FMQ

I made some progress on the FMQ fill on this quilt.  Unfortunately, I discovered that FMQ on my home machine puts pressure on the same nerves in my right wrist that I fatigued Saturday digging weeds with a hand trowel, then inflamed with nearly 300 miles on the bike Sunday (throttle hand).  Subsequently, after about 10 minutes my right thumb and pointer finger go numb.

  It's easier to see how the fill is shaping up from the back where the grey thread contrasts with the red backing.

My FMQ is getting better.  And I'm trying to relax and not worry if things don't go exactly as I have them in my mind.  Maybe by the time I get this one done I'll be ready to claim that I've moved from "beginner" to "intermediate" FMQ skills.   Practice, practice, practice.

Procrastinating

The quilt project I really need to be working on is FMQ.  But I need to take over the dining room table.  So I decided to wait for the weekend and started sewing together some 9 patch blocks when I had some time last week.

But then the weekend became a gardening project.

And a chance to try my new sippy cup.

And then it got too hot for gardening.  So we rode to Stanley for lunch.

Thanks to the gardening and the ride, my back & shoulders are too sore to FMQ.  Maybe I'll take a nap instead.

Back to Quilting

Rather than finish hemming my new dresses, I returned to the world of quilting.  I finished reading The Cross-Country Quilters by  Jennifer Chiaverini.  Then between loads of laundry and batch cooking, I spent the rest of my day off outlining the Bursting Star quilt.  This is the back so you get a feel for design as it overlays the star pattern and is harder to see from the front.  I drew the pattern on the front using a wash away marker, then stitched all these straight lines using the walking foot.

I've been inspired by the quilting at Green Fairy Quilts and Borderline Quilter.  Judi and Kay have really inspired me to look at the vast open spaces of a quilt much differently.  They also make me want to improve my Free Motion Quilting skills.    

I will keep you posted as I work my way through this experiment.

Lace Re-Do

 I inherited a wonderful lace dress in March from mom, whom had hit a closet cleaning binge.   The good news is that it was exactly my size. Mom denies that I could possibly ever fit what she did as she always considered herself a "full size" gal.  Ironically, a 1948 size 18-20 is a 2012 size 10-12.

 The bad news is that I have no occasion in my world to wear a lace dress.   And there was some fading where the blue lace and lining had become purple.

(I like purple.  It's just not uniformly purple)

The over jacket makes it even more formal don't you think?


Meanwhile back at the Sewing Challenge, someone suggested taking a picture of a ready to wear garment, then making your own version of it.

PSHTT.  Dude.  I don't shop.  I would rather compete in a spelling bee than shop for clothing.  I will volunteer for a 3rd grade field trip with children I do not know, long before I will go to the mall.

But much to my dismay, I had to to pick up my older daughter from work at JCP.  I decided to use my extra time to try on swim suits.  ( Another story for another day).  But then I saw THIS DRESS!!!

**Insert background music with angels singing **
LLLLLLaaaaaa!!!!!!

It is a great design with a lined front and unlined back. ...which would be lovely if I were 18, weighed 100 # and had perky boobs.

But I LOVE this dress!

 I spent most of a day cutting the lining out of the vintage lace dress.  I spent most of that time thinking that I was an idiot and that my mom was going to kick my ass if she ever found out.

(Betty Jeanne is a force to be reckoned with. My fear is not misplaced.)

I trimmed to 1/2" of all the linings, then serged the edges and top stitched.

Remember those 9 bins of sewing stuff?

It included a 100% cotton fitted knit sheet that I bought at a thrift store thinking that it might be handy as "muslin".

Lime Green.  My neutral.

 I took that stupid  t-shirt pattern I've been trying to master, but cut much deeper and narrower sections for the "tank" to match the pattern pieces.

I made a wicked dangerous, not appropriate decision  regarding the bindings.  I did a cross width strip, 1.75" wide.  My goal was 3/8" finish binding.

I basted it at 1/8", connected it at the same width.  Serged it at 3/8"

I probably could have done a better photograph, but this one captures how happy I am with the binding outcome.

For both the neckline and arm holes I ignored popular recommendations and made the binding 20% smaller than the actual distance (as compared to the 0-15% recommendations).

After 2 posts whining about necklines, I seem to have the answer. My girls look happy. (Well, at least covered and secured.)

My idea was to have a knit "slip" to fit under several dresses that I have, or plan to make.

I also have a 50's flared skirt black lace dress that may work with the same lime tank dress if I am clever.

How fun will this be with both lime and hot pink under slips?  (And maybe teal, plum, black, ect.)

I have yet to decide on a stright hem vs scalloped lace edge.   But at least I am minutes from

 a wearable dress.

Sewing Project #1 T-Shirt

This morning I realized that I am completely delusional.

I am not a seamstress.  I am a clothing project parts hoarder.  These 6 tubs and the wire drawers in the photo represent about 70% of the items I have accumulated over the past 20 years with the intent to sew clothing for myself.

 Last summer I committed to making some clothing for myself and realized that my adult curvy self needs a "muslin" test drive of patterns before I sew the real deal.  This version shows that I seem to be able to fix waist/hip sizing, but not torso.

 My previous attempts at sewing for myself were either when I was a stick thin teen, or maternity clothes.  I am SO out of my comfort zone, it isn't funny.

I was able to fine tune the dress above to a tank style dress pictured here.  I apparently have no shots of the upper body section that was only so-so.

Enough background....here's today.

I decided to make a basic, perfect T-shirt.
Butterick 5215.

I had a couple yards of thrift store Looney Toon fabric that seemed perfect for a trial.

I was foolishly optimistic as the pattern sizing perfectly described me as a "large".  Bust 40-41 (my measurements with the help of Victoria's Secret projection equipment), waist 31-32 (pretty close...depending on the day), and hip 41-42.

I was also encouraged by a pattern that actually showed body curves.

I was excited about using the same fabric as a bias binding neck treatment since, as a quilter, I'm a pro at bias bindings. I thought the print would look weird so I dashed to the fabric store for some plain black.

I did think that the proportion seemed a bit small.  But I did commit to following directions exactly (not one of my normal skills).

Some might argue that I have a big head.

But I'm pretty sure no one else's noggin would fit in this 17" opening.   Even after I popped the stitches in an attempt to get it over my head, I was not successful.

The fact that it was a good proportion for my moderate sized bicept may be a clue.

I pulled out several of my ready to wear t-shirts to compare.  Even the most modest option shows far more space.

I cut out the 3/8 wide binding.

I split the difference between the 2 ready to wear options and drew a new neckline.

As a point of interest, the original back bias strip was 17".  The replacement bias piece was 24".

Here's the fixed neckline.

I had not yet added the hems on the sleeves and bodice when this pic was taken ( I was taking advantage of  a moment when a photographer was available.)

It doesn't look bad, but it is super-duper tight.

I was very careful about keeping any character from being centered on a nipple.  That could be bad.
The circles are pretty well balanced down the center.

I would totally wear this T, but it would be more comfortable about 1/2" bigger.

LOVE how this pic makes me look like a supermodel.

Although this is a knit, it had very little flexibility.

Often times a knit fabric will give you a "give" ratio.
Sewing pros need to weigh in to teach me the appropriate lingo.
This knit was pretty tight.  10" only gave 2" of flex.
The  ready to wear samples in my closet give 5" for every 10".

Think sports-bra....I have some mono-boob action happening here.

Mostly a good fit.

And here we are with the arm and bottom hems done.

My standard T will need more length fore sure.

This ate up FAR more time than I expected.  But time well spent if I figure out the ULTIMATE T-shirt pattern.

And this is my first installment in the sewing commitment posts.

Biker's Shop Hop

We are safely back from the distance round of the Treasure Shop Hop.    This hop takes some commitment. We drove 500 miles to hit 7 of the 12 shops.  There is actually a shorter route, but it would involve freeway and not the winding back road from Vale to Baker.

I bought new bungie cords and packed my rain gear.   The prediction was cold and scattered showers.  We got lucky on the rain and got all excited when it was 42 degrees (F) this morning instead of 32.

I started planning this trip in January because I knew of at least 4 women in our motorcycle club were also quilters.  And my quilter friend Sara was looking forward to making it her birthday gift to go.

Turns out none of those people made it and it was me and 5 bikers who were just looking for an excuse to ride.

We had to start with vocabulary lessons.
Shop Hop = Poker Run
Fat Quarter = bandana sized piece of fabric
Notions = stuff you need to turn fabric into other things
Novelty prints = fabrics with cartoon images (like motorcycles)
Batik = fabric that is dyed with a wax relief instead of printed with ink. (That you should buy for your friend Margie)
Flannel = fuzzy fabric for wiping plexiglass

Dragon was "all in".  He wanted to learn the lexicon and play by the rules.  Even woozie with hunger, he staggered forth to get his passport stamped.  If he wins the grand prize...birthday girl Sara gets the prize.

You might be surprised how much fabric can fit in saddle bags.  Of course, it does help that it was so freaking cold that I was wearing all the extra sets of clothing that I brought (except maybe the underwear).

Some great door prizes this year!  3 fat 1/8ths of batik  from Huckleberry patches (they had other cute fabrics as well).

Stich & Snip has a kit for a portable thread catcher.  But more importantly each kit has a fat quarter.

And remember...I got 3 bonus sets from my hubby and friends.   I may never shop hop with other quilters again.

  Free stuff can backfire though.  The cute little charm packets inspired me to buy a couple yards of that floral and paisley fabric (1/2 price) at Quilts Plus in Halfway.

I love that shop in Halfway, but usually because the batik selection is so good.  I've bought some good stuff in the clearance section so headed there first.
Remember how much I loved the Sun & Stars quilt?  There are more yellow/grey quilts in my future. I cleared the bolts on the 2 fabrics on the right.

I don't often buy prints any more.  But when I do, this is what sucks me in.  And it's lime green.  And half price.  Bolt empty.

I'm also working on making some quilts for guys.  I absolutely LOVE these clearance fabrics.  More empty bolts.

Those got me thinking about several quilts I had in mind using black, white and X (x= red, lime, magenta....hmmmm does this count as using Algebra in the real world?)

Used my (and my biker's) 10% off to add to the black/white stash at Stich & Snip.  Which was really funny because she asked me why I wasn't buying any batiks. (Apparently they remember me as the Biker Batik Babe)

But Granny's Attic has some new batiks in.  Of course I'm just assuming that they are new since every other batik in my favorite colors within a 300 mile radius looks familiar.

Red batiks are SOOOO hard to find.  These were at the Charm Shack.

And I have this new idea for a quilt.
A pinup girl tattoo applique.

So I picked up potential skin tones.


That was my weekend.
Did you do anything interesting
that required leather and/or motorcycles?

Stars

I've been working on another star quilt.  This one was inspired by the Bursting Star from The Charming Needle. 

I had to redraft the concept to use the 4 fat quarters of "TooMuchery" by Helen Dardik that I got as a prize last year from the shop hop.

I ran into several challenges that in retrospect, I could have resolved other ways. But I don't dislike any of it enough to unsew anything.

It is 52" square right now.  Thinking that I'll add a 6" grey strip all around and it'll make a nice lap size quilt.

The Sun & Stars quilt is finished.

I'm still a beginner when it comes to free motion quilting.  I took advantage of the variety of spaces to practice lots of different designs.

I love how Green Fairy Quilts combines fills and geometric shapes.  This was my attempt at that style.

I used the walking foot and some pre-programmed stitches on the right.

I copied the square squiggle from the fabric on the lower left, which turned out pretty cute.

I am not very good at feathers, but did this random sized version for practice.

I LOVE the fabric I found for the binding.  The background is actually cream rather than white, but I loved it enough to overlook this detail.  I really like a medium sized, multicolor, print fabric for a binding.

Do you remember how I had to piece together a bunch of scraps to make those filler pieces?  I used multiple fills hoping it would make it look more intentional.

Oh, and did I tell you that after I went to all that trouble, after the quilt was finished, I found 4 yards of the same grey in the garage?   Oy.