Sewing threads

I don't remember which sewing blog I saw this idea on, but I thought it was interesting. I believe it was an end-of-the-year post where the blogger showed how many spools of thread she had used up on projects that year.

I do like documenting things, and being able to look at something and feel like you finished something. On the baby quilt I am working on, I sewed the whole top by finishing off some almost-bare spools of thread. It did feel like I had accomplished something even though I know the thread was almost gone.  I will have a longer wait until my next empty spool(s). I have inherated thread over the years from people.
Hopefully this topic isn't too boring. We'll see if i can continue and maybe do a grand count at the end.

Sneak Peek!

Just a little look at a baby quilt I am working on. I cut out many squares. (Maybe 80 more than what I needed, oops!) But I wanted lots of options and wasn't quite sure how big it would be. I did 4x4in squares. The fabric was random vintage kid fabric from my stash, along with greens and grays as requested that I got as fat quarters. I also got some random fabrics at SCRAP which is a great place to find fabric. More pictures when it is finished. I sewed the whole quilt top in the afternoon today. I find it is best to power through quilt tops if possible, even if I get a little tired. I'm so glad that the quilt top is done because I can get it off the floor and fold it neatly! 

 I bought this cassette flannel fabric several years ago, thinking I would make PJ pants. I have grown out of large prints on my PJs, so I have already used some of this fabric for the lining of an awesome laptop case I made several months back. It will be perfect for the back of the quilt.

The good thing about all the extra squares is that I can make some more quilts and there are Plenty of friends and acquaintances having kids now. Sometimes I wonder if I should just start making items for my (hopefully) future kids. To try to get ahead while I have some free time?

Podcasts Listened to today:
  Stuff You Missed in History
  Stuff You Should Know
  Knitmore Girls
  Knitting Pipeline

Upsidedown Cat Show!!!!

Upsidedown Cat, my long-napping Casio band, has a show on  May 10th. If you are in Portland you should come! There will be some cds for sale... and it should be lots of fun!!! Visit upsidedowncat.bandcamp.com to listen to our music.
The last few days have been pretty busy with figuring out show details, practicing, and stressing out a little. I'm really excited to play!

Green Jeans Quilt (Finished project!)

      Hooray! I'm so glad to say that I finished sewing the blanket edging for the jean quilt I have been working on for a while now. I have made at least five twin sized jean quilts and one queen sized one over the years. I really like the blue-green look of this one. The back is a blue-green wool that I got from an elderly neighbor who was moving. It is pieced in a few places to make it the right size. Normally with denim quilts I just do two layers because the fabric is so heavy. For this one, since the wool was lighter weight I decided to do a middle layer of fleece that I had. I tied the three layer together with embroider threads.

I arranged the colors and sewed the top in a weekend. Then I got the great idea to hand embroider our friend's dogs on there. The longest part definitely was the binding because I did not have enough wool to fold over top. I made strips of fabric and ironed the seam allowance under so I could just pin the edging on and sew it. I used a blanket stitch and I think it looks great. 

Even though it took a while I think it is definitely worth doing it "right" and having handsewn details.

I finished the binding when we were on a weekend trip. We stopped to take pictures on the bleachers in Irrigon Oregon. (Mike's hometown).

I have a problem sometimes of making things and giving them away right away without proper photos. My Ravelry page is pretty sad because I dont have photos for most of my projects. Oh well. I am trying to learn to document things better. Yay!

          

Next projects: 

Baby blanket. Squares are cut but i need to lay it out and sew.
Sewing the Sorbetto and Hazel that I have cut

Colette's Sorbetto and Hazel

More Colette Patterns prep work. I cut out this light green and white floral fabric for the Sorbetto top a few weeks ago. My mom is borrowing my sewing machine right now so I have been doing just prep work for projects. Today I cut out pieces for the Hazel dress also by Colette. It's black and white gingham. The fabric is pretty lightweight, so I may need to line it or find the right slip. I know gingham is good when you need to find the grain of the fabric weave. This pattern has some pieces of the bodice that are sewn on the bias so I'm excited to see what difference it makes with the checks on the bias. I have never really sewn with stripes, but someday I plan to. I also downloaded the Sencha pattern to hopefully make it some day. I guess I figure if I can make several patterns by Colette Patterns sucessfully I will learn a lot and it will help me with other pattern brands later that I feel are generally too big when I sew my size.

An update: working on the jean quilt and I am inches away from finishing the hand stitched blanket-stitch binding. I am really excited to finish, photograph it, and give it to our friend.  Then I can move on to other projects!! Baby blanket, other quilts in the works, and actually sewing the above patterns. I feel like this is going to be a productive summer!

So pretty

Just a view of the tree in my yard!