Monday, June 26, 2017

Sundresses for Outreach

My quilt guild decided to make dresses for the Christian organization called Dress a Girl Around the World. We used fabric we had in our collections, added contrasting pockets and bias tape and taa-daa!


They are fun and so easy. Each one took a little more than an hour. Since I have two sons and two grandsons, I've never sewn for a little girl before. It was great to put color combinations together and choose buttons.



Thursday, June 15, 2017

Cotton Toothbrush Rug

I was still stalled on the wool toothbrush rug, so for some reason I decided to try it in cotton. Here's the color palette.

This one too, was a little wonky, but I just kept going.

April 12, 2017
May 29, 2017
June 15, 2017

I like it! Just right as a bathmat in front of the commode. No more bare feet on the cold floor.

Monday, June 12, 2017

This Quilt Needs a Better Name

The 54-40 or Fight quilt top is finished.


I decided 3 x 3 with one border was large enough for a community quilt, and I was ready to move on. The name was originally a slogan from the 1840s, concerning the turmoil surrounding the Oregon boundary dispute, which was caused by competing British and American claims to the Pacific Northwest of North American. You can read more about it here. But I need to give it a better name.

ETA: It came to me while I was filling out the quilt show entry form: Stars Over Lake Emily. Lake Emily is a reservoir less than a mile from our house. I love how the mind works.

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Project Caddie Makeover

A friend of mine has been finding homes for her deceased Mother-in-law's belongings. The woman was a talented sewer, knitter and needle artist. I was excited when I was offered this vintage project caddie. It looks like something from the 1960s, don't you think?


I took it apart and used the pieces as a pattern for the makeover. The original was lined and had a pocket, so I lined mine and included a pocket too.


I was feeling my way along as I worked and somewhere in there realized, just because I don't know exactly what I'm doing doesn't mean I can't do this. After that I stopped stressing myself and it came easier. I also noticed my fabric was a directional, with the water pool pattern going side to side, so I made sure to cut out all the pieces right-side up.

The wood is so beautiful. It stands by my chair while I knit, and folds away against the wall when not in use.