winter project link party - February

After an interminable January, February came along really quickly. It took me a bit by surprise to be honest. It is still dark in the evenings but I no longer need lights on my bike in the morning. Soon, I won't need them at all. Mind you, I won't be cycling for much longer if the rains continue, my bike path is muddy, flooded and treacherous. I might start swimming to work :-)

I am joining in today with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party. Have a look, many inspiring creative women share their projects there. No blokes yet. 

I have been beavering away quietly in the evenings. I am working on three projects at the moment, slowly but steadily. I pick up James' stripy jumper when I sit down in my comfy corner. It is progressing quite quickly although I did have to unravel the yoke and knit it once more. I am following this pattern, loosely I have to say because it seems more complicated than necessary, particularly the yoke increases. I do really like the short rows that are used to shape the neck. I am fond of short rows in general, they are such a great way to shape a garment, or anything really.





Some evenings I sit down with my patchwork quilt and add a row or two of squares. I have eight rows of 14 squares just now. I leave it out on my ironing board (a more or less permanent fixture in the house) so I can look at it often. I like choosing squares at random. Of most I have less than four so there is not much chance of identical squares being too close. It is really liberating. I have in the past spent far too much time worrying about 'things being just right' and I feel it is a great personal achievement to be able to go with the flow.

Lastly, I spent a few hours sticking the pdf pattern for my Appleton dress together. There are three versions for different cup sizes and I had printed out two because I wasn't sure what size to make. To avoid extensive grading I decided on a C/D cup. As luck has it, I accidentally assembled the wrong cup size, even though I had checked... I used a whole roll of sticky tape. Once I finished assembling the pattern I had to do some grading between sizes because I am a very bottom heavy pear shape and differ by two sizes. I boldly used my French curve, something I would not have dared a few months ago. I feel a bit like a Star Trek explorer, boldly go where no one has gone before.... I started cutting out the fabric but have now lost the will to continue. I felt like I imagine someone on psychedelic drugs would feel after staring at my dark blue daisy pattern fabric. Honestly, the daisies started moving. I blame this for the fact that I managed to place the front pattern piece such that I my left side is now my right side... the dress is asymmetric. Someone please remind me of this when I start sewing. This might be a while because my overlocker frightens me. It sews at the speed of light. 

One last thing before I flop down on the sofa for a snooze. Fellow sharers, could you link to the patterns you use? If you use one that is. I like to be inspired but don't fancy trawling the net for something that looks similar. No doubt designers also appreciate the credit given.

And so it is time to chill out. The weather is appalling and there is little else to do. The boys are thrashing their room as I type but that is something to worry about later. Have a wonderful weekend. x

Comments

  1. I love the quilt, some beautiful fabrics a real delight. I have taken to leaving my ironing board up in the craft room but that is just because I am too lazy to put it away.

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  2. That quilt is lovely, random is so difficult to achieve yours is beautifully so. I cut out a pattern this afternoon the first ever! I am about to make my first sewing project using a bought pattern, I am a little nervous! I hope you enjoyed your snooze!

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  3. Your quilt blocks are fabulously colourful, and beautifully joined. I too am sometimes constrained by the 'make it neat' voice in my head, and I think it's great that you are breaking out! Are you hand stitching or machine sewing the blocks Christina? X

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  4. Hey Christina,
    Oh that quilt is so gorgeous.
    Leanne xx

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  5. The quilt is so beautiful, I remember some of those fabrics from things you have made. I was a little overzealous with my linking for just that reason.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  6. Wow I adore your patchwork, whatever the plan, or lack of, it works, and looks just right. Is it going to be a quilt ?
    Love Jillxo

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  7. Christina, that quilt is so bright and cheery - sounds like just what you need to be looking at during the wet days you've been having. Good for you for letting loose and going with the flow a bit!

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  8. I have such a weird body shape I have given up on sewing for myself and couldn't adjust a pattern enough to make a difference. I like your quilt all the colors make it a happy mix.

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  9. loving your quilt! truly gorgeous x

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  10. Gosh, a beautiful quilt, a jumper AND a dress?! You are super-woman. Just making one of these would take over my spare time for quite a long while. Hope you had a super-relaxing evening. Sam x

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  11. Beautiful quilt blocks and perfectly stitched and I just love your sense of colour too. The mud fior off-road cyclists is just appalling at the moment. Will it ever dry up?

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  12. I am just loving the happy vibes I am getting from your quilt, I hate it when people procrastinate about wool choices for granny blankets or scrap patterns for quilts. I really think the best ones are the ones that 'flow' and best of all get started and finished!! Yours is going to be fabulous more so because you enjoyed making it and not worrying about it. Jo x

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  13. I absolutely love your quilt - so colorful and happy. Very inspiring, as I have always wanted to make a quilt just like yours...

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  14. I really like your quilt, such pretty fabrics. I think it's good to have a few things on the go then you can work on whichever you're in the mood for. Hope you're still managing to get on the bike, though after the rain we've had today, perhaps we all need flippers.

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  15. Hi Christina, thank you for joining in with my link party. Your patchwork is gorgeous! I love all the fabrics in it. Actually, I even have one of them, the Kaffe Fassett one with the circles in circles, like millefiore glass. I think it even has a name like that, but I can't remember right now. Anyway, we can be fabric twins. :) Your dressmaking sounds very impressive, even if you're getting frustrated with it. I keep wondering if that dress would work on me but I'm the opposite shape you are; I'm a true apple shape with all my weight around my middle. I look like an old man with a big gut and skinny legs. It's pitiful. But it does seem like a lot of different-shaped women are wearing it, so maybe I should give it a try. We'll see. Thanks again for sharing and I hope you're having a good week.

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  16. Ahhhh you are making the quilt of my dreams, Christina...bravo! So sorry about the moving daisies. I applaud your adventures into unknown sewing territories! Cheering you on from across the pond :) xx

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  17. The colorful life make abundant of changes in our life. The smart life becomes accurate one for the best essay writing website user. The bed sheets for different color make room much more attractive, the life become pleasant and colorful in accurate time passing.

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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