Thinking of Applique

My knee's been bothering me lately, and I thought it might be serious, like a torn ligament, requiring surgery. So I went yesterday to see my oseopath, who easily fixed it up. I go back in a couple of weeks for another treatment. So I'm feeling a lot better than I have been. And I don't have to be so careful on stairs! Isn't that nice?

Must've been some treatment, because I came home with a big realization. My applique project had reached a bit of a stall, because I couldn't figure out how to get my sketches into patterns and cut out for handsewing. Yesterday, I did some searching on the internet, where you can find out almost anything, and now I finally know how I'm going to progress.

Basically, I have to trace my paper patterns onto freezer paper, then iron these pieces to fabric and cut them out. Sounds simple enough, I just hadn't thought of it before. So now, I have to get to work tracing. This seems like a waste of time to me. If I had known this before, I would have worked up my patterns directly onto freezer paper. Oh, well, live and learn.

I still haven't chosen fabrics for this project, either. Yes, I have the background all cut out, but not the applique fabrics. I might do this on Saturday. Oh wait, I'll be picking blueberries on Saturday!

I'm also a little bummed out at how long all this takes. I think it could be several years before I see these finished blocks sewn together. Then there's quilting and finishing, too. I'll have to focus on my "a little every day" thought.

Scored a Finish or Two

I've been sewing some because it has been blazing hot outside lately. Too hot for picking raspberries!

Last week, I finished a baby quilt for our quilt guild. We volunteer to make Memory Quilts to go to a local hospital for when someone loses an infant. It wasn't a long project, but at the last minute, I decided to add some lace around the binding. Because I didn't plan that ahead of time, I had to hand stitch it neatly behind the binding, but I like the way it finishes the look.

And I also finished sewing together a jean jacket vest, which I had cut out from a men's denim shirt. So now the embellishment begins. I want to start with some fancy bleaching, and continue with embroidery and beading.

On top of that, I made two pairs of shorts for myself, for when I venture out into that blazing heat! I can pretty much never buy any pants off the rack, without having to alter them for a better fit. So, it is easier a lot of times to develop a pattern that fits in the first place, and just make them from scratch.

Patterns Con't

I was going to go pick raspberries this morning, but it started to rain just as I was getting my shoes on. So a new plan was in order. This means quilting, of course. One of the best things about living in this house is how quiet it is on Saturday mornings. Now, it would be in my nature to get out to the farmer's market or such on a Saturday morning, but it is so peaceful here that I have grown accustomed to work at sewing instead.

Why is it so quiet, you ask? I leave for work early during the week, and leave all the pets fed, so they and Steve mostly sleep until I get home early afternoon (Steve works late). I walk the dog on weekends and feed everyone, then they all sleep at least until noon! What a treat. It's a good formula for me to get things done.

So this morning, I was cutting out those two vests, and made yet another pattern, this time for a jacket. I have fabric lined up for it, real yard goods, not a recycled garment this time.

For now the rain seems to have moved through, and I can go out for those raspberries.

A little every day

I have endeavoured to do something for quilting every day, for at least an hour. Most days, I do something for quilting, and occasionally skip a day. This might be cutting out fabric pieces, printing fabric, sorting my stash, sewing blocks, pattern work, reading quilt books or magazines, hemming pants, surfing the net to see what other quilters are up to. . . . Sometimes, if I don't feel like sewing, I'll go for a drive, and take my camera to see what's out in the world. Or go pick raspberries!

For example, today I was creating another vest pattern for myself. This is a plain vest, to be used for wearable art. It didn't take long, because it doesn't have a lot of details. I have a couple of heavy weight shirts hanging around that would be better suited if they were cut up into something else, so their destiny is about to change. Nothing is too sacred around here to avoid the scissors!

Can you tell, I'm good at coming up with ideas, and starting things. I have way more ideas than I can ever hope to get finished. I'm lucky if I can get everything written down in my sketch book, which I keep in case I ever run out of things to make. Ha, like that would ever happen.