Quilting Gone Wild

Nothing says Christmas like February!

It's raining, it's pouring, the two greyhounds are snoring. I'll be spending the weekend sewing, staring at the kitchen ceiling and spending time with friends. And in the spirit of friends and projects I bring you the pajama quilt.

Anyone out there who has any skills (computers, cars, knitting, sewing, etc...) will understand how this quilt came to be. I was sitting with my mom in the kitchen of our adopted family, eating dinner, decompressing from work when I heard the following words:

"Hey, could you do me a favor?"

Uhm, ok.

"Lexi has all these pajamas that she can't part with so I thought you could make something out of them."

Uhm, ok.

"Here's the bag."

Uhm, ok.

That bag sat for about two months in the same spot in the entry hall. I didn't move it. Mom didn't touch it. Finally one Saturday I opened it up, spread it out on the dining room table and saw what I had to work with. I moved the feetie pjs around like fabric swatches trying to figure out what would match what and what I could actually do with them.

And, in case you ever wondered, size 2T & 3T pjs don't give you a whole lot of usable fabric. You have to cut off the zipper, the cuffs and the feet. And, again, in case you were wondering, cutting up a small child's old pjs feels oddly rude. I mean, I was asked to do this, but I still felt like I was punching a teddy bear.

Without further ado, I present you with...

The pajama quilt! I have to admit, doing projects like this make me feel a little less odd about quilting. I mean, when you think quilting do you think of a fabulous 30-something who wears 4 inch heels on a daily basis. Sorry, off-topic, just something I think about.

Here's a close up:


Yes, this wee lady has a thing for dinosaurs. She LOVES dinosaurs. And Shamu.

For the back I just did a piece of baby blue minky fabric. For those of you who don't hang out in kids stores or fabric shops, this is minky:

You've seen the super soft nubby fabric. Yeah, this is it and its called minky (minkee? minkie?). I said I worked with it, I didn't say I knew the proper spelling of it.

I'd love to show you a picture of Lexi with her quilt but she was sick on Christmas so this had to travel to her house with one of Santa's volunteer elves. But, I did receive a plethora of texts about the quilt so I deem this project a success!

JennyLeeQuilt

As you know, in January I started taking sewing classes. I did pj pants, a skirt and the dreaded dress. By April, I finished my first quilt. (I'd insert a picture here but I worked on it until and after I gave it to Todd so I don't have one. But, you'll have to take my word that its the most fabulous turtle-themed quilt ever. Seriously, its fabulous.)

Since Regina & I had so much fun in our first quilt class we figured we'd take another one.

Now might be a good time to mention we did a really basic quilt class to start. Here's a picture of Regina's. Fabulous right?

Ok, where was I? Right, taking another quilting class. Then, real genius struck me. Why don't we each make TWO quilts, one for each of us and together we'll make one for JennyLee?! Brilliant right? JennyLee is getting married and it would be the Best. Gift. Ever.

Luckily Regina suffers from the same delusional disease I do and agreed.

I'm in Minneapolis giving Todd his quilt and no sooner is out of my hands that we're at my favorite fabric shop Crafty Planet. I'm pulling together fabric, trying to figure out what I'm doing (lets take a minute to note that I don't have a pattern, I don't know what kind of quilt I'm making or how much fabric I need). So, I buy a TON of fabric. Again, no definitive idea what sort of quilt it will be, only that it will be a quilt.

Regina & I get to class (Double Irish Chain for those keeping score at home) and she takes the fabric I bought in Minneapolis and makes it work for the JennyLeeQuilt; she tosses in a few accent colors to make everything pop and figures out what fabric should be the focus.

Six classes and countless Sundays later, I present you with the JennyLeeQuilt.

Yeah, its a queen size and if you've ever tried to photograph anything that big you can understand it why I hung it from the upstairs banister with binder clips.

Here's the focus fabric...

I love the birds. I love them even more since JennyLee used this fabric in her wedding. And no, I didn't know that when I bought it. We're just on that bird level.

And these swirls. I just loves these floral swirls. And, if you know me, I'm not a floral swirl kind of girl. I'm not sure what came over me when choosing fabric.

Another thing about this quilt that really worked was the division of labor. When it comes to quilting, there is a fair amount of work, especially one of this size. It just so happens that Regina & I loathe different things so the aspects we like least about quilting, the other person actually enjoys. I was happy to iron and do the top quilting while Regina is brilliant at accurate cutting & making all the wee squares match up. So, oddly the work division was 50/50. I don't think anyone was more surprised than we were.

Yeah, I took this as JennyLee was opening her gift. Nothing says thoughtful like Yeah,-sorry,-forgot-to-take-a-decent-picture-of-the-borders-&-binding. But, I LOVE this wood fabric. Its the backing for the quilt in case you were curious. Its among my favorite prints. And, we hand-stitched that binding shut. Its the only part of the quilt that's hand-done so if you had visions of Regina & I hunched over the quilt for months, make sure you have large sewing machines in that picture. We did the hand-stitching on our lunch hour in various available conference rooms because nothing says investment banking like two girls hand-stitching a quilt.

And, we figured if JennyLee didn't love it, we could share custody of the quilt. Its PERFECT in my yellow guest room. (I threw it over the already made bed so no the quilt doesn't have any lumps.)

But, JennyLee did love it, so she gets to keep it.

Happy Wedding JennyLee!!

Reissued vs. Vintage

I've always adored fashion from the 50s & 60s. With my body type I think I'd be married to a billionaire right now had I been born just a few decades earlier. And, after working years of retail, I learned quickly and often that one shouldn't just follow trends to follow trends, but look your absolute best. Sadly, I have friends who look good in everything but for the rest of us born with curves and such what not, we have to be a wee bit careful.

In my quest to learn to sew I was quite lucky as Russel picks patterns on the more traditional side for his garment sewing classes. These look good on me so needless to say I signed up for all of his classes. You've already seen my skirt. The next step was the dress.

Now, I knew the dress wouldn't be easy. I had seen students from previous dress classes attend the next session to finish. So, I should have been prepared. But this pattern isn't the friendliest and if I hadn't had Russel, I probably would have tossed the dress half way through. But, with all the compliments I get, I'm glad I stuck with it.

I made some changes to the dress. I did snaps instead of buttons (since it was SCREAMING for a wide belt to go with it) and the sleeves are poofier than the pattern said they would be. That's ok, I love a poofy sleeve so I just went with it.

(This is why I have other people take pictures of my dresses)

Since making this dress I've been on the hunt for patterns with a more vintage feel. So, I'll be curious to see if patterns from the past are easier to work with than the patterns with a vintage feel from the present. I have several reissue patterns in my collection. And, I just ordered my very own vintage patterns from this fabulous Etsy shop thanks to this post on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. I didn't know I'd be able to. I mean, people from the 50s and 60s are wee little people. I was so excited to find patterns that would fit me! So, I can't wait for the vintage vs. reissue smackdown to commence.

Now I just need a fabulous pattern for a full skirt. I have this idea for some of the fabric I bought in Alaska...I just need the perfect full skirt to pull it off....

Best 4th of July Dress Ever

I've been itching to post about all the sewing I've been doing but the pictures I take of myself are dreadful. So, I brought all of my creations onto my cruise in order to have a fabulous backdrop and a great excuse to take pictures of myself.

What says July 4th more than red, white and blue? A red, white and blue Obama dress on the Diamond Princess in Vancouver!

This dress is Eclair from Colette Patterns. If you sew and you like these designs, buy them all immediately. Her patterns are clear and accurate. Love, love, love.

I did make it a touch big for two reasons: 1) I didn't know that she was the only pattern maker who doesn't lie when she gives final measurements and 2) I didn't know how the fabric would behave when washed. So, I wanted to give myself a bit of room.

Even with the dress a wee bit big, it stayed up all day. And, when I say all day, I mean, all day, through customs, with all of my luggage, dashing around the ship...all day.

I love this dress. I'll definitely make it again. The only change I made to the pattern was that I didn't stitch the lining to the waist. I skipped that because I haven't washed this yet and I think the 2 fabrics might shrink a bit differently.


The main fabric is President Obama Circle Blue (though I refer to it as Obama heads) found at Joann's in Monroeville, PA but you can find it at fabrics.com. The lining is a light blue kona cotton, the ties are a red kona cotton, both bought at Michael Levine, downtown Los Angeles.

I had a ridiculous amount of fun wearing this dress, best 4th of July dress ever.

Here we Sew again

Apparently Monday has become sewing day here at Dear Diary. I'm not complaining. I just think my odd blogging habits are amusing.

We've covered Sewing 1A, so, lets move onto Sewing 1B.

As I'm sure you've correctly guessed by the outfit and the link above, I made the skirt. (And, seriously, that pose is not my fault. That tree was crying out for some cheese and the confusion on the faces of the IT guys standing out there smoking just strengthened my decision.)

Thanks to this class, I now understand the importance of French Seams, taking a waist measurement seriously and the excitement that comes when people do not ask you if you made something you're wearing. Besides, these classes are just fun. And, the more I take, the more confident I get about my sewing. When I cut the skirt out I had so much extra length (shut up, I know I'm short) that I was walking around class with it pinned up to the correct length as a bubble skirt. I'm not thinking I should have grabbed some tulle and made that bubble. Hmmm, ideas, ideas....

Anyways, here's a close up of the fabric. Something about the red roses on the pink & blue background spoke to me a few months ago at Michael Levine. And, as all knitters know, if fiber talks, you have to buy...or else it haunts.

And haunting is bad, especially in this economy...we have enough to think about without fabric following us around, taunting us because we didn't buy it.

Turtle Pants!

Yes, I did just type the words Turtle pants. See, I just did it again. Crazy right?

Ok, we've already discussed the Sewing Arts Center. But, I've never told/shown you what I've learned.

Sewing 1A.

If you've never used a sewing machine, or if you never really learned how to use a sewing machine, this is your class. Russell walks you through all the basics from fabric selection, to cutting out a pattern correctly to tools of the trade, to measuring yourself and yes, sewing. I dug this class and had a great time.

For the actual object you make, you do PJ pants. (I was even able to sneak in a second pair in a different size, different fabric, different thread.) For both pairs, I lived on the edge, did not measure myself or the intended victims, er, gift recipients, and just trusted that the size in the pattern would be about right. I mean, we're talking pj pants.

And Pair No. 1 fit! (Yes, they're just a smidge long but he wouldn't let me hem them.)

*Happy Dance*

Here's a close up of the turtles:

If you need turtles, Harts is currently out of stock but you could call up the nice ladies at Three Crafty Ladies in Florida. They have the fabric. I saw it a few weeks ago. In fact,they have pretty much every beach, nautical, oceanic, themed fabric in current existence. If you find yourself in that part of Florida, I highly recommend that shop.

Do you live on a Crafty Planet?

I had to break my rule about going to Minneapolis in the winter this weekend. (More on that in a later post, hopefully tomorrow...) But, besides spending time with clan Klukow, I had the pleasure of visiting Crafty Planet.

Oh. Mi. doG.

I don't think I could ever live in Minneapolis (please see previous posts on respiratory issues) but I could live at Crafty Planet. Its in the North East side of Minneapolis (apparently pronounced Nor-East), just a stone's throw from downtown. When I asked Todd to take me I didn't realise it was on the exact opposite side of town from him. Of course, I could have guessed this as he lives in SOUTH Minneapolis and Crafty Planet is in NORTH EAST Minneapolis. Whatever, we were on a craft mission...distance is no obstacle.

We walked in and it was sensory overload.

Crafty Planet doesn't just have yarn, they have fabric. They don't just have all the Sublime Stitchery patterns, they have all the Subversive Cross stitch. They have EVERY craft book I own, have heard of and some I've never even thought of. They have classes and nice people who work there. It was overwhelming. I've already asked Todd if I can go back when I'm in town for HIS BIRTHDAY. He agreed. He's good like that.

But, for those of you who won't be visiting the Metro Area anytime in the near future (pictures here), as the nice owner man told me when he was ringing me up "You can always shop us online!" Now, I doubt they have EVERYTHING I saw online, but they do have the fabric I thought I could wait on. (Isn't that handy!?) Seriously, they have every bolt of fabric I've seen and coveted IN ONE PLACE. They have stuff Michael Levine doesn't! Its upsetting, overwhelming even. They have monkeys and robots and skulls and knitting needles and wood and designers and just, its too much. I love it there.

Crafting Guilt

"How much did you pay for that yarn?"

"How many hours did you put into that?"

"Sewing is not a cheap hobby."

"How much did it cost to buy all the supplies for this?"

How many times have we heard these questions?

Do you ask triathletes how much they've put into their bikes? Or, how much someone spent traveling to Asia? How long did someone prepare for a marathon? I don't. I think its tacky. Unless of course I might have general questions if you've made something or gone somewhere and I'm just dying of jealousy and I want to price out if I can afford to do it. And the curiosity questions, the can-I-do-what-you-do questions, always flatter me. But here, I'm talking more about the accusations and the second guessing which I've never understood.

On Friday night, after fighting with my mom's Singer over a HEM, a straight seem for crying out loud, I decided I would buy a sewing machine. (I know, rockin' single girl life over here.) I knew my approximate comfort level for cost and timing.

And then something happened.

Regina & I were talking with Russell at the Sewing Arts Center last night about machines. And after settling on a machine I could afford, Regina said something that really struck me.

"I really want a lifetime machine."

How many times have we bought cheap knitting needles only to never use them again because they broke or splintered or even bled onto work? One one project alone I bought THREE different sets of needles before I broke down and bought the nice ones I should have started with in the first place.

I mean, its only crafting, right. Cheap supplies should be fine. Its not like food; its not something you need.

Or is it?

I don't do therapy. My medications don't allow me to drink away my problems. When I'm upset or oxygen-impaired I make something. So then why is buying a new crafting tool considered such an extravagance? Why do I feel fine buying a new computer but I feel I have to justify a new sewing machine? What is this guilt, this need of justification to spend on something we love to do?

I don't know.

I do know that I worked on these machines in class and sewing was fun! Its still not easy, but its learnable. On the home machine threading could take up to an hour...getting even stitches could take equally as long and all that takes place before even working on whatever. But working in class, assuming I was paying attention, I could thread the machine in under a minute and have something complete in just a few hours. And I can make something fun and its mine and no one has one just like it.

So I bought it. The new machine. The one most definitely not in my first price range but the one I really wanted and feel happy and comfortable with and one I won't be looking to replace in a year or two...one I can grow into and make things to torture all of you with.

The he!! with the guilt, this is going to be fun.

Arts & Crafts Project

Before Christmas I signed up for sewing classes at the Sewing Arts Center. But, I didn't really want to wait for class. I have a sewing machine at home and I even live with a sewer. So really, why wait?

On an outing to Michael Levine I picked up some random fabric...stuff I loved but I had no idea what I'd do with it. Except for one skirt I knew I wanted to make...one of the Amy Butler Barcelona skirts. Obviously, since this would be my first home-sewn garment, I knew I'd have to keep it simple so I went with the classic A-line style. Three pieces and a zipper, nothing too complicated. I mean, my mom has sewn me dresses and costumes for years. She completed not one but TWO home ec classes and got As in both. She took one look at the pattern and said, no problem.

Until she saw my fabric.

For those of you out there who wonder why I pay for lessons when I live with a sewer, wonder no longer.

"Why did you pick this?"

'cause its funny.

"There's a house in your fabric."

Yup, and trees too.

"Why did you pick fabric with a house and trees? This makes the skirt more difficult. Why didn't you just buy a solid fabric."

Because I can buy normal at the Gap.

"Ok, next time we sew, no landscapes."

Mom would tell me what do to and then wander off. I'd do whatever that was, go find her and then make her come back to tell me what to do next. I can't say I learned anything but I will say we had fun. She might have originally complained about the fabric but she was amused with the final product.

"Where will you wear this?"

Work?

"Really?"

Yeah, why?

"Wear it tomorrow. "

Mom, its December. I can't wear a cotton skirt when its like 50 degrees out. Its cold.

She was awestruck that I actually wore the skirt to work yesterday. Hey, it was in the 70s, completely appropriate to wear.

Though, I might have forgotten to tell her not only did I wear the skirt to work but I took pictures of myself in it in not one but two different bathrooms with both my camera and my phone.

Some things are just best left unexplained.