Star Wars Shirt and Style Arc Olivia

A little pre-Christmas sewing. 

The Storm Trooper shirt I made a few years ago is still worn a lot, so I though I'd make another one with this black and white Star Wars fabric I'd bought from Spotlight a while ago. Again it is the Colette Negroni pattern and it was finished just in time for Chris to wear to see the new movie. 

You can't go wrong with the Style Arc Olivia pattern. I've made a few before, so I knew I could whip a new one up one afternoon a few weeks ago and wear it our that night. I used some raton from Spotlight. I love this print so much I bought enough to make something else.

Delightful Desert Quilt

I've been wanting to make one of Elizabeth Hartman's amazing quilts for a while and a new baby was the perfect excuse to try the Delightful Desert Quilt!

I really thought it would take me ages to get a little quilt top, but I enjoyed the process so much that this was done in only a few days. There are many, many pieces in this quilt and there was not one error anywhere. This is really impressive. I'll have no hesitation in making anymore of her patterns (actually there is another one waiting in the pile on the cutting table).

I chose a palette of blues and greens and didn't plan which one went with which block. I cut one block at a time and just grabbed what looked good together. 

I can't wait to get time after Christmas to quilt this and start the next one!

Oven Mitts

Some sewing for the end of year teacher presents. Bombazine came out with a great pattern, just at the right time. I used two fabrics (like the oven mitt pattern in Denyse Schmidt's first book) and added lining and binding around the top.

For these I followed the Bombazine instructions a little more and they definitely worked out better.

Scrappy and Happy Quilts

The first copy of Scrappy and Happy Quilts is here!! It's out on January 2nd. I can't wait to share more of it with you!

Beehives, Bento Bags and Zinnias

A quick run down of some recent little sewing projects:

-Bento Bags for wrapping Christmas presents. I ended up making enough for all the teacher presents. I love the idea of wrapping presents in something that can be used again. 

      

-Bee hive - pattern from love Patchwork and Quilting.  I think this will end up as a teeny mini quilt for the wall. 

-Zinnia - pattern by Lori Holt. I love zinnias so I had to try this pattern. Not sure when I'll get time to make more blocks, but I'd love a quilt of zinnias. 

Sewing for Olive

A couple of new dresses for Olive for summer. 

Madeline Dress in Cotton and Steel fabric.

Mini Southport Dress in Tula Pink fabric.

And Repeat

It's quite rare that I feel the need to remake a pattern. There are too many things I want to try and not enough hours to try them in, so once something is finished I move on. 

I've made an exception for my Modern Clamshell Quilt. 

I made this one larger than the first one I made was inspired by the colours in my spring garden. 

This one is a commission, another thing I very rarely do. I used similar colours for the clamshells and a pale grey (Kona silver) for the background. I was afraid the colours would not pop as much, but I think I love it more with this background. It might just become my go to background colour.

Both of these quilts were quilted with straight lines in both directions.

I've now made it three times now and would happily start another one tomorrow.

Sointu

I think I bought the Sointu pattern as soon as it came out, such a simple but elegant pattern.  I knew I didn't want to make it in knit fabric, but wasn't sure how it would turn out in woven to I used some very, very cheap polyester I bought from Textile Traders that I think was $2 a metre on the bargain table. I can't believe I'm saying this about a polyester top, but I love it. I've already worn it out twice in the last two weeks.
I measured between two sizes and after measuring the pattern I chose the size down. I'm glad I did, it's a perfect fit. The only thing I altered was the neckline, I folded it over twice and hand stitched it down, not the neatest job, but is a lot neater than if I tried to face this fabric.
The perfect top to wear out with jeans - there will be at least one more!