another destash and June's sewing

Way back in May, Jo and I headed to another destash event in a nearby town. Needless to say we bought lots of stuff ... and had a great time doing it! Here are just a few pics of what I got.

A partly used - hardly used, to be honest! - jelly roll, some fat quarters, larger pieces of plain fabrics, a large piece of Christmas fabric and some ruler holders.

A few books and some fancy beads.

Lots ...

and lots ...

and lots ...

of fabrics.

Jo has just told me that there's another destash in October. I'd better get using this lot so I can justify buying more! LOL

In the sewing for June, I only made 3 things to wear. First of all another Rivi shirt as shown in the last two posts. I'll repeat myself and say I just love the way the stripes run on the front and back yokes!

Next I made a couple of tops to wear with the tiered skirts I made in April. These are both from an old pattern - probably well out of print - Simplicity 2599. Both are fabrics I bought in Canada last summer. First a cream cotton with lines of light embroidery on it.

The second one is a very lightweight dobby spot in an ivory cotton. Both are lovely to wear and are already part of my summer wardrobe.

I said that I only made 3 things to wear. I also spent a lot of time making blocks for a long term project. I'll keep those for another blog post!

adding to my stash

At the end of October, Jo and I went to a Crafter's Destash and had the best time. I think everyone there, at one time or another, said to one of the ladies (and men) who were manning the stalls that they really didn't need to be buying more stuff. But, oh it was fun! Here's what I got:

Some fat quarters:

Some bigger pieces:

A couple of scraps bags:

This is what was in them:

and, finally, some books:

I was delighted with everything I got! If we spot it being on next year, no doubt we will be there!

I was laid up for a couple of weeks with a bad cold so I made good use of the Christmas Cheer book in the last photo and made this wreath. It's been decades since I did any hand-stitched patchwork and I was surprised how much I enjoyed doing it. It helped to while away the long hours I spent on the couch trying not to cough up a lung!!

This is what I made the wreath into - a wall-hanging - door-hanging actually!

A few weeks later, we went to a Quilter's Exhibition. The quilts were lovely and very inspiring. The best bits for us were the various sales tables dotted around the room. Needless to say we spent a little money there too! First some books:

and some fabric pieces.

Actually, I have to admit, the absolute best bit was the free coffee and home-made cakes and biscuits. Those alone were well worth the price of the ticket!

When I was finally feeling better, I made another wall-hanging. This was self-designed and I LOVE it!

Jo mentioned that she wanted a Bourbon biscuit decoration for her tree so, after a bit of searching, I found one and made it for her. She's delighted and it's hanging on her Christmas tree! This is the embroidery design I used but I changed the M to an N using my Embrilliance program.

The last two things I made were these. I have a Tiffin recipe and a Peppermint Slice recipe already but they sometimes don't work as well as I'd like - no idea why! These are both from the Baking with Granny website. Both were very easy and very delicious.

This is the tiffin:

And this is the peppermint slice:

I really should make them again! Nom nom nom!

fabrics bought and makes for August

When we were in Canada, we went to the fabric shop. Twice. The first time, Debbie and I went with the girls and, although they were very well-behaved, they did get a bit bored. The second time, Debbie and I went alone and had the best time. I spent quite a lot of money but, because of all the stuff we had brought to Canada, we had practically a whole suitcase available and I did my very best to fill it with fabric! LOL

When we got home, the first thing I did - after washing the clothes, of course - was to wash all the fabrics. Luckily the weather was perfect for me to be able to get it all dried outside. Naturally I had to take photos of it all on the line. I love every single piece I bought and don't regret buying any of it!!

There is a definite blue theme going on! The first photo is a bit in the shade but the colours are still amazing!

I decided I was going to make something out of the pile so decided on the Monty shirt from StyleArc which I have made before. I looked for a link to the pattern but it's no longer available, apparently! I love this shirt and the fabric is fabulous! Very happy with this one!

I then made another one. This fabric was a bit odd in that the stripes were horizontal across the fabric on the bolt. No problem for this shirt, though, as I just turned the pieces around to make the lower part have vertical stripes. I love this one too! (What is with the funny face??)

I'm thinking I might leave the rest of the fabric for now - no point in making more summer clothes when autumn is fast approaching!

When buying all that dressmaking fabric, I had also bought a couple of Christmas panels from the sale table. I decided I would make those - one for Jo and one for us. (I did ask Debbie in the shop if she wanted one too but she said she didn't.)

I made both quilts the same - cutting the panels apart, adding sashing and cornerstones and sewing them back together. These are the results - they're the same quilt but the panels are in different (random) places. Jo's has already gone to her house and ours is on the spare bed waiting for December so it can come out to be enjoyed!

Christmas is coming! 🎅🏻 🎄

a whole quilt made from scraps

I spent some time at the beginning of the month (August) going through all of my boxes of scraps and cutting them into usable sizes.

For me, my most usable sizes are 2½" squares:

3½" squares:

4½" squares:

and 8" squares:

After doing that, I used some of what was left to make blocks for another scrap quilt.

I used leftover bits of sheeting on the back as a stablising fabric - last time I made this quilt, I used paper but I wanted to use up the sheeting so that's what I used.

There are 49 blocks altogether. I know there are more than 49 in the photos above - I must have taken duplicates photos of some of them! Oops!

I then used scraps of fleece on the backs and joined them using my QAYG (quilt as you go) method. This is the resulting quilt. I LOVE it!!

Using scraps of fleece for each block makes the back really interesting. I didn't pay any attention to where the 7 yellow ones went and I'm perfectly happy with the way they've worked themselves in.

I made a label on my embroidery machine using the same yellow fabric I had used for the sashings on the front and the binding.

All in all, I'm just so happy with this quilt. Everything I used came from my scrap boxes of fabrics and fleece and the green stripe I used for the sashings on the back was leftover fabric from the green stripey blouse I made earlier in the summer.

You would think that I'd managed to empty all my scrap boxes. Nope. There are still loads left but that's the nature of sewing. You always end up with scraps. Using them to make other things is just the best feeling! 😀

pinafore dresses for Emily

I made a couple more bindings to add to my steadily growing pile. If the colours are right, it's very handy not having to make new bindings for every quilt.

Then I decided to make Miss Emily a pinafore dress with some fabric I'd got out of the remnant bin a few months ago. I used this pattern which has been in my pattern collection since the last millenium.

I made view 1 but wasn't sure that it was long enough.

After consulting with Debbie who measured a pinfore that Emily owns already, we decided I needed to lengthen it by 2" which I did with a flounce. Much better.

Then I made another ...

and another ...

Aren't they adorable? Best bit is they fit her - with room for growth - so that's very pleasing.

Debbie asked me if I'd make a few more bibs so I did. I cut 2 the same size as before and 3 just a smidge longer.

One of the 3 longer ones needed the towelling backing to be joined so I covered the join with a piece of the sticky fingers print I'd used on the front. Quite an appropriate print for a sticky-fingered baby!