I started this QAL along a couple of weeks ago. It is my first attempt at paper piecing of any kind, so do not judge too harshly!

Half term and illness interupted the flow of things, but back to it yesterday. Leila sorted out my flappy corners and it seems obvious now, but it was a lightbulb moment for me! Yep the 1/4″ seam allowance is for the corners too, ta dah. Armed with this info, piecing was much easier than my practice block. I love the way it came together. Most of the points and seams matched. A few hiccups and a little unpicking but nothing too stressful.

The fabric, I purchased from Justine of Simply Solids. At the end of December she had a sale. Everything was so reasonably priced, I thought I would try some different fabrics and colourways. I have used ; Mama Said Sew Moda Charm Pack, Kaffee Fassett Shot Cottons Coal and Vermillion, Kona Cotton Solids Ash and Charcoal all from Simply Solids. I then added some Architextures, text on white and Madrona Road, Memoir in white.

It must have turned out ok, because Hubby has bagsied it for a cushion in his office. It was really satisfying to make. You need a bit of patience and to be feeling as fresh as a daisy. Not something to pick up after a long day when you are tired.

Well with that finished I am off to do some fast and carefree sewing. I have another Trip around the world to finish!

You can find Leila’s Schoenrock Cross tutorial here http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/schoenrock-cross-qal-freezer-paper.html

There is also a Schoenrock Cross Flickr group to share your photos here http://www.flickr.com/groups/2137040@N20/

Thanks Leila and Justine

I spotted a gorgeous QAL http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.co.uk a couple of weeks ago. I pondered whether it was beyond me as I have never attempted paper piecing before. After exchanging tweets with  Leila I decided to give her freezer paper tutorial a try.

I nervously gathered my scrappy scrap fabric to construct a trial quarter. Half an hour or so later….proof, in spite of having two babies, my brain is still in relatively good working order.

I ironed the paper on the wrong side and sewed the pieces together, slowly (with paper still attached). I found it a bit tricky to line up the start of the seam line sometimes. Of course I should have ironed each seam after sewing. But that was downstairs and I was too eager to see how it would turn out to make that trip!

So, it’s not perfect. Some of the points missed. But I was too pleased I had managed it, to care too much. Next time it will be better.

I studied the endless possible colourways. Plotted and plannned; on the walk to school, while cooking tea and putting the kids to bed. Finally when they were sleeping a quick sketch, ready for cutting in the morning.

Reaching for my Charm Pack of ‘Mama said Sew’ I started drawing, cutting, ironing and laying out. At the end of the day a bit of rejigging and more cutting to try and maximise the contrast. It has taken a while and made my brain ache, but Leila’s tutorial has helped me get this far. I am hoping to finish it soon…well as soon as the kids are back at school. Go on give it try!

Share your endeavors on the Flickr Group Pool here http://www.flickr.com/groups/2137040@N20/

Having sewn for many years, the start of a new year, was the shove I needed to finally jump in with both feet and make it a larger part of my life. Well that and abandoning trying to plan it. I decided to just do it and see where it goes. So I started this blog and oiled my trusty Bernina Sport.

First up, was a neat pile of projects, started last year waiting patiently to be finished.

However once online, a dizzy whirl of exciting projects, fabric and chat caught my eye and I was distracted. So I formulated an excuse to sideline the part finished pieces. A quick, ‘jump in January’, trying new things, followed by ‘finish up February’…perfect.

The first project to derail me was the scrappy trip around the world. A blessing in disguise as it turned out to be my first finish of 2013 and a bday pressie for my Mum. Next up the Japanese x and + cushion for Kiddywonk. Woop, another finish.

So as January draws to a close and I have two, albeit small projects finished, I give myself permission to carry over a January start. http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.co.uk.schoenrock-cross-qal-freezer-paper

Actually I haven’t physically started it yet, just mentally. It looks very tricky, but I am hoping that with some patience, practise and Leila’s wonderful tutorial I will be able to muddle something vaguely close to the Schoenrock Cross. Well it was jump in January! So into Finish up February we head…………

This post was inspired by Lynne at Lily’s quilts fresh-sewing-day-and-small-blog-meet

I am hopefully about to learn how to add a button………or not, fingers crossed. Hmmmm, I need to work on that!

p.s January is really great for spending far too much money on fabric, which I have done with gusto!