18th Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2019

Just to let you know the dates for the
18th Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival, to be held next year.

Thursday January 24th to January 30th 2019

Check out the official website (in English)

Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 71 - 75

It is Friday and time to hand in my homework. I had to wait until nightfall to show this scene:

Of course I stitched in colour, and used the stitches like this:


I used Maidenhair Stitch as a filling stitch for Sue's hair that is hiding her face - there is no need for a sunbonnet at night!

WIPW - Too Bland?

Work In Progress Wednesday

At last I have had a bit more time to devote to my favourite pastime - stitching.

Crazy for Crazy

I have pieced together the Sweet Potato and Roast Chestnut crazy quilt block and added a bit of embroidery.

There isn't a lot of contrast in the shades of the thread, is this block looking a bit too bland?
I think I will change some of the thread of the Slipped Detached Chain...

NEW! Cathedral Windows 

Every January, at the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival, I meet up with my friends Julie (My Quilt Diary) and Tanya (By Taniwa).

Last year we challenged each other to make something with the Mola quilting style.

I made this bag:

This year's challenge is Cathedral Windows. Tanya, always being quick off the mark, has already made several beautiful things, among them a cover for a box of tissues.

I searched the web and found a number of ways to make a CW quilt. I will start with the traditional way, by hand, following Abby Holverson's excellent instructions. Check them out here.

 The first thing was to cut squares.

With a strip of cardboard I pressed down the seam allowances.

I folded the square in half, right sides together and whipped the edges together.

I keep my fingers crossed that I will have time to stitch a lot from now on.
How to keep fingers crossed and stitch at the same time is a hard nut to crack, though!

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 71 - 75

Let's review the last five stitches:
Click on the headline and see previous blog posts of the instructions, inspiration and homework.

71 Twisted Fly Stitch
This makes such a great base for floral designs - almost any detached stitch can be placed in the 'cup' and blossom into a flower.

72 Sham Hem Stitch
As only the first part of this stitch, the VVVVVVVVVV-line, goes through the fabric, and the second part, the lacing, just goes over and under the thread of the line of VVVVs, you can work this on thick fabric without adding a lot of bulk.

73 God's Eye Stitch
Oh, it was interesting to read about the ornament God's Eye that so many readers have made with sticks and wool, and compare it with the embroidery stitch.

74 Boucle Stitch
Here is a stitch that goes through the fabric many times! Used on canvas it makes a nice solid filling stitch. It would be suitable for upholstery.

75 Maidenhair Stitch
This is a charming version of the Feather Stitch.

Homework:
Make another Sunbonnet Sue using the five stitches.