Strippin' in Black and White

Nope...it's not what you think.

Or...maybe it is!

It was recently brought to my attention that my Etsy shop is overloaded with (ahem) 'girly stuff'. 

Vintage sheet Pink Rail fence

I realized..... that's very true.  There's a lot of pinks and pastels and shall we say, more feminine quilts and things on there. Not so much for in the Manly Men department.

So I am working on that discrepancy this week!

Here's a sneak peek:

Strip Quilts come together quickly!

I cut some of my fav black and white fabrics into varied widths

 

 

I don't know...felt like someone was watching me....

So I have a few planned to work on this week, and a few more finished tops that just need to be quilted up.

Heading up to sew for awhile, get some work done!

OOOOH and I almost forgot...finally finally finally 'they' are printing ALL the superheroines onto fabric!!  When I cut into this darling, I will DEF let you all know what it's turning into!

Batgirl, Supergirl AND Wonderwoman, together at last!

 

 

My finished Wonderwoman Quilt; a gift for my bestie!!

Easy Cotton Infinity Scarf...and a tutorial!

They're everywhere.

Infinity scarves. Don't resist. You can't resist. You really shouldn't anyway.

As a former fashion consultant; let me tell ya. A scarf can really update your outfit, make a statement, and change your look in one of the easiest possible ways.

Check it out.

A simple 3/4 sleeve T is instantly updated.

As you prolly already know...I am in LOVE with the "Outlander" TV series.

It inspired me to knit up some infinity scarves like a maniac recently.

See? Look how happy wearing a scarf makes you.

You can see the post and mini-tutorial Here; or visit my Etsy shop Here.

But indoors it's sometimes too warm to wear a bulky knit; or you want something a little less...well, knitted.

So here's the solution - you'll see these everywhere in Blogland & also in the malls.

A super light, easy wear scarf, that still does the job of keeping you cozy.

You can use any light weight fabric you like; I recommend voile, cotton or lawn, or anything else you'd prefer. You could even use several kinds, get creative...make a patchwork scarf!

I chose two contrasting prints of fine Indian cotton.

1. Choose two fabrics.

2. Cut one of each fabric - 9 inch by 72 inches.

3. Placing RIGHT sides together; sew using a 1/4 seam along both sides. Sew one end closed, and stopping the seam one inch from the top on both sides of the other end.

4.  Press seams, then turn scarf right-side-out.

5.  Press seams flat; insert a long knitting needle, or coat hanger, or dowel rod or whatever else you have on hand ( I used my long Omnigrid Ruler)  to get that side seam nice and crisp.

Turn the scarf back right sides out.

"Pinch" the edges of the scarf tightly so you can get a crisp edge.

6. Once you've gotten nice crisp edges; on your flat surface, either iron down or finger press down a half inch hem on the ends you left open. Do this by folding down one edge and folding down the other, pressing overtop to ensure they are the same. You're going to tuck in the sewn closed end into your open end.

7. Fold the scarf in half, tucking the sewn closed end into the open end flap. Pin in place.

The pattern makes it hard to see; so I wrote on the photo for ya.

8. You can either whipstich the end closed or what I did - which is sew a narrow topstitch to close and then do a decorative stitch overtop.

Et voila! Your scarf is pret a porter and loops well; two or even three times!

Two loop!

Three Loop!

Now go! 

Go and accessorize! 

Super Awesome Fabric Store

Oh wow. Guys. 

There is this store. It's like, awesome.

Wow. It's so amazing I can't even barely type about it

Or, speak coherently apparently.

Jagjit Fabrics in Brampton. 

Wow. Just, wow.

It's amazing. It has everything. It's got every type of fabric you could possibly imagine. From plain shirting to fancy dress....every colour every imaginable pattern.

Oh, you need trim?? Shelves over 15 feet high dripping with trims, laces, sequins... you name it.

Silks, satins, fancy laces, sequin trims, velvets, yards and yards of cottons, voiles...oh man. I was overwhelmed.

Even has shoes, garlands of roses/flowers, jewelry and tons and tons of sparkle and sequins and bangles....I was in heaven.

Now I wasn't really supposed to take photos, I did ask and got a stern frown and a shake of the head from the Matron in charge. (There is no other way to describe the solid, slightly disapproving, hair scraped into a bun, old fashioned but beautiful sari wearing head mistress of the fabric section).

So these few photos are from their Facebook page.

But I highly recommend you visit; the prices are OUTSTANDING and it is totally worth the drive up here to visit this shop.

For regular quilting fabrics I recommend the Wax Printed bolts ....TEN dollars for SIX YARDS of fabric!!!!

Here's their address, just in case:

Jagjit Textile & Fabrics

99 Kennedy S Brampton, ON L6W 3G2

 

I have used the wax printed fabrics on many a quilt, and they wash & wear very well. I do prewash & dry, just in case but so far, no complaints!

 

 

what are you doing still reading?! Get in your car and go!!!!!

Quick & Easy Summerweight Quilt

These pics were taken at sunset, and I didn't notice the shadows until after.  And it IS actually a rectangular quilt, laugh. I am just working on my photography posing skills.

This is a summer weight quilt I made for my Mom. She's in a home and it's so beige and institutional she asked me for something bright for the bed. 

As you can see, this fits that bill!!

 I used fabrics from my stash for the front; it's a mix of Moda prints and other prints that I have acquired over the years. 

I used this print as inspiration - it was so varied these two squares below are actually the same print.

A Moda print called "Guatemalan Floral" I've had it for easily ten years or longer.

For the batting I used a flannelette winter sheet for just enough added weight & warmth. It was so easy to FMQ, it came together really quickly.

For the backing: 

I found an AMAZING textile shop near where I live; and they have ooodles of wax printed fabric for AMAZING prices. I fell in love with this really striking black and white print.

I bound the quilt with a soft pink that worked really well with the backing. In fact, I *almost* like the backside of the quilt best!

This was a very easy and very quick to come together quilt. A simple 9 inch square of one of the primary colours, and a 3 inch brick of a contrasting colour.  And I am pretty sure Mom will love it.

I promise to take better photos!

 

Checkerboard Top Finished!

Just a quick catchup on the progress of the Checkerboard Quilt.
Not the best pic; sorry. It's a bit rumply.

The top is done; it is a bit bigger than I originally intended; it's twin sized, and I was going to make it a lap quilt but;
sometimes they have their own minds.

I used a jellyroll of Moda 30's solids and Kona Cotton in ash for the checks and some border and then Kona Coal for the darker grey border. I think I am in love with Kona Coal, yessiree.

 I only used HALF the roll; so you could easily make this quilt with the full roll to a queen sized quilt;
and with creative borders push it to a king I don't doubt.

It goes on the pile of To Be Quilted; there are a bunch to be quilted for the May 5th HBBA Home show. Yay!

(It's my first show since Christmas; that show completely burned me out but that's also because I wasn't truly prepared. Read about that fiasco here. )

Enjoy your weekend folks!

Checkerboard QIP!

Hi there!

I've been wanting to make this pattern by Molly Deschenes over at Apple Cyder for awhile now.  When I found the Moda 30's solids jellyroll combined with Kona Ash; well... I knew it immediately;  THIS was the fabric!

Isn't it amazing when you find the fabric and have that AH HA! moment? When you know *exactly* what you're going to make with it? I love that.

And this pattern is super easy to follow; once I figured out the whole left/right things. Ha.

Here is the QIP: (Quilt In Progress)

All the Strips; it made a pretty flag!

 

ly stages of piecing. You can see the tape I use to keep track of the A Blocks.

I'm going to work on finishing this today. (And nope, this one is mine, you can't have it. Nyah.!)

Have a great Sunday!