Part 2 is launched



This week: 4 baubles and applique



a partridge in a pear tree

a turtle dove

a french hen

a calling bird

The first four have found homes this week (as above).

Yes, my inspiration for this wall hanging is limited to singular characters. You can see that the fabric you choose will make a big difference to the style of your wallhanging.

You will be cutting out pairs of the baubles and creating the applique fronts for 4 of the characters from fabric scraps.

It's week 2: are you keeping up ?

PS. Follow the pattern. There is a Template B in your pattern PDF - if you're wondering why... we will be padding the bauble with pelon or batting and Template B is the template to use when doing this. You can ignore it for this week.
Cut Template A as directed.

Also, my applique drawings are drawn inside Template B for the simple reason that it keeps me inside the seam allowance of Template A easily.

Template B is the finished size (no seam allowance)
Template A includes seam allowance

And it does not matter if you have not reversed your diamond template. It will be fine.

About the diamond template

For those of you who are wondering about my cut strip sizes:

Yes, they are wider than the pattern. The simple reason for this is so that when paper piecing, I would like have more room to position. I would rather cut off the difference than not have enough.

Yes, there is a 3/8 seam allowance. I prefer to cut down to 1/4 inch allowance later on. I prefer to trim down rather than be left short.

You don't have to make all 12 blocks with the same fabric. I recommend that to keep a 'style' you should keep the 1st fabric in the diamond block the same - it just looks more uniform.

Feel free to choose your own technique. I work comfortably with paper piecing but if anyone has a preferred technique, please do use it.

The diamonds are worked up in green as they will be representing a tree.

Printing your diamond block: a little difference in printing % wont make a difference if all 12 blocks are the same. From the PDF file, the pattern is set to print at the correct size. Please ensure your printer is set to print at full A4 size.

It is a mystery, but as so many of your have asked ...so I can say that the finished size of this wall hanging is approx. 42 x 56 inches, depending on a few inches here or there owing to border variations.

PS
You will need ADOBE ACROBAT PDF READER version 7 or later to open any of my PDF files.
It can be downloaded for FREE from the side bar of my blog. Simply go to http://www.adobe.com/
Sorry MAC users, I have no recommendations.

12 Days of Christmas

Ready for some festive sewing?

This free mystery BOM will be released in 6 parts over 6 weeks

Each Wednesday

It’s nearly Christmas and that means there’s just a little time left for some seasonal sewing. At this time of year I give up ideas that my UFO shelf is going to be finished…and move onto sewing something simple (ish) for Christmas. Every year when I unpack our decoration box, I always find something that I forgot we had – I love these moments. We usually also find out that our lights have gone missing again…(we end up buying new ones each year!) and every year without fail, we decide that we need more Christmas themed tablecloths, table runners, wall quilts…. Home sewn items that make Christmas special.


It’s like Christmas baking, you could buy most of what you make, but there’s something special and enduring about making it yourself. In a way, this wall hanging is a bit of a UFO – I have been meaning to make it for a few years and now it’s finally going to arrive. And it’s definitely a stash buster so that’s good too.

I think that the 12 days of Christmas is a charming carol and I love imaging all the presents arriving each day with a big bow over them.

Aside from the fun, some argue that this carol dating back to the 1600’s was sung to secretly teach and represent religious doctrines. (If you’re interested, you can read more about this here: )

This first week is all about paper piecing in tree themed greens ...

Let's get started!

Button to share...if you can

Feel free to take this pic and post it on your blog or website, simply 'save as' the above pic and link the image to this address: http://www.estheraliu.com/current-free-bom.php the more the merrier!

I can't supply you with a code - that is too advanced for me.

Coincidentally, if any tech savvy quilters out there know of easy to use software which allows you to generate / create 'buttons' please let me know as I am always struggling in this area. Any advice much appreciated.

UPDATE:
You may have noticed the button is looking shinier and better all of a sudden. Well, it's thanks to Brenda from Serendipity.

Brenda has been wonderfully generous and re-worked my button in a matter of minutes and sent it back to me via email. Wow! Of course, I'm not suprised... as Brenda always answers my cries for tech help.
Thank you so much!

Sweet little bird

This sweet little (baby?) bird has been singing all morning - and I was lucky enough to get a picture of him swinging on his branch. How can you work with such glorious distractions outside your window? Time for a contemplative coffee I think...

Another Pink!

Kay of Qld, has created this In The Pink quilt top and has made it even better by adding an extra pillow top border. What a great idea.  The colours just 'sing' and I love the green. It's so harmonised, thank you for sharing this Kay.

This is the final month for In The Pink, (hasn't it just flown by?)Have you finished yours?

Crochet converted bag

Talk about brainless sewing. Because I don't have enough to do...

Sometimes I am struck with ideas and simply have to carry them out on the spot. This is such a project.

This tote bag came with the weekend newspaper a few months ago and I was impressed with the impenetrable fibre it is made from - a suprisingly good quality plastic woven fabric. Just what I was after.

Why?? I hear you ask.

Yes, it's true I have a few hundred beautiful fabric bags but I needed a quick bag I could use for my crochet tube. Something that wouldn't be affected by rain or smells (the plastic is perfect for this) and a bag I could throw about (not that I abuse my bags generally) or be too precious about. A practical bag that I could sling over my shoulder and carry in the car and just generally out and about so I can manage to fit in a few lines of knitting without carrying a whole cache around.

I am often struck with the thought of carrying out a few lines of knitting when stuck in bank queues, supermarket queues, etc. But I needed a slimline tote.

Obviously I don't want to advertise David Jones as I go about my business so a fabric print was necessary.

The only thing this tote was missing was a good sturdy zip which I added. I selected a charming bird print. Unpicked the lot. Attached the print. Stitched it back togeher...and voila....!

Now, I know there are better things I could have done with that hour...but I have got a bag to show for it, so it wasn't completely bad.

And I managed to stash bust and give these sweet birds a use.

Ok... back to real work...