Coming along swimmingly

Okay, it's a lame title, but I'm sticking with it.  It somehow seems fitting since my first finish of 2015 is a swim suit. Yes, I finished Elyse's much needed swim suit, and it actually fits her  and looks very nice on her.  Even in bad lighting.

As I mentioned in my FAL first quarter goal list, this was a challenging project, but I'm so glad that I did it.   One of the main things I learned while making the suit is not to overlook the value of hand-stitching/basting.  For example, trying to stitch those tiny cups together was an exercise in futility until I decided to treat them like a bit of English paper piecing.  Then it took about 90 seconds. 

Since this was my first attempt at sewing this type of fabric, I only made one change to the pattern, and that was to fully line the bottoms since light-coloured fabrics have a tendency to become transparent when wet. 

And, now that I've made one project with this super stretchy, slippery fabric, I won't be afraid to tackle another.  Maybe even one for myself, though I won't be modelling it for any pictures.

First quarter goals for a new year

To say that my accomplishments in 2014 were less than stellar would be an understatement.  Two quilts, a bit of sewing and knitting for the girls and even less for myself.  (On the upside, I listened to a remarkable number of audiobooks, so the year wasn't a total write-off.) This makes assembling my first quarter goal list pretty straight forward--I just have to cut and paste from previous lists.

Number 1 was on my 2014 fourth quarter list (and in the interests of full disclosure, the fourth quarter 2013 list as well).  It's the beautiful Oh My Stars! designed by Sheila at Thought and Found. I'm determined that I will finish this.

Number 2, that I'm calling my Snow Geese quilt was also on last quarter's list.  I haven't touched it either.

And, for number 3, there are the cushion covers of shame, also a carry forward.

Number 4 is a carry forward from 2013, that I've been working on slowly but steadily.  It's about twice the size that it was the last time I listed it as a goal, and I think that there's a good chance that I'll be able to finish this one in the next couple of months. 

I do have a couple of new projects, though.

Elyse's bathing suit has succumbed to chlorine and she needs a new one, but  mid-winter isn't a good time to buy child's swimwear in Canada.  Ergo, I'm making her one.  I've never done this before.  The knit fabric is very stretchy, it has a knit lining, the pieces are small, and she wants me to make changes to the pattern.  It's challenging.  I think that the trick here will be to keep saying I think I can, I think I can...and to focus on the fact that she really needs it.

And, since it is still winter, I'd really like to finish this Ramona cowl in time to wear it this season.  I've finished one full repeat, and there are only nine more to go.  Yes, it's inside out.  That's how I knit stranded colour work.

There are many other projects that need to be finished up (not to mention the new ones I'll start-Kid's Clothes Week is coming up soon), but since I've clearly placed myself in the wishful thinking category already, I'll leave it at that.

Linking up to Adrianne, our new taskmaster for 2015.  Welcome, Adrianne, and thank you for taking this on.

Hot off the press.

I'm not one of those quilters who gets fabric as soon as it's released. And, I never, ever buy an entire line.  I wait until it's been around for (quite) a while, and then I buy only my very favourite piece or pieces from the line.  But, I got very, very lucky in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway last month, and I won this!

Yes, it's a bundle of Carolyn Friedlander's new line, Doe.  And, it's beautiful.  These photos don't do it justice, but I'm afraid that the deep grey winter days will be here for some time yet.

Now, I understand why one might purchase an entire line. The fabrics all work together so nicely--the colours, the values, all of it.  I can't wait to get started on a project using the whole lot together.  But I'm going to give it some serious thought first.  It may be the only time I get to work with an entire collection, and I want to show it off at it's best.

And I owe this treat to Becca Bryan of Bryan House Quilts  who was so generous with her giveaway.  It's really appreciated. Thanks again, Becca. Becca also has a new book on my favourite topic--colour--coming out in the spring. 
 

Last big finish for 2014

Yes, I did actually manage to finish 1 of the three-- no, wait, that was four-- goals I set myself in October.  At least, it was the most important one. 

And, I completed it on time, even if I'm only posting about it now. I've given up on waiting to see the sun again.  It may never happen, so here is the big ta-da photographed under indoor lights (you'll have to trust me when I say that there are no lurid oranges or greens in this lovely fabric line).

 

 The piecing went together very quickly, but then it sat and sat while I dealt with issues.  Then, in mid-December I was able to get back to it, and I pieced the back and basted it.  That would have been quick except I basted it on a different surface than the one I'm used to, and the back was a mess.  Next, I tried basting it in sections by clipping it to a table--also new to me.  It took forever (my table isn't particularly large), but the back was beautifully smooth.  And it really was much easier on the knees. 

Quilting presented another challenge.  I'd quilt a bit, decide that I didn't like it, and rip it out.  Then I'd try another motif, and rip it out.  This went on for some time before I decided to spiral quilt.  Perfect!  The circular movement of the quilting balanced out the squares on the piecing, and the modernity of the simple spiral quilted with white Aurifil 50 kept the fabric and quilt pattern from being too sweet. So, in the end, I finally achieved the modern/traditional look that I was aiming for.

As for the Hawaiian geese quilt and my Christmas star quilt, and all those cushions, well, there's always another quarter.

Linking to Katy's last link party of the year.  She did an amazing job as the 2014 finish-along hostess with the mostest, handholder, and ringmaster.  Thanks so much Katy.

Quarter 4 FAL goals

Goals might not be quite the right word here.  Wish list might be more appropriate considering that I'm engaging in a fair bit of wishful thinking.

My priority this quarter is a quilt that I'm making for my mother for Christmas.  Any quilt design would look good made with this gorgeous Butterscotch & Roses fabric (Fig Tree Quilts), but I really like this Garden Fence block.  It's been on my to-make list for a while now, and the fabric has certainly had a chance to "mature".  I just couldn't bring myself to cut into it before now, but since I needed something really special for my mom, it was time.

I started this one --The Christmas star quilt (Oh My Stars! designed by Sheila at Thought and Found.)-- over a year ago, and even included it on my Quarter 4 list last year.  It's at exactly the same stage this year as it was last October, which is the same point as it was in July of 2013 when I added it to the Quarter 3 list.  Still, unless I chuck it in the bin, there's always hope.  And Christmas comes every year (actually, it seems to come around much more quickly than that), so there's always another opportunity.

Then,  my friend and neighbour brought me this gorgeous fabric back from her trip to Hawaii.  I'm thinking flying geese.  They'll have to go on a Kona Snow background because they'll be snow geese--very appropriate considering how many Canadian snow birds fly away to warmer climes ones the snow starts to fly.  I'm going to test out my new Bloc-Loc template on this.  The fabric is a bit slippery, so I'm hoping that it helps keep things under control.

So, that's three quilts by the end of the year.  Certainly doable, if you don't consider that I've only finished one since January. 

Of course, I still haven't managed to make a cover for even one of these cushions.  Maybe this time.  I live in hope.

Linking up to Katy.

3rd quarter finish!

It's so nice to have a finish that was actually included in my 3rd-quarter goal list.

It's been quite some time since I managed that, and this project has been a goal for several consecutive quarters now.  At least the timing is right.  It's still pleasant here (at least, it is on the weekends), but definitely cooler in the mornings and evenings.  Even so, neither kiddo will need a long-sleeved wool sweater for a while--they're a couple of little furnaces.  In the meantime, these little bamboo toppers will be just the ticket worn over a long-sleeved T-shirt.

And, the obligatory silliness.  This part is so much fun.  The camera was acting a bit odd today, so I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked, but these will do.  Both girls liked their sweaters--the heart-shaped buttons were a hit, and I only heard the pink word mentioned once and not too loudly. 

All part of

Summer skirts

Elyse was rummaging through my fabric stash a while ago, and came out with a piece of fabric and a length of eyelet, and asked for a skirt.   Frankly, I was surprised--not that she wanted me to make her something, but by her fabric choice.  I would have never have picked the soft Jennifer Paganelli print for Elyse.  And, then, when Keira and chose the bright abstract floral for her skirt, I was even more surprised.  It's a good lesson for when they get older--never assume that I know what they'll like.

So, following instructions from my creative directors, I ran up simple gathered skirts with eyelet around the hems (wider eyelet for Elyse because she's older, and narrower for Keira because she's smaller--it appears that they already understand scale).  I decided to elasticize the waistbands in the back, but make them flat in the front.  I'm not fond of elastic all the way around.  It seems to bunch up in the front.  And, the cute little pleated pockets were essential.  If they don't have their own pockets, someone else has to carry the little stones, leaves, feathers, etc., etc., etc., that they pick up throughout the day.

And then came the fashion shoot and all of the silliness that entails.

And yes, this all took place earlier in the summer, so at least they had a chance to wear them this year, and they'll still fit next summer.  If not, they can be let down or the elastic can be replaced as needed. 

I actually have another pair of sun dresses cut out, but I think that I'll hold off on sewing them until next year.  There's really no point in making them now, and by waiting until next summer, I can make sure that they fit properly during the construction stage rather than having to alter them.

So, I guess that will be the last of the summer sewing for this year. I'll have to see what I can come up with for fall.