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

Apple core doll quilt finish

A small finish today: a doll quilt, started many years ago, with the apple core pattern (and a little 1950's Steiff monkey;). It was a sandwich for a long time waiting to be picked up again.

I stitched the apple core pieces together by hand (English paper piecing method), appliqued them on top of the border fabric and machine quilted the quilt. The backing fabric is a second hand fabric from France (from a booth at a Show in Nantes I think).

I remembered myself how much I love making doll quilts! I hope I will make more.

GroetjesAnnemieke

2016: Lots of Projects to choose from.....

Hi Everyone, I want to thank all of you for reading my blog and your most appreciated and nice comments in 2015 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are 14 of my WIP projects. Have fun reading!
 

1718 coverlet update (1.73m by 0.35m), lots of more blocks to make. Such a nice project to work on, very different than usual and fabrics as linen, upholstery and woven fabrics too.

  Apple core doll quilt, needs quilting and a binding....

 tree top...needs finishing....(the blue and green is from another top)

Still working on my Cathedral windows quilt (in Dutch: 'Ramen lappie' á la Supergoof), this will take a while because the plan is to make it big. Love working on it though (all by hand).

 Crocheted sheep blanket in granny stripes, only needs a border (and finish all those loose hanging threads..)

 Teddy bear, made of sackcloth or sort of linen fabric, needs eyes and body... but I like him already.

Lizzy BOM, from Quilt it & Dotty,  lots of blocks to make....I don't mind that it will take a while. Nice to know I can make a block without having to think to much...

 Two tops with old Dutch patterns, both need finishing...

 Mushroom, autumn top, needs finishing...

 Red and white Irish chain, I already started machine quilting this...it is quite heavy and big to handle.

A red, white and blue star, part of a sampler quilt to be...there are other orphanage blocks in my closet in the same colour range so may be one day it can be a sampler quilt....

My Bird quilt top...like this one too, a bit quirky..

 '70ties Holiday quilt top, needs more borders... a project I take with me when I go on holiday...

Little dancing dollies table runner, made from antique French fabrics(bought in Nantes, France) on linen, mostly applique. I like this too, don't know why this stayed in my closet for so long...

Of course there are even more plans in my head and patterns and books in my closet, so I feel very privileged .

And now I bought Brigitte Giblin's second book: Feathering the nest 2 at the Quiltster
it is full of nice new projects, ha ha, just what I needed, new ideas!

Saturday the 23thrd I will be attending a workshop in 'back basting applique' and trunkshow (with antique quilts) from Dawn, collector with a needle  at Quilt it & Dotty at Overloon (the Netherlands).  Exciting!
(  I think there are still some tickets left for the trunk show only).

The plan is to show progress on all my projects from above in the coming year!!!


I wish everyone a very creative year too in 2016,
  

Groetjes

Annemieke

Stay in (doll) bed weather.

This dolls bed was hidden under other things in a charity shop. I was able to buy it for almost nothing and the woman in the shop was glad she finally sold it! Well, this bed made my day!!! I'm so happy I found it.

It is quite heavy, solid and has its original paint. It looks old to me and so nice to display doll quilts of course!

There is a bottom made out of board with small holes in it. So I made a mattress and found an old doll pillow and self made doll quilt in my closet.

 
The little quilt on this bed is this one. The pattern is called: 'hidden nine patch or disappearing nine patch'
It is a fun and easy pattern to work with.


I made this doll  from a Tilda book in january 2010. Her body fabric is stretchy so she is a little bit bigger than she is supposed to be but that is all right with me.

And even if you are awake you would want to stay in this bed with a good book ;)

ps. the bed meassures:
length: 57cm by width: 33cm

Have a nice day!

Groetjes

Annemieke