Purses

"the Suitcase" and "the Bounty"

Can you date or identify any of the fabrics pictured in either of these to blogs?  Let me know - please and thank you! (smile and curtsey)

Circular Vest

This is cut using the circumference as described in the instructions, the armhole measurement is 4.5" longer than listed in the instructions. The "collar" roll line is in line with the top of the armhole opening. The bindings are not yet sewn. This fabric is a patchwork corduroy and the edges have stretched a bit. The seams of the patchwork are serged, with does not allow the fabric to drape as I had hoped it would. I think a fleece or soft fabric would have a much better drape.

As you can see, I have the front pinned and it overlaps slightly. A button and small loop for a closure, would meet the two front edges. (It looks like the vest pulls across the stomach area - but that is due to the pinning and I have on a couple of layers).

In this view, I have pulled the "collar" up, which allows for more of an overlap in the front.  I like this style the best.    

Now - about this fabric.  The collar is the right side of the fabric with the body being the wrong side.  I am going to pin the complete roll line, press and then cut the circle apart half inch below the pressed line.  I will then sew it back together, right side to wrong side, so the completed vest will have the right side of the fabric for the body and collar.  Yet another reason to use fleece or fabric with no right and wrong side.  (Sheer, knit, etc) 

Red, White and Sew Blue

This quilt started out as a learning process for me. I wanted to practice half square triangles - and sew it began. After sewing all the blocks together, I realized I had not "followed the rules" in putting all the blocks together (seam allowances not going the same way, etc) so it was banished to the closet - then one day I decided to work on it again so out of the closet it came - only to find I had given away all the red and white fabric I had used. The search began for reds to match (was I crazy or what?). Back to the closet. A few years and three moves later I decided I would finish it. Which lead to another fabric search, but could not make up my mind what to do with it, what colors to use, and all that "stuff" we think about when quilting. Back to the closet.

A few months ago as I was unpacking from yet another move I found this blue fabric in my stash. I can honestly say I do not remember how long it had been there (sound familiar?). I decided I would just add wide borders and hope that it would work for a baby or lap quilt. I quickly sat down and sewed the borders, only to realize that the top had stretched, was not square and anything else that could be wrong -was. Banished to the closet again.

In December, I decided my sewing goals for 2010 were 1. Finish all UFOs 2. Sew from my stash 3. make one donation project each month. Sew - out of the closet it came, I used the same blue for the back - I used upholstery flannel for the batting and I just started stitching in the ditch across each row. Really was not looking that great because of the mistakes made while piecing - but I was not going to stop! I just stitched row after row of stitches, both vertical and horizontal - my own version of stippling. This will be my first donation project for 2010. Its not perfect, may not even be "squared" when finished - but it will be warm and I know it will be used.