Friday 9 September 2016

New Term

Gosh it's blowing a gale outside. Where did the summer go? It's just like someone flicked a switch.  Here's hoping you have better weather wherever you are.

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we first started blogging!! The time has flown by and it's been really rewarding.  Since Ros and I took over from Judith and Sarah in September 2015, Bee Blessed have gifted 45 quilts. That means 45 people's lives have been touched, but it wouldn't be possible without your support. Once again please accept our thanks.

A couple of us managed to get to The Festival of Quilts in the NEC, Birmingham, for the first time.  We came back inspired with lots of photographs, ideas and questions. There were some amazing quilts, traditional and modern...could we recreate some of them in a more simple form????

I've blethered on enough.  Is that an Irish word?  Anyway, since we last met these quilts have been gifted.


That is the second of the two Scrappy Frame Box Block quilts, from Sarah's tutorial. Thanks to all of you who very kindly sent us the blocks. A mother and daughter received these quilts. Our kind thoughts and prayers accompany them.

From time to time we receive donations of quilts in various forms of completion. You'll see a couple of them below.


The house quilt was a labour of love and it was given to a quilting friend last Tuesday.  Being a quilter herself she appreciated the appliquéd blocks and the beautiful longarm quilting.


The perfect home came along recently for this small rag-quilt.  It's keeping the knees of a lovely lady nice and cosy.


The second of our Rail Fence quilts will be going to a new owner this week.


I'm not sure if any of you have heard of the Northern Ireland Big Sock?  You can read all about it here.  In short, a group of people are making hexies. They will then be sewn together, and they hope this will become the largest Christmas stocking recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.  The reason I tell you this is that one of our ladies (a Big Sock hexie sewer) came up with this lovely quilt top for us.  


We were very productive, as you can see...this panel was quilted and the binding added.


Some dinosaurs are being prepped for a baby quilt or play mat.


A tractor is nearing completion...
...and the reluctant photographs below prove how hard everyone worked.










 Big thanks to the Florence family who arrived with a bag of donated goodies.  We didn't get a chance to go through it on Saturday but as you can see below, there are many interesting looking bits and pieces poking out, fabric of all sorts, threads, patterns and who knows what else.  Much appreciated!!!!


Our new term is underway and we're keen as mustard.   I hope any new ventures you have started are bringing you joy.

Some of us are off to The Stitch Gathering at the end of September so if you see us please say Hi.  We know blog names, Instagram names but don't know many of you in person and we're excited to meet you.

Happy Sewing 


Friday 2 September 2016

September Bee Blessed - Woven Block

Our last block was in pastels, soft and soooo pretty that we thought we'd try the same colourway this month.  It has been a struggle for me...I'm so used to sewing with bright, bold prints but seeing the blocks together it was definitely a good idea of yours - Ros!  We would like the plain background in white and the pretty patterns in pastel pinks, lemon, turquoise, soft greens, soft blues and peaches etc.  


I have seen a completed quilt on Pinterest made from a Woven Block in gentle colours. It was the inspiration for this quilt but I can't for the life of me find it.  Obviously I should have pinned it!!!

We would like the finished blocks to be with us by 30th September and thank you in advance for your support. 

Requirements:

Background fabric: 4 squares 3.5 by 3.5 inches

Colour 1: 1 rectangle 6.5 by 3.5 inches and 1 square 3.5 by 3.5 inches

Colour 2: 1 rectangle 6.5 by 3.5 inches and 1 square 3.5 by 3.5 inches

Colour 3: 1 rectangle 6.5 by 3.5 inches and 1 square 3.5 by 3.5 inches

Colour 4: 1 rectangle 6.5 by 3.5 inches and 1 square 3.5 by 3.5 inches
Assume 1/4” seams throughout 


1. Cut out fabric

2.  Lay out your block



3.  Working in quadrants - 
     Sew a 3 1/2” background square to a 3 1/2” coloured square and press to the dark fabric



4.  Sew this long side to the rectangle within that quadrant, pressing the seams to the dark fabric


5.  Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other 3 quadrants

6.  Sew together the top quadrants and the bottom quadrants



7.  Sew the two rectangles together and press seams open



Tada!!!  A beautiful woven/basket block which should measure 12 1/2" by 12 1/2"