Finish Along 2016 Q3 - the list

I'm resurrecting the blog to join the 2016 finishalong in an attempt to give myself a kick up the bum to get things finished. This is the realistic short list, as things are startingto get busy with the new business. I was hoping that I would get more free time once I'd got everything up and running, but perhaps not! So, heres the list:

1. Make myself a dress whilst there's a chance of some sunny weather! Fabric pictured is from Sew Over It,  the pattern is from a block making course I did in January. 

2. Baby Quilt - this is for a special baby due in August so I need to geta move on. I'm currently on a train from Newcastle-London with some of these blocks to handsew.

3. O's big boy quilt . This is so nearly there, just needs a bit more quilting and binding.

4. My birthday quilt - just need to add borders and send it off!

FAL 2016 Q1

OK, so we've got about 8 months worth of sewing to catch up on, but we've got a deadline here, so we'll do that later.......(*wonders if that is the closest possible translation of the phrase "mañana" into English*)

So, here's my FAL Q1 list:

1. Quilt O's quilt - I made this very, very quickly when my Gran passed away last year to keep me occupied. O absolutely loves it and gets v excited every time he sees it, so I probably should finish it.

2. Finish my quilt. We've kept v few of my makes, and I'm 30 in a few months - so I'm making myself a present. DH says he'll pay to have it long armed as a present.  

  

So far I've made a selection of blocks, all in various tones of blues and low volume prints. Hopefully they'll come together in the end!

A short and sweet collection, new job and major kitchen renovation = not likely that Q1 will be very productive!

Naptime Projects 💜💜💜💜

Long term projects don't work very well in this house. If it can't be done during a nap, or in the short space of time between Toddler Bedtime and Oh My God I'm Exhausted time, chances are it won't get done any time soon.



This is why I absolutely adore In Colour Order's drawstring bag. Fabric picked, cut out and sewn back together in one naptime.



One of my most wonderful colleagues is off on her second maternity leave next week. We're doing a collection as per, but I thought she'd appreciate this too.



Frog not included!

I hate to say this, but it's been much easier to find time to sew now that Mum helped me tidy the spare room - these IKEA kids storage units really have made a difference. Hate it when she's right about cleaning and tidying! 😭



PS - please excuse the shoddy wrong way round photos - I can hear chatter from downstairs and can't figure out how to fix them!

A Spotty Dotty Washi

Here's my first ever finished top: a polka dot Washi Dress cut to tunic length.



I've got some beautiful chambray to make a dress, but, wisely as it turns out, I decided to make a wearable muslin with this Robert Kaufman cotton instead.



With help from the lovely folk on IG, I managed to make something vaguely wearable, but there'll be some significant changes on the dress version. I'm now beginning to understand why it's so difficult to get petite clothing on the high street!



Linking up to Le Challenge
http://le-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Do What Makes You Happy

My motto for the year! The end of 2014 was full of illness and stress, somewhat self inflicted. So this year, I'm focusing on keeping my little family happy.

Yesterday, what made me happy was a quick nap time project. Lovely to have something finished that won't become unfinished within 5 minutes of the end of naptime *looks at the ball pool... *


This is the Lined Drawstring Pouch by In Color Order, made with a free FQ from last summer's FQR and some animal prints from the stash.


Now, it was a ridiculously long post vaccination nap, but the pattern was very easy to follow so it really didn't take too long at all.


The Snack Size is perfect for taking Duplo to the café for our Friday afternoon coffee and cake (or milk and raisins!)

2014 Part 2

As it turns out, returning to work after maternity leave, juggling part time work and motherhood, moving house, sewing AND blogging are pretty incompatible, at least for me, anyway. I've been getting my fill of the social side of this hobby of ours via IG (and there's a whole debate to be had there about the role of social media....) but I wanted to record the last 6 month's work here, for my own benefit if nothing else!

There was a cushion for my nephew Jack - this makes a full set with all 4 of them having their own:

A snuggly little blanket for a school friend's little boy:

This was backed in minky from Plush Addict, so soft!

A little basket for O's gorgeous little friend's first birthday - these two are little terrors together, but super cute!

On the theme of little makes, I made a drawstring bag for a friend's 30th, filled with chocs of course.

My slight obsession with Blueberry Park / Karen Lewis fabric continued with the first of two lampshades for our new bedroom:

All those seams to keep tidy were a bit of a nightmare, might EPP the next one!

I finally finished the Cottage Quilt, a St Louis 16 patch made with a small palate of my Flurry winnings. It hasn't photographed very well, but there is more definition in the neutrals than it might seem! It's backed in some fabric that we found in Hub's grandma's stash, and bound in a print from Tsuru (I think)

(please excuse the sideways pics, don't know what that's about!)

My one and only Christmas quilt was for my Gran, who's 93 next week. It's made from a layer cake that Mum chose, and backed in a Riley Blake brushed flannel. As Gran doesn't like anything heavy on her legs, I left out the wadding and just bagged it out, with some hand quilting to tie the layers together.

And last but not least, two Geranium dresses to finish the year for two lovely little girls:

(No finished photos of this one, but I'm proud of these French seams!)

Here's hoping that 2015 brings more finished quilts!

Wishing all my friends a very happy and prosperous New Year, with lots of sewing,

Sarah

Butcher's apron for the family baker

I really don't know why I've been stalling on this for so long, this apron was a really quick and satisfying finish.



Dad asked for a butchers apron months ago, and in fact I think it was on my first FAL list as it was supposed to be his Father's Day present. He requested a navy and white stripe fabric, and I found this heavyweight fabric in Rolls and Rems in Edmonton for £4/m - bargainous!



I added straps made from measuring tape print ribbon - chosen by Mum and perfect for a draughtsman.



Dad has always been enthusiastic about science, so I thought this print would do nicely for a little secret pocket lining.



I'm looking forward to our next baking session - his lemon drizzle cake is legendary!

FQR 2014 Recap

Better late than never....

FQR this year fell on the weekend before I went back to work after maternity leave (albeit for three days before the holidays started), so I was a bit unsure about leaving the boy for the day. However, FQR was so relaxing and energising that I really shouldn't have worried.

I'm so late with this, I'm sure that you've heard all the details before, but suffice to say, the atmosphere was great, the event really well organised and the freebies very well received!

My first class of the day was the Wiksten Tank class with the ever patient Rachel. We worked through break and lunch to get the top as close to finished as possible, and I managed to get the French seams completed. Considering that we spent a long time fitting the pattern (which worked out as a mix of XS, S and M on me!), and that I cut my cheap fabric on the wrong fold, I think that's really quite admirable. Rachel deserves a big thank you for the number of times that she answered the same stupid question, and my classmates were wonderful too. Di was particularly good at keeping me on track!



My second class was Large HSTs with the incredibly inspirational Thomas Knauer. We spent the first section of the class listening intently to his theory and philosophy of quilting, and had a mini trunk show of some quilts in his current series.



The blocks came together really quickly, and the layout possibilities are endless. I got really quite giddy as I was rearranging my blocks - I certainly think that I provided more entertainment for Kelly, Sarah, Jo and the rest! I love the offsets within the blocks which emerge. I've nearly finished the quilt top, which is ridiculously quick for me. It's going to end up as a wedding present so I'm hoping that it'll progress quickly from now on too.


The social side of the day ran really smoothly this time, and I really enjoyed spending time with far too many lovely people to mention. I was gutted to have to duck out before the end of the festivities, but I knew that I would be up early with the boy!

We move house this weekend, but I'm very much hoping that I can show you a finished quilt and top in the very near future, because FQR really did leave me feeling excited about sewing again.

The Honest List - FAL Q3 version

My posts are like buses at the minute, none for ages....

Here's my updated list, unsurprisingly it's very very similar to last quarter. I imagine that these will get carried over, but if they're not on the list, they don't count! (cf the knit skirts - written on the paper list, not blogged because I thought there was no chance of getting one done.... Reader, I made three.)

1. St Louis 16 patch - I finished this top during Q1, and have the fabric picked out for the backing and binding 
One of many jobs that will need to be completed after we move due to lack of space - if we're not in by the end of September I will be seriously unhappy!

2., 3., 4. And 5. Giant Star Quilt - 4 of these are needed at some point, and I've had the fabric for ages, so hopefully there'll be some progress during Q2
Feature fabrics have been cut, more Kona Bone is on its way. This is the sneak peek sent to the parents.



6. Quilt for the little man - every else is getting one! I've got lots of novelty prints and I'm planning to use the Picture Box pattern from SewFairyFace
No progress so far.

7. Apron for Dad - needed for his Father's Day present, he wants a butcher's style apron, I'm going to use a Martha Stewart pattern
The fabric I'd bookmarked is our of stock, now on the hunt for navy butchers stripe cotton.

8. Hub's tshirt quilt - I found this buried in the WIP pile,  half pieced - I'm quite tempted to unsew some of it
No progress so far

9. My sampler Cuzco quilt - I made 3 blocks last year and would love to finish 
Not on this one was either, but I did stroke the fabric the other night!

10. Liberty DWR EPP quilt - made from fabric inherited from Hub's grandma, I've got the EPP papers ready. I think this might be my new car project when the crochet is finished 
Very little done on this

11. Scout camp blanket - a never ending project in reality, but it'd be nice to get it up to date with the pile of badges from the last few years sewn on
Halfway there!


12. Nephew's cushion - this is so nearly done, just needs the last finishing touches.


13. Wedding present for a couple who have requested a handmade present - I've (literally!) dusted off the embroidery from my FQR class last year. They get married on July 26th so may be getting an IOU...


14. and 15. More minky blankets for school friends and childhood neighbours who are pregnant. This baby boom is getting silly!

Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap

PARTNER - I'm sorry that I forgot to add my email to your card, I hope that you received this safely

This one wasn't on my FAL list, but I couldn't resist signing up for the Schnitzel and Boo mini quilt swap. It's gone in the post today, so I can't say too much about what my partner requested, but hopefully they will think that it fits their request!

In a bit of a first for me, I didn't really follow a pattern and I enjoyed the freedom of deciding what  would fit in with what my partner wanted. I'm not definitely adding a medallion quilt to my "maybe I'll make this one day" list.

The mini finishes at about 18.5“sq, and is made of a mixture of red and LV prints from my stash and from the Village Haberdashery's stall at the Square in the Fair in Highgate last month.

My partner is a fan of FMQ and I included a bit of pebbling in the centre, but stuck with my favourite wavy line quilting for the outside edges (after my first attempts had to be unpicked!) Now practice is definitely required!

Fat Quarterly Retreat 2014 - Hello!

I proved that I have no self control whatsoever, and caved on the FQR tickets as soon as the day tickets were released, so I really should introduce myself.

Last year I looked like this at Retreat:

(actually, I think I was a bit more whale - like)

This year I'm a bit slimmer but a lot more sleep deprived. (hence why I've not joined in any swaps this year - you can excuse forgetting that you've joined a swap once, but I don't think I could get away with it twice!)

I'll be there all day Saturday, taking Rachel's Wiksten class and the Large HST class. I'm a lot more shy than I look so please come and say hello! Oh, and I think I've persuaded Hubs that I can stay out for dinner too, so let me know if anyone has plans.

The first item for my new sewing room wall: Starburst

As mentioned before, we're in the midst of moving home. What I may not have told you is that I'm going to have half the spare room / loft conversion as my very own sewing room!

Job number one (in my head anyway....) is hanging some mini quilts, and this little one will be the first up on that wall.  

I started this in January 2013, and finished it right at the end of Q1, although the phone photos I took were rubbish, hence why I'm sharing again. The pattern is Six White Horse's Lone Starburst paper pieced, and the fabric a mix of my Simply Solids Stash Crew, and various scraps and bits from swaps.

I hand quilted and machine quilted this for the texture  although this means that it sits quite proud. Nothing that a few drawing pins won't fix!

Baby baby!

Two quick finishes, both from my FAL list:
http://sarah-lou-sews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-honest-list.html

Baby blanket number 1:

(please ignore the toes!)

My first crochet finish, worked on at FQR last year, and ripped out four weeks ago when I realised that I had forgotten to chain on at the end of each row - rooky mistake!

Baby blanket number 2:

This is made of three cuts from Sherbet Pips, backed with minky and with applique in Flurry from my winnings from Lily's Quilts. This had to be done twice, as I stupidly stuck the seam ripper through the first time.

One has been hand delivered, one by post - which is probably a good thing, as I don't think my broodiness could take two tiny babies in one week! (and that's from a woman who's vowed to have no more.....)

Progress update on the crazy list of madness....

Even though I wrote down everything I could possibly think of that I might want to sew this quarter (http://sarah-lou-sews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-honest-list.html) , I have managed to work on a number of things that I didn't think to include... More on these later. For now, here's an update on what I've done that does count.

1. Economy block panel done for the cushion , just needs sashing, quilting, embroidering and turning into a cushion (just!)

2. I had start the Crochet blanket again after making a pretty fatal error, but we're nearly done, which is lucky as the recipient should be born by Friday at the latest!

5. The minky baby blanket was almost totally rethought when I ordered the wrong colour of minky, but plan B went into action and it's all done bar the applique initial.

10. I've cut one rings worth of fabric for the EPP quilt, I think this is a long term thing.....

11. The pile of badges still left to add to the blanket might look huge, but believe me, it's much smaller than it was!

I don't know how much progress I'll be able to make on the quilt front, but it's for a good reason - I'll have much more space to baste them when we move and I get the spare room to play in, so I'm saving that job! 

PS - can anyone recommend a better Android App than Blogger? It's driving me crazy with its refusal to organise pictures properly!