Scrappy

I spotted some modern, geometric quilts on Pinterest last year and after pinning a handful, decided to make one. I just finished up the last of the binding this past week and managed a few photos in the 35 minutes of the day when there’s actually sunlight. Ah, January…

For fabric, I used a mix of my own designs and remnants from other sewing projects. A handful of the blocks are Spoonflower test swatches (my designs Russian Alphabet, Zakopane and Penhallow Street). I’ve also used prints from my 2018 fabric collection Eloise’s Garden. Because I had some on hand, I used polar fleece in lieu of batting. It doesn’t have the same satisfying squish factor as batting, but in a pinch, worked. And since the idea of making mountains of bias binding had me losing the will to live, I opted to do a self-binding (here’s a tutorial). I quilted everything by hand with basic squares all over, some following the outlines of the blocks and others overlapping. I love hand quilting. It’s a slow, slow process, but if you add a binge-able podcast and cocoa to the mix, it’s delightful.

And I am looking forward to curling up with this quilt and a book at the soonest possible opportunity.

Staying Warm

It seems like everybody and their brother is sewing a quilted vest at the moment and because it can snow here until April, I didn’t feel like it was too much of a lost cause to be making one myself in March. I’m using prints from Eloise’s Garden, vintage linens, Spoonflower test swatches and a few bits of linoleum block printed fabric. And this quilted vest pattern from Purl Soho is free (!), so that’s what I’m using to put this all together.

Other March things:

• I’m reading An Unsuitable Attachment at the moment.

• Around the World in 80 Days is delightful escapist fare. It’s also making me want to travel. Badly.

• Only a few more days until Anne’s Tragical Tea Party! There’s lots of “raspberry cordial” in this book. Poor Diana…

Seeing Stars

I started cutting out the pieces for this quilt right before my niece was born and just finished sewing the last seam this past summer. Said niece turns two next month. Oops. Better late than never?

I used prints from Eloise’s Garden for this, mostly pinks. The polka dot fabric I found years ago for free and had been holding onto for the right project. And the whole thing was hand quilted, because it’s a wonderfully slow process that allows me to binge boxsets without any accompanying guilt. Also, as a quilting neophyte, I can’t rave enough about the tutorials over on Suzy Quilts, especially her Reverse Sawtooth tips. I referenced her notes repeatedly and they’re terrific.

And said niece is enjoying the quilt, mostly because it lets her pretend to be the The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt.

Cozy Up, Redux

Doing some more making with this faux patchwork design, from my Cozy Up fabric line.

I needed some instant gratification sewing, so whipped up Simplicity 1080. This is my second time sewing, so I ended up making a few modifications:

• I made my own own bias tape for the neckline and next time around, would bind the armholes similarly. Both times I’ve found the armholes a little fussy and they haven’t finished up as cleanly as I’d like. I also raised the armholes, as they had been low on the first dress I made. That’s not typically an adjustment I have to make, so probably worth bearing in mind, if you choose to sew.

• I dropped the front darts about an inch and a half, so they sit closer to the natural waistline. As the pattern is drafted, the darts create more of an empire waist.

• I skipped the front pockets completely — it’s a fun feature, but I wanted something more basic. I also shortened the back ties by a couple inches.

• In sewing again, I’d probably add an extra inch to the bottom of the dress, for hemming purposes. I’m 5’5 and had just enough to do a shallow hem, but would like something deeper for the future.

Overall though, this pattern is a great basic and easy enough that you can probably make it in a day. And now I have my eye on making a few more, to carry me through the summer.

Cozy Up

This winter my second collection with FIGO Fabrics, “Cozy Up” came out. Inspired by the Danish concept of hygge, it’s full of mugs of hot beverages, snowflakes, pine boughs and all manner of, well, cozy things. I remember first working on sketches for this collection sitting at the window at Lil’s Cafe, with a latte and a cruller. Good times…

For Christmas, I decided to make a skirt with one of the prints from the collection. For a pattern, I used Zinnia from Seamwork. I made version 2, but went for the length of version 1 and skipped the belt loops. A quick sew, I love the shape, the pleats and most especially, the pockets (yesssss). I’d definitely make this one again. The only thing I’d rethink is a different finish on the side seams and pockets, but live and learn.