Making it Monday...

Today was quilting day at the library.  For the past few months we have been making 12 1/2" blocks to exchange.  Oh, and they were to be stash-buster squares, so made only with fabric we had on hand, nothing purchased.  

Each member made two blocks per month...collected and held by our fearless leader...with there eventually being twelve in total from each person.  The photo above shows them all laid out on a table this morning awaiting the exchange process.  

We drew blocks at random from each person's contributed blocks, so each of us has at least one from every other member.  Then what was left we drew at random so that we all had twelve.

These are the blocks that I received.  I ended up with two of my own; the spool (2nd column, 2nd row) and the butterfly (bottom right corner).  We are to have all squares assembled by our next meeting on December 4th.  How we assemble them is left up to us.  I am pretty sure I will be adding sashing and borders, but I haven't even thought about colors or designs, since I wasn't sure what colors would be dominant in the squares I ended up with.  Now I'm thinking maybe blue and white for sashing and borders.

These are not necessarily in their permanent locations, but I love the way they all look together.  I'll post when it's finished.

Making it Monday...

Today I made a pillow.  A big pillow.  How big, you may be wondering?

Big enough for a growing puppy!  I used two standard bed pillows...not the expensive kind.  I sewed a long side of one to a long side of the other.  For the cover I used about a yard and a quarter of a sturdy pillow ticking.  With right sides together I sewed around the edge with about a 3/4" seam allowance (leaving a fairly large opening to insert the pillows), then turned it right side out and top stitched around it again with about 1/2" seam allowance.  I stuffed the pillows into the cover and stitched up the opening with a double row of stitching.  Hopefully the double-seamed edges will slow down Rudy's urge to rip into it.

I hope it is comfortable.  I hope it is indestructible!  I know it was frugal.  It cost about half of what his last pre-made dog bed did.

Something got into me today.  A burst of energy and motivation on the same day!  Must be the SUPER MOON!  :)  Aside from making Rudy's pillow, I vacuumed the entire house, washed all the bath mats, cleaned the toilets.  And because I knew Rudy would be sleeping on his new bed, I gave him a bath, cleaned out the kennel, and vacuumed it well.  Then I emptied the vacuum cleaner, and took out the trash.

Now I've had a shower and washed my hair and am ready to go to bed and read.

Dreaded chores and a request...

I really, really, really hate hemming slacks.  Unfortunately, we are a family of short-legged people.  The last time Kasey had a business trip, she needed two pair hemmed, and one of those had a lining.  Tomorrow morning Jared has to head to Dallas for a week of training, for which he was issued five (5!) pair of uniform slacks.  He received them yesterday, but he got off very late.  So I only had today to get all of them hemmed.

To be fair, he asked me to show him how to do it himself.  If we had had more time, I would have taken him up on it, but I knew I was going to be pushing it to get it done myself without taking the time to teach someone else.  Obviously, I should have given lessons to both children when they were younger.  :)

I don't mind sewing by hand, it's the measuring and pinning and cutting and ironing and trying on...times five in this case.  And truth be told, it's mostly the cutting I dread.  I always end up cutting too much and then having to spend time remedying my mistake.  (And yes, I did it again today on one pair.)

I finished very late tonight.  I'm really glad I know how to do it, because there was absolutely no way he would have been able to find someone to professionally alter them on the very short time frame that he had.

If you would say a little prayer (or several) for him to have success this week, it would be much appreciated!

Sewing a reversible adult scarf/bib...

Well, my house is empty again.  Company has left.  The hubs has returned to work.  I am enjoying the solitude, and I thought I'd share a sewing project I worked on a couple of days ago for my guest.

Lots of women I know are forever spilling something on the front of a clean blouse front at mealtimes...myself included.  My visitor had a bib that she wore at some mealtimes.  It was not something that you would want to wear while dining out, however.  I went on the search for some ideas that would give protection while looking less conspicuous.

The option I liked best was a commercially available scarf/bib that described their product as 54" long by 8 1/2" wide.  I could work with that.

I thought that making these reversible would add to their versatility, so for each scarf I purchased a yard and a half of two coordinating, washable fabrics.  (I could have purchased less fabric and seamed together to make up the length, but I didn't want the added bulk at the seam.)  I chose prints (as spills are less conspicuous on a print than a solid), and I tried to keep my choices somewhat neutral, so they could be worn with multiple outfits.

I cut two coordinating fabric pieces 54" x 10 1/4".  With right sides together, and using 5/8" seam allowance, I sewed around all four edges of the fabric, leaving an opening on one long edge large enough to turn the scarf.

After trimming the corners, I turned the scarf right side out, pressed the seams neatly, and then top-stitched a scant 1/4" around all four edges.  The top-stitching takes care of closing the opening left for turning.

This can be worn loosely gathered as a scarf, and pulled flat to give full coverage of a blouse front.

I added four tucks at the back of the neck so it would lie more comfortably.

Two scarves.

Four looks.

I made this for a petite person, so the length was okay at 54".  If I made any for myself, I would want a longer version, so I would probably make it at least 72" long to look more scarf-like.

I made up an instruction sheet.  Click the photo above to see it enlarged.  You should be able to copy and save it if you find you or someone you know could use one too.

Making it Monday...

Today was our monthly quilting day at the library.  We were working on Double Slice Layer Cake quilts.  I used a Moda pre-cut layer cake, called Mixology, in yellow, gray, turquoise, orange, and white.  The photo above shows the first round of chain piecing, and it gives you an idea of some of the prints.  (I also added in a bit of solid gray fabric as I was finding all the prints a little too chaotic for me.)

We were meant to finish the entire quilt top while there.  However, I had misgivings about completing it as intended, so I stopped when I had all the blocks pieced and brought it home to ruminate over.

This photo shows several pieced blocks placed side by side, and I think it is a little too busy to suit me.  I'm considering putting white sashing, or plain white blocks, between the pieced blocks.

Opinions?  Ideas?

Spring Break visit 1...

This week is the kids' Spring Break from school, and I hope to have all the them for a night each.  I have two non-sequential work days scheduled this week, so we are having to plan around them.

Caitlyn started things off.  She came Friday night.  Saturday we went for a special lunch out together.  As we were discussing what she wanted to do after lunch, she suggested going to Hobby Lobby as she was in the mood to make something.  (Awww...a girl after my heart!)  Then she says, "But you've got lots of craft stuff, so we can probably find something at your house for me to make."   Oh, so right she is!

We decided that it had been awhile since we had spent time with her sewing machine.  And since I have acquired lots of precut quilting fabrics lately, I suggested we work on piecing some quilt squares. She did really well.

I think we have just a few more sewing visits ahead of us before we can finish a quilt top.

Another tea towel...

Last night I made another tea towel...or rather, I sewed a border on another tea towel.  This time I thought I'd try some prairie points...still using the same left over jelly roll strips.  I was happy with how it turned out.  

The little green drawer unit in the background is a vintage spice cabinet.  I got it at an estate auction.  I saw one on a website recently for $150!  I know I didn't pay anywhere near that.  The paint is really aged, and I thought about redoing it, but I can't make up my mind.  

I like having it in the kitchen, but it's too tall to fit between the counter top and the upper cabinet.  I have it sitting next to the sink now, but once Carey gets the open shelving put up, it won't fit there either.  It may just have to sit on the uppermost of the open shelves when the time comes.