Pine Valley Quilts

More Civil War Bride Blocks

Mar 10

Posted by sharon in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Hello

I can’t leave this quilt alone. I think I am addicted to it, it even keeps me awake at night.

Here are some pics of my latest blocks.

I would have to say that the block with the bride is my favourite so far, although it has alot of pieces and took me the longest to do.

I am really enjoying the machine applique process and very pleased with the result, although needle turn applique has always been my method of choice and you do get a nice loft with needle turn, you really would not know that this has been done by machine if you were not told when the quilt is finished.

I have also been playing with different products and methods to see which I prefer and I have to say that I have gone back to freezer paper, because I like that there are no foreign bodies in my finished quilt, I also use 100% cotton 50 weight thread instead of invisible nylon thread and I do not like the sheen that comes off it.

Well back to my applique.

Happy Stitching

Sharon

Anxieties Block

Mar 1

Posted by sharon in Civil War Dairy Quilt | 8 Comments

Hello

I can honestly say I know why this block is called Anxieties. This block has been a bit of a challenge, I am pleased to have this one finished.

Foundation piecing is the only way to go with this one.

Here is a picture of my Anxieties block.

I have also finnished Conscript Law. This block was a little tricky also, you had to be aware of placement with all the little pieces. I found that numbering each section helps.

Here is the picture of my finished block.

I now have another 117 blocks to make, but whose counting.

Is anyone else making this lovely quilt? , I would love to hear from you.

Sharon

Becky’s Kite’

Feb 23

Posted by sharon in Lazy Dazy Bag | No Comments

Hello All

I got a lovely surprise when my husband returned home from his fishing trip this year, as I told you all that I had made the Lazy Dazy Bag for Becky in my preious post.

I was lucky enough to recieve one in return, a very special Kite’ ( this is woven from our native flax, it is a Moari custom. ) It is beautiful, I have always wanted one of these and feel very privileged to recieve it.

Here is a picture of the Kite’.

It is lovely to be able to share this with you all.

Happy Stitching Everyone

Sharon

Civil War Bride Quilt

Feb 16

Posted by sharon in The Civil War Bride Quilt | 1 Comment

Hello

I have fallen in love with this beautiful quilt. I love the history and the style of these quilts from our past. The women who made these quilts never fail to amaze me.

This quilt is such a pleasure to make, so far I have loved every minute and I can’t wait to do more. When I started learning to quilt everything I did was mainly by hand, so hand applique was the only way to go. ( I thought ) as I have developed as a quilter and learnt more and more about my sewing machine I have found that although I still love to do things by hand and love the look of needle turn applique, I Also very much enjoy using my sewing machine. I have decided to use the invisible machine applique method on this quilt.

So for the last week I have been perfecting this technique. I have found that my new Phaff does not have the same stitches as my Bernina, so I have had to find another stitch to use for this technique. I also have found that I like the new stitch even better and it looks almost hand done.

I have used a fine zigzag which I never liked before but if you make it so the width is very small and the length a little longer, as everyone has a different machine you will have to play around until you have the right settings. I have my tension a little tight so that it the stitches are pulled under the piece. I also use a fine cotton thread and the same thread in the bobbin. ( you can also use mono-filament thread ). I use my open toe foot and have my needle set as far right as it can go. Then I am able to run my foot right up to the edge of the applique piece. Because I use glue to prepare and baste my applique pieces I always wash my block when it is finished. Another tip is that you should wash all the fabrics used for your applique but not the background so when the block is washed the shrinkage that occurs in the fabric and the cotton thread will help pull the thread under the pieces making this invisible.

Well I have raved on enough about all this exciting stuff and here are the pictures of my finished block also one of the stitching to prove that this really is invisible.

Tags: invisible machine applique method

Chantels Quilt Finnished

Feb 11

Posted by sharon in Chantels Quilt | 4 Comments

Hello All

I have worked hard on this quilt over the last week, and yay its all finished.I am very happy with the outcome but had a small problem when I decided to wash it, I used a wool batting and it shrunk a little as I know it can do but this has never been a problem before, it also bearded a bit so although it was not too bad when it dried I was a little disappointed and learnt a hard lesson.

Here is a picture of the finished quilt.

Chantels Quilt

Chantel had a great 21st birthday party. She was very happy with the quilt.

Happy Quilting

Sharon

Lazy Dazy Bag

Feb 8

Posted by sharon in Lazy Dazy Bag | No Comments

Hello

I have been busy recreating a bag pattern that I have on my website. ( www.pinevalley.co.nz ) I have made this in a different colour way and will be selling it as a kit. This bag was originally created out of left over blocks from one of my quilts and has become a favourite for when I go to my stitching groups.

I made the new bag for a lovely lady ( Becky) who lives on Great Barrier Island and runs the local golf course. My husband goes fishing over on Great Barrier Island for a week every year in February, ( my week of peace and uninterrupted sewing time ) and has done for at least 20 years. There are sometimes at least three boats that go and it has become a ritual to play golf as a competition between the boats, (as well as the biggest fish of course ) our boat has always won this competition and Becky takes great care of all the men while they are there, so to thank her for her trouble I made her this bag.

Happy quilting

Sharon

Tags: Lazy Dazy Bag

Chantels Quilt

Jan 26

Posted by sharon in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Hello

Chantel is my youngest sons girlfriend, she is absolutley lovely and very good for my son. We all love Chantel and it is her 21st in two weeks time. I have had this quilt top made up already and it is perfect for her.

I have been busy trying to machine quilt it over the weekend, but!!!!!! I have started useing rainbows thread by Superior threads as it is a lovely embellishing thread with The Bottom line in the bobbin. I have had alot of trouble getting the tension right. it seems too tight in the bobbin and the stitches have a stringy look. So!!!!!!! I have been altering the bobbin tension to find that that has not corrected my problem as then the bobbin thread shows on the top line like little bubbles of thread coming through.

I then searched the internet for info on tensions and found this great pdf by Superior Threads on everything you need to know and do when using any of their threads.

http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/troubleshooting/reference-guide-information-chart

After trying their suggestions I found the look much better, but decided to undo the quilting I had already done, about 1/4 of the quilt and redo it with King Tut as I like this look better.

Here are a few pics of the quilt before I undid the quilting.

Looked Great on top of Quilt but tension wrong underneath

Hope you can see this as my photo has not come up as clear as I would have liked.

Any suggestions on this would be appreciated.

Happy quilting

Sharon

Civil War Dairy Quilt

Jan 12

Posted by sharon in Civil War Dairy Quilt | 4 Comments

Hello There

I have taken the plunge and started The Civil War Dairy Quilt. After having this book now for at least two years or so I have finally got the courage to start this wonderful quilt. I absolutely love reproduction fabrics and have been collecting them for sometime. I have used these fabrics in most of the quilts I have made over the last couple of years. I find you can put any colour combinations together and they just seem to fit.

Here are pictures of my first two blocks. There are 155 blocks in total, so I will be a busy little ( not so little anymore) quilter.

Sorry these pics arn’t straight but this is all new to me.

These blocks are 6″ x 6″ and foundation pieced, it has been alot of fun choosing the fabrics for this quilt.

I have also had to redraw these blocks using my computer so I can print them onto foundation paper, as they only give you a picture in the book to go by, this has been great for me as I am learning more about my computer program and I will have a copy to keep on file as well.

To finnish off today I thought you might like these pics. This is looking out my kitchen window at a tree in my garden. It is gorgeous when it flowers, but looses its leaves in the winter.

This one I could not resist, my cats in my sewing room. they have thier own bed so as they don’t sit on my projects.

Loki and Takker

What a great life they have, don’t you think.

Well on that note I’ll say goodbye.

Till next time

Happy quilting

Sharon

Tags: Civil War Dairy Quilt

Fabric Collage

Jan 6

Posted by sharon in Fabric Collage | 6 Comments

Hello

What a beautiful day, the sky is clear blue and the view of the Kaipara Harbour is fantastic, not a ripple.I always feel so guilty spending these gorgeous days inside.

Anyway on with quilting, I have been busy trying to finnish a collage piece that I am planning to make into an evening bag for my sons lovely girfriend. Problem is my sewing machine is giving me grief. I recently purchased my dream machine Phaff quilt expression 4.0. I am having loads of problems with the free motion quilting, the thread keeps shredding and it keeps skipping stitches. This machine seems to dislike many of the threads I like to use and after reading on several blogs and reveiws I am hoping I have not brought a lemon. Apart from that there are many features that I really love about this machine and hope it can be repaired as I am sending it back to the repair man for the second time in the two months I have owned it. ( sigh ) I will continue with my trusty Bernina Aroura QE and hopefully get this piece finished for Chantel.

I have created this piece by cutting out pieces from a Japanese fat quarter and arranging them in a pleasing way, then machine embroidering the design. I will then line the back with a nice sateen fabric and make an evening purse for the fabric I have created.

My Collage piece in action

I have also been working on my latest design, a double wedding ring quilt with an applique border. I have finnally finnished the centre and moving on to the quilting. I am going to trapunto the centre of the wedding ring and the melons. I am also thinking about the applique border if I will trapunto the feathered design I intend to use. Such a lot to think about.

Trapunto Design

Back of Trapunto

Using wash away thread I have quilted the design.

Then I have cut away the excess batting.

Back of Trapunto after batting has been cut away.

I have twelve of these to do, then I can start on the melons.

I would be happy to hear any comments on this technique and other items in this post.

Well that will keep me busy for a while.

Till then

Happy Quilting

Sharon

Village Green Xmas Party

Dec 10

Posted by sharon in Village Green Xmas Party | 1 Comment

Hello again

My quilting group ( Village Green) has just had our xmas party. What fun, we had a lovely xmas dinner with all the trimmings done by professional caterers. The theme for the night was Kiwiana, which means everything that is only from New Zealand, ( like Tiptop icecream and buzzy bees etc). We each got a fat quarter of New Zealand Fabric. The entertainment is provided by the committe and this year they did a comic remake of our National icon tv show It’s in the bag what a hoot that was. Members also made a xmas swap quilt, I got a beautiful quilt made by Jenny, I will hang this in my sewing room so I can appreciate it while I sew. I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful group of suportive and talented women.

Please enjoy these pictures of my goodies.

Bye for now

Sharon

My lovely xmas swap quilt Kiwiana Fabric