Patterns and pattern photos don’t always catch my eye. Case in point Simplicity 1652 from the Amazing Fit Collection.
I wouldn’t have thought much of this pattern until I saw the yellow dress below in my Pinterest feed. I love those pockets! I did a little more searching and found lots of awesome dresses made from this pattern so it’s definitely on my to-buy list at the next Joann $1 Pattern sale.
Follow Lorene Voskinarian’s board Simplicity 1652 on Pinterest.
I’m working on my second Vogue 8787 dress. Thankfully I did most of the body adjustments on the first one, but this is a thinner knit so I’m finding I may need to make the armscye deeper. I also added side pockets but they are distorting the side seams so I need to rethink them.
Open source and DIY 3D printers have opened a new realm of possibility for many things, but not clothing. So OpenKnit, which is a digital knitting machine, intriguing. Here’s a couple of videos.
This one shows OpenKnit in action
The video gives an overview of how it works.
When I was looking to buy my first sewing machine over 10 years ago one of my requirements was that it had a few decorative stitches. I ended up buying a Viking Husqvarna 350 which has several decorative stitches and is programmable so you can combine them together.
How often do I use these decorative stitches? Pretty much never! But they are pretty and I would like to use them. So while I had some black thread in my machine and some muslin scraps I made myself a little stitch sampler. I’m going to hang it near my sewing table so I can be inspired while I’m making things.
Even now I’ve got some ideas to use these stitches. For example, I love that double cross stitch pattern that’s below the flowers. I can totally see that on a hem or neckline. I like the satin stitch beading pattern too.
So I’m going to challenge myself to use some decorative stitches in my next project. D
Do you ever use decorative stitches in your projects?
At January’s Jersey Shore Modern Quilt Guild meeting, I was inspired by Helen Ernst‘s beautiful Bursting Heart Wall hanging. There are many techniques new to me, and apparently I tried most of them out on this mini quilt.
Valentine Mini Quilt
First – I used the same tutorial as Helen, except I drew the heart directly on lightweight fusible interfacing. After cutting it apart, I ironed it directly onto my fabric. For my first applique ever, I think it worked out well.
Second – I finally tried spray basting. Yeah, I’ll be spray basting from now on. Why was I so afraid to try it? It was quick, easy, and I had great results.
Third – I stopped being a baby about Free Motion quilting, and attempted a really free motion design between the heart shapes. I guess this worked out better than other attempts, but I still have a very long way to go.
Finally, I finished the binding on my sewing machine. I used my 1/4″ piecing foot (the one with the stopper thingy on the right side.) This really helped me keep the seam straight on both the front and back.
This project was fun, quick, and I got to try out a bunch of new techniques for the first time. I think its a bit wonky, but I’m glad its completely finished!
XOXO – Natalie
