Goodbye Old Man Winter

 

Hello, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ A beautiful welcome to you on this Sunday morning. The last day of August. Tomorrow my calender flips over to September, which means Spring, Spring, Spring! Old Man Winter is hanging around though. A polar blast has hit Tassie this weekend. I suspect 'tis Old Man Winter's last hurrah before he heads off to the northern hemisphere.  There are hints here and there that Lady Spring is getting ready to sprinkle her floralicious magic all around. Why, outside my sewing window the daffodils are beginning to burst into drifts of sunshiny yellows.

This week has flown by.....again. Pete had knee replacement surgery so I've been busy, busy, busy. In those free moments I've continued to join the squares of my fusion quilt together. But oh my goodness, what a chore it's been. I feel as if I got nowhere fast. I can't believe the mistakes I've made in crocheting each square together. I've used the join-as-you-go method and even though I've used this method for all the crochet garments I've fashioned, and for the most part this method has always been problem-free,  for this fusion quilt I've been continually frogging what I've done. Usually, I crochet three double crochet then chain one, but for these squares there is only one double crochet then chain one, thus making the gaps smaller, which, if one doesn't concentrate one can miss a gap throwing the whole row out. I guess I just slipped into the groove of happily crocheting along and at times skipped a gap or two, or three...... It seems this week, my muddly mind has been well, more muddly than usual. But, I will keep on keeping on.

Someone asked if the placement of the squares was random. For the most part, yes. Though, some fabrics didn't always play nicely together; hence a little consideration of placement was needed. There's always that one or two fabrics that stands out like a sore thumb, isn't there?? The back was a bit tricky at times as the placement of a few fabrics wasn't pleasing to my persnickety eyes. So, getting some of the front fabric with the backing in a merry position proved a tad iffy. Again, not a lot; just a few. I actually made a few more extra squares and selected a backing fabric to fit in. I think the next time I make a Fusion quilt I will give a little more thought as to the placement of the backing fabrics, if indeed each fabric is different. I will audition both the top and backing at the same time.

In those free moments where I haven't been nurse, chef and chief bottle washer, or indeed, exasperated with crocheting, I had a little time to capture happy snaps. =) After all there's always time for a happy snap, or two♡

Three rows finished, three rows to go. Then I need to figure out a crochet edging to dance around the quilt. Maybe when Lady Spring is in her full regalia this Fusion quilt might be dancing among the spring flowers. Maybe?? In the meantime I am going to take some moments this Sunday, this very last day of August, and winter; to crochet more pretty squares together, hopefully without too many boo-boos. =) Perhaps my muddly head will be less muddly. Have a lovely day, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ Let your light shine bright in your little corner of the world♡♡

Until the next time........

More Fusion Quilting♡

Hello lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ A lovely Sunday morning, welcome to my little place♡ Goodness me, how can it be Sunday again?? Another week has sped by. Another week with me working on my fusion squares. All the blanket stitching by hand is done and every square has crochet skipping around the edges. All the squares are finished! Yippee Yi Yay!

One side, gorgeous Tilda, vintage inspired pastel fabrics♡

And the other side of my pretties, floralicious florals in every shade under the sun.

I fashioned thirty six 9" squares and will make the quilt by assembling six rows of six squares. A lovely square, queen size, bed topper or indeed a comfy lap quilt. 

And so, the crocheting of each pretty square to the other, begins. Now, to play a bit and decide upon which method joining the squares is pleasing to my eye. I'm thinking the 'join as you go' method which I always use when joining granny squares, might work. A couple of weeks ago I was playing with wool and hook and came up with something rather spiffy when joining these squares, but do you think I can remember?? Of course not! Sometimes my muddly mind is a worry. So, it looks like 'JAYG' it is. It looks like my sunny Sunday is sorted. 

May you enjoy many delightful moments doing something you love when Sunday comes a-knocking on your door♡ As for me, down here at the bottom of the world, I'm going to enjoy my sunny Sunday happily crocheting pretty squares one to the other. Punctuated of course, with many a cup of tea poured from my teapot being warmed under a woolly, pansy tea cosy♡ You, are most welcome too, to share a cuppa or two with me♡ Especially those, whose felonious leader rolled out the red carpet for a war criminal.......and you're feeling fatigued. Goodness...what next??!! We'd have so much to chat and commiserate about. You must be weary with it all. Though, perhaps we might need something a little stronger than tea. =) Have a lovely day, lovely lovelies♡♡ 

Until the next time............

Linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

Frédérique's Quilting, Patchwork and Applique

Now.....About The Fusion Quilt .....

Hello lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ Here I am again on this sunny Sunday morning to talk about the fusion quilt I've been fashioning. Some more happy, fusion squares dancing with gorgeous colours and patterns have been finished.

Last week a couple of lovelies had a few queries as to how a fusion quilt is fashioned. I did smile at Julie's comment that each square looked like a "fancy schmancy pot holder". =) I must say, Julie, I would have to agree with you♡

A fusion quilt is basically making quilted squares and crocheting each square together, which in essence is fusing sewing and crochet together.

Each square consists of a fabric square for the top and another fabric square for the backing. As my quilt is made of quilting cotton for both the front and backing, there is a square of batting in the middle of the two finished squares. I have seen fusion quilts fashioned with a fabric square for the top and a fleecy fabric for the backing. In this case there would be no need for batting.

The batting and the two fabric squares with right sides together, are machine stitched together leaving a gap to enable turning out to the right side. 

The sides are then trimmed and neatened  and the corners clipped giving a neater and more defined corner when the square is turned right side out.

Or......the quicker, more efficient, but fuglier photo......method. =)

Push out the corners with whatever implement you use and then press with an iron. Quilting is done at this point. I machine quilted diagonally from corner to corner.  I then mark 1/4" in from the edge and draw a line around the square. Some lovelies, machine stitch all the way around as a guide for the blanket stitch. I don't as I prefer to only have the blanket stitch skipping all the way round. Then blanket stitch is sewn around the square at 1/4" intervals. Blanket stitch is needed to have something to work the crochet stitches into. 

When all the crochet edging around each square is finished the squares are then joined together either by crochet or hand stitching, forming the quilt. I love that each square is a complete component crocheted together to form a completed quilt. Hopefully, the joining of all my pretty squares isn't too far away.

What I'm loving about this fusion quilt is the completely different aesthetic of the front and back. On the front, vintage inspired, muted colour palettes of Tilda, and on the back, bright and cheery florals. I love that it is two quilts in one. I love too, that this quilt has been fashioned from what's in my stash. It's a good project for using leftover batting, too. It's certainly turning out to be a fabulous 'user-upper' of my fabric stash.

The back is as lovely, if not lovelier, with all the floralicious florals♡

I'm aiming to have enough squares for a quilt that will rest atop a queen size bed. A very roomy lap quilt, if you will. =) Perhaps, in the not too distant future I will begin the crocheting of each pretty square together to form the quilt. I'm rather excited about that.

Enjoy your Sunday, lovely lovelies♡ 'Tis time for an early morning cuppa here and time for a little Slow Sunday Stitching. 'Tis time to relax and enjoy some quiet moments.....calm moments; and with crochet hook and wool, let my fingers dance merrily around some more pretty squares♡

Until the next time........