9 patch and more !

What a funny old week it's been. Seems to have flown but I can't really think what I've done with all my time ! Had some work done in the house midweek and had workmen traipsing about looking thirsty......Seems the more cups of tea I gave them the faster they worked - lol ! Still all done now.

I've done a little sewing. Saw the disappearing 9 patch on Helens blog and thought it looked interesting. Anyway on Wednesday I had the perfect excuse to have a dabble as one of my best and oldest friends gave birth to a little boy - Alfie. I have yet to see him but you can be sure I will be going there this week. I have been friends with Samantha for 34 years. Yes - we met in Primary school and have stayed friends ever since. Out of all my friends she and I are the only ones who share a love of sewing ( and knitting ). Samantha has 4 brothers and I have great memories of her and me making clothes on an old hand-turned Singer with one of her brothers turning the wheel for us - lol ! This usually took place in her front garden and I can't remember if we bribed her brother or threatened him or what. We used to get the bus into a small market town near our homes and buy dressmaking remnants from a stall and come home and make things. We never used patterns and god knows what we looked like but we always wore the things we made. I wish I had photos.

Last year her cat had kittens and that's how we got our lovely Tizer.

We already had 2 cats and had no intention of having another but when I went to see them she offered him to me. She had some-one who wanted him but was reluctant to let him go to them as they lived near a busy road and she was worried about that. Of course I said I'd have him then. So glad we did as he is a little love and a real character. There is a point to this - honest. Anyway because of this I wanted to use some nice kitty fabric for Alfies quilt and this is what it came out like. Perhaps a bit unusual colours for a baby but they all seem to work well together.

Have you ever read the books by Lisa Boyer ? In one chapter she mentions a fear of floral fabric and couldn't find anything with flowers on. When rooting through my stash for fabrics for this I realised I have the opposite affliction. I have so many floral fabrics it's unbelievable. I struggled to find some nice fabric for this without any flowers on. That's why the quilt is not as babyish as it could be. Still I like it and as it's a bit dark will perhaps not show up the sick marks so well - lol !

I also found time to visit my warehouse again and came out with more treasure.

Can't seem to keep away lately. When I re-organised my fabrics last week I made a bit of room and I have a fear of empty drawers - :-p My order also came from Thousands of Bolts and this is luscious. Took 12 days to get here ( the longest time ever ) and I was on Postman watch from day 6. Thought it was never coming ! I have a bit of a plan for this stuff but not just yet.

I also started knitting myself a cardigan. I have lost quite a bit of weight this year and need new clothes. Went clothes shopping with DD Jess in the week and couldn't find anything I liked. And clothes are so expensive - I will not pay £50 for a jumper when I could make it for half that amount - would rather buy fabric !! So got the old knitting needles clacking away last night. Will show pictures when it's done - if I don't lose interest by then. Just off to baste Alfies quilt now. It measures something like 30 by 40 inches so shouldn't take too long.

Just realised I forgot to draw for the UFO - will do it tomorrow ! Enjoy your weekend xx