Indigo Instastitch

This has been such a fun quilt to make over the last 12 months.

It is Sue Spargo's Instastitch.

Each month she has released a block with the last block coming through last week.

I have made mine from my collection of old recycled indigo fabrics

collected on my trips to Japan over the years.

It has been such a good project for those fabrics.

As you can see I have added in some tan fabrics which also came from 

Japan on my last trip. Most of these have been dyed with persimmon juice.

Then on Waitangi Day attended an indigo dyeing workshop where we dyed our 

fabrics in the traditional old way with a natural dye vat.

This was such a great experience. 

Now I have a collection of indigo dyed fabric to use in a project.

I might even have to invest is a vat of my own so I can keep dyeing the 

fabrics as I would really like to have a collection of some really dark indigo too.

To get the really really dark blue they need to go into the dye vat so many more times.

Back soon.

Next Taupe Block Done

This is number four of my new project in Japanese Taupes.

It is actually quite fun doing two blocks the same and making sure they are 

different colours and different embellishing stitches.

This is the two blocks side by side.

Back soon with my old Indigo Instastitch as Sue has now released Block 12 

and the quilt layout, so my quilt is all in one piece.

I just need to get a photo and work is the best place to do that.

Taupe Applique Project

This week saw number three block of my new taupe project get completed.

The combination of applique and a little simple stitchery is so much fun to do.

I used a combination of two gold strands and one cream strand 

of Cosmo Embroidery Thread for the French Knots around this flower.

The gold alone seemed to disappear and the cream alone

just popped right out at you. I think the combo has worked.

Simple Lazy Daisy stitches enhance the centre of this simple flower.

I Chain Stitched with just one strand for these two leaves.

A couple of pistils add a tiny touch of interest to the blue flowers

with Fly Stitch in one strand up these leaves.

I have been drawing on my lines for the embroidery with a Sewline Duo Marker.

One pen puts on a fine grey/brown line and the other (hence Duo) takes

it away when you are done. They work every time for me with nothing

to show at the end.

1800s Surprise Block of the Month

I have managed a little bit of time in my sewing room, 

between rests while recovering from a nasty bout of the 'flu.

Over December and January Cindy and I made 100 blocks between us.

We used a pre-selected bundle of fabrics but otherwise didn't share 

and compare notes often.

And when we laid out the blocks altogether were were stunned at how 

good they all looked - no modesty here !!!!!!!!

Sashings and cornerstones were chosen last week and 

now the quilt goes together.

Back soon with more of the quilt.