Kokeshi - borders and back

Thank you for the comments on the embroidery! Once I was started, it was easy to go on and quite enjoyable. I think I'll do some more tomorrow.

In the meantime, I found the time to add borders to the Kokeshi. I try to cut borders before anything else, but I forgot this time. Of course, I ended with little fabric left, so I add to do come computation and sewing to add those borders. And an error while cutting was not an option, believe me! But here it is.

I mentioned I was tempted by a pieced back. I still had some doubts, but a visit to Stash Manicure, and the kind answer of Sarah, of Confessions of a  Fabric Addict to my question convinced me that a pieced back was what I needed and wanted to do. I had earned me a free Friday afternoon and was very motivated. I've used the floral leftovers from the front, together with a pale lavender leftover from a previous quilt. And here it is. 

Money saved for a future quilt, and a stash manincure. Isn't it great? I even have quilting thread left from the same pale lavender quilt... Now I need to purchase some batting and find the time to quilt, but that is another story.

I was very motivated indeed: I went to my sewing room at 3 pm, it was almost 8 pm when I reached to my patchwork bag to put my finished work away. Suprise: the bag moved. A very bored cat had found herself a nice place to sleep...Note, this is not the one from last week.

Pieceful weekend

I had finished the appliqued part last weekend, and was a bit nervous about assembling all those blocks. My main concern was the seams. Of course. Until now, I pieced my patchworks with the standard foot, but was not over enthusiastic. In particular, I found it difficult to keep a regular seam allowance. I new that special feet exist, but never bothered to check on my machine. Until yesterday. And yes, I have such a foot. I've used it to overcast seams. It does wonders for overcast. Out of lazyness (not wanting to change the foot), I tried to make a straight point seam with that foot, and it was rather a disaster. So I had doubts about using it for piecing. But I was wrong. It does make piecing easier, with better visibility and better grip of the fabrics. All my seams had the same width, all along, even at the ends.This foot is designed to work at the edges of fabrics, not at a distance over 1/4" inch, that's all. I enjoyed the piecing part and did not encounter the matching problems I usually met. You can imagine that I am a bit more relaxed now.

Now I have to think about further borders. The first interdemiate ones are cut in the green fabric and waiting. I think I'll add some purple and that'll be it. And I have to think of the back. Either make one from my leftovers, or buy a piece of floral fabrics. Not sure yet which way I'll go.

In the meantime, I whish you all a great week!

PS: Go and have a look at Amandine's blog!

Kokeshi - blocks 5 and 6

Two more blocks:

Only three left...

Kokeshi - blocks 3 and 4

Meet Emi and Kiriko

Mayumi, Hiromi, Chiromi and Natsu