Two Swimsuits

Swimsuit #1

Goal number six on my August list was to sew two swimsuits for my four year old granddaughter. She chose the fabric. These fabrics were leftover from stitching previous suits. I found I needed to alter the butt area a bit because she didn't have enough butt to fill the fabric! She had fun modeling her suit. She wasn't excited about me taking time to alter the butt as she said it was fine as it was!

These days, showing most of one's backside seems to be the fashion. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must feel. These suits provide comfortable coverage!

Swimsuit #2

The second suit I made longer in the body. She may be four years old; but she is a size five around and a size seven in height! To make the fabric work, I pieced the front and back to get enough length. The pattern is busy enough that the pieced line is not easy to see. The pattern that I used was one I used to make swimsuits for my girls when they were that size! 

I did buy five yards of beige swim lining fabric as suit number one had a light background and the black lining I have on hand would have shown through when the suit was wet. I used a yard and a half of fabric to make these two suits. 

Unless I have another finish or two this month, I'm going to end up with a positive three and a half yards added to my stash. This isn't bad; but, I'm working to reduce my stash by 100 yards this year. Currently, I have a net loss of 73 and a quarter yards. I'd better get busy!

Floral Baubles--post 1

Floral baubles #1

 I need to have my head examined. For months, I've been able to talk Gertie, my inner squirrel, out of beginning a new project. Last month, she twisted my arm and I started THREE new projects. This post is about the second project that I started. 

Melisa at Pinker n Punkin Quilting and Stitching, showed her start and I thought it was super cute. Melisa designs the cutest little stitchery projects that she offers free to her readers. Check out her blog. There is always fun items to see!

Star points, sashing and corner stone fabrics

At any rate, I went to the link that Melisa shared and was introduced to Floral Baubles by Days Filled with Joy. It is a free sew along with nine designs coming in nine months. Joy, the designer, released the first design in June. I downloaded it and thought it would be a great design to collect to stitch at a later date.

Gertie, wasn't having any part of waiting! I traced off the design after adding stabilizer to the back of the square. She even convinced me to trace the second design. Eventually, the redwork becomes the center of a sawtooth star.  I did stitch the first design. 

My granddaughter was visiting and we selected fabric for the star points, sashing and corner stones. All fabrics came from stash and scraps! She helped me prewash each one which she thought was a lot of fun. She was surprised to see a fabric bleed red and other bleed green. Although she did tell me that the water was way too hot!

How often I will post about this project is a mystery. I don't have many plans other than down loading and stitching the rework as I have time. The project will come together. . .eventually!

Selecting the supporting fabrics for this project was goal number two on my August list. Linking to To Do Tuesday.

Lala's Irish Chain Sew Along with Melva--post 1

 

The project

Melva from Melva Loves Scraps is hosting Lala's Irish Chain Sew Along. Last month, she released the yardage, schedule and cutting instructions and a couple sewing instructions. There is time if you want to play along too. Melva released the first clue July 16. Eight more weeks of clues will follow. The link will take you to a special section on Melva's page that she has devoted to this sew along.

Lala's Irish Chain Sew Along

The fabric sans the white 

This looked like a great opportunity  to use a lot of stash as well as some precuts from my scrap saving system. I'm having trouble closing the lid on the precuts so it is time to use some! I decided to play along with Melva. I like Sew Alongs because of the camaraderie. I plan to use the novelty print fabric as the large white squares. The green is my main print fabric. If I decide I want borders, I may be making a fabric purchase. For now, this was good enough to start!

Squares cut

I spent time cutting squares and am ready to sew those! Melva had us sew cornerstones on to some strips first. I had cut those out of the white scraps; but, I wanted to use the novelty print. I wasn't sure I had enough fabric.

Background fabrics cut

I forged ahead and cut the background squares from the novelty print. Melva's second set of sewing instructions were sewing the 6 1/2 inch strips with corner stones to the background squares. Now, I could cut the background 6 1/2 inch strips. My fabric is directional so I wanted to try to cut the strips in a way that preserved the fabric orientation. I had about a third of a yard remaining which might find its way to the back!

Laying out a block before stitching

I laid out my blocks like a nine patch and stitched away. I only wanted the orientation of the print going in the same direction. Otherwise, I stitched the pieces as they were. A kid will have fun finding the birds and bicycles in the blocks!

Completed blocks.

I pulled colored squares at random and added them to the mix. This is a scrappy project. It didn't take long to complete the step. Melva will post week four directions tomorrow. I'm ready! Although with my London four year old granddaughter visiting, the time spent stitching is super limited!

Documenting my progress on this project was goal number three on my August list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts and Sew & Tell.

July Recap and August Goals

Rug weaving progress

My July goals were:

✔1. Make progress on Triple Treat.--Update:I cut more blocks, pieced and assembled them into a top. I also pieced the back. It is off to the longarmer!

✔2. Piece the string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month the color is aqua. I've pulled my scraps which aren't many!

✔3. Spend a few sewing sessions piecing string blocks. The 4 1/2 inch and 6 1/2 inch string bags need emptying!

✔4. Layer and baste butterfly quilt number four. It was on my annual list last year.

✔5. Document finishing the sashiko project.

✔6. Make progress on my rug weaving.--

Quilting on the 250/50 year guild challenge

Update: I worked on the rug between four and eight hours each week. It now is 20 inches in diameter which is five inches bigger than it was last month!
 I have used about a third of the bottom flannel sheet. It has become a little less round; but, it is still mostly flat. I plan to continue using Sundays as "weaving day."

✔7. Make an apron for the youngest granddaughter.--Update: I made two!

✔8. Begin quilting the guild 250th/50th anniversary challenge quilt.

✔9. Figure out what to do for the next book club quilt. Our book is "By Her Own Design" by Piper Hugely.

Fabric selected for Melva's Sew Along

It was another great month in terms of meeting the goals on my monthly list! Writing the list at the end of the previous month, working toward meeting the goal of each item during the month, has helped me move projects toward a finish. Using blog posts to share my goals has increased my success rate.
Looking back at the progress report posts shows me that I am slowly chipping away at having less stash and fewer unfinished projects! It's a total win!

Fabric Accounting:

Current Month:

Redwork Floral Bauble Sew Along

Fabric in: 0 yards 

Fabric out: 2 yards

Net loss for the month:  2 yards 

Year to Date:

Fabric in: 42 3/4 yards

Fabric out: 118 1/2 yards 

Net loss: 75 3/4 yards 

Best Book of the month: The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto. I had no idea of the influence of the Dutch on building the area around New York as well as the city itself. I learned why we eat cookies instead of biscuits and why we eat coleslaw. It was an interesting listen!

My August Goals are:

1. Select fabric for Magnificent Mystery. Begin piecing the clues.

Marbling 

2. Select fabric for Redwork Baubles Sew Along that Days Filled With Joy is holding. Work on the redwork embroidery, It began in June; but, Gertie was insistent! I did begin the embroidery.

3. Document progress for Melva's Sew Along.

4. Piece the string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month the color is yellow. I've stitched the yellow blocks so I will stitch one more yellow and one more green block instead!

5. Sew strings with my youngest granddaughter.

6. Make a couple swimsuits with and for the youngest granddaughter.

7. Make progress on the book club quilt.

8. Make progress on my rug weaving.

9. If the longarmer has quilted it, finish Triple Treat.

10. Document a mug rug from Rita's braid scraps.

11. Document my marbling experience.

12. Make progress quilting the butterfly.

Linking to Sew & Tell and To Do Tuesday,

Stars and Stripes Guild Challenge Quilted--post 2

Stitching in the ditch

Goal number eight on my July list was to begin quilting the Stars and Stripes challenge. I started stitching in the ditch. I used matching thread in the needle and bobbin to complete the ditch quilting.

Straight lines for the top and bottom of the project

At the top and bottom of the project, I stitched straight lines. I had planned to use a blue silk thread and stitch the lines vertically. I abandoned this plan because the thread wanted to lay on top of the fabric and the stitches looked like the tension was incorrect. The vertical lines looked odd because they didn't line up with the striped fabric. I quilted vertical lines on the side borders. I chose to use white thread on the needle and bobbin to quilt horizontal lines that were a quarter of an inch apart.

Quilting lines in the stripe

In the stripe, I quilted more straight lines following the print of the stripe. I again used white thread.

Quilted vertical lines in the star center

In the center of the star, I quilted vertical lines using blue thread. I continued the theme of a quarter inch spacing for the lines. I had planned to divide the space into quarters and quilt the lines in a "V" shape; but, the vertical lines created the better texture.

Quilting curved lines

The quilting remained was the background of the star. I chose to continue the quarter inch spacing and the white thread. I chose a curved quilting ruler to stitch the lines. For the most part, I was able to join the lines from one section to another. 

Evidence of bleeding

It took me about 14 hours to complete the quilting which seems over the top because the piece measures 20 by 31 inches! I blocked it and  some of the red fabric bled. I wet the project again. I started with Dawn detergent and scrubbed the bleeding areas. The bleeding areas lightened; but, were still visible. I tried the Synthrapol detergent process next. The bleeding is mostly out. It is what it is. I can live with it.

Bleeding area after treatment

I quilted this project with cotton thread. I matched the bobbin thread to the color of thread in the needle.

Thread used to quilt the project

I added a facing and mitered corners. I hand stitched the loose edge of the facing to the quilt back. I added the hanging sleeve and label. 

Label

I used a yard and a half of scraps to complete this project. I've reduced my stash by two yards this month. I have a net loss of 75 and three quarter yards of stash used this year! With five full months remaining in the year, I'm close to meeting my annual goal of using 100 yards of stash. 

Back of project

Photos of the front will be shared and this post updated in October after the quilt has been shown in the guild quilt show. 

Linking to I Quilted This, Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Basting the Butterfly Cut Loose--post nine

The butterfly

I finished piecing the butterfly in November 2020. It began in a Susan Carlson workshop in September 2018. I called the project Cut Loose because I cut shapes out of scraps and collaged them into the shape of one of Susan's patterns, the butterfly. I chose to make my project whimsical.

Last year, I had the project on my annual list to finish; but, it didn't happen. I decided this year I would finish it. I pieced a back from one fabric and glue basted the project. I forgot to take photos of the process! Getting the project ready to quilt was goal number four on my July list.

Beginning the quilting

Since I have finished quilting the guild challenge, this piece is my next one to quilt. I plan to use coordinating threads to free motion stitch around all the pieces. It is going to take time to nail all the parts down. I'll make an effort to work on it next month.

Linking to Sew & Tell, To Do Tuesday and I Quilted This.

Garden Flowers--post one

Fat quarter, parts and scraps

Goal number nine on my July list was to determine what to do for our book club quilt project. We are discussing "By Her Own Design" by Piper Huguley. It is the story of Ann Lowe, a black woman dress designer, who created Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding gown. Lowe was truly an artist when it came to dress design. From the time she was a young girl, she liked to make fabric flowers and attach them to the dresses.

Fussy cutting the flower motifs

In the stash, I had a fat quarter that was printed with large flowers. I decided to use it as well as some green strings, pink half square triangles (HST), a few leftover parts from a previous project and pink strips. I fussy cut the whole printed flowers. I was able to cut out six flowers.

Possible layout

After fussy cutting, I started to work on a layout. Because the flowers were different sizes, I used a variety of pink strips to frame the flowers. Then I trimmed the blocks to one consistent size. I continued to arrange the blocks as if they were photos on a wall.

Flowers framed

After seeing all the pink, the project needed green! I thought the green bits I had were crumbs; but, it turns out they were strings. I started piecing two and a half inch strings strips of fabric to use as sashing. I also pulled the leftover pieces from a previous project to audition into the mix.

Leftover parts to possibly add to the project

I added a few HST to the layout as well as a yellow background fabric. I made an X from four of the leftover parts. I changed the layout so the flowers circled the X.

Adding a background fabric and changing the layout

I decided that I needed one 4 1/2 inch string strip to be placed at the bottom of the project. I pieced that strip. Maybe half of this strip will be on one side of the triangle leftover with the other half on the other side of the pieced part. 

Center block on point, adding HSTs

Looking at that center block, I decided it needed strings. I pieced more strings. These strings are two and half inches wide. After contemplating the layout yet again, I turned the center block on point and auditioned the pink HSTs as a border around the center block. 

Additional flower block added

I needed another flower block. I was able to piece one from the scraps of the fat quarter. In the photo below, you have to zoom in to see the piecing line! The design needed the additional flower block.

Pieced flower

I've created a math challenge for myself. I want to piece the flower blocks around the center. How to make the design work will be a challenge for another day! I hope to be able to inset the flower blocks around the center block with straight forward piecing.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Finished or Not Friday,

Triple Treat Is A Top--post 4

Layout on the design wall

At an in person sew day with the Mavens, I sewed the remaining blocks that I needed for the top. I didn't take photos. At home, I added the blocks to the design wall. I did find one block that I hadn't sewn the neutral squares correctly. I also had two extra blocks which I used on the back.

The top

Stitching the blocks into rows and the rows together didn't take long. It measured 60 by 72 inches. I had planned to use a wide back for the backing. Instead, I decided to go into stash and choose fabrics to piece a back.

The fabrics

I started with a couple pieces of red; but, went instead with a brown, a tan and a red fabric. I've had these fabrics since 2005. Their time to leave my curated art collection, more commonly known as stash, had finally arrived! 

The back

I did cut a sleeve from the tan fabric. I used four and half yards of stash to make the back! Soon, I'll be taking the top and the back to the quilter! Making progress on this project was goal number one one my July list.

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.