Quilting begins

It's a long weekend here due the the Eid al-Fitr holidays.  So I got off my butt and thread basted Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilt.  I use my sewing table to baste and was standing all the time with many breaks.  Pretty tiring.  I am using flannel for the batting.  I basted from the top to the bottom.  Ensuring the layers stay flat as I go.  My fingers are a little sore now :(

The quilting starts from the centre out.  Outline quilting it with Perle Cotton No. 8 using big stitch. My plan is to quilt one block a week.  Still unsure how I'll quilt the sashing. 

I made an A-Line skirt and a blouse for my sis.  Will wait for her fitting before I proceed with more sewing.

I've tied up the remnant garment fabrics.  Some are enough to make a sleeveless blouse.  Maybe I could use them as trims in the future.

And lastly my progress of LHN's Love Your Neighbour.

The month that was ...

So many not too happy things have been going on lately.  I treasure my precious time spent sewing ... my escape from life's harsh realities?  It will all boil over ... in time.  I have lived long enough to know at least that!

I bought a plain XXL sized jersey from the Reject Shop so as to give the Alabama Chanin T-Shirt construction method a try.  I had to redraft the T-Shirt pattern to make it wider at the waist area ... ahem ...
The fit turned out well.  I could only manage a sleeveless T-Shirt because there was not enough fabric to cut the sleeve.  I added a stay tape at the shoulder seams although it was not mentioned in the book.  During my short stint in sewing knits, I have learnt that stay tape is necessary to strengthen the shoulder seam..

I am not using the recommended button craft thread but a Coats & Clarke quilting thread instead.  I've used cretan stitch for the arm holes and neck line and regular running stitch for the side seams.  I think overall it turned out pretty well.

 Completed a shirt for my dad.  This shirt does not have a collar stand. It fits him well but he needs to where it often and give me his comments.

 

The Danielle Dress (Burda) for my sis.  Cotton / Linen blend shell fabric with cotton voile lining.  The cotton voile has a nice soft feel to it but as these fabrics go it was difficult to sew with.  I need to explore other types of lining fabric to see what works.

I get a kick with details, the bias tape hem is now my staple hemming method for the shell fabric.  It gives just a touch of satin luxury.  Hand sewing the lining to the zipper needed meticulous stitching.  The complain from the previous dress that I made was the lining was getting stuck to the zipper.  So this time round it's nicely spaced away.

Halter top dress, but it needs major changes to shorten the length of elastic under the bust and the back.  Will make the alterations when I get back the dress from my sis.  Incorporated some pretty lace for the lining skirt and as usual bias binding tape for the hem.

 I am doing some cross stitch during the nights while catching up on the Olympics.  I have progressed more than the picture above but I am just not bothered to take another pic :p  It's a lovely piece by Little House Needleworks.  Diane has so generously given this chart away so that we stitchers donate to UNICEF directly for the famine relief works in Africa.  I've even bought a frame for this piece.  Talk about being optimistic!

Anni Downs Pin Cushion

Finally it's all done!

Designer:  Anni Downs  Magazine: Australian Homespun (Go Green Issue)

 

Just enough fusible batting ... phew ...

Partially stuffed

 

Simple wool circle for the top.  I am thinking of perching a Sue Spargo bird on top of it later

 This took a heck of an effort to make and did I stuff this baby.  I added 8 oz of walnut shells to weigh it down some.  I won't be gluing it down to the primitive-ish clamp as it would fix my view of the pin cushion.

Scrap Squares. Designer: Kathleen Tracy  Book: The Civil War Sewing Circle

I've also completed at least the top for SQT June Challenge by Kathleen Tracy.  This was fun and fast!

Designer: Blackbird Designs  Book: Garden Club  Fabrics: Blueberry Crumb Cake by Blackbird Designs for Moda

Speaking of challenges I completed the BBD Needleroll SAL with my pal Margaret W.

Karen S of Illinois USA received the basket that I sent her.  I promised her a basket many moons ago so I am making good my promise.  So glad she likes it.  That's Karen's Pam Buda small quilt, she's one prolific quilter!

Pick stitch on the midriff so that the bodice stays put

Whip stitching the lining against the zipper

Invisible zipper closed, luckily the midriff pipping bands kinda met ...

Completed dress

 Completed my sis' dress NL 6069.  It fits her well. So now I can proceed on to her other dresses.  The NL 6096 is next in line.

Fabric:  Little Apples and Shebert Pips charm packs by Aneela Hoey for Moda, white muslin, Kona solid Cardinal.

I have still the 2 outer borders to sew but otherwise this Granny Squares quilt top is done.  The pattern can be found here.  I am thinking an aqua and then white.  Just so to calm the reds down.

 Got my Alabama Chanin book, it's a beauty.  I want to make a simple knit blouse and a bolero for my sis.  All hand stitched too :)

Quilt Sampler.  Designer Little House Needleworks.  Fabric: 32ct Cream Belfast.  Floss: DMC

Completed the Quilt Sampler.  This has been a long time WIP.  It goes into my "to be framed pile".

Craftsy BOM - May

 I've also been playing with some hourglass blocks for a free Jo Morton small quilt pattern found on APQ.

Please come back to visit sometime before end of June, I'll be having a small Mid-Year giveaway.  I've not made it yet but I think I better hurry :)

Good weeks

I had my birthday earlier this month and the gifts I've received are absolutely precious!  My dear friends know me too well.

A lovely prim pin cushion from Jess.  It's a freebie design by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.  The pattern is available here.  Very nice sentiment indeed.

And here's the the whole shebang! Just gorgeous wools from her trip back home, specially selected for my Anni Down's pin cushion.  A very nice squirrel pattern by the The Quilted Crow too.  And how can I forget those CW fabrics!

Next up is a heart pin cushion by Ewe & Eye & Friends.  Gorgeously stitched and finished by Lillie.  Love all those buttons!

And the complete loot.  I've coveted that box ever since Diane (Lillie's talented daughter) bought one for her mom. It's left unfinished just so I can put my creative juices to work!

 A cartonnage book from Margaret W.  She says it's one craft realm that I have not fully immersed myself in.  Like I need another! LOL!!  Ready made box templates, fabric and cross stitch pattern by BOAF completes the goodies.

Something old and something new Merilyn says.  Love the Old Fashioned Calicoes by Barbara Brackman and the print scale is so dainty.  The stitchery owl by Gail Pan is quite handsome ... a must stitch.

Thank you all for the wonderful gifts I've received.  I so appreciate your generosity and time.

For Jess W's birthday end of last month I made her a wall hanging Ohio Star block.  I think big stitch Baptist Fan quilting design is my new favourite!

Requisite Reds

Shirtings and lights

Mediums and darks

Plaids and stripes

From This-N-That and Fabric Shack.  Fabrics all washed and folded destined for it's respective bin.  The plaids and stripes are for my future Jan Patek's  Lincoln's Platform!

I did some fun sewing of a chicken.  It's now with Chloe in Switzerland.  A free pattern from Red Brolly.  I was to complete it by Easter but you know how it is ...  In this picture I've not added her eyes yet, that is a pin to indicate the eye's position.  She turned out rather biggish so I intend to make another smaller version for myself.

4 pairs of Andre Shorts by Burda.  2 for my sis and 2 for me.

Sorbetto Top by Colette Patterns (freebie) with details of store bought piping

Some sewing for home wear.  Sometimes I like the change of sewing for simple home garments.  Seam finishes can be left with simple overcasting and hems plainly top stitched.

Tolie for New Look 6069

Self made piping with store bought satin bias tape

Piping details

Lining and lace for the hem

A dress for my sis.  The toile was sewn and some adjustments to the paper pattern was made.  And then the fashion fabric is cut.  Since this is a whole different type of sewing it requires a step by step construction.  The fit is important for the bodice.  The cotton fabric is thin (hard to work with) and frays like crazy.  Since the lining is silk satin I think it's gonna be another challenge. But I like the piping details that I am adding for the top and bottom of the midriff pieces.

Grey blouse Burda 8368

Sorbetto by Colette Patterns

Hem details with bias binding tape

Detail of self fabric bias binding.  Cut extra large

There was supposed to be a gathering with my class mates this Friday but unfortunately it has been postponed.  I made the above garments for the dinner.  I think the sleeve of the grey blouse is too long.  I may shorten it.  Also it's rather big since the pattern is supposed to be loose fitting.  But I think I will want to make another similar blouse one size down. 

Hemming with a bias binding is so classy.  I like the look and it finishes very neatly.  Even the Sorbetto top was hemmed with satin bias binding tape.

A couple of Japanese cotton fabrics from Fah Num known for it's infamous pricing.  But I zoom in to those with 50% discounts!  It'll be a challenge with matching the plaids but I am sure it will be interesting.  The blue is for another dress and Spanish white cotton (not in pic) is drying on the clothesline now.

These books were the reason I had to go to town.  Somehow they needed to be collected from the General Post Office.  They were from Better World Books an Abebooks dealer.  I think I will delve into making a simple cloth doll before tackling the Gail Wilson's ultimate dolls.

As always, thank you for dropping by.