A quick quilt

Hi,

I need to blog about this quilt before I forget all the details.

On day we got a phone call to inform us that one of our good friends had fallen and broke a few ribs and was feeling pretty bad.

Fortunately we were on school holidays and I didn't have any other real sewing commitments so I came up with a fabric pull and a pattern and got busy.

The fabric is half a jelly roll of Carolyn Friedlander's Doe collection, a black tone on tone and Bella grey. The pattern is Traffic by Jaybird Quilts in lap size.

Because of the way this quilt is pieced it went together really quickly.

I basted this one on the floor because I was in a hurry, sometimes I go and use my mums huge cutting table but I didn't really have time for that this time.

The whole time I am making a quilt I am trying to decide how I am going to quilt it. I wanted it fairly simple. It still seemed to need something more though, so I added in free form zigzags to finish it off.

I posted it to our friends, who live a couple of hours away, and heard that there may have been a few tears shed upon opening it. It gives me a real thrill to give people surprises!

This quilt took a week to make. It was super fast, one of my quickest finishes ever I think. And I loved every minute of it!

Make it sew, Jess

 

 

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Dottie Angel Frockalong - Link up!

Hi fellow frock sewists!

Welcome to our link up post! But first I'll just do a brief outline of what Cassie and I have covered in the last two weeks.

First up we had the Kick off post, which talked about picking your size and fabrics. And I also spoke about lowering the pleats.

Next Cassie covered how to sew the pleats and the pockets. Part 1 and part 2.

Cassie also introduced us to our sponsors! Don't forget there are some great prizes up for offer and any progress counts!

Then I covered how to do French seams, how the neckline is finished and how to do the sleeves.

There was a great interview with Catherine and some more frock inspiration next.

And finally Cassie showed us how to do the hems and other finishing touches.

This is one of my finished Dottie Angels frocks, this one has the shoulder pleats and is made with beautiful soft summery fabric with cute zebra pockets.

I hope we have helped in your frock sewing adventure!

Please follow the link below to add a link to photo of your progress. I look forward to seeing what you have been up to!

Jess

An InLinkz Link-up

 

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Tula Pink + a Jaybird Quilts pattern = Fabulous!

Hi all,

Recently I participated in a swap on Instagram that was based on Tula Pink fabric, hence the name #aussietulapinkswap !

I learned my partner liked the Saltwater and Neptune ranges. And one of the pattern designers she liked was Jaybird Quilts.

So I did a shortened version of the Seaside table runner pattern.

Extras are usually included so I made a Curvy Clutch, pattern by Pink Door Fabrics. I also included a fat 1/4 or Neptune fabric, some chocolates and stationery bits n bobs.

I really loved making both of these! So much so that I have already made myself a full length table runner from the Seaside pattern.

I used Tula Pink fabric for this one too but I used the newer Moonshine range and went with my fav scrappy low volume background.

I quilted them both the same too! When you are on a good thing....

And this is what I received from my partner -

I love the mini and the contrasting binding just makes it pop! And the extra fabric and little sewing pouch were a lovely addition!

Til next time, Jess :)

 

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Finished in a day...Not!

I finished this quilt a couple of weeks ago....only a few years after starting it!

Ironically I made this quilt because I wanted to see if I could make a quilt in a day. I made the top in a day! I used the free Lark Quilt pattern by Amy Butler, I changed it slightly so I could use a layer cake and not have any wastage.

I also wanted to use what was in my stash, in hindsight I should have spent a few dollars to get a navy solid rather than using the print but I'm not changing that now.

It stayed in my container of finished tops for a long until I dug it out and got it professionally quilted by Fiona aka the quilting fairy. She did such a wonderful job, I totally love the feathers and the block pattern she quilted on the navy.

I am going to try to not let quilts take so long to finish from now on....ok even I know that is probably not really going to work out!

Bye for now, Jess

 

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Catch up

Hi all,

I guess it has been a few weeks since I did my last blog post. So what have I been up to?

Well I made a couple of coats for my boys. I used black corduroy and lined them with a really cool tech print patchwork fabric.

I used the Spring Showers Jacket pattern by Elegance and Elephants. They went together really easily, the only issue I had was with the length of the zip but I fixed that by using a piece of ribbon to cover the cut edges at the top. I made a feature of it and used different colours on each jacket.

Then I got horribly sick with pneumonia and didn't do anything for about a week and a half. But when my sewjo came back it was back with a bang!

I played around with the Hex-n-more ruler and came up with this quilt. I love it! It does have Y seams but they really aren't that scary anymore.

And last weekend mum and I got together and made Sew Together Bags. I had a great time!

I went a little crazy with my fabrics and used a different fabric for everything but I love it!

Right now I am working on the Gypsy Wife quilt and I have some dress fabrics washed and ready to go...so stay tuned!

Bye for now, Jess

 

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Social tote fun!

Hi all,

Last weekend Lorena came up to Brisbane and did a couple of workshops teaching the Social Tote. I went to the Sunday workshop at Mt Ommaney.

A few weeks before Lorena sent us the pattern and kit so we could do some prep work...without this we would have needed two days I think.

It is amazing how involved these little sewing caddies are. Quite a few pieces, 3 different interfacings and lots of components!

The way the lining for the tote goes together is really mind bending, 3d sewing really. It was quite a bit to get my head around to start with! It would have been really difficult to make this first tote without Lorena's guidance so I am really grateful and happy that I got the chance to go to the workshop.

I had a great time from start to finish and really loved cutting into my Tula Pink stash! Although it was a bit scary fussy cutting the raccoons ;) my fav part is the pin cushion!

I am really keen to make another one but need to source the interfacings first..

Well, we are nearly half way through our winter school holidays here so my next post might be about what we have been getting up to :)

Bye for now, Jess

 

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Time flys!

Hi all,

Wow, where is the month going? Over halfway through June already, one more week of school and the. Holidays again...I can't believe it!

I have so much to share again. My Friday schedule has gone out the window, I need to get back on track with that because it was good the be a bit more regular.

I finished the quilt that my cousin and his wife commissioned for their little girl...it took 6 months. The quilting really stumped me, I mooned over so many awesome free motion quilting designs and ended up not knowing what to do so eventually I decided to quilt it in a stipple because it is for a little girl and will get lots of use and plenty of washes. I have found all over quilting to hold up really well on all my quilts that get lots of use.

 

I used a Riley Blake wide width fabric for the backing. It is 60" x 90" in size and I quilted both of the quilts with Aurifil #2415. I kept the label fairly simple but included a card which had all the care details in it.

 

I also played with some left overs and made a matching mini. Which is soooo cute!

 

And for the backing I used some left over 10" squares.

 

While I had the quilting machine set up I thought I would finish a quilt from my UFO list...yay! Another top finally quilted!

 

I pieced this top 2 years ago on retreat and it has sat in my cupboard ever since. It is a great feeling to have it finished!

I also tried out the Jaybird Quilts Hex n More ruler.....I love it! And I made up the pattern Candy Dishes.

 

I am getting the other rulers and some more patterns to try now as I loved it so much!

 

I used part of a Noteworthy charm pack and Bella Grey for the front. On the back I used some Sunkissed fabric. Can you tell I love Sweetwater fabrics?! And these were pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2600. Actually the owl quilt above was quilted with Auriful too, another product I am really loving!

 

Well I think that is enough for now!

Talk soon, Jess :)

 

 

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Lunch bags

Hi all,

I missed my Friday blog post day...I was actually going to try and wait until I knew the lunch bags had been recieved but I just can't help myself! I have to blog ;)

I found out via Instagram that some close friends of ours had their anniversary a couple of weeks ago and I was disappointed that I didn't know. So I got stuck into making something that had been admired last time they visited us...Ayumi's lunch bags! My most fav lunch bag ever!

I used some of the enchino fabric that I won a while ago. It is so beautiful to sew with! Because I only have fat eighths I had to do different front and backs but I really love how they look. I used a layer of fusible pellon and insulbright. For the lining I used this food grade fabric called Procare that I got from the US.

I really love the hexi print in this range! I really have a soft spot for hexies!

Bye for now, Jess :)

 

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