Teal and Pink HST Done-o-rama

I made this one because I had lots of HSTs left over after the Teal and Orange HST quilt that I could not waste. It took some time finding the 'right' pink (which doesn't photograph at all well).

It's only the second baby quilt I have machine quilted, and while it went better than the first, it's not perfect nor easy! But it is hugely time saving. I find the dense quilting means it's a bit less snuggly than I would like. But, hopefully, that will improve after a wash or two and some use.

I like the look of this one a lot. Although I have only now noticed the variation in grey. Not intentional at all. Hopefully, that's just a lighting/photography thing.

It's off to live in Christchurch.

Watermelon and Teal Half Square Triangles

Re-acquainted myself with my sewing machine and got the top of this baby quilt finished. The magic basting 505 spray is at school, so this is as far as this one will get this weekend even though the batting and backing are bought.

It's a good day for sewing - overcast. There was a very red sky this morning when I woke up and then fog for ages. Now it's just grey.

I am back to quilting the Wonky Log Cabin now with My Sky-ed episodes of 'Call the Midwife'. I love that it stars Miranda Hart from 'Miranda'.

Teal and Pink HST Baby Quilt

I am not going to make another HST quilt for a while. I really like the look of HSTs, but two quilts in a row is a bit much - all those little tails that need trimming!

I have two thirds of the top of this one made. It is not going to be ready for the baby shower tomorrow afternoon. But it will be done by the time the baby is due in five more weeks.

There's Pink and Then There's Pink

The next HST quilt has been sitting for a week or two. I was waiting for more teal to arrive, which it did about a week ago. But still it sat. I wasn't loving the pink ... it was a bit too magentary for my taste.

I was in Spotlight this a.m. getting fabric for another project when I saw a solid the colour of dark watermelon. Bought it. Cut it. Sewed it.

It photographs poorly. Think watermelon. Think dark watermelon pink. I like it a whole lot better.

So now all the HSTs are made, the next job is to sew the squares together. The baby shower is in 12 days.

Thankfully, the builders moved a little bit faster - once they finally arrived. Large patches of the deck were rotten. The builders discovered the boards had been laid straight on the dirt and old concrete terrace. Boards that aren't supposed to come into contact with the actual ground. Hence, the rot.

It's been interesting coming home each evening to see their progress.

It was even better to come home on Friday and find it finished.

Teal and Orange HST Quilt Finished

I machine quilted this. It is possibly the first and last baby-sized one I ever machine quilt. I hated the process. I found it really frustrating have to manoeuver the quilt through the throat of my machine. I nearly unpicked it several times during the first quadrant and even when half of it was done, I hated it, thought I had ruined the quilt and seriously thought about unpicking it all. I don't know how peple quilt bed-sized quilts on domestic machines.

However, I like it now it is done. It's certainly not perfect though. Machine quilting makes for a much stiffer quilt because it's a denser stitch compared to the quilting running stitch. I think I prefer the feel of a hand quilted quilt - much softer. But I do appreciate what would have taken me a month to hand quilt, took me a half a day (or so) to machine quilt and bind.

It measures about 1 m x 1.3 m, or 41 x 51 inches.

New supplies of teal elephant and abacus have arrived, so I look forward to working on the teal and pink quilt this week, depending on homework of course.

More Half Square Triangles

I have lots of teal and grey HSTs left over. I can't waste them.

I bought a solid magenta when I was at Patchwork Passion yesterday to go with them. I was worried the magenta would be a little blinding for a baby, but it looks ok so far. I won't use it excessively.

HST Quilt Top Done

It's a little breezy here today. Super-sunny again.

I am not sure about the quilting. I am tempted to try to machine quilt it as my walking foot has finally arrived.

I should be doing school work. I did go to school today (only because I had to go to a meeting) and brought my marking home, so I am one step closer to getting it done. I hate marking - I usually try to get it all done before the hols, but I just ran out of time.

Orange Squares in the HST Quilt

I decided to fill in the gaps with squares of orange and grey - more orange than grey. I then subsituted a few more orange HSTs in the place of some teal ones. I quite like it.

I had forgotten about all the seams that need to meet when you sew Half Square Triangles. Lots of pinning and lots of ironing.