Makers Collage - coming in December from Windham Fabrics!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Sewing Day!

So many of us quilt.  We don't sew, we quilt.
Others started sewing, and then began quilting.
I started sewing and quilting, oh, I'd say, at about the same time.
I wanted to make quilts - meaningful gifts.
and
I wanted to make cool clothes.
You know, "one-of-a-kind-wear".
So when the Kwik Sew patterns that I had ordered at Market arrived
and the 
 Cloud 9 Organic Cottons.
arrived,
I couldn't help myself.
Of course, I pulled out some tropical cottons, as well.
These patterns are a first for me (well, almost).
They are lovely.  Step by step instructions, and paper patterns.

So here are a few tips.

Trace the size you will be using, and leave the patterns intact.
Lesson number one.
Lesson number two.
Follow the instructions.  
Whether you might make it that way or not, follow the instructions.
Lesson number three.
A dress pattern, if short enough, can indeed be considered a top.
And lesson number four?
Well, be sure to share.
Share a good pattern.  Share a good fabric.
Share a day team sewing with a friend, if you must, to get your sewing done.
Or your quilting.
Or your knitting.
Then return the favour.
HappiestDays.
natalie.

ps
want to win a copy of the pattern
shown in "lesson I can't remember"?
become a facebook follower.
and a blog follower.
leave a tip
a sewing tip
in the blog comments
we'll announce the winner on Monday.
quick.
(hahahahaha)

10 comments:

Vicki said...

I always snip my threads as I finish the seams on my machine. I much prefer to snip them as I go rather than go back later and get them...I always leave some behind.

Anonymous said...

I'm a facebook follower and a blog follower! And my sewing tip--dont pick fabrics according to someone else's definition of pretty. We all have different tastes and should follow our guts in color, pattern, scale, etc. Make your own rules!

Anonymous said...

I'm a facebook follower and a blog follower! And my sewing tip--dont pick fabrics according to someone else's definition of pretty. We all have different tastes and should follow our guts in color, pattern, scale, etc. Make your own rules!
And my comment didn't post under my profile-my email is alyssa.werbach(at)live(dot)com

Amber H. said...

I follow both on facebook and Google friend connect!

With that said, my tip is to iron out the pattern pieces before tracing or using them! I've gotten pattern sheets that were really wrinkly and if it weren't for ironing, my tracing/cutting would be way off!

Gill said...

I'm a follower
My teacher always told me to sew with my iron!! an odd expression but I knew what she meant and Yes I iron after every seam etc!

mascanlon said...

Cute dress/top and I love the fabric choices. I do follow ya and visit on FB too. As for my tip....baste! It's like ironing, the quality of the final project is so much better when you take a little more time to evenly ease things in or tack a tiny curve etc.

awyoung said...

I'm a follower on Google Friend connect. I'm new to sewing and quilting. Self-taught sewer actually.....so I can't really offer any tips....I'm coming to ya'll daily for tips! LOL :) Thanks for the giveaway! Amy

Anonymous said...

Hi Natalie! I am a blog and Facebook follower. I would love to win this pattern. I have 3 little granddaughters that I sew for. Here's my tip: keep one half of a spring-loaded wooden clothespin near your machine. You can use it as a wooden iron to "iron" your quilt block seams. We usually have some lying around, so they are pretty much free!
Pauline

momto2wasd said...

I gotta say I almost gasped out loud when I saw that you were cutting the kwik sew pattern itself--definitely trace those onto tracing paper first and they'll last you for years and years!

natalie. beyond the reef said...

On one hand, I did miss the monday deadline. On the other hand, there are eight of you signed up for the drawing. Random Number Generator, here we come! Sorry for the delay.