All pictures from the Sewing and Quilting expo in November.
Wordless Wednesday- Mini Modern Quilts
Tag: quilts
Wordless Wednesday- Nature Quilts
Quilts from the Quilt Expo 2022
Wordless Wednesday- Original Sewing and Quilting Expo- Animal Quilts
I went to the the Sewing and Quilt Expo this past weekend with K and we had such fun, even though it was significantly smaller than in previous years. The classes were excellent though and I’ll write more about them later. For now, here’s the animal quilts I saw there.
My Year Of Sewing- 2020
How has it been a year already? I sometimes feel like I’m still stuck in March when the world shut down and then all of a sudden, it’s 2021! I have had my blog for four years! There’s been a lot of changes. (My auto correct tried to change that the chocolate, btw. It’s not wrong.) Some of them were not my favorite, but a lot of them were for the better.
Looking over my completed projects this year, I was very pleased to see that I had completed around 110 projects. That’s not counting the tea wallets, masks, doll clothes, and bowl cozies separately! Little thing like that are much too annoying to count individually, since I tend to make them in batches.
I’m very proud that I was able to make so many things, especially with all the current stressors going on in the world. A lot of my clothes projects this year were very practical too. I filled some wardrobe gaps, faced a couple fears, and made some pretty cool things. Of course, there were things that didn’t go so well and some that have ended up in the naughty bin or even got tossed in the scrap pile. I’ll start with the positive projects.
My most used patterns for the year were the RAD Patterns Solar Flares, the Itch to Stitch Lago tank, the Panel Undies. Here’s a collage of most of my Solar Flares.
I think there are a couple other pairs around that I don’t have pictures of.
Here’s the Lagos- again, not all, I’ve lost track of how many I actually made.
Runners up were the Be Creative Hoodie (A very recent pattern!) and the Shenanigans Skort. Here’s my three Be Creatives- two work appropriate cowl, one casual hoodie.
The Shenanigans Skorts were lovely, but I’m going to have to take two of them apart and add some other shorts in a different material. They tend to slip down a bit. My first one was by far the best. I wore it every chance I got in the summer.
The Solar Flares, the Shenanigans and the Be Creative were three of the new patterns I tried this year. Overall, I tried 30 new patterns! That’s quite a lot for me. A lot of them were intimidating at first, but when I finished them, most of them turned to be easy!
I completed all the weeks for the 52 Week Sewing Challenge and will be participating again this year. It was a very good motivator to keep sewing. I didn’t follow all the challenges, but did choose some new patterns because of the challenge. I found a few new pattern and fabric companies too. I plan to try to get bonus entries when I can bynusing a sponsor’s pattern. Here are my quarterly collages for 2020. Mostly clothes, but there are some other things scattered in there.
The things I’ve learned this year are:
-To keep my pattern cutting table clean
– Getting my patterns printed in large format is definitely worth the money
– Wardrobe basics don’t have to be boring or uncomfortable.
– Elastic isn’t scary
– Sewing for other people can be fun too!
– Tendinitis hurts and is super annoying. If I wear my brace when cutting fabric, like I’m supposed to, it doesn’t hurt as much.
The skills I want to work on this year are learning how to do flat locked stitches on my serger, button holes on my sewing machine, using the Accuquilt (this is a pretty darn cool quilting machine, so there’s going to be a post on it once I can play a bit,) darts, and grading patterns.
Patterns I want to make this year are the SOS pants and the Penelope Dress from Patterns for Pirates, the Valley Skater Dress and Lotte hoodie from Sinclair Patterns, a couple of tshirt patterns to compare, boxers for the Husband, tshirts for the Husband, and the Mix It Up by George and Ginger. There are more, of course, but I’ll start with those.
I’d also like to restart my monthly reviews. It makes it a lot easier to keep track of everything if I do that. It also might help keep me motivated to continue to try new things. I really do think my sewing confidence has grown and I’m proud of myself for being able to continue to blog and sew during what has been a really rough year, both physically and mentally. Hopefully this year will bring more determination and drive, as well as a positive outlook.
I hope this year you’re inspired by whatever makes you feel brave and creative! I’m looking forward to finding new projects and favorites!
Wordless Wednesday- Cozy At Home
There was no Quilt Expo this year, so I thought I would share some from last year. These are all home themed quilts, which seemed appropriate.
Sewing Up A Storm
My dresser drawers are getting full of clothing I’ve made and I’m finding myself being in me made outfits from head to toe more often than not. Today it was about half and half for work. I still have nice store bought pants and sweaters that are in the rotation, but I wear so many me made things now that everyone at work just assumes I made whatever I have on. 🙂
Speaking of work, one of the biggest things I’ve sewn lately has been this quilt that I essentially finished in a weekend for my director, who got married! She’s always elegant, so I thought this color palette would be nice and not overly girly for her husband and family. I’ve been told that everyone loves it, even the dogs! 🙂
It’s a little wrinkly from being wrapped up. This is the second Jellyroll Serger Quilt I’ve made, after taking the class in the winter at Decorative Stitch with my MIL. This time, I remembered to add the sashing! I think it turned out super cool. I have enough leftover fabric to make a baby quilt to gift when needed. The featured picture is a close up of one of the unicorn squares. Had to have a little whimsy, after all. Isn’t it so vibrant? The quilt was actually inspired by the fleece blanket that I used for the back. I had bought one of those no sew fleece blanket kits, but hate how the fleeces feel when you tie them and they are the perfect size for quilt backs.
I’ve been batch sewing a bunch of Lago tanks lately, as they are my absolute favorite tank so far. I have pictures of three of them, but have made two more too, a purple one and a long one for a night gown. The night gown used the rest of the black skull and hearts fabric from my purple skort. Here’s the ones I do have pictures of in a handy collage.
The pink one is a little, very soft and cool feeling, rayon spandex night shirt. The bicycle one is also mostly for sleep, as it can be a little more sheer than I’d like, but could be worn for every day too. The mint one was for my friend with the little boys. I’ve had this fabric since last year for her, but couldn’t figure out what I wanted to make for her with it. She liked this one a lot, so I think I made the right choice. It’s tunic length, so could also be a sleep shirt.
The Husband was traveling for work near where our friends live, so he was able to drop off a little box for them and get us two pints of the best (and pretty much only) maple syrup I will eat. There may have been some nerdy LOTR references made when she told me we could get it in pints. 😉 Yum!
I made a Patterns for Pirates Sweet Tee for her as well.
I was pleased with how this one turned out. I have a couple of Sweet Tees myself, so was pretty sure she’d like it.
The boys got shark themed outfits for Shark Week, which is coming up August 9-16th. I mean, we all know what I’ll be doing that week, but now the boys and I can match!
I hope the boys like their outfits! I made sure to send pants this time, as the older boy last time was slightly perturbed that he had only a shirt. 🙂
I made some more doll clothes for the office, but have pictures of just a few of them. The rest are at work and have been used already by the littles.
Masks are not freaking me out as much to make currently, although they do hurt my hand, no matter which tool I use to cut them out. I have a bunch of pet themed ones started to do a fundraiser for Fancy and Piggy’s rescue. I found the most ridiculous cat dating site fabric for some of them and it cracks me right up. I’ll be sure to take a close up picture of that one. In the meantime, here are some of them.
A few of these are going to work with me too, for anyone who wants to take them. The papery masks make me itchy and are super uncomfortable, so I wanted to offer them if other people were having the same issues. I figure if I get a set number of them ready, I won’t be inundated by requests and will be able to calmly get them out. I’m not taking custom requests or selling more than I have made up.
I used the camper/flamingo fabric to make Linen Lounger shorts, but need to go back and add a taller waistband, as I forgot to increase the back rise. I added pretty pink lace though and think they are super cute. I added pockets too.
Another victim of not enough rise, are these pants. At least I think that’s what’s happening? They’re also a weird length, hence the sad face.
I need new capri’s and pants though, so I’ll keep trying things out. I did make knit shorts from this cool zipper pattern cotton lycra. They’re very comfy and have pockets. I used the Solar Flares pattern by RAD patterns. The theme last week for the sewing challenge was Pants or Shorts.
I also made another skort! This book fabric was a custom fabric from Peekaboo Fabrics and they don’t have any more. I had just a half yard of it and it worked out perfectly. The shorts underneath are a blue anti-microbial athletic fabric that apparently runs easily. I may switch it out for a plain cotton lycra at some point. It is very comfy though and looks tidy enough that I do wear it to work on days when I have mostly kids.
Well, that’s all the sewing I have pictures of, so I guess I’ll sign off for the night! I’m definitely relaxing in my zipper shorts tonight. The house got pretty warm when we were all out of it. I’ll leave you with this picture of Piggy, because if it doesn’t make you smile, I’m not sure what will.
Sweet Dreams!
Sewing Update
I have been sewing some things lately, mostly smaller things. I made some more underwear and then laughed hysterically when I tried to get them in my drawer. So I went ruthless on my store bought ones and threw them all away! It was pretty exciting. Side note: how am I old enough to be excited about organizing my underwear drawer? 😆
Remember that serger quilt I took a class on with my MIL? Well, I finished it! I quite forgot the sashing as the directions are somewhere around in a very safe place. 😬 It’s supposed to have thin grey strips in between all the squares.
It looks super pretty though! It’s backed with a thin grey fleece from a fleece tied blanket kit that I got on clearance. I love the combination of colors and how it looks with the grey. I want to make another one that’s got the sashing in the correct place. It really brightens up the office and hopefully will be very comforting to clients.
I finally took pictures of my other pairs of RAD Patterns Solar Flares too!
The pink ones are a fantastic squishy and plush athletic blend. I used black cotton lycra for the pockets because the pink is thicker. The orange and grey are a lovely french terry. Black cotton lycra works for both waistbands. They don’t have much of a flare, just bootcut. I wear them a lot!
My favorite pair of Solar Flares so far is this extremely fancy and comfy pair of grey crushed velvet. These are the regular flare, but there is an extreme flare too, which would be fun for dance pants.
So fancy! 🤩 I do enjoy swanning about in them. I need to tack down the pockets though. The static makes them pop right out when you remove your hands.
I had purchased enough for a set of pjs, because I really wanted fancy New Year’s Eve pjs meaning I had enough for this scrumptious sweater. It’s so lovely to wear. It was horrible to sew, all slippery and ridiculous, but I managed to get it to behave.
I forgot to add this apron in the last sewing post too. Excuse the terrible wrinkles, I was rushing to meet the challenge deadline and my iron was out of water.
Isn’t the fabric cute? My MIL got it for me a bit ago. It has mixers! I have enough to make some hot pads too.
This next week for the challenge is to mash or hack a pattern, so I’m still looking for an idea for what to do. My thoughts are an Amy and a circle skirt, or a pair of dance pants (the solar flares) with a pencil skirt grafted on top. I should really put more things away and clean as well. I tidied up my patterns, in an effort to find something to use.
Wish me luck in that effort! For now, I’m going to tackle the mound of fabric on my cutting table.
Thoughtful Thursday- Rainbows
If you haven’t seen Rainbows Over Michigan yet, go check it out. People are putting up rainbow themed things in their windows for others to see on walks. I plan to make some hearts for our windows tomorrow, but thought rainbows would be cheerful for the blog too!
Wordless Wednesday- Bird Quilts
Cheerful birds from the National Quilt and Sewing Expo last November
Wordless Wednesday- Colors, Colors Everywhere!
