Social Sewing Reminder - July

Melbourne ladies, remember that even tho I'm not around this month, there is still social sewing. The lovely Sarah is housing social sewing this month, so make sure you go RSVP on her blog post here: http://sewsquirrel.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/july-social-sewing/

Have lots of fun without me and I'll see you in august.

A Black and White Quilt for Barb

Aside from the sense of accomplishment that I get when I finish a project, what I would have to say that I appreciate the most from this little hobby of mine is the fantastic friendships that I has allowed me to make with others that also like to sew. The quilt I am sharing with you today is the product of such friendships.

Last year I joined together with 9 fellow quilters to make a birthday quilt for our mutual friend Barb, who was celebrating a particularly special milestone birthday. Knowing that she was planning a black and white party, we decided to make her a matching quilt.

With some input from the others, I designed two block designs that we decided to alternate in the quilt. The first block are pretty much all the same, but with different combinations of fabric. The square-in-a-square blocks all have a solid black border, then two print borders, but the centre square could be whatever.

We pooled together our black and white fabrics, and everyone made a few blocks. Then, a group sewing session later and we had a quilt top. The quilt was quilted by the fabulous Chris on her long-arm machine, bound by Lorraine and a label made by Sally.

This quilt was actually finished last October, however I only just got photos of the finished thing. Thank you to Lorraine, Sally, Bek, Lisa, Kristy, Lisa, Jos, Alissa and Chris who helped me orchestrate this grand scheme, which we managed to keep a secret until Barb's party where it was revealed and we were assured she adores it (and showed it around to all the other guests at the party!)

Grey Beignet Skirt

You know when you make things and you can't wait to put them on and you wear them every day and you reluctantly stop wearing them so that you can wash them? Well this skirt was the exact opposite of that!

I made this skirt in January/February of last year (yes, 2012), almost a year and a half ago... The pattern is the Beignet from Colette Patterns, and I made the muslin in January and then made the skirt up in February, and then when I finished it off I just wasn't sold on the skirt. I didn't wear it. I had no great desire to wear it, and it just didn't get worn...

...until Me-Made-May of this year, when I was struggling to find casual me-made winter-suitable clothes and I pulled it out. I still wasn't completely sold on the skirt then, but then I pulled it out a couple of times during June and now it's starting to grow on me.

I made one alteration to the skirt which has improved it hugely, which was to stitch up the side-seam pockets. As soon as I moved at all the pockets would gape, and it was just annoying (see above). I was aware of the gaping the whole time I was wearing the skirt and I don't like to have to think about my clothes once I'm wearing them. A quick stitch up the seam-line later, and a snip-out of the pocket bags and I had nice sleek side-seams and a happier skirt.

Apologies for the skirt being massively creased in these pics, but these pics were quickly snapped by the lovely Sarah after a whole day of Social Sewing (which also explains the stray threads that I missed).

As I mentioned in the post about the muslin of this skirt, I traced a 12 for most of the skirt, tapering into a 10 at the waist, which gave a skirt that fits pretty well. The length is as it comes in the pattern.

I tried out a machine blind-stitched hem for the first time on this skirt (and only time actually). I liked how easy it was, but it didn't turn out all that invisible on this fabric, so I think I'll be careful about where I use it in the future.

The other key thing about this skirt is the sheer number of buttons. It took me a little while to find buttons, but I eventually got these matte dark-grey ones. I stitched the buttons on by machine as well (meaning that there wasn't a stitch of hand sewing in the entire skirt!)

So while it started as a bit of a dud, having worn it a few times now I think this skirt will grow to be part of my working wardrobe.

PS: Did you see my lovely new necklace in these pics? There's a better pic of it here. Isn't it awesome! I bought it from the fabulous and inspiring CurlyPops

Indecision Strikes Again... Help Me Choose Please!

With the end in sight on my current knitting project, I'm already thinking ahead to my next project (that I'm hoping to take with my on my holiday). Since my first Miette cardigan was so successful, I've decided I want to knit up another one (and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly influenced by the Handmaker's Factory knit-a-long going on at the moment)

Around clockwise from the top: Flourite, Turquoise, Azurite, Antimony, Garnet, Sapphire, Tanzanite. and Corundum in the middle.

However I can't decide what colour to make it. I am going to use the same yarn again, Avalon from Morris and Sons, and have managed to 'narrow down' (in the loosest sense of the term) the colours from the 47 options down to 8...

Top Row L-R: Corundum, Azurite, Turquoise, Flourite
Bottom Row L-R: Antimony, Tanzanite, Sapphire, Garnet

Which of these 8 colours do you think I should choose? (bearing in mind that my current knit is a jumper that's a dark teal colour, despite how it appears in some of the photos).

Top Row L-R: Garnet, Tanzanite, Sapphire, Corundum

Bottom Row L-R: Azurite, Turquoise, Flourite, Antimony

I have sort of narrowed down this list of 8 to 3 or 4, but really haven't decided yet, so all opinions and suggestions welcome!