Espritpatch

May has been busy with rather involved projects. First I have finished the NHS scrubs that I was making at the end of last month (5 sets) and they have been picked up and delivered. I made a pair of Comox for hubby and a pair of Acacia for myself, 2 rather quick and easy projects I also quilted 5 quilts, all from blocks started in the past, sometimes a long time ago.  One of the 5 quilts is finished and gifted, 2 have the binding on that now needs to be sewn by hand and 2 needs binding made and sewn. The Mini-Series quilt-along was completed too so I finished all the blocks and made a mini quilt with all 9 blocks. Finally I made a summer night dress with the new Rio Ringer pattern from True Bias which was also May pattern for Sew my Style , first time this year I managed to make the pattern. I was planning to finish it by 22nd May for the IG challenge #sewtogetherloungewear but that didn't happen. Linking to May Furtle Celine

As soon as Kelly released the  Rio Ringer top and dress , I bought the pattern and printed it. It was the perfect candidate for the #sewtogetherforsummer loungewear challenge and looked like a great pattern for a summer nightdress. It is also one of the 2 patterns for May for  Sew My Style . I also washed my fabric promptly and then everything sat there because I was working on other projects. I didn't manage to join the sew-along but sometimes delays are a blessing. Kelly presented some hacks on her blog after the sew-along, including a  scoop neck version  that I really loved. So when I finally cut out the pattern last Friday, I redrafted the neckline to have a scoop neck too. Apart from the neckline hack, I cut a straightforward size 14 that I didn't lengthen either. The dress is rather short on me and I would lengthen it if I was planning to wear it outside but for a night dress, this is fine. I used this soft jersey fabric that I had in my stash, bought a ...

The mini series sew-along is finished, there are no new blocks released and we have until the end of the month to use the blocks into "something" to be an official finisher. I wasn't sure what to make or even how to set my blocks but over the week-end, I trimmed them, removed the paper (that took FOREVER!) and started playing with them. I eventually settled on an on-point setting with plain squares in the middle. To make it a little more interesting, I decided to border the plain squares with a tiny solid border, I picked the turquoise blue I used in the blocks. To fill my gaps, I cut 4 bakcground squares at 4' that were bordered by a 3/4' turquoise strips to give me 4 squares 4.5'. I also needed half-square triangles and quarter square triangles for all 4 corners. So I cut 4 squares at 4 3/4' that were bordered by a 3/4' turquoise strips and then cut in half diagonally. And finally one square at 5 1/4' bordered by  a 3/4' turquoise strip...

Only one pair of Acacia, that I had cut at the same time as the Comox trunk but that I hadn't assembled until now because of the quilting. Leftover fabric from my first ever piece of dressmaking... I didn't know where I was setting my foot back then! One OPAM and one of my Q2 FAL list Celine

After my "quilting marathon", this week has been a lot less productive in a way... but I am happy to report that one of the 5 quilts is now completely finished and ready to be gifted. Sky was my  One monthly goal   for May as I wanted to gift it to our neighbour for his 70th birthday next week. I made this quilt from the pile of long forgotten blue blocks that I "discovered" early April when I went through a few drawers in my sewing room.  The backing fabric was a leftover piece from another quilt, which turned out to be just the right size for this quilt. I quilted with an all-over meander design. And for the binding I used a guitar fabric that I had in my stash. Quilt stats: blocks from pre-2010, assembled 7x7 in April 2020 backing and binding from my stash quilted in May 2020 (during lockdown) with King Tut #903 Size: 56' square One very old UFO no more, one quilty OPAM for May and one of my Q2 FAL list. Linking to   M onday...

The last block for the mini-series quilt-along was due on Saturday and I finished it just in time. It was rather intricate and challenging with its 93 pieces in a 4' block. It is a lovely block too. Now that I have all 9 blocks sewn, I need to think about how to use them.... Celine

While life is quieter, getting my quilting frame out felt like a good idea. Just when I should have been cooking up a storm for my youngest daughter's First Holy Communion, instead I've been free- motion quilting some quilt tops/blocks that have been languishing around.  I started by the strips top that was finished a few years ago and patiently waited to be picked up. I then moved to the blue top that I'm planning to gift this month Followed by the Theradology top that I finished not that long ago The Vintage Kitchen top  And finally the blue and rainbow top. After that, the frame was duly put away, quilts squared and now I have a few hundred meters of binding to sew on! Linking to   M onday Design Wall ,   Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Midweek Makers ,    Needle and Thread Thursday Celine

Why did it take me so long to finally try this pattern, I am not sure.... I bought the Comox Trunk pattern by Thread Theory a while ago. I printed it and assembled it as well but somehow I never went further. Maybe I was put off by the number of pieces required for such a small garment. I knew it would be a great scrap buster too. Finally I cut it out on Friday night with some leftover jersey fabric from PJ I made for my daughter and hubby.  I even made the binding from the fabric even though I had ordered some. It was quite straightforward with such small pieces. All the pieces were assembled on the overlocker. I covered the elastic band seam with a piece of jersey to prevent the sides from rubbing on the skin.  The hems are finished with a twin needle and so is the elastic band.  And not forgetting a label of love! Of course the piece was easy and fast to make once I started! The pattern instructions are very clear and easy to follow. There is also ...

Incredibly, I have managed to keep up with the Mini Series Sew Along! I finished last week's block last night but didn't post it until today as I got confused by the deadline, but never mind, it is indeed finished. The block was a triangle geese block. The block for this week is a off-centered log cabin that can either be made as one quarter or 4 smaller quarters to make a "bubble". I went for the second option and made 4 little 2' blocks  then assembled into one 4' block. There is only one block left for the sew-along to be made next week.  Linking to   M onday Design Wall ,   Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Midweek Makers ,    Needle and Thread Thursday Celine

Finally! 5 full sets complete, ready to be handed back and distributed to front line workers in my local hospital. I had never before made 5 identical garments at the same time,  I almost felt like a factory worker, apart that I had to complete all the tasks myself!  I can't say I found it enjoyable to repeat the same tasks so many times but I was happy to be able to contribute to the national effort to protect medical staff.  I was nearly done but caught a facing while overlocking...  thankfully I received extra fabric from my coordinator  to be able to finish the last top tonight.  First OPAM for May and one of my Q2 FAL Linking to  Whoop Whoop Friday Celine

It looks like May will mostly be spent at home again, with all of us at all at all time.... which should give plenty of free time for sewing. However it is sometimes difficult to find any energy to do anything. Never mind, I've got a lot of projects to choose from!  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 some blocks 4.  Farmer's Wife 1930 - make some blocks 5. Threadology quilt along - quilt the top  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 12. Mini Series Sew-Along 13. Halo quilt sew along 14. Project 48 quilt 15. Sewing Banner 16. Impromptu Quilt 17. Sky top - needs quilting - this will be my  One monthly goal 18. Rainbow top - needs quilting 19...