So far

I know I've been a little absent from this blog lately. The truth is, I've been spending as much time as possible outside and enjoying the few days of Spring we've had. Also, I'm starting a new job today (yay!) which has been a very welcome distraction for the past few weeks. That doesn't mean that others haven't been sewing. April is my month to send out fabrics for the Pieced Together Quilting Bee that I'm a part of. I want to make a quilt for my living room sofa, so I decided on blues and greens (and polka dots of course). Here are the blocks I've received back so far:


Isn't it pretty!?

Sometimes...

...sewing projects just don't work out. I haven't yet decided if this one has or not.

It's Butterick 4978. I still need to hem the dress and reattach the neck binding, but I'm not sure I will because I'm not sure I like this dress. Don't get me wrong, I think the fit is good, and I like the style. I'm not crazy about the fabric. I used a satin backed crepe, when I should have used chiffon. The crepe feels, um, a little cheap to me. It's also a little too thick for all those gathers. Of course, I could just have mixed feelings right now because of that bias skirt which gave me more of a headache than it should have (lesson: staystitch staystitch staystitch!). We'll see if this dress ever gets finished or worn. I'll give myself a little time away from it to decide.

Let it be known

I was named Bo first.

Asymmetrical Fold Skirt

A few months ago I picked up the inaugural issue of Stitch magazine. The main reason I bought it was because of the Asymmetrical Fold skirt, though it's filled with many other lovely patterns. I made the skirt right away. However, it's been hibernating in my closet waiting for warmer weather. I'm fully aware that I could rock this skirt with some boots, but for some reason I just didn't feel much like wearing skirts or dresses this winter. Now that Spring is here, I present to you my Asymmetrical Skirt.

I used a light weight dark denim and some Farmer's Market cotton for the facing. I love the contrast of the yellow with the dark denim. I had a few problems with the construction of the skirt, but I think that's more user error than pattern error. First, I cut out a wider back panel and added a few darts since the original back panel was too tight (I should have measured this first!). Then I had a little trouble with the buttonholes. When I measured the length of the buttonholes, I didn't take into account the many layers of fabric that I would have to sew and push the button through. So I ended up having to make them a little bigger than I normally would. Also, instead of using the button markings as called for on the pattern, I tried it on and marked where I thought the buttons should be placed. Other than that, I thought the pattern and instructions were clear and simple.

ETA: Caity reminded me that there are a few corrections for the pattern on the web: http://www.quiltingarts.com/STITCH/corrections/winter08.html. These were easy corrections to fix. Just read them before you make this skirt.

Pattern: Asymmetrical Fold Skirt from Stitch magazine
Fabric: Dark denim and Farmer's Market cotton
Conclusion: I think I'll wear this skirt a lot this spring and summer!

Making a dress

I thought you should know why I've been so quiet on the blog lately. I hope this video explains it all.



I'll give you more details in a bit.

Napkin update

I only need a few more fabrics to complete the collection for my wedding napkins. I keep pulling these out and looking at them sitting all in a row. Ah, happiness.

New Look 6807

The inspiration (from this post):


My version:

A light, swingy top made from some stash jersey and New Look 6807. After reading the reviews of this top on Pattern Review, I raised the neckline a bit before cutting. I'm glad I did, otherwise I think this top would be too low cut for my comfort. I also lengthened and narrowed the sleeves.

I omitted the tie in the back neckline. I like the tie detail on the pattern, but I didn't want to add any more fuss to this busy print.

Pattern: New Look 6807
Fabric: Jersey from my stash (and I still have enough to make another top)
Modifications: Raised neckline, narrowed and lengthened sleeves, omitted back neck tie
Result: I really like this top and will probably make it again in a solid color.

Piece together quilting bee

When Katie announced the Pieced Together Quilting Bee, I jumped at the chance to join. Katie had the first month and requested an improv block that primarily used reds and blues and whatever else went. It was more challenging than I thought it would be to make, but I really enjoyed the process. I hope she likes it.

Get better soon soup

We've spent the better part of the last week trying to help Peter get over the flu. The lesson in all of this: get a flu shot. Thankfully I got mine in the fall so I've managed to avoid the bug so far. But poor Peter, it's not been an easy week for him. Making a huge batch of chicken soup was the least I could do to help him feel a little better. I used this simple soup recipe by Robin Miller, which I'm calling "Get Better Soon Soup" from now on. Of course I hope you don't ever have to use the recipe, but it might be nice to have on hand just in case.

Um, yes please

Check out Grosgrain's latest giveaway, the Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!! Her stuff looks like it walked right out of an Anthropologie catalog. Oh, how I aspire to sew more beautiful clothes!

Elissa's Quilt

I wanted a simple project to take my mind off of wedding things, and this fit the bill perfectly. I didn't even think too hard about the fabric choices, I let a Joann's fabric kit make the decision for me. Though a small part of me feels like I cheated a little bit, the fabric combination was too cute to pass up. Plus, the cutting line was ridiculously long that day. I used my own pattern inspired by the turning twenty quilt pattern and added a few extra fabrics such as those adorable houses.

The finished size of the quilt is 48" x 64". I quilted it using a diamond pattern to compliment the geometrical shapes of the piecing. I'm happy with how it turned out.

I made a little tag for the back using the alphabet stitches on my Bernina. I hope Elissa gets a lot of snuggles out of this quilt. I think it has a lifetime of snuggles to give.

Elissa's Quilt - Day 5

I'm in the home stretch of finishing this quilt. I finished quilting it yesterday and just need to finish up the binding, add a quilt tag, and wash and dry it. As you can see, I didn't use free motion quilting. I decided I just didn't have enough time to learn and practice free motion quilting on this gift, as I need to give it to its recipient tomorrow. I decided, however, that I would bind the quilt by hand, which isn't as hard or time consuming as I originally thought! To be honest though, I'm a little afraid I'm not doing it right. You all will be kind in case I'm not, right?

P.S. There's a sneak peek of another project I'm working on in the picture above. That project deserves its own (or several) post another day. Can you guess what it is?

Elissa's Quilt - Day 3

So, my mental break has done me well so far, though I admit I fell off the "avoiding-wedding-blogs" bandwagon only a day into it. Still, I feel like I've adopted a new approach to this wedding planning business: keep it simple, keep it fun. I'm sure this seems obvious, but it's a bit unsettling how I needed to remind myself of this.

What has been fun this past week is working on the birthday quilt for my niece, Elissa. I orginally intended to use the Hopscotch pattern from Super Simple Quilts #1, but in the end decided on a variation of the turning twenty quilt (variation means I made up my own pattern because I was too impatient to wait until I was able to buy the original pattern - I had to quilt NOW!). This lap sized quilt pieced together quickly. Last night I made the quilt sandwich and basted it together. Now I get to quilt it, which I'm both excited and nervous about. I've never done free motion quilting, but I hope my BSR foot will prove it's worth the price tag. The only decision left is how to quilt it. Should I do a meandering pattern, or loops? Opinions welcome!

Elissa's Quilt - Days 1 and 2

Cut and pieced.

I love productive weekends.

A little mental break

I am a bride, and I am obsessed. I've been pouring over wedding blogs, magazines, and yes, tv shows too. Last night I realized that I needed a break, a little step back from most things wedding related, or else I'll explode by the time I walk down the aisle if not before. More likely, I just won't enjoy the wedding if I keep obsessing constantly over the little details, and that is exactly what I don't want to happen. No no no.

So, for at least the next week I have cut myself off from wedding blogs and magazines and thinking about any wedding decisions that do not need to be made right now. Instead, I'm going to focus on what's really important in life. Like a sweet niece who is turning six (her age is now on two hands!!!) and a machine that is desperate for some quilt action.

I'm starting to feel more relaxed already.

Wishing instead of working

Where I wish I could be today. Sigh. Here's hoping this week goes by quickly.

Seed stitch scarf

Before all the pattern making and wedding dress shopping (more about that soon), I was on a fierce knitting kick. One of the things I made was this seed stitch scarf. I wanted a chunky scarf and this fit the bill perfectly. Also, because the yarn was super bulky, it was a very quick and gratifying project. I recently bought more yarn to make a matching hat, but until I finish the bag pattern, I don't think the knitting needles will be seeing much action. At least my neck and chest have been staying nice and warm this winter!

Pattern: No pattern, just simple seed stitch
Needles: Size 15
Yarn: Cascade Magnum in Moss

Pattern Progress - Coming soon!

I'm well on my way to reaching one of my 2009 goals - make a pattern for my Barcelona Bag. The pattern pieces are ready and the instructions are coming along well.

If only this little guy would quit looking so darn cute getting in the way.

Any volunteers to test the pattern when it's ready?

Kimberly Bag

Sewers talk about fabric stashes a lot, but I don't hear a lot of talk about pattern stashes. Well, ladies and gents, I am a stasher of both fabric and patterns and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Fabric stashes are essential for those spur of the moments when you just must-make-something-right-this-instant. Pattern stashes serve the same purpose with the added bonus of actually giving you a little bit of direction. Call me an enabler of stashing if you must.

After I bought my new machine, I had a must-make-a-bag-with-lots-of-interfacing-and-test-this-baby kind of moment. So I pulled Amy Butler's Kimberly Bag out of my pattern stash and some Nigella out of my fabric stash and got to work. I couldn't have been happier with the results of the Bernina or of the pattern.

I recommend this pattern for intermediate to advanced sewers. Although the pattern pieces are accurate and the instructions are clear, I would not recommend this pattern for beginner sewers. New sewers will probably find the zipper, pleats, and heavy interfacing challenging to sew.

The bag style may not be for everyone, I realize, but I like it. I do feel a little like I'm carrying a clarinet case, but it sure is one cool clarinet case, isn't it?

Pattern: Kimberly Bag by Amy Butler
Fabric: Nigella in Lime Primrose by Amy Butler
Modifications: I glued an extra panel of Timtex at the bottom between the lining and outer pieces after turning the bag inside out. I added purse feet, hoping to protect the bottom panel from dirt. I also added a simple slip pocket to the lining.

Toast

It's pretty chilly on the east coast these days. I'm always cold, especially my hands and feet, and in winter that just translates to freezing. I had to do something about that. So I knit a pair of Toast. This pattern is called Toast for a reason. They keep your hands and arms nice and toasty. But they could be called Cake, because they were a piece of cake to make.

P.S. It's awfully hard to take pictures of gloves while you're wearing them.

Pattern: Toast by a Friend to knit with
Needles: Size 7 dpn's
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Grey Mix