Patchwork - Buzz Saw Design

I had one of those Tim Gunn, 'make it work' moments again when attempting this design, plus I was limited in the amount of owl fabric I had.

The first block worked out well, it all went astray after that one block.  I got discouraged, and resigned myself to the fact that it may have to be thrown out along with the attempt of the next block.

I put it away, made three tops and two other quilt tops and got back to it.  I squared up the block (it was more of a rectangle beforehand) and finished it off to make another baby quilt top.

It needs a press, but I did make do with what fabric I had on hand.

The instructions I used (I am not going to name and shame) were partially to blame for what went wrong with this quilt top.  However, in the end I am happy with the end result.

What I find with sewing is, that most of the time things go along well, however, sometimes some curvers come our way.  We have two choices at this stage; throw it out and start again or try and problem solve the problem.  It is much more satisfying when we problem solve and come out with a satisfactory result.

How has your sewing been progressing?

Happy sewing.

Sandra

PS Some other leftover 'mistakes' did make it into the bin!

One feature fabric influencing patchwork design

I've been going through my fabric stash (that's really a whole story in itself).  When I came across some fabric that reminded me of the story of Cinderella.  It's not really, just a prince chasing his damsel, the things fairytales are made of.

I had so little of this fabric, it was sent to me when I ordered something online as a sorry because the order was delayed, unnecessary, but thoughtful.

So, as I was going through this stash, this fabric 'spoke to me'.  Since the last lot of patchwork tops, we have discovered three more pregnancies at work - we were ahead with our quilt making, these pregnancies put us behind again.

Here are two versions of how I used this feature fabric (very bright and colourful):

So, from now on, I'm trying to stick to my stash, I DON'T need to buy anymore.  This is going to be hard!

What sewing projects have you been doing?

Sandra

PS this means that I have destashed four five pieces of fabric!  Yay!

Wonky star patchwork

It's been a busy time.  Finally, I'm seeing some relief in sight, and after weeks of not even remotely touching my sewing machine, and hurting my back; finally my machine and I are reunited.

Three fabrics sitting in a bag for weeks, with an intended recipient ... a deadline is drawing near.

I like this design, I have used it before.  What I like about it is that it doesn't really matter where you place the fabric for the triangles, so no stress in matching up the blocks.

I used this design previously to make a cushion cover:

I need to finish the piecing for the quilt as it has to go to Ronda to be quilted when I'm done.

Looking forward to seeing it when it's completely done.

Happy sewing everyone.. yes, I'm still here!

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

Butterfly quilt - Celebrate the little things

This is our entry into the Minda Benefit Challenge Quilt as a part of the Australian Machine Quilting Festival.  I designed the butterfly block, and my friend Ronda - Anakie Quilter, did the machine quilting. I call it, "Celebrate the little things".

The theme of this years challenge is "Celebration".  A condition of entry is to use 6 fat 16'ths of fabric  (Colour Movement fabric range by Kona Bay) supplied in the quilt and it must measure a maximum of 100 cm on each side.

All entries must be original, well, I sweated on that idea for a while.

This quilt won't be coming home, all quilts entered will be donated to Minda Inc to be auctioned will full proceeds used to assist in supporting people living with an intellectual disability.

Butterfly design by Sandra D Copyright 2016

Butterfly design by Sandra D Copyright 2016

Butterfly quilting by Ronda - Anakie Quilter

Butterfly quilting by Ronda - Anakie Quilter

Back of quilt (you can see quilting more clearly)

I called this quilt "Celebrate the little things".

And my story of Celebration to accompany the quilt:

"From an ugly cocoon to a colourful, beautiful butterfly, as a child I was intrigued by the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

A butterfly only lives for a short time.  To me, represents the small wonders of our world and new beginnings.  A butterfly, with its delicate wings and wonderful colours reminds me that we should take the time to celebrate the smallest things that give us joy and appreciate all that exists around us.

A butterfly is beautiful, and free."

So, it's packed and ready to be sent.

What have you been sewing?  Next to sew another outfit...a week and a half until holidays, the sewing machine awaits!

Happy sewing.

Sandra

UFO - 2

I am after, and have been for a while, Michelin Man fabric.

Does it exist? I have searched for a while (and I stand to be corrected, if I am wrong); however, I don't think it exists.

I wanted to make a queen sized quilt, at least that was my aim.  The closest I could get was a Michelin Man bandana.  I found two on ebay (I've been searching for quite some time). One blue, one black; and that's it.  I initially got excited because I thought that I could collect a few of these and make my quilt.

One bandana on it's own, does not make a quilt, not one that was envisaged in my head.

So in my organising and reorganising of my fabric stash we found each other again, and this time, instead of putting it away, I made it into a pillow case; some collectors have probably fallen over in horror; but things like this need to be used and not collect dust.

It's a part of my new mantra, why store it for someone else to enjoy when you pass on?

So here it is, a Michelin Man pillow case:

I hope it will be appreciated.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

UFO - 1

Pocket section of Quillow

Since I've been on school holidays, this has been a good time to yet again tackle my my fabric stash.  Last break, I was was unhappy with the way I stacked my fabric in the wardrobes as the method of folding I used didn't allow me to store very much.

After some contemplation, I decided to use my quilting ruler to wrap fabric around to fold.  It worked, and as a result, after numerous hours, I was able to fit a lot more fabric in my wardrobe.  The job is not yet finished.  It's a process.  Decisions need to be made as to what stays and what goes.  One laundry basket full of fabric and wool has gone to the textiles teacher at work.  The next lot will go to a group teaching refugee women to sew.  (I haven't got to that yet).

I thought I didn't have many self covering buttons (not so); I thought I didn't have much elastic (not so).  Up side is, I won't have to buy any of these things for a very long time!

I have found some UFOs in the process.  A shirt (now gone); a jacket (that I didn't like the pattern when I first did it - gone).  I have a dress sitting on my machine, and if that isn't finished in the next two weeks - you guessed it, it will also go.

Almost finished quillow (with wonder clips holding binding)

However, I found a quillow that almost was finished. (A quilt with an attached pocket into which the whole blanket can be folded, thus making a pillow. - Wiktionary)  I started this some 15 years ago, I guess.  A friend and I used to get together to sew about once a month.  She gave me this fabric to make a quillow.  It just needed to have the quilting finished and the binding.  This was back in the days that I used to tie my quilts rather than baste them.  So, the underside may have moved slightly in the process, but all that needs to be done now is the hand stitching on the binding.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Cushion covers. Part 1

My couch is in need of some pillows. This means that l need to make five cushion covers.

I pulled out some Japanese prints, which are cuts from kimonos.  A mix of pieces that are cotton, silk and polyester.

My first cushion cover l have used three fabrics from this lot.  The fabrics, although beautiful, have imperfections - hence the reason they were cut up and sold as fabric pieces.  I didn't go out of my way to hide these imperfections either.

Using the 'Rocket Man', design from Kathy Doughty's book, 'Material Obsession', I created a cushion cover.

Since the block in the book is not meant to be symmetric, l felt this would suit my imperfect fabric. It was more like free styling or crazy patchwork, without the embellishments.

Now for some quilting.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Quilt top made for a man that enjoys fishing

I decided that I need to buy less fabric and sew more. Heard that before?

Every time I look at fabric and buy it, I know exactly what it should become. Trouble is, I have more good ideas than I have time.  Poor excuse really. I should make time.

I purchased a piece of fabric with fishing lures on it. I've had it for over a year. Finally, I decided what the design should be.

So I fussy cut the squares of fishing lures, and I used a pack of fat quarters of graduating shades of green, and so, this is what I created.  The top is done, the quilting will come later.  I'm pretty happy with the finished product:

Besides this, I've become mug rug mad, and at every opportunity been making this for upcoming birthdays, I think I've covered birthdays until July this year.  I enjoy doing them, they would also make great Christmas presents.

I've also gone through my wardrobe and turfed two garbage bags of clothes.  If they didn't make me feel good, they are out.  If they didn't fit, yes, you guessed it, they're gone.  Trouble is, I'm under pressure to sew more clothes!  Anyway two weeks to go until I'm back at work, so I should be able to get a couple of tops done.

What have you been up to? What's your latest project?

Enjoy what you're doing. Happy sewing.

Sandra

Mug rugs

Happy new year.

In keeping with my goal for 2016 (to blog every week), here is my first creation for 2016.

I initially saw this style of coaster at a friends place.

So, l thought l would give it a go.

To create these mug rugs you will need 5" squares of fabric (5 colours).

Place the base colour of your coaster right side facing you, then place on top a folded square, making sure the fold of the square is facing the centre of the square and the raw edges are facing out. Continue to layer each colour around the square:

 When you get to the end, lift up the first fold and tuck in the fourth fold:

Pin all sides down, sew a 1/4" seam all around.

Trim the corners and edges.

Turn inside out , and there you have it:

A nice quick and easy gift for birthdays or for Christmas 2016!

Again, happy new year.

Happy sewing.

Sandra

Last quilt for 2015

Being New Years Eve and of course the last day to 2015, I am posting the last quilt I finished early on Christmas morning.

This quilt, was a long time in the planning, and yet I still managed to be sewing at the very last minute!  Go figure, I just don't know whey I do this to myself.

I had to finish this urgently as it was a gift to my little cousin for Christmas and I was seeing her on Christmas day.

The dark purple fabric was a hand dyed fabric, floral fabric - quilting fabric, and light green - 100% dressmaking cotton.  All three appeared to have different textures or weight. Some of the blocks may not have moved so much had they been all of the same weight or texture.

Despite some minor problems, I think the quilt turned out quite well.

I notice that I've made 41 posts in 2015.  I'm not into new years resolutions, but I think I'II make my goal to post 52 sewing related posts in 2016.  Have you a new years resolution you'd like to share?

Happy new year everyone.  Stay safe.

Sandra

A scathingly brilliant idea .... we thought! Ottobre 2/2006 Design 1 T shirt

Yes, I know, I've gone missing for a while and could well disappear for a little while more after writing this, we're renovating, we're near the end; but, you know how it is, just as we seem to get some momentum, something slows us down.  All this means for me is that my sewing machine and I have very little time together.

My friend Ronda and I came up with this "scathingly brilliant idea" (as Hayley Mills once said in 'The trouble with angels'.

We decided to buy these Tshirts online and would wear them every Friday!  (Sometimes the journey is more fun than the destination).

Check, yes, choose our colours:  Ronda - blue (there was no purple option) and me - red.

Yes, yes, sizing, checked that.

Ok order.

For two weeks we waited for them to arrive, excitement.  Here is what we received:

All appears well, doesn't it?  Except that there is no ease in the measurements, so either fit too tightly or not at all.

Major disappointment on my part.  I was so looking forward to our Friday attire.

Some weeks passed....my tshirt lived on the back of my chair at work.

Ronda then suggested that we transform our tshirts.  OK, Sandra getting excited again. We searched on Pinterest for ideas to inspire us.

Then finally the big day came where we would transform them. (Still feeling excited and inspired).

We cut.

We even had, Boss the cat drop by to inspect whilst we were working.  I think he gave them the paw of approval and then moved on.

Both Ronda and I used Ottobre 2/2006 Design 1 Tshirt when adding to our Tshirts (great easy to use pattern).

I used a lovely stretch lace to add to my Tshirt.

Mm... verdict?

As my husband said, it looks like you've got an apron over a nice lace top!  Seems fitting since I'm forever dropping food on my tops!

Ronda and I had an enjoyable afternoon filled with much laughter, our scathingly brilliant idea lead us to this point.

I'm sure we'll get some side way looks this week at work when we wear our creations, Ah, big deal, the point here is, that there is more to life than work and work is a means to allow you to do all those things you enjoy.

Until next time (who knows how long that will be), happy sewing.

Take care
Sandra

PS, if you've got some suggestions to make this Tshirt more wearable, or should I say fashionable, I'd be open to your suggestions!

Zig Zag madness

After some contemplation, over many discount sales. I finally decided to buy a Fabi, Sizzix Fabric Cutter.

I'd hesitated because, I thought they wasted fabric. Well, yes they do.

I'd also hesitated because, I thought, well, I thought while I was still young enough, I could do these things without assistance, that I should cut fabric with a fabric rotary cutter.

Cutting with a fabric rotary cutter is good, but, cutting triangles of any form can be a pain.

So, I'd been watching and contemplating this cutter every time it came up during discount sales.

The Fabi cutter is not the large sort, but allows me to purchase all those lovely angles I like.  It is easy to use and accurately cuts angles.

So I tested the cutter making this quilt top:

I used some left over monkey fabric from a pair of men's pj's I made in a previous post. Some orange fabric I picked up in a bargain find.

Here is the cutter.

I'm afraid I have to admit, that these cutters save time and effort.

It accurately cuts, much better than manually cutting the triangles with the fabric cutter. Sewing? Well, I also have to admit, it made the job a lot easier.

Have  a good time sewing this week.u

Sandra

PS After much investigation, I have found a newsagency that can get hold of BurdaStyle and Patrones magazines for me.  My sewing life, is almost complete!