Espritpatch

March has of course taken a turn to the most unexpected.  Never would I have thought a few weeks back that the UK, like many other countries would be in full lock-down with schools and most businesses shut. How incredible really.  At the beginning of the month, I didn't anticipate to have much sewing time (despite my long list) but social and kids activities have been promptly cancelled and we have been spending a lot more time at home. I must say, motivation has not always been here to make the best use of the free time but I did manage to progress a few projects. I made lots of blocks to finish my Threadology top (and backing) I also made a tiny mini block for the mini series sew along. On the dressmaking front, it has been mainly pyjamas, a few of them too!  (all fast and easy but also much needed), some hankies  as well as face masks.  And I started to stitch a rainbow too. Linking to March Furtle . Celine

Some useful/helpful sewing this afternoon, I used some scraps of double gaze left over from my Zadie jumpsuit to make some face masks. I used the pattern/tutorial from Bijou Lovely's website . I have made 7 so far and might make more if this becomes useful. This is one OPAM that I, of course, had not planned or envisaged making. Celine

Last week, I finished all the blocks for the Threadology Quilt-Along from last year on the Fat Quarter Shop blog, so the next step was to put them all together. Because I sew all the blocks from my scrap baskets with no thoughts on the colour arrangement or final layout. I started laying the blocks following the pattern set but my colours didn't work well together so I changed it to my liking I digged deep into my stash to find some fabric for the borders.  And the backing of the quilts is pieced too with the remaining big squares so again I digged into my stash to make it. The quilt top and backing are ready for quilting next time I get the frame out, which I am hoping is not in the too distant future. This was my project for the   One monthly goal , which I am happy to have completed to this point. Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday . Celine

I was so happy to finish my last Threadology blocks that I decided to reward myself and start one or maybe two new projects.... I joined the Alison Glass mini series quilt along with its tiny mini paper-pieced blocks. First one is a log cabin with logs that are less than 1/4' wide! I finished my first block and I love it but I'm worried that the Oakshott fabric might fray so I'm thinking of changing for a more tighter woven fabric. I also started a project from a pattern/  sew along  from last year:  Sewing Studio banner .  I bought and printed the pattern at the time but didn't go any further with it.... There are lots of sub-blocks so I should be there for a while! Linking to M onday Design Wall ,   Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Midweek Makers ,    Needle and Thread Thursday . Celine

Well, I wasn't supposed to have as much time to sew lately, the week-end plan was rather busy but, of course, in the current climate, all fell apart. Last week, after school activities started to be cancelled progressively and on Friday, schools shut their doors. So the evenings have been freer, no taxi service required, and the week-end has been rather quiet. We've taken advantage of the nice weather to go on a family bike ride on Sunday and we also played board games together. And I have used my extra free time for some sewing :-) Of course, I wasn't sure which ones of my multiple projects to pick up but decided to try and stick with the Threadology blocks and I am happy to report that I have finished the last 3 sets of blocks ready to be put together in a quilt top! Blocks 6 were based on a 9-patch block Block 7 were easy and perfect for fussy cutting And to finish,  blocks 8 were rather demanding Linking to M onday Design Wall , ...

Catching up on the Threadology blocks was in my plans for March, I had vaguely thought I could probably make one set every week to finish the top by the end of the month, which is my One Monthly Goal for March. Well I haven't really been able to keep up so far. We are already starting the third week of March and I have only finished the big block of series 5 (during the first week) and I finally finished the 4 small ones in the same series this week. Now I have 3 more series to complete and the top to assemble in the next 2 weeks, is that doable? Linking to M onday Design Wall ,   Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Midweek Makers ,    Needle and Thread Thursday . Celine

The only person in the family not to get anything hand-made recently is my son. And he's growing so fast that he could do with new stuff. Although at his age, hand-made is restricted to things other won't see 😉 so I made him a pair of PJ. I used the tried and tested   11th Hour Gear pattern  and some soft and thick jersey organic cotton I bought from my local store. It is not very easy to find jersey for boys that is not childish actually. This dark grey one with boats on it was neutral enough I thought. The back looks like a brushed cotton and is very soft. I cut a size 14 for the top and added 2' to the sleeves as he always find sleeves too short. And I cut a size 16 for the joggers and again added 2' to the legs as well. I am hoping he doesn't grow out of his brand new PJ too quickly! One more OPAM for March and one more of my Q1 FAL list. Celine

After my successful first attempt with the pink animal print , I decided to make another night dress, based on exactly the same pattern with a gorgeous organic cotton I had in my stash. I had already used some to make a Blackwood cardigan before but I had plenty left. The only difficulty with this one was to match the stripes. So I took a long time to cut the pieces and I cut them flat to ensure they would all the straight! So the cutting took quite some time. Of course the assembling was straightforward and quite fast on my overlocker. However, when I serged the raw edges, they started to grow a little.  This time, I hemmed the neckline, the sleeves and the bottom for a neater finish. I have worn it once already and it is so soft and comfy to wear! Another OPAM for March and one of my Q1 FAL list. I am on a roll 😃 Celine

Last month I bought a collection of cotton fabric planning to make hankies for the family with them. Well I am glad to report I have finally started! I cut in the first one last week, a lovely thin stripe fabric I bought from Fabworks Mill Work . I cut a number of squares about 14' and some more about 10' to make his and hers. I also wanted to try a variety of techniques for the edges. I tried the perfect mitered corner method from By Hand London blog and that was easy to follow as well as giving a very neat finish. I made my folds smaller than indicated on the blog but this still gives a relatively large "hem" I tried to simply fold over the border twice and edge stitch. I don't like this one as the corners are messy. And I practiced my rolled hem on all the others. I really like the rolled hem finish for a hankie but it is not easy to do it consistently and neatly.  And then hubby mentioned that maybe I could go fancy and add initials to them so I d...

I have been meaning to make night dresses for a long time and have been looking for a pattern for it but I couldn't find anything suitable. Most patterns are for PJ sets or lounge wear. What I wanted really was a long sleeves T-shirt dress. I had this crazy wild and bright Jersey in my stash for a while so I figured I could use for a wearable toile. I picked the Lark Tee pattern by Grainline studio that I had made once before. I choose the boat neck portion option and cut a size 12 for the bust grading to 14. I also lengthened at the hem by 11' It didn't take long to make really, all sewn on the overlocker. I left all the edges raw, just overlocked them all. Well the wearable toile is indeed wearable. I've been enjoying it since I made it 🙂 And once the girls saw it, they also wanted a pink leotard something! So I made a night dress by elongating the top of the 11th Hour Gear pattern . Hers is hemmed and has a neckband. And for her younger sister I ma...

I am really hoping to get more time to sew this month but it seems all our weekends are busy already so I'm not sure about that really. Anyway, I'll throw a few goals/ dreams on my list and see how many I manage in the end! Quilting: 1.   Dear Jane - finish row E 2.  HST modern sampler quilt - make the last block and finish the top  3.  Farmer's Wife 1920 - make 4 blocks 4.  Farmer's Wife 1930 - make 4 blocks 5. Threadology quilt along - I hope to keep the momentum and finish the quilt top this month now that I have half of the blocks made -   this will be my   One monthly goal 6. Scientific Adventure Quilt - not started 7. Purple and blue quilt 8. Scrappy Stripes quilt - needs quilting 9. Vintage Kitchen Quilt - needs quilting  10. Super Mario quit  11. Baby Quilt Dressmaking 1 .  Knickers 2. Sirroco Jumpsuit, cut and ready to be sewn 3. Jeans for myself 4.  Comox trunks 5. ...