Blogtoberfest Day 12

So another working week has come to a close. 5 full days again, and the usual full time parenting thing. 2nd week in a row, and I'm pooped! Tomorrow is a full day with the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild, where I'll get to meet Rita, ((I'm a bit nervous though!) and see her skills in action  - plus test out this.

I've heard good things- I think it means I'll be able to see better as I'm quilting, and do zigzags etc

I'll be quilting this one- better leave the cat at home! Why are they such suckers for clean white folded fabric?

 So I promise a picture heavy post tomorrow!

Blogtoberfest Day 11

I started this blanket ages ago, before I started the blog I think, in a different wool, making it 'just because' and I needed some portable craft. I think I halfway through and yep, ribbit ribbit (frogged!)

Now I have a niece or nephew coming, I thought it wouold be a good idea to make it fully- I have having something 'beat' me!

I had a work conference today and got the first bit done (no counting in this bit, easy!). I started the band a few weeks ago, but mistakingly did plain rib. Nope, that wouldn't do, I like it for the moss stitch!

The kid's doing swimming lessons again this term, so I'm hoping to have some more to show you by the end of term! Not that there's any hurry, this summer baby won't need this for a few mths yet. It will be TIED to the pram so it doesn't go missing!

Pattern book is here.

Blogtoberfest day 10

 So, new readers and old, I am seriously apologising for my lack of quality posts. Blogtoberfest has happened to coincide with about 3, maybe 4 weeks of full time work- eeek! I'm excited because it means I won't be eating out of bins in December, my Most Expensive Month (2nd only to the other 11) but I'm am bloody tired! And all these babies keep getting born, and I am apparently quite indispensable when it comes to helping people with that whole business *sigh*.

But it doesn't mix well with the 24/7 single parent thing. My hand quilting and fatigue is gluing me to the couch lately, and has anyone else had a 'daylight savings hangover' kind of effect? (I've started Vit B as well, and had my iron checked, don't worry!) I easily slept from 8pm until 7am this morning.....so had some energy to get this happening tonight! Once I get off the couch I'm OK....

It's this pattern, I blogged about it the other day, but the pattern wasn't as clear. Googling the pattern number and 'images' brought up heaps of different fabrics and designs, might give a few more a go as tops too. This is the dress, and one reason I love it? Not fitted! So I don't need my dressmaker dummy, and I don't really make any adjustments. I like it lose and casual, heavier fabric may make is sit a bit different though. I've made another one in voile, and this one is Tana lawn.

 

bathroom self portraits at 10.30pm. I look quite good really.

I really like the pockets- the front piece from the pink yoke down is attached to 2 side bits. Very crap explanation, but to me very easy sewing! Now some pink cuffs and the neckline. And i'll be snapping it again to help with hem length. As it's lawn, and a bit sheer in light, don't know if i'd wear it as a dress, or as a tunic over pants or leggings. Hmm, i'll be back for an opinion on that...

Blogtoberfest Day 9

Very tired, off to bed and dream of better stuff to blog tomorrow!

Night!

Blogtoberfest Day 8

 So I got my batting delivered today, and I pulled some energy (after a flat out day at work) out of my ass from somewhere to do some basting! It's always a good way of cleaning the lounge room anyway!

So there's the backing...see my little helper sitting still for 2 secs? (he got kicked out soon after, ants in his pants tonight)

different angle. Exciting, I know.

then the layer of batting, and....

  

 and I managed to forget one of the quilt top on top. Look over here for that!

And it took under 2 hours!

'

 And I thought I shared this, but don't think I did (or it's the crap filing system I call my labels- I really need to work on them!) I read on Jeni's blog in her great post about crafting with arthritis, and I'm always for tips for saving the aches and pains that can come with the extreme sport I call quilting!

Not having one of these tools, and really not believing it would do anything, I found something similar in my tools, and gave it a whirl. O.M.G.

It really makes a huge difference!

I still can't work out how, and that bugs me as i like to know how things work! But, as Jeni says, 'It minimises stress on your fingers and wrists and simply makes the whole process faster.'

It's definitely sped my basting up. Really less painful!

 In fact, the basting was so quick (I think I was traumatised by the single girl quilt having to be stuck to the floor for a week while I thread basted it) I may have it quilted in a few nights! Then what am I going to do on Saturday?

Blogtoberfest Day 7

Even though my sew-jo will hopefully start  to return on it's own, the weather has pushed me into action, and some new garments are needed! I figured the more I have cut out and prepped, the easier it is to sit down and sew! It's what's worked for me the past, anyway:)

So I'm making another one of these; well, 2 actually, the Tana lawn from Spotlight for a dress, and the apple seersucker for a tunic.

I also (finally) started to trace out this pattern- so many pieces! I'm tempted to make a muslin out of the shorts to check fit first,  hard to tell how things will fit around your butt! Except I've just found this, good timing to read it before I start! And maybe join in :)

I also want to make view C in this pattern, some simple tops for work and the warmer weather. I've used this pattern before over here.

Is it just me, or this a massive (and unnecessary) selvedge?

And annoyed with the naughty pattern- it overestimated the amount of fabric by about half a metre! 

I wanted to show my trick for transferring markings too. I'm sure lots of people already do this, or some other form. Many times I wouldn't transfer the markings, then as I was sewing the garment together, had to pull out the pattern piece for one little dot- that can make all the difference! So I started using my hole punch- a single hand held punch would be easier, but this works fine for me. (I take to bottom off, that catches the confetti, then I can see where to punch).

 I usually half to fold the paper a bit, but then I have my dots done, to mark on the fabric, and more accurate than chalk etc. When I learnt at school we used thread to stitch the circle, this is so much easier!

Off to start sewing!

Blogtoberfest day 6

 I didn't plan to miss a day early in the month, but I seriously had nothing yesterday. Zip. Nada. Nil. 5 days of work wiped me out, and I thought a pic of our sausages on bread for dinner was just not acceptable!

So I made sure I took a snap today!

I've had serious sew-jo issues lately, haven't been at the machine all week, the couch is my friend at the moment! So in lieu of my sewing, I present- the cutest little baby gift my sister got given. Her friend is obviously a talented knitter! No idea of the pattern or wool etc, we were a bit worried though is may be a bit small- my niece or nephew will be a summer bub and not a small one at that! Always good to look at though; or save for number 2 (hmmm, that comment wasn't appreciated halfway thought the first pregnancy!)

 Actually, there are only 11 weeks to go, so I finally grilled her and got a plan of what I can sew etc, and some ideas of baby room gifts. 2 plans are this little guy

and this! Not sure what colours yet. Pattern from here, which I can hopefully pick up here.

And she gave my little/big girl a pressie- her old iPod, which will do great until her b'day in a few months! This burning to CD drama was so 1990's, we have added some technology to the house! Sad that I had to go wake the kid up to learn how to turn it off *sigh*