Hookie

I played hookie today. Spent the whole weekend working on the house, (we painted the outside, finished up trim this weekend) garden (final freeze is safely behind us, so I finally got to plant some pretties.)  So I needed a me day. That was today.

I worked on the grandbaby's quilt.....

I taped the back fabric to the kitchen floor using the tiles as a grid to made sure it was straight.  Then layed the batting over that and then the top.  Smoothed everything out and pinned, pinned, pinned.  After pinning, I cut the batting all the way around leaving about 1"  all the way around.

Here it is, all pinned and folded.  Waiting for me to decide how I am going to quilt it.  Around the windows?  only in the white between windows?  any suggestions?

So then I decided that the grandbaby needed a receiving blanket.  I fell in love with this fabric at JoAnns.  Litte critters all hiding in the jungle.  The back is a soft flannel.   No pattern, just a 36" square of the main fabric and the flannel backing.  After it was cut out, I used a dinner plate as a pattern and rounded the corners.   I then sewed all sides, leaving a 5" gap for turning right side out.  Turn right side out.  Hand sew the gap closed and a little embroidery stitch around the edges.  Too cute.   A little butterfly from the jungle appliqued on the flannel side.

My beautiful daughter and my grandson.  My child with her child. 

Then I made myself a hippy skirt.  (-:  So comfortable.  No pattern.  I just layed the folded fabric out and cut 10" layers.  Sewed them into rings and gathered and layered them together.  Each layer is 1.5 times bigger than the one above it.  There are no pockets, so I made a hidden hanging one, on the inside.  Perfect for my phone. 

I wish I could afford to play hookie everyday!

Stay Happy! Keep Sewing!!

Grandbaby quilt progress

Top, done.
Back, done.

Now just to assemble with the batting and then figure out how I want to quilt it......

Quilt top. I fussy cut each 'picture' and then appliqued my own layout. 

Borders, blue and brown.  I made bias tape out of the orange for the back of the quilt and inserted it between the two borders.

Adorable little lady bug

Stay Happy!

Keep Sewing!

Gingham screams summer to me

I jumped on the gingham bandwagon with this wonderful cotton, lycra blend from Fabric.com.  I used my altered Jalie 3130 as the pattern. 

I love this pattern, everything is well drafted and fits together perfectly.  The yoke combined with no stand, make the inside as nice as the outside.  I have included pictures the pattern facing alteration and the yoke inside and out.

Here is an excerpt from my review at Pattern Review

Fabric Used: A stretch cotton gingham from Fabric.com  96%cotton, 4% lycra.  Washed up like a dream and a breeze to sew.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I have altered the original body of the pattern by taking a 1/2 tuck down the front of the pattern.  I also have done a forward shoulder alteration and a square shoulder alteration.  With those changes, it is my TNT button up shirt pattern.   I can then make the 3130 as designed.  Or I can continue with changes which is what I did with this shirt.  It is similar in design to the chambray Fossil I did a knock off of last time.  I changed the collar to a fold over collar by altering the collar piece and omitting the stand. I extended the center front and drafted it into a self facing.  I omitted the sleeve tabs and shortened the sleeves and inserted a 3" split at hem side seams.  I also omitted the pocket tabs. I cut the front pockets and the yokes on the bias for pattern contrast.
 



















Front Pattern with cut on facing                                 shortened sleeve











Altered Collar

Inside yoke with collar straight up, no unsightly seams!

Cut on facing from inside

3" Split at side hem

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I have sewn it many times now. I am sure come fall, I will be needing some more longer sleeved shirts, so this Jalie will be one of my go to's, no matter what the season.Conclusion: I love this gingham, it is light purple and white.  I made it especially to go with a a white denim pencil skirt I made last summer.   I Love it.