Month: November 2023

A New Quilt Top

Back in Maine, before covid started and before I knew I was going to move to South Carolina, I had acquired rather a lot of Cotton+Steel/Ruby Star Society fabrics. And my stash was seeming to be way too full, laced as it was with the darker more traditional fabrics with which I started my quilting journey. I gave away some fabrics, and I cut up the whole of my C+S/RSS fabrics into useable strips.

I started with quilts made with Churn Dash blocks made with pieced backings–all from the C+S/RSS fabrics. At some point I cut strips into 3-inch squares and made several quilts with those. And then, as I worked on a project, I cut leftovers into 2 and 1 1/2 inch squares. That journey is all on this blog, and there have been so many quilts made from this years-long project–that is apparently still in process.

At one point, after the Maine house had a buyer and when I was all packed up and waiting for the time when the movers would arrive, I set up a small sewing station and started sewing the 2-inch squares into 9 patches and the 1 1/2-inch squares into 4 patches. (Piecing has always been soothing to me.)

Now in South Carolina, I sewed the 4 patches into these larger blocks (16 inches) and surrounded them with this text fabric. This picture does not capture the vibrancy of these tiny blocks.

This picture is better–at least on my screen.

I’ll tackle the 9 patches at some point.

And, yes, there are still some strips of this fabric left! And two bins of the 3-inch squares. I seem to buy more fabric from these designers for backings here and there–to include one for this quilt as I didn’t have a backing that would fit this size quilt and not enough yardage to piece a backing. I do love those designers.

The other day I pulled out a bag of 1920/1930s reproduction fabrics I bought over 16 years ago when a local Maine fabric store closed as the owner retired. The bag had, also, some neutral muslin yardage, so I’m making some blocks that are color oriented. LOL, I had to buy some extra fat quarters of these fabrics to fill out the colors. The secondary patterns will be fun with these blocks.

It never ends…

Anyway, these are very fun blocks happening, which is interesting as I lost my interest in these 1920/1930s reproduction fabrics some years back.

And, there are 2 quilt tops to longarm quilt and a quilt which needs its binding sewn down and…the hand quilting on Traverse and the former “quilt from hell.” And Tara Faughnan’s very fun block of the month project in solids.

So, I remain so engaged with my ongoing passion.

The New Tunic

Good morning on what is another beautiful morning here.

I finished the new tunic–it’s the orange one, mid-thigh on the left.

To make it, I ordered a gorgeous flannel–which will go with my aqua leggings. And the sewing went well.

BUT (there is always a but when I make a pattern for the first time)…

It’s so heavy!!! I am still getting used to the South Carolina winter weather. Right now, temps drop to 50s at night, but go back up to high 70s during the day. So I start out with warm clothes and switch to cooler ones later in the day–especially if I am going to walk.

I am narrow in the front, between the shoulders. Over time I’ve found a great hack to take out the extra yardage at the neck for a pattern that is cut on the fold. I have to lose about 4 inches at the front center neckline for this top. So I’ve made that change on the tissue pattern I traced.

It’s too long. I added an extra inch at the bottom when I drew the tissue pattern, so the top sits just above my knees. (I wanted to make sure the top covered my bum.) So now I need to shorten this top by a lot, which I’ll do next. AND the pockets seem to be a bit high for me, so I’ll lower them.

This top is totally wearable; it’s just big and heavy. I’ll layer it with a turtleneck and call it a day. I very much like the plackets at the hem, and with the excess front fabric removed and the bottom shortened, the whole thing will fit very well.

I’ve ordered an Essex linen in a soft grey, so I’ll make it again in that lighter fabric, with my alterations. And, layered with a turtleneck, it will be warm enough for all but the few weeks of really cold weather here.

Here’s the hack that removes neckline extra fabric without changing the grainline on the front fold:

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/project-guides/fit-and-sew-tops/remove-excess-fabric-neckline-video

Halloween Aftermath

I started out sitting near the front door, but quickly moved down to the driveway edge—as did my front street neighbors.  We talked and visited while children came and went—mostly little ones, accompanied by parents.

The weather turned off cold, so at some point many of us went dashing back into our houses to add warmer layers.  (And this morning I woke up cold and as soon as I had showered and dressed, I got out my Maine comforter to put on my bed.  It’s time!  The heater cranked up this morning too.)

Halloween costumes are clearly a big thing–for children and adults. Over on the Isle of Palms, son Bryan made full use of his viking regalia used in the golf cart parade.  He holds the fort while Corinne takes their three girls around the neighborhood.

Here are the three younger granddaughter’s costumes–the older two have aged out of trick or treating in the neighborhood as they are now in high school:

The older girls are now holding the fort:

I had a TON of candy left over. I bought two big bags at Costco as I had no idea how many children would come around our neighborhood. We have lots of children here, and I didn’t know if children would come from other neighborhoods?

 It’s a “thing” here to send leftover candy to our American troops overseas—so mine went down to a neighbor’s house who, in turn, took all our neighborhood candy to a donation spot.

And now, on to Thanksgiving!