Another UFO, some digressions, and a Graduation

I finished one more UFO.  I am not in love with it.  It was a peasant blouse I had been putting off for quite some time.  I am glad its done, and I will wear it, but I will think about whether to adjust the pattern more for my liking.  The instructions were not really the best.

I have made garments since the 70s, but not too many lately.  This was from a book called Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.   It had no instructions for laying it out and I found it was nearly impossible on the piece of fabric I bought for it.   That being said, it was an easy pattern.  A few adjustments and I might love it as an option.

My digressions are around a part-time job that I have added to my plate.  It has taken me a bit away from my sewing and concentrating on my blog, but I hope to return to a more structured way of living soon, so that I get time for everything - new endeavor, part-time work at the quilt store, time in Maine and time with my loved ones.

Next up is a little quilt, although not quite done, it is a 12" block for our guild show in October.  The spring fling weekend added to my work in two ways:  a huge bag of strings to turn into a few benefit quilts and this mini block.  I couldn't abandon this fabric panel so it became a little quilt.  I'll quilt next week, and bind (or refresh a skill)

Last, but not least, John graduates in 18 days from Johns Hopkins!   I can hardly believe it - my baby is growing up.  I am so proud of him.

More work on the spring fling quilts.

I have made some progress on the quilts from the weekend.

The toile quilt is quilted and its binding cut.  I expect it will be done by the end of this week.  The fabric did most of the work, so the quilting was simple, just in the ditch for the horizontal and vertical strips and also across the big diagonal lines.  It was quick and done in a few hours yesterday.

The Fancy Forrest quilt is put together and the backing and binding are washed.  Ironing, sandwiching, quilting and binding are to be done.  Again, I am hoping by the end of the week.

A friend stopped by yesterday and I had made 2 fabric buckets with sheep who knit.  I thought I took pictures, but they are now both with happy knitters.  I'm glad they are enjoying them, but sad that I didn't get a picture.

This week, I will also work on digging out my next UFO, a peasant blouse.  I got the fabric years ago and we are approaching the right weather for a lawn cotton blouse, so the timing is good.  I sued to make a lot of clothes, but it has been a long time.  I find getting blouses with patterns I like a little difficult so I'd be thrilled to work up one that I like and possibly make a few more.

Spring Fling Hangover - Sew Much Sewing!

Last weekend some Rising Star Quilters descended upon the Lake Winnipesaukee Region for 3 nights and 4 days of quilting fun.  We brought our projects, our machines, our ideas, and a great sense of fun.  I brought 3 projects - a toile quilt, a baby quilt (Fancy Forrest) and an alphabet panel/baby quilt.  There were others, but I didn't think I'd really get to them.  An added bonus to the wonderful friends is that Keepsake Quilting is just down the road and always a treat to visit.

I finished the top for my toile quilt and picked out a backing and binding.  I collected these fabrics in 2004 (I can tell by the date on the selvage) for a challenge sponsored by the Allentown Art Museum, who had also had some of these fabrics printed.   I never did it, and to further complicate matters, I bought a very limited amount (mostly half yards), probably because the challenge was for a smallsize quilt.  That made it difficult to do everything I wanted, but in the end I am pretty happy.  In this photo it is on the design wall and nearly done.  It took about a half day of sewing and half day of cutting the week before.  I designed the pattern on EQ7 and even scanned in my fabric.  I was really proud of all of that.  A few caveats I discovered - best to recheck the math - EQ 7 didn't count pieces or yardage quite right.  Not sure if it was user error or not, but I am thinking of developing a spreadsheet for this to double check (or using another application).

 

The other quilt has all the blocks done.   It is the Fancy Forrest pattern by Elizabeth Harman.  I so love it.   It is for friends who are having a baby in June, and it will briefly live at Cambridge Quilt, once completed.   The key to this quilt is organization and paying attention to the directionality of the pieces.   Patience too helps.

I love the way it turned out and have a little work to do maybe with organizing the location of the blocks, but the top should be ready to quilt next week.  Hip Hip Hooray.  I also was able to pick a binding a back for this quilt.  

Two more pictures, the lake and the sky....a beautiful part of the world.

FInish it Up 3 for #APQresolution

I finished my project #3 for my third month - two pillows for my living room in Maine.  They weren't hard, just kept getting pushed aside.   They are done and installed in Maine.  Not much of interest, lovely fabric purchased this summer on a Row by Row adventure.  I did add a little interest by using a ribbon that came with one of my Row by Row fabric purchases.

Other things

Thanks to a blog I follow I have joined up with the Walk4fun site.  It will be fun seeing where I can go.....  Days I work (Thursdays and Fridays) tend to be fewer steps.  Looking forward to having this be inspiring for me. What fun I'll have in the highlands!

Fun, fun, fun!

In 2 weeks our annual spring fling quilting weekend occurs.  We go near Keepsake Quilting in NH and I can't wait.

I am beginning to line up my projects - ones not on the UFO list - but ones I'd like to begin or quick quilts for the weekend.  Sometimes I use the weekend to design or work out what I am doing, but  I did much of that on EQ7 and I can do a little more and I'll have a pattern made, complete with printouts of its finished look.  Its really great to do something like this for me.

1. I learned how to scan in fabric for EQ7
2. I learned how to make multiple copies of a quilt and change an few things on each one
3.  I printed out some basic info on the cutting that will help me figure out the next steps in the design process.  
4. I will have a plan and can get right down to it when we arrive in NH

The other great thing about this is that it is good preparation for my desire to make some patterns.  I look forward to a little time each week with EQ7 and to be in better shape to write patterns by the end of the May.

February UFO (#5) done, and March UFO is ready for its finish (#3)

Well, if you have been following this blog, I am do the  UFO challenge at All People Quilt.  For me, this one was to do some labels and a brief label tutorial will follow in the next day or two.  I had 2 labels on my list, but it was a good month.  So I finished 2 labels and did 2 more for quilts that needed labels.  I am so happy with this little achievement.  Silly that it took so long.

NEW RESOLUTION:    When I make the binding, cut strips and label piece and put them in plastic bag with binding.

Really, wouldn't that be simple.  I intend to do it so that it becomes part of the finishing process.

So, here's my tutorial:

1.  Decide what is on your label.   Here is what I usually include:

• Quilt Name
• Your Name
• City, State
• Finished Date
• Techniques
• Pattern Name/Designer

2.  Put that information into a word processing document to help you see how it will layout.  I usually center the information

3.  Cut 2" strips for your label border, I usually use a piece that is from the front of the quilt and will help the label stand out on the back of the quilt.  Place the strips on the side.

4.  Cut a piece of fabric about the size you will need for the label itself.  8.5" square is a more than generous place to begin.

5.  Iron on freezer paper with lines to the back of the label fabric.  This is a piece I have used many times and you can find it here (I added the center line).

6.  Write out your label.   I did this in the evening and used my iPhone flashlight under my sewing machine table to help me see.  Use Pigma pens.

7.  Sew borders on label.  Usually I sew both long sides first.  Press seams towards the strips.  Add the short sides.  Press seams towards strips.

9.  To ease the attachment to the quilt,I press two more things.  First, I fold the corners towards the back side of the label, into the intersection of the seams.   Do this on all 4 corners.

10.  Press the borders towards the seams.  I usually do top and bottom first, sides last.  Turn over and press from front.

11.  Take to sewing machine and sew 1/4" away from edge to hold it down.  This makes appliquéing to the quilt back very simple.

12.  Attach to your quilt back - I usually use a blind stitch.

Here are my finished labels from my Leap Day work session!