2020 Wk 15 - a finish

The t-shirt quilt has been finished, delivered (a 2 mile walk - permitted exercise), decontaminated, and received with delight,

I spread it out on the drive before I set off: the front

And the back

I have also been cutting more masks: no huge production plans but they all have homes to go to so I’ll keep making them while they are required

However the sewing machine started making a strange noise so production stopped for a while.

Luckily I have an engineer on hand, so while he did this

I did this

And this !!!!

2020 Wk 12 - Zip zip zippy day

we were not able to hold Crafty Church yesterday, but I did go and open the church for a time of prayer and reflection, and so I could use the doors/tables to plan a customer's quilt.

All planned now so I can start sewing

I may have done some shopping!    I do have a weakness for pre-wound bobbins and was delighted when I found a UK based site selling them.  Not only much cheaper on postage, but the USA site had pages and pages of machine manufacturers and which bobbin size . . . but my machines weren't on the list.  At www.embroideredjust4u.co.uk, she just listed 4 choices for Brother - nice and easy!

So I treated Lizzie to black bobbins and some pretty colours, and the sewing machine (which doesn't have a name) to a whole load of colours!

Two of the classes that have had to be postponed were for a zippy pouch - one was a machine class and one was hand sewing, but both needed samples, and my hand sewing ladies don't mind if I machine sew a sample for 'their' class.

My problem is that I wont remember the construction methods when I don't to teach these so I am saving my sanity by recording the methods along with the photos here!

The instructions are very "short hand", but if you do want more info just zap me a comment or email

Curt a piece of vinyl into a square or rectangle about 1/2 inch bigger than the size you want the pouch.  Cut the vinyl into 2 where the zip needs to go: could be 50/50 but I usually go for about 1/4 and 3/4 sections.

For all the methods you need to attach the zip to vinyl fabric using favorite method resulting in at least 1/2 inch fabric on both lengths of the zip.  I use this method (use instructions 1-7 here) -   Cut strips of fabric 2" wide fold in half, press, fold edges into the middle, press: you now have zipper binding 1/2" wide

Tuck the edge of one piece of vinyl into to the opening until it's flush with the back, pin or clip in place.  Place on top of the zip tape and sew through the zipper binding, the vinyl and the zip.  repeat on the other side of the zip so the vinyl is now once piece with a zip in it.

Cut internal fabric and external/backing fabric pieces the same size as the prepared vinyl.

Layer fabrics as shown (but so edges match), pin in place

Non- Bias Binding method
Cut length of non-bias binding equal to perimeter plus 8".  Bind as for a quilt.

 

Bias Binding method
As above, but round the edges of the pouch and bind with bias binding gently easing around the corners

Birthing method (full vinyl front)
Stitch all the way round but leaving a 6" gap for birthing

 

Birthing method (bordered vinyl)
I prepared the vinyl/window piece by adding a border to the vinyl, then slicing into the fabric border and adding a zip

 

The birthing method pouches have not been finished so we can look at them layered up in the class.  When birthing remember to turn by putting your hand in where you can feel the zipper pull and turn that section to the outside.

2020 Wk 9 - Hexie Hems and stuff

Hexie Hemming: I have two denim tunics that are very similar.  I shortened the sleeves on one and finished the edges with hexies (I blogged about them here).  I had plenty of chambray fabric left so I kept going with the tacking and whip stitches and finally added a slightly deeper border to the hem of the tunic

I'm rather pleased with it!!!

The hem measurements weren't  quite right to match the size of the hexies but this is the join at the back, and I can certainly live with that!!!

The lovely Stitch ladies met on Saturday - lots of sewing and organising (and maybe a fair bit of chatter too!)  You can read about our aims here

 
I'm doing a class for a local authority Well-being Week later in March, so I've been working on a sample - doing a bit of . . . hmmm . . .

Slow Stitching?

Mindful Making?

Calming Couching?

I suppose it doesn't mater what it's called - I just hope they enjoy decorating their bags!

I've rotary cut a whole load of pop concert t-shirts for a quilt I'm making for a customer

And I've used some more Happy Fabric to make another Christmassy t-shirt

La Passacaglia and Polly

My La Passacaglia EPP block has been progressing: I took the very brave step to add some fussy print fabric into the solids.  I'm really pleased with the way it is progressing

A few days ago Polly, a friend of Niki's, came over.

Polly had mentioned she had a load of t-shirts that she wanted to make a t-shirt quilt with, could I help?

We started with a pile of t-shirts, and a couple of metres of fusible interfacing.

We reckoned the maximum square we could get from the t-shirts was 12.5", so cut the interfacing to 14" squares and ironed it to the inside of each t-shirt: after a few false starts and a bit of fusible fused to the iron rather than a t-shirt, we then set to cutting.  Polly was new to using a rotary cutter or a 12.5" square ruler, but got the hang of it pretty quickly, so soon we had a good sized pile of t-shirt squares

We then did a bit of speed dating until she was happy with the layout, and she then learnt the easiest way to make a quilt: Stitch the squares into five columns, arrange column #3 in the centre of a fleece blanket, pin #2 to its left, pinning through #3 AND the fleece, then stitch along the pinned line.  Press #2 open, spray baste in place, and then pin #1 in place and repeat until all done: 4 lines of stitching has assembled the quilt, and has adequately quilted it.

A further two lines to baste down the two outer edges and within seven hours she has gone from a pile of t-shirts to a quilt (OK, "coverlet") she can sleep under until we get time to cover the binding lesson

The pic of Niki and Polly is from a few years ago, but its a lovely pic of them both, and that t-shirt is included in this quilt (left hand side, just above Polly 14)

And here is an up to date pic of Lisa: The sign says "You are standing at the Northernmost point of the Australian Continent"  She got there!  Now sadly she is heading back south, further away again :-(