Children and sewing

(Day 6 of a post a day during August!)

Back before we got too busy with calving, Lily and George had a sleepover so their parents could go away to watch a rugby test match.

It's a bonus when there is a calf or two to cuddle—

Helping to fetch the freshly calved cows—

Yaay, he's feeding!

There's all sorts of things that are compulsory when you stay at Ganma and Gandad's. Hunting for fruit, feeding the chooks, farmwork AND sewing.

We'll be busy doing something completely different, when all of a sudden one of them pipes up, "Ganma can we sew something?".

No point me having pre-planned ideas; their ideas are their own and I just need to go with the flow.

'Concept sketches' —

Lily wanted to make a Flower cushion. No, not a cushion with a flower on it, but a flower shaped cushion!

Her sketch involved a skinny stem with leaves and multiple petals. And it had to be turned inside out as she learnt about hidden seams last time she sewed here.

She finally realised that appliqueing her flower to a rectangular background might work best - whew - so that is what we ended up with.

They're getting old enough that they can use tools, etc, and do a lot more by themselves. I possibly did about an inch of sewing on each project to get them started and that was all they needed —

Learning about vliesofix and applique mats—

George initially wanted just a flat picture and half way through decided that he would make a cushion as well.

He wanted me to google a shark for him but I made him draw his own (aren't I mean?!). He was really proud of what he came up with.

The applique shapes were sewn around with straight stitch. I think they will last well enough —

We used every last bit of stuffing so I guess I'll be stocking up on that in case sewing is on the agenda next time they stay :-)

So much fun ♥

'til next time 

happy stitches

Raewyn

Some (sort-of) finishes

The Country Yard held its New Year's Launch on Saturday - I've been sharing lately about trying to get my Show and Tell quilt finished in time for it.

As time went on, with lots of life getting in the way, I realised that the best I could hope for was to get it to a 'presentable state' rather than completely finished.

That was a realistic goal which really took the pressure off me. (And being stubborn, I like to quilt my own quilts even though I don't always have the time or the skills for it!!)

If I could master Edge to Edge designs on my Sweet 16, it would make life easier. One day maybe.

Prior to quilting  - yes it's a big quilt! (The pattern has other size options but of course I went for the largest!) —

Anyway, I've had lots of requests to show the completed top and here it is —

The quilting I did achieve was outlining all the animals and their quilts, quilting the mini quilts, some in-the-ditch quilting to stabilise it, and then basting around the outside. And trimming the outer edges to 1/4".  (All the pins were removed!)

At the shop, we hung it above the door as it has great impact there. The incomplete quilting wasn't very noticeable, and quite a few of the ladies I spoke to on our open day didn't even realise that it wasn't quite finished.

(The twins' family has claimed this quilt when the quilting is done and shop has finished with it.)

I quilted the mini quilts with a variety of techniques - some were meander style quilting, others had a little bit of ruler work and some were cross hatched.

They don't need anything else doing to them, but I would like to quilt some features in the animals and of course come up with a suitable background fill.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of these four ladies discussing it from across the mezzanine floor —

[As encouraged by Andree, I have now linked up to her regular I Quilted This linky party, which celebrates free motion quilting (FMQ), ruler work and walking foot done on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. I use a sit-down Sweet 16 for my quilting. You can visit Andree's linky party *here*.]

The launch was a good day; it was great to show off our new projects and ideas.

Another thing I completed for the launch was this bag using the blocks I shared in my last post—

It's a Sewbe pattern and once I'd made the blocks, it came together really nicely.

The pattern asks for sewn fabric ties but I preferred to use the cord - luckily I had the perfect colour at home.

The above blocks also appear in another Sewbe quilt which we are making as a sewalong - more on my version in another post.

I keep coming across things I haven't shared......last year a few online friends and I decided to make a Temperature Tree.

It used the high temperature from each day, each branch is a month and each leaf is a day. It was fun to do it and I actually kept up quite well and finished it not long after this year had started!

I would have liked to have done it with the low temperatures as well as the highs but I'll have to save that for another project....and besides I haven't quilted my 2020 temperature quilt yet!

It was interesting to make this with the Australian ladies whose daily highs were right off MY chart!

I have yet to decide how to finish this - I'm thinking it will probably end up in a frame?

I know I've bombarded you lately with Lily and George's sewing adventures (with school holidays and their mother attending a 2 week training course I've seen rather a lot of them recently) but I have one last make of theirs to show you.

Lily made this little pouch prior to making the cushion of my last post. At the time George was piecing a 'blanket' which I don't have a photo of.

Four squares of fabric and a strip for the flap. Totally designed by her. I suggested sewing Right Sides Together to neaten it, and of course I cut the fabric for her.

She chose the pretty button which I sewed on but it took a while to work out the loop for the button. I was going to use some cord or something but then came across the wee hair tie which worked perfectly!

I think I'll sign off here before I find more things to talk about!

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn

Old and New

The New - I've had my foot down this last week and have made all 12 blocks needed for my Show and Tell quilt which I am making for The Country Yard's upcoming launch of new projects.

These blocks have been a lot of fun to make, and I'm looking forward to sewing them altogether.

Such rich vibrant colours!—

...and Old - Another set of catch-up photos from sewing I did last year. For Christmas I made Odie a new oilskin vest.

I made his first one for him back in 2021 when he was 18 months old. It has been worn and worn. Every time he helped feed calves last spring, I told myself he needed a new one. I decided that if I made it for Christmas, it would have a deadline and would actually get finished!

(*Here* is the original post I wrote back in 2021.)

Wearing it in 2021 as an 18 month old—

Wearing it in 2025 as a 5½ year old—

Here is the new vest made from one of the girls' old coats. I didn't take any photos when I finished it at Christmas and have had to wait till now to get them —

To make the back long enough I had to do a horizontal seam across the bottom. I'm pleased that, seeing it with fresh eyes, it looks like it is supposed to be there —

Here, I wanted to show that I used existing fastenings for the front, but he insisted I take a photo of the dinosaurs instead —

I'm pleased he finds this version as wearable as the first ♥ Yesterday (when I got the last few photos) he walked over to our place for some eggs. Here he is, walking back home again (the joys of having family living on the farm)—

The pattern is Pathfinder by Twig and Tale. The fabric used is an old oilskin raincoat, lined with winceyette/flannel. (Oilskin being an oiled cotton canvas fabric.)

Here's a wee update on my funny new chickens. I've started integrating them with the older chickens and there haven't been too many dramas. They're growing well and still look as Dr Suess like as they did when I first got them!

The kids have named them Buffalo, Sideways, Hot Chocolate and Zebra 😂

Time to get back to that quilt!

'til next time,

Happy Stitches,

Raewyn

Another Cyclone.......

of sorts......

I'm putting it down to two x seven year olds plus one x 4 year old but it really felt like another cyclone had hit recently. When I surveyed the damage in The Palace on Sunday afternoon, I couldn't believe the upheaval.

I'd had two very enthusiastic grandies who had decided that they needed to do some sewing plus their brother, who was a very enthusiastic chair mover and magnetic device operator, visit for a few hours while their mother was at the gym.

I ended up setting up one of my old machines (kept in operating order for exactly this reason) so both girls could sew at once. I was kept on my toes re-threading the 'ribbon' (according to one) and changing thread colours to satisfy their creative needs. (As well as make sure none of my 'precious' or already allocated fabric was cut into!)

They did learn to leave long tails so less re-threading was needed!

Both girls had started off by drawing a design of what they wanted to make. It was interesting to see how they then worked. Kaliah cut a piece of fabric the same size and shape as her drawing, and drew, glued, etc, on it to create a replica of her original design.

Saydee enlarged hers by cutting a big piece of fabric in the same rainbow shape as her design. She then sewed squares of fabric onto her background in a similar arrangement to the original.

Saydee with her finished piece —

Kaliah's initial one on the right. Then she made a second 'one' in the style of her sister's. 

These went home to be used as "snugglies" for bed!

(The girls had raided my box of brushed cotton downstairs so they are nice and snuggly.)

Younger brother wanted to sew a little bit as well - no, I did not set up the second older machine I have in storage but together he and I did a little sewing on the only other free machine, my Sweet 16.

And here we are —

Saydee beaming - very proud!

EDIT to add this photo - finding this on my small chalkboard made all the mess worthwhile ♥ —

Sewing is obviously a thing at Ganma's; Lily and George stayed for the weekend earlier in the month and they NEEDED to sew as well! They made wee pillows.

"Oh I love it, Ganma!"

I really need to sort my fabrics so the pieces that the children can use are easily accessible and everything else is stored neatly away!!

Anyway, I spent the rest of Sunday clearing and sorting and tidying and The Palace now has some clear floor space, nicely stacked boxes and a cutting table I can use! 

It's an understatement to say that it's a while since I've written a blogpost. I've started plenty in my head but I haven't quite got any further than that 😔

After the dramas of Cyclone Gabrielle, it took awhile to get back to feeling normal. And then I just got busy.

Since this has become a 'family post', here is another of YD's efforts in the birthday cake arena.

Jhana turned 14 and this is the third time she has requested a Turtle cake!

Her and her friends had a lovely time camping on the farm for her birthday treat.

There's plenty more to share but I will try to do some more catch up posts SOON!!!

'til next time,

happy stitches,