Tuesday 6 March 2012

Attack of the mad ruffles!

Well, I have been a busy bunny since my last post - the new workroom has stalled somewhat due to many things.  As I often say, why procrastinate today when you can procrastinate tomorrow?!?

I purchased a lovely FQ bundle from Cath Kidston, 8 pieces, and used them to make a log cabin quilt for a friend who will be having twins in the next few weeks.  The front piece came out beautifully


The actual dimensions of this quilt are 28" x 28" (71cm x 71cm), and it was a joy to put together with my 1/4" foot - another recent purchase...

I've just ordered some polka dot pink fabric for the backing and will quilt it over the weekend.  I am also planning to attempt to self bind the edge rather than use commercial bias binding - watch this space for an update on how that went.  I've found a couple of tutorials with the basics, so I should be able to have a reasonable stab at it.  After all, who needs clean clothes, or food or a clean house - sewing is waaaay more fun than housework!

So, once the log cabin quilt was finished, I had a fair few strips left over, and one whole FQ that I hadn't cut into at all.  Obviously, something had to be done!  And this was it - a 20" x 20" (50cm x 50cm) cushion cover - shown here not made up, but I made it up with an envelope style back in a pale blue star pattern fabric, also by Cath Kidston.


As you can see, I was starting to run out of long strips by this point, so the cover has taken on a more patchwork appearance.  But wait - there is still fabric left over - these FQ bundles really are a lot of fabric, although they don't always look it at first glance...

My final make with the bundle involves my recent birthday.  My lovely husband bought me a ruffler foot for my sewing machine, and I've been itching to do something with it - and this was the result.  This is a scrappy patchwork ruffle skirt for my 4 year old daughter, in various stages of development.  I had to cheat very slightly and use a couple of strips from another FQ, but I did very very nearly get all of these projects from one bundle - I needed 3 x 2 1/2" strips to complete...



The waistband is flat at the front and elasticated at the back, using 1" elastic.  The flat front is interfaced to give it a bit of stiffness, and the first tier is not ruffled at all.  The following five tiers are all slightly ruffled - but it is a proper sticky out skirt, perfect for flouncing and huffing in.  Which 4 year olds do a LOT!

I am very impressed with both my creative frenzy and the sheer amount of fabric you get in a FQ bundle.  Anyone else with lovely FQ projects out there?  And anyone else been overtaken by an attack of the mad ruffles?  They are a seriously cool piece of kit, and the engineer in me just marvels at the lovely clicking ratchets doing their work...

Next project is to get my workspace done!  Onwards and upwards...

2 comments:

  1. Wow! So much out of a FQ bundle! That's awesome. Janelle

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  2. I did use every single scrap of it, using strips like this means you can use even the tiniest of leftovers by sewing them together in longer strips. I've just ordered my first jelly roll to see what I can do with that! I need more cushion covers, but am thinking some wall art as well, sort of 3D with ruffles and padded bits...

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