a belated round-up of "Quilting-on-the-go" course

Some time back in late spring, I took part in a two day "Quilting-on-the-go" course led by Carolyn Forster  at Threadbear near Croydon.

 Threadbear is a gorgeous shop full of all things knitting and sewing related.  There is a big selection of wools at the front of the store and many folders of patterns - not books but single patterns.  (I don't knit, but the people that I know do knit, often complain that they have to buy whole books these-days rather than a single pattern)  The middle of the store is full of cross stitch, embroidery and tools/ other supplies, whilst the back of the shop is stuffed with fabrics and the work-shop area.

Carolyn was a very patient and informative teacher.  She showed us lots of samples to get started.  I showed Carolyn my stash of old linens & talked about a possible quilt block pattern.  I ended up making only one block on the first day as I was so indecisive, although it was great watching everyone else.  A couple of ladies had chosen the same pattern but different fabrics and it was fascinating, just how different the quilt blocks looked.In the afternoon, we were taught how to quilt the individual blocks.  This is the block that I made on the first day of the course. (sadly still not quilted!)  All of Carolyn's blocks for QOTG finish at 16-17 inches.

Between the two course dates, we needed to go home & make some more quilt blocks.  (pieced and quilted) I was very busy with work stuff - report-writing time :(  and didn't have the time I needed to concentrate on my vintage linen blocks, so I used a charm pack and some "jelly roll" strips that I had left over from my first ever quilt and followed the same pattern. I managed to piece & quilt 10, 17 inch blocks in a couple of evenings.

 On the 2nd way, we were taught Carolyn's "quiting on the go method" to join all the quilted blocks together.  It is a mixture of machine and hand sewing. This quilt will be square, 3 blocks X 3 blocks with one block left over to either make it into a quillow or to make a matching pillow.  I have started sewing the blocks together, and now have to sew the rows together.  However, this is something that will have to wait till after Christmas.

If you are unable to get to one of Carolyn's courses but are interested in the Quilting on the go method, Carolyn has a book and book2 is due out next year sometime.

stich, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, spend,

and so on....


grr.... Been having quite a few problems quilting this quilt that I pieced together last year!

This is Miss Nina (the Bernina) She is a bit of a temperamental old gal and likes everything "just so", she is a bit stuck in her ways and doesn't like to try anything new.  Forget any thread that isn't Guttermans and don't even bother loading ANY of the other bobbins, except the one being used right now. (a real pita). And she HATES you playing with the tension dial, just as well that the tension doesn't usually need to be adjusted!

She is a very rare "flatbed" model (so the repair man told me) with most Berninas of that vintage being "free arm" models.  Now, I can see the advantage of having a free arm model, but what would have been the advantage of having a flat bed model??  A curtain maker rather than repairer/dressmaker????  Anyone know?? 

My Mum acquired her from the Sewing Machine shop in Shepherds Bush (which is still there btw, just a stones throw away from all the fabric delights on Goldhawk Rd) 
Sadly she has know idea what she paid for it, but as we were pretty brassic (poor) when I was a kid, it must have been fairly reasonable in todays money.  She said it was slightly over her budget but she still felt that she had got a really good bargain.

now where was I...


I basted the quilt at the weekend.  I had two DH free evenings this week, so |I could sew without anyone moaning about 1) the noise of the machine and 2) "are you going to talk to me tonight"
 However, I have spent every night sewing & then unpicking :(
I just could not get the tension sorted.  Tried new needles, cleaning, oiling, tension dial tweaking everything the books (or mr google) recommends. (and Miss Nina Hates)

So today, I called into my local quilt shop & asked for their advice.  They were really helpful and came to the conclusion that it was probably the blue fabric causing most of the problems.  I bought it in Fabricland purely for the colour.  The label said "composition unknown" but after washing it was apparent it was quite synthetic.  It is also heavier than the quilting cottons with a very close weave.

So the advice was to switch to a blue thread (I was using a bright yellow for contrast)  and try much smaller needle size.  I have to rebaste the quilt after all the sewing & unpicking, but once I get started I will let you know how I get on.

On my way out I spotted this amazing quilt/hanging... (sorry I didn't get an actual photo)

It is from this book by Janet Clare
Which I added to my shopping bag alongside the said blue thread. (just don't tell DH!)

I have my Mum's 60th next year and the designs are also something that the MIL would really love.  It would be so easy to make the little characters look just like the Grandkids. My mind is already whirring away with ideas.

There are some book reviews here and here. (where I "borrowed" the above photos from)

the morning-after-the-night-before make

I have found the perfect hangover cure! 

This was a kit that I bought at last years Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace.  I think it was bought from The Bramble Patch. 

The boys were at Nanny's as we had been to a wedding the day before.  So whilst Mr Tam laid in bed nursing his hangover (or in his words "catching-up" on his sleep from a heavy working week lol) I got stuck into this project.  T'was pretty easy and was finished before the boys returned home after having lunch at Nanny's.

and The Little Man was very pleased with the end result!  Even managed to find a posh trouser hanger to hang it up with!

I have just spotted the panel on ebay if anyone was interested - it is from a range called "kate & nate". (there is also a girl version)

Introducing Mr Monkey

Poor old Mr Monkey! He has just had to undergo some major surgery! I have had to sew most of his leg seams back up! Not sure if it is a result of my workmanship or the fact that he is often caught up in a tug-o-war between the Little Man & the Little Fella! Both of whom want to take him to bed!

As I was sewing him up , I remembered that I had never introduced him to any of you!

I made Mr Monkey around this time last year, but was dissapointed in how he turned out! I made him all on the machine, except his mouth. I am not happy with his mouth but have not yet been able to find the sock-monkey-makers secret to a perfect mouth! I also used some verrrrry stretchy socks, which made a very large sock monkey and took nearly a whole cushion worth of stuffing! At one point I was going to bin him, but then the Little Man spotted him & spent the rest of the day dragging him around, so Mr Monkey ended up moving in to the Tamster household!

I have been meaning to make another, but need to find the secret to a perfect pout first! (anyone wanna share lol ???)

HELLOOOOOO...anyone still there???????

I'm back!!!

I finally finished the third & final quilt for my Niece a few weeks back. A bit late for Christmas but I managed to get it done before her 5th birthday! YAY


again it folds up into a pillow or "quillow". And is backed with cotton flannel and the same pink binding as the other two.


This was actually a very quick quilt top to make. (I have blogged about it earlier) The quilting was a pain however.

I saw a wavy pattern on a quilt in sew hip which I really liked. I couldn't find a wavy line anywhere (online or in any books) so I drew my own using a glass. However, the waves were too wavy & to quilt them involved LOTS of pivoting & turning so I ditched that idea and tried to do free hand waves. That didn't work either. So after two lots of quilting and two lots of unpicking I was back to square one!!! I ended up doing a mixture of stitching "in the ditch" and echo quilting.

Then came lots of machine problems. My machine was playing up so I sent it in for a service. In the meanwhile I borrowed my mums, which also played up. Then came Parent's evening, report writing and end of year assessments!

DH then commented on the fact that I was either sat at the computer doing "School" work or I was at the sewing machine sewing, and we rarely had an actual conversation beyond "how was your day?" So I had to abandon my poor machine for a brief spell in favour of the husband! lol Now the workload has tailed off a bit, I am back sewing :) guilt free!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also managed to find some time to do another Saturday quilting course. "quilting on the go"
I need to take some photos and then I can share this fab method with you! No more wrestling large quilts under the machine. You make the quilt a block at a time, bast & quilt the block and then sew the blocks together already quilted!

hopefully you wont have too long to wait lol...

but then again ;)

comments from readers

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to write a comment on my little blog. It really does make my day!

However, I am rather sorry that I have only just found some of your replies, and so didn't reply to them.

But now I have finally worked out how to get an email notification whenever someone comments, so I will never miss a post again!

A guest book for my cousin's wedding


Sadly I won't be there as the wedding is in New Zealand and being term time I wasn't able to get the time off. Yes teachers have lots of holiday but we have no flexibility or control over when we take it :(


So my parents kindly packed it in their luggage for me. I also stitched a little calico bag to store it in (but forgot to take a photo) and it fitted perfectly into the lid of a shoebox from my new work shoes!


My cousin asked for white, gold, pink or light pastel colours. In the end she got pink & ivory and some gold as I couldn't find what I wanted in white. Her wedding dress is NOT traditional white/Ivory, so I am very curious as to what her dress will be like! I am guessing pink which is why I have used so much!

And this is their card.

I used some lovely handmade paper that I have had for years, added a few pink pearls and some paper die cuts. The circles are nesties done on my cuttlebug. It took no time at all really. I quite like doing the step cards as you get a good result with little time & effort.

I had forgotten just how much papercrafting stuff I had lol!!!! I make such a mess when I am making cards, that the tidying up takes longer than what I spent creating! I used to be able to leave everything out for the next evening but with two little monkeys running around I don't have that luxury anymore!

I am hoping that the Japan Earthquake doesn't effect them too much. They are on the coast, in The Bay of Islands but are actually quite high above sea level.