Off the Clock

 After my last post I was finally able to make my way into my new sewing space.  I had set up the main floor spare bedroom as my sewing room but I have now turned that room into an office and moved the sewing room into the basement.  It is a finished space (most folks would use it as a family room) but with just the two of us here we don't need a second living room area, and I am loving this new space! I drew up a couple of Lutterloh patterns, S313-43 and S305-221, and made them up.  They were both made from polyester knit fabric with a bit of Spandex, which I found on sale for $4/meter.  Talk about a win!   I am happy with the results for both, although I think I will adjust the neckline a bit with the vee-neck because I had added 5/8" seam allowance which makes it quite high.  I don't want a plunging neckline but a tad lower would be better, I'm thinking.  I've got some drapey white knit fabric with a self stripe in it gifted from my mom that I think would make u

 The Inspiration Post I went shopping today to kill some time and didn't end up buying anything, but I did see a few things that I thought were cute and wearable.  Then I went to the fabric store to add to the stash; I came out with enough fabric for 5 long sleeved knit tops. Now the task is to find tops I want to make with them.  Yes, I could just make basic long sleeved tees (and I probably will with at least a couple of them) but I need to add a little variety to my life.  Maybe I'll try different sleeves or something.  I also want to make some cute tops from woven fabric in the stash, so without further ado here are a few ideas.  I will update this post as I find new inspirations! First, here are ideas for knits: So many long sleeved tees that I love are all just basic ones like this one from The Bay above This could be an interesting sleeve although I don't think I'd do the button placket And a little Lutterloh inspiration: 305-221 313-43 284-81 287-221 321-101 322

  The plan (before fabric modifications) After finishing "Bear Country" I immediately started thinking about making a lap quilt for my brother.  Our mom made him a bed quilt years ago but he won't use it because he's worried the pets will ruin it.  While I understand that, I'm hoping he will use this quilt without worrying about it getting used and abused.  As far as I'm concerned they are meant to be used and worn out, and if he DOES wear it out I can always make him another one! I am using almost the exact pattern I worked out for Bear Country except with an added 1" border to break up the two black ones and obviously with a change in fabrics.  It's amazing how a different fabric can change the whole feel of a project.  He is a motorcycle enthusiast and I'm using motorcycle fabrics in oranges, blacks and greys.  To me the bear paw pattern looks like flames, which is kind of perfect for a motorcycle theme. Because I ordered the fabrics online it

The mullet of quilts - all business in the front, party in the back 😊  I've seen pics online of quilts made in a bear paw design in browns and blues - one of my favourite colour combos - and decided I need to make one.  I'm still in my frantic "got to keep busy before radiation (and maybe chemo) limit my activities" mindset so after completing Lovebug and With Glowing Hearts I immediately started in on this one.  I have wanted to do something nice for my lovely sister-in-law and decided this would be the perfect gift for her.  She lives in bear country and I think she would really appreciate this quilt.  There was a day quite a few years ago where we went for what was supposed to be a nice little "bike ride" but really ended up being a 10 mile mountain hike through the rocky woods dragging our bikes along.  But from the vantage point of the cliffs we were looking down on Georgian Bay and it was a perfect Carribean blue.  So I think of the blues in this qu

  I bought the kit to make "With Glowing Hearts", a project put together by Northcott fabrics.  I mentioned in my last post that I was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.  Well I had a need to keep busy to help distract me, so after finishing Granddaughter #3's quilt I started right in to this one.  Within the three weeks of diagnosis to surgery I managed to do a complete quilt and get the quilt top made for this one; that is unbelievably quick for me!  I did the quilting after the surgery, which was just as well as it helped to distract me from the major rash I developed from the antiseptic they use during surgery. I had a lot of fun making the heart appliques; I haven't done that before.  I read online to use stabilizer behind the fabric to help keep everything smooth and I think that was good advice.  I hand-based the seam allowance under before pressing, and then used a blanket stitch on the machine to sew them down. I also did the binding as a bias cut as di

  Here it is, a matching quilt for Granddaughter #3 to her sisters' quilts .  I was diagnosed with breast cancer last month which of course put me into a bit of a tailspin.  What was the first thing to come to mind?  I've got to get Granddaughter #3's quilt made!  I had already bought the fabric so it was just a matter of getting to it - and I did!  I worked very quickly on this and I'm really happy with the results.  I got it finished and delivered before my surgery which was my goal.  I also managed to get the matching pillowcases made for this one and a previous one for GD#2  that I had forgotten to make at the time.  But of course with everything going on I forgot to take pics of those. I called this one "Lovebug" and embroidered hearts around the outer blocks.  This banquet table has been working really well for me for pinning my quilts.  I'm not crawling around on the floor which makes me very sore, and I'm able to get a smoother quilt this way o