Spring has sprung!

I can finally feel the sun and smell the fragrance of the flowers!!! Daffodil - the national flower of Wales, UK. Yes they are daffodils! Spring is here! This picture is taken in Rowhay Park, Leeds. I hope the weather will be like this for the whole spring!

Here is a baby girl quilt that I made two weeks ago. The reason I made this quilt is I hope I will have a baby girl. Isn't that adorable? 

The final quilt size is 36 "x 40 1/2 "

I was thinking to make a quilt or play mat out of this panal. But my husband said it looks like a girl panal? What do you think? 

Greetings from Southampton

Spring is here!!! Spring is here!!!! I'm so happy because all the flowers are blooming around me!!! Yes, I received a greeting card from my patchwork group in Southampton last week. Jenna from Sew Happy Geek is actually the teacher for this group. Oh... I miss the group so much.

Well, back to my sewing.... I have been sewing quite a lot for the last two weeks. Firstly, I would like to introduce my fat cat nursery wallhanging for my little one!

Fat cat nursery wallhanging by Janet

Fat cat nursery wallhanging by Janet

Fat cat nursery wallhanging by Janet

I hope my little one will be interested in playing violin in future! Isn't that little fat cat very cute? 

Secondly, I would like to introduce my three dresden plates cushion covers. Few weeks ago I made this dresden plate by using the Easy Dresden Ruler by D. Zimmerman. I'm writing a tutorial for these cushion covers. I will share the tutorial on my blog once I have finished writing. The finished size for the cushion is 18". 

Dresden Plate cushion cover

Dresden Plate cushion cover

My third sewing is paper piecing. Yes, the foundation/ paper piecing is getting so popular recently. I have tried some patterns out but I do not have any idea what to do with the finished blocks. 

I found the ice-cream cone tutorial in here by Anne and the crazy heart tutorial in here by Jenna. Thank you Anne and Jenna for the fantastic tutorial and pattern! 

That's all for today. I got to get out from the house and enjoy the sun shine now! See you tomorrow! 

Dresden Plate

I bought this Ruby by Bonnie & Camille layer cake by Moda for quite some time and I haven't decided what to do with this fabrics not until I have watched a video by MissouriQuiltCo. Hence, I decided to make this dresden plate! The instruction in the video is so clear and beautiful. Where did I get the template? Well, it's the ruler called Easy Dresden by Darlene Zimmerman. You can get it here , here and here. I tell you what, you will love the ruler cause you can make your dresden in different sizes.

This is a 14" size of block. Hm.... what should I do with this block now? Should I turn this into a cushion cover, a table runner, a wall hanging or a placemat? I think I'm going to continue with another 2 similar blocks and turn the blocks into a wall hanging. Right, I got to leave now and carry on with my dresden plates........

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Baby Quilts

Hi everybody I'm still alive! I've been away for quite a few months. I'm happy to announce that I'm going to be a mom soon! I can't believe I'm already halfway through my pregnancy! I felt so terrible during my first trimester - extremely tired, no appetite, very sick..... I didn't have stamina to do any sewing! But now my energy is getting back! Therefore, I have finished all my incomplete quilts!

These are the baby quilts that I've been longing to finish for a long time......

Is this suitable for a girl or a boy?

This is definitely for a girl!

I hope my baby will like the quilts!

An Evening of Christmas Music

I will be singing in this concert. Please come and support us if you are around Hampshire!

See you there!

Somerset Star Christmas Card Tutorial

These beautiful greetings cards make wonderful gifts and are an ideal way to display your patchwork! It looks complicated but it's actually easier than it looks. There is not much skill needed to make this. This is a traditional patchwork design called Somerset Star in the UK. It's made by using small pieces of fabric folded to make triangles. Here is the instruction of making the Somerset Star Christmas card.

Materials:

• a piece of white or cream backing fabric , 7" x 7"
• a 6" embroidery hoop
• white fabric cut 12 pieces , 1.5" x 2.5"
• blue fabrics cut 16 pieces, 1.5" x 2.5"
• white thread
• needle
• a circle aperture card- circle 96mm Dia

Step 1

Turn under the top edge of each rectangle by 1/4"

Step 2

Fold the top corners to the middle to form a triangle.

Step 3

Create 12 white triangles and 16 blue triangles.

Tips: Use 2 different colours of fabrics to show the contrast.

Step4

Divide the fabric into four and draw a line from left to right and from top to bottom.

Step 5

Using an embroidery hoop to hold the fabric taut so that it doesn't pucker.

Step 6

Position four triangles.

Step 7

Sticth the triangles at the centre.

Step 8

Stitch the triangles according to the order of numbers. Number 4 will be go back to the center on another piece of triangle.

Step 9

Stitch all the four triangles.

Step 10

Take your second set of blue triangles. Build up the next round of four triangles, placing them 1/4" below the first.

Step 11

Build up another four of blue triangles overlapping the first.

Step 12

Take your third set. Repeat the same step as Step 10 for another round of triangles.

Step 13

Repeat the same step as Step 11 for another round of triangles.

Step 14

Continue to work in rounds, spacing the triangles over the previous round and in between until the design is complete.

.

Step 15

Complete the final round.

Step 16

Remove the star from the hoop and iron it on the ironing board.

Step 17

Trim off the extra bit and now you can create your card!

Step 18

Ta da! Here is your Somerset Star Christmas Card!

You can even play around with it by using different materials

or

in different pattern!

For more designs please visit here!

I was featured on Sew Happy Geek !

Somerset Star Christmas Card

Last Wednesday, I went to a quilting group and I saw a lady, Tammy, was stitching the lovely Somerset star. I like the way she used of colours and materials. Since then, I decided to learn this Somerset star!

I used two different types of materials to make these stars. Did you realise the shinny gold fabric and the shinny silver fabric that I have used in the stars?

Yes, those materials are attractive BUT they are not easy to use because they don't crease easily. To make them easier to fold, I ironed the materials before I stitched them together!

The simple technique of using Somerset patches in the circle forms an eye catching central star motif. Do you want to make this a christmas card for your family and friends? Visit my tutorial here. I hope you will enjoy doing it!