Strippy Table Runner

Wonky Piano Table Runner (37x15 inches)

Well it's a new year and to start it off I have joined in a group called "Project Quilting" where every week a challenge is set to be completed within a week!  My original thought was, "Wow this could prove a bit hectic", but then realizing that we are not necessarily thinking bed quilts but a smaller project that can be finished comfortably within the week.

This weeks' theme was "String Along With Me" with a suggestion to "think out of the box".  So okay, that rules out squares so I then decided to cut strips of newspaper about 4 inches wide and started adding strips of different widths and also making them "wonky".  After sewing and adding and sewing and adding until I thought the strip was long enough, I then started another and then another.

Cutting the strips different widths

Sewing them onto strips of newspaper

3 strippy sets

It occurred to me then that they looked like piano keys, but wonky ones so at least now with a goal in mind I continued with adding a thin strip of purple for the sashings.

Adding purple sashings

Now for the quilting....

Securing the 3 layers by stitching in the ditch

The first very necessary step is to secure all 3 layers by stitching in the ditch; I only did the lengthwise strips as it would have been too fiddly going across as well and seeing that it is quite a small project I did not bother.

Quilting the sashings

Seeing that I had visualized a wonky piano, I quilted a sort of Bass Cleff in the sashings (you have to use your imagination here) and trying to keep the music note theme I quilted Jesters' Hats over the keys.

 

Jesters' Hats

I love quilting this pattern learned from Ivory Spring.  I pictured Jesters dancing over the keys - Serendipity you understand!!!

Close-up of completed quilt

So here is my entry in this weeks' String Quilts challenge in Project Quilting run by Kim at Persimmon Dreams.  You can go here and read all about the year-long challenge and join in with us.

Thank you for visiting and happy quilting in 2014,

Good bye Bernina!

Hello again everyone; so it's a new year and there are lots of patterns to design, fabric to buy (when I'm in a city) and quilts to make, my goal this year being a quilt for each of my 5 grandchildren.  Shucks, I wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew?  But anyway, I think it's good to have a goal to work towards!

Well my new year got off to rather a sad start.  I decided that to have 3 sewing machines was a little over the top and really cluttered up my sewing space and heck, what good does it serve to have sewing machines packed away in a cupboard.  So a sweet lady from Botswana was the first to answer my advert.  I cleaned it up and gave it a good oiling in the hook - not that it wasn't cleaned and oiled regularly - but quilters know the fluff from batting that gets caught in the bobbin area, gave it a very loving stroke and sent it on it's way......  She (not it) has given me many years of happy sewing and helped me get back into quilting after a break of a few years.  I started off my passion of free motion quilting on her and produced I'm told, some very beautiful work.

Feather quilting for 2012 Free Motion Quilting Project

A quilt I made for my Mum

This was I think, the last quilt that I made on my Bernina.  It was for my old Mum for her 90th birthday.  She has it on her bed every day.

I know she will be loved by her new owner who will also have many happy hours of sewing.

I have another sewing machine - an Elna Automatic that I've had for 46 years, being a gift from hubby when we got engaged.  She still sews beautifully and I use her for piecing when my new machine is set up for free motion quilting.  She has been used by daughters and daughters-in-law but is now my precious stand-by in case of need.  She has great sentimental value as the first garment I made on her was my wedding dress!  Mmm I should actually take a photo of it (wedding dress); will have to find it!!

So goodbye faithful Bernina......

Thank you for visiting today.  Now to get started on fulfilling my set goal!

Happy quilting,