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I am really enjoying my new project as it slowly takes shape.

The needle turn appliqué comes to life as each layer is added. I am using up all my scraps and left over pieces of Japanese yarn dyed fabric, and hoping that I have enough of the pinks in my stash of scraps to complete the blossom flowers……I bought them in Japan a few years ago.

The subtle colours all bounce off each other and bring the design to life.
On their own they look pale and a little insipid, together they blend perfectly and compliment each other. I am using silk thread in a colour that matches the fabric and a fine milliners needle for the appliqué. The colonial knots are made using Japanese Sashiko cotton. I am also happy with my choice of background fabric with its soft spot design.

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It is exciting being back in the studio designing two new projects which involve lots of different techniques……from paper foundation piecing, English paper piecing with cardboard, raw edge machine appliqué, a little piece of colouring with Fabrico markers and of course, needle turn appliqué using lovely Japanese yarn dyed fabric.

Here is a peak of my progress so far.

More than 20 years ago, Lyn Keogh was encouraged by a friend to enrol in a beginner patchwork class at the local high school. Over the term of the course, the ladies each made 12 hand-pieced traditional blocks using English paper piecing to complete a sampler quilt. “We were only allowed three fabrics — a light, a medium and a dark,” Lyn recalls. “I can still remember drafting each of the patterns by hand on thin cardboard.” Lyn dabbled in various small projects over the following years, however with small children and working full time as a primary school teacher, it was a hobby that was only indulged in occasionally.

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I have been experimenting with free motion quilting designs, creating patterns and texture to fill a shape. The finished quilt panel highlights how quilting enhances your projects and brings them to life. From simple in the ditch and straight lines to stippling, lots of background fillers, circles and feathers. The cot panel provides an excellent start for some creative sewing to fill each coloured shape using a variety of coloured threads.

Here is an extension of my Inktense Pencil work, a notebook slip cover. All quilters need that extra space to doodle their quilting designs in pencil before stitching them with the needle. The cover is a miniature interpretation of Helen Godden’s Danish Delights design. When teamed with the soft batik fabric it works well as a notebook cover, made with soft Pellon as batting to enhance the quilting. A lovely small gift to make for a special quilting friend.