Tiny pieces!

The August Challenge for DQ was to make 'a mini not bigger than 12'x12, using pieces not bigger that 1.5' finished...and the colours were saffron, white and green only, the colours of the Indian flag.' I thought about it quite a bit and decided I would try something different. I would try and use my favourite method of quilting and  crazy quilt mini squares. And the 12"x12" finished piece  would also make a great cushion cover.

So first I got all the bits and pieces of fabric in place...Artistic licence to vary the colours a little to make it more appealing (I have never liked the green on the flag). I started by making a really wonky wonky block...and loved doing that.

I then cut the block into tiny 2" squares, in a random sort of fashion, keeping half inch for sewing, so that would give me the 1 1/2" square that Tina had specified!

I wanted to use the green as a frame so that each tiny square would stand out, so cut the little 2 X 3/4" rectangles and connected them together.

I was leaving for an extended visit to the States and decided this was just the thing to take with me to sew on the long 4 X 15 hour flight from Kolkata to New York! So all the piecies were cut and packed into a little travelling kit, which fit neatly into my bag. All the joining was done by hand and I enjoyed that as I like sewing by hand! 

Patterns in Nature

Walking through Central Park in New York, the weather was warm and the sun streamed in through the trees. So many images and so many designs that one could use on the quilts I keep planning to make. Images and colours I can use for painting my water colours as well!

Celebrating 90 years!

Aunty Pam is 90 years old and we are in Mumbai for her celebrations! She remains such a grand lady and the eldest surviving member in our family from Viveck's side. She is a great seamstress herself, and does the most amazing crochet and cross stitch. So I decided to make this quilt for her, and I hope she likes it.
We decided a lap quilt would be good as she sits in front of her telly every evening, doing her needle work and watching he favourite programmes! Pune does get quite cool in the winter so with the flannel lining, this should be very comfortable!

I made the quilt blocks as part of a quilt along, and Nitasha embroidered the block with the message! All the kids sent her a scanned signature and she embroidered it on in chain stitch! 

 I found a great cotton print in a beige background with a lovely tree design on it in greens and cream. . I added a panel in the middle in the same background fabric of the quilt. On the whole it turned out well!!

My scrappy quilt for Ma!

I am delighted with this quilt!!! The design is from a book on scrappy quilt. In my typical fashion, I have been mulling over this book for a long while, thinking about all the quilts that I would like to make! Finally decided on this pattern as a birthday present for my mother! I like to get things done quickly, and the pattern looks complicated but is actually a very simple string quilt, with scraps cut into strips, joined and then cut into triangles! However a very big lesson learnt is that one must only use fabrics of the same thickness. I used some Jaipuri mul mul prints as well, and it was a nightmare to try and sew the squares together as the thinner fabric kept stretching! I should have starched the thinner fabrics and it possibly have been easier!

This is the first quilt I signed!

I first took out all by big bits, washed them, cut them into strips and joined the strips. The spent a whole day cutting all the squares and triangles!

The next was laying it down on the floor, and making sure I had the colours well distributed. I then stitched it together, including the border and the top was complete!

I couldn't find any decent batting in Kolkata, so decided to line it with flannel! it actually is possibly more practical anyway, as Pune doesn't ever get so cold as to need a quilt! I used a printed handloom fabric for the back!

Bags!

Naeeda is off using leather bags, and hinted loudly as to how she would LOVE a quilted one for her birthday in July. So of course I loved the challenge of making her one! I have never made a bag before, so this was a a serious challenge! So first I looked for a pattern and found a lovely one on a website with free patterns (http://www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com/projects_2009/guide_violet_tote.html).  I then chose the fabrics and since Naeeda loves bright colours  I used the red and the madhubani cloth together! I have got some thin synthetic batting and this was ideal for the bag.  She is off to Portugal to visit David's family over the summer, so this will be great for her! Ofcourse now I have to get it across to her in Bangkok!

I quilted 'in the ditch', only on the white! I lined the inside with read as well!!! On the whole it has come out really well!
I was so excited by this that I made another one for Sufi, who at the moment loves bags! I got some interesting fabric in Bangkok, with little animals on it and hope she will like it as much as I like making it for her! She is visiting in a couple of weeks, so this is her 'coming to Thai's house' present!

Viveck's B'day present

The June Challenge at the DQ is to make something with squares!!! I also wanted to make something for Viveck this year. Since we are travelling abroad in August, I thought I would make him a case for his travel documents. So I combined the two and made the cover with a quilted block! I wish I had taken pictures of how I made it, but didn't so will just share lessons learnt!!! I made a 12 inch block with squares. Then I ironed on an interface to give the fabric some 'stiffening' . Since it is handloom material, it is very soft and I wanted the case to be firm. I then cut out the batting and a piece of thin muslin for the back and quilted the top with a simple running stitch at.

This was more difficult than I anticipated as the interfacing had made the fabric quite stiff and with the batting etc....I broke 2 needles! Anyway it got done. Then I found an interesting pattern to make the document case (http://www.thimble.ca/?p=1443) and took some ideas from that to make the case! Since I like hand work, I over sewed the edge with red, to give it a finish!
And so here is the case! Viveck really liked it and it made a great birthday gift!

Bangkok Stash

What a wonderful morning hunting for fabrics in the Chinese market in Bangkok! Of course we didn't just buy fabric, but clips and pins and all sorts of bits and bobs!!! An amazing place, warrens of little side streets colourful, crowded, noisy, women sitting and crocheting on the pavement, besides selling just about everything from an assortment of street food and fruit to clothes and stationery and stickers and and and.....!
Of course I went mad in the fabric lane, dozens of shops selling super great cotton fabrics, all obviously going to Europe. The prices were even cheaper than what I pay at home. So hopefully many quilts and quilty stuff coming up this year!