I have been knitting non-stop.

I miss my sewing,

but I really want

to get this done.

I had back and two fronts

ready for this cardigan

for over a year now.

(who said I never finish my projects?)

It's the softest aran wool

by Debbie Bliss in lush

charcoal color.

I love the sheen of it.

So I sewed the parts and

am now working on a shawl collar

in soft cream.

I never follow a pattern.

I have something in mind

and I make a sketch of how

I want it to be.

But most of the time

I don't even stick to that. 

I keep changing shapes

and finishings, always based on what I

already have.

Most of the times it turns out right.

Or as I always put it:

it always turns right, because I

remake it as many times

needed to get it right. 

TEA CAKES by Free Spirit

It arrived yesterday

and I'm absolutely in love

with the beautiful colors

Didn't like the straps. Ripped them off.

Took the whole bag apart.

(very frustrating...)

Took some Rosebud Wine by

Lake House Dry Goods

and made new straps.

This time narrower.

Lined them with light batting

Sewed them back to the bag body

and voilá!!!

Final product

APRON TUTORIAL

This is the tutorial I promised to post.

Since it's my first tutorial, please

bear with me

and do let me know

if you don't understand something.

I will do my best to

explain it to you.

Actually, questions will help me

improve my tutorial writing skills.

APRON

 

You will need:
Six 43,5cm strips of Jelly Roll
Four 110x8cm belt ties
One 78x43,5cm fabric for lining
One fatquarter for pocket
(Seams are included)


Top:
1. Cut six 43,5cm strips of Jelly Rolls;

2. Sew them together, right sides together;

3. Press seams open;

Belt ties:
4. Cut four 110cmx8cm strips of fabric;
5. Cut one end straight and the other side at an angle;

6. Sew them two by two right sides together leaving the straight sides open;
7. Turn strips right-side-out and press;

Lining:
8. Put the lining fabric on top of the sewn strips and cut it the same size;

Assembly:
9. Put front of apron on lining right sides together;
10. Insert the strips of belt between the two fabrics pin the straight side of the belts to the top of each side of the apron. Pin loose portion of straps in place to prevent catching them in stitching;

11. Sew both fabrics together right sides together and backstitch twice the belts to the apron; leave an opening or rip a small opening for turning it right-side-out;
12. Turn it and press seams flat;
13. Slip-stitch lining opening closed.
14. Top stitch around;
15. Top stitch along the seams of the strips;

Pocket:
16. Take a fatquarter and fold it in the middle at the length, right sides together;
17. Sew all sides together leaving an opening or ripping an opening for turning it right-side-out;

18. Center the pocket on top of the finished apron, or 3cm from the bottom;
19. Sew bottom and sides on to apron;
20. Divide the pocket in four and sew a vertical seam to make the divisions.

Enjoy your apron

or make someone very

happy with it !

SIX-POCKETS BAG

This is my version of the

Six-pockets Bag

Not very happy about

the outcome.

Still got to work on some details.

1. For one thing, the placement of the straps is not very handy. The side pockets turned out very narrow.
2. The measure for clipping the corners is very big. I ripped it open and measured 3cm (after I had stitched the whole 10cm which made the whole bag square).
3. I would make longer straps.
4. I would top stitch the opening.

But the pattern has a very easy assembly
and it's sure worth making variations
on the same theme.



Got to share this with you...

I found my dream studio:

take a look at this

Look at the space,

the high ceilings

the columns that divides it

in cozy niches

the beautiful windows

trimmed in white

the perfect lighting

the beautiful blues on the walls

(I found it at

http://petitepurls.com/Summer11/summer2011_a_renmom.html)



My apron is finished.

I also took pictures of each step

and I will post my first attempt

at a tutorial.

But first, a preview of

the finished product.

Got to share this with you:

June 21, 2011

:: kudos, mom ::

i just gotta share... i love the way my mom's logical brain works.

step 1: i wanna learn something.

step 2: start now.

haha...

true though. a year ago my mom couldn't really sew so her solution was to simply buy a sewing machine and figure it out. now, not only is she understanding and practically writing tutorials but also, customizing and creating things. the outcomes look beautiful. i'm so happy and it gives me a green light on whatever i want to do as well. it's not even about "not wasting time" or "enjoying life" or any silly superficial cliche. it's just really, almost nike-like, just do it. love it! go mom!

click here to follow and read mom's blog!

(and yea, ps: i'm the most spoiled daughter in the planet. all sorts of bags and pouches and customized anythings and everythings. hee hee. i feel pleasurably guilty.)

(yea... ps2: my friends are also spoiled by my mom and love it too.)

Isn't she the most wonderful of daughters?

Follow her blog on:
http://100percentjulie.blogspot.com/

POUCHIE

Another day, another pouchie.

I've enlarged the pattern by 10%.

Next one I'm going to enlarge by 20%.

See how far I can stretch it... he he

2

NECESSAIRE

The newest of the lot.

Nothing thrilling,

just a necessaire someone asked for.

I still have some scraps of
PLUME by Tula Pink.

It was actually the first fabric
I purchased on line and
I still love it.

I love Eline Pellinkhof's sense of design.

Take a look at this wall painting she has made.

Wouldn't you love to have

one of these on your wall?

I just received the fabric I ordered

from the Fatquartershop.

It's a Fat Quarter Bundle of

Robin Farmhouse Retreat

by Renee Nanneman

for Andover Fabrics in apricot.

Isn't this color adorable?

I love the muted quality of the tones

and the prints are really classics,

but in a new and refreshed version.

At first I thought I'd use it for a lapquilt,

but these fabrics really lend themselves

for little purses, necessaires, girly stuff.

So I don't know.

I've been meaning to make a skirt

for such a long time....

But, as amylouwho wrote in her blog,

the fear of cutting the fabric, etc etc...

Look how great her skirt turned out:

Her skirt has an elastic band waist.

I want to make mine with a zipper,

so that's a step up in the difficulty level.

Maybe I should start with an elastic band?

PINK BAG

I actually made a BAG!!!!!

... and from scratch!

I couldn't find a pattern that really fitted my needs,
so I thought - worst cenario:
 I ruin some fabric.

Well, it wasn't all that easy,

but I kept adapting it,

(had it lay around for a couple of weeks

since at some points I got discouraged)

but it finally paid off.

If I feel bold enough

I will try to post a tutorial soon.

NEW ZIPPIE

A new ZIPPIE

POUCH IV

POUCH IV

(see my May 27 post)

POUCH III

(see my May 27 post)

POUCH II

(see my May 27 post)

POUCH I

So, as you can see, I love making these...
I added a little piece of twill tape
on one of the sides.
It's easy to carry this way.

(see my May 27 post)