Felt Like Knitting

What I've learned

When I started making the blocks, I was more concerned about what I was using for the middles.  I quickly realized I should be paying attention to the patches that weren't being cut because you really see those much more.  When I was ready to lay out the blocks, I arranged them in piles with similar big patches.  I think my favorite is the polka dot.

I arranged the blocks several times until I decided on a size and layout I liked.  Using the iPhone to take pictures was helpful to make sure I hadn't put too much green together, etc.  I found a mistake last night as I started to sew it all together.  It was late so I fixed the layout then stopped.  Looking at this picture now, I'd still like to make changes but I'm going to leave it.

A solid purple border will come next so I made sure that I didn't have any solid purple along the edges.  Then I want to add a pieced border after that followed by another purple border.  Beware the borders!  I've had several people comment that they have quilt tops waiting for borders (and I do, too).

This quilt is all I want to work on right now!  I realized today that I need to pay the bills and I'm going to go to quilting at church this morning.  So the quilt will have to wait until later today or tonight.  What is grabbing your attention these days?

I couldn't resist

So I did resist starting the baby quilt from the fabric I showed you, but I did not resist starting it with these fabrics.  This disappearing nine patch block is so fun to make!

I've used up a couple of my fabrics so today I will pick up some fat quarters to finish off the quilt top.  I'm not going to allow myself to start sewing it together until all the blocks are finished.  I do have some discipline!  :)

The weekend wasn't all sewing.  I mentioned yesterday that I did some reading.  I've been wanting to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, but haven't gotten around to it.  Emma was assigned this book for freshman reading so I figured this is a good time to read it.  Have you read it?  I'm about half done and it's really been a good book so far.  There are some interesting photos on the author's web site.

Emma came home for something this weekend and it was good to see her.  It's very strange because it felt weird when she left to go to school.  Then this weekend if felt a little weird to have her at home.  I guess this weird feeling is the new norm for now.  :)

For sociology class, she was supposed to break a social norm yesterday and see how people reacted.  She decided to wear her blonde curly wig to church.  And since her dressier clothes were at school (she hadn't originally planned to stay through Sunday), she wore her Flash t-shirt.  I should have taken a photo!  I was glad she figured out something that wasn't rude.  I could only think of social norms that you really wouldn't want to break.

Well, I've been on the computer long enough and I need to get to some other thnigs - like buying that quilt fabric!  Hope you all have a great day!

Patchwork Saturday

Like much of the country, it has been terribly hot here in the Atlanta area.  So on Saturday, I stayed inside.  I did a little cleaning and laundry, but mostly I worked on some quilts and read.

These are most of the blocks for Emma's quilt.  Instead of using the Card Trick blocks, I'm making a rail fence quilt.  Hopefully I can show you a layout photo soon.

This is a quilt for the refugee quilts our church makes.  I'm using all stash fabric for it.   It feels good to help someone and also to use up fabric I already have.  The squares are 3" finished, so there is quite a bit of piecing for this quilt.  I'm not wild about the green, but it's what I had on hand.

Just like knitting, quilting is addicting.  Here's the quilt I want to make next.  I already have stash fabric chosen.  This quilt will probably be for a friend's baby.  I can't let myself start on this until the others are finished, right?  Sigh...

I hope you stayed cool and were able to do something fun, too!

Free time

Day 15:  I am so thankful to have some free time!  It's been hard getting things done today.  It's rainy and it's nice to not have a long list of things that should have been done yesterday.  I didn't get up until 10 this morning!

As promised, here are a few photos...  I didn't get many taken because it's always so rushed backstage.  But these are the major things I sewed. 

 

Long John Silver's coat and hat:  Someone else on the costume team sewed the buttons on for me.  That was nice!

 

Sky blue jacket that "had seen better days":  I made this jacket then we distressed it.  Missing buttons, charcoal dust, dirt, etc.  This jacket was made to fit two different people - a tall, thin young man and a shorter young lady.  The cuffs were altered to flip up for her and down for him.

Captain Smollett's uniform:  We got a shirt from the thrift store and had a scarf for his neck.  The rest of the outfit was made from thin microsuede fabric.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.  It's a bit big on this actor and even bigger on the other.  But I made it large to be sure it fit.  

Everyone on the costume team (plus the organization's president) worked so hard to help Rhonda (the other costumer) and me get everything ready.  They are a great group of ladies and I am thankful for them, too!

Time well spent

Day 4:  I am thankful for time with my daughter.

(Here she is in her Halloween costume.  It's an outfit she designed for an early 1900s aviator.  She's into steampunk so this was a fun outfit for her.  I modified this pattern and we were both pleased with the results.)

I enjoy the time I get to spend with my daughter.  And I cherish it because I know that in the blink of an eye there will be less and less of it.  The little traditions we've created and the common interests we share are very special to me.  Yesterday we treated ourselves to lunch at Chipotle and watching Sherlock in the evening.  

And I am thankful for all of your thoughtful and encouraging comments!!!

 

WIP Wednesday - Costumes!

While I have been knitting, I don't have photos right now.  I've been working on swatches for my class, a prayer shawl (Little Colonnade), and the Through the Loops Mystery Socks.

What I've been doing more of is costuming - a lot of thrifting, some altering, and some sewing.  Costume check is this Saturday and there is a lot more to do so I probably won't be doing any more blog writing or reading this week. 

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

 

A red scarf, a funny pug, and a fabric question

Last week I read on Anne's blog that the OFA Red Scarf Project is in need of scarves.  So I cast on this scarf pattern with some reddish handspun yarn, but I could tell that it wasn't going to make the required length.  Now I'm knitting it in Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn (not squeaky feeling like some) in cranberry.  Having it be machine washable and dryable for a college student seems like a good thing.  When I measured last night, I had 18 inches to go so I should be able to make the 12/15 deadline.

     

How about a pug picture?  As Trump has become more comfortable here, he has developed some quirks.  Like now he barks at everyone instead of cowering.  We think he's saying "This is my territory.  Back off!"  So it's a good thing that he feels at home but his new behavior is annoying, scary for visitors, and something we need to train him not to do.  And here is another quirk:  When he gets really relaxed he lets his tongue hang out.  At first I thought he had had a stroke or something but now we're guessing that he's just comfy.  Does anyone know if it's a bad sign for a dog's tongue to stick out at an angle like that?

     

I'm making a dress (view B) for Emma for her school's Christmas dance.  I made a muslin (several actually) and I'm now ready to make the real thing.  She chose satin with an overlay of something sparkly (It's sheer like chiffon but crisper.).  She wants the lavender for the bodice, and the purple and sparkly for the skirt.  There will also be a bit of the sparkly as trim on the bodice.

 

I've read tips on working with satin but I'm still a little scared to start this project.  If anyone has any helpful advice, that would be great!  My biggest question now is about the skirt.

The skirt is pleated and I'm wondering if I should sew the sparkly and the purple together as one fabric.  Or should I sew the skirt then sew an unpleated sparkly section on top the skirt?  I'm thinking that won't look right.

Okay, another question came to mind.  I'm going to line the bodice instead of using facings.  I think I won't need to interface now except that I'm worried the surplice neckline will be too floppy without something to support it.  The sales clerk at the fabric store suggested I sew hem tape/twill tape into the seam when I sew it.  Had anyone done this with satin?

I hope you all have a great weekend!  You know what I'll be doing.  :)

 

Spring Break

This is our spring break week, but we decided to stay home to prepare for the robotics competition.  We'll be going camping later this spring, seeing our families in Ohio this summer, and going to Disney in the fall.  But, it still feels like we should be somewhere since so many neighbors and friends are gone this week. 

Do you ever make big plans when you have a chunk of time?  And do you usually get through all your plans?  I've made a schedule for the week and I think I planned too many things.  I'm struggling just to catch up on the laundry, clean the guest room for my in-laws, make doctor's appointments, etc.  I guess there will be no basement cleaning this week!  What a shame...

There has been some knitting on Clapotis and the Chevron scarf.  And I've done a bit of sewing:

This wristlet is for me to use when I do the grocery shopping.  I'm tired of my purse hanging on me while I'm pushing the cart around.  Now I can use this wristlet and just include my wallet and coupons.  It's bigger than I should have made it, but it's not bad for a prototype.  I didn't realize until now that the pieced strip is somewhat askew.

The cards are for a friend's birthday.  I was following Craft Apple's tutorial but since I was sewing late at night, I couldn't get to my iron without waking up my husband.  So I pieced the fabric together then fused it the next day.  I like the way the cards look, but I'm not pleased with the seams.  They're too bulky and you can see the spots where they were pressed to the side.  I'd like to make a few more for my friend, so next I'll try the method in the tutorial.

Both of these projects have been made with supplies I had on hand.  Spending on my hobbies is out of control and I've committed to pare it down.  I've talked about this before, but I haven't done much about it until now.  There have recently been some thought-provoking posts at Knitty Gritty Thoughts which have furthered my desire to use what I have. 

Oops, I just realized that I said my next post would be about my wheel and spinning.  I guess that will have to wait until next time.  Maybe by then I'll have more handspun pictures for you.  Have a great rest of the week!

Quilted knitting tote

Today's pictures lean more toward quantity than quality!  :)  It's a rainy afternoon and photography is challenging.  But I just had to show you the bag I finished.  This knitting tote, plus a few goodies tucked into its slip pockets, will be going to Debby since she won my little contest a while back.  Thanks for your patience, Debby!

What I like:  I love helpful tutorials!  I like the rectangular shape of the bag.  I love the wavy piecing and quilting.  I like the flower.  I like the stiffness of the tote and the fact that it stands up by itself.  Even the handles stay up!  (My last two bags weren't stiff enough, so I tried some new products - Pellon Fusible Fleece and Pellon Peltex 70.)

What I don't like:  There's too much quilting and a little less would be more attractive.  The seams of the bag were too bulky so I couldn't complete the top stitching at the side seams.  The lining isn't quite how I'd like it.  I fused the fleece to it, but didn't quilt it.  So it doesn't look very polished. 

What I learned:  Fusible fleece is a great product, but it works best when quilted.  Two layers plus a layer of interfacing makes seams too bulky.  Peltex 70, a sew-in interfacing, is a great stiffener.  To me, it seems like Timtex.  Maybe I'll use Timtex on my next bag to compare.  There's another interfacing called Peltex 72 that is stiff but less bulky.  It's fusible on two sides.  I'll try that soon, too.

My next post should have some knitting in it.  I've cast on for my second sock and a shawl!

Quilted tote

                                          

While I want to sew more bags, I don't really want to buy more supplies.  (Well, I do, but I'm trying to be good.)  Yesterday I discovered a bag of scraps from a quilt top I made several years ago.  (In fact, all the strips were already cut for me!)  I've learned a lot from making this bag:

* Using quilt batting helps make the project a little stiffer, but not a lot.  I do like the appearance of the outside with the batting in there.  My next project will include Timtex.

* Make a list of all the features you want to include in your bag.  Then check your list.  I had planned on making a flap with a magnetic closure, but I totally forgot about it until it was sewn and top stitched.

* Be aware of what the final project will look like.  I liked the rectangular shape of the pieces before sewing (16" wide and 15" tall), but the finished project is 12" x 12".  That's still a nice size for carrying magazines and knitting projects, but the bag looked nicer when more rectangular.  Also, the fabrics on the side contain some blue, which ties in with the blue of the bag.  You can't tell this now and the blue piece looks odd.

* Don't sew late at night.  I made plenty of mistakes.  Like, the other side of the bag has the pink polka dotted fabric strip on top and the floral on the bottom.  Oops!

* Don't make a quilted bag with a horizontal strip at the bottom unless it is pretty wide or more stabilized.  You can't see it in this picture, but there is a green strip at the bottom of the vertical strips.  The bag tends to sag there a bit.  Using Timtex or having a wider band may help this problem.

* Saving things, even scraps, is a good habit.  I know this doesn't sound smart considering I have clutter issues.  But, it was so great to have everything I needed to make this bag.  A couple of years ago I gave away all my rick rack and some buttons and now I'm kicking myself.

One of my next projects will be to finish a bag I started last fall.  It was going to be for a swap partner, but wasn't going together well.  I think it will work out better now that I've learned some things about bag making.