Work in progress #1 - Patchwork Quilt

Like a lot of crafty people (I assume) I have a couple of projects that are ongoing. Big ones that I can put down when I get a bit bored but then pick up again with renewed enthusiasm a couple of months later. One that I expect to take me the best part of a year (or three) is my patchwork quilt.

I've always wanted to have a handmade patchwork quilt and since I was given a sewing machine for Christmas last year I thought I'd better get on with it! I had some leftover scraps of material and so started in traditional thrifty quilting fashion.

Projects like this seem intimating but if you boil them down to the step by step they're actually really easy and - in my opinion - quite therapeutic. Having never quilted before I bought this bargain template book from Amazon for the princely sum of £1 and some shrapnel. It comes with patterns and plastic templates which is perfect for my with my stop-start approach 'cause it means I won't forget measurements.

Picking a pattern that doesn't look even vaguely goose-like

Cut out all the pieces taking care not to cut your own clothes in the process (lesson learned)

Once you cut out all the pieces you need, you need to sew them all together. You can do this by hand or with a sewing machine. I think if I did it by hand each patchwork square would take me a year! With a little electrically help however it only takes about an hour so I can squeeze making a new section whenever I'm a bit bored.

The finished patchwork. Still not looking much like a brown goose

It's so satisfying making each patchwork square that I immediately want to start another one, which is lucky as I have loads to plough through before I will have a finished quilt. So far I have done eight but the book says I need 42 for a full-size quilt. 42!! This is based on a quilt that's seven squares long by six wide, but I may shave that down to six by five for a nice round 30 squares.

Better get cracking on the next squares then if I want to ever have the joy of using my lovingly homemade quilt. Stay tuned for more updates....

Phili xxx