Mon Memory 131~ Using a Paper Pattern

 

Oh, this event flooded in so many sewing memories. 

 

I have saved every pattern I've ever acquired.

I haven't ever tried to count how many I have.  Guesstimate = 500+?

 Recently, I had a need to make a newborn dress.

So I pulled out the patterns I used for my daughters.

I couldn't believe I actually needed to quickly review the instructions.

I've been told I'm a rebel,

and I am when it comes to not following pattern directions

and doing my own way.

Simplicity and McCalls seemed to never want to break tradition

and find a more simple, fast way.

But, in this case, I just needed to see their suggestions on 

finishing the bodice closure around the neck.

I can't remember how I got this bundle of fabric.

Rather than a yard sale,

I think it came in a box, bag of fabric someone

gave me.

It had the front and back pieces of a 

teenage size dress cut out and then a couple

of fat quarter size pieces and scraps

enough to make this dress.

When I looked through my

 drawer of lace (I have packed in a lot more since 2014),

low and behold I found just enough exactly matching lace!

Surely it came with the bundles of fabric?

 

 

 So because I now do quilting and mostly little projects

like mug organizers, bags, pot holders & doll clothes

(see Sewing Tutorial Page)

I rarely get around to making a garment

which I used to do ALL the time

so my kids and I would have something to wear

back in the day when you could make a garment

for 1/3 the price of store bought.

Yes! certainly a lot of memories while working on this project.
 

This post was shared @

Create with Joy: Inspire Me Monday  (a Must place to visit.)

Stone Cottage Adventures: Tues with a Twist.... Check out all the ideas on this linky

Fun Fri ~ 5th Grade Graduation Card

It's that time of the year!

So time to have some Fri Fun making a card.
 

You do see scissors,

but small scrap pieces were hand torn as well.

Love the fun ragged edges.

The drawing on the left

 is the one I've used

 in the past for high school and college graduations. 

 I drew a smaller size on white fabric

 with a Frixon pen.

 No measuring involved. 

Just straight lines.

With such small pieces to applique,

I still have fun, believe it or not.

The stitch length is lowered.

This is where the automatic pressure foot comes in VERY handy.

I'm so lucky to have this feature.

Again, helping to make it fun.

 

When I stop stitching to turn,

I can keep my hands on the work,

while my pressure foot automatically raises 

just enough to let me turn the fabric.

Then when I press the peddle,

the pressure foot lowers and continues to stitch.

I don't have to have my right hand

 on the pressure foot lever all the time

for this tedious work.

I do wish for a foot peddle 

let's me tell the machine

to cut the thread

at which time this machine does completely

raise the pressure foot.

 and fun done.

 

 Hope everyone has or will

have fun at

 their events this late spring.

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 Other articles related to this post:

Paper Guided Stitched Graduation Card

Graduation 2017 Stitched Card

Collection of Fabric Cards & Tags posted here

This post was shared @

Create with Joy: Inspire Me Monday  (a Must place to visit.)

Sum of Their Stories: Handmade Monday (Lots of great ideas/recipes)

 

 

Fun Fri~ Daughter's 2022 Bday Card

  

Inspiration for her card:

A picture I took of the farm view in front of her home.

Her husband and son were just to the left of the screen

fencing.

I love making cards.

My desk top becomes my palette of fabric scraps,

and my scissors became my paint brush.

LOTS of trial and error.

The figurine was free hand cut.

Her son wears a cowboy hat.

Really there is organization to my palette.

Use of painter's tape instead of pins to hold the card in place for stitching.

An addition to the inside

before I wrote a personal Happy Birthday note.

Decided to leave the oversized sun rays. 

Folded them down when I put the card in the envelope.

Shared on Sum of Their Stories: Handmade Monday.  A great place to visit.

Sum of their Stories

Thoughtful Thur 184~ He Still Gives Me Flowers

 

Mr. G always was surprising me and bringing in what I called

"Just Because Flowers"

When I think about it, 

the reason was really "Just Because He Loved Me."

I miss him coming in that door

with an arm load of things "for me'

complimented with a BIG smile.

When I first moved here,

he planted this Knock Out rose bush.

So he is STILL giving me flowers.

The pot of ivy in front is his doings as well.

His thoughtfulness of flower giving are still with me.

He is in my thoughts nearly every minute of every day.

Tues Tutorial~ Binding Potholder

 

A lot of scrappy potholders were made this past winter. Different ways were tried in binding the potholders. The natural way for a quilt maker was to bind like a quilt. 

 

Finally my head decided to use the old fashion way of binding clothes when garments were made several years ago. The positive about this method gives 1 less layer of fabric for the sewing machine to pound through. 

 

 

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Tuesday Tutorial

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 First make the LOOP for the hot pad

Start with a 1½ inch wide strip. A long strip will make several loops.

 Fold in half to find the center then fold the edges to meet the center.

 

 

Put loop wherever you like.

 

To BIND

Cut a 1 inch wide strip. (I use a fat 1 inch.)

as long as needed or pieced to go around potholder.

Pieces to make this binding were stitched on the 45° angle.

 

Stitch the one layer of binding

 around 1/4 inch from edge.

(I follow edge of general foot along edge of pot holder

thus the reason I use a fat 1 inch.)

Corners are folded as done for quilt binding.

 

 

A sample to show details of machine stitching around edge

1 inch strip is folding in half lengthwise,

then edges folded to center.

Iron to show crease.

Stitch on first crease.

 

 

 

But I'm not usually happy with the backside.

However, if I'm in a hurry or these are definitely more

for utility purposes and not worrying about how my skills work,

I use Georgia Bonesteel's "Fly By" method.

Said her Grandmother would ask,

 "If someone flies by on a horse, would they see it?"

To hand stitch,

still use the machine to stitch the strip (first step.)

Then fold over and hand stitch instead of machine top stitching.

 

Other related posts

Fun Fri! Cousin's Potholders from Dad's Shirts 

 Tues Tutorial~ Jelly Roll Race Type Hot Pad 

 Fun Fri~ Old Looking but Not Old Potholders/Pads 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mon Memory 130~ View from Easter 2022

 

South Central Kentucky, USA

 

 

Quilt Shots 145~ Elkhorn Creek Quilt Guild Show 2022, Part 1

 

Just happened to be the first one you see when you walk in. We were proud. 

Quilt Shot 131~ Lenita's Friendship Star Group Quilt

 

Notice the scalloped piano keys border.

 

More quilts to see in part 2!