Block of the month September for ESTB

This year I'm kicking off in the Euro Siblings Together Bee!
All instructions for my block can be found here.
But as that block is all in green and cream and I'd like to receive them in whites and/or neutrals + light & dark (er) blues, here's my version of this 12" block

What you need:
4 light blue pieces of fabric measuring 3.5" x 6.5"
4 dark blue pieces of fabric measuring 3.5" x 6.5"
16 white/neutral 3.5" squares (of fabric)

Sew each square to a blue strip and not like me (above) just on one end ...
I was halfway here.
I have a special request: please sew twice:

1. from corner to corner
2. the other sewing line half an inch to the left or right, towards the bit you'll be cutting off. This will give you (or me) an extra 16 squares of 2" (1.5" finished).

Would you like to send them to me too?
Don't worry about their size: I have a fabulous Block-o-lock template of 2" and I will cut them all to size.

And I like watching/listening to my favorite quiz during (boring) work ...
(in case you're wondering, it's Pointless).

Please iron to the dark blue side but not to the light blue side. Otherwise the pieces will not nest together at the next sewing step:
dark blue: iron seam to the dark
light blue: iron to the white/neutral

Here I'm cutting that extra half square triangle off

Here they are all together: seems a pity to waste them even though they're small. If you'll send them all (192 squares0)to me I can either use them on the back or start on another Siblings Together quilt. 

And this is my block all sew together, finishing at 12.5" exactly!
The only thing to watch when sewing these together, is the placing of the blues so they'll match.

I'm not a fast sewer and it took me about 90 minutes to make this block (I have all sorts of distractions).

Hope you'll have fun making them.
I'm looking forward to receiving your blocks!

To wash or not?

I've finished my quilt for this charity: each sibling receives a quilt at the end of their summer camp as these siblings aren't in the same foster family. I've added mine in the Flickr Pool for all Siblings Together Quilts; have a look and be amazed!

I was wondering as I was admiring my finished Siblings Together quilt: should I wash it?
Is it dirty?

The fabric looks so crisp and nice now and after washing it, it might look like a second hand quilt: all crumpled and crinckly, and not the real original colours it had before you stuck it in the washing machine. You and me know it isn't a hand-me-down quilt, but does the first time quilt owner know?

I have the tendency to just go over it with a lint roller and then give it with washing & drying instructions. I've only washed one of the 16 projects I've made so far.

I'd just like to know, what do you do?

STQ: so nearly finished

Last Tuesday I showed you this finish

Now a sunny picture.

And I want to show you my quilting progress on the coloured one for Siblings Together. My husband had the idea of quilting it with waves. They're a bit organic sometimes.

I hope to finish it this weekend (sigh) but there are a lot of other things to do as well (sigh)

I'll be linking up to Amanda Jean's Friday Finish and Amy's Sew & Tell Friday.

Wishing you all a great weekend sewing or whatever your plans!

Many WiP's

Lately I've been working on my first commission, which is finished now:
Size is about 41" sq (=1 m2), made in the same way as this one.


Siblings Together:
I wanted to make Granny squares and I still might, but I thought of a much better solution. I have a few WiP's lying around and thought this was THE opportunity to finish at least one, this one (look at that date!). I wanted to make it bigger, but didn't know how.
This week I got an idea: add a piano border!

I pinned the pieced top to a duvet cover (with trees)

I've also cut backing (so soft and deep burgundy) and batting (bamboo, also very very soft).

The man in the shop called it 'a little mouse' (muisje) and said it was the official name. He could have told me any story and I would've believed him. Does anyone know how it'll look after washing?
I'll have to test the quilting myself. If you know/recognise this stuff give me some details please.

I hope to finish it this week and maybe I can take it to London and give it to Lynne at the Fat Quarterly retreat. But the postman is always happy to get more work.

I will be linking up with Lee at WiP Wednesday

Hope to see you again this week.

Back to normal

I've just returned from a weekend at the seaside in Langeoog, Germany.
With my friend Rika, we had many laughs and talks.
We didn't do anything, except walk, sit on a terrace; yes, we braved the cold! To get warm in the sauna at 85 degrees C.

On every beach in Germany you can rent a beach chair. It sits 2 people and you can move it around to get out of the wind (into the sun); there actually were a few with real people in them!

For me, today, it's back to normal!
My head's fine, so I'm happy I can do some work!

I joined up in the Siblings Together Quitling group, started by Lynne and I want to make Granny squares and perhaps even more. Let's just see where this takes me.
The reason for joining is that this initiative lies close to my heart, very close.
I don't think I should be putting any of these details on the internet ...

Hope to see you again this week (with a finish).