The Release of a New Pattern

Progress has been made on the Simple Christmas Tree Quilt (...must think of a better name...).  I have most of the pattern written and used it to make all the pieces to make sure my measurements were correct.  I just need to sew it together, and quilt.  I could add another row of three trees to make it a twin sized quilt, but I think I like it better as a couch throw or bed topper.  The plan was to add a narrow cream border.  I may entertain other options.  This has been a fun project for this between Christmas and New Years' time.  It always seems a bit of an odd few days, doesn't it?

On another note, I picked my word for 2016:  Release   The adult word for "Let it go!"  Release stuff, release stress, release anger, release extra poundage, release ideas, release joy to the world around me.  Release doesn't have to be negative.  It can be very positive!  One year when my word was Joy, I bought three random mugs spelling out Joy.  I don't see myself buying seven new mugs.  That may be counter-productive to releasing stuff.  It's been a tough year and I need to make a real effort to release negatives and move on to releasing positives.   A deep breath in, exhale it out.  Jerilynn

Swirly Twirly Dance Dress

This blogpost would be sooo much better if I had a shot of our youngest granddaughter, Addy, in this swirly dress I made her.  If I get one, I will post at a later date.  She take ballet classes at a fabulous studio in Madison, Storybook Ballet.  The first half of the lesson, the little 3-year-olds work on their plies and pirouettes with real live, working, young ballerinas.  The little ones then sit in a circle and have a fairy tale read to them.  After this, big boxes appear and costumes and props for the fairy tale are given to all the little dancers.  The costumes are easy to put on, swirly, and adorable.  Music is started again, and the dancers all dance out the story just read to them.   Magic.  For Christmas, I thought I would make Addy a swirly, easy-to-put-on dress for dress up.  This pattern fit the bill (can't find the pattern right now, but it is a good one!).  The dress front skirt is gathered, and the front bodice wraps to the back with a hook and loop closure.  The back bodice has a full circle skirt attached to it with long ties that tie with a bow in front.  The whole dress is constructed to be reversible.  The shoulders have a little cap to them.  Really cute.  I want to make this again, using two different fabrics, for double the dress-up fun.  Jerilynn

Buffalo Plaid Dishcloth

I still do quite a bit of Knervous Knitting during the evenings.  I have grown quite fond of changing colors while doing knit rows.  Soothing and challenging at the same time.  This buffalo plaid dishcloth turned out well.  Jerilynn

Simple Tree Quilt

Merry Christmas!  I've discovered that I miss having a record of what I've made over the year.  I am making things all the time - some turn out - some ideas are pretty bad.  Nevertheless, it is good to record all efforts.  I will start out by showing a tree quilt I designed this morning, mostly to avoid after-Christmas-clean-up.  We had four family celebrations this year.  Not all of our six kids could be together at the same time.  One family couldn't make the trip at all.  So, we partied with whomever showed up, gifts were exchange, too much food was consumed.  I am in somewhat of a coma today, happy to have an empty house still echoing with family.  Thus, the quilt idea.  I used my Bernina V7 software to design it as an embroidery, then turned it into a vector image.  Love that aspect of the software.  Using a grid, I made each tree block 12".  Overall, this little quilt will be 66" x 66".  Any smaller, the little green strips would be hard for me to piece.  I like the Scandinavian look of the trees and the assorted rainbow tree toppers.  I may feel too guilty to start the cutting and sewing.  But, there is always tomorrow to do the real work.  Jerilynn

 P.S.  I lost my dear mother-in-law Alice this year.  She was a quilter, too.  In fact, I believe I helped her do her first quilt after she retired.  She went on to be quite the prolific quilter.  Her favorite types of quilts were tree quilts.  Her last quilt, not quite finished before her stroke and quick passing, was of trees.  16 big trees representing her children and spouses, and 24 little trees, representing her grandchildren.  Even though I am no longer married to her son, we always remained very, very close.  She was Swedish, and I know she would have loved this simple design. 

Fabric Basket

Well, this little fabric basket was sure a fun little "avoiding what I am supposed to be doing" project!  Took me about an hour, and, now that I've made one, another would be faster.  I spied this pattern this morning, and did a PDF download.  Isn't it just amazing how much instant gratification is out there?  What a world we live in!  This pattern is Basket of Charms by Sweet Jane.  I got it from her Etsy site, and she has the hard copy as well as the PDF.  It is a mini charm friendly pattern, plus two fat quarters.  It called for decor weight interfacing...I used fusible fleece, and it has very good body.  I might try Soft and Stable next time.  The pattern also includes a smaller and a larger sized baskets. Okay, now I will get back to work on the stuff I need to get done.  Jerilynn  P.S. Here is the link to the Etsy pattern. 

Blue Bear Paw Block

One blue block done!  I am fighting a bit of a nasty cold, and took yesterday off from sewing.  I did manage some Knervous Knitting, and I watched a Craftsy class on sergers, so I guess I was still somewhat productive.  On these blocks I am pressing all seams open, which is what Weeks and Ringle, of Modern Quilt Studio, do with all of their piecing.  I do think that the blocks are nice and flat.  I will now move on to making a red block, then go and do one more block of each color.  I supposed it would be more efficient to do both colored blocks at one time, but I like working on  the variety of colors.  I am long past the time of getting back to work...so, tomorrow I must tackle The List!  Jerilynn

Wild and Free and the Threads of Time

Maureen Cracknell has designed a limited edition collection of fabrics called Wild and Free.  I had decided I was going to TRY to not buy more fabric for a while, but when I saw this collection, I caved in.  I just love the folk art quality of the collection.  On her blog, here, she did a large bear paw block with some reds added to some of the Wild and Free fabrics.  I decided to copy her, and make not only the red blocks, but some yellow and blue ones, too.  I used my 4.5" square ruler to cut the little blocks, making the block finish at 28" .  I figure if I make two blocks of each color, and use one of the great Wild and Free prints for a small border, I should have a quilt that is about the right size for a twin topper.  Once again, it is a fun time to go through my fabric bins and find not only some colored fabric to throw in the mix, but also find some great backgrounds.  There is another new collection out that is trying to break my resolve:  Threads of Time by Julie Hendricksen. 

This is a shot of the neutrals in the collection.  Mmmmm.  Another connection to this collection is some sewing history.  Julie owns a fabulous quilt shop in Sun Prairie, WI, that is chock full of primitive fabrics.   Probably back in the early 90's I first visited this shop with my friend, Jane, now a sewing angel.  I remember looking in the window and saying "I better not go in there...."  I am not sure I even bought anything that day.  I was that gob-struck.  It was also the first time I had seen packets of fat quarters, all tied together.  Working there at that time, was the mother of another good sewing friend, Joani.  Joani's mom is now part of the angel sewing guild with Jane, Jane, Peggy, and Lucille.  I can only imagine the heavenly quilts those ladies are turning out!  The other fabrics in this collection are wonderful, too.  The kind of fabrics you turn to time and again.  Even though I think my style is more modern and quirky, these fabrics fit right in.  I think I am talking myself into a big purchase.  Well, it IS my birthday month!  Jerilynn