Branching out

I've tried something new this year - sewing with knits! I found a great sewing pattern website, Love Notions, which offered a couple of free patterns for the kids.  I've now purchased a few, picked up some knits and started playing.

This is the Trendy Tunic, Size 5 and Size 7, for Mya and Zoey.  The patterns are a .pdf download, and I love that I can easily just print one size at a time, without having to sort through multiple lines.

Zoey loves to wear patterns! Sometimes she's head-to-toe cheetah print!  Mya was in twirly mood that day, so wouldn't wear hers.

I've always been intimidated by knits before, I'm not sure why now! They were so easy to make, and I even learned how to use the twin needle on my machine. My sister has now given me mom's old serger, so I can learn something else!

I got hit with that terrible flu just after my last post, so I haven't been sewing much. I hope now that I have fully recovered, I can get my mojo back.

2015: A year in review

I have come to the conclusion if I don't blog, I don't sew.  Having the blog motivates me to take pictures to post, and therefore I have to sew so I have pictures! Since I didn't blog much this year, I didn't accomplish much.  However, I did finish the following:

2 Shark Pencil Cases (yes, they got finished in time for Christmas)

A pillow for my daughter and son-in-law's new camper

Nine pillowcases for the grands (mine, my sister's and now my brother's grandchildren)

One baby quilt made with vintage fabrics and lace from my mother's stash, for the newest of her great-grandchildren - she would have been thrilled to have nine beautiful great-grandbabies!

A large design board (tutorial by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet here)

A multi-slot wallet with a magnetic snap. 

Some fun kidlet sewing: shorts for Alex, big sister-little sister outfits and a summer dress for Mya! That's all the pictures I could find of finished projects. I did make some 1-hour baskets (both took me a longer than 1 hour) - one because I made a 2" patchwork for the outer side, and the other because I tried a new stiffer bag lining, which I really liked and will post about later. I'm sure there are others that I gifted that I have totally forgotten about.

I did add some more projects to the UFO pile:

 

A Nested Churn Dash lap quilt (pattern can be purchased here) - still to be quilted

I got four blocks down of a Harry Potter - Project of Doom quilt. I got stuck because I was contemplating adding titles to the books, and I was undecided how I was going to do it. Now I've decided I don't like the background I'm using, so I'm going make a pillow out of this one and rethink my plan. I still want to make a full quilt someday.

And lots of small scrappy blocks which I will share at a later date.

I did accomplish other things this year. I moved my sewing room upstairs and started making it my new "Happy" place.

And I'm adding more activity to my life.  This year I even managed to climb a mountain...

to visit this beautiful lake for a picnic with my very agile family!

Lindeman Lake, near Chilliwack, BC

I hope to add more of these beautiful hikes to my life this year!

Check back tomorrow for my Word of the Year - 5 years running!

Sunday Stash Report 2015, Week 18

Just a bit of mending makes for a very boring report. I've decided that I don't like the setup in my new sewing room so today I'm tearing it apart and starting over.

I made this pillowcase for Zoey at Christmas (her Gramma Goodie Bag), and before I could give it to her, my Daisy dog ate a hole in it about the size of a quarter. She used that hole to get at the chocolate inside and managed to open every package through that tiny hole! (She was fine afterwards, by the way).  I finally got around to fixing it this week by fusing the hole shut and adding a triple pocket that she can put her Frozen dolls in.

Then I made another mini-design board (a la Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet):

I'm going to make a few more, then I'll show you what I'm going to with my collection!

So, only a quarter metre out, but at least it's something.

Added: 0 metres

Added Year to Date: 0 metres  

Used/Given away: .25 metres

 Used/Given away Year to Date: 15.5 metres

Added for 2015: -15.5 metres

Linking to Judy's Stash Report at patchworktimes.com

More small accomplishments:

I added my Ikea buttons to my sewing room!

I found my mom's cow bell when I was unpacking and hung it on the sewing room door handle.  This hung for many years on my mom's sewing room door to warn her if one of the grandchildren was going where they shouldn't and I thought I should carry on the tradition!

I have ho idea where she got it, most likely at a garage sale (she loved to go garage saleing!)

And I got a new "TV" for my bedroom armoire!

Alex decided I needed one since I haven't replaced the old one!

I've been feeling out of sorts with the chaos in my sewing room, so I need to set some small goals to help me get back on track.  I also need to make some serious headway on clearing out the UFOs and WIPs, before I start too many more.

  I like the way Barbara of Cat Patches does hers monthly with goals and bonus points ;o), so I'm going to give that a shot!

MAY GOALS

Flimsies and Quilting

1.  This Super Mario Quilt is my number one priority.  It's a gift for my sister's oldest grandson and has been languishing for far too long.

I have 3 of 6 blocks done (I made mine larger than Angela's) and the 4th is half-way finished, so I should be able to finish it this month. I made him this pillowcase and he already has that, so I really want to get this in his hands soon.

2.  This quilt is a house-warming gift for a friend - again, long overdue.  It is basted and ready for quilting. I finally decided to quit waiting for my FMQ skills to improve and just go for it!

WIPs (Works in Progress)

4. About a month before my niece was due with her first child, I realized I didn't have a boy quilt ready.  I had a girl one almost finished, but as she didn't know the gender, I figured I should have a second one at least started.  I've had this Debbie Mumm Noah's Ark fabric for about 15 years, and have always wanted to do a medallion quilt, so I got a good start on it.

I got it as far as this before Baby Eloise made her arrival!  I've decided to keep at it, and use it to practice some new techniques.  First up, I have to design some cornerstones for this round, because I don't like the way these borders finished up. I'll share more about how I got this far later this week!

Leaders and Enders

4.  As I work on the above projects, I will focus on my Grand Illusion quilt pieces.

I still haven't finished Step 1! (Pardon the poor colours)

This free Bonnie Hunter is about to be retired for future publishing, so if you haven't already downloaded it, you might want to check it out!

Bonus Points

5. Just for fun, and like Barbara, if I get bored or actually finish all the above projects, I'll dig through my UFOs each month and try to get through them. 

Check in around the 1st of June to see if this helped me progress just a little.

Sunday Stash Report, Week 42

I had two big finishes this week, and I sent off some more fabric to a quilter who does charity quilts, so my "out" numbers really grew!  And I didn't add anything, so I am making some headway...finally!

Added since my last report: 0 metres

Added Year to Date: 64.1 metres 

Destashed since my last report: 19 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 46 metres

 Added for 2014: 18.1 metres

 

Total spent  YTD $294.20 = $4.59/metre

 

First up, my Celtic Solstice top got finished - finished size is 50" x 60".  Waiting for a new baby really motivated me to finish 5 blocks (including piecing about 1/3 of the units first) in just one evening.  Too bad I can't be that productive all the time.

I estimate I used about 5 metres for the top.  I used a lot of scraps and fat 8ths purchased pieces and didn't keep really good track but I think I'm close.

 

 

 

Secondly, I have started the quilting on the quilt for the new baby.  The shower is in two weeks so I should get it done.  Since I never counted the top as done, that is some more fabric out!  Another 4 metres out. 

 

Since I didn't take a picture when I finished it, this is what it will look like once I finish quilting it and adding the rickrack and applique leaves.

 

 

 

I also sent about 10 metres of fabric to a quilter who does charity quilts.  I was in a hurry so I didn't take a picture.  It sure felt good to get it out. 

 

I'm doing some fun quilting on the baby's quilt.  Today I finished the "grass".  I did "organic" lines about 1" apart (kind of like lines of mowing). 

 

 

I used my Purple Thang to eyeball where to start the next row of stitching. I measured from the top of the tool to the top of the elongated hole you see in the picture below.

 

 

I've also stitched rays of sunshine around the yellow block, and I'm about to start the swirls of wind through the blue sky! Then I will do tight swirls of wool inside the sheep.

 

 Little Mya is doing great!  After just an overnight stay, she was home Monday.  She is eating well, but has her days and nights mixed up a bit.  Every night gets a little better.  This gramma has been enjoying lots of baby snuggles this week - I am so fortunate my kids both choose to live close to me.

 

Ready to go home

 

 

A rare daytime sighting of eyes

 

Big sister is finally warming up to her sister, and helps with a top-up feeding.

 

This weekend, my ex-husband is in town to meet the new baby so today I will enjoy sewing.  We all got together for dinner last night, but I think it is good for him to have his own bonding time with all the grandkids without me around to distract them.

 

While I was waiting...a quilty finish

 

While I was anxiously waiting for word from the hospital, I picked up a project that has been waiting in the wings for a while.  I only had 5 blocks to finish assembling and a few more blocks for the borders.

 

 

Since Bonnie Hunter has announced the fabric choices for her newest mystery quilt,  Grand Illusion, I better get this one done.  I only made 1/2 the amount of blocks required, but looking at it I think I needed one more row on the bottom (it is hanging sideways on the clothesline). Oh, well, I'm not taking it apart now.

 

I modified the border to emphasize the points of the stars more, and used Bonnie's pieced cornerstones (I redrafted it to a 3 1/2" block) for the corners.  I like it!

 

 

I went to bed at about 2 a.m. and Mya was born at 4:16 a.m.  I had both Zoey and Alex for a sleepover, but lucky for me the kids slept in until about 8:30 so I did get some sleep.

 

Then we headed to the hospital for some baby snuggles!

 

 

She's a chunky monkey at 8 lbs, 11 oz. with lots of dark hair. I think she's going to end up fair though, because there are blond tinges to it and her eyebrows and eyelashes are blond, unlike her sister who had dark ones.  Her eyes are lighter, too.  Zoey's were jet-black when she was born, and are now light brown.

 

 

 

This is a close as Zoey would come to holding her.  She spent most of the time ignoring her!  Alex was in love though, and he will be a great big cousin!

 

 



I'm back! Sunday Stash Report, Week 40

I took an unplanned blogging break - after vowing to post for 30 days straight.  I have been struggling with my depression again, and I thought by setting a goal would help motivate me - instead it seemed to "freeze" me.  

 

I have been doing a small amount of sewing - primarily to get some much-needed baby projects done for my niece and my daughter.  And now, another niece has announced her much-wanted first pregnancy.  That's the third niece this year!

 

The only fabric added since my last report almost three months ago was project-specific, bought by my sister and right back out so I haven't counted it. 

 

Added since my last report: 0 metres

Added Year to Date: 64.1 metres 

 

Destashed since my last report: 3.35 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 27 metres

 Added for 2014: 35.75 metres

 

Total spent  YTD $294.20 = $4.59/metre

 

First up, I finished this quilt for my niece's baby due in November.  It's my own design, I call it "Modern Rail Fence". Once things simmer down around here, I want to develop a pattern/tutorial for it.  I first wrote about it here.

 

 

I quilted it with alternating organic straight lines in pink and wavy lines in purple, which really didn't show up much but that's okay!

 

 

She also asked me to make a car seat cover - I made it rag quilt style and backed with the leftover minkee from the quilt.

 

 

I made a burp cloth with the leftovers so that I didn't add to the ever-growing scraps.

 

 

And while I was at it, I made a new car seat cover for my daughter - her baby girl is due in just a few days!

 

 

I'm almost finished her quilt top, then on to quilting it so hopefully next week, I'll have a big finish!

Linking to Judy's Stash Report and Michelle's Let Make Baby Quilts