Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I finally finished Orange You Glad’s sleeve. It took forever considering I got the quilt back from Colleen in February. The real problem was that I put off making the sleeve for awhile. I know I should have made when I finished the quilt, but I didn’t.
This quilt doesn’t look square, but apparently it is. It is 63×63 inches.
I am pleased to have another finish.
After writing the last I Spy post, I decided to take a look at the I Spy pouches I had made. I didn’t pull all of them as some are in project boxes with the supplies for projects I want to make.
I was surprised to find that most of them were made with the same coneflower colorway. I have other colorways. I thought I had used multiple colorways to make these, but I have stuck mostly to the one. Interesting.
Like many other Californians, we have been experiencing a lot of rain. We have, fortunately, had no leaks or flooding or any other problems. We have been stuck inside, which is great for sewing, but not so great for exercise. I hope this is the worst thing I have to deal with.
Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials
Take a look at this cute pie themed pincushion from the Sewing with Scraps site. I remember my godmother baking mini cakes or brownies in our play baking supplies. For some reason, this project reminds me of that.
There is a free pattern for little triangle pouch. It good for a a little bit of hardware or earbuds or some cash. The pattern comes with a video as well. The site has a lot of free patterns on the free pattern page.
Rosie and David have a project bag that could be used for a tools to-go bag. It has a free video tutorial.
I like a little coin purse on the McCain Tailor site.
Apple Green Cottage has 30 free bag patterns. Most of them are tote bags, but there is also a Messenger Bag, a tablet bag, a jewelry pouch and a couple of drawstring bags. A few of the free patterns are from Sew Sweetness.
Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies
Friend Julie talked about a hand sewing aid called a Lap App. She described the features and functionality very well.
Andover Fabrics has Century Solids.
If you need organizer sheets to keep your projects in order the Sewing with Scraps site has a bundle called the Sewing Planner & Organizer Bundle Pack for $14.95.
You might remember that I received a HuRTy ruler for Christmas. I tried to use it the other night with only the printed directions. That doesn’t usually work for me, so I went looking for a video. Of course, I found several. The one I watched was called 3. The HuRTy™ 1 – Cutting HRT Pieces. There are 3-4 videos about the HuRTy ruler, but I just needed to know how to cut. Remember to check my HRT tutorials and resources posts about HRTs in general.
Media
Mrs. K shared the Francesquilts site with me. Frances showed a number of photos and thoughts about QuiltCon recently.
One of the interns with whom I work told me about her visit to the Basel Kunstmuseum. I looked it up and found that they have a great website where you can see a lot of their art. Good inspiration.
No joke!
I have used 23 yards total fabric (net) so far this year. That is pretty good and I am almost on track for 100 yards this year.
Finished 2023 Quilt Projects
Finished (for me!) Donation Quilts
I don’t quilt much and I enjoy the collaborative effort of making a top and allowing someone else to quilt it. Thus, the quilts below are mostly tops, but I will include a finished quilt once someone else finishes it for the group.
Finished Bags and Small Projects
This category covers bags, toys, aprons and knitting as well as other non-quilt projects.
In Process or To Make
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I am continuing to try not to put away projects. I find putting a project away ensures I never work on them, because I just lose steam.
Quilts (machine work)
Nothing at the moment!
Quilts (Handwork)
I decided that some of my quilts are in a different class because they are hand piecing or embroidery or beading. They take longer. Thus I created a new category and have moved some projects here.
Ready for Quilting
In the Quilting Process
Nothing at the moment
In the Finishing Process
Small Projects
Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting. I don’t have a bag in process at the moment.
Still UFOs
I still have UFOs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled, it hasn’t been worked on in awhile or it is waiting its turn to be worked on. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.
I am annoyed that some of these are still WIPs. I just need to work on them!
I was really pleased to see a bunch of quilts that Peggy made for donations at the meeting the other day. She called them her “Jaye collection”, which I thought was very kind. I was confused until she talked about how she made them out of bits and pieces I sent to her. I sent her a couple of stacks of HSTs during the pandemic as well as many 16 patch blocks and she turned all of them into great quilts.
I made a bunch of donation blocks this month. Some are 16 patches and some are the pink strip blocks. As a result I am feeling better about my contributions to the guild.
Yes, I am making another Hackney pouch. I like the shape of this pouch/bag. It is fun and a bit unusual. The process of assembly is also providing me with a challenge even after making several of them.
Yes, it is another gift. I might make one for myself. We’ll see.
This time I am working on perfecting a version that is most useful and that I like. As I might have mentioned, I don’t like the mesh pocket, because I don’t like the way it comes out. Mostly, I don’t like the zipper tabs and how thick they are. They are hard to sew and thus the seams look wobbly.
I tried a vinyl pocket, which was ok. I haven’t heard how useful it is, but will ask next time I see the recipient.
This time I used doublefold elastic to make a tool holder.
I cut the doublefold elastic the same width as the lining, then basted it to the top lining piece.
I marked the places where I wanted the recipient to be able to slide tools in. I used a half inch size for each pencil or pen or whatever. I put an inch between each set of marks. These had to be mirrored on the second strip of elastic. I also made the marks on the second set of elastic off from the first set so the tools (or pens or whatever) wouldn’t interfere with each other.
I moved all the blocks to my larger design wall after Who Am I? went into the ‘to be quilted’ bag. While I was little lazy about walking across the room to use the donation blocks for leaders and enders, I finally put the quilt top together and put the borders on.
I got inspiration from the Red Strip donation top I made a few years ago. I really liked the cornerstones and the way the white sashing separated the blocks so viewers could see each one distinctly.
This one is larger than the Red version. I did end up adding a column to the quilt, but I still think it is a weird shape. I didn’t do any of the ratio math I suggest my students do to make their quilts the right shape. I plan to put more borders on, so maybe I will make the vertical borders a little wider than the top and bottom borders.
So far so good and I am on track to bring it to Sew Day or the next meeting.
I quickly cut more pieces for another I Spy and finished it over the weekend. I think I have a sewing routine for this pattern down pat now.
One of the reasons I made this one is that I liked a piece of fabric I pulled for the Pink Strip donation quilt back. I decided to use it for the lining, which shows up nicely through the window. It is a good way to be able to see a fabric I enjoy.
This one will replace the one I gave as a gift. It will hold the Friesan Pouch acrylic templates. I’ll save the Grey Cross I Spy for something else. I kind of like having all of my acrylic templates in pouches that match.
I was pleased to see that I lined up the top strips around the zipper very well.
I just love making these pouches, as I have said a million times.
I am making good progress on the Pink Strip Donation top. It is VERY pink. I am enjoying working on it. It doesn’t feel like a must do project. I do want to get it done, however the pink is so cheerful that it is a joy to work on. This one will definitely not be gender neutral.
I did a big clean out and organization of the scraps in my pink bin, which was required to finish enough blocks to make a reasonable sized quilt. It looks a little skinny, so I am debating adding another row.
I finished the second 2-in-1 Case pretty quickly and this one looks good enough to give as a door prize. The first one was a good learning experience.
Yes, I am using a lot of that coneflower fabric lately. I like it despite the brown in the print. I am not sure what is so appealing about it to me.
This time, you can see that I was much more careful and attentive to the closure. I thought about using one with a pointy tip, but decided against it in the end. There is a pattern for a project with the pointy tip closure in the book**, but I thought I would try it a different time. I was on a bit of a deadline and didn’t want to mix up the process until I had gotten it right.
I used the same interior fabric, as mentioned. I thought it looked nice and it was on my cutting table, so why not?
I used longer zippers this time, as I said I would. I know I said I might use even longer zipper next time. I don’t think the project needs the zipper stop. also, I like to being able to get the zipper head as close as possible to the binding. I think it looks better.
As before, I used some foam to give it a little more heft. I wonder if that makes the pouch less useful? I wonder if the recipient can put in fewer items, because the pouch has more structure?
I am pleased with the binding. I think less contrast looks better.
So, another project finished and this one has been sent off to Carrie for the door prize assembly for the guild.
I quickly finished this project, which was great.
The top is pretty subtly shaded, e.g. very little contrast. I guess that is ok. The nook where the buffet is located is a little dark, so I hope what light there is will reflect off of the light colors.
I am sending this to Colleen to quilt.
I told you: potato chips.
Yes, I made another I Spy pouch. I don’t like this one as much. It doesn’t feel as substantial as the last one and I am not sure why. It has to be the fabric. It is an Art Gallery fabric, which I really like, but I don’t think it is right for this project. Since I am storing acrylic templates in them, then need a little heft.
This doesn’t mean it is terrible or anything and I do like highlighting the lining fabric through the window. It is like a fun prize. I’ll probably use this as a gift.
This is the small size. I also use the glitter vinyl. I like that glitter vinyl. Not only is it easier to cut, but it is fun. It does make the peony look a little blurry in the photo. It doesn’t look like that in person.
SueS asked me to make scissor cozies, as mentioned. I forgot to post about Maria’s. I made one for her before. I didn’t have the same fabric, so I picked out some coordinating fabric, so the two would go together.
I am really pleased with the interior of this one. It came together very well and the stripes look nice.
I closed the bottom with a machine stitch. The handstitching looks better, but I didn’t want to spend the time
As with Sue’s and Cyndi’s, I also used the Advent labels and one of my Wunderlabels.
I have to remember to add more labels. I keep forgetting.
I started another 2-in-1 Case almost immediately after finishing the first one. As mentioned, this is an easy bag and I wanted to get it right. This one looks a lot better and is more functional.
I was pleased with the fuchsia binding. I thought it was a less distracting choice than the black and white, though I do like a good black and white stripe.
I made certain to the get the closure in the right place. I used a slight different process to sew it on. I put the female half of the snap in then, before sewing the tab to the back, I snapped it together. This helped me align the tab with the female part of the snap on the front. Then I pinned the tab to the back and sewed it down. Somehow the measurements in the pattern didn’t work for me.
I used the same fabric for the inside as I did in #1. It’s a nice bright white. I am pretty sure I bought it with Amanda when we were out shopping in Portland one time.
I used longer zippers as well- 9 inch instead of 8inch, as the pattern suggests. I had to be careful not to hit the metal parts, but the zipper was fully enclosed in the tabs and the binding, which looks better. I will probably use a longer zipper next time and cut off the excess. It seems like a waste, but then I won’t have to worry about that metal zipper end. Hitting with a needle is no picnic.
Almost done then I send it off to be wrapped for the guild door prize.
Remember I said that these pouches were like making candy? I gave one of my I Spy pouches to someone on my team, so I just made another one for my Cotton Candy pouch acrylic templates.
This one follows the theme of the others. I used the Anna Maria Coneflower fabric again along with some of the hexagon Tula Pink fabric for the inside.
It was fun just to sit down and start and finish something relatively easy. I feel ridiculously pleased with this pouch. Actually, every time I make one I feel ridiculously pleased.