Sew Says Mimi

 Hello and Welcome to Sew Says Mimi....

I haven't posted in really a long time so I have some catching up to do. Hope you enjoy!! 

So..last March, just a few days before the shutdown, Garden Patch Quilters, at WheatonArts in Millville, NJ judged and hung all the quilts for their biannual quilt show.  They had their awards night/party, and then, the next day they took all the quilts down and returned them to their owners. It was sad that the show was canceled...the happy part? My quilt won Best of Show! I started this quilt, titled "My Favorite Things", in the summer of 2017. Hand applique is a slow process! Quilt was custom machine quilted by Eileen Mannion.

We have been incredibly busy during the pandemic...The gardens look better, the house looks better, even the drawers and closets look better! We have tried new recipes, tried new quilt patterns, and tried to exercise!  It's good that the Wineworks will deliver to the trunk of your car..wish the gym could  be as easily accessible!

The garage and the attic have been cleaned out..with the help of a dumpster...yes, it was that bad. Found things we thought we threw out before we moved here. Still can't find things we KNOW should be in those boxes. The good news...We now have room in the attic to store  future projects for a new business that's in the works. (More about this later).

Oh, and we have a new member of our family! Perry was born June. His family is thrilled. He is about 14 weeks old in this photo...Smiling is his best thing!

Sew... I started a Halloween quilt a few years ago. I worked on it at several quilt retreats and in April, when we were told to stay home.. I decided it was time to finish. The quilt incorporates a collection of Halloween fabric that goes back 20 years, and some applique pieces designed by Verna Mosquera.

and some applique pieces designed by Verna Mosquera.

Some of the fabrics were "fussy cut" to make a kaleidoscope..Then fabric was placed to make a star around it. 

More updates tomorrow!

Those wonderful Tula Pink Blocks

Sew.............

........ 

Our local Modern-ish quilt group is sewing blocks from Tula Pink's

 "City Sampler 100 Modern Quilt Blocks"  

 If you are unfamiliar with the book, it was published in 2013 and has been very popular with ALL quilters.. 

The blocks range from "very easy" to "pay serious attention!"

 All the blocks finish 6 inches square. They lend themselves to some fun fussy cutting and using up small pieces......

I have 25 blocks made from Tula's fabric collection 

"Slow and Steady" (rabbits and snails, of course!)

 and I plan to use them in a spring table topper..

(check back and see if I do!)

But, this past month I have been have a great time, resizing the blocks to 3 inch finished and making a doll bed quilt.. 

The fabrics are a fun mixture of vintage feed sacks, vintage tablecloths and hand towels,

 and hand dyed solids from http://cherrywoodfabrics.bigcartel.com/ and http://www.starrfabrics.com/. 

I fussy cut some of the embroidery from the vintage linens.

 If you are unfamiliar with fussy cutting...watch this....

How to "Fussycut" Fabric for a Quilt - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3BCfko6B

The white linen sashing is from a curtain that I bought at IKEA.
 (I don't recommend using this..it is a very loose weave which is great for curtains, but  difficult to handle for quiltmaking).
I fussy cut some of the embroidery from the vintage linens.

The white linen sashing is from a curtain that I bought at IKEA and had to shorten..
 (I don't recommend using this..it is a very loose weave which is great for curtains, but  difficult to handle for quiltmaking).
I fussy cut some of the embroidery from the vintage linens.

The top is done, and I have been considering how to quilt it..  My friend Julie who I have worked with for 20 years, convinced me that hand quilting in a simple pattern is the answer. I wasn't planning to spend that much time, but, she is right...

 Sew... How do you resize? The math is simple, and the easiest thing to do is make a reference chart.  
Sample:
Cut size             less 1/2" (seam allowance)     Divide by 2           Add  (1/2") seam allowance

 1"                        1/2"                                            1/4"                          3/4"

1 1/2"                     1                                               1/2"                           1"

and so on up to 6 1/2" 

Then..there are the measurements for triangles
Cut size             less 7/8" (seam allowance)      Divide by 2          Add  (7/8") seam allowance

1 7/8"                   1"                                              1/2"                     1 3/8"
and so on..... 

Mini blocks are a bit more difficult to handle.. 
I like to use a scant 1/4" seam, and a finer thread 
(auriful 100% cotton, or Mettler 60wt also cotton are my favorites for minis). 
Press carefully without stretching....
Some quilters use spray starch or sizing  before cutting.... it is helpful if you are having trouble keeping things straight..

Have a great week....Sew something new.. and  Go, Eagles!

The Blue and White Quilt!

SEW...this is the photo from the original pattern...

And this is the one I made with 20 different blues and white... the top is finished and is being quilted by my friend, Kris Cooper.
 She chose a paisley quilt pattern that I think will look great....
 The quilt will be offered as a class at Early Girl Quilts at Assemble in Haddonfield...

Pattern is by  Jean Ann Wright for Cut Loose Press....Also available at EGQ at Assemble. 

New year....new projects!

Sew... the holiday decorations are put away and it's time to move on with some new and fun things!

My family is laughing at me a bit ...
I spent an hour watching You Tube videos on how to make doll shoes and boots for the Wellis..
.I also spent significant time watching "How to change the windshield wipers on my 1998 Subaru Outback".. but that is a whole other story.... 
I have done neither of these things!

Sew.. I read thru the December blog posts and it seems I promised to explain about the Christmas dolls... 
I bought Olive "Willa" a Welli Wisher doll made by American Girl.. I received the doll in November and used her as a fit model for some clothes I made (several items features in past posts). 
The Wellis have a TV show on Amazon,(of course, they do!), and Olive and I watched a few episodes... One day in December, she asked for the "Camille" doll for Christmas. After she mentioned Camille several times, and I suggested that maybe Willa was cuter..and then..
I bought the Camille doll for her.. (no surprise here)
Christmas morning we BOTH got dolls and now we play with them together!

Willa and Camille in their jeans  and Go Gator tshirts...

Willa is wearing a cashmere sweater  (Camille has one in purple)

 I made them  from old sweaters that were no longer wearable.

The sweater is made using Football Jersey pattern..

just changed a few things so it opened in the front instead of the back 

 https://www.pixiefaire.com/products/relaxed-fit-football-jersey-14-5-doll-clothes-pattern

Next Post....The Blue and White Quilt

Stay Warm and Safe..... Mimi

Day #10 "I Believe" Sew...What am I sewing today?

Sewing for the rest of the day.......

Sew... I'm still in the gift making mode, 

 Need to do Christmas Nightgowns for Willa and Camille and

I'm starting a new quilt...

This is a variation of a traditional pattern called 

"Storm at Sea"..

with 2 secondary patterns..Stars and Snails Trail. 

 I started with 20 blue and white prints 

and a white background...

Watch for updates!

"I Believe" Day #9

Day #9

I bought a few patterns doll clothes patterns on www.pixiefaire.com.  They have all kinds of great "Welli Wisher" sized patterns.

This sweater was adapted from one for a football jersey....

Yes, there is a Florida Gators Jersey in her future..

 And..this is the fun part.... I had this gray wool/cashmere sweater that never fit well..I "felted" the sweater 

(Washed and dried  intentionally so shrinks up and it will not fray)

The sweater was easy and fun to sew... I used an aurifil cotton thread with a fine "Microtex sharp" needle. 

Sew... I will be using the rest of the sweater in future projects... and checking out the box of old sweaters in the attic for more "Upcycling" opportunities...

Now... about the pants......

I bought a skinny jeans pattern ....the directions were good... 

I cut up a pair of  "JJill" jeans that didn't fit well 

(MY fault..I should have returned them)\

  The fabric was just stretchy enough and easy to sew... I made 2 pair  and I'm planning a jeans jacket for her spring wardrobe....

"I Believe" Day #8

Day #8

O's Christmas Dress....

I have sewn for 4 year old O...  many times, but this is my favorite! It fits her, and she likes it!.

and now...

to update the doll's dress (change the black ribbon) so they match

and now...

to update the doll's dress (change the black ribbon) so they match