Sewfast

Today I finished sewing a cute simple dress and because I've gained weight, it's doesn't fit me at all. Yeah, that's what happens when  a pattern is cut two years ago before sewing it right away.

 I bought the fabric at Fabricland on their clearance area and the pattern was on sale too. No zipper to sew and very few seams. Shessh...I sewed this thing in a few hours. Because it's too small, I'm thinking of giving it to my daughter and make another one for myself.

You don't see it, but it's tied up in the front. There is a slip you can make with it. A great place to visit before purchasing a pattern is at :http://sewing.patternreview.com/

It's free to sign up.

Both garments were sewed in one day, but have in mind they were already cut. Okay, sewing clothing will not be part of my Challenge 12.

 A blouse done in a silky-light grey. The pattern  instruction are easy to follow, but  I struggled with the stupid neck-binding and couldn't remember how to make a thread-lop!

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 No worries, saved by Youtube snap-video lessons, I was able to  accomplish the unthinkable. Voila! Beautiful neck-binding and under arms. Okay...back to quilting. Yes, yes, and yes to that.

Project 7: Professional Tote

Two years ago I bought everything I needed to make this tote. All good intention disappeared when other commitments kicked in. Another UFO laying dormant in a dark corner of my sewing room.

   This pattern can be found at:The Creative Thimble

When I finally got back to it, I sewed the two tote in a week. Love this bag.

 It has a lots of pockets and zippers to add, but it was worth it.

And now that I've finished this UFO, upon seeing this tote,

 my daughter and a friend asked me to sew one for them.

Well...well...well...I shouldn't be surprised that my bag became the envy of few friends and now I have to sew them one! Lucking me.

Project 1: Hexagon Park

Fabric I purchased in Edmonton, Alberta with a friend two years ago. This fabric laid dormant in my closest and with a retreat coming next week, I decided it was time to cut it all out using a Hex N More ruler.The pattern I will be using can be download for free at: http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/02/hexagon-park.html

Another colorful option

First I cut the fabric into strip of the desires, then used  the Hex N More ruler to cut it into half-hexagon. The pattern doesn't required this ruler, but it made it much more easier. Finally a tool I purchased and used.

After few stupid errors, I finally figured what I was doing wrong. I was cutting the strips smaller then the hexagon size.  To top left hexagon is perfect, the other are out of balance. You can see in the picture above this one that the strip doesn't go all the way tot he top.

All cut and ready to sew.  Ness Lake Retreat 2014, here I come!

Update:

      First evening, setting up and started to sew.

  By next evening all my half-hexagons were sewed and started to play with them on a design wall.

                             I alternated the pattern. The small triangles added to the half-hexagons didn't worked for me, so I made a sampler that work and was lest frustrated. Then cut 1/4'' from the hexagon edges. Now the quilt is ready to be quilted.

 

 My living area is a great place to sandwich my quilt.

                          I quilted a double-triangle in each section of the hexagon and swirls in the sashing and outer border.

I washed the quilt for a fresh and wrinkly look and loved it!

Introduction: Engineer Homemaker

 I have homeschooled my three children, loved my husband, kept the house in order, and I've sewed for 38 years with breaks in the between. Like the average quilters, I bought fabric that fancied my eyes without a future plan for its use.

 

 That beautiful fabric lingered in my stash at least for years before a pattern hit me. After that, it was only a matter of time the fabric was pressed, cut into small bits and pieces, and turned into a wonderful, usable quilt
 
To make things more fun, I've decided to set a goal of completing 12 projects in one year, regardless if it's a UFO, quilt, or small project. Ohh...and the fabric has to come from my old stash, no new fabric. Okay, I didn't say I wasn't allow to purchase fabric, that would be too insane and unreasonable. 

So I dared myself to do this with a good creative attitude, lots of fun, and go where no quilter has gone before. I will explore my potential creativity and get out of my comfort zone. That will be a tough one!