Waiting....

The children have gone to school and it's really, really quiet in the house .... and I'm waiting....It's an 'in anticipation' good type of waiting but I do so wish they'd hurry up!

In the meantime I'm sewing, because that makes me focus on other things; mixing colours, pattern and the scale of the prints. Building the block as I go, trying to keep it interesting, balanced and pleasing to the eye....

That reminds me, absolutely ages ago I acquired this book; Denyse Schmidt Quilts. If you haven't come across her books then you may recognise her name as the designer of 'Katie jump rope' and 'Flea Market Fancy' fabric collections.

I've made quite a few of the projects out of it; the scarf, the 'closet sachet', the coasters, but then I guess it got left on the shelf. Until I journeyed into Woolywotnots' book forum where it was one of the books of the month. (September's book list is here and 'Doodle Stitching is one of them ... oooooh! Now that's another lovely book.)

I love Denyse Schmidt's designs they always seem so completely uncluttered, not too busy, not too hard on the eye yet absolutely eye-catching and extremely desirable. She often works just with plain/solid fabrics placing all the emphasis on the patchwork design itself and not on fabric print or collection. She explains how she achieves that balance in her book.

But i wasn't intending to review the book at all, I wanted to point out the wonderful little trick she shared about constructing log cabin blocks.

If you've ever worked on one of these blocks in this fairly random style you might also have encountered the problem that comes from turning the block around to add more 'logs'. It's just so easy to lose where you are in the block and consequently you have to sit and work out exactly where the next 'log' should go.

The secret solution to this which Denyse Schmidt shares, is called the 'compass pin', and like all precious little tips it's simple and inspired. You put a pin into the centre piece with the pin head pointing away from you.

.. can you see the red topped flower head pin in the centre 'log'?

Keep the pin there whilst you work. Whenever you lose track of where you are, just turn the block until the pin faces away from you and there you are back in the right place.

I've a few more logs to go before I finish this block. It's pleasing me so far.....

Oh! there goes the door bell.....

.... and for my next task I'm going to need a PC......

Comments

[dottycookie]

That pin tip is very clever indeed!

[Thahera]

Snap, Julia! Im doing a log cabin as well, a quilt though. What'll yours be? Another tip - to find where you add the next log, just find the side with the 2 seams.

[Woollywotnots]

Ooo I love your log cabin and the colours and fabrics are fantastic.

[Andrea]

Yes, I agree with Thahera. Also keep turning your work th same way each time either clockwise or anti-clockwise. Lovely colours here. I wish my house was quiet although it has been great weather today and I have been sat out on the decking ALL DAY!!!!! Oh yes! (Working too blast it!!) Now I am going to do some more crochet flower variations. I also have another block to do but it will have to wait until tomorrow.
xx