Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 4

The fourth and final finish from my from my Finish-a-long list are some reusable “plastic” bags. I decided to make these as similar to plastic bags as possible so they won’t attract too much attention at the checkout. Looking at the various types of bags in the kitchen drawer, I went for a tie handle design as this will make it easier to keep items in the bag.
 

I used an existing bag as a starting point but adapted the size slightly to fit the fabric. French seams were used so that raw edges were enclosed and pleats/folds added as on the original plastic bag.

 
I hope to make a few more of these and will try to take photos of each stage so I can share it as tutorial.


(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)

Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 3

In a change from quilts, the third finish from my Finish-a-long list is something for me to wear. I got a remnant of jersey houndstooth fabric in a destash at the Leeds MQG meeting and wanted to make a simple skirt with it.

 
I could try to sound impressive and call it a self-drafted pattern, but really it was just a matter of making tube of fabric to my hip measurement, adding darts at the front and back to give some shaping at the waist and using elastic to hold it in place. The trickiest part was trying to determine how to pattern match on the back seam and keep the hip measurement vaguely correct.

Skirt Back

Spot the seam!

I kept putting off this project as it would involve getting out the overlocker but once I had it set up alongside my sewing machine, it didn’t take long to stitch the seam and darts on the machine and then use the overlocker to neaten the seam allowances, the hem edge and to attach the elastic. I stitched the hem by hand as the stitches could be hidden amongst the overlocking.

The skirt was made on Sunday afternoon and worn into work on Monday morning.

(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)

Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 2

There has been quite a bit of sewing, but not a lot of blogging, for my Finish-a-long list. Following on from the quick finish of an ironing mat (which is proving very useful), here is my next finish – the animal quilt for my great nephew.

This is simple two layer quilt – a pieced top and a fleece backing – as it makes it easier to wash and dry. Any shrinkage of the top on washing results in a slightly puffed effect on the back which I think is a bonus.

The binding is fully machine stitched so that it will withstand some wear, but hopefully not, tear.
 

I was spurred on to get this quilt finished not only for Finish-a-long, but also because it has to be sent to Ireland and I didn’t want it caught in any post and customs confusion caused by Brexit, but it looks as though I needn’t have rushed for that reason.

(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)

Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 1

Back in January, I signed up for the Finish-a-long and for Q1 I came up with a list of 6 projects ranging from quilt tops needing quilting to simple sewing of practical things.

It will come as no surprise that the quilts are still waiting and that I have finished one of the simple projects. A piece of felted wool is now a thick ironing pad.

Before

After :-)

There was not a lot of sewing involved but a piece of fabric bought for a specific purpose is now a usable item so I'll count it as a Finish.

Linking up with 2019 Q1 Finish-A-Long

(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly  for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)

Finish-a-long 2019 – my list for Q1

I’ve decided to take part in the current Finish-a-Along in an attempt to complete some WIPs and actually use some of fabrics that I got for specific purposes, but have been sat in my stash for too long.

Rather than list all my WIPs for the year in this post, I’ve picked half a dozen projects for this first quarter that are a mix of those that need to be done as soon as possible and those are likely to be a quick and easy project to keep me motivated. I think it unlikely that my long term EPP projects will feature at all as realistically they are not going to be completed this year.

So here are my projects for this quarter:
 

1. Animal quilt.  This is for my great nephew who arrived last summer. The quilt top was completed last autumn, but it has sat waiting to be sandwiched, quilted and bound for several months.
2. BOM quilt.  I completed a series of BOMs last year and managed to get a completed quilt top assembled late in December. My target for this year is to have it as a completed quilt and donated to Project Linus.
3. Siblings Together quilt.  These are left overs from the Leeds MQG Siblings Together block drive in November 2018 which I said I would make into a quilt top to send to Siblings Together for quilting and binding.
4. Pencil skirt.  I picked up this dog tooth check in a destash at Leeds MQG and the plan was to turn it into a simple pull on pencil skirt. I don’t have a pattern in mind - just a centre back seam, a few darts and an elasticated waist, but I keep putting it off as I know I should get out the overlocker for neatening the seams and hem.
5. Felted wool ironing pad.  This hasn’t been in the stash for very long as I only got it as the Harrogate Stitching and Knitting Show last November with a view to making an ironing pad for pressing blocks. I saw some at the show, but they were £20+, so I am hoping that this £5 piece of felted wool will do the job instead.
6. Reusable “plastic” bags.  Again, a recent addition to stash bought with a specific purpose in mind. I got this organza to make lightweight bags to use instead of plastic bags for loose fruit and veg. I just need to decide what type of bag to make (drawstring and/or tie handle) and whether a larger version would be useful for fabric purchases now that bags are no long free at Abakhan.

Well, those are my projects for Q1, hopefully not too many will carry over to Q2.

Linking up with 2019 Q1 Finish-A-Long

(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly  for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)