Datcat

I bought this range of fabrics from a lady who was selling off her stash. She had purchased the stock from a closing down quilt shop, but realised the reality of maintaining an online shop just developed into more than she could manage. My daughter asked if I could make a quilt as a wedding gift for a friend of hers, and well …… its not like I would say no. She had spotted a design in a quilt shop window, and took a photo of it with her phone.

I sat down with an excel spreadsheet, and attempted to nut it out, trying to work out the block dimensions, and therefore the finished quilt. She came in and looked over my shoulder, offering suggestions, and then said ….. “look if you make width is 5in, then that is X, then these pieces are x x 2x, and this one is x x 3x. The whole block finished size would then be 3x x 3x. She then tried to explain to me how the equations could be altered, to factor in the seam allowances…….. I think I may have slipped into a coma at some point. Pretend maths was never my strong suit.

As a result of her input, this quilt has had a name right from the start. Its weird, and without the back story, makes no sense. but oh well, here is ……

Chocolate Algebra, a 60 x 58in topper, in chocolate browns, coffee creams, cherry red, and olive greens, deep cream border, with a deep chocolate brown back. (apologies the colour is yellowed out from night time photography). Quilting is simple wavy lines, and binding is machine attached.

corners …..

label

I am the first to admit, that I expect a lot from my toys, and I don’t look after them anywhere near as much as I should.

My poor overlocker, is run ragged, cleaned only when I have to, often left uncovered …. and for most of this week …… called extremely unsavoury names when he misbehaves.

He has been totally off this week, pulling the straight stitching tight creating tunnels, while the loopers have been off the edge of the fabric and more loopy than they should have been. I was facing having to take him off to the LSMG, for a service, a cost and inconvenience I wasn’t happy about, as I don’t have a spare.

I decided today, that I would give him a clean up, oil, and rethread, and see whether that would make him see the error of his ways. I was sitting, staring blankly at the machine, trying to make up my mind whether or not I would remove the plate (don’t have the tool so can’t), when my poor sore eyes focussed on the needles……..

Yep, he has been functioning with a bent, right hand needle. No wonder he has been playing up. I am surprised it hasn’t hit the inner workings, and done more damage. After a replacement needle, as you can see by the fabric scrap, he is back to his well behaved best, and I don’t have to send him away.

One thing I have always loved doing, it up cycling and repurposing fabrics. Back when I first started sewing, it was often the only way I could get my hands on pretty fabric; trawling through the op-shops, grabbing clothes purely for the fabric in them.

This first skirt, was a good score. A lined, rayon skirt, actually the right size for me, but way to long to be practical.

You can go two ways with this sort of up cycle; you can just cut it off at the hemline, or waistline …. or you can treat it like a piece of fabric, and use a tried and true pattern. I chose the pattern option, using my Ottobre A-line pattern, but eliminating the kick pleat and adding enough width to make it an elastic waist. I used the lining to help form the waist facing, and then inserted elastic. I have come to the conclusion that I am too fluffy to bother with a fitted waistline.

If I ever get around to making a pink top to match it would be great, but its a good work skirt as it is.

The next was an alteration to make something more wearable. This shirt was bought in an 2XL for me, but like all RTW shirts, it just seems that in order to get the width you need at the hips, you end up with a huge bust and upper back, resulting in SAS (saggy armpit syndrome). This just makes you look bigger.

I chose my TNT shirt pattern (Jalie Raglan Tee) and used the bodice piece to realign the side seams and hemline.

Its scary taking a pair of scissors to a perfectly serviceable (if saggy) shirt, but its worth it. the result is a better fitting shirt, that I will actually wear. BTW …. its a Dr Who shirt. LOL

This has become a great TNT, especially for the soft, slinky knits that are so popular right now. I find these shirts are great for work, especially in Autumn and Spring, where its cool and then warm. Paired with a cardi, or a vest, they are versatile, and there is no ironing …. you have to love that. The fabrics can be temperamental, causing issues with tension, upsetting the delicate feelings of my overlocker, and tending to tunnel on the coverstitch machine.

This pattern has been heavily modified by me. The side seams have been tapered out slightly to give me more hip room (Big 4 patterns just don’t think women have hips I am sure). I have ditched the facing (and the blinking hand sewing of pleating) and cut the front on the fold. The centre front gathering is achieved by using clear elastic, and stretching as I sew …. much quicker. And the neckline is just a simple band, topstitched with my coverstitch machine.

Spotlight fabric ….. oh what a cow to sew.

More spotlight fabric. I think I might try this with a heavier cotton/lycra knit next winter. Maybe it will behave better.

Still, a useful top, versatile for work.