Quilt Progress- With Photo

EDIT: Sorry I posted the first time without a photo! The color is a bit off because the room has a golden glow through the curtains. The reds are bright and vivid. ____________________________________________________________________________________ This is my longest running work in progress. I started cutting the fabric out soon after I bought In Stitches I think in 2006.

I've learned quite a bit in creating my first quilt:
1. Color coordination is crucial (I tried hard to keep my colors within the black/red families, but in the end it looks a bit crazier than I'd like)

2. Foundation piecing is for experienced quilters only (this quilt top was not fun to make, I have never had to seam rip & re-sew so many times on one project before)



My goal is to finish this quilt before the end of 2010!

The first time I posted about my quilt idea is here.

My other projects from this book are here.

Asymmetrical Skirt? Nope, not by me

I spent 2 days this weekend trying to figure out the Asymmetrical Skirt from the Stitch cover. Saturday I transferred the pattern pieces onto my Swedish Tracing Paper. Then Sunday, I realized that three of the skirt pieces didn't look anything like the pattern layout picture, so I had to re-trace.

Honestly, there were just too many lines on the pattern sheet, I couldn't figure out which line was supposed to be part of which pattern piece.

My other frustration was that the pattern pieces had to be pieced together, at the "hash marks." Excuse me? What hash marks? The pattern sheets were so covered in black and pink ink that I can't distinguish any hash marks.

Then, I started to cut out the fabric. When it came time to cut the facing, I referred to the pattern correction. But then I couldn't figure out what exactly I was supposed to do to correct the pattern for the facing. I guess I am more of a visual learner, because reading those directions, all I could think was, "WHAT?!?"

So, then I went back to the main fabric (in my case, denim), and tried out step 2- the side seams. I couldn't figure out which side matched up where. I even tried pinning the pieces to my dress form. But nope, still wasn't seeing how the skirt was supposed to come together.

So, after about six hours this weekend, I have nothing to show for it. I used the last of my denim for nothing. Sure I can use them for smaller projects, but I really wanted a denim skirt.

Because of my frustrations, I will NOT be trying to make the Tulip Skirt.

I will however, still try a pattern from Weekend Sewing, because although there are several patterns on each sheet, I'm hoping the color coding will make it easier to cut each pattern piece correctly. But if I get lost in another frustrating weekend, I'll know I should stick to traditional pattern envelopes.

So, Sincerely Yours, Kate, Action Hero, karola73, and Kristin of Craft Leftover's, I salute you!

Scrap Swap

I joined my first swap, the Patchwork Swap, hosted by Linda. My package arrived yesterday from Mina in Brazil. I absolutely love the swatches she sent- my favorites are the oranges and yellows - my scrap stash was definitely lacking in those colors before! And that little strawberry pincushion is absolutely adorable. It is going to be on display in my craft room! And the ribbon and ric-rack will come in handy! Everything she sent is just adorable, I feel so lucky, and I hope that one day I can sew as well as Mina (she has lots of beautiful log cabin pieces on her blog). Hopefully Mina will get her package soon!



Also pictured are a heart and dove pincushion (so sweet), red star buttons, and that clothespin- it has a tiny pumpkin perched on top! Now I know it takes real talent to sew something that tiny, it is so precious!

Muchas Gracias, Mina! Cheers!

Gracias Modern Seamster!

Yesterday I got a surprise package in the mail from Modern Seamster. I had signed up for a free subscription when I first read about the magazine online. I downloaded their first issue and liked it very much.



The magazine is a little bit of a craft magazine and a little bit of a lifestyle magazine. I'm pretty boring and plain (I work, I sleep, and occasionally I find time to sew) and not as hip as I think the intended audience is. But I really enjoyed their articles on (1) How to Get Into Design School (I daydream about all the jobs I'd like to do that are totally different from my current job. My latest obsession- I read about Jenna the Creative Director for J.Crew and thought "I want THAT job" although you probably have to have some personal style and no one wants to get a catalog of people wearing sweaty t-shirts, shorts, and unshaven legs), (2) the Britex Fabrics tour with Nancy Flynn, and (3) The article about Charles Frederick Worth.

I was looking forward to their next issue anyway, but getting some nice fabric swatches and applique templates was a very thoughtful surprise. Modern Seamster, I think I like you even more now. So, thanks for the cool fabric scraps, I'm glad to have the sparkly scraps to test out before buying it in large quantities!

Quilt Progress

This is my longest running work in progress. I started cutting the fabric out soon after I bought In Stitches I think in 2006.

I've learned quite a bit in creating my first quilt:
1. Color coordination is crucial (I tried hard to keep my colors within the black/red families, but in the end it looks a bit crazier than I'd like)

2. Foundation piecing is for experienced quilters only (this quilt top was not fun to make, I have never had to seam rip & re-sew so many times on one project before)

My goal is to finish this quilt before the end of 2010!

The first time I posted about my quilt idea is here.

My other projects from this book are here.