Showing posts with label bee patchwork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bee patchwork. Show all posts

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Any Old Port in a storm

Note: Oops, I forgot it was Thursday. I'll post the Thursday Tab paper doll tomorrow. Sorry.

Remember the huge section of patchwork quilt top that I got at my friend Lorah's auction (the same one where I got the horse quilt)? Well, I decided to see how it would perform, cut up and sewn like regular fabric.

I'd say it performs just fine.

Inspired by my friend Mary, I bought a couple of old sheets at the Salvation Army store, and used one for the lining (though I didn't find any nice flowered sheets, just white and off-white- $1.50 for enough fabric to line 10 bags... not a bad bargain). This Old Port Carryall bag isn't quite as self-supporting as the first one I made from the Spoonflower What Knitting Needles? fabric, but that's because the outer shell isn't canvas. That said, it's sturdy, and pretty, and certainly practical. I especially like the bias pockets.

Speaking of Spoonflower (as I often do, these days)

My sample swatch of the primary colorway of the What Knitting Needles? camo fabric arrived. Once again, my reds turned into oranges.This looks fine, but it's not what I had in mind. I'm going to have to ask the Spoonflower folks for a formula for a red that prints true so I can use that in my designs. This fabric is available for ordering now, but be aware that the reds that show on the file won't print out red.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Don't Worry, Bee Happy



If you don't have bees, make some...

4- 1 1/2" strips sewn together, alternating black and yellow

3 1/2" wide blocks for bee bodies

1 1/2" squares of background fabric. Folded in half and pressed.

Blocks sewn to the corners, blocks trimmed, bee body block pressed

It took a bit to get the wing design down- I tried several versions before settling on this one. Wing paper pattern, wings drawn on fabric and sewn, wings trimmed, wings turned and pressed, wings sewn on block, wings pressed up to show what they'll look like on the finished pillowcase.

Bee band assembled and sewn to pillowcase body.

Assembled pillowcase. Lots of fiddly stuff, then 3 seams, and finished. Cute, no?

P.S. Even not-so-astute viewers will notice that straight isn't exactly straight in my sewing...