CatsEye

Serengeti

Finally, after much thinking and prepping, and incentive from my Ravelry Posh Knitters group, the Serengeti bag from Monkey Buttons is a reality.

I had visions of storing my matching quilt in it ... but it's just a little too small for that.  No matter, it turns out to be a perfect knitting bag size.

Looming over me

Yes, I was that international customer that Jennifer mentioned in her aftershow ... this dinky little potholder loom got thrown for nothing.  The placemat loom is much bigger, and on the outside of this one. 

And not only was the shipping more expensive that either of us realised, but I got stung for VAT and clearance costs too.  Ah well, best go cut some fabric and put them to good use.

Puckered

And it was going so well. 

I may have to resort to hand quilting ... which means this will never be finished!

Quilt on

I finally caved, and decided to use the yellow/orange quilting thread on the blue areas.  Otherwise, this piece would never get done.  Although, it's still a ways off yet. 

The border is particularly trying - I'd like to get some free motion practice but that doesn't really fit with all the other straight lines ...

319. Panel in the wind

The top of my (Modified) Mod Sampler is complete! 

I decided to repurpose an old duvet cover, which had a few tears in it (thanks cats!) as sashing, and probably backing too - there's loads left, as it was a king size quilt.  Waste not, want not, eh?  Plus the colours do go together, amazingly.  I was pretty doubtful (although determined, as I have no other fabric in any large quantity in the house) but it seems to have paid off.

Next I need to decide on which wadding to buy - the CottonPatch sent me 2 sampler packs to caress and debate over.  Things have definitely moved on in fifteen years - I have 18 different samples in cotton, polyester, cotton/poly blend, silk and wool to choose from. 

I'm leaning towards a 100% polyester wadding, which feels lovely and soft to the touch.  Which is a ridiculous reason to choose that particular one, as it's going to be sandwiched between two layers of fabric.  But still, sooo soft ...

318. Strip tease

It was a bit breezy this afternoon.  Here's the pristine, pre-breeze photo:

311. Ready to sash-ay

310. You're barred

Block D's, all ready to go.

307. Leaded to the max

And the C's are done too.  And leaded.  Twice.  It's amazing how the white border dominates until the black border is sewn on.  I almost can't wait to add the sashing to see how the block looks with a 1/4" white and 1/4" black.

Of course, to do that means I need to decide on a sashing colour, and find some fabric (all I have is fat quarters or big prints that won't go) and then confirm the block layout. 

Oh and lead the rest of the blocks I suppose.  There's still some ways to go yet then.

306. (More than) five easy pieces

After I chose the fabric yesterday, I couldn't just let it sit.  I had to start cutting.  It took about four hours but by the end I had squares and rectangles for blocks A to D in 6 colourways.

This morning out came the sewing machine.  The A's, B's and D's are complete as these needed a maximum of two seams.  I'll finish up the C's tomorrow, as these are more fiddly and I worry about the accuracy of my seam allowances.