WIPW - Kafferepet Completed

Work In Progress Wednesday, that was started by Sharon Boggon of Pintangle, has been a great way to spur us on, to work towards completing needlework projects that have been taken too long, or even taken up long term residence 'on the shelf'.

For me, one such project was a wallhanging called Kafferepet. I made the first block in the summer of 2007!, and with the help of Sharon's WIPW I have now reached the goal and the quilt is completed!

I have made progress on other projects, too, but let's start with:

Kafferepet
It all began in 2007 when I made a block for NHK's Partnership charity quilt project. The theme was 'Tea Time', and I made a platter of seven 'goodies' usually served at a traditional, and slightly old fashioned, Swedish coffee gathering, known as Kafferep in Swedish.

Kanelbulle, Schackruta, Vaniljhjärta, Uppåkrakaka, Chokladsnitt, Gaffelkaka, Syltgrotta are the names... (For NHK's Partnership Quilt Project 2008)

Once the block had been donated to NHK I knew I wanted one for myself and made a new one.

The cinnamon roll was replaced with a biscuit called Kongress. 

As I love the china that the biscuits are on, I decided to make a small quilt featuring the cup and coffee pot as well.

 From there the project grew with blocks of buns, cup cakes,

raspberry cordial, spoons and all the other things connected with this kind of coffee party.

From the ladies of my family I had been given lots of hand made lace that I used for the sashing. I backed the lace with blue and yellow fabric, the colours of the Swedish flag.  

The quilt was extended with a border of appliquéd summer flowers. 

By the time I had joined TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday) in 2012, I started embroidering stems by using 48 different TAST stitches. 

Another border, with bobbin lace held down with other TAST stitches, completed the top.

Now in the last week I have worked on the back; the hanging sleeve was stitched on and the label completed.

Lace, appliqué and TAST stitches, all in celebration of Swedish coffee culture.

The front looks like this:

(measuring 100x105 cm)

and here are some details of the quilting

As can be seen, all quilting is done with embroidery stitches.

To celebrate the completion I just had to arrange a Kafferep and set the table.

'Coffee is served!'

TASTy Beads Galore
This week I used TAST #107 Beaded Loop Cretan

Pile 'em On

Apart from adding some more stray stitches and the speared orts, technique here, I began on some pulled work outside the circle.

New Growing Red

Here are the goods for my next project, red wool en mass, fabric and yarn.

 Wishing those who celebrate Christmas a Jolly Holiday, and wishing you all, Jolly Stitching!

Spear the Spare Orts

What to do with orts (small snippets of thread you usually throw away) has become a fun project for me.
How about spearing the spare orts to spare the planet; a smart way of sparing yourself the trouble of tossing the orts away, not going spare by your untidy sewing area and enjoying thread play in your spare time?


1. Collect your orts. Thread a needle with a longish thread and make a sturdy knot.

2. Spear the orts onto your needle

 3. until you have a good number of orts on the needle

 4. Fix the speared orts to the fabric with a suitable stitch. I used Chain Stitch.

Have a fun day!

WIPW - The last spurt.

My Work In Progress Wednedsday report is shorter than usual this week. The Swedish cushion was completed last week and is of course off the list, there is No TAST reference chart work to report on either, but I've made progress on:

Kafferepet
I have prepared the hanging sleeve, but not stitched it on yet. The label itself is on, but the decorative lace and appliqué is not completed. I'll add embroidery with the perle 8 seen in the photo.

It is the beginning of the last spurt.

Pile 'em On
I added more thread play to the tangle. One addition was the keyring with trapped thread ends. I wrote about the process here. As usual I got good feedback from my online friends. Thank you so much.
Chris Richards suggested adding a pearl or jewel in the centre. I think I will act on that suggestion, once the piece is finished.

By the way, Chris has made some fantastic bead embroidery. Check this one out.
After seeing Annet's WIPW and Royce's Schwalm embroidery my fingers are itching to start on some different work outside the large tangled circle. I think it is time for some order in the mess!

TASTy Beads Galore
I tried to improve the flower that Chitra gave inspiration to. I have added stronger coloured thread. Unfortunately the red fabric steals the show with its overpowering raspberry red.
The flowers have grown in size with more Beaded Barb Stitches and there is also a Beaded Barb Stitched stem.

It is time to move on to another beaded TAST stitch for next week. Séverine's fantastic work has given me a lot of inspiration.

There is even more Work In Progress Wednesday inspiration to be found at Sharon's website, Pintangle. Click on the link and see what others have made.

Trapping Orts in a Ring

Here is a new tip for what to do with short orts.

If you have a spare key ring like the one in the photo, and snippets of thread,

trap the orts between the springs,

then fasten the orts to the fabric with a stitch. I used Back Stitch, then covered the remaining metal ring with Buttonhole Stitch.

If you give it a try, I hope you'll have as much fun as I did.