Category: #useyourbeautifulthings

Using the good stuff

Published on by Juliann11 Comments

This weekend I changed my rotary blade and oh my – why do I wait so long to do that? Changing your rotary blade and sewing machine needle are probably the best ways to make sewing a more enjoyable experience.

I am currently make these black and white churn dash blocks using a wonderful chart from this website. I am making some 6” and some 9” blocks and have a glimmer of an idea of how I will use them.

I have also been clicking links to see how others are participating in a Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I have pulled my box of green fabrics to see if I might be inspired to unofficially play along.

And for those of you who are knitters, I gave in to the temptation to have a color work sweater on my needles. I cast this on while we were watching Andor and Rougue One. I am using the J&S Heritage yarn from the original pattern but my other colors are very different so I think I will call it Heritage Gone Rogue.

There is a break in the rain so I think I will head out for a walk. Happy Monday.

My mother taught me how to sew

Published on by Juliann10 Comments
A sweet watercolor sketch done by mom’s aunt – circa 1936

I learned to sew when I was six. Before that, I watched mom sew on her Pfaff machine and loved to play with her button box and fabrics. At some point, I decided to cut a piece of fabric for myself. That chunk I cut from the middle of a piece of velvet was all the motivation mom needed. We went off to the fabric store and came home with red corduroy and a jumper pattern. Over the years, I took and then taught sewing classes at the Girl’s Club. I made most of my own clothing through high school and mom was always there to help me pin and cut the fabric. (Now I am thinking about how sad it is that we have so few actual fabric stores these days but I will set that thought aside.)

Every time I decide to add a zipper, I think of mom. She was a pro at zippers. Me – not so much.

It actually too three tries to get this zipper sewn. Thank goodness I have a good seam ripper.

As part of my “use your beautiful stuff” project and to give myself some time to reminisce about sewing and mom, I tackled two bag patterns last week. The one with a zipper was from a kit that I got in my goody bag at Quilt Con. The second bag used some beautiful fabric I bought at Quilt Con and a pattern I purchased a few years ago.

The bird bag currently holds two pairs of socks on my needles. Need to figure out how to use the little zippered bag now.

It is a bit cooler and looks like rain so I am off to see what other lovely fabrics I can put to use today. Happy Monday.