Sewing Away

The tuxedo shirt is now completed and sent to my sis.  Looking really smart, with all the bells & whistles on how a shirt should be.

French cuffs!

  Then an A-Line Yoke denim skirt.  Just love the top-stitching in jeans thread and the contrasting facing and pockets.  Makes me wish I wore skirts!

The simple prim applique design was fun to do.  Love Note (freebie). And Jess W takes credit for suggesting the word 'fleur'!

 

I also sewed a 3/4 sleeved knit blouse.  The collar was not done well.  Because I winged the length of the neck band.  My printer was out of toner and I could not print the actual neck band.  Of well ...  The Craftsy course on Sewing with Knits helped immensely. 

 On the quilting front, I am enjoying the hand quilting on my CW quilt.  This will be the quilting design for each block.  So far I've only completed 1 block.  Hah!

The hand quilting for the Valentine doll quilt is completed and I love it. Just simple straight lines criss-crossing the quilt.

And there's the very little cutie quilt top from Lori's Abundance QAL.  I pride myself that I've done every single QAL run by Lori but I know Lori will quickly remind me that none of them are quilted!  That will change ... hopefully soon ... :)

I made a boo-boo with the hour glass block.  But it's staying ...

 When I saw Lori's completed 'A little porch time', I had the yearning inspiration to do some prim applique.  Didn't you applique this 'House Pillow' too Lori?  I remembered that I kept a Jan Patek design that was a free download sometime back.  It's not available now though.  I got my friendly photocopy lady to shrink the applique pieces to fit a 14" pillow form instead of 18".  I've only got the star to complete and and I want to do some stitchery between the tree top and the star.  Maybe 'Pineberry Lodge' or something?

I had a LOT of help from a series of wonderful applique videos by  MSQC featuring Jenny Doan and Jan Patek herself!  The first of the 4 part series starts here on YouTube. 

Design:  House Pillow by Jan Patek

Hand Quilting Revisited

Happy New Year everyone!  2013 is well on it's way ...

I think I may have found some new wind to do some relaxing hand quilting this New Year.  When I hand quilted  previously (the little that I did)  it was quite dreadful and painful.  Mind you we're talking about big stitch or utility quilting, not those fine Amish quilting.  I somehow did not get it ... the rocking motion ... until I saw this video.

Actually I've seen how Sarah Fielke quilted from a video that came with a magazine that Jess W gave me many moons ago but I don't think it was explained very well.  After watching this FREE video all the lightbulbs started switching on!  A rare occurrence I know.  Prior to discovering this video and in pursuit of this elusive skill I initially enrolled in Craftsy's Hand Quilting class.  I was quite disappointed.  I have enrolled in many Craftsy classes and they were all very informative.  So I requested for a refund in less than 24 hours from purchasing the course and to Craftsy's credit they gave me a refund promptly.

Here's the proof.  I had to quickly look for a quilt which will fit my gigantic hoop and which was already basted.  I remembered I had one that fits the description which was destined for machine quilting, long time ago.  I've been hand quilting a little every day and it's so enjoyable.  My stitches are far from even and even further from small.  But as Sarah wisely says ... practice!.  So now I may get all those quilt tops finally quilted.  That's the plan.

I made a simple design board measuring 16" x 24" this morning.  I did not have those stapler guns so I just taped it down.  If it falls apart I may get duct tape instead.  On the board is a block from Pam Buda's QAL  but I think the pieces are too small for my liking.

 This was the lovely packages that I opened on Christmas morning.  Their from Elyte.  Just love the pincushion.  I am already using it.

 And from Merilyn some lovely FQ's, one can never get enough of fabric and a cute Quilting sign which is now perched above my monitor telling me I should be quilting!

Cross Stitch Designer: The Primitive Hare.  Fabric: 32ct Belfast Raw Linen.  Floss: DMC

 And these went to the girls.   Made them into cushion wall hangings, added a snowflake and Christmas tree charm and a couple of prim scissors.  I think we're going to make this our little tradition :) 

 On the sewing front I completed my second Sassy Librarian blouse, it's actually with short sleeves.  The picture above is an in-progress pic.  I think this blouse pattern has potential for some tweaking i.e. round collar, square collar etc.  Will look into that once I get some inexpensive cotton.  They'll be for my home / market wear.  Maybe even make a couple of sleeveless blouses, to expose my elephant arms :(

Still in the pot is my sis' shirt.  Pleated tuxedo bib, french cuffs and all.  Only a little work left and it'll be done.

I've had some queries on the scissors I've displayed with my pics.  I've got only one of each for now but if there are some interests I will try to get more.  Please leave a comment or email me if you'd like them.  I will send you a PayPal invoice.  Items shipped will be via registered mail.

Gold scissors.  Length: 5".  Blade: 1 3/4".  Price:  USD12.00.  Shipping: USD2.00.

Primitive scissors.  Length: 6".  Blade: 2 1/4".  Price: USD 10.00.  Shipping: USD2.00

Thanks for coming by ... wishing you good things and much productivity in 2013!

Merry Christmas to all!

It's Christmas eve and I'm slowing down and going at a leisurely pace.  Enjoying some Christmas carols and sewing.

The Belgian Waffles quilt is completed and I am using it as my chair back.  Love the burst of colours.

I managed to complete 2 cushion covers just in the nick of time.  One of them is not a Christmas theme so I've put it away till after Christmas.  I've combined some cross stitch pieces that I've done a couple of years back and added some pretty fabric all around.

Cross Stitch Design: The Sampler Girl.

 I just love the quirkiness of the verse.  As you will notice it was stitched in 2010!  I figured it's about time to finish it and figured a cushion cover with honey bun strips all around it log cabin style will make a cheerful composition.  I lined the top with flannel and piece of cotton, and did some big stitch quilting along the strips with Perle cotton No. 8.

Cross Stitch Design: The Sampler Girl (freebie)

Completed this on the eve of Christmas Eve which means to say yesterday.  I would have finished it earlier if not for me buying a different red for the piping's binding.  Gotta do it right, ya know.  Love how it turned out.  I referenced a tutorial here.  Instead of machine stitching the piping to the front I hand basted it, more control and accuracy IMO.  The fabrics around it courthouse steps style are CW Christmas fabrics.

The postman was rather busy sending lovely gifts from dear friends my way this Christmas.  

 Look at how Santa is decorating his own tree in his house!  I love, love, love that pillow house finish.  Lovely little gifts from Margaret W.  I initially thought it was a Mary Garry design but it turned out to be a PS OOP.  The cushion has now joined his friends in my basket of Christmas smalls.   

Jackie W sent along a spool holder along with this appliqued Yoko Saito-ish key holder.  I'm using it now and I love it.

And then an absolutely fantastic Christmas ornament from Lillie!  Heck it's just gorgeous!  It's a design by LHN.  Lillie just comes up with all these creative finishes!  I've hung it on my door so the bell jingles every time I open and close the door!  Ah ... simple pleasures!

Here are two more packages from my stitching pals in OZ.  Elyte and Merilyn.  This is our second Christmas swap.  May there be many more!  I'll be opening them Christmas morn.

That's about wraps it up for the year.  I hope to still churn out a blouse or two ;) before 2012 comes to a close.

Merry Christmas to everyone, may it be a safe and happy one.  Many thanks for coming by!

Welcome!

It's still me.  This blog will be more of the same.  Sometimes familiarity is good?  I hope you'll bookmark my new blog or add it to your reader.  Thanks so much for sticking with me. 

Here's what I've been up to this past month.

Beige cotton-linen blend short sleeved blouse

Some running stitches detail and love those flower buttons

Satin bias binding hem

Running stitches along the sleeve hem

 Very happy with how the collar turned out.  The hand stitching just makes the garment special.  And of course my favourite hem treatment.  I used French seams.

Pleated A-Line skirt

Invisible zipper, my favourite

In-seam pockets

Jump pleats lining

 Self-drafted A-Line skirt incorporating pleats and in-seam pockets.  I thought I'd try lining the skirt using a jump pleat at the hem.

 

White cotton long sleeve shirt

Flat felling arm hole seam

This shirt was an interesting experience with flat felling.  But I used this method only for the arm holes and hem.  I freaked out for the side seams.  The results were not good, I had to unpick it. 

Short sleeved men's shirt

Only the pocket cut on the bias interested me in this shirt.  It was fraught with mistakes :(  Well at least it will be a wearable muslin!

On the quilting front, I pieced 6 Jacob Ladder blocks.  This will be a very slow project.

With the 2 sides not added yet

Belgian Waffles by Moda Bake Shop

With Christmas so near I really wanted to do some Christmas quilting.  I got it all pieced in record time and I'm currently machine quilting this 47" square quilt top.  But the stitches are not regular.  I think I may have to tweak with the tension dial.  I'm using a Crazy Eight turnover with Kona Natural.  The inner red border is Kona Rich Red.