Manx log cabin

This is a doll quilt (or little wall hanging) I made, using a folded log cabin pattern. Oscar our Dachshund, was thinking about joining my doll I guess!

It is also often called: the 'Manx log cabin', originated from the Isle of Man. Fiona of this blog post here wrote a very clear tutorial and nice story of it's history, worth reading! I added a practical little step to this tutorial.

 Like a regular log cabin you start with a square and add strips of fabric in a chosen width.

 Only before stitching the next strip, you fold the sewn strip back (mostly 2/3 of the width, minus the seam allowance). So far the same tutorial like Fiona's.

 What I did to make it easier to iron the fold in the strip is: I used a template (made out of a cereal box) with the desired width.

In my case my strips were cut to 3,5 cm (very narrow, you would prefer to make wider strips). After sewing with a 0,5 cm seam allowance, 3 cm was left. 2/3 of 3 cm is 2 cm. So the width of the fold is 2 cm as is the template is.

 Here the fold is ironed down and you can take a peak under the fold.

a few blocks done

 There is no need to quilt this, which I think is a great advantage! To join the blocks you work like a quilt as you go method ( just picked a clear tutorial by Leanne and Marci with pictures) only in this case you don't have to worry about the batting.

 The things I learned is to: 1st pay attention with what thread you sew, because it shows on the back. Secondly how you start and stop your sewing line, this will also show.

And thirdly only sew the logs length without the seam allowances at the beginning and the end (like in the improvised drawing above). I'm referring to the last rows because this will make it easier to sew the blocks together. 

Sewing the background squares together I chose to do this by hand, probably the only method without sewing all through the front. 

The little quilt is finished with a little binding. I used mostly woven fabrics and linens. Also lots of Japanese woven fabric scraps. I love the feeling of all these types of fabrics, lots of texture!

I first saw an old quilt with this pattern at a friends house in Maryland (USA). Her family called it: 'a toe catcher log cabin', a funny name, I think, but very understandable if you look at all those folds!

Oscar thinking: She smells nice...may be I could try something here....

Me talking to Oscar: I know it seems tempting but you are not going to fit in there as well.....

Enjoy your week,

GroetjesAnnemieke

Another 1718 update and lollipops tutorial

The back of the coverlet top in progress.

Detail of the coverlet top with one of the lollipops block (the large block with the 16 hearts on the right).

  I almost finished the third lollipops block, not the easiest blocks to make.

This is how I made the lollipops block:
I prepared all the hearts, and 'sticks' as  normal applique pieces.  I use Floriani ( bought it here: Hergarden, Beverwijk , it is a water soluble stabilizer) and fold and glue the seam allowances to the back. I placed them on the pattern in the book to glue them temporarily together, the hearts on the 'sticks'.

 Secondly I made the dark pieces, using freezer paper on top. This way it is easy to see where they are going and glued them together.

 This is how the back looks.

 The second one is done.

 Sewed these two together with the pieced triangle (inset seam)

I use the freezer paper shapes over and over again. Here I used a white pencil to draw on the dark fabric, around the freezer paper shapes. After this the freezer paper can be removed.

 The back again, after half of the lollipops block is finished.

 And the front. Hope this  little tutorial was helpful.

This is the update of my coverlet top so far. I made 146 blocks (some are not on this photo but on my design wall and not attached yet), 36 blocks to go.

Have a nice Weekend,

 note: The Floriani stabilizer and some coffee and/or tea dye will disappear after washing when it is finished.

Groetjes

Annemieke

Pompom cover for old monkey

Hi, this is monkey and today he got a new cover for his bed, made out of many pompoms. I'll show you how it is made. I got this idea from a book, probably from the seventies.

Here are the pompoms from up close.

It is done on a frame (made out of a painters canvas. The linen is being taken off). Lots of nails 2cm apart, sock wool  leftovers from one nail to the other, up and down until the frame is full.

At the crossings the threads are being tied up. Not with wool, I tried, but it is better to use strong thin unbreakable sewing thread.

After that I cut the threads in between every square like above BUT SAVE THE TWO BOTTOM THREADS!! This way the pompoms stay tied together forming a little blanket.

Cut loose from the frame.

After the cutting is finished, rub the pompoms with your hands to make them fluffy and spray with a little water so all the pompoms get even more fluffy.

Monkey is off to bed with his new pompom cover.

He doesn't need help....

See...

Nice and warm....

Goofie (our dachshund or teckel of 14) needed to inspect the new blanket.

By the way, this monkey is probably English, more then a 100 years old, he has real 'shoe button' eyes and is filled with excelsior.  I'm being told that he is a very  rare stuffed monkey.

Monkey couldn't sleep, had lots of things to think about so.....

Lizzy (our dachshund or teckel of 6) gave him a goodnight hug  :)

Have a good weekend!!!!!!

Groetjes

Annemieke