WOW: A New Morning Glory Zig Zag Border

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I'm already up bright and early this morning, sewing my new zig zag border. That's today's goal. As you can see, I have wisely NOTCHED my template stack so that I don't make the same mistake. 

Phew! I hate making mistakes and when it happens because I didn't bother to actually read and check my work against my own pattern.. well that's just ridiculous. Can't wait to put this zig zag border drama behind me.

What's Your WOW?

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BOM 2018: Morning Glory, Ziggity Zaggity URGH!

 Look at this! My Zig Zags don't match my pattern.. 

and they're over sized when I put down on my background fabric by a whole unit. 

 What happened?!

 I prepped all the pieces accurately and they look completely gorgeous

But in my 'zen sewing' frenzy, I didn't realize that I was sewing the WRONG EDGES together.
When I get into a 'sewing zone' all sorts of things can happen, but I never thought I'd sew the wrong edges together. URGH!

Look at this perfect point..

 what a shame that it's all wrong!

 I can't believe I just wasted a whole day's sewing.

The pattern is fine, this error is all mine. 

I should have paid attention to which edges I was sewing together.

I simply picked them up by my eye.. and started sewing..

 And this is the moment I realized my edges weren't working. I picked up a prepped piece from the stack and realized I had sewn the wrong edges together.

This is what trouble looks like..

And of course, I have gone and sewn them ALL wrong. 

Ok, now I need a little lie down.

Option wise, I could just use the rows I have now. It's bigger than it's supposed to be, but it still looks great and no one will probably ever know, except that I know .. and can't stand it.
I can unpick all these rows and resew them. Or I can make them again.

I'll look at my fabrics and see if I have enough to start again. Otherwise, I'll unpick.

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

BOM 2018: Morning Glory Part 1 Border Frame

All my TEMPLATES for the zig zag border are prepped and stacked, ready for sewing. I always love this stage of applique - the putting it all together.

I managed to get my 4 x corners created this morning and I'm delighted with how they look. I am in love with this fabric. I'm using Crystal Farm by Andover and it's totally gorgeous. This year I decided to select a range and try to stick with it. I made this decision because I am chronically indecisive when it comes to fabrics. I hoard lots of little bits from lots of ranges and then feel stuck when an actual project looms. As I'm making 3 BOMs, I really don't have the time to irritate myself and waste time dithering over lots of different fabric ideas. Last year I picked a range that was too soft for my eye and I regretted it almost straight away.

So this year I was a bit nervous, but I think I've finally broken my bad habit. I love the look of Morning Glory and my Kaffee Fassett Love Always is simply impossible to do wrong.

 Here's my front and back view of the corners

OK, time for some serious sewing!

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

BOM 2018: Morning Glory, Prepping Part 2

All prepped up and ready to sew! 

You'd think that after Love Entwined, I'd never want to see another zig-zag border? Nope! I love a zig zag border and sewing a new light and dark contrasting shaded one for my Morning Glory makes me completely happy.

Of course there is all the pesky preparation that has to happen first, but once I've got that done, it will all be plain sailing..

Watch this space..

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

BOM 2018: Morning Glory Pounce Update

You know how I discussed using pounce last week, as a technique to trace my pattern onto my dark background? Well, the wheel I used above is a tad too thick, and makes a messy outline, below. I really liked the firm puncture holes, but it seems that I could have easily used a smaller puncture wheel for a neater line. So don't worry if you can't find an old model like mine. I know lots of you contacted me asking after the gauge.

The other update I have is my technique. I actually 'patted' the paper which resulted in strong transfer, you really only need to 'swipe' over the paper. Again, I just over did it.

Perhaps I'm just so keen that I got carried away with myself!

Anyhow, it doesn't matter and I'm not bothered enough to iron it out and start again, I'm just reflecting on the fact that it could have been neater.

And now that I'm all traced out, the real fun can begin!

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

BOM 2018: Morning Glory Background Blues

Although it looks almost black in this picture, this is my navy blue background that I'm using for Morning Glory. I purchased a whole bolt of it in a fabric shop a few years ago. I fell in love with the colour and just knew it would be perfect for a future project.

Well, I was right about wanting to use it, but what I didn't know is that it has a grain warp through the whole bolt. Initially I thought it was a fold line, due to how the fabric was wrapped around the bolt. And I thought this could be relaxed away. But no washing has budged it, so I really wonder if it was just manufactured like this.

I washed and then soaked the fabric to try and relax the fibres, but it didn't help.

And then I noticed these notices throughout the fabric at various intervals.

I'm so annoyed. 

So, I'm going to see if I can get enough unblemished length to work with and make a start..

It's a lesson for me, bolt bargains aren't worth the headache later on.

Have you ever been stung by a fabric treasure turned tarnish?

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

WOW: Showing My DH Some Love..

WOW= WIPs On Wednesdays

"Roses are red, see how I bother

I used up some Tilda to make good your collar"

It must be true love. I have three WIPs sitting on my design desk, but instead of working away at those, I'm behind the iron, spending my precious quilting time updating the collar of my DH's shirt. 

It's a lovely shirt in a muted pink shade. It's new, but somehow I ruined the collar. I blame the washing machine, because although I don't know how, the tips of the collar were suddenly frayed, in really no time at all. Perhaps 4 washes. With no way to match the collar which looks shabby on an otherwise excellent shirt, the only real way to save the shirt is to replace the collar. 

There's no way I'd ever be able to match the fabric, so I opted for some Tilda from my stash (above). I think it's a perfect match without looking too feminine. So this morning I'm fixing up the collar, using the original collar as my template. 

And being a pink shirt, it'll be perfect for my husband to wear this evening when I send him out to collect some TakeAway. No cooking or dishes? Now that's something I love!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up