Patchwork project finished.

Today has been warm and sunny – and also very humid – not the best day for finishing off my patchwork door curtain project with its woolly blanket interlining.  But I have been determined to complete it before beginning new projects for the September issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine.  I know that if I put something to one side to “finish later”, then it can often be very much later indeed before I get around to it again!  So, after hanging out lots and lots of washing (left over from my party weekend), I turned my back on the garden, for the morning at least, and began work.  

Yesterday I made and attached simple tab loops to the top of the patchwork, so the first task was to hang the unfinished curtain to check the length ….

 At this stage I hadn’t attached the blue velvet panel at the bottom or trimmed the blanket to size after finishing my hand-quilting.  My door curtain hangs on a lovely iron hinge so it opens and closes with the door, meaning the curtain doesn’t have to be looped back in any way.  I had this hinge custom-made years ago when we lived in Southsea, and was sure to take it with me when I moved.  Luckily it works perfectly at Coombe Leigh too. 

Once I had the length all worked out (because I live in an old house it’s always best to double check as walls and ceilings have a definite wonky-ness about them), I simply attached the velvet to the bottom of the patchwork and basted around the sides and bottom to keep in place.  Then the backing – I hadn’t quilted the backing as this is a curtain and I wanted it to fall fluidly and drape well.  I simply stitched it to the front panel all around the edges, clipped the corners and turned out through a gap in the bottom.  

 Then I top-stitched all around 1/4″ in from the edges to make sure the backing stayed in place.  And here is the result – a lovely warm and snuggly door curtain, with newfie-friendly panel at the bottom – the velvet is a very dark blue and won’t show all that black hair (and mud splashes too!).  It’s completely washable so I hope it will stay looking nice for some time to come.  Then, when I’d finished sewing, I took my lunch out into the garden …

Where I have been outside with my laptop ever since!  I’m working on a survey for magazine subscribers because I’ve recently made some changes and improvements to the Bustle & Sew Magazine.  I’d like to know what readers think – as well as what extra goodies they’d enjoy over the coming months.  So if you’re a subscriber reading this, please watch out for my survey landing in your in-box in the next week or so – I’d love to hear your thoughts.  

Finally …. I’ll leave you with the almost unbearably cute Miss Daisy (Ben was fast asleep and wouldn’t open his eyes to pose for the camera) …..

 You wouldn’t believe she is positively the naughtiest puppy in Chillington!  But Ben and I – we know the truth!