Drawstring Baskets

Since some time I wish to sew drawstring baskets for my grandchildren. After searching on Pinterest and on various blogs, I was lucky to find a really great tutorial on this blog : Threading My Way. I must say that I never found such a perfect tutorial, so well explained that you cannot make any mistake. I followed step by step the explanations and had not the least problem. I sewed the orange basket first, and was so satisfied with the result that next day I did a blue one. Tomorrow a pink one! Thank you Pam for Australia!

I chose fabrics from my stash : organic Birch Fabrics.

For the orange basket I just quilted random lines, but for the blue one I did better : I drew regular lines before quilting.

I was absent from the blog since a long time due to various family and health problems... among which a femoral neck fracture last June. I am now recovering and eager to go on sewing, quilting, knitting and blogging...

Chicago Blue and White Batik Quilt

In 2010 when my eldest son Ch. came from USA for his summer holidays in Greece, he brought me several issues of my favorite quilting magazine : American Patchwork & Quilting. He showed me a picture of a pattern he had found in the August issue : a blue and white quilt he wished I would make for him. Same day I ordered batik blue fabrics and, as soon as received, I began cutting and sewing. It was very quickly done as the pattern was so easy : only squares, all of the same size.

Recently my son moved in his new apartment in Chicago Printers Row, and sent me some pictures of my quilt displayed in his lounge. I think it is of a dramatic effect, I love the contrast between the blue of the quilt and the brown and black colors of the furniture. I feel so happy him enjoying and treasuring this quilt!

I wish that soon I will be able to visit my son in his new surrounding, I am absolutely in love with  his new flat and with this historical building, which was built in 1916 by the Franklin Printing Company, and housed presses until 1983! I cannot resist to show the picture of the front that I find so interesting and beautiful!

Scrappy Spools Quilt Finished

Blue backing

On yellow table

With basket

On rattan armchair

This quilt is the second one I did using Kaffe Fassett fabrics. The first one was the Fan pattern which I offered to my niece in Paris. For this second one, I chose the Spools pattern and thought of using more neutral tunes from Kaffe Fassett range in order to give it a warm kind of autumn harmony. I also hoped I would have enough fabrics and leftovers in my stash, and I would not need to buy more, but unfortunately when I displayed the blocks on the design wall, I realized that I did not obtain the wished result and that I would need to get some more fabrics to "break" the too warm harmony. Therefore I ordered some more neutral fabrics and enough yardage of the blue one to use it for the backing. I am quite pleased with the final result, I think this blue fabric cools the whole thing.

String Quilt Binding

My String quilt is back from Eleni's, who again did a beautiful quilting!

It's now time to prepare it for binding. As I have added a neutral beige sashing, I thought that a busy binding, recalling a fabric I used in several blocks, would be fine.

I trim the sides.

The binding is done and I will sew it as explained in MY TUTORIAL.

For the back of the quilt, as usual, I will hand sew the binding, as explained in my other TUTORIAL .

Listening to music, I relax and I sew, really enjoying this phase of the whole quilting.

Almost finished!

I think I like it!

Enjoy your Sunday stitches!

Christine