Zippered Pouches for Christmas

Some last minute Christmas gift sewing.

I got the idea from Red Pepper Quilts. And the instructions from this blog, and this blog.

Quilt As You Go Blocks

Recently we finished two 35-block sets of QAYG squares and sent them off to Jan MacFadyen with a set of binding strips as well. They were very gratefully received and have been made up into lovely quilts for donation to charities or refuges that Jan is in touch with.

Knitting hats

I have started my fourth child's knitted hat (or beanie) for charity donation. My friend Philippa started me off during our time in Tasmania for the orienteering championships. The pattern is very simple in 3x3 rib and easy to do in the car (as a passenger!) or in front of a TV program. Here are the latest two hats.

An Old Fashioned English Paper Pieced Quilt

When I was a teenager I made a hexagon quilt with the English Paper piecing method.  Family and friends gave me their scraps of fabric and I spent hours putting them together to make a bed sized quilt.  I don't remember why I started it or where I got the idea from but I thoroughly enjoyed making it and when I finished I gave it to my sister as a birthday or a Christmas present.  She still has it somewhere, and it has been repaired at least once.  It's probably quite tatty by now.
I've been wanting to make another for a while, especially since seeing Louise working on hers.  Recently I had a clean out of my sewing bits and pieces and came across a large box of dressmaking material remnants.  Bits I couldn't bare to throw out because they might be useful one day but were taking up a lot of valuable space.  Some were really pretty or had sentimental value because they were from clothes I made for my daughters when they were little.  So I hatched the idea to make them into a quilt - and an old fashioned English paper pieced quilt would be just the thing.  What better way to hang on to the little pieces of fabric that I love or that hold good memories?  Traditionally leftover and scrap fabrics were used to make quilts but today when you can buy everything you need the practice isn't so popular anymore.  I think it would be fun to make a quilt out of fabric I already have and to keep adding to it as I make more clothes.
I bought a small packet of plastic templates to play around with (available from Punch with Judy) and spent an evening cutting out pieces of paper in different shapes and sizes.

I looked online for ideas for different combinations of shapes. I found out that you can download and print shapes that you then just have to cut out.  You can also buy pre-cut shapes in all sizes too.  But I enjoyed tracing and cutting them out myself while I was watching TV.  Therapeutic work for my busy brain.

I've started preparing some fabric by tracing around my plastic template and then cutting out with scissors.  I've also tried out several different methods of basting the fabric around the paper.  You can glue, or you can use needle and thread.  I settled for this method of basting - one where you stitch through the fabric only, then when you come to take the paper out it just slips out, no need to unpick or remove the basting thread.

I think I've decided to make a simple hexagon quilt, cutting 6 hexagons from each piece of fabric to make a flower with a white fabric piece for the centre. That way I can make this quilt over many years, adding to it whenever I have leftover fabric.  Hopefully the white centre will tie all the different fabrics together to make a quilt that is both 'scrappy' but has some consistency throughout it.

This purple fabric is from a summer top I made a couple of years ago and still wear.  It may have a little bit of polyester in it and that's okay.  I will not be sticking to only cotton fabric for this quilt but will experiment with different weights and blends.  The lighter weight fabric I will back with interfacing first.  The only fabric I won't use will be the heavier denims and cotton drills and the slippery 100% polyesters as these would cause too many headaches.

This morning I went fabric shopping and bought some pretty floral cotton lawn to make a dress and a summer top for myself.  The scraps will be perfect additions to my quilt.   Two projects for the price of one?

An Impromptu Excursion

Anne, Lisa and I went to the Quilts in the Barn today.  Many quilts both modern and traditional in the theme of red and white. 

It was the perfect setting.  A red barn filled with red and white quilts. A cup of tea overlooking a green paddock. A sprinkle of rain just to remind us that spring isn't here just yet.

Even the tablecloths were covered in red and white quilts, (under a layer of clear plastic).

We were much inspired. Is it time for another group challenge?  How about red and white?

Twiggy Dress

I made this dress a month or so ago and have been wearing it ever since.  It's the 'Twiggy Dress' pattern from Style Arc patterns.  I don't know why it's named this as I am definitely no Twiggy! It's made out of a winter knit and I wear it with tights and a long sleeve t-shirt underneath.  It has just enough curvy-ness in the princess seams to be flattering and the neck and sleeve bands can be made in a contrasting colour if desired.
I am definitely going to make it again as it is currently my favourite dress.  This time in a summer cotton.
Check out Style Arc's website as they have a lot of really up to date patterns, that are drafted in ready-to-wear sizes and measurements.  I am currently making their cargo pants and so far they fit perfectly so no fiddling with crotch seam and waist adjustments as I usually have to do with other commercial patterns.  The bigger commercial pattern companies are still using 1950s proportions, and I don't know about you, but I no longer have a barbie doll figure.
The only criticism I have is that there aren't many instructions with the patterns so they probably aren't aimed at beginners.  But so far I am loving the style and the fit and the no-fuss one size patterns, so I will definitely be buying more from them.

Queen Anne's Lace scarf

I finished this scarf.  Just in time for Melbourne to turn on some brilliant Spring weather.  Of course being Melbourne I know she's just tricking us and there will still be plenty of chilly days to come before the onset of summer.

Louise got the free pattern from somewhere online and passed it to me after she'd finished with it.  I made a few modifications and added some dangly bits.  I've now passed it on to Anne...