Finished

So I finally finished off the last quilting bits and pulled out the tacking. Of course it instantly fell to pieces in places so I did what any normal adult would do in this situation. I took it home to my mum and whined until she offered to fix it. Ace.

I learnt a lot doing this quilt, mostly about applique. The whole thing is full of mistakes; I left the bloody freezer paper in a few of the leaves and they are already coming loose, but I love it for what it represents and I love all the fabric which I bought with my mum at the first ever patchwork shop she took me to when I had no idea what I was doing (not that I have much more idea now).

Next a bit of a catch up on some long neglected knitting whilst I contemplate what comes next. I have two quilts to finish, one quilt to make and a lot of other projects to start. I'd really like to start something new but now I am on the finishing things off bus, I feel I should continue... Maybe it's back to the garish Material Obsessions quilt which I feel could well turn out to be... well... gross and is going to be a nightmare as it's cut at 60° which I now realise means all the material stretches and nothing goes together as it should. Oh woe is me. Whatever possessed me? And the thing is huge. I am half tempted not to put the borders on as they will just make it even bigger and more garish.

Knitting and Stitching

So it was Sunday and the sun came out. I had decided to spend the day indoors finishing off my quilt, but it was s nearly done and the sun was out and... well suddenly I was on the bus and at Ally Pally for my first encounter with The Knitting and Stitching Show.



It was ace. It was huge! I've never seen so much wool and so much lovely soft wool at that. It wasn't cheap mind, but it was lovely.

Since I am not the greatest knitter and have not yet managed to finish my white blanket which Rachel made in about 2 days, I didn't really have much purpose. I just wondered around touching everything feeling done in by how much there was. It reminded me of how overwhelmed I felt at my first patchwork show. It was just too much.



So I didn't really buy very much. That was okay though as I am saving myself for Chilford, and really it was a reconnaissance mission so I am prepared for next year.

They had one hall dedicated to exhibitions and some of the stuff was amazing



There were lots of people crammed around the cheap discounted wool bundles in a huge pile on the floor.



There was a lady knitting with giant needles you could buy. Wool's not cheap though and it scared me seeing how much wool she was using, but it's a lovely idea and the needles were well cool!

Another project ends

So I am at the very end of this quite intensive project which is all hand quilted. I am just sewing the bindings. In a way I'll be sad to see it over as it's been on the go, for what, years and I am quite enjoying sitting on the sofa in my slippers doing it. I'll have to get up and be active after this.

I have decided to wash it when I am finished to give it that wrinkled, soft feel. I'm a bit scared that I'll break it somehow as I have never washed a quilt before and I don't know how touch my appliqué is.