This week, I've felt the need to treat myself. New year, new materials, that's been my motto, so I've dug deep in my piggy bank. I've nearly finished the scarf I've been making for Mr HH (it was meant to be for Christmas but I ran out of yarn), I've finished numerous cowls and posted one to my mum for her birthday today, and I am officially parking my Christmas blanket until next year. So, I decided to allow myself a little yarny influx for a new project. Happy days.
The reason I can start a new quilt is that I've just finished another. Depending on how long you have been reading my blog and how good your memory is (and it will need to be quite good!) you may recall me starting this project. If you don't or you need a refresher, you can read about it here. I'm afraid to say, I think it was almost two years ago. So for those of you who think I work really quickly, there you go! With a trip to the cottage looming, I needed to decide what crafty project to take and decided it was time to finally finish my "quilt on the go" quilt. I dug out the sixteen blocks needed to make the quilt and found only two needed hand quilting. I laid out the blocks whilst I had the advantage of the huge table in my quilting room and labelled them up, ready to sew them together once the hand quilting had been completed.
I had a little help, of the furry ginger kind, along the way.
I set myself up a makeshift quilting den at the cottage and pottered away quite happily joining the blocks together.
I'm pleased to say I got the quilt put together and just needing the binding by the time we left the cottage on New Year's Day. I auditioned a few bindings back in the Den and settled on a jaunty red number.
This quilt has become quite well travelled. I recently went over for a lovely crafternoon with my Instagram friend Erin and it seems a certain furry friend of hers rather took a liking to my quilt and my lap! Certainly no complaints from me. Isn't she gorgeous.
Back in front of the fire at home, it seems another kitty was not disinterested in this quilt, either. It is always a pleasure to sit and hand stitch the binding at this time of year. It certainly keeps you warm as you sit underneath it, putting in those final teeny neat stitches round the edge. I just don't understand people who spend hours lovingly putting a quilt together then machine stitch the binding down but each to their own.
I'm digressing a little here and showing you another bit of making, or rather "make do and mending" that has been going on. On Sunday, it was time to take down the Christmas decorations and with that, put away the festive cushion covers and get my beloved flowery barkcloth ones back out. Sadly, the beautiful fabric had sprung a few little tears. Rather than make new covers, I decided these ones had a little more life in them so using lovely vintage fabrics from my stash, I set about patching them. I was aided by the fact that on Christmas Day, I had opened a gorgeous bundle of vintage fabrics gifted to me by Mr HenHouse. Swoon.
Do you know, I think I love my cushions just as much with their patchwork plasters. I'm almost hoping to have to add to them and I don't mind confessing that I may have added one or two entirely gratuitously.
Back to the matter in hand then. There was clearly no likelihood that I was going to be able to treat my newly finished quilt to its ta-dah moment on the washing line outside, as has become customary. In a rare sunny moment the other day, I seized the chance to take a few snaps indoors. Charlie Boy was most bemused.
I got ambitious and perched on a kitchen stool to take another! I quite like seeing it from this vantage point.
The fabrics for the front were a real mix taken from my stash. However, I felt the fabrics had a feedsack influence, hence the name of the quilt. They are all modern, reproduction fabrics, though. I backed it with a cute Cath Kidston print. I'm not sure if this is still available as I bought it half price in the sale a good while back.
There was only one problem with the new location for my snapping session. It seems one furry friend still had to have his turn with the new quilt.
In fact, he has taken rather a shine to it.
Here's his sheepish (cat) face.
It was inevitable, really. At least he's got good taste! It seems this cosy quilt is a kitty magnet.
I hope you have enjoyed my indoor quilty reveal. I'm now inspired to think I can show you more of the quilts I have made over the Winter right now, rather than having to wait until Summer. I have another two at least. But for now, I'm going to start another. Xxx
P.S. A little request, please. I see a lot of my photographs taken from this blog appearing on Pinterest. This is absolutely fine but please make sure that either the original link back to this blog remains with the image or that you mention in the description that HenHouse is the source of the image. It is a little frustrating to see so many of my photos not properly credited and I have begun formally requesting Pinterest that they be removed. I know the vast majority of you do respect my copyright for which I'm very grateful, so please make sure my images are properly credited. X
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