The Best of Five in 2023

 

Here we are again at the end of 2023. Looking back, there were a lot of things going on. Even though I didn't write as much as I intended to do at the beginning of the year, but I accomplished one thing from my bucket list which is to reach 10K subscribers on my YouTube Channel!  

However, the blog is still very important to me as this is where everything started. Now, once again I join Meadow Mist Best of 2023 Linky Party to reminiscence how's 2023 had been. Let's get started! 

Here are the 5 best posts of 2023

1. Scrappy Patchwork Pouch

I love making stuff from scrap fabrics. I made a few last year and have a whole bunch of scrappy panels in my PhD bin which hopefully I can make into something in 2024. 

2.  Scrappy Wallet Video Tutorial

Another scrappy project! This time I made these small scrappy wallets and made a video tutorial too. These small pouches are very handy to use and also make a great gift! 

Small Quilted Wallet

3. 36 patch Block For Quilting Bee

After years, I finally participated in another quilting bee at Desi Quilters Facebook group. It was fun to make a few blocks every month and I learned a few things along the way. This will be another quilt to complete next year! 

4.  Patchwork Quilt Wallet

Another list that is ticked off from my bucket list is to start making a patchwork wallet.  I'm looking forward to making more patchwork wallets in 2024. Insha Allah. 

Patchwork Quilt Wallets

5. Kodomo Kids Wallet

This simple kodomo wallet is one of the most popular with my customers. It's so easy to make and kids love them. 

Alice in Wonderland & Red Riding Hood Wallet

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, reading, and leaving comments. I may not be as regular as I'd like to be, but I hope I will be able to share more meaningful content in 2024.

Here wishing you a great creative year ahead, I'm looking forward to reading your stories too (even though I may not always leave any comments, but I enjoy reading blog posts!)

Happy New Year! 

Elvira

Quilting Bee Update - February March Blocks

 

Hello,

In the past few months, I am enjoying making blocks for the quilting bee that is going on in the Desi Quilters Group on Facebook. This red quilt as your go block is for Deepti. Oh, I love doing QAYG, and looking at what others have made in the group is really inspiring. This red QAYG block is approximately 14.5 x 14.5 inches unfinished. 

The challenge of making a bee block is when the Queen Bee is only asking for the unfinished block size without specifying what kind of block or what color they prefer. When this happened I tend to choose the traditional blocks. Like this Purple Star Block. Aparna was asking for 101/2 inches block and I am in the mood to do some HST.

I searched on Pinterest and found this star block from Bernina  Summer Sparkle Quilt Along on We All Sew. I thought this will be perfect! 

Made another one using Indonesian Batik

As usual, I recorded the video as I sew just for fun! 

Another block I made is for Revathi. She wanted courthouse steps log cabin block. The log cabin is another fave block of mine and I'm so excited to make this one. Here's what I sent to Revathi. The block is based on THIS tutorial. 

The centerpiece is 3.5" square and the strip is 2" wide. You can cut the fabric strip before sewing them together, or (my preferred method) is just sew and cut later like in THIS video. 

Courthouse Steps Log Cabin for Revathi

And of course, I made a mini version just because I love this pink and blue bundle! The block is 7 x 7 inches unfinished, I think I am going to make a coaster with it. 

This quilting bee is really a great and fun learning experience for me. For some blocks, I made a few and keep, and maybe will assemble them together later on. Meanwhile, I have received all my blocks! I will share them in my next post! I always plan to write regularly but never happened. I really should make an effort to write more.  

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Happy Sewing! 

Elvira

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36 Patch Block for Quilting Bee

 Hello,

Spring is almost here. Well, in our part of the world, February is always dry and dusty and then followed by seasonal flu season. I hope you all stay healthy! 

Last week, we at the Desi Quilters group on Facebook started Quilting Bee. It's been years since we did the quilting bee. There are 24 participants divided into two groups -  Oddbees and Evenbees. I am the first queen bee for the Oddbees group. When Tina announced at the beginning of February that we are going to have a quilting bee again, I am very excited. I mean, this is the way you can learn and in the meantime get your blocks done in no time, right? 

I know I wanted to make a 36-patch block made up of mini charms in different colors. It's been high on my list. So for the 1st bee block, I go with this simple block! I made a 36-patch quilt a long ago and it's still my fave. 

This block is very easy and my block finished at 12" square. The fabrics I used are assortments of cotton fabric scraps that I previously cut and keep. 

So for this particular 36-patch bee block, I want one block in ONE color shade, and the scrappier the better.

It's super easy to make. All you need is 36 pieces of assorted 2.5" square pieces of fabric.

1.  First step is to arrange the fabric pieces to your liking, alternating between light and medium/dark. Although it's not always easy, that's fine!

2. I like to make them into a 9-patch section. Sew them together with a 1/4" seam allowance and press the seam to the darker side. 

3. After finishing 4 mini blocks of 9-patch, iron the blocks. I am using assorted fabrics, some fabrics get a bit stretched after ironing. That's fine for me. 

4. Now, trim the blocks to 6.25" square. 

5. Sew the 4 blocks together and voila you get a 12" square block.

Here's a quick video of how I made the block

I made 2 blocks as samples for the quilting bee and I am so excited to see everyone's block. We have 14 quilters in the odd bees group. And guess what? I already got one in the mail yesterday. Priya sent me her pretty pink block along with lovely gifts!! Thank you, Priya!! 

There are several blocks already posted in the group and I am so looking forward to receiving them. I will update again when I receive all the blocks! 

Thank you for stopping by today!

Happy Sewing

Elvira

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The finished quilts

Hello,

My quilts have come back from Tsala Quilting Studio, Bangelore and I finished the binding last week. I'm so happy with how it turned out. Thank you Vatsala and team! The quilts finished just in time for my elder son's birthday and he chose the blue and yellow marble star  quilt one! 

Now, we have several long arm quilter here in India and Tsala Studio is one of them. I was speaking on the phone with Ranjana Ma'am and discussing about quilts and bag making in general. And we wished we had one long arm quilter here in Guwahati, which is from climate point of view, we should have one, since we have quite cold winter. But I have not seen a quilting culture so much in here. Most people will do knitting or weaving woolen blanket. Hopefully one day!! 

Back to my quilts, the star quilt one, as I mentioned in my previous post, is from the Desi Quilter Quilting bee. I used yellow block print mulmul fabric for the backing. Why mulmul ? Because it's soft!

Here another shot on the sofa :D. I hope you can see the quilting details.

I really love the Batik Double Star Quilt! I did a wide binding, inspired by Laurie on Instagram. I cut the binding 5" wide, double fold it and stitch a scant 1/2" on the back. Deciding which color for the binding was tough! But everyone at home voted for blue. And it looks lovely, IMO! :)

As for backing, I used this ikat print glace cotton fabric. The fabric is also soft. It has a smooth sheen finished. I guess we can use it as a reversible quilt :D

I have 2 more quilt tops, I am yet to decide the backing though. I plan to send it to Tsala Studio by next month so it will be in time for my younger son's birthday! 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

- Elvira-

Finishing star quilts

Hello everyone,

It's almost end of August and I have not written any blog post this month. There are so many things going on this month. Sometimes, I open my laptop and trying to write something but I can't think of something. Too many things going on in my mind. 

source : Pinterest

Well, sewing wise, I finished 2 quilt tops (yay!!) and now are with Tsala Studio in Bangelore for quilting. 

The quilt top above is from the quilting bees we did in Desi Quilter in 2013 (OMG!!). Thank you Sudha Sekhar, Prasanna Narasimhan, Nikhat, Damayanthi Bhat, Manju Narain, Tina Katwal, Sandhya and Aliya Mir for making these blocks for me *group hugs* 

I posted the tutorial for the block in HERE in case you want to try it :)

For the backing, I wanted in yellow. I have another yellow and blue print which I thought I will use but when I put them together, I feel it's too busy. So I stick to the original idea. I found this mulmul cotton fabric in yellow with small white flower print. It's perfect!! 

The second quilt top is this Double Friendship Star quilt. The block is based on MSQC Youtube Tutorial. I started this quilt last year. I posted my progress in Instagram . I used batik Jellyrolls and white cambric cotton for the background. The batik part finish at 40" x 48". I thought I will finish it as another throw quilt but then I want the quilt to be usable. I have a few throw quilt which mostly end up in my cupboard :D

After browsing Pinterest for idea, I decided to add wide borders in white. I added 9.5" wide on the sides and 12.5" wide on the top and bottom. I love how it turned out! 

For backing I chose multi color ikat print in glace cotton. Glace cotton is very soft and it has a glossy finish. I love it!! 

Oh and I have 2 blocks left which I will make cushion covers! Yay! 

Well, finished is always better than perfect, right? Finally this winter, we will have new quilts. yay!

I still have one more bee blocks to assemble. I already got an idea and hopefully it will work out :D

Thank you for stopping by and have a nice weekends!

~ Elvira ~

Linky Party:
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TGIF - Hipster Cat

DQ Sunny Bee - Blue and Yellow Flower Marble Star Tutorial

Hello everyone..

I've been wanting to make this blue and yellow combination since I saw one wall design in one restaurant here in my town. Sunny Bee is a perfect time to make my dream block into reality. It's pretty simple one. Since I'm not very good with words, I took few number of pictures which I hope will be helpful.  This is similar to my QAL's in Desi Quilters, but instead of using flying geese method I used  5" squares and 4.5" squares. 

Let's do it...

WHat you need:

1. Solid white poplin cotton

2. Navy blue floral cotton

3. Yellow floral cotton

I'd love poplin kind of cotton which is easily available in India. 

A.  Cut the fabric according to the pictures:

 1. White Poplin - 4 (5" x5") 

           2. White Poplin - 4 (4.5" x 4.5")

3. Floral Blue - 4 (5"x5")

4. Floral Yellow - 4 (5" x 5")

Finished block size : 16.5" x 16.5"

B. How to do it

1. Make HST but pairing (right side together)  each fabric. whites and blues, whites and yellows, and blues and yellows and shown in the picture. 

2. Mark diagonally and the sew along 1/4" on BOTH SIDES of the LINE

then cut across on the LINE . Sorry I was in a hurry and forgot to take the pic of the cutting piece :(.

3. Once you cut everything, iron them flat and take out the 4" squares SOLID WHITE and arrange them according to the pic below:

sew them together row by row 

and Voila your block is ready

Easy peasy isn't it?

Let me know if you have any questions :)

Happy Quilting

Queen Bee - My Double Star Block Tutorial

I was the Queen Bee of January 2013 in my quilting group Desi Quilters. I was so excited and I already hearted this block I saw on Flickr, but could not find any tutorial about it. 

So, I sat down and drew my own based on the picture I saw on Flickr. 

I called it Double Star block. This is quite simple to make. 

First, here’s what you need:

1 - Background color  is BLACK

2-  Star colors: 2 CONTRAST COLOR and use ONLY SOLID

So, here we go :

THE CUTTING:

BLACK fabric:

-          Cut  4 ½ “ x 4 ½ “ -  4 pcs

-          Cut 4 ½ “ x 2 ½ “  - 8 pcs

-          Cut 2 ½” x 2 ½” – 4 pcs

SOLID  contrasting color:

-          Color  #1 : 2 ½” x 2 ½” – 7 pcs

-          Color #2 : 2 ½” x 2 ½ “ – 7 pcs

Finished block: 12" x 12" 

THE METHOD:

1.       Making flying  geese:

Take 4 BLACK 4 ½” squares and take 4 pcs of each 2 ½” squares of solid and make into 4 flying geese.

2.       Make the  1 ½ flying geese (umm that’s what I called this piece, btw)

PLEASE REFER to the picture of the complete block for the placement of the color squares in this piece. 

Like making the flying geese, place 2 SAME  color of 2 ½” squares  SOLID  on one side of the 4 ½” BLACK squares  and CONTRASTING color of 2 ½” squares  SOLID  on the other side.

3.       Once you’re done, don’t forget to  first IRON flat all the seam to the dark side. Then arrange all the pieces and accordingly stitch each row and then assemble the whole thing.

Tadddaaa…your double star block is ready. Easy peasy,  isn’t it? ^_^

Happy  Sewing ^_^

Sunny Bee #1 - Sunflower Applique Block

The first Queen bee for the Sunny Bee at Desi Quilters is Bhavani. She wants us to make sunflower block and here's my block. 

I'm not very good with applique but I love doing it sometimes. For this one, I made the template according to Bhavani's instructions and cut off 9 pcs petals on the interfacing and ironed in on the fabric. I'm using Easy Applique Tutorial.

 The starching part was really helpful and it really makes applique-ing a breeze. I thought of finishing it by hand but I didn't have much time in hand, so second best was using blanket stitch in my Bernette ^o^.

Until then....

Happy Quilting