Hexagon Flower

This week I have been busy with piecing hexagons by using paper lining technique that I just learned. I started from cutting many paper templates, wrapping them with fabric and basting. This time I chose pink & purple as main colors. 

Layout of my hexagon flowers

Paper template wrapped with fabric and basted

I spent hours to choose fabrics and swap the pollens around flowers, it's fun though. For the background, I don't want to use just plain white color, so I selected some off white print fabrics to add a little detail on it. 

Started joining from the orange-pink flower then make it bigger and bigger

Ripped the basting stitches out

No basting thread on & paper in orange-pink flower

It's growing. The paper templates were removed except the outermost ones.

Done!

I'm planning to make a bag from this top. Let me sleep on it and see what I come up with.

9-block tapestry

I was trying to finish all homework before going back to JHIA quilting class again last weekends. It was very busy in the past couple weeks, so I had no chance to update my blog, and now, more assignments after class.

One of those assignments is to make a 9-block tapestry. Here's what I got.  

I'm still thinking how the border should be. I have some in my mind but still hesitated. 

Linking with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Let's fill up a sofa space with pillows

Finally, I have finished my tulip applique pillow cover and washed away the outline I made. I'm now feeling so happy and enjoy huging my new pillow on the couch.

The invisible zipper at the back

Look! how many pillows we have on 2-seat couch. My husband started complaining that he has no place to sit watching TV. I told him "don't you see how beautiful pillow I did?" and he smiled and managed to sit among pillows. I guess he agreed ;-)



Linking up to:
Needle and Thread Thursday
TGIFF

Tulip Applique Pillow Cover

I've been working on this project for a while. Sometimes I put it aside and did other projects, so it took me almost 2 months to complete both front & back pieces of a pillow case. This project is good for practicing applique though.

Tulips applique on pillow cover

I was thinking to use only red and yellow, each for 2 tulips, but finally I chose all different colors for each of them. The applique process is enjoyable; however after finishing the applique, it's time to baste the quilt sandwich, which is my least favorite step. I had to put this project aside for a long while until I feel ready for it.

Basting tested my patience

Blue tulip

Red tulip

Yellow tulip

For the back piece, I simply installed an invisible zipper at the middle



Next post I'll show you the finished pillow cover.

Linking with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

It's time for Mariner's Compass

I have to admit that I was a bit scared to make a Mariner's Compass block at first because of its tiny forks & round shape, and the steps of creating the templates are quite confusing to me. After re-reading over my notes a couple times, I started to draw a quarter circle on plastic sheet.

My notes

I paid special attention to each point and curve while cutting the templates and finally got them all.

Mariner's Compass templates

Sorry, I didn't have a chance to take some photos while making it, so there are only finished block pictures. I found that some points are not sharp although I did my best pressing each seam. Any idea to fix this? 

Clamshell quilt now became a pouch

As promised yesterday, I added more quilts at 4mm from the edge of each clamshell and picked a red satin bias strip for bindings. Hope that I picked the right color.



After finishing the bindings, I sewed the sides together and added a base. 



Then attached a zipper, and walla! Honestly, I'm not happy with the colors I chose. I better try brighter colors next time.

Clamshell Quilt

Last week, I have been busy with making a clamshell quilt after learning a technique from my sensei. She taught the way to piece each clamshell directly on the batting & backing. By using this technique, we can join all 3 layers together in one step. It sounds easy but I took pretty much time to get familiar with it and still need more practice.

Here's what it looks like

the back

and the closer look

Tomorrow, I will do more quilt and turn it into a pouch. Please stay tuned :-)