house on hill road

Gossamer

Gossamer is a great word - soft and ethereal.  But, man, it is challenging, too. I looked up the definition right away.  I knew the sheer gauzy fabric part, but not the bit about cobwebs.  That little part stuck in my head.  I could not get spiders out of my brain.

My first thought was to knit something super lacy out of soft mohair yarn.  There was that problem of my wrist and how I really can't knit right now. Then I planned to use the yarn and fabric and make some kind of multi-fiber collage/web thing, but I had to give up on that too.  I couldn't find a suitable fabric.  The closest I saw was a silk chiffon, but I didn't think it would hold up to applique.  In retrospect, I probably should have at least tried. In the end, I turned to paper and my sewing machine and my gocco.

My inspiration came about two weeks ago when looking out the kitchen window, I saw the teeniest, tiniest lime green spider, suspended in mid air.  Looking closer, I saw that she was suspended from her own thread right there behind my screen.  At first glance I had seen right through it.  And there she was, getting ready to spin a web perhaps.  Maybe not - she may have been traveling from one point to another.   Regardless, gossamer popped into my head.

First, I drew a graph to make the window screen.  I printed this on vellum using the gocco.  Then, I stitched the spider on a piece of muslin using free motion quilting.  After I copied it, I made my second gocco screen.  I printed the thread portion in white and the spider in green.  The white is hardly visible, you really have to look to see it. 

I printed the screen grid  on one side of the paper and the spider on the other side.  I was going for transparency - I hope I got it.

When Shari gave us this word, I would have never imagined it would lead me here.  In my head this word is so floaty and ethereal and what I made is not.  Plain and simple, I am a bit disappointed with the outcome.

I tried amending this print - adding to it, mounting it, but I think it is best its simplest form.  I know that part of my disappointment stems from uneven printing.  And because I am a procrastinator, I didn't have any time to try it differently.  But, as Emily reminded me, wordplay is about the process.  It's interesting to look back and see how I got to this point.  I can't help but wonder if I didn't have tendinitis, would I have gone a different route?  If I hadn't spent half of the six weeks down in the dumps, would I have seen inspiration elsewhere?  What if I had bought the silk chiffon?  If I hadn't seen that spider, what would I have done differently?

The next word is in an envelope I received from Jen.  I'm going to open it tonight.  I can't help but wonder where it will take me.  Emily and Tracy, are you ready?

Surprises

Today I am working on my wordplay project - due tomorrow, of course.  I swear, I think I will never learn.  To add a little excitement to the last-minuteness of all this, I found out last night that my kids are out of school at noon today.  What?  I didn't see that coming.  A big thanks to my sister-in-law who is stepping in to watch the little ladies so I can actually get my hair cut.

And the black ink surprised even me.  But, if it works out like I have it in my head, I think it will be good.   Fingers crossed.

224 triangles = 56 squares

I told you that I couldn't get it out of my brain.  So now it's on my table.  And just so you know, I'm officially in love with chain piecing and charm packs, too.

Virtual Quilting Bee :: May

This quilt block is for Courtney.  She sent the teal, russet and off white solids and asked us to make a square bordered in the off white.  I added two plaids from some of Fatty's repurposed work shirts and the strip of polka dot.  I really like this square - I think her quilt is going to be a knock out.

OK - it's Monday.  I've got a lot to do.  See you later.

I've been thinking.

I have what seems like a gazillion things I want to do, but I can't seem to do any of it.  My brain seems to be working on overload.  So here's some things that I've been thinking about in the last twenty-four hours:

Molly's strawberry cup.

This quilt top by Amanda Jean.  This one, too.

Kids growing up.  Nothing says it better than this post.

How lucky I am to be a mom, even when it is less than perfect.  Thanks for reminding me, Kirsten.

And how lucky I am to have my mom.  Those are her hands supporting me.  They still do.

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Weekend.

Built by Erin

Sew U Home Stretch came home from the bookstore with me a couple of weeks ago.  I read it right away and got pumped up to sew knits.   My experience with knits is non-existent and this book explains it all.  I felt educated and empowered so I went off to the fabric store and bought myself some green cotton jersey to make a dress.

Then I read the pattern.

OK, so I probably should have done that before buying the fabric.  I know, I know.  After realizing that the dress has some trickier things (facings, etc.) and guessing that my first knit garment may not be my best work, I changed my plan.  I decided to make a shirt.

Here's where it gets fun.  Wendy shows you how to make changes to the basic t-shirt, raglan and dress patterns to make different garments.  I was immediately drawn to this shirt:

I liked the v-neck and the little gathered bit at the bust.  I didn't like the sleeves, though.  I know from experience that they don't really suit me.  I flipped through the book more and came upon the basic tank.

This pattern calls for ribbing which I didn't have on hand.  For a second I contemplated going out to find some, but then the light bulb went off.  It was so bright, I swear you could actually see it in the bubble above my head.  I got out the tracing paper and made my own pattern, combining these two tops to make my very first knit tank.  Yup...Built by Erin.

Feeling part genius and part sewing geek, I got it done.  I would be lying to you if I said it was smooth sailing.  It wasn't.  But, boy oh boy, I learned A LOT.  First, altering patterns is rather easy.  I invested in a french curve to help with this step - this is crucial.  It makes it soooo much easier.  I followed the shirt pattern and made the deep V and added 2 inches length.  I then followed the tank pattern and adjusted the armhole.  Second lesson learned:  check the size.  I knew from Melissa's post that the t-shirt pattern that comes with the book runs big.  I pulled out a tank that fits me well and held it up to the pattern.  It was hard to believe, but it looked like I would need to cut out a size small (in store bought t-shirts, I wear a large).  Third:  knits are hard to cut out.  This one is a rayon, cotton, lycra blend.  Super soft, a bit stretch with a lot of drape.  The drape made it hard to lay smooth and after about twenty minutes of fiddling with it, I got the two pieces cut out.  All this before I even started sewing!

When I moved the fabric to the sewing machine(s), I realized I had missed a crucial bit.  The neck and arm edges are bound, much like a quilt.  Back to the scraps I went and managed to eek out just enough to cut 1 inch strips to take care of that.  I used my serger as much as I could, but there were some bits that needed the regular sewing machine, too.  I had to move my aqua thread back and forth.  Next time I am going to buy two spools because it was a pain and a huge waste of time to re-thread both machines multiple times.

The little gathered bit is done by sewing elastic on the reverse side and pulling it as you go.  It took me three tries even though I first did it successfully on a scrap.  Besides making me cuss like a sailor, ripping out that elastic twice left some tiny holes in the fabric.  Bummer.  I almost gave up, but plowed on.  They are tiny so if I didn't tell you, I'm not sure you would notice.   The binding part was easy enough - I first tried to attach it with a straight stitch, but it looked super sloppy and it didn't catch everything in back so I switched to a zig zag.  I think it looks mighty fine.

The fit?  Well, when I tried it on the first time, it had big gapes under the arms so I took that in about an inch on each side.   The V is a bit too deep for my comfort level.  I think I would make it about 1/2" less than I did.  It is too long - I don't think I needed to add the length which is unusual because I have a long torso.  It is tight around my hips - making it shorter would take care of that, too.

So will I wear it?  Yes.  Probably as pajamas (it is comfy!) or to the pool over my swim suit.   And I will make it again - trying to adjust the fit to make it better.   I can see this being a summer wardrobe staple.  So now, time for the dress.  I'll let you know how that works out.

Day and Night Dress

Here's the full reveal on the pink toile number from yesterday's post.

After I made the p.j. pants for the girls, I really wanted to give a nightgown a go.  My girls sleep in tank tops and sleeveless nightgowns in the hot summer months and it is hard to find nightgowns of the non-cheesy, non-licensed character variety.  Kate picked the pink Eiffel Tower fabric out of my stash - it was a great choice.  I had enough yardage AND had forgotten it was in there.  That girl can always find the pink!  I paired the black and white gingham with it.

I traced a nightgown that we have, added seam allowances and cut it out.  Two quick seams with the serger and it was time for the bias tape.  I cut 1.5" strips on the bias and made my own using one of those nifty Clover tools.  So easy.  Really.  Then I sewed it on.  I use the same method that Amy does - fast and pin free.  I left the straps long and tied them at the shoulders so it can grow with her.

My original plan was to sew a simple hem, but the nightgown wouldn't have it.  It needed a ruffle.  So a ruffle it got.  In my opinion, it is pretty dang cute.  For the record, Kate thinks so too.

When Kate tried on the nightgown, it became a dress.  She doesn't think it looks like a nightie.  Fine by me.  It's going to be perfect for summer - lightweight and breezy, easy to wear all day and all night.  Because, honestly, more days than not, it is just easier to let her sleep in her clothes.

I smiling and it feels good

Despite being woken up about 15 minutes late, and having one crabby child who apparently did not sleep enough, I am all smiles this morning.  This is what is doing it for me:

I sewed this little number up yesterday.  I'll give you a full reveal after I get Kate to model.

I went on a three mile run, that turned into a two and a half mile jog.  But it felt great to move and while my calf is a bit tight, it didn't hurt.  Hooray!

I'm only wearing the wrist brace at night and for short periods during the day.  It's not completely better, but it is progress.

Melissa is rocking the knits.  And Martha is sewing a garment a day.  Seriously good stuff by both of these ladies.

I'm going to jump in, too.  While a garment a day is completely unrealistic, making a dress should be doable.

What are your crafty plans this week?

Color Week :: Blue

The ceiling of my front porch roof which is directly above...

...Jane reading her book.

Happy weekend everyone!

Color Week :: Red and Pink

My new saltwaters and a fresh pedicure

Hot pink geraniums - a sure sign summer is almost here.