Thimbles
My thimble collection. I bought some of them but most are from my mom.
The only thimble I can tolerate. Just one sticky dot on my middle finger, it works like a charm.
The sherbet quilts' intended recipient finally made her appearance on the 24th. Welcome to the world Vivian!
Pillow Covers
I desperately need to recover the pillows in the living room. I'd say "pillows on the couch" but mostly they live on the floor, where Merrick and Byrd make forts, jumping piles, and other fun stuff. This combination of fabrics is making me pretty happy, though I'd like to add a bit of yellow too.
Apron Revamp WIP
I am unrepentantly messy in the kitchen so I always, always, wear an apron. The one I wear now is from a restaurant supply house and I think it was made with men in mind. It had a very narrow top which didn't cover enough of my shirt so I cut a few inches off of the top, quickly redid the side seam, sewed the neck strap back on, and presto, it fit perfectly.
That apron is getting a little tatty so about a year ago I bought this red apron on sale thinking it wouldn't need any alterations, and it turned out to be wide enough but too sharply curved on the sides. So it's been languishing in the mending pile for a year. Inspired by all of the great aprons out there in blogland I thought I would put some decorative piecing, inspired by this quilt, at the neckline. I love that quilt so much I almost want to copy it. I've tried copying things in the past but it makes me unhappy and I usually end up abandoning the project.
I think next time I'll just make my own apron from scratch.
I think the balance of fabrics needs a little work.
The difference in the apron curves. Look! Christmas colors!
Ribbon Embroidery
I bought this at an antique mall when I was in my embroidery phase. I have no idea how old it is. This piece is about six inches square and looks like it's all silk.
The edge of this ribbon looks like it's been whip stitched by hand with a contrasting thread.
The back. Yes, that's tape goo on the edges. It was stretched around a piece of cardboard and taped in place, ack!
It's an all sewing post today.
The latest issue of Threads has an article on making a gypsy skirt without a pattern. The magazine is about the same price as a pattern but you can read about fixed linings and the ruffle contest winners.
I dragged my mom to the fabric store to pick out some baby patterns. Each company had a bare handful, I had expected a lot more variety. This photo is mostly a lead in to the next..
My source for knit fabric, it can be so hard to find! The American uniform is t-shirts and jeans but you would never guess that from the fabric stocked in fabric stores. Main Street has a nice selection and the swatch sets are only $4.
I put binding on the doll quilt. It only took 20 years, give or take 2, but it's finished. If you look in most quilt books there's a chart explaining how much fabric you need to make bias of x width and y length, but I usually choose the family method and cut the strips across a full piece of yardage. Fewer seams = a more attractive binding and why quibble over half a yard of fabric when finishing your masterpiece?
This time I suckered for the chart because the quilt is so small. They recommended an 18" square, which is what I used, and I had so many seams I almost threw it away and started over. I probably should have because I ended up with a seam right at the corner and it added all kinds of bulk and made things difficult to work with. Argh! Maybe I'll redo it some day but for now I'm proud to have finished something my mother and grandmother worked on together to give to me.
I'm working on hemming some maternity jeans, these are way to0 short. Hemming must be one of my least favorite sewing activities. I don't really need the space yet but my middle is getting tender and I've never liked being squished in the middle. I'm afraid I'll wake up one day soon and all of my pants will be uncomfortable.
My posting has been sparse because I'm tired (surprise!). It's not as bad as what friends have described to me, they made it sound like one step from narcolepsy. It's more like I'm dragging a bit all day. I take a Pilates class 3x a week and I thought I was going to die before I made it to Friday, I didn't leave with the same "ahh" feeling at all. One of the instructors gave birth 2 weeks ago and she's already taking mat classes, that's what kept me going the last few days. I'm pretty sure that won't be me but I'd like to avoid the "I've just done the splits on an exploding keg of dynamite" feeling.
