star mug rug

I don't seem to have done very much this week but I have finished my first mug rug. I used the star block for the front and some of my favourite favourite Ruby Star Rising for the back. The binding is from the Annie's Farm collection. I got this FQ from The Bramble Patch  which has a massive range of fabrics and possibly the fastest delivery ever.

It's very lightly quilted, just once round the outside of the star and then inside the central square. I know it's only one block and compared to the amazing quilts that you see out there in blogland it's incredibly simple but to me it's step forward towards advancing my meagre quilting skills. I'm thinking a sampler quilt would be a really good idea, although a longer term project it is the ideal way to learn new skills and try out new blocks.

I wanted to learn how to attach quilt binding totally by machine as I found my hands incredibly sore last time I did the hand stitching on the back of my Arcadia Quilt. The idea was to not only save my hands but time as too. Well I lost count of the number of times this binding had to be taken on and off, frustrating or what and not time saving at all. I tried various techniques and in the end I reckon this one here by Red Pepper Quilts is the one for me. I will say that I still can't manage to stitch in the ditch neatly so I stopped trying and just stitch very closely to the edge of the binding on the front and I'm happy with the results.

Also this week my Aurifil from Felicity Quilts arrived yipee! I've not managed to try it out yet but it does look lovely don't you think?

It's a short one from me today, like I say I've not had the most productive week and the schools are off next week so things aren't likely to improve on the wips any time soon.

Bye for now