Huswif Swap and More Birthday Gifts

 

My Yahoo Group Small Quilt Talk recently conducted a huswif / needlecase swap.  My partner was Mary C in Canada.  Mary said that she wanted to be surprised.  Since Mary is in Canada, I went the French style :)  Yeah corny I know :p  It took a whole 3 weeks for Mary to receive it. In this year and age, in 3 weeks one can fly to the moon and back!  Mary knows how I've been worried that it was lost.  But all is well now.

The cross stitch design is a freebie by Casamia in Italia.  Mary's initials flank the French maid.  Stitched with DMC3777 on 32ct Belfast Raw Linen.  The fabrics used are Rounneries by French General for Moda, with a piece of wool felt which has been blanket stitched at the edge.  Also some French linen decorative ribbons along the wool felt piece and to tie the needlecase.  I've used mainly the tutorials from APQ and Heidi's old blog.

 Gifts from Margaret W!  I absolutely adore the key holder.  I am using it for my house keys already! I like the fabric combo, sometimes the simple things are the best.   Great fabrics choices as usual which will be suitable for some XS finishings and 6 spools of lovely prim coloured cotton thread.

Lovely box from Lillie with a design by BBD (my favourite) stitched on top of the box cover. The box is quite sturdy and Lillie is utilising fully her lessons in cartonnage recently.  The box was filled with sewing thread and buttons which have been thoughtfully included due to my recent sewing blaze.  More Yoko Saito fabrics for the bag I am planning.

The 39 cross blocks measuring 3" square are completed and the setting squares are all cut..  Now to get them pieced!

 My crazy quilted plaid mug rug has been selected as one of the finalist by This-N-That.  So if you don't mind and be so kind, won't you vote for me?  I am No. 5.  Pretty please?  Much obliged!

It's my birthday ...

yesterday actually ...

 My birthday loot from Jess W!  I just love The Sampler Girl's Northanger Abbey!  In fact I've bought the pattern ages ago and never got to stitching it (familiar?).  The interesting thing about her gift as you might have noticed, it is not finished!!!  She said and I quote 'interactive gift'.  Gosh ... I think that must be a first on this planet!  And she has even provided fabric for a suggested finish.  Can you imagine that? ... the nerve ...  In her defense, the lame excuse of her sewing machine having broken down.

All in good fun I assure you.  But being the rebel that I am ... I am hitting for a small quilted wall hanging instead of the suggested small cushion.  And the included fabric and shirting will surely come in handy.  Also the very elegant antiqued monogrammed label.  Need to put on my designer hat ... ahem ...

And then there's June T's gifts.  For those who are unfamiliar with the fabrics, they are by the one and only Ms Yoko Saito for Lecien.  Her fabric trademark are dark, somber, taupe pallete of colours.  But therein lies it's beauty.  A small quilt with these fabric as borders would look super or maybe even a patchwork bag with some applique?  Now that I have some flower templates and the bag handle that June has conveniently included :)

Yes, I think  a bag is in the horizon with these lovely fabrics, after all there's a bag challenge due end of June!

 I'm back to a little piecing with a darling quilt by Cheri Payne.  It's her January free quilt pattern.  Cheri's one generous soul with a giveaway small quilt AND a free pattern every month. I've got 24 cross blocks done and another 15 to go.

Mug Rug for Lillie

 This mug rug for Lillie caused me some anxiety.  As it took some time for Lillie to acknowledge receipt of it.  The cross-stitch pattern is again by Plum Street Samplers.  Stitched on 28ct evenweave with DMC threads.  I had a hard time stitching on this unknown piece of evenweave.  The weave was rather tight.  The lovely thing about it is that it had little pink flowers printed on it.  The stripes are from a honeybun by Sweetwater for Moda called Make Life.  Machine quilted with polyester batting.

I bought some fabrics for my sewing projects last Friday.  And the silk organza that I spoke off in my previous post.  They are now all washed and ready to be cut.  The seersucker fabric above are for shirts for four little boys and the right most for a dress for a little girl.  And then there's the cotton-linen blend that I got for myself.  Absolutely love these fabrics.  I like the texture and the hand of it, not to mention the comparatively lower cost as compared to 100% linen.  I have the patterns all ready for them.

This is Part 1 of the patterns, there is still Part 2 to print, stick and cut.  A lot of work I must admit but it sure beats paying for shipping.

The Burda 8218 blouse is completed.  Turned out really well.  The pockets were a little fiddly though because of the curved corners.  I intend to make another with the grey cotton-linen fabric above.  I think it'll look slightly more dressy when worn with a scarf.

Happy Birthday Jess W!

 Jess is the mistress of all things prim.  Another of her phase that we all have to live with ... :)  I gathered some essential prim (dare I not?) items like crushed walnut shells, heavy muslin and a metal clamp make-do.  I also stitched a mug rug for her (my current craze).  The pineapple stitchery is a freebie design by Sue Allemand.  Being the cat lover that she is, I knew I had to get her this kitty card.  These are prints by a talented local artist Emila Yusof.

 Another mug rug but this time for Margaret W.  The cross stitch is a freebie design by Plum Street Samplers. I changed the chart a little with MW's DD as the elder and her DS as the baby!  Stitched on Lugana 28ct evenweave with DMC floss.  The fabric is from a honeybun called Make Life by Sweetwater for Moda. Sorry about the pictures being a little dark despite being rather sunny outside.  I think I need to tweak some manual settings and see how that goes.

 I bought this book without knowing that it wasn't REALLY couture.  The techniques really looked impressive and quite polished to my untrained eye.  Ann of Gorgeous Fabrics panned it just a few days after I got my copy :(  Nevertheless it's really useful to me and I don't think I want to aim for real couture sewing as such although it is always good to know what's out there (famous words by Mulder).  I would be happy with meticulously made RTW (Ready to Wear) garments. 

 This is the start of Burda 8218.  I chucked this fabric aside as it was too sheer almost like organza.  The fabric was Glace by Three Sisters for Moda.  My friends say I could use a spaghetti T or a lacy camisole inside the blouse ... we'll see.  I've cut another piece or white cotton fabric since, this time thicker.

 I tried Hong Kong seam for the shoulder seams using the discarded organza like fabric.  I think I better stock up on some satin bias tape or some viscose lining.  Sure would be prettier and more comfy.  And it saves a trip to the shop to serge it before attaching the collar.

 I used the couture dart method as described in the book.  I needed to sew 6 darts for this blouse.   I am also using that same organza fabric as the interface for my facings.  I have not got the silk organza that it widely used in replacement of interface.  I need to make a trip to the fabric stores to get some essentials soon. The instructions for the Burda 8218 leaves a lot to be desired and for a newbie like me it zapped all the little brain power I had.  It was a rather mentally exhausting weekend.  For a more finished front facing I used Sunni's tutorial, which is very clever.

 To soothe my tortured grey cells, I worked on Mary Glover, still some catching up to to.  I had to unpick 'FINISHED THIS MARCH' as I used the wrong colour floss :(  It's now corrected.  When it rain it pours?  That's how the weather has been here in KL for some days.  There's a mini storm every evening starting at 4 pm.  The lightning show is just above my roof!

 Some clowning around with the T block.  It's a 3" block, a little too small for my liking but I think I may make another 3 just to convert it into a potholder?  I saw this just the night before on Taryn's blog.  I used this instructions.  I am using Kona's Rich Red and a white muslin.

Some sewing

I have recently joined Pinterest.   It's a great way to pin my To-Do List and tutorials that I come across while browsing the net.  There are some red & white quilts that I've been fancying.  I will be taking positive measures in stocking up some red & whites for sure :)

 

 Some linen and cotton fabric from Ikea to be sewed into curtains.

Zakka linen fabrics for bags and aprons.

The Burda 2561 blouse is completed.  Turned out great and quite comfy in cotton. Would like to make another with linen instead.

 Andre shorts in process.  I've actually completed it but did not have the time to take a pic.  It's dark grey twill.

More fabric for shorts.  Their for my dad, he picked them himself.

Some fabrics for my future blouses and a dress.

Finally some piecing albeit quite slowly.  It's going to be Cheri's January quilt.

Mary Glover's 1/1 stitching is all completed ... and am I glad ...  Now hopefully I am able to catch up on the SAL soon.

WIPs a plenty

  The going is slow on Mary Glover.  I am only at part of Part 3, how pathetic :(  Emmanuelle has already issued Part 5!  The 1/1 stitching does not help speed things up even on 28ct linen ...

Block 10: Lincoln's Platform.  From Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilts

Block 12: Louisiana.  From: Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilts

I'm choosing the easier blocks to make ... much like cheating ;)  NO stressing for me.

9 blocks to date and as you can see there's still only 1 Courthouse Steps block and 1 Strawberry Field block.  I hope to work on that more with some fabrics being cut.  Here's the proof:

I've abandoned the shirt I was sewing.  I did however learn how to attach the placket on the shirt.  I think I know how to go about the rest of the construction of the shirt.  I wasn't too happy with the fabric of that shirt anyway.  Now I'm working on hopefully a keeper.  A blouse for me Burda 2561.  Now the fabric is so much better to work with, Heather Ross' Mendocino.

Mug Rug.  Size: 10" x 6 1/4"

Finally a finish ... My submission for the Crazy Challenge issued by JW.  A mug rug.  I used up scraps from an old quilt that I made some time back.  I would have preferred to use Valdani Variegated Pearl 12 threads for the specialty stitches instead of DMC Ecru Pearl 12.  It would have given it more dimension.

Strippy Triangles Doll Quilt - Completed

I tried marking with the water erasable pen, hera marker and masking tape.  I like  masking tape best.

 

Designer: Kathleen Tracy.  Size: 13-1/2" x 17-3/4".  Batting: Cotton. Quilting: Hand quilted with YLI Light Brown.

 

I used the YLI thread which Merilyn gave me to hand quilt this doll quilt. And gosh that thread sure glides.  No friction when pulling it out of the quilt sandwich, pulling out the quilting needle is quite another matter! The thread is thin, which I'm not used too as I normally use Pearl No. 8.  But it presents a different look.  I would like to try Pearl No 12 next.

The beginnings of the Courthouse Steps block.  Kathie gave me some tips and it's working!  So I think I'll proceed with a 9 blocks or 16 blocks table topper.

Humble start to Lori's Strawberry Fields.  I always like to try out one block to see if I can manage it and then proceed cutting for the rest of the blocks.  And yes ... I'll be proceeding.

Boy's shirt in the making.  This is a test run.  Hope it works out well and then I can go fabric shopping :)