DOCS Ted upgrade

DOCS Ted has had a minor upgrade.....

He was a hit at work, however the first comment was "he needs a belt". How could I refuse a request like that??? So, between mum and myself we threw around some ideas, and came up with 2 possibilities : a small cat collar, or a watch band.

Working from those ideas, and since it was the weekend, I went to our local market and having no success on the pet collar, managed to spot a jewellery shop. After explaining what I was looking for, the lady had the PERFECT little watch band buckle - and she let me have it for FREE!! Such a nice lady!! Its a bit hard to see in the pic, but I used a textured tape to make the belt, and added a couple of belt loops for good measure. I may remove the back part of the belt and just fix it at the sides at a later date. I just wants to curl up at the back, and looks a bit ordinary. The tape I used was pretty light - it is meant to be used for stopping seams from stretching on knit fabrics, like the shoulder seams. It was the perfect width, and I even chose it before I found the watch buckle. Coincidence or good luck?? Who cares, it worked!! LOL!!

He also got a V-neck vest, since he was drowning in BEIGE......... Of course, I don't knit, but I found this heavily textured rib in my stash, and it turned out brilliantly - first time!!

Not the best pics - sorry! I was in such a rush to get it done and back to work that I just pointed my phone at him, but you get the general idea! I will try and get some better shots of the whole gang some time this week........

Next project is in the works, too. I was lying in bed this morning thinking about Christmas in July, and how I still have a box of scraps left over from my last Christmas doll quilt. Also, the Canning Show schedule will be out soon, and I have nothing completed yet to go in it!! So I started google-ing Christmas Table Runner, and found a few interesting designs, but then, as if on cue, I was playing on my Flipboard app and found the perfect pattern!! And here it is....

Big thanks to lilysquilts.blogspot.com.au for her free template. I have printed out the pattern pieces and I already have the Christmas prints cut into scraps - just need to decide if I am going to do random triangles or actually structure the traditional red/green/white scenario. Knowing me and structure, I will probably go with the random effect. I have soooo many Christmas print fabrics I could probably make it without repeating one single design! Almost......

Anyway, since its really cold and wintery here in Perth, it may just be an excuse to put on the iron for a bit of paper piecing next weekend. I have done little lately for my own benefit, unless you count a few baby bags for Santas. Time for some sewing just for me. Just because.......

Its finished!!

Planned for completion before February, but better eventually than never, hey? It's been soooo hot, the thought of ironing a quilt top was just horrifying. Still stinking hot, but it's cooled down enough that the resident "power nazi" isn't going to tell me off for using too much electricity..... Iron or aircon.... Hmmm.... Aircon wins EVERY TIME!!

Anyway, decided on a self backing/binding combination, however I forgot how tricky it is making nice pointy corners.

I started with a straight quilting stitch, but didn't like it so, after a marathon unpicking session, decided to try some fancy stitching. I like this much better!!

Also decided not to quilt too much. Apart from the fact that I couldn't decide which colour to use, I thought it was busy enough!! The eyes needed a little time to rest....

In the end it wasn't too hard, except for the decision making part!! I find it harder to finish than to start because what if I make the wrong choice with the binding?? or the quilting?? all that hard work down the drain!! I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way....

Finally finished the blocks...

It's not completely done, but at least I the blocks are joined up!! Looking good so far, I think. I'm trying to decide whether to do a white border and pieced binding, or narrow white border and pieced second border, or something else..... Decisions, decisions....

Another square done...

...of my version of the "Mod Mosaic" block. I have done a little photo step-by-step to show my method, if anyone is interested.....

Start with paper squares of the same size, and randomly draw intersecting lines. It may help to also number the reassembly order. I also draw on some lines to assist with getting the seams at different angles.

I cut the block apart along the lines, and then the fun begins!!!

Using the angle lines as a guide, place the first strip. Sometimes I start in the centre with white, or from an edge with colour. As long as the sides are patterned, it makes zero difference what happens between the lines!

Keep laying strips till the paper is covered. Make sure the seam allowance is consistent throughout. I used 5mm, but I also cut my white strips a bit narrow, but whatever works for you is fine!

I then lay the pieces as they would fit back together. But only trim the sides that are to be joined as you go, to prevent confusion back at the machine.

I then joined the white to one side of the join and press.

I snip the white strip where the paper stops and the other paper is to be joined. I turn it right side up and lay the other piece between the snips. Then stitch all the way through all layers. There should be no need to trim, since all sides are already trimmed. Turn right side up and press open.

Repeat the steps with all pieces until you end up with something like this:

Once the block is completed, it can be trimmed. I generally don't take off my papers till they are completely joined together, so they stay stable. But it's up to you when you do...

You can see how some blocks can be quite busy, and others not so much. I think it works quite well.

Each block is taking less than 1 hour, with only 2 more to go! I need to wait till the weather cools off a bit, though, and that isn't looking likely this coming week. The forecast is hot, hot, HOT!!!!

** Update**
I had planned to finish this before February, but the weather has been so hot that the thought of having the iron on with the air conditioning seemed counter-productive. Hopefully we will get a break in the next few weeks, and I can finally put away the Christmas prints!! For now........

Christmas in January????

Yes, I know! Christmas is over for another year.... but I still have a bunch of scraps left over from my Christmas quilting, and they match so well I don't have to think about the prints, so can focus on the design!

I have seen a few quilting blocks on my Flipboard with white strips between random blocks (can't find any links at the moment, but will add when I can find it!) and have been racking my brain as to how they are done!! They appear so random, but somehow structured at the same time?? I have not been able to find any kind of tutorial, so trial and error was needed.

So, I tried PURE random, crazy quilt style, unsuccessfully. Then I tried paper piecing random, then cutting up and re-stitching in a different configuration, also unsuccessfully.

I finally decided to try paper pieced, planned (but random?) blocks, cut apart then reattached with white stripping. Success! Sort of....

Firstly I cut a bunch of white strips. I have cut mine 2cm, but this is a bit narrow, so next time I will make them 3cm. I cut some paper squares, recycled from the old Yellow Pages (I saw this once, but having tried it, I think its a bit thin...) and then got my ruler and drew random cutting lines. I decided what angle the strips will go, having discovered that without a guide, 2 pieces can be the same way and a waste of effort. This way you are guaranteed connecting blocks of different angles.

Lined up block with guide lines for angle of stitching

Same block cut into parts

So, once the pieces are cut apart, I just randomly pieced alternating print and white strip, making sure that the edges were always print. Then, I trimmed the pieces down to the paper edge and inserted the white strips between each block. Since my strips were quite narrow, the finished block size was almost the original size, however it was tight sewing between the paper sheets. I then trimmed the block down to square, in this case 6 1/2 inches (it is a doll quilt after all...).

Finished example

I had planned to do 9 blocks, but I don't want to lose interest before its done, so I will only do 6, sash it with more white between and bordered, and then some kind of interesting quilting (probably meander quilting) and then binding.

I hope to have this done before the end of January, but its so hot here at the moment, it seems ironic to be ironing with the aircon on! 

More info to come! Will also add more pics of during construction, as well as finding those links to the original inspiration pics. I know they are here somewhere!!!!!!

*UPDATE*
Found the name of the block that inspired me is called "Mod Mosaic" and there is a Tutorial here at Oh Fransson. The finished effect from Oh Fransson is more like the Ticker Tape style (which I have already tried and LOVE!!), however, mine is busier and I used foundation papers. I never seem to have much success when I do free form stuff, but I LOVE how this block works - however the effect is achieved! 


There is no set rules when it comes to quilting these days, and there are soooo many creative quilters out there always developing new styles and designs. I am just a in awe of them all!!!!

These are FUN!!!

Ticker tape - green this time.....

Finding a whole bunch of interesting bits and pieces in my remnants box!

Time to try something else, although I feel remnants will still be involved somehow...... Curious????