Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Finished Quilt

I finished our quilt!


I am more than happy with the finished quilt.  I am tickled pink that it turned out so beautifully.  I was surprised that it was easier than I anticipated to quilt the whole huge thing with my regular sewing machine.  I credit the Craftsy class Quilting Big Projects on a Small Machine by Ann Peterson for giving me the information and nerve to go ahead and give it a go.

The pattern is the Frame Up Quilt from the book Modern Mix by Jessica Levitt.  I chose the pattern because all of the seams were straight, the lines of the quilt were more modern and the size of the finished quilt matched our bed.  I will admit that wrestling the quilt into proper position for quilting took some doing and required some arm strength.  It was also a bit tiring.  I could do a few blocks at a time and then I would leave and come back to do a few more the next day.  But the results were absolutely worth it!!!!!

I also made larger versions of the blocks to create matching pillow shams for the bed.

This shot gives you an idea of just how large the quilt wound up being.  We have a queen size sleigh bed and I always hated how purchased comforters or quilts left the box spring exposed.  This quilt covers not only the mattress but the box spring as well leaving just a bit of the rails exposed on each side. 

The quilt was done in batiks with 3 shades each of green, orange and brown.  My husband and I chose the fabrics together at our local quilt shop.  We both wanted to have rich, saturated colors on a neutral background.  You can also see the quilting on these close ups of the blocks.






This was the final touch our bedroom needed after painting it a year ago.  We love it! 


Friday, March 14, 2014

Something Different

Quilts.  I have seen so many beautiful ones all made by someone other than me.  Well, that is about to change. I am starting my first quilt!


Not content to sneak up on the idea of a quilt and make something small and easily accomplished in a few hours, I am starting off my adventures on quilting by making a queen size quilt for our bedroom.  Because we like cleaner lines and a more modern aesthetic, I chose a quilt from the book "Modern Mix: 16 Sewing Projects that Combine Designer Prints & Solid Fabrics, 7 Quilts + Pillows, Bags & More",  (Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Mix-Projects-Combine-Designer-ebook/dp/B0083JKBUO/ref=sr_1_86?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394834437&sr=1-86&keywords=modern+quilting+books).

I chose the design called __________________.  Instead of Pink, Brown and Orange fabrics, we went with Green, Brown, and Orange since the walls in our bedroom are sage green.  My husband went with me to pick up the fabrics since we both really wanted the quilt to be special and something we both like.  We chose a mixture of various batiks and a beige background which has a parchment mottling.  I also picked up extra fabric of the darkest green for some sashing and to make new pillow cases.

I worked very diligently and have the entire top pieced.  Next comes the quilting.

Wish me luck!



Another Pretty Tee

I made this tee out oa very light weight cotton jersey I bought from Fabric.com.  I used Katherine Tilton Vogue Pattern, Vogue 8793.

Instead of color blocking I used the patterned fabric for all pieces.  I thought about using the double collars, but when I had them pinned in place, it looked to bulky for the light weight fabric and too busy in the print.

I used my serger for all the seams and my cover stitch machine for the hems.  An easy, quick, and satisfying make -- it took less than an hour to sew.

I made the small and it fits great.  It appears as though the weather here in Washington state is cooperating and it will soon be warm enough to wear this out and about without a sweater over it.







Wednesday, February 12, 2014

New top!

It is certainly time to start thinking about new tops for spring and summer.  Even if the temperatures and rain say winter, it is good to start thinking of sun and warmer, kinder weather.  I love light weight knit tops that are more interesting than the basic tee.  Pretty prints, nice silhouettes and interesting details are more my style than a basic, solid colored t-shirt.

I selected Simplicity 1716 view F for my first new top.  I really like the fit of Simplicity knit tops.  They seem to really suit my figure.  I especially like the fact that the shoulders and neck are small enough not to gape.  I used a very light weight cotton/spandex blend jersey that I purchased from Mood Fabrics last year some time.  They do not have any left in stock.

Here are some pictures of the finished top:

First on Lynntu,  I love the draped front.


The side seams are gathered using stretched elastic sewn to the side seam allowances.


I had enough material left that I made an infinity scarf out of the remnant.


And doubled around the neck.  Not sure I would ever wear the scarf with the matching top, but it is interesting how well the scarf sort of blends into drape of the cowl neck.


Now on me!  I did the usual adjustments I have to make.  I took 1" out of the length at the waist since I am both short and short-waisted.  That is usually enough to make the top hit at a flattering place on me and that was the case with this top.  I also, as usual, had to cut the sleeves off by 3" to make them short enough.  It is hard to see it on this patterned fabric, but I used my cover stitch machine to do the hems on both the sleeves and the body of the top.  I serged all the other seams.  I only needed my regular machine to add the elastic at the side seams.  I used clear elastic to both stabilize the shoulder seams and to gather the side seams.


Back view. 

And another closer view of the front:

I really like how this top fits and it is very airy and breezy and easy to wear.  I like the other views on this pattern as well and I can see making more garments from this pattern.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A Nice Winter Coat!

I have lots of warm, weather proof jackets.  Waterproof parka, full length waterproof coat, all very utilitarian.  None of them are particularly dress or dress up friendly.  I looked at RTW and was uninspired.  I always have two problems, the fact that I am short altogether and the fact that my arms are of T. Rex proportions.  And I HATE sleeves that drape over my hands.  They make me feel awkward and somehow child like.  So, I scrapped the idea of instant gratification and embarked upon making my own coat.

I purchased the 100% Italian wool from Pacific Fabrics in Bellevue, WA.  It is a warm beige tweed with Forest green, deep red and other colored threads woven in.  It is soft and lush and just what I wanted:  neutral without being black (which makes me look very pale like a denizen of a Twilight movie) and without being boring.


I chose a very feminine coat style with princess seams and a wide skirt, McCalls 6800 Misses'/Miss Petite Lined Coats, Belt and Detachable Collar and Hood.  I liked the longer View A with the wide lapels, but did not care for the mullet hem.  This seemed like a very trendy style feature to me and I did not want a coat, made out of fine wool, to appear completely dated in only one or two years.  So I simply lengthened the front pieces to match the back, creating a knee length coat all around.

I used a weft insertion interfacing to fully interface the front pieces on the coat.  I also used it to interface the front facings.  I made a back stay out of sturdy cotton.  I started to add shoulder pads during the construction, but when I tried on the coat, it was too much.  I have very wide muscular shoulders, the pads made me look like I was trying to revive the 1980s!  I lined the coat with matching bemberg rayon lining.

Here is the finished result!


First on Lyntu, the hem is actually the same all around,  The folds make it look shorter in the front, but it is not.


A better look at the wide lapel.


On me!  OK, here is something new for this blog.  My sweet husband bought me a new camera for my birthday last October.  It is a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX50.  It is still a point and shoot but only just a smidge removed from a DSLR.  One of it's great features is that you can use your smart phone as a remote!  You connect the two via bluetooth and then you can see the picture on the screen of your phone and use the phone to activate the shutter.  So, I am not obsessed with my phone and unable to put it down even for these pictures, it is my picture remote!


Back view


Lovely wide skirt.





I am really happy with how this coat turned out!