I'm Ready to Quilt!

I haven't picked any fabrics yet. I don't have any idea what I am going to do. But.....I am ready!!

Admin note

Hi all,

We've received an overwhelming response for this next round so we're a little backlogged. Many apologies for the delay, but you should be receiving your blogger invites today. Thanks for being so patient!

Quilts!

Quilts are typically not my thing; I am too impatient for all that goes into them! I occasionally make them but nothing bigger than lap size...This quilt is for my mother and is half-way finished. My mother lost her husband of only 18 days to a car accident on the 2nd of July. The day after his funeral I was talking to her on the phone and she said that the minister asked her what one word would describe her husband; she said "comfort" and my mind went to a quilt. This quilt is called Comfort in memory of her husband. The design for the block comes from McCall's Quilting (there's lots of free patterns) and is called Spinning Star.







My other submission for this month's theme is a variation on the handbags found here. Once I had it cut and pieced together I didn't care too much for the shape. The flower pin is a tutorial on her blog as well.

xo, Pink Trees

It won't be finished by the deadline, that's for sure.

My First Quilting Project for the Quilt-along

Here's my first quilt. I had been searching for a wall hanging that would match my living room decor but to no avail. So I had to go and make this wall hanging quilt. I'll post the pics after the binding has been attached and hung. I'll post my second quilt in a few days.

Yes, I know I am late...but I also moved in July. And only found out I was moving 3 weeks ahead of time. It's just a basic, stretch knit mock turtleneck with half-length sleeves. I plan on using fusible bias tape to hem it. Has anyone used that before? With this fabric the hem is just too noticeable I find if I try and sew it.

For quilting I will be making an "any way you slice it" quilt top to use as a duvet cover. Better get crackin soon!

Is it against the "Rules?"

Is it against the rules to start early? I just started working on these little ornaments yesterday and they are all ready to assemble. There is lots of chain piecing in my immediate future, but hey it's too hot to go outside right?



I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Better Late than Never

I too am a bit late in posting but i just had to share my top - it's the first top i've made for myself 'from scratch!' And it fits! I made most of it before July 15, but then 'life got in the way' (work deadline, my celebration aka wedding, good summer weather). But now that two of the 3 are done, i finished this top today.

I made it from a Simplicity pattern, and other than the collar, it really was simple. I used black eyelet fabric, vintage flower buttons, and i made the bow separate so that it can be either around the collar or the waste - which is the way i like it today.

I can't believe the next theme is quilting because i have a quilt that's waiting to be finished (well, actually started even) so this will be my inspiration! I have been collecting vintage hankies and have finally got just about enough to start the quilt/bed cover. This will be my next big project.

Umm, more than just a bit late...

I know I've missed the dealine for the top sew along, but I finally finished something!

Remember this top?? I think I'd nicknamed it the Kimono top from hell...

Well thanks to the "magic" that my new dressmaker form holds, it now looks like this:

Front

Back

Specs:

Pattern: McCalls 4304. View A

Fabric: I think it was from Spotlight, so long ago.

Time frame: You're joking, right? umm, almost a year....

but 2 hours to finsh from the first photo to complete.

.

Things I'd do different: Longer in the bodice and choose different sleeves, a combination of the length of view B and the sleeves of view C.

These ones are boxy, ok, but boxy (or "funny" as DH said)

.

It's funny, because for all this time the facings were giving me grief, and the minute I put it on the form it all fell into place, it just clicked. WOW, see magic!

Now if I can go with the magical flow and get thru the rest of my to do list.....

By the way, any suggestions for a name for the dressmakers form?

For this round I'm hoping to get this quilt done, which I've had for a bit in kit form. I think it's just the right size for the time frame, so hopefully no more late posting!

Rachael

My first quilt

I sat out the last SIK because I'm not really into sewing clothing so I was anxiously awaiting the announcement of the next one. How excited was I when the challenge is quilting?

For the past two weeks I have taken a beginning quilting class and have a nearly completed quilt top. All it needs are the two borders. I won't be quilting it until the 10th, when I take another class.

The Haul...

This is what I have purchased this week from two local quilt shops. The floral kit on the left with the BQ pattern and the crayon bag pattern are definitely for this challenge. The fat quarters will become quilted bags - hopefully before the deadline as well.

Thanks for such a fun group!

AmyDe

Are we posting quilted stuff yet?

I'm not sure if I'm early but here are some quilted things I've worked on recently.





I have a few more project ideas to work on. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.

Wanett

Good Morning

At least it's still morning here in Atlanta (and HOT!).

Hi I'm Amy, otherwise known as AmyDe and I have just joined this group. I've followed it for a while, but time/life (isn't that a magazine?) didn't allow. I am glad to be here and looking forward to the quilting projects. I have at least one quilt to complete and a couple of quilted bags - fun stuff. I am excited about getting to know some new folks and learning from all of you.

I have been knitting for about 5 years and I started sewing about 20 years ago (gosh that makes me feel old) when I was about 13. I've done all sorts of crafts through the years, sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet, cross stitch, stamping, scrapbooking, etc.

Now I stick mostly to sewing, knitting, and crocheting. I do scrapbook about once/month with girlfriends though.

Thanks for having me!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Intro

Hi, my name is Manda, and I'm a knitter.
(Hi, Manda)

Sorry, I couldn't resist. :) My name is Manda; I'm 25, and I live in Dallas, TX. I blog here and here, and sometimes I podcast, but I don't think I'm very good at it. ;) I currently knit like nobody's business, but I've had a yen to bring my sewing machine out of hiding for a couple months now. This is the kick in the pants I've been looking for. :)

The last time I really sewed anything was in my 7th grade Home Ec class. Actually, I say that, but now that I'm thinking about it, I tried to sew a purse together a few years ago... before I got the sewing machine.

I'd wanted one for the longest, and I kept saying "Man, I want a sewing machine." My mom wanted to get me one, but my stepdad talked her into giving me hers and getting her a brand new one. I'm cool with that.. it's whatever. Mom was doing some serious quilting around that time, and since I (really) hadn't sewn much since 7th grade, I was cool with that. THat and I already sorta "knew" her machine, and didn't have to learn a new one.

I received it for my 23rd birthday. A month after I seriously started knitting.
It's been in it's home-made case thing since I got it. My 26th birthday is in October. ;)

I'm going to be making the Strip-Quilted bag, which is a free pattern I found at Joann.com while searching for quilt patterns on a whim. It's small. It's not a huge quilt, and I think I can successfully complete it within the given time frame.

My best friend and I have a "date" to hit up a couple JoAnn's and Michael's and Hobby Lobbys in search of spiffy fabric. I'm not sure if she's officially joined or not, but I know she was thinking about it. :)

Take care! :D
Manda

Introduction

Hi, my name is Amanda. I've been kntting for about two years now and bought my sewing machine last Thanksgiving. It had not been put to a lot of work so I'm joining this sewalong to motivate me to finish something.

My plan is to make a baby quilt from Denyse Schmidt's book. I already have a colour palette in mind, just need to gather the fabrics. Check out my blog here. Looking forward to see all your quilts!

Hello Everyone

Hi Ladies I would like to introduce myself. My name is Phyllis and I've been quilting since 2000 and the rest of my crafting grew from that. I knit, crochet, sew and quilt. Please feel free to check out my blog at http://knitgirlll06.blogspot.com I've been lurking here for some time now and was invited to join for the quilting project and I can't wait.

seamripper central

i finished my top a while ago, but it's been sitting around waiting for me to rip it out because it was a disaster! a most unflattering photo is here, on Flickr. The pattern was New Look 6483. Basically, I messed up the darts and I hated the bulkiness of the interfacing. Not giving up, except maybe on this pattern. I'm going to try another top, from the current Burda Easy Fashion Magazine. You all have made some lovely stuff!

Late, but not truly.

I have had my project done for almost 2 weeks now, I just haven't had the time to come here and gab about it. But here I am now!

I actually ended up making not one, not two, but THREE tops. I was fairly unsatisfied at how they kept turning out, so I guess I just kept making a new one, due to frustration. It was mainly 'fit' that was causing the grief.

Top #1 was for my wee lass (Simplicity #4206).


It turned out too short (I even added length to begin with!), boxy, overall tent-like. Pretty unflattering.
Here's another photo, but don't let it fool you. It looks okay, but we did some strategic modeling to make it look so.

#2 I attempted for myself (New Look #6239). Just to sum it up, I made a much larger size than I should have, which equated to unwearable, ill-fitting even-larger-tent, in the end.

I am hoping I will be able to adjust it. If not, I will rip it out, as it's such a waste of fabric. Very depressing, this one, as I was having such a joyful time sewing it up. I will have to try another top for myself in the future, just not anytime soon.

The Third time's a charm, right?! So I made #3 for my daughter (again)...less fabric waste, you know, just in case. This one turned out fine (Simplicity #4610), thank goodness. I added an inch to the patterns' length, and rickrack trim to the bottom.


It fits! What a complete relief!


A side view.

I apologize for the bombardment of visuals, but there's even more on my blog (& the "top" saga!), fyi.

I am so looking forward to the quilting project! I have so many ideas....and yippee...it need not 'fit' any one person....just perhaps a pillow form, or the back of a couch, or a baby's hand, etc... Love that! ;~) ).

I finished!

Actually, I made two shirts. Simplicity 4123 and New Look 6605 (the capped sleeve view). The simplicity pattern was so quick and easy to make - I will definatley make again. But, the New Look was trickier and stretched my sewing abilities. Which is a good thing. I love the finished shirt though so, I might try again. maybe the long sleeve version. I would love to post my pictures but I am having technical difficulty. If Anyone can walk me through how to post pictures I will give it another go, ifnot, I will post pictures as soon as my husband helps me.

Under the Wire

Glad to see I'm not the only one who finished yesterday under the wire and couldn't blog about it til today.

Here's my finished Burda 2561. The fabric is a quilting cotton, I believe it's a Kaffe Fasset.


For the photo, I had to choose between "arm cut off" and "blurry". You can see both on my blog, as well as a few pictures on how I changed the pattern from a regular shirt collar to the scoop neck with ruffle. I also cut the sleeves off to make cap sleeves.

This was fun and so easy, I don't know why I waited til the last minute!

Straggler.

For some reason, this past month has totally flown away from me! I didn't think I'd have enough time to make the blouse project, so I kinda gave up on making the deadline.

So there I was last night, sitting in front of the teevee and thinking I would knit, and something suddenly possessed me to bring out the machine and whip out Simplicity 4589.

I bought this pattern precisely because I've seen so many of you make it, and I've loved every single one. I've also been inspired by all the recycling I see everyone doing, from vintage fabric to old duvet covers, so I decided to use this silk that I scavenged from a Goodwill scarf. I was thinking when I bought it that it would make a cool purse lining, but I'm glad I decided to let it see the light of day.



It looks like those Italian millefiore paperweights, doesn't it? It had a tag that said it was a Smithsonian scarf, and fringe that I cut off. There was just enough fabric for my pattern pieces. :-)





It wasn't as easy-peasy as I wanted (for one thing, I didn't buy enough black cotton sateen for the facings, but that was my own dumb fault), but I do love the finished product! It's perfect for a hot Texas day like today, floating about my body and disguising my muffin-top.

The Next Theme

Are you always in pieces trying to decide what project you'll do for each Sew? I Knit! theme? Well all, it's time to pick up the pieces because the next theme is all about quiling!

Details: Sew an item that's quilted! Pretty simple, eh? The project can be anything as long as it has a quilted element to it. For example, a pillow, oven mitts, a apron, a garment with a quilted applique, and of course, a quilt!

New sign-ups are open now until the end of the month, July 31. The theme runs from August 1 until September 15!

cherry blossom shirt

finished this last night, just in time for the deadline .. I had planned to sew another top like these, but when I saw this shirt pattern I knew it would be perfect for this cream cherry blossom fabric. It's from the magazine Patrones #245.

cowboy t-shirt

I've really been taking my time with this shirt, but I finished it earlier this afternoon. This was my first time sewing with a knit jersey, and it was challenging, but not emotionally scarring, like I feared it would be. And best of all, I really like my t-shirt! The pattern is the Plain and Simple Fitted T-Shirt from Hot Patterns.

I have loved seeing all the great shirts on this blog! I think I've written down every single pattern on my to-do list so far. Can't wait till we start the next project!

Mary-Heather

Finished just in time

Here is my shirt! It's Butterick B4395. I can't wear it just yet, but after I loose a few pounds it'll be waiting for me! I actually started it this morning and finished it in around 4 hours. The fabric is from Jo-anns. The exact name escapes me. If you'd like to see more you can visit my blog post here. Love seeing what everyone else is doing and can't wait for the next project!

finished 'bright ditsy' top

pattern - simplicity 4123 with capped sleeves
fabric - bright ditsy, John Lewis
time - too long!

Well here it is, it needs to be washed before I can really bond with it. It will be perfect for the lovely sunny weather promised over the coming weeks here in UK.

I would use this pattern again, but will use the next size down if I do.

Linen Top Recon

I've made a lot of recon tops lately, and here's a picture finally! It's a Vogue pattern, one of Sandra Betzina's new fit ones. The fabric and embroidery detail come from an unflattering full-length brown linen surplice sleeveless shift dress. Buttons from Grammy's button jar I inherited.

Two more tops

I've managed to fit in some sewing sessions today and last Sunday - and the result is two more tops, in quite different styles:



This one is Butterick 4789, made with 1 yard of knit fabric. This isn't one of my better efforts. Although I like the finished top, there's a lot of sloppy sewing (mostly on the inside, so it's not visible in the photo). The pattern is easy, but I'm not that good at working with stretch knit fabric. The only modification I made was to shorten the length - the pattern is tunic-style and I chopped about 3 1/2" off the bottom.



I think this one might actually be the same pattern as Nickie's - it's McCall's 4304. I used 2 yards of a light cotton print. My mods: I didn't use interfacing and I used grosgrain ribbon instead of a fabric tie. This one is much better sewn - I'm quite proud of how nice it looks inside and out. I find that I need to wear a camisole underneath, however, since the front opening tends to show some skin.

I look forward to seeing the rest of the tops come in this week... everyone else's are lovely.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

finally finished!

I've been lagging behind on getting this project done. Since school's been out, I've done nothing but keep the tires on my minivan hot! But, this week it rained and I was able to get some sewing done instead of live at the city pool with my kids!

I made the Amy Butler Cabo Halter and I guess I like the way it turned out, but I don't really like the ties behind my neck, so I probably won't make it in the halter style again. I may try to make it into a cute tank/cami like some of the others here did, but I'd also have to make some alterations to get it to fit properly. I ended up sewing the front overlap together, because I didn't like the way it gaped. I've gotten a few compliments on it, and my husband likes it, so I'm sure I'll wear it a bit this summer.

Hope everyone else is having a productive week!
Susie

Less than two weeks to go

For those that haven't finished their top yet (this includes myself), there are less than two weeks til the deadline (10 days to be exact). So get those scissors working and those machines running. We will be announcing the next project on the 15th as well!

Happy sewing!

My Project: A Vintage Cami

I made this camisole from Folkwear Pattern. I hand crocheted the edging and straps and used some antique buttons I had picked up at a bead show.

I think I will make some more of these. It was very easy. It is basically a tube with some buttons, two draw strings, and some straps. The pattern is very versatile too. I'd like to have quite a few of these to wear under blazers, to sleep in, to the beach, and as evening wear. 

Done!

For all in tents and porpoises this top is done! I am not happy with the way it gapes in the front. Next time I have to remember to allow for my ampleness. Next step, when i get back from camping world, is to put a bit of lace in the V-neck. Without cutting out this top took about 5 hours to make. Pretty fast sew. I even fully lined the top part which they did not call for. Next post I'll have it on and be modestly covered!

First one done

Pattern: McCall's 3662, view C
Fabric: 100% cotton from Hancock Fabrics
Started: 16 June 2006
Finished: 18 June 2006

This was a quick and easy pattern. My only problem was that the sizing was too big. There was way too much ease for my taste so I took in each side roughly an inch. Note to self: don't just look at the bust size, also look at the finished size!

I have the pattern and fabric for another shirt, but I don't know if I will get to it before the deadline. I finished my second bag, an Amy Butler In Town Handbag, after the last deadline, if you'd like to see it, click here.

Everyone's tops are looking great!

Jenny

My Shirts

I finally made the shirt that I wanted to for this project, but not until I'd made 2 more in front of it, I've posted the first one and this was the second:



It's McCalls 3940, a maternity pattern, I'm starting early to build my wardrobe for when we're ready to have number 2, I got very depressed over lack of maternity wear last time around.

The actual project shirt is this one:



Simplicity 4583. As too large the previous shirt is this one is too small. I actually expected it to be a bit tight (I'm loosing weight at present so went down a size in hope) but not as tight as it came out, I will be putting it in the bag with the other things I'm working towards fitting into and looking forward to wearing it sometime soon! I am very happy with the way it turned out though, the fabric is Fair Trade organic cotton.

Anna