What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I've been totally lazing in bed this morning and not getting my butt up to write the blog! It's OK to be lazy every once in a while. 

My presentations went well yesterday, except that I brought the WRONG cable for the projector, so I had to run out at lunch time to buy a new one. That irks me as I have plenty of these cables at home. So it's a lesson, don't just grab and put in the bag - double check the ends! I have no one to blame but myself. 

At the end ...

No change in the numbers.

The week was a bit of a mixed bag. Busy work days kept me out of the sewing room more than I planned. I also decided to alter a shirt I made a few years ago. I wanted to wear it, but the drape was a little off. Once I figured out how to fix it, it didn’t take long. The figuring took a minute though.

Then I indulged in some browsing through kitted projects and WIPs, trying to decide what to work on this month. I bought some sock yarn last week and ...

My July OMG was making a shirt from red fabric I bought several years ago. The pattern was Butterick 6170, one of my favorite patterns from the 1990s. I sewed a straight XS, no alterations.

It turned out fine, but I had a lot of trouble with the grown on sleeves. Machine hemming them trashes the drape and causes them to do unflattering things. I ended up hemming them by hand to work around it.

This pattern will go in time out for a while. I’d like to try some different styles.

For all the other OMG finishes, visit ...

I didn’t add any fabric this week, although I had many buying opportunities. I finished the shirt for almost a yard out. All the shirt details will be in a separate post.

We went to the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild Quilt Show yesterday. Hundreds of great quilts, plus a gift shop and vendors. If you live in the area, the shows continues today from 11am – 5pm at Washtenaw Community College.

While we were out and about after the show, I found a screen printing screen at a thrift shop. That was a first. I’ve wanted to learn ...

No fabric in this week. I pulled another yard of fabric to donate.

When I was digging through a closet looking for something I found another bin of fabric. I couldn’t bring myself to look through it. I’ll sort it when I do the declutter challenge again in 2025. That has to be the last of it.

In addition to quilting Remember Me, I cut out the red shirt and started sewing it. I need to buy more thread this morning. I use neutral thread for piecing and either rayon or polyester thread for quilting. As I use ...

It’s now the second half of the year. I’m happy with what I’ve completed so far, yet it feels a bit unbalanced. The rest of the year could use a wider variety of projects.

I finished stitching and framed Summer Flowers in June, then started a new stitch project.

I began The Short List many years ago to create short-term goals and a way to focus. I change things up as my priorities and interests change.

Project 1 (Stitching): Peace on Earth by Cottage Garden Samplings. This is the first I’ve stitched one of their patterns ...

FREEDOM!!!

OK -- so I'm not entirely off the hook as I have urgent paperwork to do this morning, but I spent most of yesterday just puttering and doing what I wanted, and it felt glorious! 

I am determined to keep things under control - OK - until the next crisis hits, but if I keep myself organized, those deadlines shouldn't be an issue? Perhaps I'm deluding myself. That's OK - I can live in a dream world. 

But the biggest issue for me is keeping the space clear. Why is that so hard? I seem to need a table ...

I’ve made baby steps forward pairing the shirt fabrics with patterns.

Although I chose a pattern for the blue fabric, I’m undecided. Looking at the view in the top left, the off the shoulder style concerns me. I’m not one to walk around with my bra straps showing. I would have to wear a cardigan or jacket and keep it on.

For the red fabric I chose an old favorite. It’s between one of the middle views, although I wouldn’t do the color blocking.

I’m also considering a long term stitch project, most likely ...

No change in the numbers.

There’s been a lot of thinking about new projects here. I pulled a couple cuts of clothing fabric out of stash for a second project to alternate with quilting Remember Me.

The red fabric is a woven from Fabric Mart. The blue fabric is a knit from Field’s Fabric. I have enough of both the make a shirt, but haven’t matched the fabrics to patterns yet.

I’m hoping a second project will motivate me to sew more.

Fabric In: 11 yards

Fabric out: 16.375 yards

Net Fabric Used: 5.375 ...

I had seen photos online of tote bags people had made from fabric, using men’s ties for the handles. I decided to go a little further and use one of my late husband’s shirts for the body of the bag.

Decide the approximate dimensions of the tote bag. I cut the shirt so that the front pocket was included, but in the end it became decorative only. I may adjust the tutorial in the future so that it would be a functional pocket. I now had two pieces of fabric of the same measurements.

Keeping the button placket ...

The challenge quilt has been my focus, but it no longer has a deadline. The group will not submit quilts to AQS this year after several members had a whole lot of life happen recently, not in a good way. Maybe next year.

My attention switched back to the pinwheel quilt, which should be finished in the next week. I will continue working on the challenge quilt (note to self – come up with a real name), but I need another project. The creative possibilities for the challenge increased when the time constraints disappeared. Sounds like an opportunity to experiment.

Sticking ...

I don’t usually do a plans post, but I definitely have them and decided to share. I’ve enjoyed seeing other people’s plans. They help motivate me to focus on what’s important to me creatively.

For better or worse, here’s the list.

Sewing Plans:

4 original quilts

2 garments

1 charity quilt

1 UFO

Stitching Plans:

Finish stitching 2 pieces

Fully finish 3 pieces (Frame, turn into a pillow, mount, etc.)

That’s an ambitious list for me based on how much I usually finish in a year.

Projects will fit into categories based on how ...

My OMG for July was to make a shirt from this fabric and pattern.

I finished it last week. The first picture shows the color more accurately.

I used a gauze fabric I bought at Joann’s a few years ago. It tended to have a mind of its own and shifted if I looked at it wrong. It doesn’t pay to but mediocre fabric. I’ve just about learned that lesson.

More importantly, it’s done.

I’m linking to the finish party at Elm Street Quilts.

No fabric in this week.

I finished the shirt for a yard out.

The color is off in the picture. The shirt is a true green. I’m not wearing it because it’s still wet from washing.

New projects in the works remain in the pressing and cutting stage. It takes a while to get rolling on something new.

Fabric In: 0.5 yards

Fabric Out: 8.875 yards

Net Fabric Out: 8.375 yards

How did you do this week?

 I think my neighbor heard me! While my lights came on at dusk, her house was dark! Maybe they are not on a timer. Or perhaps she only turns them on when she has company coming? Either way, I hope we don't get to see them often. I've spoken to the neighbor between us, and she hates them also as they shine into her house. Hopefully, we'll all be neighborly and get along, but the people living there are pretty elusive. You rarely see them. Actually, I think it's just one person who lives there. 

But ...

No fabric in or out this week.

The shirt is together but not finished. I still need to hem the sleeves and the bottom and add a button. I’ll finish it this week.

I’ve thought about the next project and keep changing my mind. I narrowed it down to four and then two. I chose one. I backtracked to one of the original four. Whatever sparkles the most the day I’m ready to start will be the next project. I’m not sure why I even wasted time thinking about it.

Fabric In: 0.5 yards

Fabric ...

The new month came quickly, leaving me scrambling to figure out the next projects. So many choices, limited time.

I met my goal last month of finishing the Pumpkin Patch top, and then finished the quilt shortly after. The next project on the mindless list is a quick sew.

Project One: I’m still stitching My Sewing Treasures by Bobby G Designs.

Project Two: I haven’t worked on the band sampler. I’m debating if I stitch the rest of the bands or just the final colored band to balance it out.

Project Three: I’m sewing a simple ...

We are half way through the year! How are you doing on your goal?

No fabric in this week except some wool scraps. I gifted a small piece of fabric to someone that needed it for a project. I’m not counting the wool because I don’t count less than an 1/8 yard either way.

I didn’t finish quilting Punkin’ Patch in time to count it this week.

I washed the fabric for my next project, a shirt.

The fabric is a rayon/polyester double gauze in the color green pepper. It is a true green. I ...

The months go by so fast, summer especially. It’s a bit harder to fit in creative time around all the outdoor activities.

I finished my goal last month of quilting Open Dialogue, and then finished the quilt a few days later.

Project One: I’ve stitched about half of My Sewing Treasures by Bobby G Designs. It’s still in the frame crooked.

Project Two: I haven’t worked on the band sampler. It’s patiently waiting its turn.

Project Three: I want to sew some clothes again. The next item will be a shirt, although I haven’t ...

No fabric in this week. I finished the nightgown for 2.5 yards out.

Thanks to my sister for gifting me the fabric. It is so soft and snuggly. It definitely keeps me warm at night.

The pattern is McCalls 2848, which is out of print. I bought this one uncut at a thrift store.

I sewed a medium and it’s way too big. Even a small would have been huge on me, the pattern is so oversized. I shortened the gown 5” and the sleeves 6”. Because the pattern uses the same pieces for men and women, it ...