Patchwork Architect

Crystal Bridges

2012-02-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

The end of the year is particularly busy and hectic for my husband and I. He does inventory and I work a retail job, need I say more? So we decided that we needed to take the time and get out of town, even if it was just an overnight trip. We brainstormed various places that are within driving distance and hatched a plan. When he mentioned a new museum in Arkansas (a state I have only driven through), we had our answer.

We visited Crystal Bridges, a fantastic American Art Museum, in Bentonville, Arkansas and it was worth the trip. The architecture takes clues from the landscape and is literal and metaphoric bridges to the geography around it. Interaction with the building is as much of the experience as viewing the art inside it. There are several trails around the perimeter of the museum and they are easy to walk. We were lucky that the weather was cooperative, a little chilly, but not raining or snowing. The architect, Moshe Safdie, constructed the building in the manner of a suspension bridge with ponds, created from the area's Crystal Springs, surrounding the building. They were having some sort of issue with the ponds when we were there and they were drained. I can imagine it is quite beautiful when the ponds are full.

The collection of American Art is impressive and manageable for a single visit. My favorite pieces included: Jasper Johns' "Alphabets" and Leon Polk Smith's, "Center Column Blue and White" and "New Moon For August". I am totally in awe of Smith's work. I spent several hours looking at his work and think I have found my new muse. I already have plans to create my own Center Column piece in quilt format.

Other noteworthy work includes: Nick Cave's sound suits and Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter.

The entire experience merged my love of architecture, interiors, textiles and sewing. From Devorah Sperber's "After The Last Supper", constructed from 20,736 spools of thread hanging on ball chains to Alison Elizabeth Taylor's "Room" made of wood inlay including over 250 species of wood! I was also intrigued by the shading mechanism used on the dining bridge. These fabric screens emerge from the floor to cover the southern exposed glass walls.

Sewing ADD or How It Has To Be?

2011-10-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Or the one where I start calling the sewing pit the waiting room.

a bin of projects in nice tidy baggies

People are always commenting or asking about how much "work" I am able to produce. To me it seems like I am never finishing things fast enough. Perhaps it is because, at the current moment, I counted 27 projects in progress and 12 projects on deck waiting. So is this sewing ADD or how it has to be?

uniform project waiting for collar, shirt waiting for buttons and hem

rooibos dress, piping finished and waiting on perfected muslin fitting

apron project near completion: process notes

I work well under pressure and typically push right up to the deadline, but somehow having a due date works for me. Many of my sewing projects don't have a due date, so I start them, get busy with something else and then they sit waiting for me to come back. Or the opposite could happen, if I am totally inspired I can sit down and complete a project start to finish in one helping. I can attest that most everything I start eventually gets finished, sometimes that means a year or more.

another bin of work in progress organized in bags

4 projects started and waiting

dresden plate quilt, no deadline (although I've been motivated recently and the top is complete- I think?)

There is not one type of sewing that I like more than another. I enjoy making quilts as much as sewing a garment or making a bag or a doll. I just like to sew. I have been successful at resisting the temptation of adding another hobby into this "chaos". Although I am often tempted by knitting and, more recently, fabric dyeing. It seems clear to me that if I add another hobby, it would be like putting one to many ice cubes in an already full glass of tea and I would have a mess all over the floor...probably literally.

2 projects: e shrug from lace and habitat quilt guild challenge

12 on the docket

I am curious about how other sewists and artists work. Do you run multiple projects at once? or are you immobilized by an unfinished project? How many projects is too many? Do you have projects that never get finished?

My First Show?

2011-09-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

A few months ago my friend asked if I would be willing to put together a display on sewing for the windows in the Hallmark Creative Resource Library. At first, I was unsure if I would have enough sewn things to display.

Turns out that I had plenty.

I went in to set in up on a Sunday and was not approved for clearance into the Hallmark compound. I guess a girl carrying loads of sewing projects on Sept. 11 seems suspicious. I think my friend did a great job arranging the windows without my assistance.

I am not sure if this counts as a "show" but that is what I am going to call it. It is not open to the public, however, if you work at Hallmark be sure to check it out. The display is up through October and features other fiber arts: knitting and spinning.

Bill's Shirt

2011-09-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

In my imaginary (and sometimes reality) world, no one needs any money! We just make and trade...for example maybe you are skilled graphic designer who is good on the computer. And I, who am not, is in need of business cards. In exchange for some fancy business cards, I will happily make you a custom shirt. Yes? Yes!

I traded my friend Bill a custom shirt for some fancy business cards!

I am a sucker for a great package and have been having a good time with hand drawn renderings of my garments. So I made a special rendered shirt bag. Trading is the best.

Bernina Victory!

2011-09-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I am a total dork, but I absolutely love what I do! Especially, when the story ends something like this one. Meet Florence, the Bernina 1006, and hear her adoption story.

"M and J went to a birthday party this afternoon and as per usual we did
rock, paper, scissors to ascertain which parent would accompany, although I
lost as usual and should have ended up spending my afternoon refereeing a
lot of inflatable bouncy house who-ha, what actually happened was this.
Doug thought of a new idea that we had never considered before. We actually
just dropped the kids off, which the invitation said would be okay, but we
never actually do it. We ended up having an actual date, one thing led to
another and we ended up talking to Jaime at the Bernina store, which led to
us bringing home Florence"

PS- look at the smile of Florence's owner's face!

Help: What is This Symbol?

2011-09-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

Can someone tell me why my own blogger account puts this symbol up when I post something?
It is disturbing and I am too much a novice to figure it out. Please help.

Thanks!

Procrastination Giveaway

2011-08-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

I have a tendency to be a procrastinator. I am currently so busy that I am procrastinating at procrastination. Maybe this makes sense, maybe not. What I mean is that I have so much going on, that everything is done in the last possible minute. As a result, I am putting off my ability to procrastinate.

Okay, enough overthinking or justifying my untimely behavior. Several months ago, I think May-ish, I did some test sewing for one of my many favorite pattern designers. I love this project. It is perfect parts math nerd and sewing geek. Shea of Empty Bobbin Sewing has a great way of coming up with fun sewing projects and turning them into patterns. Like me, she is a detail girl. Unlike me, she has a way with written language. The result is pure magic. Her patterns are fresh and fun with just the right amount of detail. I like to think that I have a little to do with the detail part. The sewing cover was the first pattern that I tested for her. One of the awesome things that she does for her pattern testers is that she sends them three copies of the finished pattern. One is to keep, one for a friend and one to give away on your blog.

So readers, my procrastination is your gain!! Get it while it's hot. Leave a comment telling me a procrastination story, best story wins. I will give you a week...unless of course I forget or put it off another week or two.

Feet: Walking Foot #50

2011-08-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

The walking foot #50, is imperative if you work with multiple layers, like quilts, or slippery materials, like satin. It is worth the investment, even though it is one of the more expensive feet.

The trouble with quilting on a home sewing machine is keeping the layers from bunching and maintaining an even stitch length. Well, that and just maneuvering the bulk of the quilt through your machine. The walking foot will help with both of these things. A walking foot is essentially feed dogs working on the top and bottom in conjunction with one another. As a result, there is a lot less puckering, bunching and shifting. Seems like a no brainer! Did I mention there are now three soles? One is like the standard foot and has a closed toe with an etched guide in the middle. The second is an open toe which allows you to see right up to the tip of the needle. The latest addition is a sole that has a guide, just like the #10 edgestitch foot. It is perfect for stitch in the ditch and edging!

Feet: Leather Roller #55

2011-08-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

The #55 Leather Roller Foot is an amazing foot that allows you to make curvy and circular stitches while still using your feed dogs. So if you're rusty or "not so hot" at free motion quilting, try this foot as an alternative. I think you will like it. It corners on a dime.The Bernina video is fun to watch, and no dorky music.

In my experience, it works best when you move the needle to the far left position, which puts the needle right next to the wheel. The wheel is made of textured metal so it will roll over nearly anything or any thickness. It's serious! I guess that's why it will maneuver on tricky materials like leather, as if it were butter. Want to sew on some jumbo piping that won't fit under any other foot? Give this foot a try. Got a creative meandering stitch in mind? This could be your answer.

So the story that I have heard about this foot, is that a man designed it to make leather racing gloves. Racing gloves or not, I think this guy is a genius! I have to admit, it does make a big impression. I recently sold a new Bernina to a girl who had to have this foot. She heard about it from a friend of ours (same friend who took the lovely photo) who only refers to it with it's full name, Leather Rolling Foot #55. It's love.

Feet: Edgestitch #10

2011-08-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

It is rare that I sew something and don't use the #10 Edgestitch Foot. Sure you can use #5 Blind Hem for most edgestitching, but if you want to have the needle in the middle, you will need this foot. Not to mention, it moves around curves and lighter fabric better than #5 because the guide in the middle is not so long. Some folks like to do those things called crazy quilts with decorative stitches. Why not set the blade of this foot right in the seam and let the stitch line up perfectly on both sides? It is effortless, but you don't have to tell that to anyone. Don't forget to get the wider version of the foot, #10C, if you have a machine that sews 9mm stitches.

Bernina just added a special sole for the walking foot that has this same guide in the center. Can you say, stitch in the ditch? I can! Or have the best of both worlds with #10D, the dual feed option for 8 Series owners. I purchased the #10 Edgestitch Foot the day I got my Bernina with no regrets.

Feet: Patchwork Foot #37 or #57?

2011-08-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

So which to pick? Why not get both?

#37 Patchwork Foot (1/4" foot) is my go to quilt piecing foot. I like this foot a little more than #57 (1/4" foot with guide) for piecing because sometimes the guide on #57 will affect how seamed fabric will move under the foot.

Both feet have notched sides that indicate 1/4" start and stop points for turning perfect corners. Also, the inside of the toes work to sew an 1/8" seam. I like that these feet will work similar to a straight stitch foot and can be combined with a straight stitch plate for ultimate stitch control. Want even more control? Buy an 8 Series machine and have #37D, the dual feed option, which is basically a built in walking foot! Even more luxurious, with dual feed you can adjust the settings to feed the fabric at just the right accuracy for your project and materials. No joke! It's awesome sewing.

I typically use #57 with the guide for topstitching garments and bags. It works great for new quilters learning about 1/4" seam allowance. I like it when I have no other seamed pieces. I do recommend both, but if you have to get just one, make it #37. Who has both patchwork feet? and which one do you prefer?

Sewing Answers: Presser Feet

2011-08-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

So I picked up this book: The Sewing Answer Book. PS- you can't click to look inside unless you are here. I thought that it might make for some good blog discussion and also give me some answers. My goal is to look at one topic each week and discuss. We'll see how it goes. I'm not good with blog regularity, but I found the perfect question to start with:

Q: Which presser feet do I need for my sewing machine?

Book Answer: Most machines come with a basic set of presser feet, straight stitch, zipper, all-purpose zigzag and the blind-hem feet. Many include a clear or open-toe embroidery/applique foot, a special buttonhole foot and another for sewing buttons on by machine.

My Answer: I agree with the book on this one. The Berninas (for the most part) come with a standard five feet. Check out the Bernina webpage to learn more about the feet, but please do your best to ignore the terribly cheesy music on the videos.
1. #1 Reverse Pattern Foot (or all-purpose foot). If you have have a machine that does 9mm stitches, it will come with a foot that allows for 9mm sewing (#1C). We have a straight stitch foot #13. This is one that I actually do not have. I get along well enough with #1 that I have never gotten the straight stitch foot. Some people who do lots and lots of straight sewing prefer the straight stitch foot and a single hole stitch plate, but be warned: you WILL break needles if you do anything other than straight sewing with such a combination. I am too forgetful for all that jazz.

2. #4 Zipper Foot. This is a narrow foot and you need to move the needle to the far left or right to use it. Some machines have a zipper foot that you clip on to one side or the other.

3. #5 Blind Hem Foot. You need this foot for doing a blind hem, but did you know that you could also use it for edgestitching? It will make you look like a sewing genius, I promise!

4. #3 Buttonhole Foot. If you are purchasing a machine, always ask to see a buttonhole, even if you never plan to make them. You will be surprised how many you will make if it is easy to do. Most Berninas come with a #3A foot for automatic buttonholes. It's a breeze to use.

5. #2 Overlock Foot. This comes on most Bernina models, but not all. It is a great foot to use if you don't have a serger because it helps your fabric lie flat and not tunnel while finishing the edge.

The next question goes on to ask if: will I need any other presser feet for specialty sewing?

My Answer: YES, of course! Stay tuned to see which feet I love and why.

Denyse Schmidt Workshop at PNCA

2011-08-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

The workshop with Denyse Schmidt at PNCA was amazing. It was great to meet Denyse and all the other women who came to the class. I was happy to finally meet Susan, who helped me wrangle a sewing machine. Thank you Modern Domestic for loaning me a lovely Bernina friend. I also met, Blair, of wisecraft, a blog that I have read for several years. People came from Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Kansas City (that's me).

Early the first day we worked on an exercise to get us working on improvisation. We"blindly" drew one piece of fabric at a time from Denyse's paper sacks filled with different sized scraps. We took a moment to think about the fabric and how it related to the next piece and then sewed them together. The trick was to not spend a lot of time dwelling on combination, pattern, etc. Instead, we were following our instincts and allowing the blocks to evolve in a somewhat organic fashion. It sounds easy, but it is hard to quiet the editing part of your mind and tempting to toss back a fabric that you didn't like. I was not crazy about the blocks I made and was much more excited about some of the other girls' creations, but when I got home and put the three blocks together into a little sampler I was in love. I feel like I won a prize.

We had a little picnic lunch from daily cafe in a local park. I enjoyed the socializing as much as the sewing part. It was so relaxing and exciting at the same time,exactly how a vacation should be.

After lunch we began sketching to help develop our concepts for the blocks we would make with our fabric. Some people continued with the grab bag style piecing and others took a more deliberate approach. I was inspired by some of my fabric and also being in Portland. I got up early that day and walked to class. It was about a 30 minute walk down the west hills to PNCA, but the air was crisp and the colors were very Portland to me. I snapped a "not so good" photo on my phone in attempt to capture the moment. I used it as the inspiration for my blocks. So my blocks became linear log cabin like blocks with little pockets of light to mimic the light that pops through the lush green and dark trees. I am excited to continue working on the blocks. I hope to better capture that feeling in my quilt, than I was able to in my photo. Thanks Anne for sharing some of your photos...I can't believe they came from an iphone.

Rooibos Sewalong

2011-08-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

How lucky am I that I was able shop with the gal behind Colette patterns for my fabric?

I picked a strange blend of wool, poly, something, something for the main fabric. The lady that cut it actually warned me not to wash it. I might do it anyway, as I am a low maintenance kind of person and a rebel. Also, I try my best not to dryclean. Regardless, I don't wear dresses all that often, so the cleaning will be minimal.

I then found a satin finished cotton at Bolt. I picked up two colors of orangey red. The more orange red is the one I would like to use, but it only came as a half yard cut, so I am not sure if there will be enough. Just to be safe I got another color in the correct yardage. I am looking foward to this project. I have had this pattern in my to-do pile for about a year.

Sewcation PDX

2011-08-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

It took some planning and some saving, but I am so glad that I did it. My sewcation to Portland, Oregon couldn't have been better. The catalyst for the trip was the Denyse Schmidt workhop at PNCA. I have always wanted to do one of her workshops, so when I found out that PNCA was offering one I knew it was the perfect opportunity to do it. The workshop was amazing and deserves a post of it's own, so stay tuned.

In college I did an internship with ERMA, a small architecture firm. It was one of the best experiences I could have had. Ernie graciously allowed me to stay in his guest suite, a small room and bath above his garage. It was perfect and I wish I had thought to snap a photo. The first night I was there, Corey, a friend from the firm had a potluck dinner party at his amazing home. It was the perfect way to start my trip.

The next day was my free day. I went to Powell's bookstore and got a little lunch before heading across the river to meet Sarai, of Colette Patterns. She is such a sweet person and I am so grateful that she allowed me to visit her studio and then drive me to the most amazing fabric store, Mill End. It was easy to get overwhelmed and potentially out of control in this store. I so wish we had a fabric store like this in KC.

After Mill End, I stopped by Bolt where I proceeded to spend the remaining "fabric cash" I had saved. I visited Bolt five years when they first opened and WOW how they have changed. I was impressed with the amount of fabric and selection they could cram into such a tiny store. My friend Meredith, who works at Bolt and Modern Domestic, picked out the exact pattern and fabric that I purchased that day. We had a good laugh when we discovered that we had the exact same idea, but we both have exceptional taste when it comes to sewing.

I made my way to Modern Domestic, the cutest little Bernina store ever. These girls are fun and modern. I was excited to see Bernina in a fresh and fun atmosphere. I signed up for their Friday night sewcial...and was successful mostly in socializing.

The next two days were consumed mostly by the Denyse Schmidt workshop. I was happy to have dinner with two lovely ladies from the workshop, Noelle and Francesca. My friend from college, Josh, gave us a tip on where to dine and we ended up at Clyde Common. It was beyond good and I highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in Portland.

Sunday night was my last night in the city and I was able to spend it with my sewing soul sister, Meredith. We drank cider from this cute little cider bar, Bushwacker. We then stayed up until almost 2 am talking about everything like two school girls on a Friday night sleepover. It was the perfect way to end a much needed vacation.

The Modern Cowboy

2011-03-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Now I'm not trying to brag or anything, but this could be the best thing I've ever sewn. I can't even tell you what I love the most about it.
Here are a few things:

1. Kwik Sew pattern 3506 was clear and easy to understand. I have yet to make a kwik sew pattern that was unclear. I enjoy the paper that they print the patterns on, but remember that I am one who traces my patterns off, leaving the originals in tact. I am certain that I will make this pattern again.

2. Anna Maria Horner cotton voile diamond mine in citrus is to die for. I love using voile in garment construction especially, because it is so amazingly soft. It is brilliant to sew as well. Because it is a finer cotton, I typically use a 70/10 microtex (sharp) needle and a 60wt (fine) cotton thread. This combination allows for great stitching.

3. The lipstick pink fabric is shot cotton that I embroidered. If you know me, then you know I put Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in everything. Seriously, I can't think of a project that I have touched in the last six months that doesn't have some in there: my new drapes (check), the last purse (check), the last three quilts (check). You get the idea. These shot cottons are to me like butter is to Paula Deen. They make everything better.

4. Embroidery Online embroidery design pack 12273 was all western motifs. This design pack has three different groupings of motifs. I choose the one that most clearly matched the pattern in the main fabric. I then decided to do tone on tone color for the embroidery. There was only three color changes and to make life easier, I embroidered then cut out the pattern piece. One thing I discovered, was that the shot cotton did much better when I added some iron on interfacing. I used Pellon SF101. I used a light weight tear away embroidery stabilizer called ultra clean and tear by OESD.

5. I almost didn't do it. I had some buttons all ready to go and one of the ladies I work with just couldn't stand the thought of the western shirt without snaps. So I caved, and I am so glad I did. She turned me on to the pearl snap buttons from snapsource.com. If you order from them, make sure to buy the tool to put them on. It was worth the money.

6. I used my new serger for finishing the seams on this one. Can I just say it...I don't know how I lived without it. I have heard it so many times from customers, but I always thought it was fine to finish seams with my regular sewing machine. I could manage without the headache of a serger. Well...here I am standing on the other side of the line now. I love that serger. Sure, it's intimidating, but I have made garments, curtains and duvet covers in record time now and boy are we getting along swell. I haven't even had to fuss with changing tensions all that much.

7. Lastly, my modern cowboy himself. I love that he enjoys my sewing insanity and will happily wear my creations.

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

What did you do for Spring Break this year? I invited 4 gals over for a Spring Break Sewing Camp. We had a fantastic time. One of my favorite things about knowing how to sew, is teaching how to sew.

I couldn't have gotten a better group of girls. They were all interested in learning and worked carefully. The finished projects turned out excellent.

They didn't even complain when I insisted that they learn to clean their machines. Maintenance and proper care is important to any good seamstress.

Let's not forget Mo, the min pin, our unofficial camp mascot. She loves to sew and is always interested in every project, not to mention the photographs.

So readers, I'm interested to know, what age did you learn to sew? Did you get to go to any fun sewing classes or camps? What was your first project? What was your favorite project?

The Bow Tie:

2011-03-07T07:35:00.000-08:00

For the man who dresses with a certain flair.

I am in love with bow ties...and lucky for me my favorite muse is too. I have been making my husband a couple bow ties every week or two. I think I have it down to a science.

I found a great FREE pattern download at Burda. The David Bow Tie

This is a great time to use one of my favorite sewing tools, the bodkin. The one I use is made by clover and it comes with another strange twisted wire tool, that I still have to figure a good use for. It is essentially a glorified safety pin and makes turning tubes a breeze. In this case, it is perfect. Just drop it into the bow tie tube, fasten to one of the bow tie corner, then invert the tube!

At the new year, I decided to do a facebook handmade pay it forward challenge. I was surprised to have a couple of guys reply. Any guesses what they will be getting in their mailboxes soon? That's right, a bow tie. I hope you guys will give them a try.

Trey's Kick A@$ Shirt

2011-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

A while back I was a pattern test sewer for Colette Pattern's Negroni Shirt. In full disclosure, I have to tell you that I begged her to let me do it. When she asked for pattern testers, she specifically wanted folks in the Portland area because she needed a fast turn around. Well, for those of you who know me, you likely know that I can crank some stuff out...and I did. This pattern was love.

About love, made for my husband, who is always my biggest fan when it comes to sewing. In fact, he was the reason I got into Colette patterns in the first place. Remember this skirt? He bought the pattern and fabric as a birthday gift. About the photos, kicking ass is hard work...sometimes Trey likes to help our ninja dog, Mo, learn about kicking ass. This leads to mock knife fights while wearing amazing shirts.

Colette patterns are lovely to sew (and no I don't get paid to say this). I think I like the illustrations the most, but I love how they are packaged in this great little book. It is such a delight, like going to a fine store and getting a fancy bag with a bow or something.

I am a terrible photographer and wish that I had some good detail shots, but this shirt makes up with entirely finished seams. The flat felled seams and yoke details really make this a fantastic finished product. Did I mention the cute button loop at the top? I have a trick for that...maybe a later post. The fabric I used was left over from a charity project and was something that came from a lady's stash. I think it is perfect. The buttons were a yard sale find. So, all in all, I have a total a couple bucks invested in the project. It rarely happens that way! But all these reasons make for a kick ass shirt for my favorite muse. (Just wait until you see the shirt I'm working on now).

Quilt Guild Changed My Life

2011-01-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

So, yes, I have disappeared for several months. Do I have a good excuse? No. But I do have a good excuse to be back, KCMQG one year anniversary! Shea thought it would be fun to share how the past year of the modern quilt guild has changed our lives. So here goes.

A charity project.

A quilt that had been on the back burner finally got finished.

I jumped in a finished a baby quilt in record time...before the baby was born!

The awesome Tula Pink: Plume Challenge...love that fabric!

I met a SO MANY amazing quilters....A LOT who have purchased a Bernina sewing machines from me and EVEN MORE who have inspired me. Thank you KCMQG for a great first year.

Much love to those who have bought a Bernina machine from me this past year... Tia Curtis, Julie O'Dell, Nikki McDonald, Claudia Mozur, Lauren Hunt, Jenny Johannsen, Kim Eichler-Messmer, Sara Hart and Kristin Marciniak.

The Make Parade

2010-10-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, my last post was in September. I am a bad blogger, but I have been sewing.

Cherry House: City News quilt top. I have the perfect fabric for the back in my stash. So if things go well, this little quilt will be finished soon. The Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild continues to blow my mind. We have grown by leaps and bounds and there is no end in sight. It has been exciting to be a part of this and I am so happy we were able to have Cherri House to come to KC and speak at our guild. I hate to say that I was not all that familiar with her work prior to her visit, but I am so glad I got the chance to take her workshop at Harpers. She has a great personality and is likable in every way. I learned a lot from her and even worked with black and white fabric, which is something I have steered away from before now.

Wee Wonderfuls: Betsy Pillow. This has got to be the cutest darned thing I've seen. Imagine paper doll, except on a pillow, with a pocket on the back that holds all the felt backed clothes. It is a fun chance to scour through the old scrap piles and use long lost lovely fabrics. Actually, the entire book is completely adorable. Sure, I had a thing for dolls as a child, but even if I hadn't this book would have me wanting to make dolls all day long.

There's more...but I'm saving up for a future post that likely won't happen for another month.. Here's a sneak peak.

The Bra Class

2010-09-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I learned about this lady from Wichita that teaches bra making classes. Then I found out that the local American Sewing Guild had invited her to come to Kansas City to teach a workshop. I hesitated at first, but eventually signed up. Wow, I am so glad I did. I learned so much and came away with a nice bra and a few new friends.

The first night was a fitting session and a lecture. I was impressed by Ann St. Clair's knowledge of bra's, but also women's health and self-image. The lecture was followed with a class. There were two sessions and I attended the Sunday session. It was a full day of bra making, but it went by fast. I learned about sewing with tricot, powernet and elastic. Ann's crew, including Kathy, were so helpful and encouraging. I appreciated the fact that they kept everyone moving at their own pace (something that is hard to do when teaching sewing classes). Did I mention door prizes! I actually won something...a pattern for underwear.

I am excited to be a new member of ASG and look forward to future sewing events with them.

Sewing Classes!

2010-09-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

My month has been jam packed with sewing classes. Thanks to all who have signed up to take a class from me. Friday and Sunday I go back to being the student. It's the bra class...stay tuned.

September is National Sewing MONTH!

2010-09-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

So guess what I'll be doing?

Self Stitched September

Lady Grey Sew-Along

Making a Bra

BonBon's Sewing Diary

Modern Quilt Guild Challenge

Garment Group Kick Off Party
at Bernina Sewing Centers
Overland Park, KS
Friday, September 10 6-8pm
The kick off party will be tons of inspiration, 3 trunk shows, sales, wine and cheese!

Busy Month

2010-08-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

This month has been crazy busy, and I thought I was going to have time to sew. Ha!

There was a pretty important birthday.

A few swap blocks.

A sewing class at BonBon.

And this little problem. Roeland Park is doing a much needed storm drainage project and in the process my old ass pipes burst from the water being turned on and off. They did burst under the kitchen sink,not at the faucet, but in order to fix them the plumbers (who were awesome and affordable) had to break my tile backsplash. We found my old pipes encased in concrete...yes, concrete. So now I have this little problem. How do I insulate these new pipes so they will survive a Kansas winter? Concrete seems messy. I was thinking great stuff, that spray on foam? Any ideas? And please don't tell me to just redo the cabinets and countertops. The only thing that my smaller than small kitchen has going for it is that it has it's original charm.

Giant Beach Bag

2010-08-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

I got a real life visit with a friend from Savannah when I was in Orlando a few weeks ago. She was telling me that she was looking for a giant bag to take to the beach and how she wasn't happy with anything she was finding. Then she asked if I would make her one. I am a sucker and said sure, but she would have to do an IKEA fabric run on trade. That's when we discovered that there is an IKEA in Orlando! Field trip ensued. I got a few textiles and she got the stuff to make her bag. It is really big...I hope not too big. I mailed it out and hope she got it in time for her birthday this week. This bag should enjoy many trips to Tybee and the cruise planned for October. It was great to see you friend and I hope you like the bag.

I Like Purple

2010-08-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

And it's not just a K-State thing. I liked it before I went to school there. So in the spirit of purple, I give you the finished KCMQG quilt and my first ever home grown eggplant.

Enjoy!

Pickles, Bread and a Few Things Finished

2010-07-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

The KC Modern Quilt Guild is making quilts for a charity project. I decided that I would make a quilt. I had plenty of left over purple linen and so I choose the purple, brown and white combo from the pre-determined color palettes. I choose to use some IKEA fabric for the back. I finished quilting this weekend and will have the binding on soon (sewing circle is Wednesday), so stay tuned for the finish product photo.

I also finished a gift for my mother's birthday, which was in March. Pretty late, but it's my mom, she knows how I can procrastinate. I hope it was worth the wait.

Honey wheat bread is good. It has been a while since I made bread, but since I bought the lifetime supply of yeast at Costco, I figured I better get back at it. It is so cheap and so delicious, I can hardly bring myself to buy grocery store bread anymore.

And then there is the pickle making...in full force around here. These are so easy and everyone loves them. I aim to please.

Bernina University Wardrobe

2010-07-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

So I just recently got back from Bernina University, which was a grand ole time for me. This was the first time that I have been and I had a blast. In the weeks and days leading up to the event, I was sewing up a storm to finish a few "new" things for my Bernina University Wardrobe.

I made a long sleeve version of The Sewing Workshop: Urban T. I think I like this one better than the first one I made. It will also serve as a store display for the class I am teaching on the pattern in September. If you like it, come take the class. It is pretty easy.

I decided that I needed some shorts for Florida. I don't typically wear shorts, so I am not sure how much use these will get. The fabric is darn cute, a Kokka print I got from the girls at BonBon. The pattern was Favorite Things: Smarty Pants. Those patterns are a breeze, but the fit on these bermudas is a little strange for me. I am still on the fence about elastic in the waistband, but it was fast and they do look cute (at least on a hanger).

The last big completion was Colette Patterns: Ceylon. I think I spent 2 hours or more just on covering the buttons, making buttonholes and sewing them all on. I think it looks classy though and I hope to make a matching belt sometime in the future. I wore this dress in the BU fashion show and everyone loved it. I made if from a raspberry colored wool I got at Kaplans. I have never worked with wool before and I liked that it was easy to sew. I do, however, still need to make a slip to wear with it, as it is a little itchy.

A side note about Bernina University:
I geeked out a little and bought a bunch of new feet for my sewing machine, FIVE to be exact. I have big dreams to get my filmmaker husband to help me do some vlogs showing what they can do. Would anyone be interested in this? or is it too nerdy? Oh...and by the way, check out the new Baby Bernina, it is fabulous.

Good for Blog Ego

2010-06-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't felt like I've had much to say recently, but there has been some sewing going on. I guess I start to feel like I am blogging and no one is reading, but then someone will say something about the blog, and it's good for the blog ego. So this post is dedicated to Caitlin. Thanks for your kind words, you inspired me to get back out here. I took a photo of some of my favorite sewing loot for my Sewing School and I know I have good stuff because I have nearly everything that Martha Stewart says you need in her new sewing book. What's your favorite notion? Currently, I am rather fond of the japanese hand sewing needles and silk thread in the mid to lower left corner.

So I taught a Sewing School to three gals last week. It was a ton of work for me, but a lot of fun! They did a great job and it was inspiring to be sharing the joy of sewing with them.

I am participating in a fun summer goal setting project: Summer of Craft. Check it out and join us!

I made my first ever table runner. I am not a table runner kinda person, but this is a sample for a recent club. There was a LOT of embellishment going on here. I liked some (couching, piping) and disliked some (blanket stitch applique). Overall, it's kinda cute and makes a good sample for the store and table runners might be growing on me.

A non-sewing related topic: I just learned that my vitamin D level was very low. I got a prescription and started it today. I hear this should help with my lack of energy. Anybody have experience with this? I just know that I want my bones to be strong, so all this sewing doesn't make me a crumpled up little old lady someday.

On A Roll

2010-06-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

I am on a roll finishing quilts. I watched BenHur with the husband this weekend and jammed through a lot of handstitched binding. I am proud to say, I am finally finished with the ice pops quilt. My name for it is, With Me Grandma Bea. My great grandmother Bea saved a lot of things, including a box of white bed sheets. My sister somehow got a hold of this box and thought I would use them. I did. They have become the "white" in many of my quilts, including this one. This is the first quilt that I have made for myself. It feels good. I recommend making one you intend to keep and suggest not waiting so long to finish it.

My animals approve...and also love it when I open the bedroom window.

WIPs and a Winner

2010-06-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Announcing the Me Made May GIVEAWAY winner!! I gathered a total of 36 comments on the mmm posts! So I did the random number generator from 1-36 and got 5. The 5th comment was my own, so I did it again. I got 29, which also happened to be one of my comments. So in conclusion, I am either extremely lucky today or I comment on my own post too frequently. Third times the charm. The winner is Crystal. HOORAY! You are the proud new owner of a lovely handbag.

In other news, there are some things brewing in the sewing studio here. I finished 4 blocks of the paper peiced project.

I traced off the Ceylon pattern and have fabric selected.

and BIG news...I finished the quilting on my Ice Pops Quilt. This is the first Denyse Schmidt quilt that I made after getting her book. I am not lying, the top has been finished since 06. I purchased fabric for the back on my 30th birthday trip to LA. This quilt is 4 years old and I am proud to say, I only have three sides of hand stitched binding between me and the finish line.

I finished a quilt for 2010!!

2010-06-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

So the quilting has taken the back burner to the garment sewing...there I said it. It's true. However, I did manage to finish this little ditty for my first nephew, coming in August. I am super excited to have a nephew to add to the bouquet of three nieces. The quilt pattern is Cog + Wheel, by Denyse Schmidt. She is my quilting hero.

The pattern it pretty easy to put together. I cut plastic templates for all the wedge shaped peices and this made it quick to cut out. There is one tricky part, the cream colored "cogs" (or the negative space of the cog) uses both the standard and reverse of the piece. The fabric I used did not have a distinguishable front from back, so I had to be super aware of which direction I was sewing and when. This will likely only make sense to those of you who have done, or are doing, this pattern. I also did the quilting. I followed the shape of the outer edge of the colorful circle and then used a guide on my walking foot for the rest. To me, it was easier than tracing the quilting pattern and trying to follow lines. Plus I didn't have to worry about it leaving any marks behind.

Most of the fabric came from my stash. You can't really beat Denyse on color palette, so I used hers to inspire my fabric selection. I purchased the cream fabric. For the back, I used a yellow and blue plaid flannel. I picked this up on sale at a Sew/Vac place in Augusta, GA a few years ago. It was perfect! I love it when that happens. Now, I am just waiting for the little guy to arrive. Until then, I have the quilt on display at the store.

Me Made May: Finale

2010-05-31T19:02:00.000-07:00

For the record, I did manage to wear a lot of me made during May. I will admit that I did not do as much making as I would have liked to. For the last piece, I finished the Built By Wendy dress. I liked the shirt I made from this pattern, but doubt that I will wear the dress as much. The fabric is vintage "Made in Belgium" that I picked up at an estate sale last year. I also had some green shot cotton that matched nicely. I just finished the belt today so I would have something new to share on the last day.

May 19: Colette Sencha

I did not blog about the Sencha blouse that I made. The fabric is Anna Maria Horner cotton voile. I just love the lightness of this fabric. It is perfect for a blouse. This is a simple pattern and would be perfect for a beginner. I would suggest adding some interfacing to the button panel. Mine is slightly floppy. I also used small buttons, which could be contributing to the issue. For me, it is a little short, but I am tall"ish". I plan to make this one again, another variation, and will likely make it longer. One the whole, another great pattern from Colette Patterns.

Me Made May was a blast! Thank you to Zoe for getting this together. I look forward to building my wardrobe for next year. Don't forget: ALL comments from this month will be entered in the bag giveaway. I will announce the winner on Friday. Did you participate in the challenge? What did you think?

Me Made May: Day 14

2010-05-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

The crazy week is coming to a close. It was pretty wonderful to meet Kaye England! She had a little trunk show and lecture at our store. I was not expecting to get to meet her, but due to stormy weather we had to rescheduled the event. This worked out great for me, not so great for a lot of folks expecting to see her sooner. She was very fun and smart. I enjoyed talking with her about the current culture of quilting and other sewing superstars like Amy Butler, seems they are decent friends. She is fairly traditional with her quilting and loves her precision. I was tickled that she called herself a hillbilly several times, as I often refer to myself as a redneck. It was a delight to meet her.

I wore one of my favorite things, Colette Patterns, Beignet skirt. This is the first real garment that I've made for myself. The pattern and fabric were a birthday gift from my husband. It is very special to me and I think it looks pretty great too. I am a huge fan of Colette Patterns, as you may know. This pattern is so charming and the directions are spot on, full of excellent illustrations. I didn't modify much with this pattern, other than easing in some of the curvy seams in the front. I hope that's the correct way to describe what I did. The skirt is lined in pink silk, very soft. It has nice deep pockets that conceal a cell phone nicely. I like the added details such as the belt loops, belt and buttons down the front. I recommend this pattern for all levels of sewers, even beginners. A good machine with a nice button hole is helpful. See my guest blog about this on the Colette Patterns blog.

Me Made May: Day 11 and 13

2010-05-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've missed a couple days. Really one technically, I wore handmade pj's on day 10. I took pictures of some them, but now I don't really want to put the photos on the world wide web. I might try again with a hanger shot, or just a version of the shorts. It has been a hectic week. First of all, we are busy with the Machine Quilters Show going on here in town. There have been Quilt Guild meetings too! I have been a stranger to my house, husband, animals and mostly my baby Bernina. It's sad. I hold out for Monday, when I catch up with them all again.

Day 11, I wore a super easy cotton A-line skirt. It is a self drafted pattern based on direction from the book, Sew What Skirts. It is nothing fancy, but I do like to wear it.

Day 13, I wore another skirt from the same book. This one is a tad juvenile, but I like it anyway. I made it from some left over fabric I used to make my dog a new bed at Christmas and Kaffe Fassett shot cotton for the yoke and small binding around the edge. There is some great ribbon at the waistband. Unfortunately, it is covered by the shirt I am wearing. I will have to take a photo of this when I wear this again. Don't forget, I am giving away this bag at the end of May! Just leave a comment on any of the Me Made May Challenge posts.

Me Made May: Day 9

2010-05-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but I am trying to buy myself a little more time before I have to start repeating. So today my husband filled in for me on the Me Made May challenge. I did make the shirt, so in my book it's not technically cheating. I was trying to recall how long ago I made this shirt. I think it was about 5 years. I know that it was the first garment that I ever made and I remember having some issues. First, it was one of those patterns with a gazillion pieces. Also not exactly a beginner project. I know that the collar stand turned out a little strange, but hey, it looks great with a tie. I definitely learned how to use the button hole on my machine and also got to use the button sew on foot. These are two of my favorite sewing machine features to date. How I love the way my little bernina can make buttons a breeze.

I also worked on a couple of quilt blocks for the KC Scrappy Bee. Have a great week.

Me Made May: Day 8

2010-05-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

I sort of skipped Day 7, but I wore a handmade scarf. It was not terribly exciting and so no picture. On to Day 8. I wore Colette Patterns: Parfait dress. I made this out of some light-medium weight cotton/ bamboo denim. It is not the best choice fabric for drape, but I still love how this turned out. It is very comfortable and can be worn with a shirt under or without. I made a couple modifications to this pattern. First, I needed to do a small bust adjustment. The patterns are drafted for a C cup and alas, I am not a C cup. I found two really helpful tutorials to do this. I read them both and it was a success! I also lined the bust and back with some cotton, for looks and comfort. I would have liked a little more length (I am kinda leggy) and if I make this again I will probably add and inch or two.

I am huge fan of Colette Patterns. I have written some guest blogs posts for the Colette blog. These patterns are so delightful. They are little booklets with clear written directions and amble illustrations that make sewing them a breeze, especially for the novice sewer. Also, she donates a portion of the proceeds to animal welfare. It goes without saying, I am an animal lover.

In addition, I carried the Amy Butler: Sofia Carry All. This bag is so adorable. I have already written a little review of the pattern. If I were to make it again I would not add the piping to the bottom of the bag. Don't forget about the giveaway...all comments on any posts this month will be considered.

Me Made May: Day 6

2010-05-06T21:03:00.000-07:00

The Liverpool dress is so comfy. I have gone into some detail about this pattern before. I really enjoyed making it and I enjoy wearing it too. It seems that I get loads of compliments every time I wear it.

I have started some new handmades and just finished washing a load of new fabric. I hope to get more goodies done to showcase this month. I am about half way through what I have for the challenge...could be a chilly last half of the month.

The flower pin was by a local artist, Debra Smith. She is amazing!

Me Made May: Day5 and a Giveaway!

2010-05-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo! It's so pretty and purple here today. So how about a giveaway to celebrate?

My blog is fairly new, so I hope this will kick things off a bit. I will give away this lovely handbag at the end of the Me Made May challenge. I will randomly select a winner from the comments from all the months posts. Something like this: I will first randomly select a number for the day of post, then I will randomly select a number from that days post's comments. So up your odds by checking in every day and leaving a little message in the comments. Make sense? I think so and that's all that really matters.

I have made nearly a dozen of these handbags: Heather Bailey's Marlo Bloom. I have taught this pattern as a class twice. So I probably don't need to expound on how great I think it is, but I will. The pattern directions and illustrations are top notch (just like the tequilla you should be drinking today). Heather Bailey does a fabulous job with the whole thing, down to the way the pattern is packaged.

I wore the Mimosa Top, a Linda Lee Project Sewing Workshop pattern. I just finished this top out of purple linen. It was the perfect thing to wear for a warmer mid-west day. I can see this becoming a very great summer addition. It is a versatile piece, to be worn as a top or over something as a vest. Linda did a wonderfully insightful webinar on constructing this piece today. Now back to the margaritas...get those comments up!

Me Made May: Day 4

2010-05-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

The pattern is a Built by Wendy for Simplicity: 3964. I like it and have it cut out as a dress, that waiting to be sewn. The print fabric is a Japanese lightweight cotton that I got here. The solid is a Kaffe Fasset shot cotton that I've had forever. I don't know if it's right or wrong, but I love to use shot cottons in garment sewing.

It seems that I have a thing for this color combo. It appears everywhere in my clothes and house. I realized that I matched my lawn couch perfectly.

Me Made May: Day 3

2010-05-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't wear this all day, as a matter of fact, I just made it. This is the skirt that I am going to teach as part of my Kid's Camp at Bernina this June. I have never taught a whole group of kids before and I am trying to pick projects that appeal to a younger audience (while keeping my interest too). I love teaching young folks because they always seem to love the finished product as much as I do.

The pattern came from the book, "Freestyle Handmade Bags and Skirts". The directions are vague and the cutting diagrams do not include the seam allowance. I learned this the hard way. For me to actually wear the skirt, I need a little more fabric to cover my round rear end adequately. The illustrations are also pretty tiny. Perhaps my eyes are old. I really want to like this book because I think it has some appeal to a younger sewer. I will see how the next project goes. The skirt sure is cute though.

In other news...my little garden made it through it's first day...

and I also got these really great little farm rings at BonBon. They are so fun. I want more.

Me Made May: Day 2

2010-05-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

I worked planting a vegetable garden most of the day...so I wore an old t-shirt and jeans (no handmade). I will save you from my lack luster dirt moving fashion sense(lessness). However, I took the opportunity to slip on a handmade jacket for a walk with the dog and hubby later on.

This pattern is Favorite Things, Uptown Coat. I made it, when I was snowed in at Christmas, from a $5 woven acrylic I got at JoAnn's. I lined it, but it is not interlined, so it is really light weight and perfect for spring. The great thing about this project is that I didn't hesitate cutting into the cheapy fabric and I whipped it right up. I think I might have $20 total in the project. That includes the $1.50 I paid for the buttons I found on another jacket at the thrift store.

Me Made May: Day 1

2010-05-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

So here we are already...May 1st! Happy May Day. Starting off the Me Made May challenge, I have the Urban Top of Linda Lee's Project Sewing Workshop. I am in L-O-V-E love with this shirt. I could wear it everyday, but for the sake of keeping the challenge interesting, I will try not to repeat it too soon.

I am so fortunate to have just completed a 3 day workshop under the direction of Linda Lee at her studio in Topeka, KS. I had a blast AND made this awesome t-shirt, which was my first ever sewing on knit (into a functional garment at least)! The blue and grey stripe knit is so soft and lightweight. It was pretty fussy to sew, but I feel that the added challenge really made me feel accomplished. The t-shirt is not a plain old T either. There is a cute flounce and pocket on the front!

The Project Sewing Workshop is available from most Bernina dealers, as well as many other retailers. If you have the opportunity to attend a workshop using these patterns...do it! I intend to make this shirt again with long sleeves in a beefier red and grey stripe knit.

I'm Not Much For Fashion...

2010-04-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

But I am totally falling down the web fashion hole. I have been following The Uniform Project nearly this entire year. If you haven't, check out this link and you can OD in one sitting.

http://vimeo.com/11113046

Additionally, I am committing to my first ever blog challenge. Me Made May (recently added to my sidebar). I have been sewing a lot of clothes in preparation for this event. It is a great excuse and deadline to motivate my sewing. I also hope it will help propel my blogging habits.

If you haven't heard of Linda Lee, she is a fabulous current garment sewer, author and teacher. Did I mention she is also an Interior Designer? I am fortunate to get to attend a 3 day teacher training workshop with her next week. I am super excited and hope to learn a lot. My plan is to learn enough to complete her patterns shown above: Mimosa Top and Urban T-shirt and Pant.

I find Solace in Tedium

2010-03-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

It has been a very busy sewing week around here. It started with an officers meeting for the KC Modern Quilt Guild last Sunday, knitting on Monday, sewing circle on Wednesday and KC MQG meeting on Thursday. It might seem like the last thing that I would want to do on a Friday night would be more sewing, but that's not the story here. I decided to do some tedious paper piecing...and I liked it! After seeing Alex Anderson last fall, I found a way to use up some of my scraps for a great quilt, the Kaleidoscope Quilt. I'm having fun with it, but please remember I have an architects mind.

Also, becuase I promised...the Liverpool dress. Picture courtesy of my "high tech" webcam.

A Note on Amy Butler Patterns

2010-03-02T20:39:00.000-08:00

So a couple weekends ago I was having an Amy Butler binge sewing week. I made two of her bags and the liverpool dress. I know that she has a lot of mixed reviews about her pattern directions. Overall, I think the directions are very good, but a little overly thorough. I found that doing three of her patterns at one time, helped to get me in the "Amy" zone. I was able to edit substantial amounts of unnecessary information from the directions. I will also mention that I have made a lot of her patterns previously and I sew a good deal. Here are my reviews.

1. Smart Handbag (from In Town Bags)

This is a great beginner pattern. It is very simple and straight forward and yields a fun little bag. For this project I was exploring the idea of embellishment from a new book, "Fabric Embellishing". I made one modification to the bag pattern. I cut off 1/2" from all sides of the timtex bottom. She does this a lot in her patterns, but if she did it in this one I missed it. This reduces the bulk in the seams and made a nice defined bottom to the bag. It is a cute bag, but it's unlikely that I will use something this small. It would, however, make a nice gift or child's purse.

2. Sophia Carry All

This is a work in progress, I still have to complete the lining. The Sophia Carry All is a classic Amy Butler patten, in the fact that there are a gazillion extra things you need to get to make the project. I will say that it seems to make for a professional looking result, so go for it. This is one of the more challenging projects that I have tackled recently. My bernina machine did a beautiful job with the added bulk, but I found the bottom corners difficult to assemble. There is piping along the bottom panel and sides and it all meets at those little corners. I used cord for my piping that was a little stiff, because the fabric store was out of the "correct" piping. I might have had better luck with a more plyable piping. All things considered, I am LOVEing this bag so far. Any suggestions on when to use it? I think it's too big for a purse and too small for packing. I was lured in my it's lovely little retro shape. I wish I had hats, gloves, make up and such and I traveled by train, but I am a backpack toting traveler.

3. Liverpool (dress)

This turned out great and I was happy to have all the directions written in this pattern. I made the dress with elbow length sleeves in a Kaffe Fassett cotton fabric. The darts, built in belt, and french seam in the back make this a very tailored and professional looking dress. I have worn it once and it is comfortable and adorable. It is one pattern that I might actually make over and over. I would like to try it out at a tunic.

Congrats if you made it through reading all this. I am starting to see how hard it might be to edit one's pattern directions. On a whole, Amy Butler is an "A" in my book. I love her style and attention to detail, so I am willing to read an extra page or two of directions to have a project turn out so polished.

Holiday Gifting

2009-12-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

I had such a great time making my gifts for Christmas! I made several apron and oven mitt combos this year. I was able to use the new Bernina 820 at work for the oven mitts. It was such a dream to use for his project! There were three layers of insulated batting, along with four layers of fabric, and that is what you attached the binding to. Two things about the 820 made this so much easier than it would have been on my Bernina 240. First, the extra room under the presser foot. All that material and batting slid under the foot with room to spare. Secondly, the built in dual feed and quarter inch foot. I had no shifting issues with all those layers! I would have used a walking foot normally, but I loved that I had the ability to have the quarter inch foot to sew with. I was also entranced with the the thread cutting and foot raising with the push of a button. It was like it was saying, "here you go, perfection, just for you". I could really love a machine like this.

Hope you had as much fun making your gifts this year!

Colette Patterns

2009-12-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

There is not enough great things to say about Colette Patterns. I recently finished the Beignet skirt. The directions were clear and expertly explained. I also appreciate some good illustrations and these were excellent. The pattern was put together as a little booklet and had a pocket at the end for the pattern pieces. There was even a glossary of terms at the end. I found this particularly useful when trying to learn about grading a seam. This type of sewing is all new to me. She just came out with five new patterns and I am so excited.

Oh, and the skirt turned out beautiful!

A pattern and a prayer

2009-11-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

My husband is pretty great... yeah, I know, yadda yadda, everyone says that on their blog. It's true. I'll save you the details and I won't go on and on. For my birthday, he went to one of my favorite local spots, Bon Bon Atelier, for my gift. So he got me a pattern and a some fabric to make a skirt. Well, I am not new to sewing, but I have NOT sewn a lot of clothing, and especially anything for myself (that needs to fit). So here I am with a new pattern, some great fabric and a prayer that I won't screw it up.

Why, I DO like your handbag!

2009-11-08T20:20:00.000-08:00

So it has been a couple weeks since having the handbag class and it was a ton of fun! I was thrilled by the turnout. Everyone did such a good job with project, even though we were all at different skill levels. All the bags were as unique as the people making them, which made it so fun to watch. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera the day of the actual class. But fear not, I have been able to get a few pictures of some of these completed bags. I think Heather Bailey would be proud! Way to go girls!

Like my handbag? Take my class.

2009-09-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

I love to sew! and lately I have been making up Heather Bailey's, "Marlo Bloom" handbag like crazy. There are not enough great things to say about this pattern. The directions are very clear and concise, followed up with great illustrations. Things that could have been a challenge are very clearly explained, making this pattern a delight to sew. I even love the package and the way you can open and close it. I have made three of these bags so far and have another in the works.

I have gotten so many compliments on this bag, that I have decided to teach a class on this pattern at Bernina Sewing Center here in Kansas City. If you are so inclined, please sign up for it. The class is scheduled for Saturday, October 24 from 1-4pm. Please call Bernina to register.

And so it begins...again?

2009-09-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

I started a blog a few years back to indulge in a community of crafters and makers. I inevitably gave it up, as I was unimpressed with my ability to take pictures well enough to convey my story. But alas, I try again. I hope to have some pretty photos to accompany my words. My last blog was entitled "aunt jaime", not exactly saying much other than I am an aunt. I have been trying to think of a name for this new blog and my handmade goods, and finally settled on "patchwork architect". I love to quilt and I am an interior architect, so there it is folks. I hope you like it.