Plank Method, As Opposed To Planking*

I discovered basting a quilt using the plank- method last year when I was making a quilt for the latest addition to Mr HP's side of the Family.

 I love how quick and easy it is and I had this whole cloth* quilt basted in no time and with little back breaking antics.

 Never before have I made a whole cloth quilt and only decided that this one would be because the fabric I have used has been rescued from land fill and is heavy weight curtain fabric, one hundred percent cotton or linen and originally from a decore store samples book. 

 The end result is a bold stylish quilt top that is 1.25 x 1.25m, large enough for a lunch cloth, lap quilt or picnic rug.

The weight is such that it's thick enough to use as a picnic rug but lightweight enough to use as a lap quilt in the warmer months.

Since the samples were free of charge, the only cost has been the backing fabric, which I paid $8 a metre for plus some leftovers from another project. The binding will be leftovers from Youngest Son's 21st birthday quilt.

I'm so in love with it, I haven't decided if I should keep it for myself or gift it.

* Seems I have my info. wrong here...this is not a whole cloth quilt but rather a 'summer quilt'.

*Planking, a brief history

Linking to Freshly Pieced ~ pop over to see what Lee and others have been up to in the quilting world in WIP Wednesday. Click on the button below to take you there. 

Two (2) Make-In- An-Afternoon Projects

I'm desperately trying to get my sewing/crafting mojo back after weeks of resettling our Mum from her big move.  She has moved out from what has been the family home for over half a century.

At the end of it all, Mum had a bit of a health scare.  What could have been a drastic outcome, she is now being treated for what the doctors call 'a mini-stroke'.  My sisters and I now are coming to terms with the realisation that Mum, despite her resilience, is aging and will become more and more dependent as time goes on.

In her younger years, Mum was an enthusiastic seamstress and I was into my teens before I ever owned a dress with a 'label' stitched into it. Believe it or not, my first 'label' was a gift that was sent to me by an uncle who lived in England.  The next one was probably one that I bought with my own money when I started my first job as a sixteen year old.

So, I found out recently, that Mum's stash of fabrics (which amounts to a couple of hundred metres) was in fact a 'revenge' stash.  Back somewhere in the middle of the last century, my Mum would buy tobacco, cigarette papers and safety matches at the end of her work week to support my Dad's nicotine habit. In revenge, she would buy herself some fabric to add to her stash.  It's a bit sad that she didn't get to enjoy her stash which I have now inherited and am pondering what to do with.  I am trying to sell some of it for her but as yet not having much success.

My sister wants me to make some cushions for her so I will be going through the stash to see if there's anything suitable.

In the meantime...here is a little skirt I whipped up for Little Miss Six from a sequined stretchy fabric which I found in Mum's stash. 

I have made this skirt for her previously, from a piece of leftover cotton print but I adapted this great little tennis skirt to make a dance skirt.  I used the largest size pattern and added a quarter inch all around to allow for a bit of extra length and to add a touch of twirl to the skirt. The last time I made the skirt, Little Miss six was probably only four years old, and she'll be seven very soon.  

I hemmed the skirt using a 1.5 inch wide strip of the selvage folded in half and stitched to the bottom edge in the same fashion as the waistband.  I used the selvage because it has no sequins on it.  This gave me a little bit more length too, especially since hemming it in the normal method would shorten the skirt.

When using knit ribbing, make sure it is knit fabric that is intended for ribbing and not for making tee shirts. Tee shirt knit will not give you enough support for a waist band.  I learned this the last time I made this skirt and the resulting waist band was way too lose. 

On Tuesday afternoon, I made an entire quilt top for our niece who is expecting baby number three in November.  For niece's baby number one I made a quilt like this and for her baby number two I made this one.  Both are boys...they are now expecting a little girl and I fell in love with the cutest quilt top kit/panel which I found in a quilt shop in Cobar on our recent holiday.  

Isn't it just the best? And yes, Cobar has a quilt shop!

I was very surprised at the speed with which the quilt top came together.  It is very easy to make and the only thing I wasn't happy with is the length of the quilt which I altered by adding a strip of sage green polka dot fabric from my stash top and bottom to make it a longer quilt.  I like to make my cot quilts large enough to be used as a bed topper once baby is old enough to go into a toddler bed or even for a single bed. 

I hope this inspires others to get back into the swing of sewing after a major life event which has thrown you off course.  Sometimes we just have to take little steps...

I have linked to 

Thrifty Sewing

I have been feeling a bit off colour of late but this has not stopped me from creating.

Let me be the first to admit that I have a thing for thrifting - is there such a word?

Below you can see the pretty dress I sewed for my gorgeous Grand Daughter...Miss Five... who, the other day, declared that now she's turned five...she no longer has bad dreams...instead she dreams about very helpful angels.  Bless her.

The front.

The back. (With zipper).

This is Style Kids Pattern #2838 

which I was lucky to pick up at a garage sale for free.  I'm so happy with the finished result because this has a zippered finish at the back and I was able to stitch in the zipper with absolutely no problems...my first truly successful zipper on a garment!

The zipper was finished off with a hook and eye.

Here is my list of fabrics and notions and their costs.

2 x red & white polka dot fabrics:  50c a piece from Glenbrook Markets "Front Porch".

1 x floral fabric: gifted to me by my neice (no cost).

1 x zipper: 50c (Purchased from Frou Frou Old and New in Springwood).

1 x Hook & Eye:  Hoarded for over 40 years (no cost).

1 x dress pattern:  Free from a local garage sale.

Total Cost: $1.50

Thank you for visiting.

Day 248/366

I learnt something today.

Well, two things really.

The first is that I must trust my instinct.

The second is that ironing a poly-cotton fabric with a hot iron will cause it to shrink.

When I chose the purple, lavender and white floral fabric at the top of the above picture, I suspected that it was not one hundred percent cotton.

But I chose to ignore this suspicion and used it for my Row Along patchwork anyway.

So when I hit it with the hot iron it shrank.

I've unpicked it and chosen another fabric.

Baby Doll - Upcycling.

Vest and booties made from recently purchased Patons baby wool.(New.)

Pilchers made from left over teddy bear fur donated to my stash by my Youngest Sister about five years ago.

Velcro(new).

Carry basket fabric purchased at garage sale many moons ago.  It is curtain fabric.

I purchased Vilene (new) to reinforce the walls.

Coreflute was used to make basket base insert. This was salvaged from an obsolete sign I had made years ago when working as a consultant.

Mattress fabric was purchased at Reverse Garbage...one hundred percent Italian cotton.

Mattress insert was made from left-over quilt batting.

Broderie Anglaise lace, purchased new.

Ribbon salvaged from old baby clothing.

Gathering elastic (new).

Quilt and pillow fabric also from Reverse Garbage, as is basket liner (three types of fabric used here).

Lace on quilt and pillow is Kaiser Crafts scrap booking lace.(New).

Bouclé wool purchased for $1 a ball from St Vinnies.

Believe it or not, the doll herself is made from calico that I had purchased and cut out in the late nineties and never completed.

I found it when I went searching for the pattern I'd also cut out back then!

I had intended to buy some fabric markers to add features to the dolly's face but I found some permanent overhead projector pens from my teacher training days and used these instead.

I asked the assistance of my Angel while drawing on the face as I've had lots of stuff ups in the past when it came to free hand drawing. I insisted that she watch over my shoulder the whole time I was drawing and I'm happy with the results.

Decorating chalks (from my card making/scrap booking supplies)were used to add colour to Dolly's cheeks.

Nightie fabric also from Reverse Garbage...this fabric is divine.

I imagine voluminous folds of this fabric fashioned into a wedding gown fit for royalty!  The nightie is made from three different weights of the same fabric as there was not enough of one weight to make the entire nightie.

Dress and bonnet are made from cotton patchwork fabric left over from previous quilt projects.

Vintage lace purchased at St Vinnies was used to trim the dress.

Ain't she sweet?

Initially, I intended to use left over patchwork fabric, picking out bright colours to clothe the doll and for the basket and bedding.

But instead, I decided because in today's world a child's life is bombarded with bright colours and lights in every aspect of life from food, to toys to clothing that this dolly would be clothed and coddled in soothing, subdued, colours.

Dolly has been gifted.

Her reception has been cool.

After all she has to compete with a brand new bike (with training wheels), Dora the Explorer Doll, a brightly coloured jewellery box, sparkling jewellery, and on and on.

But today GD requested a swirly skirt for dolly. 

Taxing Times.

Tax deadline, two hour wait to have car towed, heavy showers of rain with piles of laundry waiting to be hung out and a little doll that I so need to have complete before the weekend.

She's looking very Amish at the moment. I do intend to add facial features but not sure if I'll follow pattern instructions for felt features or use fabric pens.

What do you think?

Behind the dolly's head you can see the carry basket for her. Have had so much trouble adding base to basket but got some help at my sewing class yesterday (and then got stranded when my car immobilizer immobilized me)  and now well on its way to being complete.

To the right you can see bouclé wool which I will use for hair. (Purchased at St. Vinnies).

Here's dolly with vest, pilchers, booties, quilt and pillow.

  Remember my trip to Reverse Garbage and the beautiful fabric samples I purchased?  I have used as many of this as I could to make dolly's clothes.  The fabrics are one hundred percent fine cottons from Italy.

Do you think dolly will be able to compete with Dora the Explorer Doll?

I hope so.

Dolly's pattern comes from Family Circle Treasury of Dolls & Cuddly Toys and is designed by Gwen Merrill.

Darcy The Sheep also originated from one of Gwen's designs.

Above are some fabrics I've cut out for making a HST quilt for the guest bedroom, hopefully this will be my next sewing project.

No Progress with: The long hexagons or 

French General quilt top.

Cat in a Hat #2 is (almost) ready for sandwicheding, basteding and machine quilteding. Binding is machine stitched and waiting for hand blind hemming.

Finished: English paper pieced scrappy quilt.  Waiting for label. Saving photographs until labelled.

So many projects, so little time!

Happy sewing.

I'm linking to
WIP Wednesday

Thrifty Thursday.

Wow, what a week it's been for bargains.

First, I picked up this little herbal from a church stall in Springwood, signed by the authors and only two dollars!

Below the herbal you can see two great text books from the mid 1800s.  The top text is titled The Study of Rocks which I will give to my First Son, who is a geologist.  The other text is titled Elementary Botany which I will give to my Second Son who is a jewellery designer and maker.  He is also an avid botanist and is often inspired to design pieces of jewellery with a botanical theme.  I found these at the local Lifeline store and the two cost me thirteen dollars.

On Tuesday I took a trip to Reverse Garbage at Marrickville with Second Son and just look at these finds:

 

Although the gold lined coffee set isn't quite my style, I certainly was taken in by all that glittering gold and at twelve dollars simply couldn't resist. 

Also loved the two little creamers for two dollars each, the one on the left is a Queen Anne piece and the on the right is from Germany. 

And my whole reason for going to reverse garbage?  To pick up some cotton fabrics for my  Hexagon Quilt Top but only managed to find a small amount suitable for patchwork which you can see on the top left of the image.

Also found zippers, twenty five cent each!!! These will be suitable for making little zipper bags.  I think my best find was the swatches and swatches of the most exquisite cottons and silks.  The cottons include a crepe voile and an antique satin.  I stuffed a bag full of these fabrics, and it cost me the grandly sum of five dollars.

But now, I'm left with the problem of making the decision of what to make with these beautiful fabrics.  

Are the fine cottons suitable for making a patchwork quilt?  

I know I could make some very desirable zipper bags which could be used for cosmetics, a bag organizer, etcetera.  Or I could make a patchwork dress for my Grand Daughter.

The colours of the cottons are mostly creams and off whites with a few muted greens thrown in.  So very neutral.

If you can help with ideas for projects for these fabrics, I'd be more than delighted to hear about them.

Aren't the silks just gorgeous?  They include a crepe Georgette.  Most are one hundred percent silk.