Friday finish - coco 3

 

This is the third version of the Coco dress by Tilly and the Buttons that I've sewn. The original is above the knee but unusually for me, I lengthened the dress by four inches. However, when buying fabric for two more versions at Festival of Quilts last year, I didn't allow for the extra fabric required!! I had planned to stitch another version of this pattern first but the fabric is directional so I swapped to this fabric by John Kaldor from Stitch Fabrics . Having worked around the shortage of fabric, I may be able to repeat the work around - watch this space!

I was particularly pleased with the label that I used. I find labels on the inside collar irritate my neck and I want to show off my pretty Kylie and the Machine labels. I folded under the top edge and stitched the label through all layers at the top of the label. I have a label picked out already for my next project as it's easy to forget to include them and often the easiest way to attach is in a seam.

I did a simple neck adjustment to remove the gaping I experienced in the other two versions that I stitched. I had problems stitching the hems despite using Maraflex. After I had elminated all other possibilities and eventually referred to the manual, I popped to my local store and picked up some stretch needles. It's amazing what the correct needle can achieve and I do appreciate the advice that my local store offers.

CCC Harmony blouse

 

I am delighted with my Harmony top and I even have a pair of shorts to match. This was the first pattern in the Confident Capsule Collection with Sew Confident.

The only thing different that I did was to join the flounces in the round before hemming them. This wouldn't be a pattern or fabric that would grab my attention, but I think it suits me.

I learnt a lot:

I lowered the bust dart successfully.

I already own the Janome foot to stitch on buttons and my machine has a preset stitch for this purpose.

I also learnt how to lower the feed dogs on my machine.

I have completed the first two projects from the Sewalong and there is one more project for this month which is the Rona wrap skirt. All of the patterns are by Style Arc.

CCC Rhea jumper

 

This is the second project from the Confident Capsule collection Spring / Summer 2023. All of the patterns are by Style Arc and there is a live sewalong every Thursday night for one pattern. The zoom is then recorded for us to refer back to.

I would have dyed my cream fabric but I ran out of time so I have stitched up my Rhea top in some fabric from stash. I would make it 1 to 2” longer on the front if I made it again.

As recommended by Jenny of Sew Confident I purchased a sewing gauge from Rachel's Textiles. I love that my local shop has parking for one behind the shop so I can do a drive by when I urgently need supplies. This morning I bought a sewing gauge and some purple velvet ribbon for the inside neck of my jumper.

I am going to buy a separate box from Pattern Trace for my growing Maraflex collection to keep the bobbins with the spools. Fortunately, I already had a spool of navy as the provided colour to match with the cream wouldn't have worked.

Velvet ribbon inside the neckline and Kylie and the Machine label on the back. Next I need to work on the firt project which is about 50% complete and is the Harmony blouse.

Friday finish - Ruby raccoon

This is a half-finished project as the love letters pattern from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery has two separate characters. This is Ruby the Raccoon which I stitched on Vintage grey fabric and I still have Ruby's paramour Ralph to stitch. That will have to wait until August, I think.

WIP Wednesday - Trinket

It is now Week 12 of the Sewalong with Alison Glass. All of the blocks have been sewn and we have until the end of August to complete our project.

Whilst I shouldn't have favourite blocks, I do love the fussy cutting opportunities that the blocks provide. This dandelion on blue is perfectly framed.

I have loved using the strawberry, mushroom and apple fabrics. Again, this year's bonus block gave a perfect fussy cutting opportunity.

We won't mention the block that I dislike and the block that I've sewn togethe differently than the pattern! It's time to mull over my options for putting the blocks together.

Monday Make - Alpen bag

 

The slider for the strap for the Alpen bag by Center Street Quilts  eventually arrived last Thursday. I ordered several sliders from Ebay without realising that they were coming from China and it has been a month since I purchased them.

I participated in the sewalong as far as I could so all I needed to do was finish the construction of the straps, sew them into the bag and then bind those two edges. I initially forgot to add a label so that was my last task.

On the reverse I added my label by Kylie and the Machine. I plan to use the bag for my day trip to London on Tuesday. It's big enough for my phone, glasses and purse so they're quick to access on the tube. 

My trip last Monday was cancelled due to fog. Fortunately, I spent less than two hours at the airport before they announced a new departure time of 12.40 which was too late for my appointment, so I left. I had taken my own car, so I was soon home. I'm hoping to have a little shopping time in London so I'm planning to hit Oxford Circus and then head back to the airport.

Fabric Friday - Confident capsule collection

Confident Capsule Collection is an online class with Sew Confident Glasgow. I participated in their week long Facebook challenge which gave me the confidence to book along with 120 others. Some have participated in earlier capsule collections, some are beginners, many live in Scotland. It will be an interesting mix of mainly ladies. Last night was the first online class / sewalong but I will be sewing other projects whilst listening to the class. The class is recorded for you to rewind and rewatch as necessary and as many times as you need.

Last Monday a box of goodies arrived from Sew Confident weighing 6.7 kilos according to the manifest. when signing up to the package, you can decide between cool or warm or let them choose at random. All of the fabrics, patterns and accessories are provided so as to make up a capsule collection. I think there are only two fabrics that are different between the cool and warm options.

On Monday, I started the process of prewashing all of the fabrics. Each pattern went into its own A3 clear zipped pouch along with the relevant accessories and threads. The only thing I needed to add was the Swedish Tracing paper from Pattern Trace. I had a minor panic that I didn't have a second roll, but it appears that I have two spare rolls.

I'm not sure of the order of the makes but we are starting with the Harmony top - all patterns are by StyleArc. The warm palette is a fabric with oranges on it. I have traced the pattern and plan to make a toile to ensure it fits.

The Blaire shirt has a lot of ease so won't need a toile and is made from silver dotted double gauze. On my first look I thought it was gold dots but it's silver, which pleases me more. If this fits well, I can see a couple more being made for the summer.

The accessory pattern is the Eena bag by Studio 7t7 whose challenge I participated in last week. The premade strap is interesting, but gold and I don't like the fabrics at all, so I might try using some of the denim if there's any left. I'm used to No 5 zips to so will swap everything about the bag.

The Rona Wrap skirt is a faux wrap and I will be interested to see if it suits my shape. The fabric is a dark navy. Jenny of Sew Confident does a cutting out video for each pattern which is useful.

When you sign up you see the shape of all the garments that you're making. This was the one item, I knew I wouldn't make, too fitted and strappy. I am sure it would look lovely on my daughter so I will be passing this along with the fabric as I wouldn't use the green linen/ cotton mix.

The biggest challenge with yards of lovely denim is the Carlisle jean and Stevie Jean jacket. Jenny chose a lighter weight denim so that it could be successfully sewn on domestic machines, but it was a huge weight to wash and put on the airer to dry.

Lastly is the Rhea knit top which I think will be an early stitch. It is higher in the front than the back with a three-quarter length sleeve. We also have Gutterman Maraflex to try. I have used it before but hadn't realised you need to have it in the bobbin too!!

This is an interesting concept and I'm looking forward to participating. The difficult bit for m is choosing the size and making any alterations first before rushing to cut the fabric.

 

WIP Wednesday - maple and eucalyptus

Feeling overwhelmed? That would be me! Solution - start another big project. Obvious really. 

I was watching Karen of Just Get It Done quilts on YouTube and she was showing off her collaboration with Ange of Gnomeangel. I have participated in the #100days100blocks challenges twice before. Ange's patterns are brilliantly written and presented so I didn't need much of a nudge to purchase the pattern.

It took most of yesterday to print off the pattern due to the size of the file and our rubbish Wi-Fi but this morning I added it into a wallet file. I like this format as you can add the blocks to the slip pockets once made, to store them in order.

I love the original fabric choices for the quilt but didn't want to buy more fabric. Then yesterday I saw that Alison Glass was selling a kit for the project. Perfect as I have a basket of Alison's fabrics and I can top up any shortfalls when we are at Festival of Quilts in August. Note to self - sew ahead that week!!

I think I'm ready and I will sew a few at the same time as my mini block sampler blocks over the next two weeks before the start on 1 July. 

Friday finish - Zip, Divide It!

One of my purchases from the March Modern Quilt Club retreat was this kit from Olive and Flo Handcraft to make the Zip, Divide It! basket from Lou Orth. I had admired the pattern when it as first released and when I saw the kit using Ruby Star Society fabrics, I caved.

My daughter, who doesn't quilt, wants to make a square footstool stuffed with her fabric scraps. Obviously she wants five sides to be different patchwork blocks and not simple rail fence or similar. The bottom of the cube will be a plain fabric. After work yesterday, we had a couple of video calls for me to walk her through the first design. Whilst she cut and sewed, I cut and sewed the three sizes of the basket. Perhaps starting with the smallest, fiddliest basket wasn't my best idea, but it is finished. The next one I make, I will make sure the Decovil light is properly adhered but I overcame that by topstitching 1/4" away from the top edge.

WIP Wednesday - Summer camp

I enjoy watching flosstube videos on Youtube and a good stitchalong. However my cross-stitching is pretty slow. The Colorado Cross Stitch Summer Camp started on 1 June and I'm late to the party as always. There's even a camp badge.

I had considered joining in this year but what to stitch, I don't have any patterns containing a bird! Or do I? The perfect pattern arrived last week in my order from Fat Quarter Shop - Penguin Party by Hands on Design.

Here are the details of the summer camp from the website:

• It’s a virtual camp. You can participate from the comfort of your own home.
• This Camp runs from June through August (but you can participate in any month that you choose)
• The goal is to have fun, meet some new stitchy friends, and get some projects done.

 

The Challenges

• June: stitch a pattern that includes a bird
• July: stitch a pattern that includes something that grows
• August: try something new (new fabric, count, thread, designer, finishing technique, etc.)
  

 

The Rules

• Post a photo of your supplies on June 1st (pattern cover, thread, fabric)
• Include these hashtags in your description:
  #CrossStitchCamp2023
  #ColoradoCrossStitcher
• Post a photo of your finished piece on June 30th (or earlier) (need not be fully finished)
• Repeat July 1st/31st, and August 1st/31st as desired! 

Monday make- 2010 Santa

 

I am so excited to have finished the 2010 Prairie Schooler Santa. This is my penultimate pattern in the series. I will stitch the last pattern in July. It is tempting to start stitching it now.

This week I’m planning to prepare my Sew Happy to take to the framer. It needs a good press and the buttons need to be stitched onto the sewing machine. I will recommence stitching one of the Polar Plunge patterns.I plan to finish these for my daughter’s Christmas decorations.

Sunday stash - FQS

I won a $50 gift voucher to Fat Quarter Shop in the Alison Glass sewalong for the trinket quilt. My purchases which exceeded the value of the gift voucher was made up of two elements:

1. Four of the five Polar Plunge patterns by Hands on Design and two of the 141 Design Company boards to display the finished pieces. The parcel arrived just minutes after I finished watching Hands on Design YouTube announcing the release of the release of the final pattern in the series. The final pattern is N is for Narwhal and is a fundraising download for special olympics.

2. Some more Ruby Star Society fabrics to top off my stash.I needed some extra blues and greens. I have four more Trinket blocks to stitch so I will use these new fabrics for those blocks. That’s a job for Monday along with the latest Mini Block Sampler block.

May 2023 achievements

Just one day trip to London this month and four bank holidays so lots of time to stitch.

First, I finished August cottage of the month by Country Cottage Needleworks (UFO Challenge 7). This was our challenge number for May 2023, so it needed to be finished in May.

My biggest UFO was my Rainbow Remix (pattern by Paula Steele) from a kit from Modern Quilt Club which is now quilted, bound and labelled.

The Square cross body bag (pattern by Zeriano) is so cute. 

May from a Year of Celebrations by Hands on Design. 

2022 Prairie Schooler Santa (UFO Challenge no 9) of which I have just three in the series left to stitch