Category: Sewing Projects in SC

Patchwork Gals Has An Etsy Shop

The outreach that Patchwork Gals does with their quilts and other sewing projects is truly astounding.

But, making this many quilts and other sewing projects takes money. The members frequently spend their own money to make finished quilts, or quilt tops that will be turned into finished quilts, or other projects as needed. But this group also often provides quilty “kits” members can use, and/or backings, battings, bindings, and longarm fees.

So, this fall, Patchwork Gals tried to sell some of their baby quilts and other “baby” products (bibs, birth cloths, car-seat covers, etc.) at local craft fairs, but as the members had been so generous with making all these “baby” products, there are a LOT left over.

So…

One member just formed an Etsy shop where these beautiful and fun projects can be purchased–with free shipping. See the link below.

Meanwhile, one member made a really nice brochure to hand out at the craft fairs. Here is a listing of the various groups to which Patchwork Gals donates their work. (SCYAP is South Carolina Youth Advocate Program, which fosters children that need that kind of care.)

There is also a big group of women who make a lot of red, white, and blue “quilts of valor” quilts–in conjunction with Cobblestone Quilters.

So, if you find yourself in need of a gift for a baby, take a look at the new Etsy store. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PatchworkGals?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

We have a new family baby coming in April, so I may dip into this treasure trove of baby products to give more than the baby quilt I already have in process. I’m sure these parents could use bibs, birth blankets, and car-seat covers–all hand made with loving hands.

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

Sewing Bits: Patchwork Gals Mystery Quilt and a New Tunic For Me

The Patchwork Gals met last Wednesday, and as always, the “Show and Tell” was awesome. The turnout for this meeting is strong, about 25-30 very talented women.

This group had been working on a “mystery” quilt for some months, and during this meeting, they started sharing. Each person made the quilt differently, of course. I could not get ALL of the versions, and there will be more next month, but I wanted to share these three. But know that every single quilt shown was so pretty.

I really loved the scrappy nature of this version. Of course, I love green, but even the sashing was scrappy.

This 2-color version in blue and white is dramatic and graphic. This version took the 4-patch into the outside borders, which extended the line of squares, which I very much liked.

This one is made of 1930 reproduction fabrics–and next on my list is to tackle a collection of those fabrics which has been residing in my stash for nearly 20 years. I had thought to make another churn dash quilt, but I am drawn to this type of scrappy “Jacobs Ladder” form. Maybe I’ll do this type of quilt, though it would mean separating the various 1930s prints. Who knows? I may also look to the Modern Quilt Society patterns for ideas for my collection of 1930s fabrics.

After the meeting, one of the women told me about the Charleston Modern Quilt Guild, which will meet next Tuesday night. This group of women is separate from Cobblestone and might belong to the Modern Quilt Guild organization. This group also sews together monthly on a Saturday. I’m going Tuesday night, for sure.

THE TUNIC

I’ve wanted to make this tunic for some time now. I acquired this pattern back in Maine, and some months back I got some cotton fabric to try it out. I wanted a longer tunic that covered my bum to wear over some luscious leggings that Tami gave me for Mother’s Day. They are a soft aqua color.

I had to order tracing paper as I could not find any locally. And last week I traced off the pattern and cut out the tunic.

It’s so, so cute! And it fits! I like the curved hem. I will layer this top with a t-shirt given my old-lady droopy skin arms.

Note that the back is longer than the front–and it curves very nicely over my bum.

Here’s the back.

And here it is with the color of the leggings.

Someone with better legs than I have now could wear this tunic over shorts.

Also, the cotton fabric above works great for the tunic, but I also think a lighter, more “drapey” fabric would work even better, like a lawn or a double gauze. And I’m wondering about an Essex linen, which is thicker but which drapes really well. Note that this pattern was “fiddly” to make, given the construction of the bodice piece and the side pockets. I liked a lot the easy construction of the bias binding armholes, however. It’s perhaps not a good pattern for novice garment makers.

I ordered this fabric in warmer weather, and it now feels too summery for our colder weather. So I ordered a darker color of flannel that I can wear with the leggings maybe. But I’ll be trying out a different pattern–and yesterday I traced it out and am ready to go when the fabric comes on Monday. I can always wear this other flannel top with my jeans or knit pants if I don’t like it with the aqua leggings.

Here’s the tunic I’ll make this next week–it’s the orange one in this picture.

Wish me luck!!!

The Placemat Project is Done

And I so enjoyed making these placemats–which used up the blueberry fabrics in my stash, along with A LOT of the solid fabrics–AND the project let me experiment with different placemat methods of construction. It is nice to have some small projects to make that finish quickly…depending upon how MANY one decides to make.

There are 27 blueberry placemats–and there are homes for a chunk of them already. Two of these are going to Bryan’s family–to go with the 6 funky placemats which started this whole project.

So, altogether there are 33 finished placemats. All the backs are different. And I always stitched some lines in each one when I sewed around the edges–to keep the backing fabric well connected to its front. Each placemat is quilted with improv wavy lines.

I did put some of the striped fabric I had kept with the blueberry fabrics on a few of these placemats, and those are handsome, but WAY more work.

To remind, here are the six funky placemats where I experimented with different construction methods. Each method has its strong points, for sure.

ALL of these placemats and their napkins will wash and wear for DECADES. I know because I sent old placemats I made 30 years or so ago to Good Will when I left Maine. They were soft and comforting, but not worn enough to throw away. I did bring one set to see me through until I had time to make some new placemats here.

Now, the Traverse BOM (block of the month) quilt is waiting for me on the design wall. To remind, this quilt is designed by Tara Faughnan and my project is hosted by Sewtopia. (I just downloaded a hand quilting online on-demand class Tara Faughnan is running on her web site–as I want to hand quilt Traverse and the quilt from hell when it is ready. I’ve done a lot of hand quilting over the years, but it will be good to see what Tara Faughnan does.)

And I only have about two more nights to go before I finish the binding on the last of the Churn Dash quilts from the Cotton+Steel/Ruby Star Society project. I do have other scraps that are cut into useable pieces that will make up into…something…down the road. But for now, I’m moving on to other projects.

Sounds like a plan.

The Green Cropped Pants

Last night we had the most spectacular thunderstorm I’ve seen in the last two decades. We are talking LOTS of lightening and thunder, lashing rain, and high winds. These storms are heat-produced, I think–and Maine didn’t have summer storms like this one. Our temps went over 90 degrees yesterday, but today is cool and lovely. The porch is soaked, but the grass is happy. And in a bit I’ll go out and weed more in the grass as the clay layer will be soft and weed roots will come out easily.

Sunday morning I finally sat down to alter a pair of pants I rather like and have had for years and…years. I can date them to when Mike and Tami moved to the Charleston, SC, after Mina was born. Mina will be 16 this fall.

I never really wore these cropped pants in Maine. I don’t know why not. Perhaps it was a weight thing? But now I’ve lost 50+ pounds. And these rarely worn pants are PERFECT for beach walking and shell collecting here in SC. They are, actually, perfect for lots of activities. They are a pale mint green. They have these really neat pockets. The fabric is soft cotton with some lycra, so a bit stretchy—and definitely needs poly thread during.

I had started to rip out part of the elastic on the waistband where it was just way, way too big, but kept putting the pants aside.  For several months, it seems. And a few weeks back, I put the pants on the back seat of the car in case I passed one of the rehoming clothing bins I know I’ve seen—but couldn’t remember where. And, deep inside, I just could not let go of these pants, so they went back up to the sewing room.  

On Sunday, though, I finished ripping out what needed to be ripped out on the waistband. I took SIX INCHES out of the waist and using knit stitches and zig-zags on the big Janome, I tapered down the side seams—then put the waistband back together.  I should have used the serger, but didn’t have a good thread match and one needs 3 spools for the serger.

The pants look and fit AWESOMELY!!

I am so happy I fixed them!

And now I need a beach walk so they can shine.