Christmas stockings

I wouldn't normally make Christmas things in September, but I'm teaching a quilted Christmas stocking class at Nancy's Embroidery in November so I needed to get some samples ready.

 

I'm totally thrilled with how these samples turned out.

 

This clean and simple version is the kind of thing I'd probably make for myself (and in fact it's kind of similar to the one I made last year).  When I teach free motion quilting, loops are my favourite thing to start off with, and I think they look really effective on this stocking.

 

These stockings are fully lined and should last for ages.  They're also pretty roomy, so they're not just for decoration.

 

I wanted to try and cover a couple of different styles with my samples.  I wasn't 100% sure how this one was going to work out, but in the end I really love the lush patterned fabric and the richness that the ribbons add.  I don't think any of the materials in this stocking are technically Christmas specific, but I think it looks totally Christmassy anyway.  This one is quilted with straight lines - I wanted samples that demonstrate both techniques I'll be teaching.

My class is on at Nancy's Embroidery on Sunday 9 November, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  I've done one full day class like this before and it was a blast - it's a nice chance for people to learn heaps and get a whole project done in the session.  If you're in Wellington, these samples are now hanging out at Nancy's so if you pop in, you'll be able to see them for yourself.

I'm going to link up this finish with crazy mom quilts.  And I might be plotting some more Christmas stockings...

Teaching at Nancy's Embroidery Shop

My mum taught me the basics of quilting, and with her help, I made my first two simple quilt tops (she quilted the first one for me, and the second one was long arm quilted).  After that introduction, I took an almost year long sampler class at Nancy's Embroidery Shop, where I learned all kinds of techniques I'd never tried before, like English paper piecing, foundation paper piecing, needle turn appliqué, piecing curves, etc.

Now, I'm very excited to be teaching at Nancy's myself!  You can check out the 2014 Class Syllabus here.  Here's what I'm teaching:

First up is a nice short technique class on my hand blanket stitch appliqué technique.  I'm working on a few different designs to stitch up and bring along, or students can make up their own design.

Next up is an equilateral triangle quilt.  No, it does not need to be as enormous as this one!  I need to make another of these for a class sample - any colour palette suggestions?

I had a brainwave over summer, and figured out a way to dramatically improve my hot water bottle cover pattern.  I'll be teaching that class in June, just when you'll need a nice cover for your hottie.

My Garden for Birds quilt is kind of a modern take on a sampler quilt, and I'll be teaching it over the course of the second half of the year. 

Finally, a class on a quilted Christmas stocking is at the end of the year.  This is an unquilted version, but I plan on making a few samples for the class, in different styles because I really hope people put their own spin on this pattern.

For the two quilts I'm teaching, we will be covering quilting and binding in the last class.  For me, quilting was the most intimidating part to learn, so it was really important to me that it be covered.  I know not everyone loves binding, but I do, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I'm hoping will help make it an enjoyable experience for my students.

Phew - I think 2014 is going to be a busy year!

Skills Swap - what I sent

Several months ago I said I would be interested in a skills swap.  I was keen for a pair of hand knitted socks, but lacking the skills to actually knit them myself, I offered up a quilted item made by me in exchange for the socks.  The lovely Kelsey of Everyday Fray put her hand up and so we have swapped!  Now that my items have arrived with Kelsey, I'm very excited to share them with you.

The thing that Kelsey actually asked for was a sewing machine cover.  She left it to me to choose the design, but we did discuss cute animals, including foxes.  I'll share more details of these items in a later post, but the sewing machine cover is a modified version of this pattern, and the little fox is made using this pattern.  I also made Kelsey a matching pouch using my favourite open wide zipper pouch tutorial from noodlehead.

Since it's so close to Christmas, I thought it might be fun to include something Christmassy as well.  I made this stocking, and a matching one for Kelsey's husband, using my own pattern.  It was really fun and I think I will have to do a whole set for my family one of these days.

The final handmade item that I included is this mini quilt.  All the coloured petals are Anna Maria Horner fabrics - 100 different ones in total.  Yes, I had all of these (and more) in my stash already.  I went for a kind of rainbow effect on a crisp white low volume background.  I'm very happy with how this mini turned out, and I think I will have to make another one for myself.  Good thing I love that hand done blanket stitch appliqué so much!

Kelsey and I also agreed to include some swag in our parcels.  This locally produced knitsch sock yarn is particularly lovely (it's actually what my mum is using to knit me another pair of socks) and with a name like "Mad Blood Stirreth", how could anyone resist?

At the same time I was buying the sock yarn, this Artisan Lace yarn kit caught my eye.  It has two skeins of yarn, three different lace scarf patterns and the right size knitting needles as well.  I have no idea if Kelsey likes knitting lace, but the scarves looked so pretty knitted up in the shop.

There are more photos and details to come on my handmade items, but I have to say that doing a direct swap like this was a lot of fun.  I found it more satisfying than making something for a relatively anonymous partner and I would definitely do something like this again.  Although Kelsey and I sent our parcels on the same day, NZ Post seems to be taking its own sweet time with delivering Kelsey's parcel to me, but I am very excited to receive it and hope to share the contents with you shortly!

Linking up with:

    

and with Finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts.