Tag: crafting

Caitlyn, quilts, sewing

One Crazy Pillow

 

When Caitlyn was younger and invited to birthday parties, shopping for a gift was pretty straightforward. I’d set a budget, we’d talk a little about a theme and then go to the book store. She didn’t always choose a book for her friends but Barnes & Noble does have a ever changing collection of activity books and small toys; it was a system that kept things fairly simple and contained. No popping indecisively in and out of stores, minimal distraction from other items that maybe weren’t right for the birthday person but just perfect for Caitlyn. Not to say that …

sewing

Yak Shaving

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Somewhere in the middle of last month, I pulled out the cream colored interlock knit I bought ages ago with intentions of making something for me. I located and prepped all the pattern pieces I needed to make view D of McCall’s M6513. Ian helped with the tissue fitting. And then I discovered the interlock was about an eighth of a yard short. If this were a true case of yak shaving, the story would continue like this: So, I gathered my things to head off to the fabric store. But I discovered a flat tire on our one car. …

sewing

Gnomes

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I’m not normally a garden gnome person. I don’t collect ceramic statuary for the garden. But I randomly found a copy of Gnomes in the library when I was a kid and something about the tiny people in their pointy red hats has just stuck with me. So, when In The Beginning announced a fabric collection called Better Gnomes and Gardens… well, ok, I squealed and showed pictures of the fabric designs to a long list of very patient friends. And then I bought a bit more than was seemly. Now I have gnomes and not a lot of plans …

Caitlyn, sewing

Collaborations

 

We recently had some gift-giving occasions come up. I nudged Caitlyn a bit (“I bet Grandma would really like it if you made a little something for her…”), and then she surprised me with a request to borrow the fabric markers. We talked it back and forth a bit (“It would be weird to draw on a piece of fabric and then not turn it into something…”) before she settled on potholders/mug rugs. The results are almost all Caitlyn. She pressed the fabric; I cut the squares and marked seam allowances. She came up with and drew the designs. She …

sewing

Stashbusting with the Sewasauruses

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It’s only been recently that I’ve started to take seriously the challenge of “sewing down” the fabric stash. Several of last year’s projects have “use what you have” as part of their guidelines. I’ve used stash-fabric for many of my Sew.Quilt.Give. contributions. Throughout last year, I had the general goal of not buying lots of new fabric; I don’t know that I succeeded at this, since I have a teetering pile of “potential” clothes. Not buying more fabric is one thing. Using up the stuff on hand is another. I may have intentions to live lightly and not accumulate stuff, …

sewing

Other things I made in December

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Rather than drag out the “catching up with things I made last month” posts any more than I already have, here’s a (incomplete and abbreviated) wrap up of some of the things I made on a whim. Like these woven stars. I used Betz White’s tutorial, which is way easy to follow. I used tweezers instead of a bodkin (’cause I don’t have one) to finish the weaving. The binder clip hint is essential. I am wondering if these stars would come out if I used sewn fabric tubes instead of quarter-fold strips. There’s a lot of fabric folded away …