Baby quilt

 I decided that I wasn't going to have the motivation to finish the crocheted (?) blanket I had started for my cousin's baby, so I decided to do a scrap quilt instead. I found this brick pattern and started it. Of course, I couldn't just sit and do it all in one day, so I finished it right before the baby shower. I'm pleased with how it came out, though the quilting isn't that good. I'm not sure if it's me or the machine.

Sewing

I think I have a bobbin tension problem with my sewing machine. I can sew just fine in straight lines, but when I try one of my cams to get a fancy stitch, it’s all cattywompus. Scott’s t-shirt quilt turned out so well, that I’m thinking (or it was suggested to me) that we can have a little in-house industry there. That’s really scary. Taking other people’s stuff and cutting it up and . . .

But I’m trying to quilt inside the squares of my quilt and it’s not coming out well. The top stitching looks ok, though uneven, but the back is a huge mess of loops, etc. I’m not sure what to do about it, or who would know how to fix it. I guess I should take it in to a shop and pay for a lesson on my own machine, but . . . yeah.

It’s a good old machine. I’m happy I found the cams that go with it. But I need a lesson, or to spend more time working on it. I’ve tried to sit down and do a zig-zag stitch to secure iron –ons, but I can’t manage it neatly. I’m really not sure if it’s me or the machine. Maybe the machine is not precise enough for that small detail work. Maybe I’m not skilled enough. Even going slow with the zig-zag cam and foot, it’s not working.

I kind of feel like those are the skills that will take me to the next level as far as making things for people. I feel like I’ve mastered the quilt-making – at least the simple, straight blocks, then either using the backing as binding, or RST and flipping – both the not-official, lazy ways to do it, but effective nonetheless. I can straight stitch quilt inside blocks (or placemats). But I’d like to start making shirts for gifts. I have the interfacing and the tools to cut out shapes. But I know, even though it’s supposed to stay on with an iron, that it won’t. I guess an option would be a small, straight stitch inside. I may try that, but I like the look of the zig-zag.

I haven’t been in my sewing room very much because it’s terribly messy and Millie wants to meddle in there when I’m there. When she gets older I need to get in there and sew. I have so much fabric. I need some inspiration to start using up some of it. I liked the granny square scrap quilt. I have a lot of Halloween fabric and a lot of Christmas fabric. I need to figure something out, but now I’m focused on the garden.

I got in the room during the second group of snow days and finished my quilt. I wish I were more excited about it.

Quilted and done x1

I started my t-shirt quilt and I knew some stuff, but mostly I had to learn by trial-and-error. So I started mine and did the math and cut the squares and started sewing. Found the sashing, bought some more - lots of trial and error. I was pleased with mine, but I made it too skinny and there were too many steps to make the squares. I made the whole square, then sewed them together instead of making a row, then sewing the whole row to a row of sashing, like I did with Scott's quilt.
I wanted to make Scott's Aggiecon shirts into a quilt for him too, but I wanted to make sure it would be good. It turned out to be the easiest one I've made. Once I had the shirts cut and figured out the sashing math, putting it together took about 2 days. I tried out my cams for my sewing machine to do the inside of the squares. It came together so well. I'm very pleased with it.

So then I came back to mine. I found the sashing fabric to make it larger. Then I tried to do a short cut that's turning out to not be a short cut . . .It's complicating things, so I'm cogitating on it for awhile.

Mine in progress

Not much progress with the big fat cat

Earlier in the week.

Quilted and done.

New crochet

 

Since I finished my ripple afghan, I started thinking about what to do next. When I first started crocheting, I was practicing making granny squares. They were bad. Then I started crocheting them together. Very badly. So I started looking at that again. And I ripped it all up. All up. And most of the squares too. So I’m using some scrap yarns and those bits to remake and make some more of them. 

Then I found out we’re having 2 babies in our family this year, so my friend bought me this yarn for my birthday and I’m making a baby ripple afghan. So far it’s looking good. I’m so glad I found this pattern that makes up so easily.

T-shirt quilt

I’ve been thinking about and researching t-shirt quilts, especially since I’ve lost weight and can’t wear my college shirts anymore. So I figured out what I wanted to do and started cutting.
I cut out the front and backs of the t-shirts as necessary. I wanted a 14-inch square, then add a sashing to make it 18-inches. I picked out the sashing to match pretty well. It turned out better than I expected, but I learned some stuff for Scott’s that I’m going to do later.
It ended up being to narrow, so I’m waiting on some time and inclination to get some other fabric to add to the edges. 
I made 2 tops. I’m going to sew them RST then flip it and quilt it.  

Ripple Afghan 2

I’m just about done with it. I’m so pleased that it’s still rippling. It’s not perfect. It’s a little narrow, but I’m adding a border. It will make a nice throw for over the back of the couch. Now what to do next?

Crafting

I started a baby blanket with this yarn, but it was turning out terribly. I finally ripped it all up and started making granny squares with the variegated yarn, sewed them together in a rectangle, then went around it with the solid light aqua for a border. I don't know why I didn't take a pic of that before I gave it, but I didn't. Summer was busy. I gave it to my college friend who I hadn't seen since Grace was born. She was finally pregnant with her "miracle" baby and I was able to go to her baby shower. Full of joy for her precious little boy. I was able to go back after he was born to see him. So nice. 

Then I found a website with great patterns and tutorials called Attic 24. My mother had given me some yarn she got at a yard sale, so I started a ripple afghan with it. I'm going to use it until it runs out, then figure out things from there. It really ripples, which is exciting. It's also infinitely variable and can be used for a baby blanket too.  

New toy

I got this Big Shot on sale at Jo-Ann's. You have to buy the dies, but it's pretty neat. 

One of the first ones I bought was this owl and I used it to make Millie's birthday shirt. She's having an owl birthday party. 

And I'm using wonder under to attach it. I just cut out the 1. 

Random finishes

My first monogram. I need to work on the zigszag stitching. I experimented a little and found a way to make them shorter. 

I love this quilt, but I can't measure and it turned out a lot smaller than I intended. I love the blocks and the colors. I intended it to be a wedding present, but I don't know if I want to give it since it's so small.