Sewing Day

I had the chance to have a whole sewing day last Saturday, an event organised locally by 2 lovely ladies. I joined the first one in March and worked on one of the dance bag (and had a blast) so as soon as the second was advertised, I booked again! No big project this time but I took various bits and pieces to work on.

The first was not-exciting sewing but I was glad to get it done. I bought this lovely spotty fabric in the Cloth House Warehouse sale in May that I wanted to make into napkins for our family meals.

And because it is quite boring sewing, I thought it would be easier to get it done while dedicating an hour or so to it than trying to squeeze it here and there and home as this would be never ending.

So I now have 2 lovely sets of napkins that we used already last week-end for Father's Day lunch.

My next project was to make a new PE bag to my son as he felt he had overgrown his previous one! So again with lovely coated cotton fabric I bought in the Cloth House Warehouse sale in May, I cut a new PE bag. The fabric is lovely to the touch but fray so much that I didn't go any further than the cutting as it needed to be overlocked to avoid the bag being destroyed within a week of its use! I overlocked the pieces when I got back home in the evening and quickly finished the bag that has already been in use this week!

From then I move on to work on my first teacher's gift (I know, shocking, right when there is still more than a month left of school!), this is just so not like me to start so early :-) I decided on the trusted and tested open wide pouch for my middle daughter's teacher, using some leftover fabric from my daughter's school bag (which also came from Cloth House Warehouse but last year!) and more coated cotton fabric from the Cloth House Warehouse sale.

I cut all the pieces and the interfacing but this time I followed a (new-to-me) tutorial by Stitch Mischief which is absolutely fab. I will definitely use it again. For the first try. I followed the instructions blindly so ended up with the bigger-sized pouch, which is huge! so I added a little pocket inside.

Again this was finished at home because I didn't have the right size zip with me but I am so glad that it is ready to be gifted already (unless I decide to keep it...)

 And finally, the last project I worked on during the Sewing Day was the Scrappy Trip Along, where of course I have been falling behind... I managed to finish a second black block and sew all my yellow strips, still a long way to go of course!

And with that I have 4 more OPAMs for June and one off my Q2 FAL as well. It felt so good to sew to my heart content!
Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday.

Celine

Lucia

When the Lucia top was released by Sew Over It last month, I completely fell for it. I am not sure why to be honest as frills are not something I wear much, neither to I wear off the shoulder tops, so completely not my usual style really.

Anyway, I bought the pattern and decided to go for it straight away. I though a plain fabric would work better, at least for the first try and I had some jersey bamboo fabric that I bought off someone on Facebook which I decided would work.

The cutting is very easy since there are only 3 different pieces in the pattern so that part was completed very quickly!

Then came the assembly that had to wait until I could buy some thread as the turquoise of my fabric was quite an usual colour. And again with only 3 different pieces, the assembly was easy enough. The elastic was also straight forward to insert in the top. So I finished this top over a week ago but the weather here has been so cold that I hadn't had an opportunity to wear it outdoor, even for a photo!

Also I like it, the bamboo fabric is not very stretchy, which means that my sleeves are a little tight but that's bearable!

And that is another OPAM for June!

Celine

And another sew-along!

I hadn't joined a sew-along for such a long time and suddenly there are so many I want to take part in. The latest one I have found on Instagram is the #kingfisherstitchalong organised by Tales of Cloth and Stiched in Color. And although I really don't need another EPP project, I thought it would actually be the perfect project to use up the hexie flowers I collected along the year of the Inchy Hexie Swap.

So for now, I have gathered all my flowers and will need to pick the ones I want to include in this Kingfisher top soon.

Of course, my initial plan was to sew a lovely flower garden with a grey path between the flowers and I have at least 50 shades of grey hexies too!

But after 8 years of starting playing with hexies, this is as far as I got.... Not likely to happen soon really.

Hopefully that will be one UFO less soon!

Linking to Let's Bee Social.

Celine

Kielo dress

I have seen so many of these dresses on Instagram  but when I looked at the pattern I must admit that I couldn't see the appeal really. I just didn't see how the pattern would look good on me. As the #sewtogetherforsummer challenge was announced and the Kielo dress by Named Clothing being one example of a wrap dress, I thought it would be a good opportunity to try it. So I bought the pattern and digged in my stash for a jersey I bought cheaply a while ago with no specific plan (quite usual really). I then realised that I only had 2m of fabric and the pattern was calling for more. The dress is very long and with the wrap, the pieces are huge but anyway I managed to squeeze the pieces on my 2 meters so I was happy about that.

I cut the pieces last month and put the dress together quite quickly (I must admit I was quite intrigue to see the end result). So when I got to the wearable (but not finished stage) and realised that yes it would fit, I parked it before I did the finishing/hemming. Not sure why really apart for the urge to try another new pattern. And also maybe the fact that I was a little square about the binding and messing it up. Anyway, I finally picked it up yesterday and decided that since I hadn't sewn all week more or less, it would be nice to make progress on this piece. And then decided that it would be even better to finish it and enjoy it today.

So with the motivation back, I stitched the binding on one arm hole first (I thought it would be less visible if I messed up than the neckline) and then the second. And finally I took a deep breath and went for the neckline too. With just the hem to finish, it didn't take long to have a new wearable dress. 

Verdict: it is such a comfy garment that I can see myself wearing it often. The long length is great but could easily be shorten as well. Although most people wrap the pieces at the front, I like them wrapped at the back too and this is how I wore them today. I think I would gladly make another one, it is simple enough and yet a lovely unusual piece!

And I must admit that I am really happy to have finished another garment, used up a piece in my stash and of course finished my One monthly goal well before the end of the month! And I am getting so much better with deadlines, I finished both my entries for the challenge with days to spare (last year I finished on the last evening!). And this is also one of my Q2 Finish Along and of course an OPAM for June.

Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday.

Celine

New quilt along(s)

I think I have been very weak! I just joined a new quilt-along on Instagram the #scrappytrip2018 which is based on Bonnie Hunter's tutorial. I have so much fabric in my stash I figured that could be a good way to use some up and my brother is turning 40 next year so that could be a nice present for him. The idea would be to make a big quilt (of course!) so I am thinking (ideally) 6x7 blocks which means 42 blocks or 252 strips. Surely that should make a hole in my stash??? Who am I kidding???
Anyway, next decision is fabric/colour choice. Obviously I don't want it too girly... but will I stick to a colour scheme or should I go for an explosion of colours and just pick my fabric randomly, after all I need quite a few strips... so many decisions. I think I will just start cutting and see what happens after a while.... I'll probably reuse some of the fabric but I think I probably have more than 250 fabrics in my carefully curated collection...

And there is also another quilt along that has caught my eye, it is the Modern Plus Sampler Quilt Along that Cheryl and Paige will start on 5th July. The quilt design will be available next Thursday, I can't wait to see it. Let's see if I can resist it or not...

Have you started any quilt/along recently?

Celine

June goals

Another month, another list! With lots in common from last month of course...But let's hope for a few more finishes this month again.


Hoping for finish
1. Kielo dress - I need to finish the armband, the neck and the hem. This will be my One monthly goal 

2. Lucia top by Sew Over It - cut and ready to be assembled 

WIP
1. Farmer's wife 

2. Gipsy Wife - lots of catch up needed here 

3. Postcards of the world - 1 postcard to draw and 1 to finish 

4. Farmer's Wife 1930 - let's try to continue to make more blocks

UFO / Abandoned WIP

1. HST modern sampler quilt - (19 blocks) - this one was my February goal on the APQ UFO challenge, I need a few more blocks to finish this top, it would be good to get there

2. Dear Jane - aiming for 5 blocks

3. Mischief blocks  
4. Project 48 / Summer Solstice 

5. Super Mario quilt 

6. Impromptu quilt 

7. Bubbles quilt - this was my APQ UFO challenge for March, that I progressed from a pile of blocks to a flimsy ready for quilting next time the frame will be coming out. Maybe this month?

8. Zodiac BOM 
9. Granny Square - this was my APQ UFO challenge for April, and is currently a pile of blocks 

New Projects

1. Power trip bag 
2. Flora case
3. Cardigan
4. Colette blouse or shirt 
5. Demoiselle dress for A

6. Imagine dress  
7. Kenda dress for me
8. Bubble dress for A

9. Faux leather jacket 
10. Trapezette dress for C
11. Lander trousers (silver) 
12. Passport wallet for me 
13. Gotham cape

14. Swingset skirt C 

15. Kyoto top
16. Pyjama M 
17. Pyjama A 
18. Nightdress C
19. Nightdress for me
20. Pyjama for hubby
21. Uvita top
22. Brasov top
23. Acacia underwear
24. Cadence court
25. Tabor V-neck top
26. Yoga Pants
27. PE bag M
28. Scrappy Trip Along
29. Suki Kimono
30. Ostara top
31. Tabor V-neck
32. Teachers' presents

Celine

May recap

Another month has gone by sooo quickly! I can't believe it is nearly June already. I made a few items this month and also some blocks so I am rather happy about that, including some not on the list one... oops!

Hoping for finish
1. Orsola dress - nearly finished, I only have the inside waistband to finish sewing by hand. This will be my One monthly goal - finished and enjoyed already!

WIP
1. Farmer's wife - no progress 

2. Gipsy Wife - lots of catch up needed here - no progress 

3. Postcards of the world - 1 more postcard to draw and 1 to finish - there has been a lot of unpicking and some stitching too.... 

4. Farmer's Wife 1930 - let's try to continue to keep up more or less - I would really like to pick this one up again.... - 10 more blocks this month

UFO / Abandoned WIP

1. HST modern sampler quilt - (19 blocks) - this one was my February goal on the APQ UFO challenge, I need a few more blocks to finish this top, it would be good to get there - no progress

2. Dear Jane - aiming for 5 blocks - no progress

3. Mischief blocks   - no progress
4. Project 48 / Summer Solstice - no progress

5. Super Mario quilt - no progress

6. Impromptu quilt - no progress

7. Bubbles quilt - this was my APQ UFO challenge for March, that I progressed from a pile of blocks to a flimsy ready for quilting next time the frame will be coming out. Maybe this month? - no progress

8. Zodiac BOM - no progress
9. Granny Square - this was my APQ UFO challenge for April, and is currently a pile of blocks - no progress

New Projects

1. Power trip bag 
2. Flora case
3. Jenna or Blackwood cardi black
4. Colette blouse 
5. Demoiselle dress for A

6. Imagine dress  
7. Kenda dress for me
8. Bubble dress for A

9. Faux leather jacket 
10. Trapezette dress for C
11. Lander trousers (silver) 
12. Passport wallet for me 
13. Gotham cape

14. Swingset skirt C 

15. Kyoto top
16. Pyjama M 
17. Pyjama A 
18. Nightdress C
19. Nightdress for me
20. Pyjama for hubby
21. Uvita top
22. Brasov top
23. Acacia underwear
24. Cadence court
25. Nellie top - finished

26. Yoga trousers from Sew Active wear book
27. PE bag M

Celine

Ogden - again!

Yes, another one! I really love this pattern, in case you were wondering :-) so I now plan my makes to squeeze in an Ogden as well when I can. And the Nellie blouse I made was no exception of course. So I made an Ogden with the crepe de Chine as well and although I finished it about the same time as the blouse, I hadn't had a chance to wear it yet because the sun just wasn't there! But finally this week-end, I wore it for our meal in the restaurant for French Mother's Day.

 It is interesting to see how fabrics behave differently. Although I used exactly the same size as my other Ogden, this one feels a lot more tight when wearing it. But it is still such a nice top and I love the back of it too.

Another OPAM for May and another one of my Q2 FAL list, after all, I didn't list how many Ogden I was planning to make ;-) there might be more!
Linking to Let's Bee Social

Celine

Few more blocks

Little by little, I will get there! But I must admit I have been more drawn towards clothes making against this month. Anyway I did squeeze another 3 Farmer's Wife 1930 blocks, only 3 but 3 more... and with just under a week until the end of May, who knows, I might reach 10 blocks this month!

For now, meet #22 Cat

#25 Crystal

and #40 Grandmother, which was a bit fiddly with the Y-seams

That gives me 9 blocks this month.

Celine