Hello...ahhhhh glad it's Friday, are you? The weather here today is absolutely dire and the forecast for the weekend in my little patch is for continuing Heavy Rain, which to be perfectly honest, would suit me just fine. I'm envisaging some luxurious hours spent pyjama-clad and fluffy-socked, in front of the fire with Country Living magazine to the left, my crochet bag to the right, cushions and blankets to the back and tea and cake somewhere reachable in front. Yeah, that sounds mighty fine to me. I shall surround myself on all four sides with cosy, homey things. Bring it on.
Today though, I thought we might take a little diversion from the weather, and from yarn and crochet and talk fabric instead? More specifically, the business of cutting pieces of beautiful fabric into neat little squares and then attempting to stitch them together with precise, straight, unwobbly lines?
Ahhhh yes I've been busy in the Attic these past few days! Busy doing fabricky, cutty stuff! As you know, I had this idea for my Lloyd Loom chair that I would make a patchwork seat cover for it. Now despite being absolutely Passionate about Patchwork, and despite owning this wonderful book for the best part of ten years, I have never actually attempted to make Patchwork. Never. Well thats to say that when I was a weeny scrap of a girl I did have a go at making hexagonal patchwork, the old fashioned English sort where you hand stitch all the fabric pieces onto little paper templates, you know? But never tried my hand at grown-up sewing machine type patchwork before. Even though it greatly appeals to me and I adore the whole idea of it.
I think that has partly been down to the absence of a Stash. And anyone knows that you need a half decent stash in order to make a half decent stab at Patchwork.
But over recent months, a little itty-bitty stash has been accumulating in the Attic...see those yummy scrumptious fabrics up there, don't they make your heart flutter just a little?? Well that'll be the extent of my stash, and I am very, very fond of it. Its very strokable, very inspiring. Its a mixture of Kaffee Fassett fabrics, European fabrics, and some generously gifted fabrics. I think there are only twenty five fabrics in total there, so extremely limited really in the giddy world of stash-building. But they are mine-mine-mine and I love each and every one of them.
And oh! What fun!!!! To spend an afternoon ironing and gliding my rotary cutter up and down my magical transparent Omnigrid ruler (bought a while ago and never been used before) was just delightful! Delightful. I chatted away to the fabric, enjoyed playing with it enormously.
Want to see what happened?
Want to see what I built?
Ok, look..........
.......I built a fantabulous pile of neatly cut, perfect little 4-inch squares!
A whole stack of them look!!!!
Oh my, well let me explain...what I did was to make a calico template for the chair seat I'm covering, and from the size of that I reackoned on needing 25 patchwork squares to fit it. So any noodle can work out that if you have twenty five fabrics and need twenty five squares, then that's only one square needed from each fabric, right? But where's the fun in cutting just one lonely square??? Nah, much better to cut big strips of fabric, then slice the strips into squares, two at a time! yeah, that rotary cutter was made for cutting strips, it didn't like doing single squares at all!
So anyhow, the upshot is that I think I am about to embark on my first ever patchwork quilt!!!!!! Ooooooooooooo how very totally, utterly exciting! Cos even after I put aside my 25 squares for the seat cover, I think I must still have around a hundred squares left over (yes I really did cut that many, I lost the ability to let go of the rotary cutter).
Anyhow, I will most definitely keep you posted on progression with that.
I think the whole Patchwork thing must be really In Fashion at the moment as I've noticed it in several magazines recently. The above image is from the May issue of Homes & Antiques, its the London home of Kate McShane. See that chair, isn't it amazing?? I love love love it.
And these pages are from the May issue of Elle Decoration.....see the round crocheted cusions on the sofa??
Turn the page and there's a beautiful paper patchworked book shelf, and more of that amazing patchwork furniture too....take a closer look........
How fabulous are those?? Ooo makes me want to smooch that furniture and cover it in kisses, I adore it!!!! You may recognise it as the work of London based Squint Limited.
Want to see some more of their stuff??
(photo above borrowed from the Squint website)
That's the Chesterfield Sofa...
(photos above borrowed from the Squint website)
...and above are stools and chairs that've been given the Squint makeover.
I find this whole idea totally inspiring, fun, creative, imaginative, energetic and heart-skippy. It really inspires me to use fabrics and pattern more around the house, although not sure what husband would say.
Well my friends...just before I log off and return to stitching myself into a squared-up Patchwork Frenzy, can i just say a huge thank you to all your responses to yesterdays post. I've been working my way though all your links and have thoroughly enjoyed my Global Hooky tour, it's been quite wonderful. If you haven't already added your crochet link to the post, then please do, I'd love to come and pay you a visit and see what you've been up to. I will also consider making a Flickr group, if you think that'd be cool??
Enjoy your weekend, whatever the weather, make sure you have yourself some fun....
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Love the patchwork chairs!!!
Posted by: RuthieK | October 16, 2010 at 05:37 PM
love your patchwork. I'm patchwork junky too. have a look at my patchwork chairs www.kellyswallow.co.uk
Posted by: kelly swallow | June 30, 2010 at 06:26 PM
Again, thank you for sharing all of your finds! I caught your enthusiasim and plan on having a wonderful, colorful day. I would love to sit and have some tea with you sometime, but I live in the Seattle, Wa. area, so will have to make do with comments. Have a happy !!!!
Posted by: Jerri Bagley | May 01, 2010 at 05:30 PM
Here´s my flickr page! http://www.flickr.com/photos/mundoacores/
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX :)
Posted by: Susana Alves (mundoacores) | May 22, 2009 at 02:44 PM
Yes, you absolutely have to find 7 things to say about yourself. We are eagerly waiting to find out more! Hope you enjoy your day today and you are enjoying your blog vacation!! We are getting bored by the way!
Love Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | May 20, 2009 at 09:56 AM
I have a message on my blog for you Luce. Hope you are enjoying yourself!
Posted by: Sarah | May 20, 2009 at 02:14 AM
Oh, my goodness. Where are you? Hopefully, out in the garden enjoying a nice spring day. Or maybe quilting away like made and will have some fantastic updates for us soon. Just hope all is well. Took a break from gardening and snapped away a few pics of my new Lucy inspried throw..... Looking forward to some simple direction or count on the final edging. Working on the borders around in the pink and dark teal, but hard to focus now that spring is finally here....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegardenbell/sets/72157618103647987/
Can't wait to see your quilting outcomes...
Posted by: Kate - The Garden Bell | May 20, 2009 at 01:08 AM
Ah, I adore all the fabric you've stashed away! Generally all the colours you love, seem to make me go "Ahhh! Pretty!" So, apparently we like the same colours and colour combinations. :D I want to find fabrics like those ones now. Hehe. Not that I need to add any more craft things to my stash...I need to use up the stuff I already have. :D
I've never tried quilting before - it's always seemed a bit....overwhelming to me. Maybe I need to learn to sew better first, so I can gain some confidence there.
Posted by: Amy | May 19, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Me too! Are you OK?
Posted by: eliane | May 19, 2009 at 09:53 PM
Uh oh............we haven't heard from Lucy for days now. Have you disappeared into quilt heaven????????? I'm a little concerned.
Moonie
Posted by: Moonie | May 19, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Thank you very much for your kind words at "my garden"...
I hope we'll be blog friends to share handmade projects and ideas!
have a good day
AnnaPaula
Posted by: AnnaPaula | May 19, 2009 at 10:07 AM
The sofa patchwork is a little too awkward for my liking.
Posted by: emy | May 19, 2009 at 09:28 AM
I look forward to seeing how it turns out. I am still in the middle of my first ever quilt, has to be done before child no. 4 leaves her cot.
Posted by: hill upon hill | May 19, 2009 at 09:02 AM
Hi Lucy
http://shabbychic08.blogspot.com/
Just wanted to pass on this award to you as you deserve it for your fab blog.....should be able to link it here http://shabbychic08.blogspot.com/
Julie
Posted by: Julie | May 18, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Hi there, I have gave you an award, you can pop over to my site to collect it, I do hope you like it. xxxx
Posted by: melanie | May 18, 2009 at 08:53 PM
Those fabrics are so gorgeous! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished thing. Thanks for a very inspiring blog.
Posted by: Tanja | May 18, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I now I've already given you my link but...I've learned something very clever and would love to share it with you. Please come over and have a quick look at my very pretty crochet. Thanks Luce!
Posted by: Sarah | May 18, 2009 at 03:57 AM
HOLD UP... I'm loving the patchwork but I thought I was the one with the dirty little secret of loving COUNTRY LIVING magazine???
Maybe we should start an CLM appreciation club. Yes it's a little twee but it's so country and romantic and crafty and green and pretty and probably what my other life could have been like if I wasn't such a city chick!
Posted by: cheryl | May 17, 2009 at 07:37 PM
The colours you have chosen are so fresh and lovely. Funny thing you guys are heading into summer and it's raining there and we are heading into winter and we have had something like 25 rain free warm, clear sky days! PS. I am part way through many projects, with a 'babette' style rug being my present focus, but when that is done you've inspired me to make some crocheted cusion covers with the left over bits of yarn.
Posted by: dette | May 17, 2009 at 03:20 PM
That's such a lovely stash! I'm building my own stash at the moment, although very soon it will be turned into bunting for my wedding. How exciting.
Anyway I just wanted to share with you how proud I am: I made a granny square! A real one, with two colours and everything.
Looky: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/dappymuffin/grannysquareevolution.jpg
I'm so happy, I'm going to make ten more after breakfast! Thank you for being so inspiring.
:)
Heather xxx
Posted by: Heather | May 17, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Hi Lucy! Finally, I have time to comment. I came in and peeked yesterday but was so busy with two little girls that I barely had time to breathe! I am so very excited you have joined the world of quiltmaking...and I promise you, YOU are going to be so addicted! Lovely happy fabrics...those blues look extra specially gorgeous for some reason! Have a cozy and creative weekend, my lovely colorful happy-go-lucky Lucy-friend!!!!!!
Posted by: cathleen | May 16, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Hi lucy good luck with your patchwork i am sure it will be lovely. Today, saturday, i made your cookie recipe, oooh absolutely delish! Everyone here thought they were great. Only thing is they've all gone !!! x x noelle xx
Posted by: noelle | May 16, 2009 at 10:36 PM
can't wait to see the finishes quilt more yummy colours.
thought you might like to see my patchwork chair made by a local bedford craftsman for £150.00 I fell in love with it as soon as i saw it
http://dottydotty.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/day-83/
his website is here
http://myjunk4u.com/
Val
Posted by: valerie | May 16, 2009 at 04:19 PM
I have a free download, on my Blog/ Website for glamorous washing up gloves, I know it's not a crochet project but it's free!! There is also a free giveaway for a pair I have made myself so hop on over!!
Posted by: Helen Charlton | May 16, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Your fabrics are so delicious I could eat them! (I recognize some of them in a quilt that a friend so generously gave me.)
Thank you for visiting my humble little blog and leaving a comment. I am so flattered! We did indeed find a house in Portland, and now I look forward to decorating it.
Posted by: Allie | May 16, 2009 at 02:16 PM