Sunday 13 December 2015

A House-Warming Gift in Patchwork

This week my B-in-L and his partner are (finally!!) moving into their first home together.
I get on extremely well with his partner, so I wanted to make them a little gift that used some of my new skills.  The colours aren't great in this first photo but you can get an idea of how the finished cushion looks...
 
 
I used the 'quilt as you go' method
- so the whole design is based on strips of material 2 1/2" wide...

 
I cut a piece of backing 17" square, worked the centre panel,
then added the fanned out corners...

 
I then trimmed it to a 16 1/2" square and used some dark grey cotton to make the rest of the cushion cover.  The colours in the WIP photos give you a much better idea of how the cushion really looks - but the pale stripes are actually grey with a small star design (which you can actually see clearly in the original photo....)

 
My sister gave me a book about the 'quilt as you go' technique for my birthday.  It's a great way to create quite dramatic pieces of quilting extremely quickly... but I still love the traditional patterns too.
Once I've finished all my Christmas crafting commitments I'm going to settle down and explore more of the projects.  Over the autumn I've collected some really pretty material - from clearance bins, charity shops, 'hand me downs' from other people's stashes and some lovely fabric for my birthday.  It's all sat there..... just waiting for my M-in-L to go home on the 27th December!!
 
We're going to visit the new house next weekend when we do the usual 'pre-Christmas meal' in Oxford.  (Marks parents separated over 20 years ago so his Mum has always 'mucked in' with our festivities in Worcester while the rest of his family have done their own thing on 'the big day').  I'm delighted that Mark's brother is building a future with such a lovely person.. and I hope that she likes my little bit of house-warming patchwork.
Jx
 

11 comments:

  1. It's nice when we get terrific additions to family. I bet they'll treasure the gift.

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  2. I think you have a true talent there. The pillow is great, and so are your bags.

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  3. Quilt as you go is a brilliant technique, you have done really well, I am looking forward to a crafty friend coming to spend a few days over christmas week, we will be down in the cabin playing and having fun, she is bringing her embroidery machine that she has yet used and had for a year, so we intend she will go home knowing how to use it, I am really looking forward to Christmas week :-)

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  4. Well done Jan. Your crafting is coming along in leaps and bounds. It's a lovely present for a new home and I'm sure they'll be pleased. Have a good week and take care.

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  5. That's very beautiful indeed - I'm sure she will be thrilled with the cushion. My brother married a wonderful woman just over a year ago and I'm very pleased to have her in the family :)

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  6. I think it brilliant and an absolutely wonderful present. What a lovely welcome gift to the family.

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  7. It's really lovely, you're becoming an accomplished patchworker. How wonderful to have someone join your family who you get on with so well.

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  8. What a beautiful keepsake for such a special event! They will use it and think of the love that went into it for many years.

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  9. The pillow is beautiful and means so much because you took the time to make it.

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  10. You really are clever! I am so impressed with your quilting!x

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  11. What a wonderful cushion, I love it! I'm sure the recipient will too.

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