I Finished!

On Easter Sunday I finished sewing the binding on my Under The Stars quilt.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Some quilting close ups of the borders. I used the snowflakes I used on my HO, HO, HO quilt and added some loop-de-loops in between to join them together.

Around the squares in the centre I went horizontally and vertically row by row, and I went around each gold star.

In the dark blue band at the top I did a simple loop-de-loop again. I also quilted around the snowmen shapes and the big parts of their faces. Without that, they poofed up too much. With quilting the parts, there is much better definition to their faces.

I put a round label on the back that says: "Made by me, for me, then my name and the date".

I'm not sure I'd make this quilt again, or if I'll do another flannel top and bottom. I did like the mix of hand applique and sewn piecing. And the colours grew on my over time. On my current machine, quilting through two layers of flannel and batting was a bit tricky.

I've put this quilt away until next year when I'll bring it out for the couch. I refuse to accept that we have enough winter left that I still need a flannel quilt.

Quilting Update

I've been working away at quilting my Under the Stars quilt (sort of). It's not going quite as fast as I'd like - I think because it's been a bit tricky to quilt with the walking foot because it is so thick that it doesn't feed quite right.

The weather is warming up so I want to get it finished - I likely won't use it until next winter. And I refuse to start my next quilt, which I really want to get going on , before this one is finished.

So far, there is a grid quilted in all the squares and the stars are outlined. I free-motioned around the applique snowmen and did a loop-de-loop in the sky. In the green I want to do snowflakes (in grey) with swirly connectors between them - not too heavy quilting, but enough that it holds together nicely.

The light is really bad - but I'm not complaining, because it's pouring in through my sliding glass doors into the kitchen.

Snowman Update

My Under the Stars quilt is basted and I`ve started quilting. It`s going fine, but I`m not enjoying the quilting as much as I did on the last quilt I made. I think it`s because this one is really thick, with a flannel top and bottom and it doesn`t slide very easily under my presser foot. I get a bit of puckering, even using the walking foot.  It`s coming along though, so no complaints.

Right now I`m doing sid in the squares. I leave a big box around the star blocks and will stitch around the stars.

Snowman Update

There is no snow on the ground here in my part of Ontario. We've had a very mild winter, which has been kind of nice since I don't have to shovel mild weather.

The only snowmen around here are the ones on my design wall. I need to add two borders to this (that's what came in the kit), then get it basted and quilted. I'm still not sure how much I love it, but I am enjoying sewing it.

I Got To Selfish Sewing

On the weekend I finished sewing on the binding of a quilt for my niece - I'll take some photos when the sun comes out again.

Then I dug into some sewing for myself. This is a quilt I started quite a while ago. I've had the kit for ages and am getting to it now.

I started with this this afternoon

The snowmen are appliqued on - I did it by hand and I'm happy with it. I've been worried about the blocks beneath - that they would be too dark for my liking.

This was a kit and there were some fabrics I didn't like at all, like this one

and luckily I had enough squares to remove these and replace them. The fabric is all flannel - I haven't sewn an all flannel quilt ever and there are a few challenges - namely getting that thick fabric under my foot with a 1/4" seam.

By supper time I had a few rows together and I'm liking it (I think)

I won't know if this is a keeper until the top is finished. I collect snowmen, so that part is awesome (and why I bought the kit in the first place), but the other colours aren't quite to my taste. I tried to sell the kit at Monday sewing but didn't get any takers. If I don't keep it, I have other fabric on hand that I would love to cut up into this pattern. I think it is a great pattern for a winter quilt.

I've decided to try doing more handwork this year. In the evenings I like to park myself on the couch and watch tv - and my machine isn't there. So I'm thinking of doing handwork in the evenings and machine work at other times. I'll let you know how it goes.

Small, Easy Finishes

It's finally summer weather here in my part of Ontario and it's hot - not humid though. I don't like humidity and I tolerate the heat - my ideal temp is the mid 20s and cooling off at night. This weather, around 30, is okay as long as it doesn't last for too many days. My a/c is working great and the house is cool so I'm coping well.

I've been cleaning up and de-cluttering my house for a while now and I'm into the sewing room. I decided that a good way to help would be to finish up the small projects I find while de-cluttering. It makes the cleaning go slower, but I feel like I've accomplished something.

This weekend I've been working on quick and easy finishes - to finish up UFOs and feel like I've got a sense of accomplishment.

I finished up this knitting needle case with fabric I bought last fall. This makes the straight needle case - I've already finished the circular and double pointed case.

I'm only putting the bamboo ones in here. I thought I had a lot more, but I guess not (unless I find them while cleaning).

All 3 cases

I really like this fabric and I'm very happy with how they turned out. When I look in the knitting basket I feel like it's better organized and I can find my needles when I need them.

I used this pattern and found it relatively easy to follow. I switched around a few steps and didn't make the handles. It calls for bias binding, which is a lot more fabric to buy - I used my regular binding.

I did have fairly large pieces of some fabrics left over so I'd double check yardage needed before buying. I think it's because of the sizes of the needle cases, not wanton wastage.

I made up these pillowcases for my nieces for Xmas presents. They liked last years ones so I made more. Xmas is a long way off, but I'm often very busy and very tired leading up to the Season. Now I can pack these away (hoping I don't forget about them) and cross one item off my Xmas list.

I sort of used a tutorial I found on line. The body is the reindeer and the argyle is the trim.

While cleaning I came across a pile of PUL fabric - it's a knit that is waterproofed and used for making your own diapers. I made up a bib instead. I've asked a few friends with children for feedback on whether the waterproof bibs are useful - does everything just slide off? Are absorbent ones better? Any suggestions? This fabric is super cute (I have a total of 4 different prints) and soft and easy to work with. Once I get feedback then I'll either make up more bibs for baby gifts or figure something else out.

Gemütlichkeit

Happy New Year Everyone!

I've been away from blogging almost the entire fall. I think I'm back now.

A few times recently I had a facebook posting cross my feed that is about cultural traditions in other countries that we don't have in North America. The second or third time it crossed my feed I decided it was time I did something with the idea (I believe that the universe sends us hints and to me, this was one). I've decided to adopt the German idea of Gemütlichkeit, which basically translates into a feeling of warmth and coziness - there's a bit more to it because it doesn't translate exactly, but you get the drift. It's something they do that is physical and emotional - like hanging out with friends and feeling warm and cozy at the same time. I struggle every winter with the darkness and I think this might help me. You can read more here.

My word for the year is "self". Sounds very selfish and it is! I do a lot of things for other people and it's time I did some things for myself. I have a sabbatical coming up the beginning of February. Teachers have this option to have reduced pay over a long period of time, then take a leave and be paid. I've funded this leave myself with pay reductions for five years. I have many things planned for this time off - and I want to focus on myself.

This fall I did a lot of knitting, mostly for Xmas presents. Maybe I was getting into the Gemütlichkeit idea before I even new it.

2015 finish - new cover for a bench

2015 finish - superwash wool flipper mittens for me

Matching cowl and flipper mitts for my sis

flipper mitts for my sil (I was on a roll with the flipper mitts)

trimmed tea towels for mom

an interesting book I read this fall

These are the mitts Ana wore in the movie Frozen. I made two pairs for a friend at school with two little girls.

Sweater for L's baby

flannel pillow cases for my nieces 

matching hat and mitt sets

2 of 3 knitting needle cases

Michigan State football pillowcases

This is what I've been up to for the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2105.
I have many sewing projects on the horizon, just none under the needle right now, and I'm good with that.

Work in Progress

I've moved myself and my cat into Mom and Dad's. Lily seems to have adjusted okay, since she's come out of hiding. I have my sewing space more or less set up - in the dining room beside the piano. I'm working on a baby quilt for my friend Caroline - she's not due until mid-March but I want to get it finished. First is a picture of the quilt before I started. Second is it's current state.

The next thing to do is add the strips on the bottom and some squares to the corner. Then I need to quilt it. I don't think it will take too long.
I did press the seams open - to one side was giving me too wonky seams. It will lay flatter too, which will help with reducing bulk when I go to quilt it.