Datcat

I have always said that production line sewing is tedious, and I never enjoy it.  Yet every year, I subject myself to it, usually convincing myself that sewing the same thing as xmas gifts for my work friends, would be efficient.  Of course, it makes deciding easy, but its boring.   But I can’t really say this about these quilts.  Each is different enough that they challenged me in different ways, and I don’t think I could name a favourite. These quilts are all gifts for 4 ladies I work with. All teachers at the school, one is having her third child, two are having their second, and one is just starting her exciting parenting journey.

What started my decision to make baby quilts as gifts, was the purchase of a flannel charm pack, in the simple adorable range call “Duck Duck Goose”.  This fabric was deliciously lush and soft.  I decided to stretch my beginner quilters wings, and tried out a disappearing 9 patch pattern.  Ok, but the randomness of it, did mess with my mind quite a bit.  I backed with a co-ordinating piece of flannel, and bound with white homespun, reasoning that these will get a lot of wear, and homespun would be more durable than flannel. Quilting was wavy lines.

This quilt is for the adorable J, who is having her third child. The quilt turned out super soft and snuggly, and I think, lovely and old-fashioned with its pastel colours.

So, pleased with the result, I went back to the shop, looking for more charm packs. I found two in the range called “Beddy Bye”, again lovely soft pastels. The first pack I did the same pattern, a disappearing 9 patch, which I backed in flannel too. There weren’t as many squares in this pack, so I added a few of plain lemon, and placed them so I created the little feature squares in the plain fabric. Quilting was in wavy lines.

This one is for R, who is having her first child.

Back again to the charm pack, “Beddy Bye”, but I was getting bored with the 9 patch. Stretching my quilter wings again, I decided to try out HSQ (half square triangles). An interesting exercise, especially trying to avoid stretching the fabric on the bias which may have caused rippling and puckering. Puckering is your worst enemy when you are quilting. This time I quilted with straight lines, stitching in the ditch to create diagonal lines. This one was bordered with the plain lemon, and backed with the coordinating fabric.

This one is for K, who is due her second baby. She hasn’t seen this yet, as she’s not due til next term. I hope she likes it.

And to my last one. Try as I might, I could not track down another flannel charm pack. I wasn’t willing to buy the yardage, so I looked around for some cotton charm packs instead. I found this one online, its a lovely boy themed pack, that isn’t too baby. For this one I went back to the disappearing 9 patch pattern, bordered with pale blue, backed with a busy flower pattern, and white homespun binding. Quilting is wavy lines ….. I really like wavy lines.

I just love the blue stars and moon fabric. This one is for S, who is having her second child.

I apologise for the huge post, but these quilts have been under wraps for quite some time, so its great to finish them, send them off to the recipients, and get onto the next project. Of course, I have at least 4 more quilts to make, and lots more designed in my head. These things are addictive.

I made a massive number of xmas presents last year ….. oh hang on, I forgot to post about them. Oh well.

Back to the topic. I made a lot … aprons, pot holders, embellished tea towels, a quilt, placemats, table runners, cushions, bags and superhero capes. By the end I was more than a bit burnt out. I took a break from my sewing machine, thinking I needed some space before diving in again.

But, taking that break, also broke my rhythm. I developed what I call SewingADHD …. I have all these projects in my head, all these things I want to sew, and absolutely no mojo to do them. And the danger I have, is that when I don’t sew, I tend to buy fabric. So at present I have about 15 metres of fabric, plus a heap of quilt fabric, that I am attempting to jam into my already overflowing fabric cupboard. As you can imagine ….. its not going well.

Great you say, its a prime opportunity, to go through the cupboard, weed out the stuff you will never sew, and get rid of it. *oh my, I felt a bit faint for a second*

Trouble is, I am in love.

There are times when a prodigious memory does not serve me well. I can remember where I got it from, how much I bought, what I planned for it when I bought it, what I planned for it the last time I spotted it in the stash … and so on and so forth. And I am in love with each and every piece of fabric in my stash.

So you can imagine, removing fabric from the stash is akin to giving away a pet. Its possible I suppose, but too painful to consider. So I rearrange where I can, place a couple of “use it or lose it” projects on the cutting table, and resolve to be stronger next time. I hope my fabric appreciates just how much it is loved.

Despite my protestations that I am not a quilter, its no surprise that I have taken up quilting. But, I have very definite ideas on what constitutes me as a quilter, as opposed to others.

A good friend is a professional quilter. She has a business quilting for others. She is very ….. very good at her craft. In fact I would go so far as to call her an artist, and I am impressed with her talent.

But ….. I know my limits.

I am not an artist. Don’t get me wrong, in order to be a seamstress you have to be creative. And for sure I am creative. I accepted years ago, that I can put together a great outfit, I can sew in a wicked zip, I do baby clothes that are stylish and special, and I can see a problem, and will work away at it until I get a resolution. I can trace Burda and Ottobre patterns from satans own pattern sheet. I am great at coordinating colours, and matching fabric to designs. But I am not artistic.

And so quilting. I like basic piecing. Not complex, not fancy. Basic. I can quilt in straight lines, I can ditch stitch like a boss, and I will condescend to following a wavy line occasionally.

But …. I know my limits.

Today I attempted FMQ (free motion quilting …. what is it with quilters and their abbreviations?). Even allowing for being a rank amateur, I hate it. I hate the lack of consistency, and I find it difficult to work with the concept of moving backwards, sideways, on an angle. And, I don’t like the feel of the quilted piece. Its too stiff and hard. My quilts are for wrapping up and snuggling.

And so, I acknowledge my limits. This is not failure, its acceptance that something doesn’t make you happy, so why force yourself to do it? So You will see plenty of quilts from me …. simple squares and rectangles, quilted with straight lines, occasionally wavy but thats about it. And thats ok!

Many many …… many moons ago, I embarked on a quest.  The quest for the perfect fitted waist A-line skirt.   An admirable quest for sure, but had I known the disappointments and pitfalls, perhaps I would have given my sewing fairy (aka me) a chocolate and told her to save her energy.

I have made myself a couple of straight skirts, with fitted waistlines.  Of course my fluctuating body shape has meant that one has already been taken in, and the other is in the sewing room waiting to be altered.  Its lined and topstitched, so its a major exercise to do any alteration.  I have wasted a large amount of fabric on testers for an online pattern … still no luck.

So … back to the epic.  I tried first with the StyleArc design ….. lovely, but too small across the hips, and a wide waistband that cuts in at the centre back.

And so to today’s effort.  I have the Ottobre 5/2012 #12. Aztec.  – quite a wide pattern, but measurements showed it not going around my substantial middle anyway.  However, adding width is not easy, as it has pockets.  And experience tells me that I invariably make mistakes, and end up with something too big ….. guess what ?  I was right.   So take over an inch off the centre front, and add extra darts at the back.  Take in the facing an equivalent amount, and I have a skirt that sits at my waist.  Great ….. it won’t fall down, but if I lose a couple of kgs, I am back to a baggy skirt that won’t stay up.

And even though the waist isn’t tight, the back cuts in at the waist.

I think perhaps, I need to accept that this is my body shape, and work with it. I think the next incarnation will be with hidden waist elastic, and leave off the zip.