My go to pattern .... Simplicity2371

I've come to the conclusion that I do have a go to sewing pattern, It's Simplicity 2371. Why? I like wearing the dress with or without the tie around the waist.  It's comfortable on a hot summers day and, it is easy to make.

Whilst ploughing through the bargain table at Spotlight I came across this cotton voile:

I loved the colours and pattern on it, but, there was so little on the bolt that I hoped that I could make a dress out of it.

I laid the pattern out and found that I had just enough to make the dress (or tunic as it's referred to on the pattern). Phew, at least I got that much out of it.

The only alteration I made to this top is to raise the slit in the front by 2.5 cm (1").

Added bonus, the bird in the pattern is centered in the front (I'd like to say that I planned it that way, but, I'd be lying).

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Quilt gifts

Ok, I know, I said I would spend the six months until the end of the year pattern drafting for my own clothing.

Can I help it if people are having babies, retiring or are leaving their employment and we'd like to congratulate them?

I had finished the top to this quilt some time ago Fishing quilt for the man who likes fishing it was always intended for the person who will receive it now, I was just waiting for the opportunity to come up.

Whilst basting the quilt I was looking for a backing fabric, I had some wool flannel that was wide enough for the backing.  I did have batting as the second layer.

As you know by now, I am trying my hand in free motion quilting, I think this looks OK (I have high expectations of myself).  I started by marking the quilt, and then decided I was wasting too much time doing this, so I proceeded to free motion quilt (in the true sense of the words).  Brave, wasn't I?

Backing this quilt with the flannel has made it a heavy quilt. Probably knee size is the biggest I would make if the quilt is this heavy in the future.

This quilt is for a gentleman who we know that has very little spare time, but, enjoys fishing.  It was difficult to find fabric dealing with fishes, that I found tasteful.  I fussy cut the pieces and used a fat quarter pack of green progression colours to complete the blocks.



This next quilt is one that I made for a friend who is a hairdresser and refuses to take any money.  Although I have offered to pay for haircuts, she refuses to take payment. So I decided I would use the same design that I used in the three shirts quilt to complete this:

I call this, "Same, same, but different", note the red,block in the bottom corner, I ran out of the red fabric!  Oh well, as Tim Gunn would say, "make it work".  I like it.  I am retiring this quilt design now and moving onto another.

Babies?  Seems like the rush is on again at work and Ronda and I are busily working away at making baby quilts.  I do the patchwork and Ronda does the quilting.  Here are some of our latest creations:

There are more quilts to be done, stay tuned for pictures of these.

We (teachers) are on two weeks of holidays now, time for my sewing machine and I to become more familiar with each other.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Sometimes when your friends convince you to do something, it actually turns out to be a good thing...

Some months ago my friend Ronda spoke to me about a quilt challenge.  What attracted to me was two things:  $10 to be paid for fabric that must be used in the quilt, and the quilt would be auctioned of and the funds used for this organisation to help the intellectually disabled.

As mentioned in a previous post, I came up with the idea of the butterfly patchwork block.  I almost didn't finish the quilt as I didn't feel that if I quilted it that it would be up to scratch.

I asked my friend Ronda who works with me if she wanted to quilt it and then we could submit it as a joint entry.  I'm glad I did.  Our past collaborations have always had successful outcomes.  So, the quilt made it to the  Minda Quilt Challenge and it got shown at the Australian Machine Quilting Festival in Adelaide!  (Ronda got second prize for the circular quilt).

Look what I received in the mail today:

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Baby quilt

This is the same patchwork pattern that I used in my Three Shirt Quilt:

It looks slightly different because I had to make do after I ran out of the purple fabric.  So I added sashing to the outer borders.  This time I used the Madeira Aeroquilt 3000 thread that I picked up at the last quilt show.

Now you know that quilting is something I am pushing myself to do as one of my challenges, but I must say that whilst using this thread I had a moment where I thought "I really enjoy doing this".  So I stitched in the ditch for most of this and then did this quilting pattern (didn't use the blue tailor's chalk this time to mark the pattern).

I used my regular sewing machine, not a long arm machine.  I think having the right equipment to do a job is very important.  Earlier this year I purchased a Horn Sewing/quilting table and it was the second time I'd used the quilting extension to the table.  Conclusion, it helps to keep the quilt flat and not running off the table.

Here's a close up of the quilting (the quilt has been washed, so that's why it's looking a bit crinkled):

I think I have a home for it to go to now.

What have you been up to?  I have another quilt of this design almost done and it seems that the baby making phase at work has started up again, so Ronda and I are busy again making baby quilts and one retirement quilt.

The weather is still coolish here, but, we are seeing the sun a bit more often, my October Design magazine has just arrived and it's time to investigate my stash to pull out some summer fabrics to make outfits from.

I have so many projects in mind that going to work is just an inconvenience (but funds the fabric addiction!)

I hope all is well in your world.

Happy sewing.

Sandra