HST quilt and using up some stash

Last month, I showed a photo of a pile of half square triangles all ready to be made into a quilt. I'm delighted to say, I got the quilt made and I LOVE it! See:

Here's a closer view to show off the quilting. I used a rainbow variegated thread and a serpentine stitch - aka the wiggly line stitch! - through the diagonals of all the squares and along the black sashings. I am so pleased with how that looks. I will definitely be using that thread and stitch again!

On the back, I used a grey fleece from my stash. I don't have many of these left - I'll need to keep an eye out for the next sale of fleeces in Asda! They're really lovely as quilt backings and, if I wait for a sale, they're also a good price! Win, win!

Next, I made myself a new nightie. I didn't have enough in the length of the fabric to get the full length of the nightie but I managed to cut a couple of strips out of the sides of the fabric and just joined it on to both ends of the fabric before cutting the nightie out. It worked out perfectly which pleased me no end! You can see the join but that doesn't bother me one bit. Another piece of fabric used up for a worthy cause!

I made myself a vest for my holiday. I took a pattern for a top (with sleeves) that I knew fit me and adapted it to be a slightly longer sleeveless version. It's very comfortable and will, I'm sure be well worn in the heat of July in Canada!

I decided to dig through some of my stash and use up some bits to make some new oven gloves.

You can see in this photo that I didn't have enough to make the backs so I just joined bits together to make them work. They're only oven gloves, for heaven's sake. Who cares if they're patched together as long as they do their job?

Lastly, I had a piece of fabric that was big enough for a couple of pinnies and a couple of pairs of oven gloves so that's what I did. I love them!

I'm so pleased to have used up more bits of my stash although it never seems to go down very much. Might be because I keep buying fabric, maybe?? 🤪

pinnies, oven gloves and joined up bump

I had some of the faces fabric I'd used earlier for pinnies and oven gloves for myself and Jo so I used it to make more of the same. First off, a couple of pinnies for Debbie:

and a pair of oven gloves:

Then I made a couple of mini versions for Emily and Isla. I won't be posting these as we're visiting them in Canada in July. I can't wait!!

This next "make" is a bit strange but, honestly, I am so pleased with it. Every time I make a quilt there is always bump left over - the wadding used inside the quilt. It's always small strips or bigger strips, small squares or bigger squares, small rectangles or bigger rectangles. You get the picture. Well, I decided to join all my leftover bits together to see how big a piece I could make. This is what I ended up with. It measures 52" x 50" so big enough to use in a quilt. All made out of leftovers. And, when it's used in a quilt, nobody would ever be able to tell it was joined up bits. I feel like I definitely got something for nothing there!

I made up some half square triangles for a future quilt. I hope to be able to show that soon!

I told you last month I was knitting a cardigan for Isla. I got it finished and I'm chuffed to bits with it. I know it'll be a bit big but, apparently, that's how the girls like their cardigans so it should be fine!

So, that's my March makes. I wonder what I'll get done in April?

makes for January 2025

I started the year by making a new smalls bag. The one I was using was beginning to show signs of over-use so a new one was needed. It's not particularly pretty but it does the job so that's fine by me!

I then decided it was time to put together the Squares and Chains quilt the blocks for which I showed back in November. This is the front - all made from the contents of my scraps boxes:

I LOVE it!

And this is the back with a label I sewed on my sewing machine. I was sure I could reduce the size of the font but I couldn't figure out how to do that so I just used it in this big size. I also should have balanced the lines better but, you know what, if anyone complains about it, I'll tell them where to go!! 😝

Jo gave me this faces fabric last year and I decided it was time to use it so I made a couple of pinnies ...

... and some oven gloves to match. Jo got one pinny and a pair of gloves and I kept the others. They've already been slotted in to the pinny/oven glove rotation. I LOVE them!

I'm now working on another Stained Glass quilt. I made this one back in March last year and decided I'd make another one this time for Jo.

All the squares and strips and sashings are cut and I've made a start to the blocks.

I'm loving re-making this one and I know it'll be just as stunning as the original one.

So, that's January done. How can a month of the year be gone already? 😵‍💫

some sewing and the ones that got away!

I haven't been sewing much recently - or at least not as much as I usually do. Let me show you what I've made.

First of all, I made a topper for Debbie's sewing box. I used bits of all (or most of) the sewing-related fabrics I had. I'm really chuffed with the way it turned out. Here's the front:

And the back:

My next project was a laptop bag for Debbie. She'd seen the one I made for Joanna - in 2014! - and wanted one like it. She asked me to use denim on the outside and chose the lining fabric from my stash of fat quarters. I made it the same size as Jo's one even though it'll be bigger than Deb's laptop but she told me she'll probably put other stuff in it too so better to be bigger. I put pockets on one side only:

Quilted the whole thing:

This is the inside:

I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Just have to say that sewing a zip around corners is hard when you're sewing quilted denim!!

Jo asked me if I'd make a runner for her new hall table. This is what I came up with. I LOVE it! The top:

And the bottom:

Debbie facetimed me one day last week while Emily and Isla were painting. Emily already has a painting pinny but Isla was wearing an old tee-shirt and, boy, she was messy. She didn't quite get that she was supposed to keep the paintbrush on the paper - she is only 15 months, after all! Needless to say, she now has a new painting pinny the same as Emily's except it's a wee bit smaller and has different coloured straps.

I decided to top up my Christmas fabric squares which I use to make the patchwork stockings I sell in the tartan bee. (No direct link to them as there are none loaded at the moment.) I need 45 different squares for each stocking so this has helped to fill the Christmas squares box considerably!

Lastly, I found the ones that got away! Isn't there always something that you miss when you clear away the Christmas decorations?

In fairness to myself, these were underneath this quilt so they weren't exactly visible. If I hadn't decided to tidy the quilt, they'd probably still be there! LOL

keeping out of mischief

As usual, I've been keeping myself out of mischief by doing some sewing. Here's what I've made recently.

First of all, some more stockings for the tartan bee.

I've just re-opened the tartan bee after closing it when lockdown started. I've trimmed my stock down to only Christmas stockings and a few project bags so we'll see how it goes. Last year I sold over 60 Christmas stockings. Even if I sold a third of that this year, I'd be more than pleased!

Next I made a couple of pinnies like this for Emily. I gave her one to wear in her house and kept this one here for when she visits her Grammie and Papa.

It was Debbie's 40th birthday last weekend - how did that happen?? - so all the girlies wore pretty dresses for our birthday party get-together at their house. This is mine.

It's this pattern - I made view D but lengthened it by 4½" - a much better length for me.

It's so comfortable. I added pockets into the side seams. A comfy dress with pockets - what more could you want? I am definitely going to be making more!

Next, Debbie gave me this to mend.

She was given it when she was a baby - so it's 40 years old too!! One of its eyes needed replacing and the other needed re-stuck. An easy job but, crumbs, I hope I never need an eye op! Or, if I do, I hope the surgeon doesn't use glue and pins on me! LOL

I made a fabric chain with some scraps and snaps for Emily and Isla to play with. So far they only drape it around themselves but they'll get the hang of the snaps eventually.

I might have to make some of these out of Christmas fabrics. Plenty time for that ... you'd think so, wouldn't you? I suspect it'll be here sooner than we think! 🎅🏻

I made a few more of the curved masks. I gave the owl ones to the girls and kept the sewing one for myself.

Lastly, I made myself another pair trousers.

I made them using the Jalie trousers pattern which I've made a few times previously - see here and here.

I had noted on the pattern when I made them for the first time in 2016 how much elastic I needed for the waistband. I was DEEEE-lighted to find that I needed a wee bit less this time around. Not much less but I'm counting a ¾" reduction as a win! Go me!

lots of different projects

I've been busy making lots of different projects recently. First of all, I made a rag dolly for Isla. She doesn't have a name yet - I'm leaving that to Debbie to do.

I had made the same dolly for Emily back in January, 2019. Her name is Sally.

When I made Sally, I promised myself I would never make another one - the pattern was very finicky and I can't say I enjoyed making it. Needless to say, I *had* to make one for Isla. Thankfully, it was much easier to make this time around as I'd written down a few changes to the pattern last time and it was much easier and enjoyable to sew!

Next it was back to the crate of Debbie's bits and bobs. I made up this quilt from a panel. It must be the quickest quilt I've ever made!!

Showing the fabric on the back.

I stayed with Debbie's crate and made up a couple of Christmas tablerunners. These were bits that had been left over from other projects so it was just a case of working with what I had. I'm really chuffed with how they both turned out.

The front:

And the back:

The front:

And the back:

Next it was some pinnies for Emily. One like this:

And 2 of each of these fabrics:

Next I decided to make a few embroideries. These two are now on my kitchen wall.

These 2 will be heading to Joanna's house when it's allowed.

Lastly, today I made a wee tutu for Emily. More of a wee net skirt, really. I'm a bit worried that there's not much of a swirl to it. I have more of the fabric so I can easily make another one for her if it's not swirly enough!

My next plan is to go through the box of bits for dolly's clothes. It's overflowing as it's been a while since I dived in there. I'm looking forward to playing!

Stay safe!