Update on my doiley quilt.

After meticulously handstitching doilies on to three blocks, I decided that was a crazy idea, and had a go at sewing the next couple of blocks by machine.  Much faster, and looks quite neat, so that is what I will be doing for the rest of them.
Funny to think I am doing this quilt in memory of a friend who died of cancer, and now I have just been diagnosed with cancer myself :-(   However, it is in the bladder, not an aggressive cancer, and I had the tumours removed last week without any problem.  My doctor assures me that it is quite a common cancer, and most people survive for many years once it has been treated.  Maybe I'd better make another doiley quilt when I've finished this one, just in case!

Clover shaped needle case.

I made this for a swap on the Home Makers Forum.  My nominated swap partner had mentioned a while ago that she would love to have one of those clover shaped needlecases, so I consulted Mr Google, downloaded a free pattern, and here  it is!   they are :-)
I made the Paris fabric one first as a trial to see how it turned out, and learnt a few things on the way, which made the second effort much more presentable in my eyes.

Crazy Cats table runner

I put the last stitches in the binding tonight.  Another small project out of the way!

Two Bunnies stitchery

I have several friends who love rabbits, so when I saw this free pattern online I immediately thought of doing one for a Christmas gift.   I love the current fad for framing little embroideries in hoops, and as this design was already circular, and I had a stack of hoops in my stash...

It only took about an hour to stitch, over two days as a break from sewing doilies on to blocks, and it is one less Christmas gift to think about.

Doiley quilt blocks

I have made a good start on the doiley quilt.  I have cut 21 blocks 12" square, and pinned two or three doilies (depending on their size) to each block.  I am hand stitching them to the background, around the edge where the crochet meets the linen.  The blocks will be joined in rows, but I haven't yet decided whether to join them up as they are, or use a sashing in between.  My SIL and her hubby were visiting us yesterday, and were admiring the blocks I've done so far.  I mentioned the sashing, and we mulled over the choice of white or ecru, or coloured, and looking at the all the embroidered colours, we couldn't agree on what colour sashing would look best.  The tablecloth on the kitchen table at the time had a pale aqua border, and one of my blocks was sitting on top of it, showing a bit of  the aqua next to the block.  Ken pointed to it and said 'that looks nice' and he was right - it looked perfect!  But I've got a long way to go before I even think about sashing yet, so no firm decision has been made.
Here are four blocks.  They are on the dark carpet so it isn't a good photo, but it gives you an idea.
The background fabric is a pale cream with a simple floral pattern in a denser shade.  It looks quite contrasty here, but isn't so bad when you see the actual fabric.