Tuesday 3 June 2014

Sewing I have bought

I wasn't sure what to do with the blog this week, I'm absolutely exhausted and I have been much too tired for sewing.  I want to sew, but even the effort of plugging the machine in seems too much!  Early nights instead.  So I thought I'd share some sewing that I'd bought instead.  I have two quilts in my house, neither made by me, but both are lovely.


This was bought at the Christmas fayre held in our local community centre four years ago; we go as a family annually and it is great fun.  They have stalls with teddies, endless raffles, lace-making, cakes and sweets,  dancing by local children's groups, watercolours. My favourite stall is always The Quilters Society.

I got this before I could sew, I just liked it.  I had no idea what I'd use it for.  The lady who sold it described it as a wall hanging but I can't imagine having  it displayed like that.


It has lots of hand sewn shapes. I've subsequently learnt this is called English paper piecing, and it is so fun with so many different pictures to look at.


The lady who made it is an American, now living in the UK, and she told me every stitch is done by hand.  She also said that she is addicted to quilting, works on them all-day long. She adores making them, and even sews her name into the quilts.


I loved it so much that the following year, I went straight to her stall and purchased another.


This one has even more of a nursery feel I think!  Even though both quilts were sewn entirely by hand they've been through the wars: they've been used as playmats for puking babies, a quilt on a toddler bed, picnic rugs, parts of a fortress or play house.  These have been in and out of the wash and now have that lovely soft worn feel of loved items.

They almost make me want to make my own quilt. Almost.  I'm still in the thrall of the quick hit you get from making a garment, and I'm under no illusions: quilts take time, and lots of it.

Have you ever made one?

8 comments:

  1. What a talented quilter! Lucky you such pretty quilts. They are works of art they stay with the family for generations. When I was stationed in Germany, I took a hand quilting class. We made a four square sampler and I was hooked for years! Hand quilting is really relaxing and I used to work on them while I watched tv or whatever...very portable. I moved on to machine quilting and then clothing but hand quilting has a special place in my heart.

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    1. That is what appeals to me. the portability. At the moment I have a tapestry on the go which I pick up when watching a movie or spare moments here and there. Not sure how long it will take to finish though months I think.

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  2. Two incredible quilts!! I really like the idea of quilting but I'm not sure I'm that organised yet!

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    1. Me too, in theory they'd use up all my scraps and it would be really efficient. But... we will see.

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  3. Pretty quilts! Hope you find the energy for sewing again soon!

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    1. Thank you I do get a lot of joy from owning them. Yes to energy, yes please. I feel like a weak old lady at the moment everything is an effort! But it will pass, Think I may be anemic need to check it out.

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  4. These are beautiful, lovely to own objects someone else has stitched by hand. I love quilts with a story too, and reading the stories on Lost Quilt Come home website - think you'll enjoy it http://lostquilt.com/ Hope you can get the rest you need and I'm sure your own creative sewing spark will return soon. x

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  5. Thank you, I shall take a look at that site sounds good.

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