I’m really excited about the class.  I’ve taken sewing and quilting classes before but this is the first online class I’ve been involved in.  I think I’ve sewn just one curved seam in my life, so this will be a good thing for me to learn.  Learning new skills is part of my goal for 2012, to feel more joy.  When I’m learning I am happy because I’m growing.  The moment that cinched the deal on paying for the class was when I saw this retro flowers quilt.  I want to make one and so I’m going to learn how to sew curves.

My biggest worry with this class is that I really don’t have time for it.  The lull on our calendar during early winter has disappeared and life is in full swing at our busy home.  I hope I’ll be able to find the time to master this skill and make some great things along the way while still keeping life running smoothly.  That’s why my sister and I signed up together, so we can make sure we get our projects done and keep life balanced as well.  I’m super excited to take the class with her.

For those here visiting from the class, I’m a stay-at-home mom  who would love to actually be able to spend more time at home!  I have eight children ranging from age 14 to 2 and yes, they’re all mine.  (Hence my nervousness about not finding time to master this like I hope to.)  Sewing has become one of my favorite hobbies, something permanent that I can do in a home where everything seems to be undone 2.5 seconds after I finish it.  I love color, texture, pattern and using beautiful fabric seems to fill a creative need in my life.  Honestly, my skills are probably somewhere in the novice circle, but I’m not bothered by it.  I know I’ll get better over time and make a lot of useful things along the way.  I try to spend a few minutes every day or two at my sewing machine, even if it’s just for ten minutes.

I’ve always loved to make things and hope I’ll learn to make some great new things this month.   So welcome, February!

What are you going to do this month?

Jennifer

Here’s what I need help with.  I made three stacks of flannel fabrics I could use for this project, but I’m not sure which one to use.  Like I said, I’ve never met them and have no idea what the mother’s style is.  So I’m asking for opinions.  Would you mind letting me know which stack you prefer?

#1

#2

#3

And also on the sewing table, these squares that I’ve finally started piecing together.  A houndstooth quilt is on my list of quilts to make this year, and it’s finally underway.  I’m going for red and white.

Please leave a comment telling me which bundle you would prefer if you were receiving a baby girl quilt.  Thanks so much, I really do appreciate it.

Jennifer

Meet my first quilt of 2012!  I was so grateful to finish it in time for last weekend’s baby shower.  It’s now in the hands of an amazing mother-to-be.   Full of  color and pattern, I hope it is used often.

I did something I’ve never tried before for the back.  I used two different brown solids and made wide stripes.  I quilted it on my machine along both sides of the seams on the quilt top.

I bound the quilt in a bright red alphabet print.  I like the way it carries the cheery center of the quilt top out to the edges and ties it all together.  The red also looks great against that chocolate brown.

This quilt was a lot of fun to piece together.  I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Let’s hope I get this finished in time!

HH

I liked this first block.  It’s different.  I like the subtle chevron pattern that would emerge if you made several of them and lined them up next to each other.

This second one I’m not thrilled with, but at least it’s done, right!

The last one I really like.  It’s a beautiful block, and my favorite blocks in this quilt have been the blue and gray ones, so no surprises here.  I’m so in love with that blue and white polka dot and I used almost all of it for this quilt.  I hope someday to find more of it.

I don’t think I’ve ever heaved such a sigh of relief while sewing than I did when I finished this block.  It was TEDIOUS.  I counted when I finished, and there are 64 different pieces of fabric in that 12.5 inch block.   !!???!?!??  I started the year thinking I wanted to make more complicated quilts, or at least a quilt with some little tiny pieces in it, but after this block I’m not so sure.  I don’t know if I have the patience for it.

So, all 16 blocks are finished.  Now I need to trim them, add the sashing, and figure out how to quilt it.

Do you ever just wish you could go straight from not knowing how to do something to being good at it in the blink of an eye?  I know that’s a very adolescent thing to wish for, wanting to have the blessing of a skill without first paying the price, but in this one thing I still wish for it.  I wish I knew how to do free motion quilting without going through the pain of ruining fabric while learning BUT like everyone else I’ll have to just get started and mess things up until I learn.   I really want to learn it, so why do I dread it so much?  {This whole paragraph just screams “perfectionist”, doesn’t it?}

For now I’m just happy these blocks are completed.  Hooray!

This next one I loved, so I made a second one in softer colors.

And these two are among my favorites.  This block is beautiful.  It would make a lovely quilt all on its own.

Only three more to go and I’ll have these blocks done.  I don’t know why they’re bugging me so much.   I’m half excited and half dreading putting the quilt top together to see if I like it or not.  At least I’m learning some new techniques, right?

HH

Well, I guess fresh eyes can help.  I feel like I’m selecting the fabrics better this time and I actually like the blocks I’ve done.  Here they are:

I’m loving the gray and aqua in this block.  Like a bit of happiness poking through Utah’s gray skies (which have been much sunnier this winter, but we’re also missing snow).

This last block was funny.  I worried as I was cutting and making it that I would hate it, but it turned out so great that it’s my favorite!  Pleasant surprise.

Those bright blue flying geese make me happy.

One pattern is no longer available and two I’ve opted to skip.  I’m half way there, with eight blocks finished.  I have five more to make and will then choose three favorites to make a second of.

Oh, it is nice to be sewing again!

Jennifer

P.S.  I got my sister the Farmer’s Wife book for Christmas and I think we’re going to quilt along together on that one.  We’re both really tempted to sign up for an online sewing class together.  I’ve also got another blogger’s quilt along that I’m planning to start.  But I’ve got to get this one done first.  Should be fun!

Most of these fabrics came from my stash.  I used all of the Marabella prints I had because I remembered my sister-in-law loved them and added a bunch of Joel Dewberry prints as well.  Then I just started adding some of this and that until I came up with a mix I liked.

The quilt is simple patchwork with the exception of one pink block the size of four blocks on which I appliqued an “E” and embroidered her name, Elsie.  I’m not the best at this kind of thing but I think it looks ok and I think it’s sturdy enough to survive many trips through the laundry.  What’s the point of a baby quilt you’re afraid to get dirty?

For the backing I pieced more squares and then framed them in white.  You can see that the quilting was done simply, sewing through the center of each square except the big E.  I was worried I’d want more quilting on it when it was done, but it turned out how I wanted it to.

For the binding I used a Joel Dewberry print in a dark pink.  I like the way it frames all the other shades of pink inside the quilt.

This quilt now lives in Mississippi with Elsie and her family.  We love them and miss them.  My two year old calls every baby she sees “Baby Elsie.”   We hope they like it!

In the midst of our crazy week last night, and on a night when I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep, I went to a sewing class and made this skirt for my daughter.

I love fabric and I love to sew, but I’m scared to death of making clothing.  Oh, I’ve known for a while that I really ought to learn to make skirts at least, especially with five daughters.  I also know how difficult it is to find skirts that are long enough to be modest.  Yet I’m intimidated by the patterns so I haven’t done it.

Two weeks ago I was in a fabric store for some thread and overheard several women talking about this fabric.  I decided to peek at it, and it was gorgeous.  Gorgeous in several different colors.  I listened more and discovered they were talking about making skirts with it.  I asked a question and they pointed above my head at the sample hanging from the ceiling.  The class was less than a week away and they still had an opening.  On a total whim, I bought fabric in four different colors and signed up for the class.

I started with a skirt for my two year old because I could pick my favorite color, the vintage aqua that I love so much.  I enjoyed learning more about how to deal with this particular material, which is tricky with the ruffles.  My machine and I had to do some fiddling to figure out the best settings for slippery fabric since all we usually do is cotton quilting weight material.  I also got to learn about using a double needle to attach the thick elastic waistband to the material.  The double needle allows the elastic to stretch without breaking any thread.  I didn’t know that before Thursday night!

Really this is such a simple skirt that I shouldn’t be bragging about making it, which is exactly why it was a good first project for me.  I plan to make one for each of my daughters in the next couple of weeks.  It happens that both of my little ones fit this skirt and it’s made me smile to see them taking turns wearing it.

It always feels good to learn something new, doesn’t it?

While many people were out shopping early Friday morning, I skipped the Black Friday action and treated myself to a few hours of sewing.  I managed to put together this Christmas rag quilt for my family to snuggle under for the next several weeks.

This quilt is made entirely with flannel prints from a Christmas collection that was available two or three years ago, of which my favorite print was the one pictured above.  I’m sorry to say I can’t remember the name of the collection or the designer.  I cut the pieces last year but never quilted them or pieced them together.  This year I quilted each square with a star in the center and then pieced the quilt.  You can faintly see the star quilting above.

At the last minute I decided to turn the squares on their point.  I’m glad I did because it gave me an opportunity to practice working with triangles, something I want to get better at.  I think it adds a bit more character to the quilt.  The seams were then snipped and the quilt was thrown into the wash.

The edges frayed nicely and I’m happy with it.  I haven’t made a rag quilt for two years, and while I usually prefer a traditional quilt, it was the perfect project for this fabric.  I’ve also learned that sometimes people are afraid to pick up a nice quilt and snuggle under it, but I’ve never seen anyone hesitate to grab a rag quilt (especially a flannel one) and use it.  I have a few quilts I’m careful with, but I really believe that there’s no point in making a quilt unless you love it and, therefore, use it.  Rag quilts just seem to beg people to use them, and I’ve yet to meet someone who won’t oblige.

This one went directly from being photographed to being loved, which made for a happy quilt, happy Mom and happy kids.  It’s been constantly in use since then.

Do you have a favorite quilt you snuggle under?

Jennifer