A Stay‑at‑Home Retreat.

While patchworkers and quilters from far and wide were making their way to Baradine for the annual Scrub Stitchin’ retreat — and Susan was starting her “Claytons’ retreat” — I was busy at work. But come Saturday, I finally got to join in. Hooray!

It was club day, so I packed up a few bits and pieces and happily made my way. Not quite the same as a trip to Baradine and hanging out with my blogger friends, but full of fun and inspiration all the same.

I took along the label for Kaiy’s quilt, got it stitched, and then sewed it onto the back.

With that, Fynoderee’s Fields is officially complete.

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Next, I pulled out some secret sewing. I’d taken the makings of a few Christmas ornaments — three of which will be travelling with me in six weeks. They were almost finished by packing up time, and I completed them once I got home.

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This morning I had planned to walk early but I could hear torrential rain hammering down as I opened my eyes. A quick change of plans was required.

So I wandered into my sewing room and continued working on the I‑spy quilt top. It didn’t take long to finish joining the rows. Then I shopped the stash for a border. Maria had suggested a blue, but I found a neutral that worked beautifully with the homespun I’d used for the sash strips.

By then the weather had improved, so off I went for my walk.

Once I got back, I shopped the stash of fleecy backings and set about loading the back and top onto my frame. I selected a quick and easy pantograph — Peaks, by Meredeth England.

I usually select patterned fleece for backings, but this grey one made its way into the stash somehow. And now it's been used. 

After lunch I set off quilting. It didn’t take long at all. Then I pulled out the leftover binding box and found a selection of black‑and‑whites. Fingers crossed, I sewed them all together and started attaching the binding to the quilted piece.

As I worked my way around, I began to wonder if I had enough. But I kept sewing…

When I was close to the meeting point, I laid the quilt on my worktable and eased the two ends into place. Oh my goodness, I thought — if I’m lucky, very, very lucky! And I was. After joining the ends, everything lined up beautifully even if the selvedge is visible. Those black‑and‑white leftovers were meant to be on this quilt.

Next I sat down and closed the binding by hand, and then — wanting to give it another try — I sat at the machine, switched to a zig‑zag stitch, popped on the ditch foot, and had another go at machine binding. Yes, I know it’s kind of cheating when it’s already sewn down, but hey — it worked, and I’m happy.

By the time I finished, the weather was turning poor again, but I persuaded my lovely Tony to dash outside for a very quick photo shoot. The wind was getting up, but I managed a few images.

Though he is still mostly green, Old Man Tree is getting his autumn colours, and the wind was knocking golden leaves down onto the lawn. I couldn’t quite capture the golden snow, but I did get another view of my latest creation.

I spy with my little eye… a quilt in Old Man Tree.

So there you have it — my stay‑at‑home retreat project is done.

 I’m very much looking forward to reading all the blog posts from Scrub Stitchin’. I love seeing what everyone was working on, catching up on the chatter, and especially scrolling through the show‑and‑tell photos — they’re always so inspiring and full of ideas for whatever I might stitch next. I wish everyone safe travels on their journeys home.