Fresh Sewing Day: April 2015

Happy May Day! Can you believe April is over already? What a busy month it was! In addition to completing three garments and a mini quilt, I also sewed a few gifts that I will show here once they reach their recipients. I have one more gift to finish in May, and then I can shift my focus back to selfish sewing, just in time for Me-Made-May. This is my favorite month of the year, and I hope it finds you well, dear readers.

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: March 2015

If you measure productivity by the number of finishes blogged in a month, it might seem that March was not a very productive month for me. On the contrary, in addition to finishing my Geese Over Fields mini quilt, a Sashiko Placemat and a Polka Dot Aberdeen Tunic, I finished a new baby quilt that I won’t blog about until it’s gifted. Also, I made progress on my Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Block of the Month Medallion quilt, and worked on three new garments that will be easy to finish in April. Speaking of garment sewing, expect to see a plethora of handmade clothing on this blog in April and May. I’m planning on participating in Me-Made-May again, so my interest in participating in the Wardrobe Architect 2015 challenge has picked up considerably. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: February 2015

February was a spectacular month, full of firsts: first time sewing with double gauze, first time making a piece of luggage, first time attending QuiltCon, and first time visiting Austin, Texas. In addition to all the new things I did, I also made a bunch of gift bags. After QuiltCon, I want to sew all the things, so I expect March to be a productive month, although it will surely fall short of the awesomeness that was February. I’m okay with that.

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: January 2015

Well, 2015 is a great year so far! Last month, I finished one table runner, three garments and a cowl. (I haven’t been able to take decent photographs of my Blue Plaid Staple Dress yet, so watch for that blog post later this month.) Best of all, inspiration abounds, and I’m super excited about the items in my sewing queue and about going to QuiltCon in a few weeks. 2015 looks like it’s going to be one heck of a year for sewing!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: November 2014

Well, November wasn’t nearly as productive as I had hoped it would be. Still, I managed to finish Swoon Baby Quilt the First and En Route Julia Cardigan, as well as seven gift bags. All the gift bags were either made from In Color Order’s Lined Drawstring Bag pattern, or were a simplified version of it. In some cases, I favored speed over gussets and accent fabrics. There will be plenty of opportunity to sew more gift bags in December! I’m looking forward to trying my mom Debbie’s new Trim-Tied Gift Bag Tutorial, as well as some of the other bags on the list she curated for Sew Mama Sew, Handmade Holidays Bonus: Last-Minute Gift Wrap + Tags. Happy sewing!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: October 2014

Well, October sure was an eventful month! I’m pretty gosh darn proud of myself for finishing six things last month: Basic Black Plantain Tee, Navy Julia Cardigan, Patriotic X and Plus Quilt, Crazy Cat Lady Bess Top, Pink Greenpoint Cardigan, and one gift bag that I forgot to photograph before giving away. Now that it’s November, I really need to keep up this momentum in order to complete all the planned presents and gift bags before Christmas! Wish me luck!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: September 2014

September in Seattle was spectacular this year, so I spent more free time outside frolicking and less time inside sewing. That’s okay though, because I’m really happy with what I did sew. In addition to finishing the Button Down Belcarra Blouse and Bubblegum Glam Clam Quilt, I made significant progress on several WIPs. Now that the days are shorter and cooler, I’ll most likely get more sewing time in. Watch this space!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: August 2014

Well, August was an excellent month for garment sewing! I completed a woven Myrtle Dress, a voile Belcarra Blouse, kid-sized City Gym Shorts and a knit Myrtle Dress, which I still need to blog about. It’s very gratifying to have so many finished objects in one month, even though sewing garments leaves less time for working on my quilts.

On the quilting front, I managed to make the last two blocks for my patriotic x and + quilt and piece together the top. I’m not going to machine quilt it until after I’ve completed the quilting on my glam clam quilt, which has been challenging to say the least. I’ve made progress by unpicking all the parts that I was unhappy with. Looking forward to even more sewing in September!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: May 2014

What a month! Between Me-Made-May, Sew Mama Sew’s Giveaway Day, and oh yeah, actually sewing, May was super busy. So busy, in fact, that each finished project doesn’t have its own blog post yet. You’ve already seen the Poochless Poochie Gift Bags, Otomi Inspired Knot Bags, and Pastry Line Staple Tunic. Stay tuned for the Celebration Belcarra Blouse, Catnap Mini Quilt, and Simple Style Belcarra Blouse. Good-bye May, hello June!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day.

Fresh Sewing Day: April 2014

Isn’t it funny how creativity ebbs and flows? I might not have finished anything in March, but I am ever so happy with what I finished in April:

After I made April’s collage, I realized that all of the projects I finished last month were either made entirely from stash (Easter Bunny Drawstring Bags and Vintage Modern Marmalade Baby Quilt) or remnants from another project (Cattitude Wiksten Tank). With the exception of the Glam Clam Quilt that I just started, I’m going to see if I can continue the stash-busting-remnant-using trend.

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

Fresh Sewing Day: February 2014

February sure was a dynamic month for me! It started out with a retreat and a finished baby quilt, was then hijacked by a frustrating cat dress and ended with a couple small, relaxing finishes. Whew! Am I ever ready for March!


Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily’s Quilts.

2013 In Review

What a year 2013 has been! Looking back on what I’ve accomplished this year has been very inspiring. Sometimes it’s hard to see what you’re accomplishing when you’re still in the middle of it. All in all, this year I finished:

• 5 quilts
• 6 garments
• 16 small projects
• 26 gift bags

Here’s to 2014: a brand new year with no mistakes in it yet.

 

(I’m counting this post as a Fresh Sewing Day post, as the timing is fortuitous.)

Fresh Sewing Day: November 2013

Well November was a resounding success! I finished not one, but two quilts that had been long-standing WIPs. On top of that, I managed to make a few gift bags for birthdays and Christmas. I had better start churning out even more bags, because Christmas will be here before we know it! 

Fresh Sewing Day: October 2013

Well, October was definitely a departure from my normal sewing routine! Most of the time spent at my machine was for garment sewing, and all my quilting was done by hand. I’m really happy with the clothes I made, but am looking forward to focusing on my quilting again. I have several WIP that are close to completion.

Fresh Sewing Day: August 2013

Given the fact that August was full of summery vacation things for me, I’m really proud of my recent sewing accomplishments. In just one month, I was able to finish a quilt top that I started two summers ago, whip up a few mini doll quilts for my little girl, and make a quilt from start to finish in a little over two weeks. I can’t wait to see what I finish in September!

 

Fresh Sewing Day: July 2013

July was a busy month, but it was good busy. I am absolutely thrilled that I was able to complete a quilt, a shirt, and four Zakka 2.0 Sew Along projects last month! This mosaic represents why I started this blog: to document what I’ve accomplished and motivate me to do even more. August will be full of fun summer activities, but I’m going to try my hardest not to lose this sewing momentum!

 

July 2013 Finishes:

• Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Polka-Dot-Café Apron
• Grey Eyelet Wiksten Tank
• Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Dino-Mite Hat
• Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Towels
• Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Yum-Yum Apple Bib
• Emerald Bracelet Lap Quilt

Fresh Sewing Day: June 2013

I don’t know about you, but my sewing productivity always seems to decrease in the summer months. There is just so much to do outside! Still, even though I only finished three things in June, I made significant progress on several other projects, so I’m anticipating several more finishes in July.

Fresh Sewing Day: May 2013

Where did May go? I swear I just saw it around here a moment ago…

 

So I didn’t finish much in May: just a shirt and a few gift bags. Since I don’t have many finishes to share, I thought this would be a good time to take stock of my unfinished and not-yet-started items, if only for my own benefit.

 

Current WIPs

• Valentine’s Half-Square Triangles: This is the quilt that never ends. I just keep buying and adding more fabric for it. I’d like to finish this by July 2013, since I started it in July 2011.
• 2012 Memory Quilt: I have a few block made and many more to go. Very low priority.
• Low-Volume Hexies: Since I only pick these up when I have a craving for hand work, progress has been slow. Not sure what these are going to turn into, but I’m in no hurry to find out.
• Halloween Quilt: Love the progress on this so far, but ran out of steam once the Christmas season hit last year. I’ll probably restart this in September or October, when I’m in the mood for fall again.
• Cuzco Improv: The problem with improv is that sometimes you don’t like what you’ve done, and it’s unclear how to fix it. This one is waiting for inspiration to strike.
• Emerald Bracelet: The top is pieced! Next step is basting so that I can get this baby quilted. I’d like to gift this in June, so it’s at the top of my list of things to finish.
• Spring Snack Bags: Just making some smaller bags from the fabric left over from the Mother’s Day Gift Bags. I love giving gifts in handmade bags, but hate scrambling to sew them at the last minute, so I’d like to build up a stash of fabric gift bags in various sizes.
• Father’s Day Gift Bags: Fabric is picked out and ready to be cut. Must get these done before we celebrate Father’s day.
• Patchwork, Please! Tea Bag Pouch: Fabric is picked out and ready to be cut. With the Zakka 2.0 Sewalong starting on Monday, this is also on the top of my list to finish.

 

Not Yet Started

• Most of the projects for the Zakka 2.0 Sewalong. Must get cracking!
• Flurry Quilt: I have fabric set aside for this, but have not chosen a pattern yet.
• Terrain Quilt: I have a jelly roll, backing fabric and binding fabric set aside to make a sixteen-patch quilt, inspired by Blue Elephant Stitches.
• Good Fortune Quilt: Again, I have fabric for the top, backing and binding set aside, as well as a pattern.
• Starry Baby Quilt: I have fabric set aside for a baby quilt like the one that Modern Balabusta made.
• Scrappy Tripalong: I’m still editing my fabric choices for this one, but can’t wait to start!
• Laurel Shirt: I bought fabric to make another Laurel shirt, but need to make a muslin in a bigger size first.
• Taffy Blouse: I bought some voile to make a Taffy Blouse, but also want to make a muslin first.

Fresh Sewing Day: March 2013

March was an incredibly satisfying month for sewing, with two long-standing WIPs finished, and two Wiksten tanks made.
 

Fresh Sewing Day: February 2013

Oh my goodness! It feels so good to be making things again! You know, actually finishing projects instead of just plugging away at them. Here’s to small finishes!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day.