EPP Diamond Progress

Hi friends! Just a quick post today to share with you my progress on the english paper piecing quilt. Technically I have just finished my final 3" 8-point diamond #35, which would make it 5 x 7 stars around 52" x 72". Would you say that's big enough, or should I go 6 x 7 stars? I don't have a plan for it's 'use' right now but in the future I would like it to be a nice size for a child's bed! ;) so in that case I guess it's about the right size already for a single (twin) bed…

These are my latest blocks, lots of 30s repro's and some cute Lecien Old/New - my favourite! They're so nice to do when the feeling takes me, normally I'll go whip up a bunch and then forget about them for a while, I like projects like that.

psst; my Quiltessential book giveaway ends tomorrow, enter to win here!

Vintage Dressmaking

I had a crazy urge over the weekend to begin a dressmaking project. Sometime's these creative sparks just hit and I have to go with it. So late Saturday night, after much decision I chose my vintage 6788 Simplicity pattern. I've collected a few vintage patterns over the years, with the intent 'I will make this one day'. Saturday was that day! After the tedious cutting process (not my favourite part) I was soon making the bodice - by midnight I had finished the top!



If you read my blog regularly, you'll know I'm not a dressmaker! So this sort of thing is a great sewing achievement for me :) Although, as I'm writing this, I realise I have actually made one (and a half) dresses in the past - the finished one being the Staple dress. I will have to share that on here very soon! By Sunday evening I'd almost finished the dress, but work had to come to a stop as I needed to purchase a zipper! 

I'm using a lovely, blue cotton chambray fabric - which is available at Sew and Quilt! The colour has a real shimmer to it. Finger's crossed the zip section goes well! xo

p.s. don't forget to enter my Quiltessential book giveaway, competition closes Thursday.

Quiltessential Book Giveaway!

Hi friends! In case you missed my bragging post last week, I'm in a new book called Quiltessential by Erin Burke Harris. They kindly featured some of my quilting images and I had a nice little mention in print, which is always exciting! I had the book on pre-order from Amazon for some time and had it shipped out to me as soon as it was released - of course I completely forgot that the publisher was sending me out a complementary copy, dohh! So I figured instead of selling it on Amazon, I would offer my lovely reader's the chance to WIN IT!

To Win:

Become a blog follower of my blog

And / Or follow me on social media;

Facebook | Instagram @messyjesse1 | Twitter 

Post a comment on this post to tell me (separate comment for each social media platform to count as multiple entries). 

[Competition will close Thursday 31st October. Winner will be announced Friday]

Now be social, please share this post! Best of luck!

Red and Green

I have two finished Christmas projects to show you today! I feel quite good about getting things done on-time this year. Over the weekend I started drafting an ocean waves quilt pattern, with the intention it would become a pillow. I decided on a large block size to accommodate a 20" pillow form and quilted it in grid lines to accentuate the design. 

As you can tell I'm really into red and green solids right now! They look so fresh and crisp. I have a bunch of old quilting books featuring vintage quilt patterns and I couldn't help but be inspired by the traditional Christmas colour's and styles. 

I also finished my radiant star mini quilt! So happy with this :) is it Christmas already so I can hang it up!? Who know's, maybe I'll have time for an all red and white quilt before the season is upon us? p.s. I the measurements for my ocean waves pillow so I will post a tutorial soon, be sure to check back. xo

'New' Vintage Fabric + Latest Farmer's Wife

I don't know if I've mentioned this before? but I'm addicted to shopping on Etsy! especially for vintage fabric. I normally go through faddy stages where I can end up spending hours, yes hours ... (and I wonder where all my time goes?!) hunting for lovely fabric to add to my stash. These two below are the latest additions...

I have a real weakness for kitchen inspired fabric, so I couldn't resist this delightful fruit bowl print. There's over 5 yards of it - which was the main reason to buy! So much potential. I do love a gingham too, and these primary colours are right up my street ;)

I picked up a vintage sheet this week too, I do a little happy dance whenever I get one nowadays as I can never seem to find them. This one is a bit of a gem as it's so bright, it will make a great quilt backing. Talking of fads, I've added five more farmer's wife blocks to my collection! I scratched an itch when I made two the other week, and I haven't been able to stop. Though I have to take a break from them again as I have other *must* projects to be getting on with.

From top left; #71 Puss In The Corner / #72 Railroad 

#106 Wild Rose & Square / #80 Single Wedding Star / #52 Hovering Hawks

Christmas Heart Tutorial, Patchwork Tulips

Hi all, I have a fun Christmas decoration tutorial to share with you today! Let's try and get organised ahead this year with our making! Why not whip up a bunch to decorate your home for the festive season or gift for friends and family. You can create them as a garland, or as a hanging tree decoration :)

I've used a traditional red and green colour-way for mine, you can change it up as you wish and make a non-Christmas theme to use all year round! 

Cutting

- (2) 3.5" x 11.5" - heart

- (1) 2.5" x 11.5" - heart

- (2) 3.5" x 4.5" - heart

- (3) 1.5" square - tulip background

- (2) 1 7/8" square - tulip background

- (1) 1" square - tulip background

- (1) 1" x 1.5" - tulip background

- (1) 1" square - tulip centre

- (1) 1 7/8" square - leaves

- (1) 1 7/8" square - tulip

- (1) 1" square - tulip

1. Print heart template, available to download for free here. Ensure you print the document at 100%, and un-check the 'scale to fit page' option.

2. First off, cut all the 1 7/8" squares in half to form half square triangles.

3. Sew 1" background square with 1" square tulip centre.

4. Sew with rectangle to the right. 

5. With the half square triangles you have just cut, sew a background triangle to a tulip triangle.

 6. Finish assembling the block as shown above. Once you have 3 strips, press and sew the strips together to form the completed flower block.

7. To both the top and bottom of the tulip block, sew the two rectangle pieces (3.5" x 4.5"). Note the direction of the tulip

8. Sew 2.5" x 11.5" rectangle to the right and 3.5" x 11.5"rectangle to the left.

9. Fold along the centre of the block (creasing at the angle with the tulip centre). Use the heart template to guide the tulip block in the centre, as shown in the arrow above. 

10. Pin in place and cut around the heart shape. Using the completed heart shape you now have, use this as a guide to cut out a further shape from backing fabric and batting.

8. With the heart shape on top and the batting underneath, quilt 1" lines running down the seams of the tulip.

9. Lay your backing heart with the quilted heart front on top (right sides together). Stitch around the edge using a 1/4" seam allowance, making sure you catch all the layers together and leave a small gap for turning. Snip into the curved edges of the heart to reduce the seam bulk.

10. Turn inside out and stuff with polyester toy filling, being sure to pack them firmly in order to hold their shape. Slip stitch the turning hole closed in coordinating thread.

After I made the hearts I decided they would look cute as a garland, and also because I've been saving up a use for the cute folky ribbon I've used. I cut a length long enough for both end pieces to tie with a bow and then cut smaller pieces to join them together. I then just used a seam ripper to make a small holes where I needed to join them and a few stitches later it was complete! 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Happy sewing! xo

Books, Book, Books!

There's a new book hitting the shelves at the moment - with some of MY pictures in! Yes, that's right, I'm *IN* a book! Erin Burke Harris has published an all encompassing reference guide to quilting. Full of helpful hints and tips for us quilter's. I found the section on 'calculating quilt sizes' to be very useful, since I struggle with my quilt math! It gives clear instructions on bed quilt measurements, yardage and shapes per metre. I was contacted a few months ago by the picture editor asking if I would be interested submitting some images; of course I jumped at the chance! It's always such a proud feeling seeing your work in print :)

I purchased a few other quilty related books recently too. I got an old 1988 issue of the Quilter's Newsletter on eBay as I fell in love with the pink and green star quilt on the front. I just love the look of this Lone star quilt too! 

As well as a couple of other Amazon used bargains to bulk up my crafty book library! 

Oh, and for all my lovely readers that commented on my Radiant Star mini quilt - you can find the templates and instructions to make the block in 'Christmas Quilts' by Marsha McCloskey. Please click this link below to view or purchase!! It will help me find more great books in the future to share with you all. Thanks so much, x

My latest embroidery design project

I've been working on some embroidery designs for a commissioned embroidery project recently. Birds have been the chosen theme, and although I'm really not much of an artist - I eventually sketched out some cute little birdie's, all of which look rather plump! It seems there's no such thing as delicate skinny birds in my imagination! ;) The floral background is a new vintage sheet I got last week!

I also finished up two more farmer's wife blocks this morning before work. I have been neglecting my FWQ for so long! It was great to get back into the swing of it yesterday. Now I have a good selection of 1930's reproduction prints in my stash it's becoming a lot easier to make up the blocks carrying on with my vintage'y vibe. 

#18 Century of Progress / #2 Autumn Tints

On the subject of fabric, I also picked up a few fat quarters from the Briar Rose collection. It was Amy from nanacompany that inspired me to purchase after I saw those delightful pot holders. I couldn't resist any longer! I'm not sure what the future hold for these, but there will be petting and admiring in the mean time. xo