2015 in Pictures

Let's just say that meeting my goals for 2015 was not in the cards... moving on.

One of my reasons for blogging is to stop and celebrate my successes.  Therefore, I present my finishes for 2015.  Regardless of what I wanted to accomplish, these are the things I DID.

Large Sewing

 

Technicolor star quilt; ocean waves wallhanging; fluffy rag quilt (as I see it, a wallhanging is not technically large, yet this one did involve much piecing, as well as my first foray into free-motion quilting)


Small Sewing

Large tote bag; Sew Together Bag--in 3 4 variations; mystery cube puzzle; holiday tree wallhanging; Minion apron; reversible table topper; java mug rug; halter apron;  fabric bowl/basket; and hemming: altar cloth, 5 sets of napkins* AND two Minky blankets*
(* = not pictured in collage)   


Non-sewing

Pi cowl; neck ruff/cowl; and cowl (a second one!) for the youngest child; Morning walk headband/earwarmer


It was a busy year, in many regards.  Glad I could squeeze in some stitching creativity.

New Stash Organization

2016!!  My sister gave me the idea to reorganize my fabric stash: by type, instead of by location.  Now, this did not entail any actual moving of fabric; I simply changed the way I catalog my collection.

sample fabric swatch entry: I have used some of this piece!

As detailed in 2012, I keep my stash in Xerox boxes, labeled with names like "green star".  The key to what's in each box resides in a 3-ring binder which contains swatches of each fabric, along with information (definitely size/yardage; maybe also fiber content, when & where purchased, or other).

"green star" everything from chiffon to canvas, wool & rayon...

Before: the book was grouped box by box.  Everything in the Green Star box was on the same couple pages in the book, regardless of the type or color of fabric within.  And since the boxes had been filled rather haphazardly, there was really no rhyme or reason to such a catalog, either.

Look! cream-based quilting cottons

 After:  the book is arranged by fabric type, and roughly by color.  Finally!  All my quilting cottons are on the same four pages--rather than scattered throughout the book.

 jersey knits in white/cream

I can more easily see what I've got this way.  I mean, in a way that makes sense to me.

For example, I have waaay more knits than I thought I did.  (Hmm, better get to some garment sewing in 2016.)  Within those delightful stretchy folds, there are 3 knits that are white or cream. 

Really, I had no idea.


So... off to a good start in 2016.  An organized stash is one that might just get sewed up.

How about you? Any fabrics in your stash you might have forgotten about?  Does having things organized help you do more sewing?

Finishing Details

Here are the bits and pieces that got completed during Christmas break (hand-stitching that I brought along with me to Oregon--yay, for once that strategy worked!)

All of them involved just the tiniest of finishing steps.  But, you know, those pesky details can just sit and sit (at least in my sewing world).

Clockwise, from top left:

Gah - can't I take a better picture?

Headwrap

"Morning Walk Headband Earwarmer" a free pattern available on Ravelry.  Begun in November 2014, I finished the knitting portion AND the crochet edging before the end of football season (January).

And there it sat.

Bought the cute moose button (seen in collage above) in July.  Wasn't until I went to a meeting of the Oakland Stitch and Bitch Group that I got the ends tucked in.

Just one button! Finished in December, and worn almost daily in the chilly Oregon weather.



Mystery Cube Puzzle

This feels like an ancient project--the prototype cube/block puzzle that I started in 2013 to see if the concept would work, before making one out of the Get a Clue with Nancy Drew fabric line.

I got far enough on this version to make adjustments and corrections so that the showcase version would approach perfection--but I didn't finish this one!

Lots and lots of hand stitching.  Tedious.

  

This cube was made out of fabric scraps--nothing larger than fat quarters. Fussy cutting made the 3 interior scenes super cute and kid-friendly!

Neck Ruff/cowl   

 Well, seems like I called this one "finished" back when I posted about it in March.  But I was too quick on the draw--didn't buy the buttons until July, and finally stitched them in place in December. Ah well, I do get ahead of myself sometimes...

Pi cowl worn with Pi t-shirt

Pi cowl


Lightning fast! Started in September, with yarn purchased in July.  Finished the knitting shortly after I posted my progress in November.  I knew I would need assistance to finish, as the Kitchener stitch was something I had never attempted.  The close-up in the collage at the top of this post shows my seamless join (can you tell which color was used for joining?)

YouTube--and my friend Tree--to the rescue!  I had the toughest time getting the steps down, even though they were very basic, and the video was clear.  Thought I was a visual learner, but I finally had to write down the steps, rather than just replaying the same 30 seconds of video.

This was another warm and helpful item to have with me in Oregon.  Win.


How do these items appear on my list of UFO's to finish?  (Sometimes I cheat and call things done before they are done done.)

Well, THREE of them are accounted for.  (The 4th one wasn't started in August, when I took stock.)

Proud of myself there.  I may not have gotten my UFO's down to single digits (a 2015 goal), but I finished the year in great style.

Fluffy Finish

The ball-o-fluff rag quilt is done.  Got tested out a bit during football watching on Thanksgiving weekend.

Sweetie models the finished product

At 36x54" (91.5x137 cm), it was deemed the perfect size for the lounging lap: won't hide the remote or get in the way of a plate of nachos, but tucks under at the sides and feet in a very cozy manner.

And it stores neatly over the back of the chair also, due to its compact size.

Same layout as was shown during my previous blog post: 4x6 grid of 10" (25.4 cm) squares.  I used one layer of Minky for the back, one layer of flannel for a filler, and flannel for the face.  Sewed each block's sandwich together with a single X of stitching, and attached the blocks with 1/2" (1.3 cm) seams.  Rag cuts were approximately 1" (2.5 cm) apart--but not because I measured while I was cutting them, just turned out that way by eyeball.

Closer view of some of the flannels used.  The owls, plain gray, and origami print were purchased for this project.  The dinosaurs and turquoise plaid were leftover scraps.  And the HO-HO-HO and couch prints have long been in my stash--gotta come up with something clever for them one of these days...

The back: I found scraps of Minky/Cuddle at Goodwill, in colors that went with the gray/white/yellow floral.  Yay for color and design, but Boo! for not using up very much of the floral fluff.  I still have YARDS of that stuff.

Ooh--shout out to glen of QuiltSwissy for the fabulous advice on de-fluffing and making the quilt safe for general house use.  Many trips to the dryer, and frequent emptying of the lint trap, did the trick.  Thanks for the blogging love, leaving a comment that did the trick. 

It's a finished project, and for that I'm thankful.  It gets almost daily use in our drafty house, and that makes me a happy grrl.  And I get to show off (every sewist loves a show & tell, right?)



Linking up with Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday, being hosted this week at Quokka Quilts.  Go check out some other fab finishes!

One in a Minion

Minion cupcakes!

Caution: extreme Minion cuteness ahead

Sweetie's birthday was last week, and I managed to pull off the next-to-impossible feat of making sewing a gift on-time.  All it took was for me to completely neglect housecleaning and making meals for a couple days.


Worth it.

Bought the minion panel, and had a Panel Apron pattern from Something to Crow About, but knew I was gonna have to be clever: the 1 in a Minion saying would get cut up if it was left at the top of the apron.  So I carefully sliced it off and pieced it onto the sides, where it shows in the back while being worn.

I was fortunate enough to have a bit of a coordinating minion print to use for the neck strap, but I needed fabric for waist ties (and a tiny bit of width in the apron body).  I think the blue/orange stripe I found goes well in both places.

Birthday win: Sweetie likes it!

The apron is backed with a blue chambray from stash. Only 2/3 yard used, but I'm so pleased to finally have busted something from stash.

Linking up with Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts for Sew Cute Tuesday.  This week's theme is Christmas gifts, but I'm hoping this birthday gift gets to join the party, too.

Now--back to housework?  Or back to Christmas sewing?  (So hard to choose...)

The Opposite of De-Stash

Quilting Treasures panel - sewed up!

Sunday Stash folks, I'm here to celebrate an entire month's worth of wanton abandon.
Stashbusting Sewalong folks, this post is me confessing a bout of weakness.

You see, there was this sale...

It was a month-long sale at the shop.  Kind of a gimmick-y thing, we called it Treasure Hunt.  The idea was to clear out some of the older fabrics in the shop, by discounting them based on the year they came in the door.  (For example, a 2005 fabric would be $5 per yard, a 2008 fabric would be $8, etc.)  Are you seeing the potential here???

As an employee, I can always get my discount, so I usually am not swayed by the monthly sales.  But this sale: some of the senior citizen bargain fabrics were priced below my available discount.  And, unfair advantage, I know where the older fabrics are sprinkled around the shop.  (I deliberately waited until late in the month for most of my purchases--gave other shoppers first dibs on saving $$$.)

Batik assortment, 2005 - 2009 fabrics.  I have a charm pack of very light creams to pair with some/all of these.

Two different Minky fabrics (sock monkeys!) to become backings (2013); funky Madras Patch from Michael Miller, and a Marcus Fabrics stripe from the 50% off table.

I hit the Asian section: the fabric on top of the pile, while 100% cotton, has the most amazing texture.  Gonna make a casual jacket out of it.  Below that, a 2005 Lecien Japanese plaid, and a 2009 Etsuko Furuya Echino (45% linen, 55% cotton) in electric fuchsia.

Last shopping day before Thanksgiving, and I bought enough Asian fabrics for a whole quilt, including backing and binding.  Top left corner is Robert Kaufman Asian Traditions (the chrysanthemums), Robert Kaufman Beau Monde, and Fresco from Free Spirit/Westminster.  The remaining fabrics are much older; some go back as far as 2004.  The Alexander Henry print in the bottom right corner is from 2009, I think.  I have this one all planned out, with the pattern.  Maybe I'll get to it in January!

I'm not counting yardage here, since my efforts to keep count all year have been woeful.  Suffice it to say that my stash has grown; BUT almost everything this month was purchased with a project in mind (or even in the works).

Since buying fabric makes me happy, I'm joining in with the other happy, thankful souls at Sunday Stash, hosted by the ever-fabulous Molli Sparkles, and showing off my stuff.

Goals for November

My little brain is running away with me lately—can’t figure out whether I’m coming or going.  Which is why I’m taking a cue from many of my bloggy friends (chiefly Barbara) and setting some goals.

What do I want to accomplish in the month of November?   

• Does this list seem reasonable to accomplish, when exposed to the light of day? 
• If I list things out, will I go back and check my list when I get distracted?

1.  Finish fluffy rag blanket.

 

Just a couple more seams, then the slicing and fluffing can finish ‘er up.

2.  Make one placemat.

Just one? Why yes, this is the prototype for a whole set of placemats to be paper-pieced from a sushi roll collection of Asian fabrics.  Want one done to show off at the quilt shop during our upcoming shop hop.

3.  Make napkins.  Many napkins.

Several folks are getting cloth napkins as Christmas gifts this year.  Won’t spoil the surprise by showing the actual fabrics or the intended recipients, but you probably know who you are…

4.  Finish crochet rag rug.

About halfway done with this, but I put it far, far aside for most of the year.  It was meant as a gift back in the spring—ha!  Fear not, Christmas looms.

5.  Make 20 blocks for 1930’s patchwork quilt.

I need to make progress on some UFO’s.  This one is still in the “easy piecing” stage, so I thought I’d put it back on my radar.

6.  Finish Pi cowl.

My Monday Knit Football project, this baby is coming along.  Can’t remember whether I need 22, 24 or 26” before I attach the two ends, but I see the light at the end of this nerdy tunnel.

7.  Hem altar cloths.

A task that was bequeathed to me.  Should get it done before the chapel needs them for holiday celebrations.

BONUS Points?

My students would always ask me about extra credit, so here’s a couple items thrown in just for fun.  May or may not go in this direction.

8.  Banana pencil case

9.  Minion surprise

 

OOPS, I forgot about these “required” items:

10.  Blocks for quilt guild.  I am 3 months behind; however did that happen?

11.  Alternate triangle samples for December Triangle Techniques class.

12.  Black and white BOM for December January.  Have to stay at least one month ahead of my students!

Gad zooks!  What a list.  

If I take half a week off for Thanksgiving preparations and celebrations, and spend minimal time in the sewing room while it is being used as a guest room by our invited guest, will I come up with any time to sew in November?

I feel like I’m picking small, manageable projects.  But the cumulative effect of twelve such projects might negate the whole manageable notion.

Wish me luck.  And if you feel like weighing in about whether I’m truly living in Magical Wishful Thinking Land with what I hope to get done in November, I always welcome a Voice of Reason.