Noodlehead Divided Basket

I read lots of blogs so I don't know where I first came across the pattern for the Divided Basket, but it's by Noodlehead and can be downloaded for just a couple of quid. I had originally planned on making one to be used as a baby gift basket for a work colleague but I've ended up making one for myself and one for my mum. They are so simple and consequently quite addictive to make.

This is the first one I made. The pattern calls for fusible interfacing to be used, with the option of fusible fleece as well. This one has the interfacing only so is less sturdy than the other but I'm using it to hold my perfumes and make up so it's not a problem.

Are you impressed by my top stitching? I can honestly say that this basket is the neatest thing I have ever made. I certainly put the effort in - I really tried to measure correctly and sew in a straight line, so I'm properly chuffed with the result.

This is a picture of the 2 together - can you see how the one on the left stands a little more upright on its own? That's due to the extra fusible fleece.

If you think you might have use for one of these baskets, get over to Noodlehead and download the pattern - you won't regret it!

I'll be linking this post with Handmade Monday as is usual for my Sunday evening. I hope you've had a wonderful Easter weekend.

Love Natalie

My First Quilt is Complete

Ta da! Here it is in all it's glory. So this is the front (obviously)....

.....and the back. I decided to quilt "in the ditch" along the sashing and then a cross across the middle of each block. I did this to make sure the lines were even on the front but it has worked out to be a lovely grid pattern on the back.

I'm really pleased with it, I have learned so much through making it and my general sewing has really improved, let alone the quilting techniques I've learned and practiced. Still, there is room for improvement. I didn't secure the quilt sandwich enough with pins before I started the quilting so there are a few puckers. And although my lines aren't bad, there are a few wonky places. But hey - that's what gives a quilt character, isn't it? I am most pleased with my hand sewing of the binding. I made binding using 2.5" strips of the sashing material and machine sewed it to the front. I then hand sewed it to the back.

Not bad, eh?

So, WIP #3 finished!

I'll be linking up with Handmade Monday to see if anyone else has finished a big project this week. Join me there if you can.

Love Natalie

PS I'm having a real issue with the word sewed. It is a word, isn't it? It just sounds and looks wrong!

WIP Completion

I've had a great week on the crafting front - WIP's #1 and #2 finished! Not that I number my WIP's in particular, these 2 just happen to be the first to be finished for a little while. So, in no particular order, #1.....

My cardigan. It turned out beautifully in the end. Great colour, lovely pattern.......doesn't fit. I had realised it was going to be too small when I was just over half way through. What do you do? Frog it and start again? Or continue to the end and gift it to someone? I went with the latter option. So here it is modelled by it's new owner.

I'm going to buy some more wool and make it bigger because when I see Sarah wearing it, I realise how much I like it.

And #2

This cushion cover just might be my favourite make so far. I love the colours, the quilting, the star pattern - everything. I used some of the left over material that I bought for the backing of The Quilt to make the back of the cover, and inserted a zip.

I had originally intended to use a different, red material for the back hence the red zip. The zip itself is not perfectly inserted but since I've not done it before, I'm more than happy with how it's turned out.

Having completed 2 WIP's, I've started about 3 more this week! Well, what's a girl to do?

I'll be linking up with Handmade Harbour to see if anyone else has completed their projects this week.

Love Natalie 

Mary Berry Tray Bake

My husband very kindly bought me the new Mary Barry cookbook recently and it is filled with wonderful recipes. I've only used it to make 1 thing so far (although I have made it twice) - the chocolate tray bake.

Before I share a really awful photo with you, let me tell you this - it is delicious. I mean, REALLY delicious. That's why I've made it twice. Don't make one and think you'll have a piece later, because there will be none left. I won't give the recipe details here - who could explain it more concisely than Mary? But I urge you all to search out this recipe (the whole book if I were you!) and get baking.

Are you ready for the photo? Prepare yourself.

Not only is it not a great photo of the cake, but number 3 son thought it would be hilarious to feature in the background. I can only apologise.

Love Natalie

Happy Mothers Day!

I was a very lucky mum today - breakfast in bed, a lie in and.......The Great British Sewing Bee Book! I've not made clothes since school but intend to make many things from the book, I can't wait to get started. But first I ought to finish some of my WIP's.......

A quick update: I have cut to size the backing for my quilt and the wadding has arrived so I will get on with that this week; my mum has just helped me through a slightly tricky bit in the sewing up of my cardigan so I can get on with that now; I sorted through my scrap stash in the week and cut out 66 clam shell patches for a cushion cover I want to make.

And I've also been working on these....

A work colleague of my husband has just had his first baby so baby names have been the subject of many conversations. Knowing the baby was to be a boy, Mateusz had already been chosen but my husband thought that Jimski would suit him rather well - I made these personalised bibs, just in case they can't decide! They were really fiddly - the letters were small because they had to fit but were slipping all over the place. I realise that I could have stuck the letters down with pritt stick or some other, or tried to bondaweb them down and then sew them but I think whichever way, it would have been tricky. In the words of my niece, it's the imperfections that show it's home made so although my husband was expecting something a little more "perfect" and shop-bought looking, I think they're quite cute.

I shall link up with Handmade Harbour today, and hopefully I will be able to make more comments (my husband has shown me how to get around my problem). Thank you to everyone for such lovely comments last week about my quilt top, hopefully I will be able to show you the finished article soon.

Love Natalie 

Finished Quilt Top

There really hasn't been a lot of time for sewing around here of late but I was determined today to sit at my machine until I had pieced together my quilt top and.........

Voila! Looking at it now, I can see this picture is more than a little blurry but you wouldn't expect anything else from me, would you?

I'm so pleased with it! Seeing it held up like this I can see the advantage of those mounting walls that people with lovely big sewing rooms have. If I could have looked at the blocks this way rather than from above I might have placed them differently, but I'm more than happy with how they've gone together. I have spent lots of time tweaking this and that, not least of all fiddling with the blocks to make sure they were all 12.5" square (as I've mentioned before, my measuring and cutting skills have drastically improved during the making of this quilt). I will order the wadding this evening so that, fingers crossed, I'll be able to start quilting next weekend. Then the fun will really begin. 

I'll be linking up with Handmade Monday for the first time in a couple of weeks so I hope you can join me over there for a catch up.

Love Natalie

Little Blog Quilt Bee Block #1

This week I will be sending off the first of my LBQB blocks - a wonky star.

I really pleased with how it's turned out. I haven't added anything in terms of embellishment, and I went through a couple of fabric choices but I'm certainly pleased with the result. Hopefully, it was what this months Queen Bee had in mind!

Due to an unfathomable amount of child-led activities (and illnesses!) that's about all I've done this week. Can't complain though - I'm sitting typing this out on the patio, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. 

I'll be linking up with Handmade Harbour so head over there if you can.

Love Natalie