WOW or WIP’s with Esther 14th Nov 2018

WOW or WIP’s with Esther. This week has been completing my first memory block of my Mums using her treasures she had or made? I discovered Rhonda’s (CoxDort) lovely vintage quilts which she makes up as QAYG hexagons and thought that’s how I can solve my problem of very bulky seams if I sew these blocks together by machine, this way there will be NO bulk at all.

First completed QAYG Block for mums memory quilt to be? This block is the first block top left hand corner in lay out below so you can see how it started?

This may be how they will end up looking like. When finished

How I’m planning on laying out the blocks! Started this several years ago as a mail swap with 5 other ladies.

Thought this was going to be my sashings but it is too green so may use a cream instead ? Time will tell

How it grew?

This block was in the top left hand corner of the lay out above. This Centre circle of lace was used as a dress collar and would have been stitched lightly on to a dress neck when there was some thing special to attend, unpicked after and put away till another special occasion on another dress even. It must have been my Great grandmothers .

I want that collar to stand out and shine so added a piece of very fine lawn from a servette from around 1960!

Slowly appliqueing it all down here.

Adding glass beads and pearls and some ribbon roses.

Here I have quilted the rose it took 2 1/2 hrs each stitch is about 16th of an inch. I had to push the needle through then pull the thread right to the back and push it back up to the front each time. Those are Colonial knots beside the rose.

outlined the tulip in deep pink stem stitch, using green glass beads

This carnation was disappearing in to the background so highlighted it in stem stitch too.

Below I have started to make up Block 2?

Starting Block 2 First I choose my main piece this time it is a fine crochet doilie.

I keep playing and adding till I like a lay out of roughly the way I’d like it, I then remove all the top pieces then start Appliquéing the under neither pieces down first

Working at appliquéing down the back pieces now. Top left corner from an old hand embroidered hanky from China 1950’s, bottom left corner 1/2 a fine crocheted doilie, bottom right hand corner , corner of a grass linen servette. Centre pink silk from a kimono lining

will show you how I’m working these QAYG blocks ?

My block 3 to be!!! First I cut my fine backing 1/4 of an inch bigger than my finished front fabric which is a 11inchs sqaure of silk, Iv’e laid the backing on a piece of cotton batting

Cut the batting 1/2inch wider all round than the backing this gives plenty of room for movement. pin backing in place.

Turn over and lay your block in the centre of the cotton batting.

I cut my flange at 1inch wide fold in 1/2 and iron with a very hot steam iron.

Pin flange around the block make sure that flange fold is facing in to the block !!!

Block is now ready to be built on? First I will remove the basket and add some colour behind it? Hopefully I can show you how I add the final backing fabric and fold it to the front as a binding next week.

This morning I went to the beach and stopped and took some photo’s of trees in full bloom.

Sorry will add the beach and trees later my iPad battery is flat???

Update 8.30pm Wednesday.