Tag Archives: sewing

Sewing, Sewing and More Sewing

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I had plans to share some of the projects Ive been working on, but instead I spent most of my day and night looking for misplaced fabric squares. So I didnt have time to finish things up. We ended up finding the pieces in a suitcase!!! How they ended up there I have no idea. I’m just happy I found them.

The pieces were part of the quilt I started back in January. (apparently I started a lot of quilts in January) I was short a few fat quarters, and couldn’t make up my mind about what fabrics to add, so i just put the project aside! While searching for the perfect binding fabric for the chevron quilt I stumbled upon a different series of Lizzy House fabric. I ordered a bunch of fat quarters and two yards of that floral fabric above for the backing. I’m excited to get this quilt finished! I have all the supplies needed, so I have no excuse to put this project aside again!

Wish me luck!

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Totoro

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Remember the Totoro doll I started last week? Well, I finally finished him! Technically I finished him earlir this week, but I didn’t get around to photographing him until today.

I had forgotten the seam allowance on the body, ears, tail and arms, so I had to start from scratch. I went and picked up a whole new batch of felt since I didn’t have enough to redo the whole thing. I found the pattern for this little dude on Pinterest, and the pin directed me towards the Cheek and Stitch blog where there is full on instructions and pattern pieces. I’m not too great at hand stitching anything, I messed up a bunch when closing up the bottom and attaching the arms, but I still felt it was super easy to do! I recommend this to anyone who is a fan, or has a little super fan like us!

Oh P.S.: after writing this I went and looked a bit more on the Cheek and Stitch Blog and I found a post about a fleece version! How cute are they?!?

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The Three Year Baby Quilt

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About Three years ago, almost to the date, I started my first quilt. I was 6 months pregnant with CT and I was still optimistic about how much I could finish before she was born. I had these huge plans about sewing some sheets, a crib skirt, an entire closet full of dresses and THIS quilt. Well, my pregnancy got a bit rough really soon after I finished the quilt top, and I could hardly do anything but sit until CT was born.

Fast Forward to this past Tuesday, I was browsing Pinterest and saw a really neat quick quilt that I could finish in one day with supplies I had on hand. I went straight to my sewing room to pick out some fabric. While rummaging through everything I found the quilt top that I had started 3 years ago, along with the batting cut to size and the back piece ready to go. All I needed was some fabric for the binding. Lucky me I always buy extra Kona cotton when its on super sale at Joanns. I had a bunch of pinks to chose from. I had no excuses to hold me back, so I figured “why not?”

It took me the rest of the afternoon and a little bit of time in the evening, but I was able to finish up the quilt, no problem! This made me feel super accomplished and now I’m all ready to make more!!

CT watched me finish most of it, and she knew it was going to be hers the entire time. I washed it last night while she was asleep, and once it was dry we placed it on her bed. She woke up and found it. I swear she actually squealed!! Ha. That is really the best sound the hear after you’ve worked on something for your child, isn’t it?

We have this rule in the house where you can only color in the at the table or on a quilt on the floor. We came up with it by random, but it really has helped eliminate drawing on the wall (unless its the chalkboard wall, which has its own rule). CT keeps a bunch of crayons and some paper in a little Totoro bag I found her, so the second I placed the quilt down to photograph she thought that meant it was time to draw!! She sat there for about an hour.

Well, I’m off to Pinterest to find another project to work on. I feel way more accomplished when I’m working on something new and different. Do any of you have suggestions?

 

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Behind the Scenes: Unfinished Projects

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The past few weeks I have been feeling very discontent. I want to do so much but I hardly have the energy or strength to walk to the other room. Being forced to do nothing is frustrating, I’d rather it be my own choice. I would probably enjoy it more if I was the one saying “I’m not going to do anything today”, instead of my body.

I do find spurts of energy here and there and have started a few projects lately, and finished about half! I’m trying not to buy more craft supplies until I use the ones I have. I don’t think I’ve stepped foot in a Joann’s in weeks, and even then we were there to buy frames, I don’t think i even looked at anything else. Well, that will probably change this week. I realized after finishing the top section of the chevron quilt that I did NOT have enough coordinating fabric for the back. I had fabric, yes, but not COORDINATING fabric! So that project is at a stand still!!

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I also started a Totoro Doll for CT since she LOVES the movie… (I found the pattern on Pinterest) well, I messed up on cutting out the ears, paws and tail. I forgot a seam allowance. I also used the last of my grey felt, so now that project also has to be put aside. Frustrating.

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I DID finish a simple little tote bag and tank top using supplies I already had. I’m happy with the outcome of both, but feel super great about the tank top!! It’s the first piece of clothing I’ve made myself that didn’t have to be taken apart and redone. I got it right on the first try. I didn’t use a conventional pattern either, I just did a rough crayon rubbing of my favorite a-line tank top and tweaked it a bit. It fits perfectly, and now I want to make a dozen or more. Especially since I’m not fond of the fabric I used for this one, it’s not really me.

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Oh and I’m also, slowly, working on a shop update! Ive been working on some new pieces that I can not wait to share fully! You can see a few above. I’m trying out a few new ways of photographing them since I think it’s time for change. I always think its time for change! Any suggestions?

As I was proof reading this post I thought “well, I guess I did get a few things done… but how much could I accomplish if I just felt better?”. Ugh, I guess I just want to do too much…

Chevron Quilt: Halfway Done…

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The chevron quilt is no longer a stack of fabric!! I feel so accomplished! Even though I’m only about 50% (or less) done. Ha. This is the largest quilted piece I’ve worked on and the most mind boggling. I messed up three times on the placement of certain squares, mostly around the edges. Also, as you can see in the photo above, I’ve been sewing so quick that I just skipped over snipping threads, so that’s a whole huge step I need to do too. I don’t care I’m just excited to finish it, hopefully in time for Fall. I’m going to need a nice quilt to snuggle with on cold mornings.

Have any of you ever made a chevron/zig-zag quilt using squares? How did you end up quilting it? I’m still trying to decide, so any input would be awesome.

I also finished up a few tote bags using the supplies pictured above. I’m hoping to have them in my next shop update that may or may not be this upcoming Monday. All depends on how my weekend goes.

Edit: minutes after I published this post, CT starting coughing behind me, so my weekend may be spent cuddling with her…

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Monday is for Sewing

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For the first time in forever we didn’t go anywhere this past weekend! Seriously crazy for us. We didn’t want to spend a dime and we all needed a break. I apparently needed one more than I realized, because I spent most of the weekend catching up on sleep. I’ve been so tired lately, but I never really have the time to take a nap. CT doesn’t take naps anymore, and even if she did there’s non stop construction next door, I’d never sleep through it.

So what I’m basically saying is I didn’t do a single neat thing the entire weekend. Nothing! I kinda played catch up yesterday. I had a custom wall hanging that needed to be finished, plus a few unfinished sewing projects that could use my attention. I carried my sewing machine downstairs and set up shop in the dining room, that way I could sew and keep an eye on CT at the same time! Multitasking.

I actually accomplished a lot! I finished the outside of a new tote bag I’ve been thinking about, and I started and almost finished a few zipper pouches. I also organized and started sewing together the pieces to that chevron quilt I started back in January!!! I might actually have it finished by the end of the year. Ha!

It felt nice to be behind my sewing machine again, It really has been a long time. I’m hoping to continue to work on those pouches and the quilt today, we’ll see. How was your weekend?

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