March sewing - 2 quilt tops

The only sewing I did in March was to make 2 quilt tops.  Both of these are queen size and were quick and easy to make.

This one looks so much better in real life - It's so bright and cheerful.  The corner blocks are black with small white polka dots.

I had a stack of fabric samples that were mostly large floral prints.  I didn't want to cut these into small pieces since the pretty flower designs would be lost.  So I cut them into 9-1/2" squares.  I used 2-1/2" squares for the corner.   I still have to decide on a border.  I'll probably use the same black/white polka dot fabric as the corner blocks.




I had a lot of small scraps left over from recent quilt making, so decided to make a scrappy 9-patch.

I love scrap quilts, love 9-patches, and love a lot of white in a quilt.   So, I'm very happy with this simple little quilt.  I still need to add a border.

February Sewing: Plaid Poncho and Fleece Vest

Due to some health issues, I've not been sewing much and posting even less. So I'm playing catch up here. These are the 2 items I made in February.

First is a plaid poncho.  I used a piece of plaid flannel that I got at WalMart.  It was $3.00 yd and I used 2 yards.  I didn't use a pattern for this.  I cut 3 rectangles and sewed them together at the shoulders.  I planned to add black fringe to the hem, and I may still do that later.

Next is a black and white fleece vest.  I had the fleece left over from pj pants I made for my DGD.  I didn't have enough of the print fleece, so I used solid black for the back.  For the lining, I used a white silky that I had in my stash.   I think it needs some type of closure.  But it got warm before I got around to wearing it, so I'll worry about that next winter.

I started with this pattern, but changed the shape of the front hemline. 

I used the collar from this pattern:

Corduroy Pants

My last item for January is a pair of corduroy pants.  This is my 2nd pair of wearable pants for the year.

I used the same BWOF pattern as before.  It's from the May, 2007, issue.  This time I tried adding a little to the front crotch point, thinking it would help with wrinkles/folds just under the seat.  But, it didn't, so it's back to the drawing board.

For this pair, I added a fly front zipper, wide contour waistband and front scoop pockets.

 Here you can see the yellow and brown flannel I used on the inside.  Aren't the monkeys cute??

So even though I don't have the fit down yet, I'm still pretty happy with my pants.

For February, I want to work on cleaning up the sewing room and finishing up some UFO's.

Knit Tops

I've made 2 new knit tops.

 For the first top I used McCall's 6203 - which is now OOP. 

I tried to get a good close up picture of the fabric, but it's very hard to get it to look right.  It's a deep purplish blue with black stripes.

It's been a long time since I've had a top with dolman sleeves.  I wasn't sure about the style, but I really like it.  It's just loose enough to be comfortable, without a lot of extra fabric.

































I made a size M, but added some extra wide from the hip area down to the hemline.  I also made a swayback adjustment.  This helped, but I think I should have made a larger adjustment as there still a bit of wrinkles back there.

The fabric I used is a knit that I bought at Zinck's Fabric Outlet. zincksfabric.com The store is located in the Millersburg/Berlin, OH area, in Amish country.  This is a true, no-frills outlet store that's located in a warehouse type building.   I like that sort of place, so shopping there was a lot of fun for me.  The fabric looks like a typical poly knit, but the inside is so soft and is nice to wear.   It was $3.00 yard, and there was only 3 yards of it - naturally I bought it all.

I changed the neckline.  I cut the neckline like view "B" and then added a simple cowl neck collar to it.  I cut a rectangle of fabric 20" long and wide enough to fit the neckline.  I folded it half and serged it to the neckline.  I like out it turned out.
 

 

I still had some fabric leftover, but not enough for another top.   I really like the fabric & wanted to come up with some way to use it.   I love the look of knit tops that use contrasting fabrics, so thought I'd give that a try. 

I had this pattern in my stash and decided to use it.   This is Butterick 5925 - a Katherine Tilton pattern.  I made view "B: 

 

I had enough of the blue stripe to cut the front and the sleeves.  I used some solid black from my stash for the back.  And bought some gray tweed slubby knit at Joann's and used it for the pockets and as a binding on the neckline.  

I used a size medium, and made no changes to the pattern.  The neckline is a bit wide on me, so if I make it again, I will narrow it just a little.

Another Shirt Refashion

I took a plain red knit top and 1 yard of print fabric and came up with this:

First I cut the  off the shirt just below the bust and added a skirt-like panel.  This panel flares out at the bottom and is a little longer on the sides.  I also added fabric lengthen the sleeves.  And lastly added a small cowl neck.

Pressing Board and Carrier

I go to a monthly craft/sewing/quilting meeting and needed a press board to take with me.  I found this great tutorial on-line: Missouri Star Quilting  I used an 18" x 24" piece of plywood; wrapped an old towel around it; and then made a cover for it.  It works great & I use it a lot.

Then I saw this at Joanns  folding cutting/pressing mat

I really liked it, but I didn't want to pay that much for it.   It's kind of small and I already had a press board and a mat. But it did give me the idea to make a bag to carry my board and mat plus my ruler.

I just made a flat bag a little bigger than my board.  I used a piece of a fabric I found in my stash.  It's a tablecloth that I had bought on clearance at Kohl's for $7.00.   It's very sturdy and was leftover from when I made shopping bags.  It was exactly the right size to made it double thickness.  I made straps from some red 1-1/2" wide nylon webbing that was in my stash and just happen to match the fabric.

It's does a great job of carrying everything.

1st Project for 2014 - Pants

I decided to make a pair of pants as my first project of the year.   I'm working on pants again mainly because I have so few that fit me.  I always have better luck with BWOF pants patterns, so that's what I started with.  I used #112 from the May 2007 issue.   I really like this pattern.  The shape of the hip line and legs are just right for me.  Here's the line drawing:

Alterations I made:  added a 1-1/2" wedge to lengthen the back crotch seam; removed a little from the width of the back crotch seam; lowered the front waistline 5/8"; and removed 2" from back waist.  

I also left out the zipper and added an elastic waistband.  I made the waist just big enough to pull over my hips, so the waistband is flat when the pants are worn.

The fabric I used is a black with blue pinstripe that I  got at Joann Fabrics November 2011 and paid $2.50 yard as it was on clearance.   It's a woven "suiting" blend with a little stretch that I'm sure has some poly in it, but it is very nice.  It sews up great and doesn't wrinkle badly.  It drapes so nicely and feels great.  I wish I had more like it, in a different color.

Here's the front:

They are really comfortable to wear.

Side view:









































There's still some wrinkles in the back of the pants, but overall I'm pretty happy with how these turned out.

Last Project for 2013 - Handbag

I finally made myself a new bag.  I started with simplicity 3828 (view D).  This is an old pattern and is now OOP.  I used the pattern as my starting point to get the size and shape that I like. 



















My finished bag is 2 inches shorter than the pattern. I installed a zipper at the top instead of a magnetic snap. 

I used home decor fabric from Joann's.  I used fusible fleece as the interfacing and machine quilted the black side.  I used a solid blue for the lining.  The handles are made from the black fabric with nylon webbing inside. I like using the webbing better than interfacing as it's not so bulky, but very strong, and adds just the right amount of stiffness.




































I like pockets on my purses - so I added 3 of them.  There's a small inside pocket; a large outside pocket on one side and a small one on the other side.  All of the pockets have zipper closures.  I used key charms as zipper pulls.


Here's a close up to show the pulls.

I like the fabric, it's the right size & has the pockets I need - I think I got it right.

Jacob's Ladder Quilt

I made this quilt for my husband's birthday.  Blue is my husband's favorite color, so I used several blues and some blacks.  Even though blue's not my favorite color, I love how it turned out.



























I had it quilted with black thread.   And used a black with white dots fabric for the binding.

Sewing Goals for 2014

It's time to make sewing goals for next year.  Here's what I've decided on:

Make & post one garment each month
Learn to better use my Juki  machines
Study my Craftsy classes
TNT pants pattern
Learn to sew undies

The last several months, I've been obsessed with working on quilts and have really neglected my garment sewing.  So I've decided I want to make at least 1 garment per month for myself.  To encourage me to keep on track with that I've joined Sarah Liz's "make 1 garment a month challenge".  Here's the link: makeagarmentamonthchallenge

A few months ago, I purchased a new Juki F600 sewing machine and a Juki 654 serger.  I love them both and enjoy using them, but I want to take the time to go through the manuals and learn to use all the feet and stitches, so I can get the most from my machines.

I've bought several Craftsy classes: Beginner Serging by Amy Alan; Pant Construction Techniques by Sandra Betzina; Jean-ius by Kenneth D. King;  The Ultimate T-Shirt by Marcy and Katherine Tilton; and Sew Better Sew Faster by Janet Pray.  I've watched all of them except "Sew Better, Sew Faster".  But I want to study them and use them to improve my sewing.

I haven't worked on pants for several months, but I really want to get back to work on that.  I really, really need some pants and need to come up a TNT pattern.

I've wanted to learn to make my own undies & have tried a couple times, but didn't stay with it.  I have a pattern and supplies and it would be a good way to use the left over pieces of fabric from making knit tops.

Here's to a happy and productive sewing year!

Knit Shirt Refashion

I've become very interested in the idea of clothing refashioning (recycling? repurposing?); especially t-shirts and knit tops that don't work anymore.

 
I started with this shirt.  It's a basic cotton knit top. I like the fabric and the way it fit through the neck, shoulders and chest, but it's too short. I decided to lengthen it and change the shape somewhat.

  
I  wanted it to have more of of this shape, so I inserted triangle shaped pieces into the side seams.

  


If I want to wear it during cold weather, I'll probably wear it like this with a black long sleeve tee underneath

Here you can see the piece I inserted in the side seam

My Favorite Time of the Year

It's fall!  I love the sunny days with the blue skies and the cool nights.  And the leaves!!

 

 

Quilt Show Ribbon

I entered my first quilt show & won a blue ribbon!  I really like my quilt, but was surprised to win 1st place.

The pattern was from American Patchwork & Quilting magazine (Oct. 2009).