A New Dress--New Look 6298

I took a break from the quilting to get a little garment sewing in.  Just a quick little something that I had already cut out as part of a mini-wardrobe I had set for myself last fall.  I got the skirt and 2 tops done, but the dress. skirt and jacket are still on the top of my pattern cabinet cut and ready to go.  Waiting.....  

I got to a good breaking point in the quilt process and decided to pick up this dress again, New Look 6298.

It's a simple knit sheath dress made in a Liverpool double knit from Fabric.com, I believe.  I cut a size 18 neck & shoulders, a 20 bust, waist and hip.  I also added 3 inches so it would come to mid-knee on me.  My last version of this bears far too much thigh for my age and size.

Photobombed by the cat, Fritzi, making a rare appearance.  The double knit is such a pleasure to work with -- it just hums under the machine. The pattern is an easy one too with raglan sleeves that sews up quickly

I have a off-white jacket that looks great with this.  I forgot to "style it" for the photos.  

In Crazy Quilt News:  I've started on a new block.  Here's my blank slate:

Quilty news:  I finished both the inner border and the outer pieced border.  Got my batting tonight at Joann's but couldn't find the 505 spray recommended by class.  Will check at Wally World tomorrow and if that's a no go I'll order on line I guess.  

In the meantime, I'll be working on the skirt I had cut out, Simplicity 1760.

Floral Block Finished!

Good news… the floral block is finished.  I still feel like it's missing something, but since I can't determine what that could possibly be, I'm calling it done.

The open wreath roses with little pearls left such a large space, that I added the locket and bow.  The white button flowers don't show up as well as I'd like against the rose fabric, but I didn't find anything in my stash that I like any better.  The ribbon running across the bottom is actually a brown ribbon with a bit of lacy ribbon on top of it.

I really liked this applique and  how well it works on this bit of man's tie--it has so much lovely texture to it.  The buttonhole stitch actually follows the lines on the lace.  I got really close with the roses to the seam edge of the quilt.  I hope I don't lose part of a rose when these get put together someday.

This floral section was so enjoyable to work on.  These pink seed beads and yellow French knots were positively therapeutic to work on!

In Quilting News:  The Friendship Star Quilt is pieced and now I am working on the inner borders!  It's looking good--I'm surprising myself with how well it's going so far.  Knock on wood!

In Garment Sewing News:  I finished the dress, too and will be posting about it soon.  Just need a couple of photos of it. 

Well that's all for here now.  Til later y'all.

Cathy.

Work on the Floral Block Continues.

I'm still working on the Crazy Quilt Floral Block.  Here's another unit that's finished:

The center motif is an applique.  The seam on the left side is fly stitch with French knots.  The seam on the right is herringbone with pearl beads.  Above you can see a peek of lace with buttonhole stitch, sequins anchored by seed beads, and the lace is topped off with chain stitch.

The center unit is still giving me fits.  I've sewn a motif there, but it's crying out for more.  So more thought into that one and some seam treatments on one more unit and it's done.

Quilting:  I've started on the stars for the Friendship Stars Quilt from Craftsy.  So many half-square triangles to cut and press and square up before I can even begin sewing with them!  Goodness!  That got tedious quick.  Now I'm sewing again so all is good.

Garment sewing:  Miss this so much.  I'm nearly to the end of my quilt thread bobbin.  May take the opportunity to switch out threads and stitch up that dress.  It's a fairly quick sew and would keep me  and my sewing "fresh".  I'm also in need of a finished project and this would provide that.

'til next time!
Cathy 

Just a Note of Progress

It's been 2 weeks, and I didn't want to lose touch.  There has been some progress in the sewing room.

Quilting:  I mentioned in the last post I'm taking a beginner quilting class on Craftsy: Start Up Library: Quilting with Christa Watson.  Well, I'm finding it very informative and easy to follow along.  It is very rudimentary, which I like, and takes you through the processes step by step.  The teacher is very engaging and shares lots of tips not in the extensive class materials.  A more experience quilter could probably do this quilt from just the class materials.  So far, I've completed the 12 chain blocks.

Next up are the star blocks.  Really looking forward to those.

Crazy quilting:  This is something that I do in the evenings while relaxing with my husband.  I work quite a few nights so I don't tend to make very fast progress with this.  I have finished one motif I'm pleased with that did take a lot of time.

I used outline stitch, French knots for the center and beads scattered over the flowers.  I'm still working on this piece. An inspiration for the large blank center section has yet to hit.  Pinterest has yielded several possibilities if I change them a bit to suit this.

Garment sewing:  I have cut out a dress in a scuba fabric with a geometric design.  I probably won't actually stitch it up, though, until the quilt is pieced.  By then, I'll want to change gears for while and I don't like having UFOs.

I keep reading these amazing goals other bloggers post for 2019.  I admire them so much as they are posting some pretty heavy sewing goals and from their past sewing exploits these goals are attainable or near-attainable.  I don't really set goals much.  I have joined the 50-yard Dash (a stash reduction of  50 yards in 2019) and the Fabric Fast (sew from stash with only mindful purchases during the year) on Pattern Review's Forum.  These were very encouraging for me last year.  I'm hoping  they'll be more so this year.  I got so close with the 50-yard Dash in 2018--47 yards with several months of no sewing activity that I know I can do it this year.  Other than these two goals, I'd like to become adept at quilting this year.  Perhaps enough so to tackle one of Mom's quilts.

I wish you good luck with your sewing in 2019 and with meeting your sewing goals, too.

Til next time,

Cathy

It's Been A Long Hiatus

I know it's been a terribly long time since I've posted.  We lost my father-in-law to a massive stroke this summer and then my mother passed this autumn.  The two losses have left me rather depressed and unable to sew or participate in many sewing activities.  I still peeked in on my favorite blogs and on Pattern Review but rarely left comments.  But now I've begun to dabble once again and have begun to feel energized and creative once more.

Just a few days ago Renee at Hand Stitched Treasure  posted about Kathy Shaw's Crazy Quilt Classes.  I took the very beginner's class earlier this year.  It was so much fun!  It covers a lot basic of stitches and techniques at your own pace using materials you download as you complete each task of the sampler.   You don't have to do it exactly like hers, as shown in mine.  You choose the colors of fabric and threads/silk ribbon, and emblishments. She has several classes available throughout the year.  Link to Kathy's site is here.  Here's a photo of my sampler:

I've gone on to sew another block on my own .

The flower in the center is hand embroidered using a pattern from a source I no longer remember.  Oh those gray hairs!  I realize now after reading some books, that the doily in the corner is probably a mistake as it will make that seam very lumpy when/if I get it sewn together with other blocks.

In other sewing news, my mother was an award-winning quiltmaker.  She left 2 quilts unfinished.  One just needs the quilting and the binding.  The other is still in the piecing stage.  My sisters, one of who is a beginning sewer, decided that since I've done a couple of small wallhangings, I'm  am an expert too. They elected me to finish these two quilts.  I'm completely self-taught and my work is passable at  best.  I'm so intimidated by this project!  I don't want to mess it up.  I'm taking a beginner quilt class on Craftsy hoping to fill in the gaps in my education.  So far I've cut out the fat quarters and need to cut the background fabric now.  Just need a chunk of time to do it.

So, I'm quite invigorated by all the new things I'm learning and that the sewing mojo is back again. A big thank you to all those wonderful sewists I follow for your inspiration and the lessons I've learned  just by following your work.

The Jane Austin Project-- So It Begins.

It's that time again--The 10th Annual Jane Austen Festival takes place on the 2nd weekend in July in Louisville.  Daughter Anna and I had such a good time last year, we're attending again this year.  This year's theme is Persuasion.  In preparation, we're both re-reading Persuasion, Anna's favorite Austen book, and I'm sewing new costumes for the both of us.

I'm off to a rather slow start.  I wanted to do Anna's first, but I have yet to knuckle that girl down for her current measurements.  I'm trying to make stays this year, too, so the measurements are critical.  So I began at the beginning--the chemise for me.

I'm using Sense and Sensibility's Regency Underthings Pattern.  I love these patterns.  They come in a full range of sizes, 6-26, in one envelope.  The instructions are usually easy to follow, too.  The pattern pieces, though hand-drawn are on thick paper with very bold lines for tracing ease. 

As you can see, this is a very simple garment to construct.   It has a drawstring closure at the front neck; I used a pretty, narrow satin ribbon for the drawstring.   The sleeves are simply rectangles.  These are then closed and attached to the gown with a gusset.

I've never sewn a gusset before, or seen one in a garment other than in photos, so this was my head scratcher with this project.  It took several tries to get it right.  Finally looked at the pictures of the finished gusset and how it was situated then it made sense.

The fabric is a very thin voile from Fabric.com.  You can see Zelda's padding through it but it is going to be mid-July after all.   Temps are already hot and humid here and due to get hotter.  Next up are the stays.  This is my first effort at any kind of corset work so it should be interesting.  It has 3 layers of fabric, boning, and some kind of eyelet holes.   I'm intimidated but forging ahead.  Will keep you posted.

A Lace Tunic -- Simplicity 8016

There are so many cute lace tunics out there, I finally decided it was time to make one!  Simplicity 8016 was in my pattern stash and it even shows view A as a lace tunic!  The black stretch lace (from Fabric Mart)  was already in my stash, too.  A plan was in motion.

The pattern has lots of sizing options ranging from XXS to XXL in one envelope--I made the size XL. I didn't care for where the sleeve ended so I borrowed the lower sleeve band from View D.  Folding it over and tapering it made it the perfect length.

The neckline is finished with very narrow black bias binding.  I like the neat finish it gives the neck.  I used the same bias binding for the hem treatment, too.

I love how it looks with different colored camisoles under it.  This turquoise is my favorite.  I really like it with my black one, too.  This was such an easy project.  I'll definitely be looking at this pattern again!  So many cute tops in it!