tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31626157395838340762024-03-26T23:38:07.863-07:00Crafty MusingsWherein I muse about things crafty, as well as miscellaneous stuff.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.comBlogger835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-47841417942572700182022-01-24T18:07:00.001-08:002022-01-24T18:07:15.671-08:00Rediscovery<p>It has been awhile! I have crafted here and there over the last few years-- sewing the occasional costume, clothing, gifts... but making has definitely been on the periphery and blogging off the radar all together. I was a dedicated mom and volunteered and that consumed the bulk of my free time. </p><p>The tides have turned in the last year, and I am finding myself back in a place where I have creative energy, and the time and desire to make... and to document!</p><p>Last night I was attempting to dig through the chaos that my quilt cave had become and I stumbled across an old UFO (Un-Finished Object):</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif9k7P_o_-4hGYubuDLWNLKi7XEj1S-GxJeT4766wXL36BKFFC-rP6nIlxiFR9aVF61FKkQvz6iSrSR3DIa_Si20glgkJzdzhXWOTt-NMj2EbaZSUL4Ap388ORtwXMob_wbGL5HTaQHMGnNP2sxgfLpFD8RtTwsPyGfBPKyv3-umqySZFLn2D0da5Q=s2016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif9k7P_o_-4hGYubuDLWNLKi7XEj1S-GxJeT4766wXL36BKFFC-rP6nIlxiFR9aVF61FKkQvz6iSrSR3DIa_Si20glgkJzdzhXWOTt-NMj2EbaZSUL4Ap388ORtwXMob_wbGL5HTaQHMGnNP2sxgfLpFD8RtTwsPyGfBPKyv3-umqySZFLn2D0da5Q=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />It is an embroidered work-in-progress of a <a href="https://www.crabapplehillstudio.com/" target="_blank">Crabapple Hill</a> design. I can't actually remember when I got it or why I stopped working on it. But I've decided I'm going to start on it again, and I want to mark the occasion for posterity (i.e., my failing memory).<p></p><p>So-- this is where I'm starting from: <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjODRxhG9tT7MJT2yx2xNGyxi017Gvc7Q9N1GY6047PfJ0dAPQklFC-mxuA_78jNmrt-4Z63qBbJZc4ZWfIzETtWbrbZMeQl6qD31TbLRVellvglWCcI7l24NQqoneXfOpy4avvWMDaA5tfSNzqTTVZiXJ_DQJ_SYPxIqVzIgWLlxvAWc7-fp6HK-14=s2016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjODRxhG9tT7MJT2yx2xNGyxi017Gvc7Q9N1GY6047PfJ0dAPQklFC-mxuA_78jNmrt-4Z63qBbJZc4ZWfIzETtWbrbZMeQl6qD31TbLRVellvglWCcI7l24NQqoneXfOpy4avvWMDaA5tfSNzqTTVZiXJ_DQJ_SYPxIqVzIgWLlxvAWc7-fp6HK-14=s320" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have done a little bit at the end, "...les & ca" just to see if I
can replicate the stitching... it took a couple letters, but I think
I've got it now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to stitching!!! <br /></div><p></p>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-46377064350627921572019-01-03T15:30:00.000-08:002019-01-03T15:34:35.626-08:00Counting SheepCrafting has (once again) fallen by the wayside over the last few months (years). But I have been trying to make time to do more. Because when I do, I feel happy. Yay, happiness!<br />
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My PTA work finally quieted down enough for my creative juices to flow a bit right at Thanksgiving. My husband's cousin had a baby in June 2018 and I got a wild bee in my bonnet to make the little dude a quilt. Because every baby needs a quilt! But it had to be simple and something I could finish quickly as we were going to meet baby in person for the first time at the family Christmas party on December 8th. My other goal was to try and use my stash and avoid purchasing any additional fabric.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpaHra82mvQM2c2TWNXbRhn95C1BVkbBFqT_KTX8JJQu40FEU0rMvtSGKgXYlgWa01CDJPfTyw29uZWfzqM-hgW3M9IWz9ivb8wszY5kDstjKlOccJHMSIQFr5J1XreLVG9Nuiqv3qNs/s1600/cs_front-view.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="898" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpaHra82mvQM2c2TWNXbRhn95C1BVkbBFqT_KTX8JJQu40FEU0rMvtSGKgXYlgWa01CDJPfTyw29uZWfzqM-hgW3M9IWz9ivb8wszY5kDstjKlOccJHMSIQFr5J1XreLVG9Nuiqv3qNs/s400/cs_front-view.png" width="370" /></a></div>
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Success!!! I even finished with a whole day to spare. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyHGoTBQQ_b_lRpb0XVouJvwbTpuwNwVNFXMhIPZ3L8J-AqC_rrOcYwvhuJ5xDc0cBXruQd4WBcI2AavXWZa07xqroYdVrpNQ3q8V9Mk1rerNDaM3ZDoyEMeaJSpTrwE98x38pFqz-w4/s1600/cs_center-quilting-detail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1085" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyHGoTBQQ_b_lRpb0XVouJvwbTpuwNwVNFXMhIPZ3L8J-AqC_rrOcYwvhuJ5xDc0cBXruQd4WBcI2AavXWZa07xqroYdVrpNQ3q8V9Mk1rerNDaM3ZDoyEMeaJSpTrwE98x38pFqz-w4/s400/cs_center-quilting-detail.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The design is "Hyde Park" from the book <i>Super Simple Fat Quarter Quilts</i> by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Super-Simple-Fat-Quarter-Quilts/dp/1880972557" target="_blank">see amazon.com listing</a>). The instructions were straightforward and clear and the top came together very quickly. I didn't have enough full fat quarters, so I went a bit scrappier. I purchased this cute sheep fabric in 2013 (a Hamil Textiles fabric, designed by World of Susybee). It was great to finally be able to put it to good use!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISO85iByr0wQubz3xXxOBLZjzkgwmsWYLg0TSgQqb2HK2uopswLjgf3blocHnONMtHH9DAPTtytIwzDUz6PXtuoJ6GtPs9VMGN0lJt0MbKqdPrMPuHCSUGks9OrWWRxdP4NQja0BpTNU/s1600/cs_border-quilting-detail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="691" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISO85iByr0wQubz3xXxOBLZjzkgwmsWYLg0TSgQqb2HK2uopswLjgf3blocHnONMtHH9DAPTtytIwzDUz6PXtuoJ6GtPs9VMGN0lJt0MbKqdPrMPuHCSUGks9OrWWRxdP4NQja0BpTNU/s400/cs_border-quilting-detail.png" width="300" /></a></div>
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I quilted it with swirls through the center and then did a fancier border treatment-- I try to embrace opportunities like this practice and build my quilting skills. Babies don't judge. ;)<br />
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Here I've added in some lines to show the design a bit more clearly. I love how it turned out! My one regret though is that, because of the scrappy nature of the fabrics, the quilting doesn't show up very strongly. However, had the design turned out not-so-great, this would have worked to my advantage. So, not a huge regret.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmW_I65YFVmuIY8fz3AUfU9sUO1jj7IUrI097ozqlgmL4THRuzaJHi-B-SSSnCMDMJ2LIXCe6HI-PNPiCbbugpAvsSu355qsTOaEgVAsOwo9THZYowRumD-ewVQweGP1Rl7NNQN81I1sg/s1600/cs_back-view.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="653" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmW_I65YFVmuIY8fz3AUfU9sUO1jj7IUrI097ozqlgmL4THRuzaJHi-B-SSSnCMDMJ2LIXCe6HI-PNPiCbbugpAvsSu355qsTOaEgVAsOwo9THZYowRumD-ewVQweGP1Rl7NNQN81I1sg/s400/cs_back-view.png" width="370" /></a></div>
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The back isn't ideal-- but it was available in my stash and I had enough of it that it only took one seam (important as time was of the essence!). The binding was finished by machine (I used <a href="https://www.redpepperquilts.com/2009/11/binding-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Red Pepper Quilt's binding tutorial</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_UVQmpH2QjHYUi1Oe3CZ8t0-aR5aiqsz4_jFhbBXAuJpPm2GC3QcUSNdCi3MaS7a9m22FNEUDwzJzbxqxD1aAo-vAcbtBLeYWT0ijrjupA66UNW1zwtIKgTny2gsGRHQ2GlR8Q-IZNE/s1600/cs_label.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="885" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_UVQmpH2QjHYUi1Oe3CZ8t0-aR5aiqsz4_jFhbBXAuJpPm2GC3QcUSNdCi3MaS7a9m22FNEUDwzJzbxqxD1aAo-vAcbtBLeYWT0ijrjupA66UNW1zwtIKgTny2gsGRHQ2GlR8Q-IZNE/s400/cs_label.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Little sheep on the label! Yay! <br />
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The 56x67" size is perfect for playing on and as he gets older, it will be excellent for snuggling.<br />
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It was a joy to meet our new baby cousin and to be able to give him this quilt.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-36974351196992457642018-07-23T11:39:00.002-07:002018-07-23T12:00:08.497-07:00Another Concord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ORYXCyqi_HaHrBbWvV6Jqmy_vQKb2xJxmfFzw-xZlIaH1y2lw8NozXdDDcfO_XFML5mUb5HilERdQmqq36s0lcB9w-hvHueq94uYQvs2rjZO6XTtOZMv37Zt4NmCnUHm29N77TWhQC8/s1600/concord-grey_front-hip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grey Concord T, front view, hands on hips" border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="659" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ORYXCyqi_HaHrBbWvV6Jqmy_vQKb2xJxmfFzw-xZlIaH1y2lw8NozXdDDcfO_XFML5mUb5HilERdQmqq36s0lcB9w-hvHueq94uYQvs2rjZO6XTtOZMv37Zt4NmCnUHm29N77TWhQC8/s400/concord-grey_front-hip.png" width="274" /></a></div><br />
This is my second <a href="https://www.cashmerette.com/" target="_blank">Cashmerette</a> <a href="https://www.cashmerette.com/collections/cashmerette-patterns/products/concord-tshirt-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Concord T-Shirt</a> make. I cut a size 12 G/H. For this version, I went with the curved, faced hem, the v-neck, and long-sleeves. I shortened the sleeves by 1.5"-- but as a general rule, I seem to just push them up (didn't realize until this moment that I don't have any pics of the sleeves <i>not</i> pushed up... whoops!). The fabric is a soft, 100% poly ribbed knit that I purchased from <a href="https://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a> last summer. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LpGMUH8CDssuNmgyCfB3fs9oq0xZb0bMFL9J4044u6y1ElBNqK5-Z0gNOMiqVnklJcCtTbn5wFcS7QHHRKI14MT1XIH1Jsu1dK3HaGUQZzEX4YFNSSzzG1yHIp2ck0dMeNke9Hwb1Go/s1600/concord-grey_back-view.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grey Concord T, back view" border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LpGMUH8CDssuNmgyCfB3fs9oq0xZb0bMFL9J4044u6y1ElBNqK5-Z0gNOMiqVnklJcCtTbn5wFcS7QHHRKI14MT1XIH1Jsu1dK3HaGUQZzEX4YFNSSzzG1yHIp2ck0dMeNke9Hwb1Go/s400/concord-grey_back-view.png" width="241" /></a></div><br />
Based on the fit of my <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2016/12/hiatus.html" target="_blank">first Concord T make</a> (and of the other Cashmerette patterns I've made-- this seems to be a consistent issue for me across styles), I did a broad back adjustment to add a total of 3/4" to the upper back. I feel like it fits my back a bit better now, giving me a bit more room to move such that it doesn't feel tight. I am starting to wonder though, if maybe I should also try going up a size and see how that works for me. Hmmm...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4_SJ29_ysqzzTP3KRZPfLSJsibHHIE1OutzCo_Tfj4YSzzVixIzrvX4mRjSeCiJNA82d5IQ6GCRjKU-xINRim0ksyH27-5F7PgS8h4MlBIY4oigCmHkynJowG04-m7rWU5F8d71-jjw/s1600/concord-grey_neckline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grey Concord, applying knit tape to neckline" border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="1011" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4_SJ29_ysqzzTP3KRZPfLSJsibHHIE1OutzCo_Tfj4YSzzVixIzrvX4mRjSeCiJNA82d5IQ6GCRjKU-xINRim0ksyH27-5F7PgS8h4MlBIY4oigCmHkynJowG04-m7rWU5F8d71-jjw/s400/concord-grey_neckline.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I followed the instructions for everything for the most part. I did stabilize the shoulder seams with some regular stay tape. And then also added the additional step of stabilizing the neckline with <a href="https://shop.emmaseabrooke.com/product.sc;jsessionid=9A1F674644B7F40C78FE3E5666F3113F.p3plqscsfapp005?productId=34&categoryId=3" target="_blank">SewkeysE fusible knit stay tape</a>. On the one hand, the neckline is nice and smooth and pretty. But, it also doesn't "hug" my body the way I want it-- it seems to stand away from my body. I need to do a bit of research to figure out how to remedy this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQSCtdBd5jKnQSk8Dy56LrzPwi0sqLjs5r-ocWTDOh8CDAHqXYAziOiJwBSYZRa8fsRDcCctWmmD-YWkErH6yYFxuAJzIROJa7NxB9c5qRE03xf_Bn75qA8FSPBu8l4iezY7b0NyTEjI/s1600/concord-grey_side-view.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grey Concord T, side view" border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQSCtdBd5jKnQSk8Dy56LrzPwi0sqLjs5r-ocWTDOh8CDAHqXYAziOiJwBSYZRa8fsRDcCctWmmD-YWkErH6yYFxuAJzIROJa7NxB9c5qRE03xf_Bn75qA8FSPBu8l4iezY7b0NyTEjI/s400/concord-grey_side-view.png" width="224" /></a></div><br />
And a lesson learned on this one: pay attention to the hem facings. The front and back are, in fact, different. :P I accidentally attached the front hem facing to the back and had stitched and serged. When I went to attach the back facing to the front, I realized my mistake... doh! But I was not wanting to deal with a re-do. So I went with it. On the outside, it looks fine. But it is a bit janky on the inside.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUNJ9AmAsLKWR06zc8BDTam4ErM3T6V8tD0yw79_hcxhhvGyi8mxoctMAnM6_72_TOBESEoeowzXFM3JSlkKuvKiuKn5oBm8HTlxI6B3p6wGtSnikxVwQ6pThk2Y9-e-F0lWRftFzYsw/s1600/concord-grey_front-angled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grey Concord T, front view" border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUNJ9AmAsLKWR06zc8BDTam4ErM3T6V8tD0yw79_hcxhhvGyi8mxoctMAnM6_72_TOBESEoeowzXFM3JSlkKuvKiuKn5oBm8HTlxI6B3p6wGtSnikxVwQ6pThk2Y9-e-F0lWRftFzYsw/s400/concord-grey_front-angled.png" width="241" /></a></div><br />
I am happy with how this came together. Though I am a bit bummed that I haven't had a chance to wear it yet. It has been a warm summer (yay!)-- and this poly is on the warm side. But it will be perfect come fall! <br />
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Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-16733702610267482222018-07-19T12:32:00.000-07:002018-07-19T12:49:19.369-07:00Hearts FullMy heart is definitely full! I have just completed my two-year term as PTA president at my boys' elementary school and I am finally finding myself with the energy and wherewithal to craft again! Huzzah! I mean, I've done stuff here and there-- very occasionally-- and I've kept track of those on Instagram (my account name is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/furicious/" target="_blank">furicious</a>). Blogging however has just not been a thing. But, now that I'm finding myself in my craft room a bit more regularly, I'm feeling the urge to journal again. So here I am!<br />
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First up: a quilt! I started this quilt in the summer of 2016, when I learned that one of my friends was pregnant. The design is from a <a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/" target="_blank">Moda Bake Shop</a> tutorial, <a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/2016/03/layers-of-love-quilt.html" target="_blank">"Layers of Love,"</a> by Sterling LaBosky. I used a Kate Spain "Aria" layer cake and a couple of Kona solids.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmrFGV2xhQF8_xpaLmFT07coqqtlzsv8PuUTVOmYg4-Dui05cs2DpYrTFW05sFIuSR0xtrJ1iE4k_xBOnDukwR9Qu_olUP8TVJmEfFbCpI4mheGwOIl6HtNaCeRB_807E6hywdh0b6x8/s1600/quilt_heartsfull-front-side.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmrFGV2xhQF8_xpaLmFT07coqqtlzsv8PuUTVOmYg4-Dui05cs2DpYrTFW05sFIuSR0xtrJ1iE4k_xBOnDukwR9Qu_olUP8TVJmEfFbCpI4mheGwOIl6HtNaCeRB_807E6hywdh0b6x8/s400/quilt_heartsfull-front-side.png" alt="Hearts Full quilt front" width="297" height="400" data-original-width="684" data-original-height="922" /></a></div><br />
By January 2017, I was quilting it. But then life got in the way and it sat unfinished until last month when I finally picked it up again and finished it off. Baby is nearly two. Doh!<br />
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Fortunately, mama was very understanding and graciously accepted my belated baby gift. As it turns out, <strike>baby</strike> toddler girl is a big fan of snuggling under blankets. So, yay!<br />
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I quilted it with Aurifil Mako 50/2 thread in 2710 (Light Robin's Egg blue) using an all-over design. <br />
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Hearts seemed appropriate. Since it is hard to see, I've highlighted the design I used in the photo below.<br />
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I was worried, especially since it was already half-quilted, that I would struggle to get going again. Thankfully, I quickly found my rhythm quickly and all went well. Phew!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKtmuqJ5amFMWQPcRpNZfHqgTtDevQ_etJ6I4ij6WprJEfzEIzlpSModDXJE0wun_Nmjxq5jy0ENqt_a2yDkYVNeU5VUNUuaEKlMFsgQFE7GjJukhn3JXW8LUC75spIyTmSNfspLHPrI/s1600/quilt_heartsfull-front-side.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKtmuqJ5amFMWQPcRpNZfHqgTtDevQ_etJ6I4ij6WprJEfzEIzlpSModDXJE0wun_Nmjxq5jy0ENqt_a2yDkYVNeU5VUNUuaEKlMFsgQFE7GjJukhn3JXW8LUC75spIyTmSNfspLHPrI/s400/quilt_heartsfull-front-side.png" alt="Hearts Full quilt front side view" width="297" height="400" data-original-width="684" data-original-height="922" /></a></div><br />
I finished the quilt with a machine stitched binding, a personalized label, and a trip through the washer to get it all crinkled and snuggleable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw-AkXzk2ZSyus481q427R3hVI_T6yOXSQ_vnJthUTFNd6OP76JJ9GO-fbwFar9k5mo7OmiBxiI_TRtVTIcS1xe4qqpCv1o3huRB_nQDwNYJHL0EbzhYVhESwfs-lkM8zTlmv-RUzqKk/s1600/quilt_heartsfull-label.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw-AkXzk2ZSyus481q427R3hVI_T6yOXSQ_vnJthUTFNd6OP76JJ9GO-fbwFar9k5mo7OmiBxiI_TRtVTIcS1xe4qqpCv1o3huRB_nQDwNYJHL0EbzhYVhESwfs-lkM8zTlmv-RUzqKk/s400/quilt_heartsfull-label.png" alt="Hearts Full quilt folded and pretty" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="922" data-original-height="691" /></a></div><br />
Hopefully, Lady M will enjoy her new quilt!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-7955087705975409072016-12-31T14:39:00.000-08:002016-12-31T14:39:01.620-08:00HiatusSo, last spring I decided to take on the position of president of the PTA at my sons' school. The job really ramped up in early August, and since then-- I have pretty much found myself with a nearly full-time unpaid job. Crafting fell by the wayside. Like WAY by the wayside. While it just hasn't been in me to blog at all over the last few months, I have managed to make a few things:<br />
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A Concord Tee from Cashmerette Designs:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwziXRFY-h_BGjizerKJdxct1WGoHs_k0BbWijyn1XNIS0Yaq0CPxf7lHlOFC3fsIpcgnJHf5gtBWjCquKeyv6PaY7a1qS7VwMAhFuUMfoeyqgiMjj7dRNwdojbPmzx0yO22WZUCTarLs/s1600/cashmerette_concord_coral_collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwziXRFY-h_BGjizerKJdxct1WGoHs_k0BbWijyn1XNIS0Yaq0CPxf7lHlOFC3fsIpcgnJHf5gtBWjCquKeyv6PaY7a1qS7VwMAhFuUMfoeyqgiMjj7dRNwdojbPmzx0yO22WZUCTarLs/s400/cashmerette_concord_coral_collage.png" width="400" height="400" alt="Cashmerette Concord T-shirt collage" /></a></div><br />
LOVE this design. I've purchased fabric for two more.<br />
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A cute, swingy dress from McCall's 6957:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyDrgPjlWpd6Jz_liVILcWh_sj6iT7KvKWapuByi0i0LXHQOHtgtL0n1EO6G-no9cTwsnXJ7FVTVmyAF5R5H2a-QD1YXxpGTxK8H7KHNNykgbLjIgh6tSCGkPK6cf_BNDah0UmGJIuog/s1600/M6957_collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyDrgPjlWpd6Jz_liVILcWh_sj6iT7KvKWapuByi0i0LXHQOHtgtL0n1EO6G-no9cTwsnXJ7FVTVmyAF5R5H2a-QD1YXxpGTxK8H7KHNNykgbLjIgh6tSCGkPK6cf_BNDah0UmGJIuog/s400/M6957_collage.png" alt="McCalls 6957 view A collage" width="400" height="400" /></a></div><br />
Check out that stripe matching under my arm where no one can see it! But I know it is there. I don't think this is supposed to be a high-low hem (at least, not according to the line drawing), but that's how it ended up, despite the fact that I did a 1.25" swayback adjustment. It's fine though, because I like it.<br />
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An unintentionally sexy top from McCall's 6963:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxhudMncJr70utpbKM2TsLn37kI3ZNY-MiKH4S1g1X4UrZo-Ie05tqWUYzm5rcWZmiIso8jAATz2LzS4zTuLDWaKEteyWNLQrjNrRwOxuwxs2A1pO4C4C33_1b95UDXptYMEgXHkdfzo/s1600/M6963_collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxhudMncJr70utpbKM2TsLn37kI3ZNY-MiKH4S1g1X4UrZo-Ie05tqWUYzm5rcWZmiIso8jAATz2LzS4zTuLDWaKEteyWNLQrjNrRwOxuwxs2A1pO4C4C33_1b95UDXptYMEgXHkdfzo/s400/M6963_collage.png" alt="McCalls 6963, view A collage" width="400" height="400" /></a></div><br />
I think the lowness of the drape is a result of the FBA I did. It is definitely a date night kind of top!<br />
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Some wizard vests (from Simplicity 8023), robes (from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/471230627/wizard-cloak-harry-potter-robe-hogwarts?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pattern%20wizard%20robes&ref=sr_gallery_11">a lovely pattern from the SewingPatternPixie</a> available through Etsy), and wands (no pattern there):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjyCFfmY7icfboT4qadeSTELYjj1dWgrX49VhAYJFKFwF6XqhD2stqYo54bMDlBFl-MJVLoV0AefzNyNz-zp6edCrTOYfscqeeoj93FSGDguYJ6eZd1OFj4cNrjREl4ZAGb9pAzl-WFA/s1600/halloween2016_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjyCFfmY7icfboT4qadeSTELYjj1dWgrX49VhAYJFKFwF6XqhD2stqYo54bMDlBFl-MJVLoV0AefzNyNz-zp6edCrTOYfscqeeoj93FSGDguYJ6eZd1OFj4cNrjREl4ZAGb9pAzl-WFA/s400/halloween2016_1.png" width="400" height="400" alt="Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom, Halloween 2016" /></a></div><br />
The accessories-- ties, scarves, glasses, Gryffindor patches, white button-down shirts, toad-- were all purchased.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vYePqTlIo6sf-iPC67f3m_geC1eWIY_LbjJfxCchnwucCaAcD_uJMvOem92OmLxURWW_QLQj6Yw-Rh4pOCBKjasY1-YIcahAFwnJ-YLEkeavc8p_8yxqbUwD44h6X88S_Bj_cIWUEhc/s1600/halloween2016_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vYePqTlIo6sf-iPC67f3m_geC1eWIY_LbjJfxCchnwucCaAcD_uJMvOem92OmLxURWW_QLQj6Yw-Rh4pOCBKjasY1-YIcahAFwnJ-YLEkeavc8p_8yxqbUwD44h6X88S_Bj_cIWUEhc/s400/halloween2016_2.png" width="400" height="310" alt="Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom, Halloween 2016" /></a></div><br />
I can't even get over my boys. They are awesome. And they just. keep. growing.<br />
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I also managed a few holiday gifts, including some <a href="http://sewsweetness.com/products/kismet-trinket-boxes">Kismet Trinket Boxes from Sew Sweetness</a>. (LOVE this design!!! These are seriously so fun to make!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-zEIQDH-__sbenzFOx-qv9dmV8bE13XbYhxv7TIMWeiIonEXrV28KXHMEb5pCFHGS5a0_36dF1W1ZSRZpb9Fk58N6uwPPqHtvVfw4Z8UWehzZzszNzGJIWTVZNPSdshbksEDePyr3CI/s1600/kismet-boxes_collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-zEIQDH-__sbenzFOx-qv9dmV8bE13XbYhxv7TIMWeiIonEXrV28KXHMEb5pCFHGS5a0_36dF1W1ZSRZpb9Fk58N6uwPPqHtvVfw4Z8UWehzZzszNzGJIWTVZNPSdshbksEDePyr3CI/s400/kismet-boxes_collage.png" width="400" height="200" alt="Kismet Trinket Boxes from Sew Sweetness" /></a></div><br />
These are all the medium round size, measuring about 4.75" tall. I put little treats in them and gifted them to teachers and friends. <br />
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Finally, I also made some maxi-pads and panty-liners of my own design. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipJSl5O0k-JVQ2I4mo0iZp28EgXK2np1R23f92X5sifDihJn7Cyu7F61QQi6H5zvg79esTek2DQBioUF7ebZpxuFUOYij8vj5GdpU2i2c8HFRa_RWFXqMrcWo9xY7bxyc0OuJSPFGjJo/s1600/maxis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipJSl5O0k-JVQ2I4mo0iZp28EgXK2np1R23f92X5sifDihJn7Cyu7F61QQi6H5zvg79esTek2DQBioUF7ebZpxuFUOYij8vj5GdpU2i2c8HFRa_RWFXqMrcWo9xY7bxyc0OuJSPFGjJo/s400/maxis.png" width="400" height="400" alt="maxi-pads and pantiliners" /></a></div><br />
I feel like I should note that I do not generally make a habit of giving feminine hygiene products to my friends/family. My sister-in-law specifically requested these. :P <br />
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Relative to my usual output and craftiness... the last six months has been a serious dry spell, creativity-wise. PTA has kind of been all-consuming, leaving very little energy for anything else. <br />
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So! My new mantra starting a couple of days ago is "Life Balance." I am going to make a conscious effort to be present with my family, make my home a better place to be (cleaner, more organized), while at the same still doing my PTA job and also taking better care of myself by eating better, making time to exercise again (I miss running!), and plan dedicated crafty creative time-- including, hopefully, a little blogging. No problem, right? But, if I am conscious of these things, maybe it will help me to make better choices along the way. We'll see how it goes.<br />
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Hope you have had some wonderful holidays and I wish you a joyful start to 2017!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-22825852035036756002016-07-15T15:36:00.001-07:002016-07-15T15:36:43.645-07:00Pink lightning capris (because lightning makes you run faster)This was actually my first-ever activewear project (finished before the <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2016/07/jalie-skort.html" target="_blank">Jalie skort</a> I blogged about earlier this week), but I didn't actually work out in them until this morning when I took them out for a run. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJzofWKXtdqbtyWw8WtHgo7v6HNDSEoXQ-bXVh8VxoPtbkASFe_jF987Bbhc4GWl9jr6A-3DHPRduMjxqRHOobInsk-g-9-rAa5lKEFrt8UJzM0MDMW3vU5pAIG6wyFUyuj1bZctEmGI/s1600/pink-lightning_front-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJzofWKXtdqbtyWw8WtHgo7v6HNDSEoXQ-bXVh8VxoPtbkASFe_jF987Bbhc4GWl9jr6A-3DHPRduMjxqRHOobInsk-g-9-rAa5lKEFrt8UJzM0MDMW3vU5pAIG6wyFUyuj1bZctEmGI/s400/pink-lightning_front-full.jpg" width="288" height="400" alt="Duathlon Shorts, pink capris, full front view" /></a></div><br />
These are the capri length leggings from the Fehr Trade <a href="http://shop.fehrtrade.com/products/duathlon-shorts" target="_blank">Duathlon Shorts</a> pattern. I've paired them with an ill-fitting (but cheap) top I picked up at Macy's. (Note to self: need to work on making some activewear tops that actually fit!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt8kKuqo3wMhq_ZRUWam89JpdHUsCOCgR3qb1uCJNHdNCW1_Yo1NesW5AoUP2gRMXsAZwySQmVWkSdIbL9-AFLa01xHFZqwMphFzlrTPRiESim05hyphenhyphenFTmjp3t-VVXGPPGBfNcTcF4BO4/s1600/pink-lightning_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt8kKuqo3wMhq_ZRUWam89JpdHUsCOCgR3qb1uCJNHdNCW1_Yo1NesW5AoUP2gRMXsAZwySQmVWkSdIbL9-AFLa01xHFZqwMphFzlrTPRiESim05hyphenhyphenFTmjp3t-VVXGPPGBfNcTcF4BO4/s400/pink-lightning_front.jpg" width="313" height="400" alt="Duathlon Shorts, pink capris, front view" /></a></div><br />
For my first attempt at activewear, I figured I couldn't go wrong with <a href="http://shop.fehrtrade.com/" target="_blank">Fehr Trade</a> as I have only read positive things about instructions and fit for all of her designs. Sure enough, the instructions were great! Very straightforward and clear throughout. The fit is pretty good as well. Based on my measurements (32" waist, 42" hips), I went with the Medium. They aren't super tight-- there is actually some looseness at the top of my thighs in back which is a little weird, but also fine... I guess I was expecting a bit more compression. Other than that, I feel like they are great all around. <br />
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The pink fabrics are from an activewear binge from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/home.php" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a> last December, both nylon/Lycra blends. The bit of black is some activewear jersey (92% Poly/8% Lycra) I picked up from <a href="https://www.fabric.com/" target="_blank">Fabric.com</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oKDTSnHVZGcn0IhFPllV4VN8D_QEepKvCz7GIXo6EnlLt0wgNB-hcSFM18sFT8QRKtUp_1AHsKObYBQRlh00bcczQBiT6tdViZw6jGq4C-Hl7gnhE7_5_PuP2EH62PSDrziR-MOgZDY/s1600/pink-lightning_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oKDTSnHVZGcn0IhFPllV4VN8D_QEepKvCz7GIXo6EnlLt0wgNB-hcSFM18sFT8QRKtUp_1AHsKObYBQRlh00bcczQBiT6tdViZw6jGq4C-Hl7gnhE7_5_PuP2EH62PSDrziR-MOgZDY/s400/pink-lightning_back.jpg" width="313" height="400" alt="Duathlon Shorts, pink capris, back view" /></a></div><br />
I LOVE the rise in these and the elastic at the waist. Very comfortable and nothing moves. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3ZfFAvk9salvTb3WTMg4m2lsueMoGoJll8YgjLxxF3oTWZxYaoeDOG-8_tu14vUvjVnESs0dbWHH9lVWCyRpCDZwFZSZRzsmbqPjOTyiMtwrxIZSEMew34aj-OnoryOiHyq4xfEDTBg/s1600/pink-lightning_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3ZfFAvk9salvTb3WTMg4m2lsueMoGoJll8YgjLxxF3oTWZxYaoeDOG-8_tu14vUvjVnESs0dbWHH9lVWCyRpCDZwFZSZRzsmbqPjOTyiMtwrxIZSEMew34aj-OnoryOiHyq4xfEDTBg/s400/pink-lightning_side.jpg" width="313" height="400" alt="Duathlon Shorts, pink capris, side view" /></a></div><br />
My one wish is that the side pockets were a bit wider so that I could stash my phone in there if I wanted. And without any elastic or anything at the top edge to help secure it better, I'm not sure I'd trust to put much in the pockets. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZhROmgVpF5Xv45S9eIsa09BkxCUChNQ070-V0omo7zjCcWtG6hhcr-f8L-ShNXtutc4I5jUTbN1t_yCxFHAHso357QkDBPwWZPilG5mSMFWfTwhNjO7J_HNMw3uCHINNs94856gJIGU/s1600/pink-lightning_side-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZhROmgVpF5Xv45S9eIsa09BkxCUChNQ070-V0omo7zjCcWtG6hhcr-f8L-ShNXtutc4I5jUTbN1t_yCxFHAHso357QkDBPwWZPilG5mSMFWfTwhNjO7J_HNMw3uCHINNs94856gJIGU/s400/pink-lightning_side-full.jpg" width="280" height="400" alt="Duathlon Shorts, pink capris, full side view" /></a></div><br />
As for how they felt-- very comfortable! There was no funky rubbing or anything. Everything stayed put. I'm excited to try them at my next HIIT workout-- I think they'll be great for that too. These are going to get a lot of wear! Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-9176353418367557462016-07-11T11:51:00.001-07:002016-07-11T11:51:50.018-07:00Jalie SkortIt took a few months, but I am <i>finally</i> using some of the activewear fabric I picked up last December:<br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.9259259259% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_FT8bfFlXL/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">A goal for the upcoming winter break: activewear! Thanks to an awesomely enabling sale at @fabricmart, I have lots of beautiful fabric to get me going! #sewing #fabriclove</a></p><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Robin (@furicious) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-12-09T19:35:20+00:00">Dec 9, 2015 at 11:35am PST</time></p></div></blockquote><script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
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First up is <a href="https://jalie.com/jalie2796-multi-sports-skort-running-skirt-sewing-pattern" target="_blank">Jalie 2796, the Multi-Sport Skort</a>:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDRs3vDWzAUYnrO_Mer_IdXyCBS2K1eEOTes8cvXeW_ZpeQslsX9QzPTvoBtRVv2NblCQcpZWCWMZv4Wl1G5ki3ySC0ahcaw5LyQx4gmzGsRJET6EwzGIcDIRtOq3OR2D-1PnmBJ8Lbs/s1600/J2796_front-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDRs3vDWzAUYnrO_Mer_IdXyCBS2K1eEOTes8cvXeW_ZpeQslsX9QzPTvoBtRVv2NblCQcpZWCWMZv4Wl1G5ki3ySC0ahcaw5LyQx4gmzGsRJET6EwzGIcDIRtOq3OR2D-1PnmBJ8Lbs/s400/J2796_front-view.jpg" width="208" height="400" alt="J2796, front view" /></a></div><br />
This is my first time using Jalie, and I am really impressed with the drafting and the instructions. The line drawings are particularly well done and offer very clear illustrations of the written steps. I wish though that the drawings and instructions were together... I was having to flip back and forth between the two. But now that I've made them once, I probably wouldn't even need the written instructions-- the drawings would be sufficient. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIgZkVhhRuZV2EqBnRd5cEJ3pQIEGNs_ubPfVSth5-Ea8rUKPhMX7QJGE3hee4xZY9PBPdY3V4cUrK6vd0AcuYHqLkwLwJs-X6juH4t5D9VhQ0yA0tcUCo5kLxk2QbYHgdBisS1u9TOw/s1600/J2796_rear-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIgZkVhhRuZV2EqBnRd5cEJ3pQIEGNs_ubPfVSth5-Ea8rUKPhMX7QJGE3hee4xZY9PBPdY3V4cUrK6vd0AcuYHqLkwLwJs-X6juH4t5D9VhQ0yA0tcUCo5kLxk2QbYHgdBisS1u9TOw/s400/J2796_rear-view.jpg" width="323" height="400" alt="J2796, rear view" /></a></div><br />
Based on my measurements, I cut a "W" for the waist and graded out to the "X" for the hips downward. I think the skort fits pretty well-- nothing felt overly tight or loose. I used my regular sewing machine and stitched all of the seams with a narrow zig-zag followed by serging them. I used my coverstitch for all the hems and the pocket.<br />
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I went for a run in my new skort yesterday (thus all the sweaty pics) and found them to be pretty darn comfy. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvMuK11aNg6suBtgaQtGmKsvHu8IBGFx-bN8am-UYdIDHqFtw8ub6nQobKB9IRC0sW83NdQVp0gWjy96d0pjk6Fkoryl8R82oQisJY1cq6gV2wtvjfYpIPdCRXAoipL9Weitu-Q2p7Ak/s1600/J2796_short-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvMuK11aNg6suBtgaQtGmKsvHu8IBGFx-bN8am-UYdIDHqFtw8ub6nQobKB9IRC0sW83NdQVp0gWjy96d0pjk6Fkoryl8R82oQisJY1cq6gV2wtvjfYpIPdCRXAoipL9Weitu-Q2p7Ak/s400/J2796_short-collage.jpg" width="400" height="249" alt="J2796, front and back view of the shorts" /></a></div><br />
I love that they give the coolness of shorts and that the skirt covers all of the lumps and bumps (which are very evident in the pics of the shorts above). So awesome!!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxGx9sQ47fObk0gDYZEBAPnbAHcm_dGteYlCfekoQoko2hOAS_84rzOxraIABbdkqmVP1l0M198mtsEpfromqEWMpa8E1r1_i4lO7D_rYXa97ebMhDqbDnl12gffl4baA6O1DY12siPM/s1600/J2796_side-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxGx9sQ47fObk0gDYZEBAPnbAHcm_dGteYlCfekoQoko2hOAS_84rzOxraIABbdkqmVP1l0M198mtsEpfromqEWMpa8E1r1_i4lO7D_rYXa97ebMhDqbDnl12gffl4baA6O1DY12siPM/s400/J2796_side-view.jpg" width="393" height="400" alt="J2796, side view with phone in pocket" /></a></div><br />
Bonus: my Galaxy S5 actually fits in the side pocket! I ran with my phone and it was great-- no bumping or jostling-- it totally stayed in place.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGcJdUMerJsJu-5my2qDpA_JRSrgYP4OjfhKKk1ehp8L0ffbsM8EU5QxncAV6Ii8Oae7HifcAXS_X3fORUcaekScT5JsMgib-y8-cULSzMrQ8trb8OQOqJcmW4uOQ-mWR-I5Us0zTmd0/s1600/J2796_waistband-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGcJdUMerJsJu-5my2qDpA_JRSrgYP4OjfhKKk1ehp8L0ffbsM8EU5QxncAV6Ii8Oae7HifcAXS_X3fORUcaekScT5JsMgib-y8-cULSzMrQ8trb8OQOqJcmW4uOQ-mWR-I5Us0zTmd0/s400/J2796_waistband-collage.jpg" width="400" height="252" alt="J2796, waistband collage" /></a></div><br />
I used the full (wide) waistband and found that as I ran, it just ended up curling over on itself. I'm not sure if that is because I really need a bigger size, or if that is just what happens since there is no elastic helping to stabilize it. It wasn't uncomfortable and definitely still felt secure (i.e., my skort wasn't going to fall off or anything). But I am considering using the low waistband option next time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoAfcjJn3YWTOe53HbPXOurTImZtC5Mcxu6F5hqIWX9AZdgbO5bSNNvx_ujhxSuPGx9SUemucjeSGbAknC-QOAOcv7_9FzQ7x5VQePG6eqcJrCpP1EPqrBvlgDKZ7fVQztntYJwbqK0Q/s1600/J2796_side-view_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoAfcjJn3YWTOe53HbPXOurTImZtC5Mcxu6F5hqIWX9AZdgbO5bSNNvx_ujhxSuPGx9SUemucjeSGbAknC-QOAOcv7_9FzQ7x5VQePG6eqcJrCpP1EPqrBvlgDKZ7fVQztntYJwbqK0Q/s400/J2796_side-view_full.jpg" width="177" height="400" alt="J2796, full side view" /></a></div><br />
The other thing was that after a few minutes of running, the shorts crawled up my legs. While it wasn't annoying enough for me to stop and tug them back down in front of random peeps on the road, it did feel weird. Near the end of my run (when I got to a quiet street with no people), I tugged them back down and after that, they actually stayed in place. So maybe my sweat helped somehow? Anyway-- I'm on the hunt for a solution. Melissa of <a href="http://blog.fehrtrade.com/" target="_blank">Fehr Trade</a> suggests in her Duathlon Shorts pattern instructions to try "silicone sock paint" to help the shorts stay in place, so I'm going to start with that and see how it goes. Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-76043682982507108142016-07-05T15:22:00.002-07:002016-07-05T15:24:20.807-07:00Remakes!Now that school is out, I've managed to do a bit of sewing. Yay! I started with a few re-makes.<br />
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I started with another rendition of <a href="https://kwiksew.mccall.com/k3513?page_id=3334&search_control=display&list=search" target="_blank">Kwik Sew 3513</a>:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhNC5fIjt-SpGitkEMrEsGjGkI6qJVbEhLSu5_-3a0Mmd40l0HGm5SyAO06e2HUNecE46cou27I9IgVni8mTIyaIMIuEtER4pnxbUzgboCrrLGBT8baEgeLK9fHqQWq-aglLpfZv8Qso/s1600/skirt_tee_front-tucked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhNC5fIjt-SpGitkEMrEsGjGkI6qJVbEhLSu5_-3a0Mmd40l0HGm5SyAO06e2HUNecE46cou27I9IgVni8mTIyaIMIuEtER4pnxbUzgboCrrLGBT8baEgeLK9fHqQWq-aglLpfZv8Qso/s400/skirt_tee_front-tucked.jpg" width="215" height="400" alt="KS3513 and a Kirsten Kimono Tee, front tucked view" /></a></div><br />
Here I've got the top tucked in so you can see the foldover waistband.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjWB4h10KwOOn5A_TF1lo2J9gMqU96yocEsOvNl22UQnSQykNBchsSs_y8wSpV1o1YHodGyn7ubvsmSEz4mksMPBSimDxI_9saDR0eqLvAxqzDo-HE0liRCZUGqUyxpFFES8KvpoLyVY/s1600/skirt_tee_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjWB4h10KwOOn5A_TF1lo2J9gMqU96yocEsOvNl22UQnSQykNBchsSs_y8wSpV1o1YHodGyn7ubvsmSEz4mksMPBSimDxI_9saDR0eqLvAxqzDo-HE0liRCZUGqUyxpFFES8KvpoLyVY/s400/skirt_tee_back.jpg" width="215" height="400" alt="KS3513 and a Kirsten Kimono Tee, back tucked view" /></a></div><br />
I loved this <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-kwiksew-skirt.html" target="_blank">the first time I sewed it up</a>, and my love remains constant. It is a simple, straightforward, and effective design! I again made a size Medium. My only change was to add 5" to the length in order to make it into more of a maxi-skirt. The fabric is a Maggy London ITY knit from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEf3AkavdjeSqnR1bKeItD-Z0buLfcc-elSSLgmIP63nlDNwjpRko0fMb6h07dnymqlq2UJ0rU6WZRi43b6puD9PHBh1RV4p52wQ1tLmfsR1f6vmfPOMZh4x0pEXmcNuD1_SSKgjYH2U/s1600/skirt_tee_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEf3AkavdjeSqnR1bKeItD-Z0buLfcc-elSSLgmIP63nlDNwjpRko0fMb6h07dnymqlq2UJ0rU6WZRi43b6puD9PHBh1RV4p52wQ1tLmfsR1f6vmfPOMZh4x0pEXmcNuD1_SSKgjYH2U/s400/skirt_tee_side.jpg" width="215" height="400" alt="KS3513 and a Kirsten Kimono Tee, side view" /></a></div><br />
The aqua top that I'm wearing with the skirt is another remake of the <a href="http://www.mariadenmark.com/" target="_blank">Maria Denmark</a> Kirsten Kimono Tee. This is the third one I've made (<a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2015/11/striped-kimono-tee.html" target=_blank">version one</a> | <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2015/12/another-kimono-tee.html" target="_blank">version two</a>). This time I used a poly/lycra jersey knit in a pretty Caribbean blue from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a>. This is the Large with a 1" dartless FBA (Maria Denmark offers <a href="http://www.mariadenmark.com/2014/06/easy-full-bust-adjustment-fba/" target="_blank">a friendly tutorial for no-dark fronts</a>). Such a fabulous design made even more so because Maria Denmark offers it as a <a href="http://www.mariadenmark.com/2012/05/kimono-t-shirt-pattern-free/" target="_blank">FREE pattern when you sign up for her newsletter</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZkwLAJInhyfKODlQQIQ3Ug_LD_3SdyGc_ssQR7SFpmBwqVg81-gQ2rbHlR8_JiCu_p72syT0qNv6A3dzbo99FZNhSgDi-Fs_ZzgGoe2sTDs84x0uMQYJ9AWFr3k5Ogmyoxk2Ddu4_lo/s1600/skirt_tee_front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZkwLAJInhyfKODlQQIQ3Ug_LD_3SdyGc_ssQR7SFpmBwqVg81-gQ2rbHlR8_JiCu_p72syT0qNv6A3dzbo99FZNhSgDi-Fs_ZzgGoe2sTDs84x0uMQYJ9AWFr3k5Ogmyoxk2Ddu4_lo/s400/skirt_tee_front2.jpg" width="215" height="400" alt="KS3513 and a Kirsten Kimono Tee, front view" /></a></div><br />
And here is another Kirsten Kimono Tee:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlqN4uI-nLkPjaZxJiq40nY_Tx3zkfMcj2WNnYsXb12H4WGNtok20Zc_JCfKL6IgbjtOZJpYvFl7dYvDyVA5QpVxnF5mRGgXe-m-TSmEzI0_beN_X0K6ESLT2V67MI0idSUB68qlwEew/s1600/kirsten_kimono_striped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlqN4uI-nLkPjaZxJiq40nY_Tx3zkfMcj2WNnYsXb12H4WGNtok20Zc_JCfKL6IgbjtOZJpYvFl7dYvDyVA5QpVxnF5mRGgXe-m-TSmEzI0_beN_X0K6ESLT2V67MI0idSUB68qlwEew/s400/kirsten_kimono_striped.jpg" width="400" height="218" alt="Kirsten Kimono Tee, double back edition - collage" /></a></div><br />
So the only remarkable thing about this rendition is that I somehow managed to cut two of the same piece... I put back in the photo above, but looking at it now in comparison to the aqua one, I think maybe I cut two fronts? (It was really hard to tell because I also messed up in cutting the neckline a bit... sigh.) Anyway, I didn't have enough fabric to cut a new back. While it definitely doesn't fit quite right, it actually is in fact wearable. Phew! The fabric is another ITY knit from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a>.<br />
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All of these pieces are now in regular rotation in my wardrobe. Tried and true!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-58900844317079485062016-06-30T08:59:00.001-07:002016-06-30T08:59:17.945-07:00Twinsies: Stars on a Cloudy DayHere is the second of a pair of quilts I recently gave to a friend who had twin boys:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-R-ifQk1lt4dna4ypjxeRv_9TstCeCiWiEsV3-3_K0lFHmkV7ll4MBxgeO2EpjYuwWGS9AoTgmddPYRsZ_ce5QCdUmNaiJKuALsizRlB49OYg6WF1vg65xvJQrr-QJyNnKRjNVmiKuM/s1600/cloudy-stars_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-R-ifQk1lt4dna4ypjxeRv_9TstCeCiWiEsV3-3_K0lFHmkV7ll4MBxgeO2EpjYuwWGS9AoTgmddPYRsZ_ce5QCdUmNaiJKuALsizRlB49OYg6WF1vg65xvJQrr-QJyNnKRjNVmiKuM/s400/cloudy-stars_front.jpg" alt="Stars on a Cloudy Day, front view" /></a></div><br />
Like the other quilt I made, this design is from the <a href="http://www.itssewemma.com/" target="_blank">It's Sew Emma Patterns</a> book, <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/fat-quarter-style-book" target="_blank"><i>Fat Quarter Style</i></a>, and is called "Sparklettes." Since I put the stars on a grey background, I named my rendition, "Stars on a Cloudy Day."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe_GesPhPuTxAY8WDdnhib2AL31eexldelZl_WC3w4bO_taoDyemD-X6lMtvXU0X_Vvdxhem0l-UK8Rhy0jq9dde7iZ9x9wx2fw1dbWyZ7PB2I-eOgkdC6ehkIWecsryhGQI-VgBaNhg/s1600/cloudy-stars_quilting-detail-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe_GesPhPuTxAY8WDdnhib2AL31eexldelZl_WC3w4bO_taoDyemD-X6lMtvXU0X_Vvdxhem0l-UK8Rhy0jq9dde7iZ9x9wx2fw1dbWyZ7PB2I-eOgkdC6ehkIWecsryhGQI-VgBaNhg/s400/cloudy-stars_quilting-detail-front.jpg" alt="Stars on a Cloudy Day, quilting detail" /></a></div><br />
Again, I used fabrics from my stash and used Seahawks-inspired colors. This is the Crib size (finishing at about 40.5" x 47.75").<br />
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The quilting was all done using Aurifil Mako 50/2 in Dove (#2600-- a soft grey). I'm not thrilled with how the stars turned out-- but they are at least all relatively consistent, so I like to think that all the funkiness looks intentional.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigIfGgvpF9JRYZKqVRmR4vBWZsMItTBBkZbnrEA5q2QfgAvhArosXirAZhBPDjxfC6RscZzHEyIWOwbWpouzqOessMOrW5BrKLkj62lEeynoa3xSJliOakwFKDJuFfL_hQ4ihD5A0Fwg/s1600/cloudy-stars_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigIfGgvpF9JRYZKqVRmR4vBWZsMItTBBkZbnrEA5q2QfgAvhArosXirAZhBPDjxfC6RscZzHEyIWOwbWpouzqOessMOrW5BrKLkj62lEeynoa3xSJliOakwFKDJuFfL_hQ4ihD5A0Fwg/s400/cloudy-stars_back.jpg" alt="Stars on a Cloudy Day, back view" /></a></div><br />
Gotta love a scrappy back! I've had that sky blue star print in my stash for at least 15 years now. It is so good to finally put it to use!<br />
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And the label.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvqztedXUrCTIooe6H8xI7VzlnBZnC4049KIQxIKIgi0TVRm9hdEMao3_V8RcD17EVPzr0BD7u-be4qFERAY5Ahd-q2gToR8y96k1KT26V7myDq_Tk9qqw1naxM5jDVaLSb1uuOUZhfI/s1600/cloudy-stars_front-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvqztedXUrCTIooe6H8xI7VzlnBZnC4049KIQxIKIgi0TVRm9hdEMao3_V8RcD17EVPzr0BD7u-be4qFERAY5Ahd-q2gToR8y96k1KT26V7myDq_Tk9qqw1naxM5jDVaLSb1uuOUZhfI/s400/cloudy-stars_front-side.jpg" alt="Stars on a Cloudy Day, front side view" /></a></div><br />
I really wanted each quilt to be unique but still similar and I am really happy with how they pair together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtGcfYTrhdX5fLNThO_QGJWAF8FS_ZqTePZ-Cyq5egwz3cdr0-aVj1DoBeLKlR5rTBP4B4XG2NoVNmbfxBBAm9BcswzvMlq3laCctwTX6iyp_n8UlMEDrFOHQoXSpn_K13ycwDSZ5Omg/s1600/twin-quilts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtGcfYTrhdX5fLNThO_QGJWAF8FS_ZqTePZ-Cyq5egwz3cdr0-aVj1DoBeLKlR5rTBP4B4XG2NoVNmbfxBBAm9BcswzvMlq3laCctwTX6iyp_n8UlMEDrFOHQoXSpn_K13ycwDSZ5Omg/s400/twin-quilts.jpg" alt="Twinsie quilts, side-by-side" /></a></div><br />
My friend was so happy to receive them. I think these quilts will get much love from her boys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVyUYOd40G8zuPasWTF2E8HUA3hREfFV72uKnKI0eStAth_EKHm_pqQ5NPmwPvtL5Uago1vWdWuEEeDW3mNakMldHWjaMZ7c71eu4ZAoDpbonZls5CGMyQYLMg1pypcNX26gII8OSX2E/s1600/twin-quilts-folded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVyUYOd40G8zuPasWTF2E8HUA3hREfFV72uKnKI0eStAth_EKHm_pqQ5NPmwPvtL5Uago1vWdWuEEeDW3mNakMldHWjaMZ7c71eu4ZAoDpbonZls5CGMyQYLMg1pypcNX26gII8OSX2E/s400/twin-quilts-folded.jpg" alt="Twinsie quilts, stacked and folded" /></a></div>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-31221115179815950222016-06-29T17:32:00.000-07:002016-06-29T17:36:07.897-07:00Twinsies: FirecrackersI recently completed a pair of quilts for a friend who had twin boys last fall and I finally managed to gift them this month! In this post, I'll share the first of the two, which I call "Firecrackers."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2YfOuClHCzGG3uif4i2wT_PaKi869tiRHeibd22JTg5tFfsUku1ObQr-Jy1q_MN5sW6OBYK1hswxO00lPvbQ8gG3e3AX2yFSbZccXnOCqJDHRy70LL-BZxdTtUhyRsJlrzHYH-Pg1Ys/s1600/firecrackers_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2YfOuClHCzGG3uif4i2wT_PaKi869tiRHeibd22JTg5tFfsUku1ObQr-Jy1q_MN5sW6OBYK1hswxO00lPvbQ8gG3e3AX2yFSbZccXnOCqJDHRy70LL-BZxdTtUhyRsJlrzHYH-Pg1Ys/s400/firecrackers_front.jpg" alt="Firecrackers, front view" /></a></div><br />
The design is from the book, <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/fat-quarter-style-book" target="_blank"><i>Fat Quarter Style</i></a>, by the fabulous folks at <a href="http://www.itssewemma.com/" target="_blank">It's Sew Emma Patterns</a>. It is called "Plume"-- but I went with "Firecrackers" because after I quilted them, the grey parts made me think of little explosions. The pattern is great-- very clear and accurate instructions throughout. I love that the book gives size options, too! This is, appropriately enough, the Crib size (finishing at about 40.5" x 50.5").<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AYARACVswiRHDbvjJJPGj3Rvtlf8NmRuF61GwjvOy5D5jSN-QmyIdH3egjHH8xnMteMxWUJ0a5b2yHyTgC8P2n6bm1Ckf6Y4uUnAeEoUpoyeBrYOSptr8aBB1tfZXQRH6TEbq9B5OUk/s1600/firecrackers_quilting-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AYARACVswiRHDbvjJJPGj3Rvtlf8NmRuF61GwjvOy5D5jSN-QmyIdH3egjHH8xnMteMxWUJ0a5b2yHyTgC8P2n6bm1Ckf6Y4uUnAeEoUpoyeBrYOSptr8aBB1tfZXQRH6TEbq9B5OUk/s400/firecrackers_quilting-detail.jpg" alt="Firecrackers, quilting detail" /></a></div><br />
The fabrics were all from my stash. Since I didn't know if mama had picked out any colors or anything, I went with a Seahawks palette. I felt confident that would be a safe bet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2As0KfTJP0NmhK249I7FoZpb5YeMDoIY1UpjSSi6jJqzDwKHRL2EZf31Vxg5gjl6dAM9O3wxyFic8zPhBdAmhE9zrUlAzYmnVcTK6oxt6ag7EvpDUHf23Faw_yFTm6Hq0wY6zNEluUtA/s1600/firecrackers_back-quilting-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2As0KfTJP0NmhK249I7FoZpb5YeMDoIY1UpjSSi6jJqzDwKHRL2EZf31Vxg5gjl6dAM9O3wxyFic8zPhBdAmhE9zrUlAzYmnVcTK6oxt6ag7EvpDUHf23Faw_yFTm6Hq0wY6zNEluUtA/s400/firecrackers_back-quilting-detail.jpg" alt="Firecrackers quilting detail from the back" /></a></div><br />
The quilting was all done using Aurifil Mako 50/2 in Dove (#2600-- a soft grey). Again, I found myself inspired by Angela Walters' Craftsy class, <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/dot-to-dot-quilting/426?_ct=iuqhsx-kdyluhiqb-huikbj-sekhiu&_ctp=426" target="_blank">"Dot-to-Dot Quilting,"</a> and I employed her techniques to quilt the grey areas. That <a href="http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/" target="_blank">Angela Walters</a> is so dang awesome! I find myself continually inspired by her work and teachings. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXi_g0kJE74JZcslfhSBl0bQeyDPyv8UZmvcaQiOrEpYXiG0qEpeLpPJs-D4kyL_K0XvE91SA0L0YGcb5t7WDQWqlzgv5py_vKu4skQe9KR0b0PbDD3tkUU7zLNw-1IFZMhbDUtH0rNM/s1600/firecrackers_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXi_g0kJE74JZcslfhSBl0bQeyDPyv8UZmvcaQiOrEpYXiG0qEpeLpPJs-D4kyL_K0XvE91SA0L0YGcb5t7WDQWqlzgv5py_vKu4skQe9KR0b0PbDD3tkUU7zLNw-1IFZMhbDUtH0rNM/s400/firecrackers_back.jpg" alt="Firecrackers, back view" /></a></div><br />
Scrappy back for the win!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0zkzYrbzihRqwwrsaew2CR22vzLehyphenhypheniKPo6OcJKaF4a2cBYdA-1OK3hqamJfwF9NEN0KqfLxUOoYt7uRzybD4tnRsMeHqIbhLFHUGdlTFsuSTaUp3l4OGjQksVUOjrs6DQiYLAKOHRg/s1600/firecrackers_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0zkzYrbzihRqwwrsaew2CR22vzLehyphenhypheniKPo6OcJKaF4a2cBYdA-1OK3hqamJfwF9NEN0KqfLxUOoYt7uRzybD4tnRsMeHqIbhLFHUGdlTFsuSTaUp3l4OGjQksVUOjrs6DQiYLAKOHRg/s400/firecrackers_label.jpg" alt="Firecrackers, label" /></a></div><br />
And a label. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w5AmSHMV8UAW9V-x4yhBrr5GllDH2jVbRS0rct2IkjxR4psrFK9XkmOHF5LRBwRuXuzegsiVz_LwK_MvqBwB58iKvoa_EtropxrOOy_WvelNa876yWYUSknu-y3ga21cO_OCRT-8rFk/s1600/firecrackers_front-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w5AmSHMV8UAW9V-x4yhBrr5GllDH2jVbRS0rct2IkjxR4psrFK9XkmOHF5LRBwRuXuzegsiVz_LwK_MvqBwB58iKvoa_EtropxrOOy_WvelNa876yWYUSknu-y3ga21cO_OCRT-8rFk/s400/firecrackers_front-side.jpg" alt="Firecrackers, front side view" /></a></div><br />
Next post, I'll share quilt number two!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-10302415648081548532016-05-24T14:39:00.000-07:002016-05-24T14:39:20.186-07:00A wallhanging for springtimeIt took <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2014/08/in-progress-spring-wallhanging.html" target="_blank">a couple of years</a>, but I have finally completed my <a href="http://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/" target="_blank">Edyta Sitar</a> wallhanging, from her book, <a href="http://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/online-shop.html#!/~/product/category=8807320&id=35273228" target="_blank"><i>Seasonal Silhouettes</i></a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0OaGVAX-bU5uYbTzCqcxDjc2m4JDo1ZM9EFZI7bJovjngBTe-DQvgIKSMSbwcec8I31Bh9lcPBU0OPKD61zXOxkEFwy1WkYBzEqytVfG77yeGB52Pc_YavtDj2J13J6v2KDhJYTTedo/s1600/spring-showers_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0OaGVAX-bU5uYbTzCqcxDjc2m4JDo1ZM9EFZI7bJovjngBTe-DQvgIKSMSbwcec8I31Bh9lcPBU0OPKD61zXOxkEFwy1WkYBzEqytVfG77yeGB52Pc_YavtDj2J13J6v2KDhJYTTedo/s400/spring-showers_front.jpg" alt="Spring Showers, front" /></a></div><br />
This is the April design. Hand applique, with a bit of embroidery (the centers of the purple flowers) and one bead (for the robin's eye). My only other change to the pattern was to piece the background. The completed wallhanging is about 18" x 22".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbqgW0xD-50lELVH_PJxqh6-zKleP1KaUdXpQ4ZPp_iiJl_xHZcCY8e9PLkCeZrIkC4z3KAhnQ3FSW-JrRv_BjNcFuxEmTVn5nNK_4ULW2QKjb37nqNT4aQBZuZC6NONuR7scI0PzGPs/s1600/spring-showers_robin-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbqgW0xD-50lELVH_PJxqh6-zKleP1KaUdXpQ4ZPp_iiJl_xHZcCY8e9PLkCeZrIkC4z3KAhnQ3FSW-JrRv_BjNcFuxEmTVn5nNK_4ULW2QKjb37nqNT4aQBZuZC6NONuR7scI0PzGPs/s400/spring-showers_robin-detail.jpg" alt="Spring Showers, detail of robin" /></a></div><br />
I really need to find myself another applique project. I do love applique. <br />
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I machine quilted it using Aurifil thread in a couple different colors... I can't remember which ones though. Doh! (The perils of waiting so long to blog about a project!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRy3mk_hXRDEJlt_MwM9V17ftl9WyhzFMai5pu74imLPbyht5CPSIz5Xlme_ldXlfFYa35N246b1nySfkpkmAWqVu1Uvths04laG9BLkoT7F8uoWfErWAxzgyaSBWC10eldByl25_9Mw/s1600/spring-showers_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRy3mk_hXRDEJlt_MwM9V17ftl9WyhzFMai5pu74imLPbyht5CPSIz5Xlme_ldXlfFYa35N246b1nySfkpkmAWqVu1Uvths04laG9BLkoT7F8uoWfErWAxzgyaSBWC10eldByl25_9Mw/s400/spring-showers_label.jpg" alt="Spring Showers, label" /></a></div><br />
I finished quilting and binding it last fall. The label reflects that date. I put it on before I realized I forgot the hanging tabs. Oops! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ-ZVzeeV2KEmh1f0HGEVlkqAvGm2KoJQ7d1wc7JKtk0E_zgPRwBPL7rtOPkJeT8rdNBvdYDp43HGRjayjnCa1FWa9qCDTie-UA3-v8U13zW2S-XS4I4A_EtBQxVrgQ_oK1_kE8BCcvU/s1600/spring-showers_hanging-tabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ-ZVzeeV2KEmh1f0HGEVlkqAvGm2KoJQ7d1wc7JKtk0E_zgPRwBPL7rtOPkJeT8rdNBvdYDp43HGRjayjnCa1FWa9qCDTie-UA3-v8U13zW2S-XS4I4A_EtBQxVrgQ_oK1_kE8BCcvU/s400/spring-showers_hanging-tabs.jpg" alt="Spring Showers, view of hanging tabs" /></a></div><br />
So, it sat around for a few months until I got motivated last week and added the hanging tabs and buttons. I took a strip of fabric, folded it lengthwise (right sides together) and stitched around one short edge and the long edge. Then I turned it right-side-out, added a buttonhole on the finished end, and then stitched it to the back of the quilt, trying to keep my stitching right in the ditch of the binding. <br />
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Since I couldn't actually <i>use</i> it until I got the hanging tabs on there, I am calling this one a 2016 finish.<br />
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"Spring Showers" now resides in my hallway. At least, it does for now... I still have visions of having a lovely collection of seasonal wallhangings to switch out. :)Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-66169344188673374152016-05-19T10:14:00.000-07:002016-05-19T10:14:39.429-07:00Chevron AppletonI think this is it! The last unblogged project from 2015!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbuZUX9ZKF18vzWyw7KlZ3xQEeVCaaFyfXvafaKAeUlFoA89WCvKDleXpiqKtNgDi_YQ7xRKgqJ1W-VpProdXOVuCf39LKTzma2onrDwP2MOaGrENZJHaony52VkymicjlsZ3ZwrkKPw/s1600/appleton-front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Appleton chevron dress, front view 2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbuZUX9ZKF18vzWyw7KlZ3xQEeVCaaFyfXvafaKAeUlFoA89WCvKDleXpiqKtNgDi_YQ7xRKgqJ1W-VpProdXOVuCf39LKTzma2onrDwP2MOaGrENZJHaony52VkymicjlsZ3ZwrkKPw/s320/appleton-front2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This is my <a href="https://shop.cashmerette.com/products/appleton-dress-printed-pattern" target="_blank">Appleton Dress</a> from <a href="http://www.cashmerette.com/" target="_blank">Cashmerette</a>. It is a classic wrap dress. I stitched it up a couple weeks before Christmas using a happy <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/Shades-Of-Blue-Black-White-Chevron-Print-ITY-Knit-58W.html" target="_blank">ITY chevron print</a> from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/home.php" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQb2UXERpiyM57RtbYu_6xPctRVKKvLaAWPrVrtNHY9lq4Qk0bl1pYQGOvR30OyQhDORQzk7pFBrMZh3KBaoW6TiTz2QO4qNuv1Y8FZ1kPTTcriIo4PrqbUSfN4JNgdPJIwKYbaP-LEQA/s1600/appleton_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Appleton chevron dress, side view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQb2UXERpiyM57RtbYu_6xPctRVKKvLaAWPrVrtNHY9lq4Qk0bl1pYQGOvR30OyQhDORQzk7pFBrMZh3KBaoW6TiTz2QO4qNuv1Y8FZ1kPTTcriIo4PrqbUSfN4JNgdPJIwKYbaP-LEQA/s320/appleton_side.jpg" /></a></div><br />
If you haven't heard about Cashmerette patterns yet, they are designed for curvy ladies, size 12 and up, with cup sizes going up to H. No FBA required!!! Woo! My rendition is a size 12, G-H cup with 3/4-sleeves. The only alteration I made was to chop 4" off the hem.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsM8VLbUw_A-tK-4Mv4p548KynbmXX_93CrPJch9fpJb3O2TfEOaOOtLBZEZ38ddewHbILDE7aiwXUcraqYWIzocU5n2H8fdgGfB1R58zAh78jcdhSTM-qd8XL6keRJRmbnSNxSSd8kE/s1600/appleton_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Appleton chevron dress, back view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsM8VLbUw_A-tK-4Mv4p548KynbmXX_93CrPJch9fpJb3O2TfEOaOOtLBZEZ38ddewHbILDE7aiwXUcraqYWIzocU5n2H8fdgGfB1R58zAh78jcdhSTM-qd8XL6keRJRmbnSNxSSd8kE/s320/appleton_back.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The instructions were straightforward and everything went together without a hitch. And I love the result! I feel so pretty when I wear this dress. Sexy, even! That V-neck is no joke... it is deep. And, while it is secure, I have to be very careful about which bra I choose, as anything with a wide bridge ends up peeking out after a few minutes. Fortunately, I have one bra that works pretty well. Of course, a cami is always an option as well, and would lend to a bit more modesty in general. I haven't tried that approach yet though. <br />
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I love this dress. I've been eyeing other potential fabrics, but haven't found the perfect one yet. Hopefully, soon! I'd love to make a short-sleeved one for summer!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-19956019776075465072016-05-17T14:07:00.000-07:002016-05-17T14:07:24.727-07:00Sit & Stitch PincushionThis is yet another completed project from last year (only a couple more left, I swear!).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPxn7N9vZKIM6nLO0NIdHuuhZPp3W6fZdZ7rI9Kr4qfXveHdl2jjTja3fjjhoDxc0CJ9gGYpDW1CkQbt5Kl2Y6ZoxhxtkUFmoEkXhCEkGTJYpTJ-IyjPYED9Y82CqtBeu8nQcaNKsdwc/s1600/sit-n-stitch_top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPxn7N9vZKIM6nLO0NIdHuuhZPp3W6fZdZ7rI9Kr4qfXveHdl2jjTja3fjjhoDxc0CJ9gGYpDW1CkQbt5Kl2Y6ZoxhxtkUFmoEkXhCEkGTJYpTJ-IyjPYED9Y82CqtBeu8nQcaNKsdwc/s400/sit-n-stitch_top.jpg" alt="Sit & Stitch Pincushion, top view" /></a></div><br />
It is the "Sit & Stitch Pincusion" from Cindy Taylor Oates (of <a href="http://www.taylormadedesigns.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Taylor Made Designs</a>). My mother-in-law gave me the pattern for Christmas. I was so smitten with it, I jumped in and finished one that weekend.<br />
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Shopping my stash, I found a happy array of fabrics and and then got to work.<br />
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I did a couple things differently than the pattern suggested based upon the supplies I had on hand:<ul><li>Used woven interfacing (Pellon SF101) rather than the Pellon 808 called for in the pattern.</li><li>I made my bias binding the old-fashioned way as I didn't have a bias making thingy of the correct size.</li></ul>Both changes seemed to work well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLCNtWu4lNvvoNfGhubh35CGdqVC754sW4wMBBDqGsQlliOPmU1SWNkDRIiJGdcDx3lfCY4c_YmRYkNHiAVGbgCx9x47WorXP-9oIEqo8zZypgE5OmIpUHD1UWRYA1pczpFNGi0v1a7s/s1600/sit-n-stitch_front1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLCNtWu4lNvvoNfGhubh35CGdqVC754sW4wMBBDqGsQlliOPmU1SWNkDRIiJGdcDx3lfCY4c_YmRYkNHiAVGbgCx9x47WorXP-9oIEqo8zZypgE5OmIpUHD1UWRYA1pczpFNGi0v1a7s/s400/sit-n-stitch_front1.jpg" alt="Sit & Stitch Pincushion, front view" /></a></div><br />
The whole thing came together in an afternoon. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZykgESRKq-lq7lhYOJbFM-gi6FJzfjcUlXJJrg1R7a3rUrbIEJGj9HbbDuUFe_9ggvcnEFTtjSMBulpl7GjCGLF4zXLH4qvtMPjTXUHvCH03EBlGCROYk-0vapMgxQduCwAwNrBsBXE/s1600/sit-n-stitch_front-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZykgESRKq-lq7lhYOJbFM-gi6FJzfjcUlXJJrg1R7a3rUrbIEJGj9HbbDuUFe_9ggvcnEFTtjSMBulpl7GjCGLF4zXLH4qvtMPjTXUHvCH03EBlGCROYk-0vapMgxQduCwAwNrBsBXE/s400/sit-n-stitch_front-top.jpg" alt="Sit & Stitch Pincushion, front top" /></a></div><br />
It is designed to drape over the arm of a chair or couch. I think it is going to be perfect next time I'm downstairs doing some stitching in front of the television! (Note to self: find a project to work on in front of the tv!)Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-32750941315097047502016-05-15T17:07:00.000-07:002016-05-15T17:07:06.515-07:00A pair of Jenna CardisAlso left unblogged in 2015 were a couple iterations of the <a href="http://sewingmuse.com/" target="_blank">Muse Patterns</a> <a href="http://sewingmuse.com/products/jenna-cardi" target="_blank">Jenna Cardi</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxHXIHUb9COhHQZpheHWbpWnroQOcAvnH8VGrURlMf_JnRoDOrYfsxR27TE88CtDMD0mPcS-xSFCKC3t43hby_dl0HqozO6q4ZGtqp2LZOH9xGQk8iVkTKOtHu4DzrEjEGSRpxnfJHEc/s1600/jenna_how-i-wore-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 1, wearing with top two buttons undone" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxHXIHUb9COhHQZpheHWbpWnroQOcAvnH8VGrURlMf_JnRoDOrYfsxR27TE88CtDMD0mPcS-xSFCKC3t43hby_dl0HqozO6q4ZGtqp2LZOH9xGQk8iVkTKOtHu4DzrEjEGSRpxnfJHEc/s320/jenna_how-i-wore-it.jpg" /></a></div>
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The first one, completed in early December was from a hatchi sweater knit purchased from <a href="https://www.fabric.com/" target="_blank">Fabric.com</a> awhile back. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiqq2_5Tcvg36YUnTtkD45bH_Sd9sLz-oOiwZGVasL4lSgQcreHE6tnS0FBRlVPqWEUSJ8A9kD-nulAU2ix7_3JgMIHjyGXxnf_44qD1iYfpr2fhkimwQmPF-oxN7Nvzg91JDImdg7dc/s1600/jenna_button-placement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 1, button placement" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiqq2_5Tcvg36YUnTtkD45bH_Sd9sLz-oOiwZGVasL4lSgQcreHE6tnS0FBRlVPqWEUSJ8A9kD-nulAU2ix7_3JgMIHjyGXxnf_44qD1iYfpr2fhkimwQmPF-oxN7Nvzg91JDImdg7dc/s320/jenna_button-placement.jpg" /></a></div>
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This print makes me so happy. My only regret: I wish I had used some sparkly buttons. There is gold threading through the fabric, and some crystaline buttons would bring that element out a little more and look so fun! If I run across the right buttons, I may still change 'em up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AlKj4IwiNv8rP_BcDfsBm2KCwHxAff5Jq2cIeLZnI2p9BVUprxK68MM6KWoFfgm8v_ZNYkkDn26capsio-eMp1eXMxCGS7pyTxdkeINQ444pjoFDHFN0qHg_u4NY0FJKpos3ACwQAwk/s1600/jenna_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 1, back view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AlKj4IwiNv8rP_BcDfsBm2KCwHxAff5Jq2cIeLZnI2p9BVUprxK68MM6KWoFfgm8v_ZNYkkDn26capsio-eMp1eXMxCGS7pyTxdkeINQ444pjoFDHFN0qHg_u4NY0FJKpos3ACwQAwk/s320/jenna_back.jpg" /></a></div>
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I made Variation A, the hip length with long sleeves. Alterations included:<br />
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<li>1" FBA, after which I removed the darts by following Maria Denmark's <a href="http://www.mariadenmark.com/2014/10/removing-bust-darts/" target="_blank"> "How to: Removing Bust Darts from a Pattern."</a></li>
<li>Shortened sleeves 2".</li>
<li>Used 9 buttons (spaced ~2/25" apart) instead of the 8 suggested in the pattern (as I had added length when doing the FBA).</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4dhlOiqR23SppLyZ-wKnsoKZeoFs3hUvBIQgYS_wB7pmnp5hDY9tMxFGKFCGfyxBjTYnoHCVhSB1jjDvuGigdj4ifKmkKnkY1aL8E-_u2wA4vbKNbnUYz4dvd426yVzJ4nJxkdWKX3o/s1600/jenna_buttoned-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 1, buttoned view" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4dhlOiqR23SppLyZ-wKnsoKZeoFs3hUvBIQgYS_wB7pmnp5hDY9tMxFGKFCGfyxBjTYnoHCVhSB1jjDvuGigdj4ifKmkKnkY1aL8E-_u2wA4vbKNbnUYz4dvd426yVzJ4nJxkdWKX3o/s400/jenna_buttoned-front.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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I wasn't sure how removing the darts would work, but, as it was only a 1" FBA, I decided to give it a go. And I am super happy with the result! I am not sure how effective it would be if the FBA was any bigger though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Eor_G0bjoxrNC_Uxv554sF-SIXLvTGss9lC900CbxDdBRh5sHJNjFvXLRgREWEXpBq0XXnJs1Gixbxdn9ZM-7v55XysL737Pl7u_RXCSfdQeMb-4lkiGOjD4mdhELHuEqJ6x6vKeg8/s1600/jenna2_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 2, front view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Eor_G0bjoxrNC_Uxv554sF-SIXLvTGss9lC900CbxDdBRh5sHJNjFvXLRgREWEXpBq0XXnJs1Gixbxdn9ZM-7v55XysL737Pl7u_RXCSfdQeMb-4lkiGOjD4mdhELHuEqJ6x6vKeg8/s320/jenna2_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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The second version (also Variation A with long sleeves) is from a chocolate brown poly/lycra sweater knit from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/home.php" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a>. It was finished toward the end of December.<br />
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The only change to this one from the first was that I narrowed the sleeve width a bit. I just felt like my first one, the sleeves were looser than I wanted.<br />
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I very unscientifically trimmed, tapering the width starting from about 1" below the armscrye, ending at the hem where about 1.25" of fabric was removed from the width (and then I adjusted the sleeve bands accordingly before attaching). The picture above shows a comparison of the sleeves between the two versions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzxucSP0TGxjGnelSI4gFejgKdEahE8XlmtAupGmxV3thIe_qXezlL7aQnKW7hqSdDSh9nqJoX5cEYhuczzVx-sHPKlFo5PjhHLy7820CxQdqdp0XfVjmJ0-waxT06S0ExLn9QCMfeOs/s1600/jenna2_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 2, back view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzxucSP0TGxjGnelSI4gFejgKdEahE8XlmtAupGmxV3thIe_qXezlL7aQnKW7hqSdDSh9nqJoX5cEYhuczzVx-sHPKlFo5PjhHLy7820CxQdqdp0XfVjmJ0-waxT06S0ExLn9QCMfeOs/s320/jenna2_back.jpg" /></a></div>
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Construction on these was straightforward and the instructions were great. It is a very quick project to construct!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaixxpxJGVklIZr1QEn8AiABKux53N1lgmp2woBPMfhgYzpieLLG5GXF-Vmh-cKOfllxTahncnEi3ocacJohXyTew0Yy7HDwlU7m_EshqK28M2YSyAMI8keAc3BizWkNY_RfwxuwI9As/s1600/jenna2_side-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna variation 2, side view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaixxpxJGVklIZr1QEn8AiABKux53N1lgmp2woBPMfhgYzpieLLG5GXF-Vmh-cKOfllxTahncnEi3ocacJohXyTew0Yy7HDwlU7m_EshqK28M2YSyAMI8keAc3BizWkNY_RfwxuwI9As/s320/jenna2_side-full.jpg" /></a></div>
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I wear these cardigans quite often. The chocolate one is already starting to pill as it has been in such regular rotation. LOVE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aqdoTlGkc6HxT6j_JF3SoWFdvgPEdOlDLnNehxhjNJQZ1XBBUo0qoeP4olQqiy0F-oFZpuhg8XrxAoWGw_XZfYtmNqThZdJT_v5b6mGJgHZ-gbUUePPkXKlR3HQT3DpGIDm5frjfG9c/s1600/jenna2_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jenna version 2, full view" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aqdoTlGkc6HxT6j_JF3SoWFdvgPEdOlDLnNehxhjNJQZ1XBBUo0qoeP4olQqiy0F-oFZpuhg8XrxAoWGw_XZfYtmNqThZdJT_v5b6mGJgHZ-gbUUePPkXKlR3HQT3DpGIDm5frjfG9c/s400/jenna2_full.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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Recently, Muse released an <a href="http://sewingmuse.com/products/jenna-cardi-expansion-pack" target="_blank">add-on for the Jenna</a> that includes a V-neck and collar variations. I snatched it up! More Jennas are definitely in my future.<br />
<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-84156064134215651162016-05-10T07:30:00.000-07:002016-05-10T07:30:42.338-07:00Fall 2013 Mystery QuiltBasted and ready to go, this one sat for nearly a year before I finally figured out how I wanted to quilt it. But, I finally got it quilted and bound in December:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_A5aWl6bGFiSCQywMuM6Tj6hyphenhyphenCzc7avuX1GQma4_hkTD948_avFqfpjhSdsVpcfoqAvgVmxaPVzkvRfc9vceezkwObDOXYTL1ggqUEfNAyo6Tws5ijFiStzXjLeK9Eka70_6kS3cxEI/s1600/koi_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_A5aWl6bGFiSCQywMuM6Tj6hyphenhyphenCzc7avuX1GQma4_hkTD948_avFqfpjhSdsVpcfoqAvgVmxaPVzkvRfc9vceezkwObDOXYTL1ggqUEfNAyo6Tws5ijFiStzXjLeK9Eka70_6kS3cxEI/s400/koi_front.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, front view" /></a></div><br />
It is the <a href="http://www.heatherspencedesigns.com/" target="_blank">Heather Spence Designs</a> Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ts543ZYrfTUSATM_ghknQ5dkYlW3W0IjE0w9Z9OEvPrOxVwXTh5JFYDQtmeLx_o86MM_jRtUH2UhteY5VhS5SRXp6YtfT9tV360aW7gLmKJzRCHjJB9IuhLrtBHOL4W8f7Z1r05kfI4/s1600/koi_front-side-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ts543ZYrfTUSATM_ghknQ5dkYlW3W0IjE0w9Z9OEvPrOxVwXTh5JFYDQtmeLx_o86MM_jRtUH2UhteY5VhS5SRXp6YtfT9tV360aW7gLmKJzRCHjJB9IuhLrtBHOL4W8f7Z1r05kfI4/s400/koi_front-side-detail.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, side front detail" /></a></div><br />
The fabrics all came from stash. (Yay for stashbusting projects!) It actually was a lot of fun putting this one together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVMsNjCn6ugkQuaYKM0WBfoccFmSIY5gNSj5z8CR-Jxp18Tbtn7gXBv0C6UydmJ2Awd2p6PwKKSMJrfRpM9PlC5LZw8viXxRCLZgEPCRIh-89QmXutr8PqS14g8BFFpfsWLFTs_ZY8S0/s1600/koi_quiltingdetail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVMsNjCn6ugkQuaYKM0WBfoccFmSIY5gNSj5z8CR-Jxp18Tbtn7gXBv0C6UydmJ2Awd2p6PwKKSMJrfRpM9PlC5LZw8viXxRCLZgEPCRIh-89QmXutr8PqS14g8BFFpfsWLFTs_ZY8S0/s400/koi_quiltingdetail1.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, quilting detail" /></a></div><br />
On this one I decided I wanted the center to have the feeling of waterlilies or lily pads or somesuch to help tie it and the border together design-wise. I ended up going with this super, labor-intensive approach of using the pinwheels as the basis of a flower, and then, to emphasize it, I did microstippling in the areas between. It creates a sort of trapunto-esque effect. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoLPimadMQtBabL1-GRGMgyOF5OKxJK_8JUhudWVEkdDqXcXaa2DIEU_dMd3_OgL9lBegzJEsV_-a2qmzIDtJ9fm8QiP9hJ4jZtp-ZCy0ZfdIkCBVGG2hoaaWSbXl-pEDsUZ4CnsRL9g/s1600/koi_quiltingdetail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoLPimadMQtBabL1-GRGMgyOF5OKxJK_8JUhudWVEkdDqXcXaa2DIEU_dMd3_OgL9lBegzJEsV_-a2qmzIDtJ9fm8QiP9hJ4jZtp-ZCy0ZfdIkCBVGG2hoaaWSbXl-pEDsUZ4CnsRL9g/s400/koi_quiltingdetail2.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, quilting detail 2" /></a></div><br />
So. Much. Quilting. I think I listened to two books on CD. So 20 hours or so? Yikes!<br />
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Aurifil 50/2 in Light Sand/Beige (2000) throughout the center was perfect-- the 2-ply thread works so nicely for tight quilting. <br />
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Then, in the border, I just did some watery wavy lines. I used a slightly heavier-weight thread, Mettler (40/3) in a dark brown. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rJAEzIeWEcjmLFPCGssShJAnlnORuWOLyOlau-9MXag0TiSAp5JuQ7EQCHmlYHAiPxmO93CWjhHxkSXZvk2CkLq46FShE2lWuxnz-aeu8nvd9wICfoOciwrWdP9-rIxT8xjbRWdhh_c/s1600/koi_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rJAEzIeWEcjmLFPCGssShJAnlnORuWOLyOlau-9MXag0TiSAp5JuQ7EQCHmlYHAiPxmO93CWjhHxkSXZvk2CkLq46FShE2lWuxnz-aeu8nvd9wICfoOciwrWdP9-rIxT8xjbRWdhh_c/s400/koi_back.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, back view" /></a></div><br />
I do love me a pieced back!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB9CaKA56kVpqnJJ190Nx5UEz9hDXSXTtYHm_1T92Qi7QHpbUJ9Pi3jLnqKkixGEp4nYyxowub9zEgGFQOLEi_G7e12RBFLxoGlNvUebKYNiNB2iKPipeSPrnrRc9vqmu-tyYwSK2O1A/s1600/koi_quiltingdetail-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB9CaKA56kVpqnJJ190Nx5UEz9hDXSXTtYHm_1T92Qi7QHpbUJ9Pi3jLnqKkixGEp4nYyxowub9zEgGFQOLEi_G7e12RBFLxoGlNvUebKYNiNB2iKPipeSPrnrRc9vqmu-tyYwSK2O1A/s400/koi_quiltingdetail-back.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, quilting detail, back view" /></a></div><br />
So I haven't put a label on it.... yet. I'm kind of on the fence with this one. I really love the quilting and the overall look of the quilt. But I don't need it and it doesn't really fit with our decor at all. So I am thinking I want to donate it, but am having a hard time letting it go. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WHKsJOIPKi8t41kzrqpbmf7fft3PX5vnVIzJ4Rgw1tiIkHSGcsbxcfyy4HT92373xiL_hl-EzzI8bmLgopZAP65QRWCQeFQfjGSP8w0gWe21J3OxcNFT3-l9jG_fvMQYMnHY69YgINI/s1600/koi_side-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WHKsJOIPKi8t41kzrqpbmf7fft3PX5vnVIzJ4Rgw1tiIkHSGcsbxcfyy4HT92373xiL_hl-EzzI8bmLgopZAP65QRWCQeFQfjGSP8w0gWe21J3OxcNFT3-l9jG_fvMQYMnHY69YgINI/s400/koi_side-front.jpg" alt="Fall 2013 Mystery Quilt, side front view" /></a></div><br />
I need to give it a wash still. Maybe then I'll decide. :)Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-19411324551939000842016-05-09T10:18:00.000-07:002016-05-09T10:18:02.881-07:00Reversible Embroidered QuiltThis quilt was started with a <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2008/04/weekend-progress.html" target="_blank">class I took back in 2008</a> through a (now closed) local Bernina dealer. The class and project were meant to highlight machine embroidery as a quilting option as well as to teach a quilt-as-you-go method of construction. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W1QUTvoHGYSYfKpruK1KI3JmMSq50FFHy2E8CFc0Xg-xWDfhwZ3k83yMtdQYLw9Vzn0tQJSoys3xk9-pLgLh8Z5D5dWRes63NhIARt5SaBp1aWfOh0ICc-_gsufIEwMh6dDFFFf_6ys/s1600/req_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W1QUTvoHGYSYfKpruK1KI3JmMSq50FFHy2E8CFc0Xg-xWDfhwZ3k83yMtdQYLw9Vzn0tQJSoys3xk9-pLgLh8Z5D5dWRes63NhIARt5SaBp1aWfOh0ICc-_gsufIEwMh6dDFFFf_6ys/s400/req_front.jpg" alt="Reversible Embroidered Quilt, frontview" /></a></div><br />
I actually completed the quilt itself back in 2008. I just didn't get the binding on it until December 2015. :P<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ORKgCEM-LgXi8Yq0r1gDGd6YMw9ZZ3axMWbCeCIBCi6-pYiOeklMLIzJr-A-6d-0JraD4MWD0o_gLgRsfmEnxXWVLHVecK6QizRBR56QSxu4y_2TYwTPjGCCJT6KdgkVyUicw1HX6eI/s1600/req_side-front-detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ORKgCEM-LgXi8Yq0r1gDGd6YMw9ZZ3axMWbCeCIBCi6-pYiOeklMLIzJr-A-6d-0JraD4MWD0o_gLgRsfmEnxXWVLHVecK6QizRBR56QSxu4y_2TYwTPjGCCJT6KdgkVyUicw1HX6eI/s400/req_side-front-detail2.jpg" alt="Reversible Embroidered Quilt, detail of some embroidery" /></a></div><br />
To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this quilt. But I learned a good number of things through the making, including that I'm really just not a fan of quilt-as-you-go. I also like more quilting in my quilt. I learned that machine binding can be an awesome thing (and nowadays, I machine bind many of my quilts... though I don't use the exact technique that was taught in this class). Also-- machine embroidery, while lovely, is really boring to do. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqvOF4GPnRlrUDjTdExgFNf82MM6FhL_mp4b3BAeTdjQGMbMffZLU63t8YIHYwHu5CxJq49ZhiqpBbKXi-bdVkQMxo19_SRwmthg6pDibpb-aoWPSGA9O_IltUviDVQgNye17Y0UO3hY/s1600/req_back-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqvOF4GPnRlrUDjTdExgFNf82MM6FhL_mp4b3BAeTdjQGMbMffZLU63t8YIHYwHu5CxJq49ZhiqpBbKXi-bdVkQMxo19_SRwmthg6pDibpb-aoWPSGA9O_IltUviDVQgNye17Y0UO3hY/s400/req_back-side.jpg" alt="Reversible Embroidered Quilt, side back view" /></a></div><br />
I plan to donate this one, so no label.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3Qb-D0tEJCdHoyCQYwJz35O6_m2XySVBjyCyexlCquPWqW_CxPjh_1Wj7fGXNg_l6TIsCfKQRu2kYyN4_tVifxhGng1E56GhBy0T9r9KCFwQCdydRAPAdouV8urIVUNl2OPVSKAB1yY/s1600/req_front-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3Qb-D0tEJCdHoyCQYwJz35O6_m2XySVBjyCyexlCquPWqW_CxPjh_1Wj7fGXNg_l6TIsCfKQRu2kYyN4_tVifxhGng1E56GhBy0T9r9KCFwQCdydRAPAdouV8urIVUNl2OPVSKAB1yY/s400/req_front-side.jpg" alt="Reversible Embroidered Quilt, front side view" /></a></div><br />
While it is maybe not my cup o' tea, the colors are happy and overall, I think it is a pretty quilt.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQvTWn53_KDcn9sNqJRTNlMWqToa4oTcRPaEpP8LDsHSjVmvLjXAKQxw_7RSDnfOqat3pGLC5PvDFrSgXoqdJRwEbD-tz77Gj1s4hUJjwwkeEi_wVSA9gIhVvH-yFS5Hv7n_jHKvjpF4/s1600/req_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQvTWn53_KDcn9sNqJRTNlMWqToa4oTcRPaEpP8LDsHSjVmvLjXAKQxw_7RSDnfOqat3pGLC5PvDFrSgXoqdJRwEbD-tz77Gj1s4hUJjwwkeEi_wVSA9gIhVvH-yFS5Hv7n_jHKvjpF4/s400/req_back.jpg" alt="Reversible Embroidered Quilt, back view" /></a></div><br />
I am happy that the quilt is finally finished!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-21322465353738693882016-05-07T21:05:00.000-07:002016-05-07T21:05:11.403-07:00"Watch the Clocks"The top for this quilt was completed in 2014. I finally got it quilted last fall. Then it took two months to get the binding and buttons sewn. But-- it was technically completed just before the new year:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyymZdSgkvOyPrb-dCGTb2zo_jvO5wL6dk-axuSWmwEby86nsiJ3FnaU1yh7sPm9P4r6xBPrahd2WRtfMcArWnVxePSAgpBGAap5htlERe006O_HdHJknpf1nQ4V72zfO0YEeDTJlE0os/s1600/clocks_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyymZdSgkvOyPrb-dCGTb2zo_jvO5wL6dk-axuSWmwEby86nsiJ3FnaU1yh7sPm9P4r6xBPrahd2WRtfMcArWnVxePSAgpBGAap5htlERe006O_HdHJknpf1nQ4V72zfO0YEeDTJlE0os/s320/clocks_front.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, front" /></a></div><br />
The quilt is from a kit my husband gifted me in 2013 from the <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/" target="_blank">Fat Quarter Shop</a>. Though the fabric is no more, the design is still available as a free project from Windham Quilts and is called <a href="http://www.windhamfabrics.net/cgi-bin/fabricshop/projects.cgi?patternID=458" target="_blank">"Tick Tock."</a> I call my rendition, "Watch the Clocks."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuLSjKvcST4Hy7RFYJTyKe5y9IU4v0g_Aa18of6M3Pa6ln2pE26W7sk5nRbCzAVPgzkTueMToV5IyQCm535XDH9p4fo4yZpl40wSH2R1B2teCPPhfZqJ73g3bagtO3-0G6DbkfplCjoU/s1600/clocks_detail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuLSjKvcST4Hy7RFYJTyKe5y9IU4v0g_Aa18of6M3Pa6ln2pE26W7sk5nRbCzAVPgzkTueMToV5IyQCm535XDH9p4fo4yZpl40wSH2R1B2teCPPhfZqJ73g3bagtO3-0G6DbkfplCjoU/s320/clocks_detail1.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, quilting detail" /></a></div><br />
Pardon my dark and dreary pictures. My front hallway in the darkness of winter is not very photo-friendly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCU_tTZ5d_6JZRkXzl1mC_NbBLpMglCiLttFcpuX4ynn2m7EuCCmO6NAlbjVCsqL7fvcUf7YAmhpG_HkVAzDzIdbj6d93F-rBgM5c3uGlKianCxlcGvXNUIEtKtWyaZNlXC18jaVx2rk/s1600/clocks_detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCU_tTZ5d_6JZRkXzl1mC_NbBLpMglCiLttFcpuX4ynn2m7EuCCmO6NAlbjVCsqL7fvcUf7YAmhpG_HkVAzDzIdbj6d93F-rBgM5c3uGlKianCxlcGvXNUIEtKtWyaZNlXC18jaVx2rk/s320/clocks_detail2.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, another detail of quilting" /></a></div><br />
Since it involved only simple piecing and fusible applique, this was a super quick and fun quilt to put together. In fact, I constructed nearly all of the top one morning during a quit-the-day-away event I attended. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe9_zlCaf08YAit2_xWzngKBOlFGdjTFe9Xz557qAZDPNk_Fo5-oTSm4HJYx8JOoGVEM00gsDOS_g4Ei8N77MFRposndDKQlXBNILtBBlQ_p71-vIY7jwLPq5Tg-n_hBZBjJDjIpwi4Y/s1600/clocks_detail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe9_zlCaf08YAit2_xWzngKBOlFGdjTFe9Xz557qAZDPNk_Fo5-oTSm4HJYx8JOoGVEM00gsDOS_g4Ei8N77MFRposndDKQlXBNILtBBlQ_p71-vIY7jwLPq5Tg-n_hBZBjJDjIpwi4Y/s320/clocks_detail3.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, yet more quilting detail" /></a></div><br />
It took awhile before I decided how to go about quilting it. I kind of wanted to create a feeling of gears running behind the clock faces. I think the wavy-line-circle design running across the background captures that pretty well. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfNQysPtDiLetzOYHAemE1-yEs77NfIxJDutcDYPWfb10eNCAGD-EmXQMrc4aj66Aiuy_wx-t3hdKG6BbqldGtNOWu-tSndqEN2nUnBWchBFpXj7YIljKnZK1DQ9_Xl66raKj2_j_nGQ/s1600/clocks_hanging-tabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfNQysPtDiLetzOYHAemE1-yEs77NfIxJDutcDYPWfb10eNCAGD-EmXQMrc4aj66Aiuy_wx-t3hdKG6BbqldGtNOWu-tSndqEN2nUnBWchBFpXj7YIljKnZK1DQ9_Xl66raKj2_j_nGQ/s320/clocks_hanging-tabs.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, hanging tabs" /></a></div><br />
Since the hanger I intended to use is closed, I needed to devise a plan to be able to take the quilt on and off of it. I decided on simple buttonhole tabs sewn in with the binding and placed the buttons on the back. It works quite well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH3fkckftImsyuf8nioaWHlhmstYuBw-e2CCccD1AWIxzYyBmN48W2DSBNXbM_DkbDnoXQ9KAUgdeNNboTvf7ggV3hqF-wRArA0Ivnv5iWqmZ14dcb0Dc-LJOKaNUM6YzblNMdGAP4mw/s1600/clocks_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH3fkckftImsyuf8nioaWHlhmstYuBw-e2CCccD1AWIxzYyBmN48W2DSBNXbM_DkbDnoXQ9KAUgdeNNboTvf7ggV3hqF-wRArA0Ivnv5iWqmZ14dcb0Dc-LJOKaNUM6YzblNMdGAP4mw/s320/clocks_back.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, back" /></a></div><br />
And the label.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFaucq9UWVkKarhDThlNN4wfgEslelpWRz1-ovRzrEpWEfl1hii_cum2YBUwD8eqkHfJu1dHmARiUiIAV5Sp5n62H3J0LAaog_SPrTJaqh48519kUFKwtKkpD5DuSrUEUvFtHClxm_lU/s1600/clocks_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFaucq9UWVkKarhDThlNN4wfgEslelpWRz1-ovRzrEpWEfl1hii_cum2YBUwD8eqkHfJu1dHmARiUiIAV5Sp5n62H3J0LAaog_SPrTJaqh48519kUFKwtKkpD5DuSrUEUvFtHClxm_lU/s320/clocks_label.jpg" alt="Watch the Clocks, label" /></a></div><br />
We have a beautiful grandfather clock in our hallway, just across from where the quilt hangs. It is a happy pairing!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-41910886193700509822016-05-06T20:21:00.002-07:002016-05-06T20:21:20.464-07:00Warm Welcome: "Small Checks"Whoa. It has been awhile! Frankly, not a lot of crafting has been happening here thus far this year. But I seem to have a backlog of finished projects from the end of 2015 that I haven't posted yet-- so let's just start with that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlvkk8RxODE-v141lfLcRKHefqgTUyk7ubqWOKQ4VXXKWuc2qBKHRLIIg4bc2Cvxy2zxfeSTRHO8n1_qjmnify-H-Rem0pMU3zawkOqyKgX-w3mMU_rl4e5dPCMta5GSuB1beNa2rwHg/s1600/small-checks_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlvkk8RxODE-v141lfLcRKHefqgTUyk7ubqWOKQ4VXXKWuc2qBKHRLIIg4bc2Cvxy2zxfeSTRHO8n1_qjmnify-H-Rem0pMU3zawkOqyKgX-w3mMU_rl4e5dPCMta5GSuB1beNa2rwHg/s320/small-checks_front.jpg" alt="Small Checks, front view" /></a></div><br />
This 42" square quilt is from the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Warm-Welcome-Cozy-Quilts-Baby-ebook/dp/B011Q2DORQ" target="_blank"><i>Warm Welcome: Cozy Quilts for Baby</i></a> by Mary Hickey. The design is called, "Small Checks."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7Kup4Q1NNZbbL3fmVzAkq-_nmKpWF-ltMNlHsOAm7foe4lqBu_uqVhb4w40aPN41lU-PueXiLy1eeINZlUnmLFLXmBS4tMaROJ9hz2pWVbiRVQ1QzeUy2SsUcy0DORQz_9zzVjYvj4k/s1600/small-checks_detail-front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7Kup4Q1NNZbbL3fmVzAkq-_nmKpWF-ltMNlHsOAm7foe4lqBu_uqVhb4w40aPN41lU-PueXiLy1eeINZlUnmLFLXmBS4tMaROJ9hz2pWVbiRVQ1QzeUy2SsUcy0DORQz_9zzVjYvj4k/s320/small-checks_detail-front2.jpg" alt="Small Checks, another front detail view" /></a></div><br />
I started on this quilt last May, but found myself <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2015/05/it-doesnt-always-work.html" target="_blank">struggling with fabric choices</a>. I'm still not thrilled (the checks are so washed out color-wise that the piecing is lost), but considering my decision to leave the check-framed blocks as-is (rather than re-do them), I think it turned out as well as could be expected. And towards the end of the year, I finally managed to finish up the project.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Pfm24DVBH5dHSkWkJDD1wBWa3bVcoEM0NosF8NCKzM66gtbnmmjtw6GGgyfGgnq9CCuf0qTCTPB1BDh7T2uu-pIy5cWl31tOZMFu7kIxd9cska-asdnBAqXyd3xvG0tTOAe9PwfMqA/s1600/small-checks_detail-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Pfm24DVBH5dHSkWkJDD1wBWa3bVcoEM0NosF8NCKzM66gtbnmmjtw6GGgyfGgnq9CCuf0qTCTPB1BDh7T2uu-pIy5cWl31tOZMFu7kIxd9cska-asdnBAqXyd3xvG0tTOAe9PwfMqA/s320/small-checks_detail-front.jpg" alt="Small Checks, front detail" /></a></div><br />
The quilting is inspired by an Angela Walters Craftsy class, <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/dot-to-dot-quilting/426?_ct=iuqhsx-kdyluhiqb-huikbj-sekhiu&_ctp=426" target="_blank">"Dot-to-Dot Quilting."</a> I am really happy with how the quilting worked out in this one. Yay!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtyFVQfaIZtJ3w_nyqy4oR1x51pAJBulDMHE-xhrXbGvGqu9-WnlXINr6mj5VjN52tSwz4JgATrViz8r59_8MHSCOIhY2fzKXn18AE-HG8_QkDHUHHWIGz3ahq7_EReimZXSymOtO0Pg/s1600/small-checks_detail-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtyFVQfaIZtJ3w_nyqy4oR1x51pAJBulDMHE-xhrXbGvGqu9-WnlXINr6mj5VjN52tSwz4JgATrViz8r59_8MHSCOIhY2fzKXn18AE-HG8_QkDHUHHWIGz3ahq7_EReimZXSymOtO0Pg/s320/small-checks_detail-back.jpg" alt="Small Checks, back detail" /></a></div><br />
All of the quilting was completed using Aurifil Mako 50/2 thread. I used two different colors: 2710 (Ice Blue) and 2130 (Pale Yellow). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYv7B39yiRKZwfwD67Pmk9xS-lcuOO10kt50bwrF0vbhurjyt0nicpGPlqhxHbty6t37DBjEU0ytulPMRj37a6lkfVNPQbo1QE8aHjBFzuYppsXmhIpiP5XUviGcHS2EobcofNpL2bEI/s1600/small-checks_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYv7B39yiRKZwfwD67Pmk9xS-lcuOO10kt50bwrF0vbhurjyt0nicpGPlqhxHbty6t37DBjEU0ytulPMRj37a6lkfVNPQbo1QE8aHjBFzuYppsXmhIpiP5XUviGcHS2EobcofNpL2bEI/s320/small-checks_back.jpg" alt="Small Checks, back view" /></a></div><br />
The back is pieced from scraps. I actually like the back better than the front! (As I said, I struggled with fabric choices on this one.) There is no label on this one as it is destined for donation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwzrrHchcRdOBYzaZnLuTlB9Xj8fzl_uIfX0D47Ss6xU2zfUplTkCecs-rk-viuy6bKOOP1dD_QrMKOjsla1cdX41IbiTLhKWnFXRTivt_6RF87N1rGAmV6oDOlMr2MCwW1fz0YHcZCI/s1600/small-checks_front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwzrrHchcRdOBYzaZnLuTlB9Xj8fzl_uIfX0D47Ss6xU2zfUplTkCecs-rk-viuy6bKOOP1dD_QrMKOjsla1cdX41IbiTLhKWnFXRTivt_6RF87N1rGAmV6oDOlMr2MCwW1fz0YHcZCI/s320/small-checks_front2.jpg" alt="Small Checks, another view of the front" /></a></div><br />
This week I have been busy taking pictures of other finished quilts to share. I am determined to get caught back up with my blogging!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-44722778512974269672016-01-01T19:27:00.000-08:002016-01-01T19:27:29.487-08:002016!With the start of a new year, I like to take a little bit of time to reflect. It went in spurts, but overall, 2015 was a pretty darn productive year for me:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGqhuhtCuh5cfx4ww1tawlsAJpac410NiTtlnXWW5W4hankM1iAbhZ6TYGURWww0dqf0pyxiWOrZ9HgyIJyHokYyA-MimyLgKw87jhAxmi_ygJbM4cz1ymfrUbZyiUUjU2rWSG9N6dhQ/s1600/2015_collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Collage of Crafty Musings 2015 finished projects" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGqhuhtCuh5cfx4ww1tawlsAJpac410NiTtlnXWW5W4hankM1iAbhZ6TYGURWww0dqf0pyxiWOrZ9HgyIJyHokYyA-MimyLgKw87jhAxmi_ygJbM4cz1ymfrUbZyiUUjU2rWSG9N6dhQ/s400/2015_collage.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Seeing it all in a collage is always so cool. I feel like I've accomplished a lot! And that's not even all of it-- that's just the stuff I managed to take pictures of! There are a few more 2015 clothing and quilt finishes I hope to share on the blog as well. Soon!<br />
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How'd I do on my goals?<br />
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2015 Goals: <br />
<ul><li><b>Use more fabric than I buy.</b></li>
<ul><li><b>Fabric In:</b> 127.070 yards</li>
<li><b>Fabric Used:</b> 120.791</li>
</ul>Close. But not quite. But you know what? I'm not feeling bad about this one. I purchased with mindfulness and purpose on nearly everything-- I just didn't get to sewing it all up. I'm going to turn this around next year for sure.
<li><b>Finish at least 2 UFOs, including my Bargello Reflections quilt.</b>-- I did finish a couple of UFOs: my <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2008/04/progress-report-reversible-embroidered.html" target="_blank">reversible embroidered quilt</a> from 2008 (still not blogged) and <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2015/05/sunrise-coins-bloggers-quilt-festival.html" target="_blank">Sunrise Coins</a>. But Bargello Reflections remains in its unfinished state.</li>
<li><b>Finish the recent WIPs pile.</b>-- This includes:<br />
<ul><li>A little kit quilt that is basted and ready for quilting;-- DONE! (not blogged yet)✔ </li>
<li>An Edyta Sitar wallhanging that is basted and ready for quilting;-- DONE! (not blogged yet)✔ </li>
<li>My Fall 2013 mystery quilt that is ready for basting;-- DONE! (not blogged yet)✔</li>
<li>My nine-patch quilt that is also ready and waiting for basting.-- Nope. It's just so dang big. I am feeling intimidated.</li>
</ul>So-- 3 out of 4. I say, yay!<br />
</li>
<li><b>Complete the <a href="http://burns-familyblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/26-books-in-2015.html" target="_blank">26 Books in 2015 Challenge</a>.</b>-- I read 51 books this year, across a broad spectrum of genres and subjects, both fiction and non-fiction. So I feel like I was definitely in the spirit of this. In addition, I took this to my book group and we each chose books based on the list. So the list was indeed used. Just not in the conventional way. I'm calling this one a win.</li>
<li><b>Get back on the self-care/fitness train.</b>-- This year I joined a local Fit-4-Mom group and started taking Body Back classes. I have been going twice a week since March and it has been amazing. I feel so lucky to have found an awesome group of women to work-out with twice a week. I have managed to lose 18 pounds over the course of the year. Now if I could just get running again...</li></ul><br />
Overall-- lots of good things goal-wise. <br />
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Here's what I'm feeling for 2016:<br />
<ul><li><b>Fitness!</b>-- Keep going with fitness and work on reaching a goal weight of 150. I'm already signed up for the next session of Body Back as well as for a 10K in the spring to help motivate me to get running again.</li>
<li><b>Use more fabric than I buy.</b>-- All that apparel fabric I bought last year? I want to use it. I have a number of things I know I want to sew, including some activewear pieces, two dresses, and a skirt. Maybe some me-made activewear might help motivate me with my first goal too! </li>
<li><b>Finish my Bargello Reflections Quilt</b>-- Since this one has apparently been such a struggle for me, I'm making it a goal of its own. I'm going to do it. For reals this year.</li>
<li><b>Scrapbook/Blog</b>-- This last year I really dropped the ball not only on blogging, but also on my family scrapbook. And I found myself really sad and frustrated at the end of the year that we didn't have anything to look back on and reminisce about during the holidays. So I've spent much of the last week focused on scrapbooking-- finishing 2014 and getting started on 2015. Going forward, I want to work on maintaining it, as opposed to frantically doing it a year later. My goal is to a.) catch-up by doing one month a week for the month of January; and, going forward, take at least 2-4 hours each month to work on the family scrapbook. As an incentive, I got a new scrapbooking software program, <a href=
http://www.mymemories.com/mms/my_memories_suite
target="_blank">My Memories 7</a>. I'm excited to explore the possibilities with this software! The program I've been using (StoryBook Creator Plus) is many years old, runs very slow, and the company is defunct-- so it is definitely a good time to change. In conjunction with that is I want to be better at taking the time to blog my projects as I finish them. This blog is my crafting journal and I need to get back on track. Definitely a post a week.</li>
</ul><br />
Four goals. I'm looking forward to attaining all of them in 2016!<br />
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Happy New Year!!!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-85794862397924181462015-12-26T11:06:00.000-08:002015-12-26T11:06:02.763-08:00Cute kitty skirt!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQCDotmrmpRG8o8MkwegvospJBrciCWbdYAXIldi4Tq_LZE5I3igIJXLeeEMsxUTP3IiH2eaA_MRvhB5fdjrT6rvAB_d2zlz0DkIvVMeT-PdBC2GOllgqcHh0FqOGB5alX4xLKKg4idw/s1600/cute-kitty-skirt_tucked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cute kitty skirt, tucked front view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQCDotmrmpRG8o8MkwegvospJBrciCWbdYAXIldi4Tq_LZE5I3igIJXLeeEMsxUTP3IiH2eaA_MRvhB5fdjrT6rvAB_d2zlz0DkIvVMeT-PdBC2GOllgqcHh0FqOGB5alX4xLKKg4idw/s400/cute-kitty-skirt_tucked.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This was a skirt I have been thinking about for a long time-- ever since I first saw this happy <a href="http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/lizzy_house/catnap/kitty_dreams_in_cranberry" target="_blank">Lizzie House Catnap print</a> nearly two years ago! The print just spoke to me. And I could not get it out of my head. But I didn't pull the trigger on buying the fabric until I saw that <a href="http://www.hawthornethreads.com/" target="_blank">Hawthorne Threads</a> had put it on sale, at which point it immediately went into my cart (along with a coordinating Denyse Schmidt print). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kpx36swAnsq953XcTlQzaVIzB5FM679EU2Kbz_q8dKOgHDyPYj2BxJ1bmNb_pabhYBKg8CbiLhJsF6zvicQeSPJI7iMF1ndRADOiDrcm7hn5DZgf6MBzrvuUgNqGdfpBzHFXE9pWSrY/s1600/cute-skirts-pattern-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Favorite Things Cute Skirts pattern cover" border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kpx36swAnsq953XcTlQzaVIzB5FM679EU2Kbz_q8dKOgHDyPYj2BxJ1bmNb_pabhYBKg8CbiLhJsF6zvicQeSPJI7iMF1ndRADOiDrcm7hn5DZgf6MBzrvuUgNqGdfpBzHFXE9pWSrY/s200/cute-skirts-pattern-cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Now it is a Cute Skirt! Literally. The design is from a pattern from <a href="http://www.favoritethings.net/" target="_blank">Favorite Things</a> called "Cute Skirts." I made the view with contrasting gores. It is a simple design, and it showcases fabrics so happily. This is actually the third skirt I've made from this pattern (the previous ones were pre-blogging). So clearly, it works for me. <br />
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Construction was straightforward. My only quibble was with the instructions for the gores. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWvnTUid0t9j-1spNKq6Gczu1rjQPlJIkG77FdTUXSHiUTQONOI_PfJg1jIjPMWyggPaEbeARbFOW5hhfD4oYwd0Ww5Ef0ifICRFLhvmjjvGhMSAj4G_2dgklWZppV3NKEKXFRIKeZzg/s1600/cute-kitty-skirt_inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cute kitty skirt, inside view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWvnTUid0t9j-1spNKq6Gczu1rjQPlJIkG77FdTUXSHiUTQONOI_PfJg1jIjPMWyggPaEbeARbFOW5hhfD4oYwd0Ww5Ef0ifICRFLhvmjjvGhMSAj4G_2dgklWZppV3NKEKXFRIKeZzg/s400/cute-kitty-skirt_inside.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The instructions have you sew the gores from hem through the point all the way to the edge of the gore fabric. As a result, they just look a bit janky. I mean, from the outside, all is well, but they could be much cleaner on the inside. If one stitched from the hem and stopped at the seam allowance at the top (rather than stitching all the way through to the raw edge), I think the gores would not only look prettier inside, but also sit a bit flatter overall. It had been so long since I made this view (I made my first one in 2005) that I just didn't remember. So-- I'm writing this down so I remember for next time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPqVNAy5XA2flMfvDQqSyvXQ3JaaiL-TZ1yl81LypdlUZbEq3f6bnVTbNH6EMXbGsdDIb9Gw_YJht-4-pivlW1k_d9rVreHfaWHJTSkKo87gzStpEpVJPVNgjkm9azgZAZqnTbTqgIfI/s1600/cute-kitty-skirt_hanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cute kitty skirt, hanging" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPqVNAy5XA2flMfvDQqSyvXQ3JaaiL-TZ1yl81LypdlUZbEq3f6bnVTbNH6EMXbGsdDIb9Gw_YJht-4-pivlW1k_d9rVreHfaWHJTSkKo87gzStpEpVJPVNgjkm9azgZAZqnTbTqgIfI/s400/cute-kitty-skirt_hanger.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My only tweak to the design was to add a line of stitching through the elastic in the back waistband. I didn't do that once, and was constantly fighting with elastic getting all twisted up in there (I really hate twisty elastic-- it's just not comfy!). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LviMVqBFhjddyXiNQhb3rAfyavKtnQdgZZZ1PbMqqDZDZ8EhWvTJY4c-Fflmgb1OQS-GHP9qztQjDNgfCR2MC6lcZt6Ubq6F1nll_598iPO3-V86wKInezv_G3tXHkhEWbdNxOGvwCY/s1600/cute-kitty-skirt_tucked-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cute kitty skirt, tucked back view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LviMVqBFhjddyXiNQhb3rAfyavKtnQdgZZZ1PbMqqDZDZ8EhWvTJY4c-Fflmgb1OQS-GHP9qztQjDNgfCR2MC6lcZt6Ubq6F1nll_598iPO3-V86wKInezv_G3tXHkhEWbdNxOGvwCY/s400/cute-kitty-skirt_tucked-back.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I sewed up the size 14 based on my measurements, which I think worked out well. But the sizing is also pretty forgiving since you can easily adjust the elastic during construction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36fwgjeCMJiDvnsZep-YTHGoNZXXAbnax_exNxpAJc7Kkt50mw_X3_Gd0BdP_qHhC6ss3W9KefVkD1wVYwLhYkZm1dAjhe3GalBWQ3y8J9I-j9xVorMhfdW8lf1gFlmqTqbIUswx2bw8/s1600/cute-kitty-skirt_how-i-wore-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cute kitty skirt, how I wore it" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36fwgjeCMJiDvnsZep-YTHGoNZXXAbnax_exNxpAJc7Kkt50mw_X3_Gd0BdP_qHhC6ss3W9KefVkD1wVYwLhYkZm1dAjhe3GalBWQ3y8J9I-j9xVorMhfdW8lf1gFlmqTqbIUswx2bw8/s400/cute-kitty-skirt_how-i-wore-it.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Here I've styled the skirt with a cozy sweater and boots. Comfy, cozy, with kitties!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-15235179824129279392015-12-24T10:23:00.002-08:002015-12-24T10:23:52.877-08:00It's not all selfish sewing here...While I have been doing lots of sewing for me lately, there have been a couple other projects in the queue for others as well. This one was for Little Bear (who had just finished eating a blue sucker when I took these... truly, he's not freezing to death here!):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V6ODF0lmCTUzJC_4KMTHMvNPBwMei2hUX3ZeHWzo4WC2q4zdN2jdaTWJ1vrg-Yhr2DBYanHZzV7tbfU1TYCS44IHhXNgYubP3-pOIoD6SKa4H-4bjzohQfdXFGsqKLyqZlDZHVEDsLA/s1600/varsity-green_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V6ODF0lmCTUzJC_4KMTHMvNPBwMei2hUX3ZeHWzo4WC2q4zdN2jdaTWJ1vrg-Yhr2DBYanHZzV7tbfU1TYCS44IHhXNgYubP3-pOIoD6SKa4H-4bjzohQfdXFGsqKLyqZlDZHVEDsLA/s400/varsity-green_front.jpg" alt="Varsity Cowl Neck Pullover, front view" /></a></div><br />
It is the <a href="http://www.peekaboopatternshop.com/varsity-cowl-neck-pullover/" target="_blank">Varsity Cowl Neck Pullover</a> from <a href="http://www.peekaboopatternshop.com/" target="_blank">Peekaboo Patterns</a>. I recently saw this made up by <a href="http://stacysews.com/entry/2015/1130_varsity-cowl/" target="_blank">Stacy Sews</a> and it looked like something my boy would like (he is into cozy sweaters) and so I picked it up during a recent sale. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhmlB6UgZ4UwjOQT-mw7bJomFnpdXrC7vWFA6qbTYaaG1vFqtQ4uLKRIiFVVDyMLqMCBG6FoMz3DrhGxijym-vvV1GkYJTpG7eNXUNP7vHj4hy3qPAWvlaFvtFINJQJCYBv2IsVTtHgg/s1600/varsity-green_back-action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhmlB6UgZ4UwjOQT-mw7bJomFnpdXrC7vWFA6qbTYaaG1vFqtQ4uLKRIiFVVDyMLqMCBG6FoMz3DrhGxijym-vvV1GkYJTpG7eNXUNP7vHj4hy3qPAWvlaFvtFINJQJCYBv2IsVTtHgg/s400/varsity-green_back-action.jpg" alt="Varsity Cowl Neck Pullover, back view" /></a></div><br />
I used a knit from my stash. It is pretty snazzy because it is solid on one side and has the stripes on the other, making it perfect for the contrasting neck and hem bands.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojZqFjyTmImAmXFY5TFK25HATcnfdswDf13q-347RvkBh4F9eB_joZJvEBmt3P_ETg7oPwVmDnFl_QIITNkcjmHlt5RPKRBce1ojf7qKVFjTBpxmpC2nDsuBIOeIGvwzkMC_kxpCLJGg/s1600/varsity-green_collar-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojZqFjyTmImAmXFY5TFK25HATcnfdswDf13q-347RvkBh4F9eB_joZJvEBmt3P_ETg7oPwVmDnFl_QIITNkcjmHlt5RPKRBce1ojf7qKVFjTBpxmpC2nDsuBIOeIGvwzkMC_kxpCLJGg/s400/varsity-green_collar-detail.jpg" alt="Varsity Cowl Neck Pullover, collar detail" /></a></div><br />
The pattern is very straightforward and the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. <br />
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Little Bear is 5 years old and is wearing a 4T-5T in RTW. I sewed up the size 5 for him, and it fits about how a Gymboree 5T fits him (so there is a bit of room to grow for him). So-- the fit seems spot on!<br />
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And it is, indeed, very cozy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lFodvMTX0Q5a1WCE0SM63Q7BCClFGzPowmvFswRnwKsU3I1mavaqezGF2NtCMYDE7-Yc8vkH0MiHUg3rzoWa2yYYIwJ4g52vsiRthKZed7RwhwtlWkyzxFT8mQYvjxxzTL0ky1OhNgs/s1600/varsity-green_front-action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lFodvMTX0Q5a1WCE0SM63Q7BCClFGzPowmvFswRnwKsU3I1mavaqezGF2NtCMYDE7-Yc8vkH0MiHUg3rzoWa2yYYIwJ4g52vsiRthKZed7RwhwtlWkyzxFT8mQYvjxxzTL0ky1OhNgs/s400/varsity-green_front-action.jpg" alt="Varsity Cowl Neck Pullover, action view" /></a></div><br />
And perfect for my active boy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcrTaYI1k8ir_SolJwQwt4DUB7-gQ0bnUAMTiXlJGK8U4tfiGWBcoyWm0J9CLtpyBjneeycjnSVJbxuuLJMQVemUI4T8svKfIVeG-iyEuf1k-g4tL4vUrVrrOZcLSEHua3zTP2i-iYA0/s1600/varsity-green_climbing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcrTaYI1k8ir_SolJwQwt4DUB7-gQ0bnUAMTiXlJGK8U4tfiGWBcoyWm0J9CLtpyBjneeycjnSVJbxuuLJMQVemUI4T8svKfIVeG-iyEuf1k-g4tL4vUrVrrOZcLSEHua3zTP2i-iYA0/s400/varsity-green_climbing2.jpg" alt="Varsity Cowl Neck Pullover, climbing view" /></a></div><br />
I already have plans for another (maybe two...).<br />
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-30799645869872192632015-12-23T11:44:00.000-08:002015-12-23T11:44:32.611-08:00Another Kimono TeeThe first one turned out so well, I immediately went on the lookout for fabric for another <a href="http://www.mariadenmark.com/2012/05/kimono-t-shirt-pattern-free/" target="_blank">Kimono T-Shirt from Maria Denmark</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMGkuKGlBtHBrxrqJVM49gnVCUyTsuP0QimMgTcYNrEQdvGal7r5orYpr9hUAyoOqvktT4Y9Ijth3l8kF9YlaESwi-b3YKjifEQrrlALER2N5lrklvcm5t4PFYJybpo096h9tjjzU0c0/s1600/kimono-tee2_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMGkuKGlBtHBrxrqJVM49gnVCUyTsuP0QimMgTcYNrEQdvGal7r5orYpr9hUAyoOqvktT4Y9Ijth3l8kF9YlaESwi-b3YKjifEQrrlALER2N5lrklvcm5t4PFYJybpo096h9tjjzU0c0/s400/kimono-tee2_front.jpg" alt="Kimono Tee 2, front view" /></a></div><br />
I found the perfect fabric at <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Fabric Mart</a>-- a happy Maggy London ITY print.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8HMxYrxpgtX_weK9hc4prtz2WjfGgQWIEGCOY8OdXzT3xUz26OgcCLW54dgdzetTsTTzMrIiAXSA4u47pCtUb9WzhZvNGdeArK9EgJphccG9sLvH048lmE97STEwqnmZWgloTj6teNc/s1600/kimono-tee2_front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8HMxYrxpgtX_weK9hc4prtz2WjfGgQWIEGCOY8OdXzT3xUz26OgcCLW54dgdzetTsTTzMrIiAXSA4u47pCtUb9WzhZvNGdeArK9EgJphccG9sLvH048lmE97STEwqnmZWgloTj6teNc/s400/kimono-tee2_front2.jpg" alt="Kimono Tee 2, front view 2" /></a></div><br />
Making it the second time was even faster than the first time (and I felt like that was pretty darn quick!). No changes at all.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZz48tAfSq32tp3aDgSRs0c56nlJTgEcuZtbm5QuF62EIr-v-4NsK-sCTQ_4qrQ6L5WvPRJBFvqR_fuFPJMBygFf67MG3OfoNoZ5JiyupVm0xz3M-tbc-tgQvvxlBBy7tiKlgiPuI5PA/s1600/kimono-tee2_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZz48tAfSq32tp3aDgSRs0c56nlJTgEcuZtbm5QuF62EIr-v-4NsK-sCTQ_4qrQ6L5WvPRJBFvqR_fuFPJMBygFf67MG3OfoNoZ5JiyupVm0xz3M-tbc-tgQvvxlBBy7tiKlgiPuI5PA/s400/kimono-tee2_back.jpg" alt="Kimono Tee 2, back view" /></a></div><br />
I am definitely feeling the love for this design and fully intend to make more at some point. But I've got some other projects lined up, including plans for using these:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLEcYHbA-j8-oxLqX9oO-cB5DTRruAwUx83B071SSdeVJJlYbYIB4M4DZytvKIud-MMJ0cMgPfXfRIW2e3-oUZDprU-B0EhUVoYKGQPccNQI4rkcVuwqWZu6lH_EKfYNVkiQqtvTGS_c/s1600/fabric_activewear_122015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLEcYHbA-j8-oxLqX9oO-cB5DTRruAwUx83B071SSdeVJJlYbYIB4M4DZytvKIud-MMJ0cMgPfXfRIW2e3-oUZDprU-B0EhUVoYKGQPccNQI4rkcVuwqWZu6lH_EKfYNVkiQqtvTGS_c/s400/fabric_activewear_122015.jpg" alt="pile o' happy activewear knits" /></a></div><br />
Activewear knits! Woo!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-46697582773413009492015-12-19T12:01:00.001-08:002015-12-19T12:01:07.828-08:00The perfect giftThe <a href="http://www.noodle-head.com/2009/08/gathered-clutch-pattern-2.html" target="_blank">Noodlehead Gathered Clutch</a> must be my idea of the perfect gift because I just keep making 'em! They are quick, easy, practical and cute, and I never get tired of making them. What's not to love?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8NKprB_8SFXbyK3ThnV3_5erJiNYbTiVeW_10CsvI-qr97qdZldAtFsyjBShi60yoOxA5TxMgSuCRhnuX5tMVe60YmsE6e-s2lvrzDIF5-rPOdJI65W2g4q6piI5wUomhPaT-QpvfyQ/s1600/ngc_xmas-pair-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8NKprB_8SFXbyK3ThnV3_5erJiNYbTiVeW_10CsvI-qr97qdZldAtFsyjBShi60yoOxA5TxMgSuCRhnuX5tMVe60YmsE6e-s2lvrzDIF5-rPOdJI65W2g4q6piI5wUomhPaT-QpvfyQ/s400/ngc_xmas-pair-front.jpg" alt="Noodlehead Gathered Clutch, front view" /></a></div><br />
These are for the boys' teachers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqG_8ql5cm821ek1k1pHfeB9UgI36v9fvaVFF7_gHhpWA5qq2QMslICvCiir1idxU_9nglPef8dMz4rAwr1mbJy1Itj6-_RqRgDtDou0_u-erOqPaGRXdfsrH-pqW1COpr9u_MotoXvM/s1600/ngc_xmas-pink-inner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqG_8ql5cm821ek1k1pHfeB9UgI36v9fvaVFF7_gHhpWA5qq2QMslICvCiir1idxU_9nglPef8dMz4rAwr1mbJy1Itj6-_RqRgDtDou0_u-erOqPaGRXdfsrH-pqW1COpr9u_MotoXvM/s400/ngc_xmas-pink-inner.jpg" alt="Noodlehead Gathered Clutch, inside view of pink-green" /></a></div><br />
Bright pink and bright green are Little Bear's Kindergarten teacher's favorite colors. I dug deep in the stash to find this perfect fabric from Michael Miller with bright green and pink stripes. It was meant to be! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o196XvpCXMkRN9CKJm850gCJLq8Df2V1Emyejd-MaO0i6KGd5J6-V-mqychdc4JLSy4bCjjAjbu17uv4hdI_dy7MR1SSxtJPrQ3vyRxcd5bJ2SH3HqtPSajo1bfQ9ex_5Z_q1kElZpQ/s1600/ngc_xmas-pair-blue-inner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o196XvpCXMkRN9CKJm850gCJLq8Df2V1Emyejd-MaO0i6KGd5J6-V-mqychdc4JLSy4bCjjAjbu17uv4hdI_dy7MR1SSxtJPrQ3vyRxcd5bJ2SH3HqtPSajo1bfQ9ex_5Z_q1kElZpQ/s400/ngc_xmas-pair-blue-inner.jpg" alt="Noodlehead Gathered Clutch, inside view of blue" /></a></div><br />
Big Bear's teacher has a passion for math and science, so this print from Timeless Treasures seemed like a great fit. And I figured one can't go wrong with blue accents.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C_4EZZb-ietvTrfLmTJda3XOswbPCKXZpz2O8CB4V_N-7jYd57Y8SGQN1l-RbKw3GyXQd1aSNqXFSWnzeIWHmVf2VPoenLBLuUdg7Yx4bwnle9Ga21VyGa8VTFUgnLCDrV_tiIPKhm8/s1600/ngc_xmas-pair-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C_4EZZb-ietvTrfLmTJda3XOswbPCKXZpz2O8CB4V_N-7jYd57Y8SGQN1l-RbKw3GyXQd1aSNqXFSWnzeIWHmVf2VPoenLBLuUdg7Yx4bwnle9Ga21VyGa8VTFUgnLCDrV_tiIPKhm8/s400/ngc_xmas-pair-back.jpg" alt="Noodlehead Gathered Clutch, back view" /></a></div><br />
It has been awhile since I've made any of these and I forgot the topstitching on either side of the zipper-- fortunately, it is not a critical mistake. Phew! But other than that, they went together beautifully. And I finished the gifts off by including a gift card to a favorite restaurant. These ladies definitely deserve a <strike> couple of glasses of wine</strike> nice meal. :)Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-2092540867542321782015-12-14T14:50:00.003-08:002015-12-14T14:55:22.093-08:00Stars!This time of year is tough for me. With the clouds and the rain that come this time of year, and the short days... it feels dark ALL the time! But, a girl's gotta blog. If I wait until spring to blog about projects, I'm just not going to remember! And so I go with crappy, poorly lit pictures. Which is a shame, because this is such a bright and happy quilt! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjSVoUL5K5PryLDAdDHv29AomsXB_hZDzAgvrZYri52Hp2FsqN0XbVbD1SHVxi-Hrv8AoWBO4pNN8eTFICtxyuvpPA39TRdJA4sc_kFzGB-xSU91mIev7VDQmU3QHf3uvSGkJJxuFLs4/s1600/stars_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy Day Stars, front view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjSVoUL5K5PryLDAdDHv29AomsXB_hZDzAgvrZYri52Hp2FsqN0XbVbD1SHVxi-Hrv8AoWBO4pNN8eTFICtxyuvpPA39TRdJA4sc_kFzGB-xSU91mIev7VDQmU3QHf3uvSGkJJxuFLs4/s400/stars_front.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The design is "White Stars" from Julie Herman's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Borders-Patterns-Modern-Quilts/dp/1604680814" i="" target="_blank">Skip the Borders</a>. I changed it up just a bit with a 9-block layout instead of 12 in order to keep it a more baby-friendly size. Mine ended up at about 48" square.<br />
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I didn't follow the instructions in the book, instead opting to use the "No Waste" method for Flying Geese blocks (<a href="http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/no-waste-flying-geese-quilt-blocks.html" target="_blank">as shown here</a>). I had to do a little math to figure it out, but it saved sooooo much time and fabric. And it worked like a charm.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCLt94Kppy0BUd06JtjAkfUIF-sIKordd_FWs_SSLQpKiPnfBRiprUvX5kZMwkmHTaGZseUE1rAUL60upbtB6LUD6x-B50Q-9GVfWt5ZOlAHG8Uw_Ywu5LN5EGVVGutYlH-Zw-y66cjM/s1600/stars_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy Day Stars, back view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCLt94Kppy0BUd06JtjAkfUIF-sIKordd_FWs_SSLQpKiPnfBRiprUvX5kZMwkmHTaGZseUE1rAUL60upbtB6LUD6x-B50Q-9GVfWt5ZOlAHG8Uw_Ywu5LN5EGVVGutYlH-Zw-y66cjM/s400/stars_back.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I knew I wanted purple and grey (I used Kona Shadow) and that I wanted to use this pattern. As I was looking about my local quilt shop, I came across a happy fabric with little animals with umbrellas from David Walker. When I saw that, it inspired me to pull the aqua and pink to coordinate. Then I used that cute animal print on the back. I love how it all came together!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMNf2WwzueWprg99ALsQB32pke64P59__OSlLIqmEy2Jah6P-GrsO3PIkwnnSyHRolT_irFDr-asjpdyJ-oWYRuVXvJ2rc_EDdunsosh6ZgzW3c17EadP5TBY4CIKfBWPdX4lzbDEuKw/s1600/stars_quiltingdetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy Day Stars, quilting detail, back" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMNf2WwzueWprg99ALsQB32pke64P59__OSlLIqmEy2Jah6P-GrsO3PIkwnnSyHRolT_irFDr-asjpdyJ-oWYRuVXvJ2rc_EDdunsosh6ZgzW3c17EadP5TBY4CIKfBWPdX4lzbDEuKw/s400/stars_quiltingdetail.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I spent a lot of time quilting this one. I was very influenced by the quilting on the sample in the book, which was quilted by Angela Walters. I chose to use a paisley-type filler to give lots of texture to the solid fabric stars (from the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Free-Motion-Quilting-Angela-Walters-Designs/dp/160705535X" target="_blank"><i>Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters</i></a>). Then I again took inspiration from Walters's Craftsy class, <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/dot-to-dot-quilting/426?_ct=iuqhsx-kdyluhiqb-huikbj-sekhiu&_ctp=426" target="_blank">"Dot-to-Dot Quilting"</a> and used that to create some motifs in the surrounding blocks. Throughout I used Aurifil 50/2 thread #2600 (Dove). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFL2DBX5WIkYagyHTtWH81wSlkmKo6qRWuglHjg5rfV2qnCa_1hiO_8pwaiNNbBzzByHKqPoCPC0fbqjN-ORPoHcubrnoURYwlLEkCGaJLDocILSY6mYAqlantkfuanwrsa-JmXr-qbg/s1600/star-quilting_diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy Day Stars, quilting diagram" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFL2DBX5WIkYagyHTtWH81wSlkmKo6qRWuglHjg5rfV2qnCa_1hiO_8pwaiNNbBzzByHKqPoCPC0fbqjN-ORPoHcubrnoURYwlLEkCGaJLDocILSY6mYAqlantkfuanwrsa-JmXr-qbg/s400/star-quilting_diagram.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I wish I was able to get better pictures of the quilting... I was having a tough time getting any decent pictures that day, so I'm thankful even to have gotten these. I've gone ahead and attempted to draw in my quilting design on the photo above so you can get an idea. (Thankfully, the quilting looks MUCH better on the quilt than my feeble Paint Shop Pro drawing skills indicate!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESdZWgiLteGR53BgSmWQ_WgMCI1v0kDfRTQyNuowlsgzzb-lYenHzxXIRbG6qoHl70XJb-K7bcZZYU6cbGsJ5x0wOWwvumNyex-19hgmifUVOQBWJK6HGzHMZytZLVtOnJtXGdaCoZTc/s1600/stars_label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy Day Stars, label" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESdZWgiLteGR53BgSmWQ_WgMCI1v0kDfRTQyNuowlsgzzb-lYenHzxXIRbG6qoHl70XJb-K7bcZZYU6cbGsJ5x0wOWwvumNyex-19hgmifUVOQBWJK6HGzHMZytZLVtOnJtXGdaCoZTc/s400/stars_label.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And the label. Baby's papa commented how glad he was that there were care instructions included on the label. He seemed in a bit of disbelief as to how his 3-week old baby manages to require so much laundry. I had to laugh at that. :P<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14KdSLi-Vc2nnjoGw2MEg18KmtPFqDJeKGhv4IA_-Ow-lUg4IEs6TsKthcjsGTxM_I0r_3817rLz2bOqQu3RsLVuDR30C80xiiGmGu2XW4R292MGI5cX5xKqVx16FfmSoKEZ4HCZy8Fg/s1600/stars_side1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy Day Stars, side view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14KdSLi-Vc2nnjoGw2MEg18KmtPFqDJeKGhv4IA_-Ow-lUg4IEs6TsKthcjsGTxM_I0r_3817rLz2bOqQu3RsLVuDR30C80xiiGmGu2XW4R292MGI5cX5xKqVx16FfmSoKEZ4HCZy8Fg/s400/stars_side1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Hopefully little Penelope will enjoy snuggling with her new quilt!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162615739583834076.post-82264755572914995162015-12-04T19:59:00.001-08:002015-12-04T19:59:34.239-08:00Striped Style Arc Ann T-TopThis was another pre-Halloween sewing project to help get me back in the sewing groove (after months of very quilt-focused stitching).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc57X6Vrq_NnHMCf8vdvfUxfSpjaHABvN8DddzuFAKYYAf_FgH7-Chw7WjCr144sdbzQJPVknh9i3b_daUN3tWcjTMP6LkIyEhKE51PAsRT59sEUsGB9mxnVpcCFno7QlnUZA9lqegeac/s1600/annt-stripe_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc57X6Vrq_NnHMCf8vdvfUxfSpjaHABvN8DddzuFAKYYAf_FgH7-Chw7WjCr144sdbzQJPVknh9i3b_daUN3tWcjTMP6LkIyEhKE51PAsRT59sEUsGB9mxnVpcCFno7QlnUZA9lqegeac/s400/annt-stripe_front.jpg" alt="Striped Ann-T, front view" /></a></div><br />
It is another <a href="http://www.stylearc.com.au/stylearc/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=485&category_id=8&keyword=ann&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=45" target="_blank">Style Arc Ann T-Top</a>. My first was made back in <a href="http://crafty-musings.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-first-style-arc.html" target="_blank">August 2014</a>-- I kind of considered that short-sleeved version my wearable muslin and I was pretty happy with it. For this version I went with a 3/4-sleeve and used a lovely stripe-y jersey purchased at the beginning of this year from <a href="http://gorgeousfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Gorgeous Fabrics</a>. It is really quite cool looking-- the wavy look is actually created by seaming, giving it a fabulous texture. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8o43hNWO0TdDxrwWAW7epLd2yvXCZQR2DbJeWrTDGewi21qW0dLsOpGh8XnM-dOzBF5L7E_W65DthcNTaikftrvBtoujJ0g5tJd9bIMVyLJ4KvWeda5AWa6CVpPSqKrnCYuxVOo81VI/s1600/annt-stripe_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8o43hNWO0TdDxrwWAW7epLd2yvXCZQR2DbJeWrTDGewi21qW0dLsOpGh8XnM-dOzBF5L7E_W65DthcNTaikftrvBtoujJ0g5tJd9bIMVyLJ4KvWeda5AWa6CVpPSqKrnCYuxVOo81VI/s400/annt-stripe_back.jpg" alt="Striped Ann-T, back view" /></a></div><br />
Again I sewed up the size 12. I shortened the long sleeve pattern piece to create the 3/4-sleeve. I made sure to stabilize the shoulder seams with Stay Tape, and then used a knit stay tape along the neckline edges (this helped make application of the neck band much smoother this time around). Overall, construction was much better the second time around! This fabric does not have nearly the stretch that my first iteration had though and I am finding it does not fit the same way. <br />
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It is apparent to me now that I really needed to do an FBA. The front kind of rides up over the girls making for some unfriendly wrinkle action once I start moving about. In addition, I am finding I really just don't love the rouching on the sides. It just puts extra fabric over my tummy, making me feel fluffier than I am-- it has a very maternity vibe to me. The slinkier fabric I used the first time minimized this effect, but the heavier jersey has made me notice it much more. I don't foresee another Ann T-Top in my future. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkJbDJO_6b-Nt30R8wv8zSe6HGWhkgKo3xkPqoHxfoVaBbsvUqrtfYk6EQlWmTc6tcyxLc4LmvtaudnmT5hfFMEvkXk1UwWJvKU5P7cAWF34dR_LjqFp599eWKIFzKArE4Y3shlP4t60/s1600/annt-stripe_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkJbDJO_6b-Nt30R8wv8zSe6HGWhkgKo3xkPqoHxfoVaBbsvUqrtfYk6EQlWmTc6tcyxLc4LmvtaudnmT5hfFMEvkXk1UwWJvKU5P7cAWF34dR_LjqFp599eWKIFzKArE4Y3shlP4t60/s400/annt-stripe_side.jpg" alt="Striped Ann-T, side view" /></a></div><br />
None of this is stopping me from wearing the top, however! It is in very regular rotation because I love the fabric so much and it is quite soft and comfy.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695273565973900159noreply@blogger.com0