Saturday 4 June 2016

Quilty 365 May circles

Since 1 January I have participated in the Quilty 365 Challenge set by Audrey at Quilty Folk. On the first of each month, a group of quilters world-wide share their circle blocks of the previous month.

My May circles in chronological order: not all sewn down yet.
The circles are appliquéd onto squares, and there are no rules about the type of fabric we use, nor the appliqué method we use. Some of my circles are just one fabric, but many now are randomly pieced form my scrap bin. Most of the circles are 3" in diameter, and yet one has 21 pieces!


Until May I didn't have much trouble in keeping up, but this last month I somehow didn't manage. One evening last week I was so tired I fell asleep with the needle in my hand, and woke up with a start when I dropped the needle. Fortunately, I was still holding the thread! Definitely a sign that it was time to call it a day!

I've chosen to do needle-turn; a technique I'd never tried before. The only preparation I do is to draw a circle on a piece of fabric, cut approximately 1/8 to1/4 of an inch around it, and then sew! As I go round the circle I turn the next 1/4" under (up to the circle line) with my needle, hence needle-turn, and sew it down with an invisible ladder stitch about 1/16" long. At first that was very laborious, but I find it much easier now. I learnt how to needle-turn following a Google search and watching several videos. What would we do without the Internet?!

What would we do without the Internet? Not much new I suspect. Aside from the fact that I'm going to publish this on the Internet and someone, I hope, is going to read it, there wouldn't be anything to write about if it weren't for Audrey and her challenge, and her decision to do her circles using the needle-turn technique. Her decisions triggered me to take part and learn a new skill. You're never too old to learn, and there's nothing like a challenge for beating old age!

I'm linking to 

 Grab button for http://quiltyfolk.blogspot.com/

Hop over there by clicking on the button, and see the great variety of 
styles and materials that are being used in this challenge.

Happy sewing

Marly.


7 comments:

Sandi said...

Glad to hear I'm not the only one behind this month!

Christine B said...

I like this project a lot and even if you didn't keep up very well this month you sound as though you are learning a lot from it! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Christine x

Vireya said...

I read it! I love that aspect of the internet - that you can find people on the other side of the world who share your interests. And be inspired by people you might never meet any other way.

Karen's Korner said...

It is interesting seeing the different ways everyone taking part is interpreting how to make their circles.

Angie said...

Good on you for going with needleturn applique! I tried it in the beginning and didn't like the results, so I retreated to the starch & press method. Love your pieced circles!

Gina said...

THe circles are looking great xx

Marle said...

I use the same system turning with needel. You have so nice pieced circles!