Dancing Digital Quilts

Spinning pinwheels. . .  Waltzing fans. . . .  Dancing log cabins. . . .  Here's a wonderful 6 minute film presented by the National Film Board of Canada.  You are sure to dance a jig on the way to your sewing machine.

http://www.nfb.ca/film/quilt/?ec=20110209
QUILT Directed by Gayle Thomas, Music by Normand Roger


Thanks Linda for sharing this delightful video!
If only I could quilt and sew as quickly as this QUILT film!

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Sizzling Summer Sewing

When it's too hot to garden, what's a gal or guy to do?  My solution is sew, sew, sew.  Summer sewing is ingrained into my being.  It first started with summer 4-H sewing projects.  Lugging my Mom's sewing machine to the county fair grounds to sew in the 4-H building - a hot, raw quonset.  This structure certainly served its purpose as a gathering place for teens and their projects, but wow, the summer heat of that building still sears my memory.  Even when living in NYC I spent many summer weekends shopping in the fabric district and sewing on weekends.  Two weeks ago I posted summer sewing projects of a few friends, so now I'll show you a few things in my stitching que:

Connie Crawford for Butterick #5047

Well actually I can cross this project off my list.  It's finished, has been professional pressed and I have already worn it twice.  This wool blend two piece dress is a Butterick pattern designed by Connie Crawford.  I love the princess seams and 3/4 length sleeves.  For a little bling Swarovski buttons were used.  The pinwheel skirt with 8 panels was fun to sew.  I love the flair and ease of this pattern, in fact I plan to make it again in a fuchsia wool gabardine.  I am still trying to master fit, and did a very good job of fitting the jacket front - the princess seams were so easy to tweak for my curves.  Next time I'll have to concentrate more on fitting my back jacket, but I just cannot coordinate my hands and pins with my back in a mirror - you know what I mean?  Perhaps it really is time to get a dress form!



Fashion Patterns by Connie #CS1001 Spiral Wrap

Here's another Connie Crawford pattern that I love.  In fact when I saw Connie last month in Chicago I tried on her Spiral Wrap sample - see my June 3rd post - I'm modeling her wrap and wearing my gray wool two piece dress.  Wool is my all time favorite fabric.  While at the 2011 Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA I found this beautiful Pendleton wool plaid in tones of pink.  I cut the wrap out a couple days ago and now just need to serge the edges.  A fast and fun fashion accessory to punch up my wardrobe!

Fashion in Harmony #803 Magic Bias Dress

My favorite dress to wear while teaching and promoting SCHMETZ at consumer sewing shows is my Magic Bias Dress by Fashion in Harmony.  My current dress is made of polyester knit in two-tone blue, black and white circles, then has a black and cream stripe bias insert.  It's an unusal looking dress that travels well, looks great and is comfortable.  I just cut out this same pattern in a luxurious black Italian wool crepe.  The entire dress is cut on the bias.  I can only imagine how wonderful this bias dress will drape and feel.  Magical, I'm sure!

Jan Bones Lingerie Secrets V Neck Camisole

Jan Bones is a master at lingerie design and construction - I would love to take one of her classes.  In March at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo I picked up a few of her patterns.  This wonderful little V-Neck Camisole is already cut out of a bright yellow print rayon.  I was hoping to have enough fabric to make a matching skirt, but will have to opt for a coordinating skirt - maybe, we will see.  Although this is a lingerie pattern, it translates nicely into a casual summer top that will be worn with a little skirt or jeans.

14 Sizzling Summer Sewing Projects

A few days ago on the guest room bed I lined up my summer sewing projects - 14 in waiting!  I will be showing them or wearing them at upcoming sewing shows.  When it's too hot to garden, I'll be inside stitching away with the comfort of air conditioning and enjoying the garden view from my sewing room. 

What are your summer sewing projects?

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Quilting, Stitches & Craft Expo, Reno 2011

Reno - The Biggest Little City in the World, - was host to the Quilting, Stitches and Crafts Expo at the Grand Sierra Resort.  The Midwest Ya Ya Sisters performed a hilarious gig with Midwest practicality, sewing know-how and lots of laughs.  Rita is the master of the t-shirt make-over especially with zebra stripes while Mary cleverly repurposes shrunken wool sweaters. 

Rita and Mary each taught separate classes earlier in the day.  Rita, author of Life is Not a Dress Size, talked about "feeling like Cher and looking like Rosanne", in other words, living in the fat lane with a positive outlook regardless of body type.  Rita says, "Be comfortable with your body and let your love of sewing dress you well."

Find comfort and confidence in great looking jackets.
Rita and an enthusiast student.

Mary, the Sweatshirt and Applique Goddess inspired students with her latest clever ideas for fashionable cooks, nontraditional zipper uses and sew green makeovers. 

Mary teaching from her books and patterns.

Don't miss a chance to see the dueling Midwest Ya Ya Sisters.  Laughter will keep you rolling in the aisle, while wit will sneak up with useful "a ha" moments.

Mary and Rita with a Midwest Ya Ya fan!

One of the pleasures of doing a consumer show is seeing creative outfits.  This is one of my favorites.

Love the black and white floral pin which...

relates to the black and white dots on the back.  Great use of color blocking to show off quilt motifs!

Another delight was meeting Cindy Walter, author of Snippet Sensations.  Cindy is a master at pictorial quilts.  She taught a class Pictorial Snippet Sensations using her fusible technique that makes complex landscape quilts not only accessible, but a snap.  Cindy's favorite needle is SCHMETZ Topstitch size 90.

Cindy and Snippet Sensations

Cindy has a new book coming out soon on fabric painting and I got to see the cover quilt.  Colorful and ...... I look forward to seeing this new book.

Cindy with the cover quilt of her new book, Fabric Painting 

 Check dates for more upcoming QSC Expos this fall in Cincinnati, Lincoln and Oklahoma City.  http://www.qscexpos.com/

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Shipshewana Quilt Festival 2011

Last week was the Shipshewana Quilt Festival in beautiful northern Indiana.  Bucolic hills among the Amish back roads of LaGrange County, friendly residents and wonderful comfort foods contributed to a memorable shop hop weekend for quilt lovers. 

Kaye England was the feature speaker.  Her "Memoirs of a Quilter" was a light-hearted conversation about quilt making with lots of beautiful quilts.  Kaye is a staunch 1/4" seam user, not a scant 1/4", but a 1/4" with the needle in the middle position of the machine foot.  I really appreciated her take on a scant 1/4" since it never made sense to me especially when a ruler with exact measurements is used.  Kaye has an extensive quilt collection of antique, civil war, 1800's era quilts.  Kaye's "Threads of Time" quilt collection - about 40 quilts - were magnificently displayed at the Hostetier's Hudson Auto Museum in the Shipshewana Town Center on impeccably restored 1900's Hudson cars.  Oh, I wanted to take pics soooo bad, but photos were not allowed. 

Besides authoring and publishing books, Kaye designs fabrics for Wilmington Prints.  Her Bread & Butter collection was unveiled at Yoder Shopping Center. 

This was my third year to teach SCHMETZ Needle Education at the Shipshewana Quilt Festival.  I always love talking with quilters and sewing enthusiasts in this delightful venue.  And to take quilting a step further along 90 miles of scenic roads are 18 quilt gardens in full bloom among 90,000 flowers.  Colorful!!! 

It's shop hop season and quilters are gleefully adding to their fabric stashes.  The Cotton Corner was not only part of the hop, but also celebrating their s.p.a.c.i.o.u.s new location.  Linda and her staff took a few minutes between sales for a couple pics. 

Imagine my delight when I saw their SCHMETZ needle display on their checkout counter. It's an easy reminder to start projects with a new needle or at least to pick up a couple needle packs rather than find yourself at 2AM without the appropriate needle.

Plan to attend the 2012 Shipshewana Quilt Festival - June 20 - 23, 2012.
http://www.shipshewanaquiltfest.com/

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Summer Projects

It's officially summer.  What summer projects are on your list?  Let's see what a few friends are stitching up:

4-H projects will soon be due. 
Bailiee models her newly sewn purple pansy skirt.  In a few days she will finish sewing a black top. 

Mary created this wonderful Irish Chain which is . . .

now the summer hand quilting project of The Piecemakers.
Garneta and I share a few good laughs while stitching. 

Mom studied these blocks purchased last summer at a family auction.
With them she is creating a small quilt to auction again at the next family reunion.

Rita loves zebra print.
How will she incorporate these felt squares into her sewing projects?

Yes, it is summer time.  Time for sewing machines to sing.

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Samples

We are spring cleaning in the office.  Well forced to clean since soon we will have newly painted walls and fresh new carpet.  Bravo, a fresh new work space!  When I teach classes, frequently I travel with beautiful samples showcasing impeccable machine work.  It's time to return samples, but first take a look at these wonderful projects offered by a few of the 2010 SCHMETZ Portfolio Designers:


Debra Justice, Labours of Love
Isn't this dainty camisole lovely!  Debra uses the Hemstitch (Wing) needle size 100/16 to create old fashioned "pin stitching" or dainty little holes in natural fibers.  She uses the Hemstitch to attach and embellish lace.  When she joins laces her bonus is the creation of entredeux.



Louise Cutting, Cutting Corners Inc
These shirts made of batik and quilting weight cotton were each stitched using Louise's preferred needle, the Quilting 70/11.  Louise finds the sharp tapered point of the Quilting needle to pierce fabrics beautifully without puckering or rippling.  Louise is known for stitching very, very close to garment edges.  Her stitches are impeccable!

Kaye Wood, Kaye Wood Productions
Kaye is a "Quilt Engineer".  She is always simplifying the quilt making process, breaking rules and developing new tools and patterns.  Kaye's needle of choice is the Universal in sizes 70/10 and 80/12 combined with a cotton or poly-cotton thread. 

Carol Ahles
This delicate ring bearer's pillow is a cadre of heirloom techniques:  Pintucks using Universal Twin 1.6/70, Shadow Work and Scallops using Universal Twin 2.5/80, Fagoted seam using Universal 80/12,  and a narrow hemmed and pin stitched Ruffle using Universal 110/16.  Learn all these techniques in Carol's book Techniques From Fine Machine Sewing, Taunton Press.
  

Mary Mulari, Mary's Productions
Mary, a former English teacher, started her design career with sweatshirts... and she has not stopped designing.  Look for her Church Ladies' Apron and recycled  Sew-Green patterns to name only a few.  Mary is also the most frequent guest on Sewing with Nancy.  To friends that buy new sewing machines, Mary makes up a nice usable sewing kit that always includes her favorite needle the Topstitch.  Mary is always designing cleaver new projects! 

Rebecca Kemp Brent
Prolific writer, editor, educator and machine embroidery expert.  How does Rebecca fit all these activities into her work life?  I love these samples showcasing delicate embroidery.  The Hemstitch (wing) is her favorite needle for a quick embellishment of ready to wear.  Plus she uses the Hemstitch to quilt fabric for a really unexpected look.   I love the simplicity of redwork and this sample from Rebecca's book, Redwork from The Workbasket.

Thanks ladies for sharing your samples and for inspiring sewing enthusiasts around the world.  I look foward to seeing you on the road!

Each 2010 SCHMETZ Portfolio Designer has a website.  Check out their links in the upper right column.

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A "Supreme" Evening with Connie Crawford

Once upon a time did you sew garments for yourself?  Maybe you stopped sewing years ago and want to start sewing for yourself again or perhaps you are just learning to sew now.  One of the most important elements of garment construction is fit.  You can be the most skilled sewer using the most exquisite fabrics, but if the garment does not fit properly, your work is compromised.  What's the answer?  Finding patterns that fit and adjusting them appropriately . . . and Connie Crawford, an American Sewing Legend, designs for us - real women with real bodies.  Connie designs for women with curves - Rubenesque, pear and apple body shapes - up to sizes 6X. 



Connie showing samples from her Butterick pattern line.

This weekend Connie is in Chicago teaching classes on fit.  Wish I could attend - I need her expertise - but at least last night I was able to enjoy her special Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Fashion Predictive.  Black, black with intense color accents, black openwork, denim, mixing blues and browns and finally beeswax yellow are just a few color trends Connie predicts for the upcoming year.  Besides trends Connie talked about adjustments for the full figure woman and how women of all sizes want to wear beautiful clothes and feel terrific.  

I love Connie's jackets!  That ruffle around the neck is special.

We gathered at Supreme Novelty Fabrics.  Bridal, home dec and wonderful sheers, wools, knits, evening fabrics. . . . I didn't know which way to turn.  From every corner I was surrounded by glorious fabric treasures!  The setting was lovely.  A clean, well organized warehouse loft filled with beautiful fabrics.  Here's Connie with Richard Schneider, third generation owner of this wonderful fabric destination.  Richard and his staff are textile experts offering original design solutions in clothing, special occasion gowns, interiors and event-scapes.



Richard and Connie

Laura showed me a few of Connie's favorite Supreme fabrics.    I would like a cut from each of those bolts please!

One of Connie's newest patterns is this wonderful Spiral Wrap.  I have her pattern already and can hardly wait to sew it up.  Just cut, finish the edges and I'll be ready to go.  . . . . Connie is teaching classes throughout the country and Australia too.  Check her schedule for a class near you.


Connie showed me several ways to swirl - wear - her shawl.



Connie's patterns make dressing well accessible to every body shape... and Supreme has just the fabric for every occasion.  Thanks Connie and Supreme Novelty Fabrics for a special evening. 

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Check out these websites for more information:

http://www.fashionpatterns.com/

http://www.supremefabrics.com/

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