Wednesday 27 November 2013

WiP Wednesday – Gifts

 I love giving handmade gifts. For me – it’s much easier to think of something to sew or make, than to spend hours traipsing through the shops, trying to find “the perfect gift”. Plus, hello. Sewing is fun. Enough said.

I’m rather thankful too that my family like handmade gifts. It might be a problem if they didn’t. My mum has requested a couple of things this year – mainly to give me ideas of what to make. So I’m making them all. Because, why not?

Starting with some pretty new cushion covers for the lounge. Currently Mum has blue lounges, with some old faded green cushions. It’s not a pretty look. She’s even hidden the cushions these days. So it will be nice to bring them back out with some pretty new cushion covers!

Through the Window

I had this pattern in mind as soon as Mum mentioned cushions. I think it’s simple but elegant. I tried to kind of line up the stems in the smaller squares so it looked like it was all part of one branch, just looking at it through the window.

Through the window cushions covers

The fabrics are from Terry’s Fabrics – rather a heavyweight fabric which is perfect for cushion covers. They should stand up to do decent wear and tear.

Cushion covers

I’m not sure about quilting these or whether to just leave them plain. Still thinking on that one.
Along with these cushion covers, Mum also asked for some new placemats for her table. I pinned a bunch of quilted placemats and asked her which one she liked. She settled on this one. So I used it as my inspiration for the placemats.

Reverse applique placemat

I decided on reverse applique for these instead of applique though. It really is such an easy technique! These I do plan to quilt – I’m thinking vertical straight lines in the blank area on the right, and perhaps echo quilting around the applique.

Reverse applique placemats

The request was for “warm colours”. But i couldn’t help it. The green kind of snuck in to make 8 placemats. I figure if my parents aren’t so keen on the green, well they have 6 other placemats they can use and make the green ones potholders or something!

So I am really putting my new machine through its paces – bag making, piecing, quilting, binding, reverse applique, zippers (soon!) and am loving every minute of it! No hiccups or hassles. I cannot say the same of my old machine if I subjected it to these kinds of tasks. So I am a happy quilter!
And that’s how my WiP list is looking!

WiP Wed

19 comments:

  1. Looking good. Your Mum is very lucky. And, yep, that's about as original as this comment is going to get. Sorry. ;) x

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  2. Oh, nice WiPs indeed. Your sewjo is fully recovered :-)

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  3. Nice cushion covers and placemats your Mum's place will look very smart this Christmas !

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  4. Glad to see you are over your loss of sewjo with gusto! Your gifts are coming along quite nicely! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. The seat cushions are absolutely stunning--your mum will adore those!

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  6. Looking great, im sure your Mum will be very pleased :)

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  7. Those window panels are so cute! They will make lovely pillow covers. Beautiful placemats!

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  8. If your mum doesn't want those cushions, I'll take them! Beautiful & nicely designed with a window effect.
    RunningHen.blogspot.com

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  9. Lucky mom! Very pretty stuff. Especially like the windowpane look of your cushion cover. It shows extra thought with how you lined up the branches.

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  10. I love the window panels and how you fussy cut them! And I totally agree with you on holiday sewing rather than stressing out in the store with all the other crazy shoppers! :)

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  11. I love how the branches seem to be all one piece. Great job! The placemats are beautiful too (and I like the green!).

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  12. Great job on both projects. I especially love those cushions and I'm sure your Mum will love them all too.

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  13. Awesome gifts Kristy!! Placemats and cushions are so fun to make!!! Reverse applique is perfect for the placemats and i love your Looking through the Window cushions!!! Very pretty fabric :)

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  14. These are really awesome - gosh - I cant stop looking at them!

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  15. Very, very nice! She should be very happy with all of it.

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  16. the cushions are stunning, that fabric is beautiful. I love the placemats too, I pinned them with the idea of making something similar ;0)

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  17. You're going to have one very happy mum this Christmas :)

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