Wondered if anyone here likes to sew and might like to chat about it (to be honest, I talk about sewing more lately than I do it, but...)
I am not a highly skilled seamstress but I like to quilt and run simple things up in interesting fabrics (this gives me an excuse to hand dye more cloth which is another mania of mine). I'm trying to do more with embellishments lately. It would be neat to share ideas for this kind of thing if anyone is interested.
Before my middle girl left for college she asked me to make her a full skirt in bright, light orange. I just finished and it looks, well, bright but too plain. I've got this idea of adding an applique (a la poodle skirt but not a poodle which would be too silly), but I'm having trouble thinking of what would work. Needs to be a bit witty KWIM? She likes Japanese fashions so something Asian might be good, but no geisha girls or Japanese letters.
Any thoughts on theme or material to use? What kind of top do you think would look good? I'm pretty sure she will wear it with a crinoline and flats.
Anyone have any interesting projects in hand or in mind?
Huck, I love to sew although I've done precious little of it lately. I guess because it's a pleasure and not a necessity it gets a low priority. I have quite a list for a day "sometime in the future" when all I'm going to do is sew.
I can reattach buttons and put in a temporary hem, but that's about it! I am, however, undertaking a t-shirt pillow for a friend. That will be really easy, though, as I can follow the stitches already in said t-shirt.
I'd much rather crochet, but I only know a few stitches.
__________________
"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
ES, that would make a terrific quilt block. I'm kind of burned out on black with brights and asian prints at present, but I will get into that mood again I'm sure. That design makes me think of Victorian crazy quilts done in velvets and silks.
Kina, I know just how you feel, but I find even imagining things I might sew kind of relaxing and definitely fun, maybe more fun than the work of carrying out the ideas...
Oh, Huck, yes, but even that kind of thinking can get you into trouble. It can lead to.......
The Stash, that shameful yet glorious collection of fabric accumulated over the years by going into the store, seeing a beautiful bolt and thinking, "I could do something great with that--I'll get 4 yards now and figure out later what it's for." The Stash leads to spousal deception ("no, honey, I didn't spend much...) yet sparks creativity especially when deciding where to hide your newest find (I am partial to in-between the mattress and box spring...and did you know that a dresser/chest of drawers that doesn't have legs has a space between the floor and the bottom drawer?)
The mantra of the keepers of Stashes: She who dies with the most fabric wins.
The mantra of the keepers of Stashes: She who dies with the most fabric wins
This means I am definitely headed for the winner's circle, Kina.
Not only do I acquire bits of interesting fabric in the whimsical fashion you describe, but folks give them to me as gifts and when they clena out their own stash...plus as mentioned above I make it worse by hand-dying more of the stuff.
Your stashing habits make you sound suspiciously like a quilter!
Can't picture how it would go with the color of the skirt, but what about some kind of cherry blossom design?
I am not very good at sewing. When I was in high school I did doll costume design for German class competition and placed at state all three years I competed and make some pillows but that was it.
I like to sew. But I don't have enough time to do it. I have a plan to sew some letters for the baby's room and some butterflies. And I think that's about it. I might try to knit something for her as well but I need to learn how to knit first LOL.
I will maybe admit to having perhaps a container of deconstructed cotton clothing that may or may not have caught my eye at Goodwill or a yard sale.
Maybe. I admit nothing.
I have made a couple quilts. One was an actual quilt, the other is a quilt top duvet I made for my DD when she started college (she's 28 and still uses it) plus I have a finished top that awaits...something. It really isn't so wonderful that I want to hand or machine quilt it. I'm thinking another duvet for the guest room. I've been pondering its fate for 5 years at least.
But I have great plans for the hypothetical pre-softened fabric. Yes, I do. Plan B is to leave it for DD in my will. If it exists. Which I deny.
-- Edited by kinalikamom on Tuesday 4th of September 2012 09:11:42 PM
Can't picture how it would go with the color of the skirt, but what about some kind of cherry blossom design?
I am not very good at sewing. When I was in high school I did doll costume design for German class competition and placed at state all three years I competed and make some pillows but that was it.
Evidently most of the pictures I tried to add didn't work, but one was a cherry blossom
ES, I can't see any of your pictures except the fans. But they are awfully nice!
I have an idea that I will applique a Japanese-style cartoon cat or carp on the skirt. Don't ask me why.
For those who like ot sew but haven't the time, what would you do if you had a whole weekend to yourself and an unlimited budget for/availability of materials?
I've been saving up greens for years to make an Irish chain quilt just for myself. I know I could not do the quilting but I'm pretty sure I could do the top, marking and basting in an uninterrupted weekend, provided I rotary-cut the peices and didn't get all fancy with a border.
I really like making quilts for other people but it would be so cool to make one just for me...
You all are probably good peeps for me to ask. My grandmother has patched together a quilt for me. It is a simple 9 square block pattern for a queen bed. She has just hand tacked it with the backing. Would I be able to take something like this to someone to have it "quilted" (for lack of better terminology since I don't know it)?
I'm sure you could. Having it "quilted" is indeed the correct term! I'll bet you have a bunch of quilting guilds in your area who, if they don't do it themselves, can probably point you to who can. (A lot of churches still have quilter groups who do this).
You all are probably good peeps for me to ask. My grandmother has patched together a quilt for me. It is a simple 9 square block pattern for a queen bed. She has just hand tacked it with the backing. Would I be able to take something like this to someone to have it "quilted" (for lack of better terminology since I don't know it)?
If the quilt is made of woven cotton fabric and put together with a top, batting, and a backing (rather than a blanket or the like which some people use if they are just going to tie a quilt) it can be quilted. As Kina says, there are church and other guilds who will still hand-quilt. A less costly alternative you might want to consider is having it machine-quilted. Folks with long-arm machines advertise at fabric stores and in quilting magazines and if you choose an allover design it's pretty reasonable.
I'm honestly not sure how it is put together. I am not against the idea of taking it apart to add the right batting and backing if that is necessary. I do *think* it is a lot of polyester that she had around, don't think there is any cotton. Will that make any kind of quilting impossible?
I'm honestly not sure how it is put together. I am not against the idea of taking it apart to add the right batting and backing if that is necessary. I do *think* it is a lot of polyester that she had around, don't think there is any cotton. Will that make any kind of quilting impossible?
It is hard to hand quilt anything other than woven cotton (or at least mostly cotton) fabric. Machine quilting can be done on some synthetics though depending on the type of material it can be pretty difficult. Hard to venture even a guess without seeing (or maybe feeling) the fabric. Do you have any quilters handy who might be willing to look at it and give you a diagnosis?
If the top is sturdy in its construction and the fabric in good condition you can probably take it apart and relayer with batting. Getting a peek at the middle part of the quilt "sandwich" should not be too hard (a little trickier if there is a seaparte binding around the edge) but again someone who does a bit of quilting should be able to make an educated guess as to whether it's a batting that can be hand or machine quilted (warning--not all battings suitable for machine quilting work well for hand quilting)
If you'd like to post a picture I might be able to venture a slightly educated guess!
I actually do not have the quilt in my possession. The material is a heavy polyester knit if that helps at all. I don't think I know any quilters off the top of my head.
Someone might be able to quilt heavy poly knits but not I. Might be best to just enjoy your quilt as is. And tied quilts can be taken apart to wash or repair, which is great really
I made four Winding Ways blocks over the weekend using some wild-and-crazy fat quarters my husband gave me for Christmas plus leftover orange from the skirt.
It will be an awesome quilt within a matter of a few years I'm sure. And it's so bright that I expect no one will want it but me!
I am getting a sewing machine! I mentioned that I wanted one to see if I liked it, but I didn't want to go to the expense of it and someone from my church said that she had one and she'd give it to me!
__________________
"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
I don't sew a lot, but it is handy to have a machine. I use mine a lot for mending seams in clothing, towels and pillowcases. I even used mine to patch a large hole my dog chewed in some flannel sheets. Just zigzagged around the edge of the new peice of flannel. Although it didn't match and looked kind of weird, the patch saved a relatively new set of sheets from turning into dust rags.
I haven't gotten it yet, but I am looking forward to acquiring it. I may make some throw pillows for the couch in the den as my first project. I'm sure I remember how to do squares.
__________________
"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
Or this?
