WHAT have you been doing in February, Sally?

It may not seem so from my lack of posting, but a lot has actually been happening. I've had an issues with getting work done on the weekends. But with my sewing room, I can work a few minutes or an hour at a time.

First up, an all Cotton version of the Caftan I've made before in minky-ish fabric. The fabric is Alexander Henry from a couple of years ago - sleeping owns with a quarter moon in their background. Of course, the pattern needed 4 yards, and I started cutting without realizing that I only had 3 and a half. SO I had to do an extensive internet search to find the same fabric so I could have matching sleeves. This took quite a while, as the same fabric is available in many places with a pink background and a light blue background, but the dark blue background - a bit harder to find! But it is done, and comfortable.

Last Saturday I went to a Sew In with my former co-workers and their pals at a socal service agency. I took along two big projects I've been working on. The eight pointed stars on the right are those I finished appliquing a month or so ago. I started these in October 1999. I hope to have a finished quilt for the star's 10th anniversary. There are 101 squares. I spent several hours trimming the squares to 9.5 inches. I did note that my applique technique got a bit better as I went along, but really did not match work from some of the others I've seen. Then I started trimming the Paris Flea Market quarter squares. I started these about four or five years ago - I have a stack of these quarter squares, then another larger stack of half squares. I think I can make a nice size quilt with just the quarter squares.

These are photos from the Sew In. My new friend Ann is on the left. Not sure who the ladies in the middle photo are, then some former co-workers in the third. It was a great day and I got a lot done.

I've finally finished my friend Paula's birthday present - almost a month late! I made a zipper bag and a tool roll to match the tote bag and work saver that I made her for Christmas.

Finally, I also finished piecing the top of my brother's Carpenter's Wheel quilt. I need to pin and quilt and bind, but the hardest part is done.

In progress: A pink corduroy shirt that only needs buttons and button holes, an apron that needs binding because I ran out mid-sewing, and two tops cut out - a short version of the caftan above, and the Natalie blouse from BurdaStyle.

Carpenter's Wheel Corner Blocks Ready to GO!

I finally have finished the four corner blocks for the Carpenter's Wheel Quilt. Finding blocks with appropriate names and appearance was a bit harder than I thought it would be.

--The upper left is Buzz Saw. I took a block at Quilter's Cache and modified it - added more "teeth" to the saw.

--The upper right is Jacob's Ladder. This is a pretty common block and I took the pattern from one of my quilt pattern books.

--The lower left is Carpenter's or Builder's Square. Again, a fairly common block and I got the pattern from a couple of books. I varied the placement of fabrics. This was the most difficult block to make. I had to do it twice, as the first time it was too small at the end!

--The lower right is Thor's Hammer. This was the most difficult to find. There are virtually no blocks I could find that had the noun Hammer in it. This was the only one. I also saw it referred to as War Hammer.

SO, now I have all the borders and corner blocks ready to attach to the main quilt. This weekend, I hope to have this top finished. Wish me luck.

Sewing This Week

Sewing this week has been fruitful. I tired of quilt piecing, so made something different. This lounge wear was made from McCalls 5768, a tunic and caftan pattern. I'm listing it on Pattern Review - see the link to it in the right hand column.

I quite like it. I had some knit I purchased last year, in a nice pink and white stripe. The feel is sort of "minky-ish" and it is super-comfortable and warm. With another winter storm coming our way, this is an important fashion choice for the next few weeks! Now I wish I would have bought the blue and white stripe too.

Here is the Carpenter's Wheel quilt as it stands as of Tuesday. I sewed all four together, with a border of very light wood design. I've got the next border cut ready to go. It is a plain medium chocolate brown (no wood), and another plain in a "light" navy blue. This border is going to be 1 inch blue, 2 inch brown, then 1 inch blue again. That will be followed by a row of dark half-squares, and a row of light half-squares, then blue again. I hope the blue will be a cool and still counterpoint to the warm wood colors.

Weekend Sewing

I didn't get as much done this weekend as I'd like, but I do have tomorrow to continue sewing. This photo shows one of the Carpenter's Wheel as it stands right now. (Pinned up on two bulletin boards, with lots of "stuff" around it!)

Today, I have sewn together several squares in order to determine what design I should use to add to the four Carpenter's Wheels. I spent about half an hour moving things around, until I came up with a satisfactory design. The photos below show the approach I'm going to take.

This row of three photos shows the two rows that will be added.

And this is a larger photo of the entire block with the additions. Of course the additions are a bit out of proportion as they haven't been trimmed and sewn together, but it gives the general idea.

Now the question - Adding those two rows where? My thought is to add the rows to each block on the inside edges - so the top or bottom and one side. That will increase the center by sixteen inches across (both vertically and horizontally). Since just the four blocks are almost queen sized, this should take it to close to king size. Then I will not add any borders to the outside edge, or a very small and plain one. So I hope to have the top finished tomorrow. Wish me luck!

First Sewing of the New Year

I have two projects to share today. The first is an on-going project - I am making a quilt for my brother with the Carpenter's Star pattern (see previous post). It was supposed to be ready for Christmas - umh, sort of missed that deadline! However, in the New Year, it has been coming along very well. Here are photos of the four Carpernters Stars, just laid together on the top of the bed. The more golden colored square is the middle. Each of the four is 32 inches square. I am now tossing around how to put these together - whether to keep the four together, or to add a border and a small center block. I want to make a border - either in BuzzSaw or Jacob's Ladder, both appropriate to the Carpenter's Star.



Then, I made a purse using the Perfect Purse pattern I've used before. This is going in the Stash Contest at Pattern Review. I used some cordless corduroy that I purchased last year, and the same cotton I used for the bike bag as lining. Sorry for the brightness of the photo - something about the contrast caused a problem with my camera.
What I did differently this time:
- made the pieces "taller" by about 2 inches;
- did not use the center curved piece for the center, but cut a straight piece (this made it easier to get the pocket in correctly;
- put in a purse zipper;
- added rosettes to each end of the single strap.

2008 Unfinished

I have two unfinished projects from 2008. Let me tell you about them!

First, I am making a quilt for my brother, Mark. It is going slower than I'd hoped. I picked fabrics that are wood grain, and first had to collect several of those. The design is called Carpenter's Wheel: in the traditional design, there are a lot of diamonds. The Easy Carpenter's Wheel uses half-squares and squares, and is easier to put together. I downloaded the design from http://www.quilterscache.com. This site is a great source for blocks and ideas. My intent is to take the design into a third round of diamonds. With four of these large squares, I'll just need to add a border and the quilt will be done.

Round 1 sewn so far The design Round two cut and prepared to be sewn together

The second unfinished project is my sewing room decor. I have made yards of crazy patch in pink and green. However, I'm still not happy - the green is just too dominating! So I will continue this project. Sew two photos of the projects below.

Help Me Decide

CLICK TO INCREASE SIZE

I want to make my brother a quilt for Christmas (2008 or 2009??) using the Carpenter's Wheel design. (see a sample pattern at http://www.quilterscache.com/C/CarpentersWheelBlock.html). I've collected eight different wood print fabrics to make this.

In trying to plan the design, I photocopied the fabrics, cut them up into 2 inch squares, and taped together three different blocks (above). The only color that really did not translate in the photos is the cream/yellow wood grain that looks plain white in the photos.

I am undecided about which looks best. I tend to like the first on the left. I like the second as well, but the third looks too busy. What do you think? Leave your comment and help me decice.