 pictures and merged them using Photoshop.
They will be put together using sashings, but it gives you an idea of how they will look.

All in all it has been a great Quilt year, been to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham for the first time, that was a fantastic experience.
Been to the quilt retreat (Midweek) from the Dutch Quiltersguild (Quiltersgilde) which is always a great way to spent some quality time with fellow quilters.

I've made most of my goals that I set for myself for this year.

Finished the BOM quilt "Happy Hearts"

 I finished my quilt for the OEQC which unexpectedly won first prize for the theme "Berlin"






Started on the "Love Entwined" BOM by Esther Aliu, but didn't get too far with it..will try and find some time to continue with this next year.

Who knows what next year will bring?

Hopefully I will find the time to continue my one Dear Jane block per week.
Probably will start a new project (not sure yet what), and also will start on my entry for the OEQC theme for 2014 is "Old Masters".


Next post I will set out my goals for next year

For now I hope 2014 will bring you all good luck, good health and lots of quilt inspiration!
Be safe and have a great new year's eve !!
Essie




Sunday, 22 December 2013

Not a very good start to the holiday..

Yesterday I was just about to sit down and post an update on my blog when....
the police rang on our doorbell to tell us that the window of our car had been smashed in.  When we went down to the car this is what we found..


The glass was everywhere and ..YES.. that is a brick on the passenger seat!
Luckily nothing was stolen, everything was still there...just pure pointless vandalism...and a lot of work, headache and money for us to get it fixed!

Anyway, what I was intending to blog about was this..

I said I'd try and do some hand quilting....I know ;-)

But I couldn't get it right and finally after several attempts I decided to just machine quilt it.

I think the swirls with the snowflakes capture the flurry of snowfall quite well, don't you think?

Here is a little close up, the blanket stitches around the applique were done by hand, but the swirls around were free motion quilted with the BSR foot on my Bernina (you can just see a glimpse of the foot in the corner of the previous picture.


Well, the next couple of days I'll probably won't have much time to do any quilting with all the shopping, cooking (and eating) for the Christmas days to come.
I might just have some time to finish some knitting that I've started though. And next Friday we are off to the cinema to see the Hobbit part 2, can't wait..really looking forward to seeing that!

So for now I want to wish you all a very happy holiday, wherever you are I hope you will spent it in good health and surrounded by your loved ones.
(Found this picture on the web, think it captures the holiday spirit just perfectly, don't you think?)

Till next time!
Essie




Monday, 16 December 2013

What a nice surprise..!

Just saw here that my blog is chosen for the "Blog van de week"  (Blog of the week) on the Quiltersgilde Blog
I didn't see it at first, I thought that block looks familiar! I have one just like it...Hang on a minute..it is mine!...DUH!! Hhahaha...:)))

Yesterday I posted that I might make a Christmas quilt, today I found this old UFO in the box on top of the cupboard..
It's not exactly a Cristmas quilt...but it is certainly a winter quilt!
It is a pattern from an old Quiltmania, I've slightly adjusted the little boys and girls, because I thought they didn't look quite right.
It is now sandwiched, basted and ready to quilt.
It has been a while since I have done some hand quilting but I'm going to attempt it tonight..
When it has been quilted I will need to put some details in the pictures, it is missing some skis and some general lines to stop them from floating in the air.

Will keep you posted!
Essie