Sashiko by Machine - Class

Today was our final class for the year - Sashiko by Machine.

Sashiko means in Japanese "little stabs" and is a method of stitchery which is often done by hand. Using a thicker thread you can sew these pattern on the machine with ease and alot less time. The ladies completed 4 different samples and learnt how easy this method can be.

Here are some photos from the class-

Show and Tell

Kay has been taking part in Jennie Osborne's Mosiac Garden Class and today she brought in her finished quilt. It is just simply stunning, it is all needle turned applique and what is even more amazing this is Kay's first completed quilt!

Sue also this week brought in her quilt from our Fast and Easy Log Cabin Class with me (Tamsin). She used the Aviary Collection by 3 Sisters from Moda for her quilt. It is beautiful in the mix of aqua’s and soft pinks. This class shows you the easy way of making a log cabin, no more having to use foundation’s or strips, we show you how to cut in a special way for correct sizing and no stretch!

Fast and Easy Log Cabin Class with Tamsin

On Sunday we held the Fast and Easy Log Cabin Class. Using a Marti Michell specialty ruler it is very easy and fast to create the perfect log cabin. Everyone in the class had very different fabrics, and when all sewn they looked amazing. One of the benefits of everyone using different fabrics is that you get to see different combinations and start writing up a list of future combination you want to make! We can't wait to see some of the finished quilts. Below are some photos from this class and our previous log cabin class.

Amanda used William Morris Workshop designed by Barbara Brackman for Moda

Annette used fabrics from her stash

Sue used the Aviary Collection designed by 3 Sisters for Moda

Jennifer used a selection of fabrics from the shop

Barbara used a selection of Oriental Fabric

Tahnia used Amy Butler Fabrics

Class: Creating Realistic Landscape Quilts with Kay Haerland

This past weekend Kay Haerland was teaching the two day intermediate course of Creating Realistic Landscapes Quilts. In this class Kay takes the students through the various steps of fabric selections and to look at fabric with a whole different approach to give the quilt a realistic look. Using quilting techniques the landscapes come alive. Here are some photos from the class. The Uluru/Ayres Rock Landscape is a new sample quilt which Kay has created.

         

What are they?

We have been asked several times what are jelly rolls, honey buns, Bali pops and several other new pre-cut fabric. Generally these pre-cut fabrics are cut from a single collection of fabric. Below is a list of what exactly each of these pre-cut packs are:

Jelly Rolls, Honey Buns, Layer Cakes, Turnovers, Charm Packs and Dessert Rolls are all made by Moda and is part of their Bake Shop Range.
A Jelly Roll is typically made up of 40 (sometimes this will vary due to the collection) individual 2.5" strips x width of the fabric 44"
A Honey Bun is 1.5" x 44" they are typically made up of 40 strips of fabric and are a narrower version of a Jelly Roll
A Layer Cake are 10" x 10" squares of fabric. Usual they are made up of 40 - 42 pieces of fabric (this will vary according to the collection). They are similar to a charm pack but are larger.
A Jelly Cake is made up of a Jelly Roll and a Layer Cake
A Turnover is a collection of 6" half-square triangles. They usually contain 80 pieces (made up of 2 pieces of 40 different fabrics)
A Charm Pack this collection of fabric are 5" x 5" squares of fabric, they can range in number of pieces of fabric due to the number of fabrics in a collection.
A Dessert Roll are 5" x 44" strips. The number of fabrics can vary once again.

Moda has a fantastic site http://www.modabakeshop.com/. This site provides online recipes which you can use with a wide range of Moda Pre-Cuts. The projects are created by various moda designers and shop, well worth a look at!

Other Pre-Cuts Include
Bali Pops are created by Hoffman Fabrics and are 2.5" strips x width of the fabric 44" Usually have 40 pieces.
Sushi Rolls are created by Lecien and are 2 7/8" strips of fabric x 44" made up of 45 individual pieces
Fat Rolls are created by Windham Fabrics and are 5" x 44" strips and can be made up various numbers of individual fabrics due to the number of fabrics in a collection however all the fabric is from a single collection.
Roll Ups are created by Robert Kauffman and once again are 2.5" strips x width of the fabric 44", number of fabrics included by vary but are from a single collection.

If you still not sure how to use all these different pre-cut fabrics we have in the store several patterns and books using them.

The Gnomes have arrived

The Michael Miller Summer Gnomes have finally arrived in the shop. This is a very cute range of "worker" gnomes fabric, there are several different designs in this series. Not sure what to do with the fabric? Michael Miller has a free pattern on their website for this quilt (pictured below)

New Fabric in Store: Rouenneries by French General

New in store. We have had this collection in for just over a week now and it is a stunning range of fabrics. It is a range designed by French General: Kaari Meng for Moda and is called Rouenneries. The collection we have is made up in shades of red and natural colours. Rouenneries were cotton prints in Rouen, France during the mid 18th century. Kaari designed this range based on a collection of old prints and stripes from that era. Kaari is the author of several books and is the owner of the French General workshop located in Los Angeles, California (www.frenchgeneral.com) Her online shop is amazing with a collection of vintage craft kits, old millinery supplies, beads and fabrics.

All I want for Christmas is a Bernina

The Bernina Sewing Machines are now at Berrima Patchwork.

We picked them up yesterday and today they were in the shop. There is nothing like a brand new shiny sewing machine to make ones day AND what could be better timing as Bernina has their current promotion "All you want for Christmas is a Bernina".

There are some wonderful special deals available for this Christmas so maybe it is time to get that machine you have been looking for, go ahead and spoil yourself or that someone special this Christmas with a brand new Bernina! And for those who already have a machine there are also deals on Bernina Accessories or you could always buy another machine!

Patchwork Illusions

This past weekend we held the class Patchwork Illusions. This is a class uses the patterns design by Karen Combs and her fabric range Shade Cascade. The blocks are designed to give a quilt a "3-D" look.

The Ladies had a great time and designed many wonderful blocks for their quilts. Despite the same range of fabrics being used by everyone each block is very different especially those created on the second day.