Another I-spy for a colleague's baby shower - late posting from 2019

Last year I forgot to publish a last minute present: one of my colleagues was expecting a baby and I have made an I spy quilt for them. I used some 5"x5" squares, some of them from smaller scraps, and I was trying to put together something colorful. I added a flanel backing to keep it soft and warm, I hope they have a good use for this since! It used up cc1.5m fabric, mostly from old materials or scraps, so it does not count in my fabric usage.

Last finish 2019

I was thinking to lengthen the cover I made for our armchair, because it was always falling down, so I quickly took some precuts from my scrapbin (it was me who cut them to 5"x5") an whipped up this small extension in no time. 

The most difficult part was how to attach it to the already binded existing one, since it had no separate binding, but the backing was turned over. Finally I partially cut the seams at the top, where the new piece was attached, turned the existing backing under the original top and stitched it together. For the new part I simply binded as usual, with a scrappy binding, and for stitched a little overlap for the old part. I cannot say it is the most sophisticated solution, but it was easy, and since it is mostly behind the armchair, nobody will see it - except you in the photo... The greyish solid it the original border for the top.

Pillows as a gift

i did some finishing and used up some fabric. My sister in law asked me to make some pillows for our nephew's room, and here they are. It took a few monthes to start, but they were finished in 30 minutes...

Trial pieces - woman's shirt, ranglan T shirt, comfy pants

To have a new hobby brings the joy of buying materials -  a lot:)

First I started with a heavy discount chain called I love textil, where you can buy 1yard for an eur, more expensive materials even go up to 1.5eur/yard. I bought some different ones to practice with and test patterns. Somehow I am really attracted to lilac now...

Fabric bought: 6,2m

• 1.5m purple shirt poliester
• 1.5m purple dress cotton-elasthan
• 2m sand pique cotton
• 1.2m poliester velvet

Women's shirt from the lilac - it was quite a struggle, but I managed it. However since the material is poliester it is not good for daily use, and also it was a little tight I will give it to my cousin, because it suits her really well. I need some buttonsbuttonholes, and I have to finish the seams as well, and add a hemming to the bottom.  

Elastic ranglan shirt from the white one - I wrote a separate post on the t-shirt, here is the trial version - this also goes to my cousin, she is forgiving all my errors.

Last but not least I also sewed a very comfy pant to be lazy at home. This stays with me, I can hardly wait for a colder weather, I was looking for such pant for years! The start was from an overall, what I totally changed. It is pants, not overall, I did not add the pockets, made it significantly slimmer - I realised Burda patterns are not for me. I cannot decide on the size, and regardless that the numbers are fitting, clothes are 2 size bigger than me, and I can hardly find any pattern I like. So I will not look for them at all.

I see I really have to improve my clothes photoing technique, they look quite awful here, trust me in real life I am extremely proud all of them.

I also sewed up a dress, it is a very simple one, but I learned the hidden zipper, what I have actually ripped off at the end. The material is somewhat stretchy, so there is no need for zippers...I learned interfacing, setting in darts, hemming the dress.

New hobby: sewing clothes - Ranglan T-Shirt

I am always looking for good quality t shirts what I can use for work with my summer suits, and it is extremely difficult to find one what I like. Despite the fact that I am continuously looking the last one I bought 3 years ago, and even that one was not perfect. However, I have a favourite what I have found several years ago and still love - and now I am able to replicate it!

Ranglan t shirts - pattern copied by me from my existing one. Front, back, 2 sleeves, neckline. xx cm of xxx

The trial version is on the right, I bought some cheap stretch material in the discount chain "I love fabric" - it was a perfect base to start with. I have learned to cut stretch ( pin pattern to fabric, cut around ), and also to use sergers to finish seams on stretch. I also tried double needles, because in the class there is no coverstitch machine. I still have to master finishing the neckline, because something still amiss...

I was also hunting for good quality fabric, because most of the fabric is extremely lightweight. But I managed to get some real good ones in a little fabric store on Vaci street next to Nyugati, and quickly bought 3 meters to be on the safe side :). (white, 70% cotton 30% elastan, 3000ft)

The learning curve of my serger use is steep and still ongoing:  how to change between lock and coverstitch, how to use differential feet for stretchy materials. I am still looking for good balanced coverstitch, it is too tight I think. But at least I learned to thread the machine - I have rethreaded and least 10 times...

Update: I went to the shop to see what to turn where, and the secret is the differential feet - it should be 2, and the stitch length should be 3 or 4. I will try this setting, I hope it helps!

baby shirt

In the sewing school I went the first thing was a shirt sample - learn how to sew a men's shirt in baby size. It was quite a difficult thing to do, I was really fighting with the details - but I am proud of my far-from-perfect-but-I-did-it sample.

Teachers gift - by my son

I was thinking what kind of present should we prepare for my son's teachers for the school year closing, when I pinterest showed me a bluegreen placemat. It was the perfect solution - not to difficult to make, useful, nice for the teachers and has boy colours that Andris will happily participate. He chosed the fabric, measured and cut it in one go. Then next time sewed  the stripes together. 

Third time was for the monogram of the teacher, where he draw the letter, ironed the adhesive and the letter to the back. Then he practiced a little how to applique rounded corners, but at the end he said I should do the roundings and he takes the straight sides. I was more than happy to help him out a little! When both sides were ready, he ironed the middle layer in, we used a thin adhesive batting. Then I outlined the letter to stabilize the mat, and then he took back to do the straight line stitch in the ditch. Finally came the binding, where he helped to cut and iron the binding, but asked me to bind it - and voila: placemat ready to use. He really did a great job, I hope the 2 teachers will appreciate the effort of a 9 years old:)

Wrap up 2018, goals for 2019

At the beginning if the new year it is good to look back and see how many things I did accomplish, and I am using my last year closing post to see how this year differed from last. Work was easier this year, but in the summer we renovated our flat - everything was painted, and since everything had to be moved for the workmen, I also made a huge decluttering. It took almost 2 months, but definitely  did worth the effort! I feel much better, but the time spent on renovation was not spent on stitching. However there was also a 100 days challange for cross stitching, which brought back a lot. The net result is still unclear also for me, but by the end of the post I will be also cleverer :).

6 Quilts (last year 9):

• Wallhanging for my niece
• Recliner cover
• I spyfor my nephew
• Universe is yours - baby quilt for my colleague's baby boy
• Storm at Sea for my godmother
• Little Fish - scrappy quilt for the living room

Bags&purses (last year none):

• a tote to try
• 2 purses for the teachers at yearend

2 major cross stitch finish (last year 2 smalls):

• Chatelaine Winter Watergarden
• Chatelaine Octopus Treasure Cave 

Almost finishes

• Around the World in 80 stitches - I call it done, and I will make a box cover
• Yoko Saito Strolling Along Path of Green - quilt top done

Seeing the list it is quite impressive for me, lightly less quilts but significantly more cross stitch, and bags are my new feature :)

WIP

• Round the Year by betukbandi - WIP
• Pomarium by Chatelaine: I have started at the end of 2016, moving along in the 2nd half during the year
• Heirloom Nativity Sampler by Victoria Sampler

What did I planned last year? nothing major, therefore I mostly managed them all :)

In 2018 I would like to finish Winter Watergarden - done
start one or two Chatelaines, depending on my stitching bug's behaviour - none

sew a bedcover for my godmother -done
some smaller ones for friends and family - done

What do I plan for this year? 
Nothing stressful, having fun is the key, but I would like to improve as well in bagmaking. I am contemplating doing a sewing course in the summer, but it takes 4-6 weeks, and I am not sure I am willing to invest so much time

• Cross stitch:
• Work on Pomarium by Chatelaine
• Start Mushroom Fern or Autumn Watergarden (or both) by Chatelaine
• Finish Heirloom Nativity Sampler by Victoria Sampler
• Quilt:
• Round the Year by betukbandi 
• quilt Yoko Saito Strolling Along Path of Green
• try to use all of my quilting supplies (special feet and all the fancy stuff I bought)
• Other sewing
• finish Around the World in 80 stitches box
• totes: some nice totes for myself and the family, which also serves as a stash buster of my non-quilting fabric. I have bought some fun prints in IKEA with totes in my mind, and I would like to try at least 3 types to find the perfect one
• miscellaneous sewing thingie holder
• a standing one for my cutting mat
• one next to the sewing machine