Chaining it together

I know I am late to this party. But after having it suggested to me in a few books/ tutorials etc. A finished quilt top ago... I decided to try chain piecing. And holly balls what have I been doing? it makes life a lot easier, saves thread, and in the end you have this fun banner thing to play with for a little while until you cut it apart.

What am I making you ask?

I am using Salt Air by cosmo cricket. It is just a layer cake but I am using it to make a quilt for my sister. Maybe she'll like it better than the first one. I am using a moda bakeshop tutorial which keeps this super super easy. but it is giving me some practice with triangles. After this quilt I am going to tackle the harder one.

The quilt that I will make my roommie Krista for giving me a wonderful and awesome sewing machine. that one involves octagons. eeep. 

 Here is what a finished block will look like. Right now I am piecing the half blocks. but it should be really cute. I like the diamonds in the center. and it is extremely simple. perfect for getting some summer quilting done.

I think this is my favorite print. 

Seriously though. If you haven't tried chain piecing you are missing out. it makes for a lot more sewing and a lot less random loose threads (an added bonus). How about you? have you tried it? Do you hate it? or do  you, like me, think it is the most ingenious thing since sliced bread?

FO Friday: Soul Blossoms

Oh crap. Over a month without posting. oops.

That is the quickest way to loose followers/ if anyone was reading this they are not anymore!

But just because I haven't been blogging though doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff. I am stopping right now because I have to do things like write a senior thesis. But I did finish this actually close  a month ago. But then I washed it so it was crinkly and delightful.

Here is the back! It is semi pieced because I don't know how to do math properly (apparently)

This quilt is made out of a FQ bundle (with A LOT left over) of Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler and the sashing is muslin. It provides a really nice contrast.  both in texture and look. The pattern is mostly from Jera's Rainy Days  tutorial. I changed the size of it a little bit though.

It is quilted with a loopy design (my first time trying it!) with a verigated aurfil. The verigated was definitely a lot more subtle than I thought it would be.

           

That is all I have for now.  I hope every one has a wonderful weekend!

Mondog #10: Scraps

Selvedges are not the only thing you can tie to your dog.

Fabric scraps work quite well for the accessorizing pup as well.

Have a happy mondog everyone!

If you have a puppy to submit to me please email me at Chen (dot) AD (at)gmail(dot) com
I would love link your blog tumblr etc.

Sunday Stash: Apples and Smiles

For Christmas when I was trolling etsy (as I do frequently) for fat quarter bundles I really wanted one. But I can't resist looking at what else the store might have. And there was a really good deal on on the Little Apples fat quarter bundle

Everyone freaked out over her Sherbet and Pips line and I am going to be completely honest i didn't really see it. I don't think I was a fan of all the pink really. Because the Little Apples. I wasn't quite sure when I bought it but a fat quarter bundle that was less than $6 a yard is too good to pass up.

And maybe it was the turtles or maybe it is the colors (because I love the color scheme of little apples) But I LOVE this line.

I had to wash this fat quarter bundle (top my dismay) but because I have a side loader right now and washing fat quarts is so much easier than the mess that happened last time.

My camera is still gone (in Wisconsin) and my phone cannot take these beautiful pictures I may have stolen them from Sir Bubbadoo I hope she doesn't mind. Please go check out her website and drop her a comment.

Happy Sunday All!

If I were a fabric...

I'm pretty sure this is the fabric I would be

It has rainbows and unicorns and has glitter on. It is a Japanese import and really hard to find. I scoured etsy and only came up with two fat quarters.GAH! Must find moreeeeee!

Did I mention I loved it so much that I bought it in two more colorways? currently I am looking for the black one. If you know where it is please send it my way. (Must have ALL THE COLORS)

WIP Wed: Some Rainbow Love

When I chose handspunrainbows as my crafthandle I was really expectng to post a lot more about rainbows. Like seriously a lot more. Rainbow isn't even one of my biggest words in my word cloud. How weird is that?

So here is the start of my current rainbow quilt. If you remember a while back I posted about having this idea for a rainbow quilt. Well it took a while and I had to buy a large chunk of grey fabric (which I love and will be using 

These are the Blocks I have so far. Well. The parts of the blocks that I have so far. I am working on chain piecing the crap out of them (which I actually hadn't done before)

I have strips cut for the rest of the quilt but that is about it right now. Will update you all on my progress as I go along. Because I will finish soon. (or it will become one of THOSE WIPs)  But right now I like it enough that it won't. 

Tools Tuesday: Flying Jump

I love going garage sailing (pun intended). For those of you that have seen my house. This is absolutely no surprise. I am a total pack rat. I see things that are cool and I want them. Doesn't matter if I actually have a use for them. I like cool shit. 

This past summer when I went garage sailing I was looking for a sewing machine because my current one wasn't working very well at all. (and actually still isn't) I found this one. 

A little Feiyue FY811 for five dollars. At the time I was told it was working (it wasn't) But I turned the handwheel and it moved. So for five dollars. How could I resist? Mine is in a cute yellow color the one above is just a stock picture.

I just recently got it back from the bobbin doctor invested some money in it and now I have a wonderful little machine.  He specializes in vintage machines. But I highly recommend him for any machine though.

Feiyue means flying jump (or leap) in Chinese. And it is a Chinese sewing machine (that supposedly looks a lot like a Necchi)  And I have decided just now That the name of my Feiyue is going to be Peter Pan. The Chinese word for Peter Pan is "小飞侠"  Which roughly translate to "little flying knight" 

Mine is going to be used mostly for freemotion quilting. It has a dual drive belt which supposedly makes it extra extra strong. and makes it operate a little slower. What this means for me is that when I want to freemotion I will have more control and more even stitches. Not a bad thing in my book. Not bad at all.

Mondog #9 Thirst for Crushing Things

This Mondog is brought to you by my friends Shawn. I walked into the QSCC (The Queer Student Cultural Center) this morning and said, "Who wants to send me pictures of their dog?" Shawn replied and within 10 min I had a bunch of adorablness.

This is Schtan. He is a white German Shepard. (on the left)

And in Shawn's own words

He loves nothing more than crushing things, people, and animals of all kinds with his mass...and looking derpy.

And just look at that derpy derp derp face. What a cutie.

He and Grep need to be best friends! Too bad that they live continents away.

Show Off

It is 25 degrees out according to my phone. But I can't resist showing off my hand knit socks. I am warm enough.

FO: Friday: I am a crafter not a photographer

This FO Friday is brought to you by my inability to rotate these pictures!

When I went home all the way back in December. I managed to do the super cool (read stupid) thing of leaving my camera there. Opps! I left some other stuff too but nothing extremely crucial to my being. 

So if you've noticed that I have been pulling stock pictures from the web lately as well as the quality of my actual pictures have been a little bad. That is because I have been using my phone camera. It is getting by well enough but I'm not sure how to do some of the more nuanced things with it. Like rotating pictures. 

This is actually one of the first things I made when I started working at sewtropolis. I figured that I needed more experience than pure quilting if I had to work in a sewing store and that this bag that was cute and functional would be a great place to start. 

Also. I was seriously in love with that canvas fabric. Seriously how cute is it? It has been sitting at Sewtropolis since October now. And I can't wait to take it home so it can be mine mine mine. (did I mention that I want it to be mine?) 

But first before I can take it home I decided that I wanted to teach a class on it. Because it is cute and the perfect size for a day of light reading. So I thought I would share the wealth/joy of an adorable bag. 

Even if the pictures are sideways hopefully you all can see how cute this bag is. The grommets in particular I am in love with.

If you are interested in learning how to make this bag I am teaching it March 29th give the store a call or sign up online!

WIP Wed: Baby Knitters Just Don't Understand

Recently I have had almost the exact same conversation with two of my friends who have learned how to knit from me.  (well I taught one how to knit and she taught the other how to knit. So I sort of taught him)

It went like...
Me: Do you ever knit something and then put it down, forget about it. And then randomly remember that you have this half completed thing. Then for some reason you HAVE TO FINISH IT. It just has to happen.
Them: No, I've never really gotten that.
Me: Well you're a baby knitter. You don't understand.

I have been knitting this sock longer than they have been knitting. Or at the very least I have been knitting this sock for about as long as they have been knitting.

This sock (that I didn't take pictures of until much later) is one of those projects. I  started this at the start of last spring semester (it might have been around mid semester of first semester or second I don't keep real good track)

I cast on knit it furiously and finished it. Cast on for the second sock and then let it sit.
When I started the Year of Projects (which is on hold right now because I am a student and I am trying to have priorities) I tried to finish up this project. by the time I got to the cable part, the pattern was no longer free online. I had to sort of look at it from the other one and figure it out. And honestly they are probably going to be a little different.

But now this sock is nearly done. And soon I will have a wonderful great new pair of socks to wear. (That are RAINBOW)

For other awesome WIP posts I am linking up with Tamis Amis Besure to check them out!

Mondog #8 OCD

Today's Mondog is brought to you by Corgi Addict (or Obsessive Corgi Disorder)

My roommate and I have been talking about living together next year and what we want in our apartment/ what we are looking for. It is my dream to have some sort of space to making into a craft studio. And both of us (but mostly her because it will technically be her dog) want a place that is dog friendly.

We really want to get a corgi. It is largely because of this website. It has given us both Obsessive Corgi disorder. Because really how can you resit that puppy face? We have already decided that the dog's name will be Scootalo.

Sorry that I am posting this so late. But I am hoping you all enjoy the rest of your mondog and relax!

(As always if you would like your dog to be featured as a mondog and be linked back please email me at Chen (dot) AD (at) gmail (dot)com

Sunday Stash: Gardens and Machines

On Tuesday I told you that I was trading a sewing machine for a quilt. When I offered this to Krista I knew exactly what fabric I should use. It was fabric that I had just bought and was the perfect intersection of my color pallet ant my roommates.

I wanted to show all of them, so sorry that they are little but this is the full line. (of which I have fat quarters of) I have enough to make Krista a lovely quilt and will have enough left over to make myself one as well. I will gladly give it away some pretty fabric for a pretty machine.

What attracted me to this fat quarter bundle in the first place though are these keys. I am quite taken by them.

I hope your Sunday is wonderful and lovely and filled with lots of fabric dreams.

Tools Tuesday: Trade secrets

I have some excitement to share.

Take a look at this nice little piece of furniture. Some of you may recognize it. Some of you may think it is a night stand. 

Open it up. What it flips out? What does this do I wonder... hmmm looks to be something inside of there. Better check it out a little bit closer. What is this?

Add cap

That is right friends. It is a wonderful new (to me) sewing machine. Best of all? I am getting this wonderful fine piece of sewing history as a trade. It is my roommates. She doesn't use it very much at all. So it gets to come into a place  where it will be loved dearly. And my roommate is going to get a quilt that she has helped me design. Who is getting the better end of the deal? I think I am. And she thinks she is. That is how you know it is a really good trade.

As for the machine itself I don't know too much about it. It is a post world war II era Sewmor made in Japan. That means it could be as old as the late 40s and as new as the early 60s. It does operate with a knee peddle though, which I am extremely excited to learn how to use. 

Just a bit of luck and an awesome trade. We're both happy and really that is all that matters right? (and cool sewing machines)

Mondog #7 '50s Housewife Edition

This Mondog is brought to you by my sister's photoblog

Some people make really good use of their selvages. Some people make beautiful quilts out of them. Nikol from my work makes really cool pincushions, mug rugs, and bags out of them.

What do I do with my selvages? What any good dog lover/ sewist does with their selvages of course! I tie them on my dog!

Doesn't she look silly? And incredibly annoyed? And like shes doing her best Betty Draper impression? Put a vacuum in one hand and a martini in the other and shes all set.

As always if you'd like your dog featured on a mondog post email me a picture and a brief description to Chen (dot) AD (at) gmail (dot) com.

Have a great Mondog everyone! and a lovely rest of the week!

Sunday Stash: Bundle me up.

Three weeks ago I posted a Sunday stash warning. That you should watch out. And then I didn't post about it for two weeks. Bad blogger.

So I am a month late. But I am going to share with you all the first out of (way to many) fat quarter bundles that I bought. Sort of justifying it by saying it was Christmas. Sort of justifying it by saying that I had been making money over break...

So here is Woodland by Natalie Lymer for Lecien. This FQB was a bit on the pricey side for what normally buy but it is a Japanese import. And just so freakin' cute. I especially love the mushroom fabric.

I already have a plan for what I am going to do with part of this Fat quarter bundle Here is a hint. I am going to call it "woven woodland"

Sorry for no real stash photos I'm in a meeting right now technically....

Mondog #6 One Tuff Puppy

This is Tuffy. She is the dog of my ravelry friend Hilary. And sooo cute!

She was a stray that Hilary found and from what i can tell she really earned her name! In her own words,

We found Tuffy living in the backyard at the shop at my husband’s work. She was sneaking in at night and sleeping under a tarp and wouldn’t let anyone near her until I started working with her. She was certainly abandoned and maybe abused. We brought her home in April 2010 and she’s been glued to my side since then! She’s a real joy to us.

What a good story! I love it when dogs and people find happy endings. And from the sounds of it Tuffy and Hilary get on really well and what more can you ask for in a dog?

Have a happy Mondog everyone (And a happy MLK day as well)

If you have a dog you'd like to be featured as a Mondog post please email a pic of your dog and a brief description Chen(dot)AD(at)gmail(dot)com I'm always looking for more puppies! I can only feature Esme so many times!

FO: Friday It ended!

I have good news. It took a little longer than expected. But I am happy to report... It ENDED!

The final product is on display at sewtropolis. Hopefully catching the eye of potential class takers. And knitters who would like to try it.

In the end it took me 4.5 balls to knit. out of this wonderful shade of spud and chole sweater. It will take you more or less depending on hip circumference. Over all I am super happy with the result. It is cute and warm.

Also after trying to learn how to crochet four + times in my life I am really glad that something finally stuck. I was able to crochet the edging on my skirt so it won't stretch! and by the looks of it I was successful!!!

It is funny that I am more proud of my waistband than I am of the rest of the skirt (I'm pretty sure I did a single crochet instead of a slip stitch as well but it worked about the same).  Not that I don't love the rest of the skirt. I just know I am capable of the rest of the skirt.

If you're interested in learning how to make this skirt give the store a call and sign up! it starts in Feb and the second class session is actually right near the beginning of March giving you a month to knit it before I show how to finish it up!

Sorry for all the weird close photos. It is really really hard to take a picture of yourself with a touch screen phone backwards.
It has to stay at the store for now. But really I can't wait to wear it!


next up I am knitting an entrelac headband!

Linking up with Tamis amis for FO friday for more awesome FO's go to her blog!

Sunday Stash

Just a heads up... the holidays always make me a little sad because I have to rely on buying my own gifts. This year I think I went a little overboard (oops) and be sure to watch out for new Sunday Stashes! I'm going to spread them out so I have something to share every Sunday!