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Sewing: Ironing Board Cover

Last week, Randi introduced her 2nd Fresh Squeezed Sew Along for 2012: an ironing board cover. This was definitely something that could stand to be redone in my house.  Mine was stained, and when I took off the cover, it tore around the edges of the ironing board.  After finally deciding on fabrics (the hardest part of it all), I sewed it up in a few hours.   I made a new cotton padding (the existing one was pitifully thin) also following Randi's advice.  I think, however, I will make a new cotton padding with thicker cotton so it's a bit more cushiony.  Now...if only I would use the iron more often...

In fact, my 2nd son even asked me once in all seriousness and with such incredulity when he spotted me ironing, "You know how to use that thing?"  

(fyi - my husband irons in our house unless it's sewing related or he's pressed for time)

Who irons in your house?

Enjoying

Happy Monday! 
I'm enjoying...

giggling at my youngest's artistic rendering of my husband...a pretty good likeness I think except my husband does not own a pair of pink pants...

watching new bathroom tile being laid down (did I use lay/lie correctly?  hmm...)

baking a triple batch of banana chocolate bread (and ending up with 4 loaves instead of 3 - good thing!)...

finding it amazing how grown-up my two older ones are...

enjoying my daughter's new haircut and enjoying that's she's liking it now (no more tears)...

squeezing in a little bit of practical sewing...

wishing the bouquet of white tulips and hydrangea lasted a little while longer (leftovers from Valentine's day)...

loving how my two younger boys work well together...mostly...

happy for a new book in the mail and hoping to make more sewing time soon...

thankful to God for a new week ahead...

 

What are you enjoying?

Sewing: Mini Quilts

I have to say (no pun intended) that I have to say's tutorial for sewing these little quilts is a very good one.  Randi is clear and detailed and offers a photo for practically each step along the way. 

I've learned a lot about quilting in a short period of time (realizing of course, that I've only grazed the surface of what quilting is all about).  For one, I learned that I own very few neutral fabrics.  And...my sewing lines are not as straight as I'd like. Perhaps that has to do with a combination of cutting out long strips of fabric late at night with a dull rotary cutter blade, lighting that could be better, my eyesight which could also be better, and fuzzy mathematics.  I think the picking out of fabrics and the cutting took me longer to accomplish than the actual sewing. And I realize that perhaps I should have used brown thread on this one instead of white. 

In addition, trying to combine lightweight linens from thrifted clothing and quilter cottons was probably not the best idea. Thrifty, yes.  Sewing ease, no. (as a side note to myself ~ remember to wipe off the sewing table before placing the finished quilt on it and snapping a photo: ignore the dust please)

I really liked some of the fabrics I used, but when put together, the colors and designs gave each quilt a different look than what I had anticipated. Not a bad look, just different.  Sort of like when you pick out a color sample that's about 'yay big' (roughly 3" square) from the paint department only to realize how different it appears painted on a large wall in your home! 

There were a few places on the backs of the quilts that I couldn't 'catch' the seams when I applied the binding and will have to go back and hand sew a few stitches.  Adding a tiny bit more seam allowance next time might do the trick for me.

All in all, I really enjoyed participating and learning in Randi's mini quilt sew-along.  This was a fun project and although basically a 'test run' for me in terms of wanting to make a full-size quilt this year (I hope!), I've come to realize that when I sew...

I really like sewing something that I can use. 

Does that make sense?  Combining art with craft, aesthetics with function, beauty with use? 

I'm looking forward to Randi's 2nd Sew-Along project for 2012:  an ironing board cover!  Now there's something I definitely could use... why don't you join in? 

Sewing: Olivia Shoe

I managed to complete 2 items from my January sewing plans list by the end of this month.  Yeah!  Yesterday, I showed a sneak peek of the 3 mini quilts. 

Today, I wanted you to see the Olivia slipper/shoe pattern for String Theory's Shoe and Tell.  Admittedly, I was filled with a bit of trepidation for both projects since my sewing skills are rusty and somewhat limited (still need to conquer my fear of the zipper!).  But both turned out easier than I thought. After I cut the pattern out and before sewing, my daughter discovered a fun twist for the whole project (her younger eyes are better than mine):  a few printed words (tiny font!) on the fabric read "Putting Your Best Foot Forward".  Fun!  How appropriate for a shoe. 
Here she is modeling them for me.  The fabrics are Ruby Star Rising and a thrifted cotton napkin. I think they complement one another quite nicely. 
I ended up hand sewing the last portion of each shoe.  Didn't trust myself to use the sewing machine for that final step.  Actually, I think hand sewing it for that last part is a better idea than machine sewing it.  You can easily hide the tiny stitches.

As Tammy mentioned, the shoe is definitely more a slipper.  Good for walking around the house.  Definitely not good for walking outside to get the mail or to take the dog for a walk (but since we don't have a dog, that won't be a problem!). 

Would  I make them again?  Yes.  My husband keeps telling me how much he likes them... of course, I still need to finish his knitted pair of slippers first...