Hourglass Knitting

Way back in 2009, when we were living overseas, I made the simple hourglass quilt blocks from a charm square pack (by one of my favourite designers - Kaffe Fasset) and a piece of variegated batik fabric.  Then they languished as an UFO for four years simply because I couldn't think of what to do with them. 

Then, just a few weeks ago, in January 2014, inspiration struck!  It really was a lightning bolt moment for me.  What, I wondered would happen if I were to sew the blocks into three panels, could I make a bag from it?  Of course I could!

After the panels were assembled, I fused my three year old piece of lamifix to the sewn panels and made up the outer part of the bag.

I love how the light makes the jewel tones sparkle against the plainer batik.

Obviously, using all 40 hourglass blocks would have made a bag that was too large, so I lined the spares to make the internal pockets.  One small pocket for the tape measure and wool needles.  

A couple of pieces of elastic out of the drawer for keeping the extra needles which are sometimes required....

A second larger pocket for the pattern and my notebook

The lining, wadding, thread, elastic, bag feet and handles all came out of my stash.  This was truly a "stashbuster" project.  I also love that I was able to cross one project of my extensive list of UnFinished Objects.

Very happy :)

Happy New Year!

Off to a flying start this year.  It has been a great summer holiday time, with lots of outings and sewing, and some other fun things thrown in for good measure.  Now it's back to routine, but not until I provide some "show'n'tell" of what I have accomplished the past four weeks or so, especially since my mojo has come back to play again.

First, a cross-stitch bookmark of a blue wren in Correa flowers - gorgeous Australian native bird and flowers

Second, a Christmas table runner using the 'Hope of Hartford' quilt block.  I really like how the star points are offset to each other and the flowing movement around the block.  This will be a make again block, maybe a smaller size.  I would like to see this repeated many times on a larger quilt.  Hmmm, more playing? 

Ooops, sideways photo, but you get the idea! :)

And, from the back, here's the quilting - don't look too closely - it's a bit wobbly!

And.... you'll just have to wait until next week to see the third finish....  oh dear....  Trust me, I think it's worth the wait - can't have too much to look at in one post can we?