Some more charity sewing

This is one of the things I've missed since being signed up for so many swaps. I didn't have much time to do charity sewing. Tuesday night is our next Philly MQG meeting so I wanted to get a couple pillow cases done for our charity. I got two finished, this one you have seen:

And this one was completed today.

I also got done my two blocks for the Bliss group of do.Good Stitches. We used this tutorial from Hyacinth Quilts for our blocks. I really like this design, actually, this is one of my favorite parts of these bees - finding new blocks and great tutorials!

It feels good to get some things done for others. I have a charity quilt planned and set aside but I need to get cutting the fabrics. That's a good excuse to avoid doing my curtains right.

My crash and burn during KCWC

Disclaimer: I wrote this on Thursday, a day in which I spent a good amount of time at a toddler party, got seriously head-banged and got a sunburn. I might have been crabby.

I mentioned before that I had started making this Oliver + S pattern in knit for Kids Clothing Week Challenge. This was my first time working with knit. I decided to go with the dress since I had enough fabric.

I wanted to give an update on what’s been happening with this project. First off, I’ve also never worked with an Oliver + S pattern. My first tip for you - the layout diagram for cutting your pattern pieces is actually on the pattern piece rather than in the instructions. It took me longer than I want to admit to figure that out!

For the first time I used Dressmakers Tracing Paper to trace the pattern right onto my fabric without having to cut the pattern pieces. I only used this for some of the pieces since she was the largest size I wasn’t “ruining” the piece by cutting it out.  This stuff worked pretty well. You place it between the cloth and the pattern and it works like carbon paper. You do have to press SUPER hard to get a dark enough mark, but it worked and I was happy with the results.

I was also referred to this link on Sew Mama Sew for information on working with knits. It was super helpful and I encourage anyone interested in working with knits to read it. Things started off really smoothly.

I used Stitch 8 on my Bernina for sewing the pieces together. Here’s what my seams looked like on the inside.

Everything worked really well until I had to do the hemming of the dress and sleeves. I used my "Steam A Seam",  got my double stretch needle out and fixed all my settings, but I still had this problem.

I asked on flickr and was encouraged to get the wooly nylon thread.  Apparently Joann’s doesn’t carry it. I got the Bulky Nylon thread to try since it had a stretchiness to it. It’s gotten mixed reviews on the web  but I figured I would try it anyway. I got good results when I did it on my test fabric. But look what happened when I did it on my real hem.

ARGH!

I’m so done with this project. I was really proud of what I had finished. Here’s how it stands right now.

And isn’t the neckline so cute?

And I'll tell you, that fabric is as soft as can be. I was having dreams of making myself some pj pants until this.

I just need to finish the freakin’ edges! What was supposed to be a quick project has turned out to be 3 days of stress. Anyone have ideas? I'm thinking maybe just doing a single straight line rather than the double needle?

In the meantime, I’ve rethreaded my machine - need to make a big push to get my kona challenge done for Tuesday’s PMQG Meeting.

A little bit more France - a quilt finish {aka Blogger's Quilt Festival}

Those of you visiting me for the first time, welcome! Those who have been reading me for a while, I am finally revealing the quilt for my daughter. Just in time for Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival.

This quilt is very special to me because it's going to be for my daughter's first big girl bed. Yeah, I'm probably crazy making a 2 year old a quilt.  But if you could see how much she loves, "mommy's quilts", you would understand. Every time I bring one out she rolls herself up in it or comes to grab an end and help me hold it up. So I knew she had to have one for her bed.

This quilt started with this table I got a Home Goods. When I found the matching end tables later I knew I wanted to do her room in a Parisian theme. When I found Monaluna's Vive La France line, I knew I had the fabrics I wanted. And then I saw Monica Solorio-Snow's Rectangle Reverie. It was exactly what I was looking for!! Everything came together so well.

If anyone has tips for photographing large quilts, I'd love to hear them! I struggle every time.

Here's a closeup of some of my favorite fabrics.

The amazing Margaret quilted this for me. She found a design that looks like a Fleur-de-lis that was perfect for this quilt. Here's a close up of her work.

As usual, I pieced my label into the backing.

I know this quilt will probably get some serious heavy use, but I'm happy with that. I know it will be well loved! In fact, she's already asking to set up her big girl bed so she can use it!

Quilt stats:

Size: 78"x88"

Pattern: Rectangle Reverie

Fabrics: A mixture but mostly Robert Kaufman Vive La France and Moda's Lily and Will

Quilted by: Mainely Quilts of Love 

Finished: 5/1/11

Thanks for stopping by. Make sure you check out the other fabulous quilts at the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

WIP Wednesday {26}

ah yes, another WIP Wednesday. Here's what's been happening in my sewing room.

Finished:
 Cute little pleated top for my daughter.
3x6 Bee blocks
Charity Pillowcase for PMQG

I got the final stage of fabric organization done with a little help. I loved Rachel's rainbow scraps in a jar. I went over to Ace's Hardware and picked up my own jars (though I probably should have gone with the biggest size since they are almost full already!). Samantha had so much fun sorting my scraps with me by color.

In process:

I'm currently working on my first stretch knit top. So far it's going well. And it's actually fun working with such a soft fabric. I'm just going very slowly and double checking every step!

I've cut a bunch of the fabrics for my Birdbath blocks. This way when I need a break from another project or have a few minutes I can put one together.

Kona Charm Challenge:
The top is done. I'm working on the back so I can show that.

This is what I've got going. Those are 2" HSTs leftover from my Supernova cutting. I think I may like the back more than the front!

The bathroom:
Stalled. Waiting for hubby to have to time to rip the paper that I can't reach. I've finished spackling and I'm looking for a light fixture to replace this one.

Tell me - is this one of these things that is now considered vintage?? Can I sell it?

Pending attention:
Curtains
Amy Butler bag

Total WIP's this week 6.

Thank you Lee for hosting another WIP Wednesday. Go check out what everyone is doing.

First kids top finished!

I started Kids Clothing Week Challenge with this little top for my daughter.

This was a great little pattern. I've never worked with this designer before, but everything was well described. And I was super happy to see that there was a different cut out for each size. Meaning, I could cut out the size 3-4 for Samantha and the other sizes are still intact and I can cut them out later if I want to use them. YAY for that!

I got this little top together in about 2 hours. I will say that I read through the directions entirely the night before that that really sped things up since I didn't have to figure everything out. 

This pattern makes a reversible shirt. Definitely make sure your fabrics match. I couldn't really see the straps on the pattern photos because the little girls hair is hanging over them. But as you can see in my photos the straps are tied so you definitely see the other fabric. She actually calls for you to reverse the fabrics so that the straps have the inner fabric showing. My fabric didn't match *that* well so I kept the matching fabrics on the strap. Here is my reversed shirt.

I will probably never reverse it because I really love that Heather Bailey fabric! I probably should have just done a solid fabric on the inside. But it's a cute option to have. And the fact that it's reversible means no hemming, no bias tape on the arm holes - yay to that to!

And per usual - I asked my daughter if she wanted to try it on and she said, "never". typical.

Planning for Kids Sewing Week

I spent a bit of time  this weekend getting all my fabrics and notions ready for Kids Clothing Sewing week.  I generally pre-wash my fabrics for clothing even though I don't pre-wash for quilting. Here's what I've got washed and on my potential list this week.

The short sleeve shirt on this pattern:

 It calls for a lightweight fabric so I got this voile from Valorie Wells. This will be my first time working with voile so I hope I don't have issues. Any  tips on working with voile?

Then I have this pattern (which also has a short sleeve variation):

This one calls for knit. I've also never done knit, but I was directed to this great article which has been helpful so far. Of course I haven't sewn anything yet! But, here's the fabric I have picked out from City Weekend.

And finally I have this pattern:

This might be the first thing I make because it just requires cotton. And- you can see on the front it's for beginners! wohoo! I found this fun Heather Bailey fabric for this one.

So I better get started!

Oh and by the way - if you want to make an awesome chocolate chip cookie recipe - check out this post. I always get flat cookies and these came out fantastic!

Kids Clothing Week - take 2

Okay, so I had recently mentally decided I needed a break from swaps and sew alongs. I think I need to take some time to sew what I want to sew. I love swapping and doing quilt alongs. They really get you to work outside your comfort zone and try new things. But I think I signed up for too many too fast (they are addicting). Anyway, I was feeling like I was always under a deadline, worried that what I made wasn't good enough, etc. It was doing my creative mojo any good. I will definitely be joining again after a little break {I'm already being very tempted by Round 2 of Spice Up the Kitchen - please help!}

And I have decided to join this group on Elsie Marley this week!

I did join last fall and only made one dress, but it was nice to have that extra push to do it. I haven't decided if this breaks my mental promise or not. There aren't any deadlines, you aren't sewing for anyone but yourself (and your kids), and you can do as much or as little as you want. So I'm thinking I haven't broken my promise. I think it's just the motivation I need to put aside the quilts and do clothing! I may even work on something for me even {such a rebel}.

Besides - I have a stack of little girl patterns that have just been waiting for me to get to them. One I noticed my daughter is almost too big for. Meaning - make it now or that's a useless pattern! So if you have some clothing you've been wanting to make, join us! The blog to follow is Elsie Marley and there is a Flickr support group here to share pictures and get help.

I'm off to sort my patterns and fabrics and get ready!