tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48622986818184517002024-03-18T02:47:47.250-07:0050 sq ft studiosachieving big sewing dreams in a small spaceleslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-60390611141403860352022-11-28T11:02:00.002-08:002023-10-07T09:57:55.945-07:00Boot pillow inserts<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided that I should make some little shoe pillows to keep the shaft of my boots some shape and support so they don’t get squished flat when I store them. I knew </span>that<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I didn't want a boot tree - </span>they're often not<span style="font-family: inherit;"> really designed for shorter boots or boots that have laces anyway. I wanted something that would be easy and quick to make using supplies that I already </span>had on hand, so the solution that I came up with works perfectly for me.</p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByGc_R8ypqRy3topMg8MdosItag15dGH5DR3a4xMoOTRCNWrXkwWoCJHCb5U-IJ5B7WzkZrXFYEoTfbqSnZAdpf8Fq3Wk6mTMPoL2jWMSVK4bhToNNKmzWCYWWYgd3K3_iLDkPu4t6AEyfMXNsVuKM_5iz_da8UDL4j6dsnbY6h5NfDPzQt-FCq7OPw/s3024/IMG_0795.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByGc_R8ypqRy3topMg8MdosItag15dGH5DR3a4xMoOTRCNWrXkwWoCJHCb5U-IJ5B7WzkZrXFYEoTfbqSnZAdpf8Fq3Wk6mTMPoL2jWMSVK4bhToNNKmzWCYWWYgd3K3_iLDkPu4t6AEyfMXNsVuKM_5iz_da8UDL4j6dsnbY6h5NfDPzQt-FCq7OPw/s320/IMG_0795.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">I used the amazing </span><a href="http://www.ahfabrics.com" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Alexander Henry</a><span style="text-align: left;"> Deadwood Saloon quilting cotton fabric from my stash.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I chose quilting cotton for my pillows, but you could easily use flannel, a lightweight canvas, or even Minky. Keep in mind that the thicker the fabric, the harder it may be to get nice corners on the pillow. When you clip the corners, you may need to clip a bit more to reduce the bulk.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd suggest making one so you can see </span>if you<span style="font-family: inherit;"> like the dimensions before you make a bunch. :)</span></p><div><br /></div><div>You will need:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fabric - The amount needed will depend on the size of the pillow (formula in next section)</li><li>Ribbon or twill tape (you don't have to add this, but I like the look)</li><li>Poly-fil stuffing</li></ul></div><div>Measure:</div><div><ul><li>This will depend on your specific boots so grab a ruler or a tape measure!</li><li>Measure the length of the shaft of the boot - I decided to do 6 1/2" (the shaft length of my boots) so mine would fill up most of the height but not extend beyond the top of my boot (don't forget that you will lose length as you stuff the pillows). Once stuffed, mine finished around 6" tall (plus the loop).</li><li>Determine how large of a pillow you'd like to have - I have a neck pillow with a circumference of 8" which is a great size for. my boots. It filled up the space pretty well, but it isn't anywhere near large enough to make it difficult to remove or insert. Once stuffed, mine finished around 3 1/2" wide.</li><li>Once you know those 2 measurements, you need to ADD 1" to both the length and width to account for seam allowance. This is the size of the fabric you will cut for <u>each</u> pillow.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXxE4WBkq1Xey54tr5fEgey8jLVnVLsP5aLkDNp1DOhKN32WeXgdYQ0TsEkQqnCqeh2xN2K-Je_Npuec_n9pIQQ8QMJmQGuiI0p5DwtoEKrl459LDqF51nu3IusU-LX8rme50h1y3VXEv1PSGULTiZi5w2f7Fjdp-o7oj79jfUy2axKvLSpkWtp81Aw/s3024/IMG_0796.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXxE4WBkq1Xey54tr5fEgey8jLVnVLsP5aLkDNp1DOhKN32WeXgdYQ0TsEkQqnCqeh2xN2K-Je_Npuec_n9pIQQ8QMJmQGuiI0p5DwtoEKrl459LDqF51nu3IusU-LX8rme50h1y3VXEv1PSGULTiZi5w2f7Fjdp-o7oj79jfUy2axKvLSpkWtp81Aw/s320/IMG_0796.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can see that my pillows don't fill up the whole interior, and they aren't as tall as the boots.</span></div><div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Cut (dimensions listed are based on my boots, so just substitute your measurements):</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cut (1) 7 1/2”L x 9”W* from fabric for each pillow <span style="font-size: x-small;">(*Use the measurements for YOUR pillow)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cut (1) 5” ribbon or twill tape for each pillow</span></li></ul><div>Sew:</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fold right sides together and pin on 7 1/2”* edge<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (*Use the length measurement for YOUR pillow)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 2”* from fold along top edge for loop placement <span style="font-size: x-small;">(*This should be the center of YOUR pillow MINUS seam allowance. My folded piece measured 7 1/2"L x 4 1/2"W, so it's 4 1/2"-1/2" = 4" then divide that by 2.)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fold ribbon in half and place raw edges centered on mark <b><u>between</u></b> the layers of fabric </span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sew 1/2” seam along top, side, and bottom edges leaving a ~2" hole in the bottom edge for turning and filling. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">For durability, create a second line of stitching* at 3/8" or a scant 1/2" (your preference). (*<span style="font-size: x-small;">To be honest, it's not quite as important as if you were using poly beads or a material that is likely to make a huge mess if a seam failed but I didn't want to take a chance.)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clip corners (make sure you don't clip through the line of stitching - you just want to get some of the bulk out of the corners)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Press well then t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">urn fabric right side out through the hole in the bottom </span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make sure you poke out the corners (I like to use a chopstick or a Purple Thang tool)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Press well then f</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ill with poly-fil stuffing to desired firmness (adding more fill will make the pillows a bit smaller because they fluff up)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stitch 1/8” seam across bottom edge twice to close</span></li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1hw7XwIs2xKSPnM9zC08-mzy-rwc-srq_nzMqO1X7EPIV1O1qNVq0JX9doiai2wL0Gz8lmGSqIpqGtCApmfJJ6XgyuP5HALr5icn-p2DmK9tD7NP66cVkWL1eawIj3WnNZKYf0oeG9AxibRBkBf_1f-PDFtWYfXy7Ycs4MYdwBIYGU5v79C9yhg4uQ/s3024/IMG_0797.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1hw7XwIs2xKSPnM9zC08-mzy-rwc-srq_nzMqO1X7EPIV1O1qNVq0JX9doiai2wL0Gz8lmGSqIpqGtCApmfJJ6XgyuP5HALr5icn-p2DmK9tD7NP66cVkWL1eawIj3WnNZKYf0oeG9AxibRBkBf_1f-PDFtWYfXy7Ycs4MYdwBIYGU5v79C9yhg4uQ/s320/IMG_0797.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The boots stand up well on their own with the pillow inserted.</span></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH3Zy2H3C9npx_6YqsSoaD7ZuwrjmWTcNXwg9BWUJA9nI_tv4lAR2PP14CRQbXKAbzeozem64rMrfCXs9iXFcCekpNjTHFtBZMSXgojw7MTqt1XFoJrs6Jl24snZ3qv4sPYfpXkxP9Ul01FWb9AWpz1KTTWflsZYzRTPMEeAa_OSEvFZPSxnQo44xYw/s3024/IMG_0799.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH3Zy2H3C9npx_6YqsSoaD7ZuwrjmWTcNXwg9BWUJA9nI_tv4lAR2PP14CRQbXKAbzeozem64rMrfCXs9iXFcCekpNjTHFtBZMSXgojw7MTqt1XFoJrs6Jl24snZ3qv4sPYfpXkxP9Ul01FWb9AWpz1KTTWflsZYzRTPMEeAa_OSEvFZPSxnQo44xYw/s320/IMG_0799.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Safely tucked away into their drawstring bag (it's Jeni Baker's Lined Drawstring Bag pattern if you're curious)</span></div><div></div></div>leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-44142302222891385742021-10-04T15:09:00.001-07:002021-10-04T15:14:17.998-07:00Making your mark: A few thoughts on marking tools<p>This post spawned out of something I wrote while writing an Instagram post about some grid quilting that I was doing for a bag. In the post, I stated that my favorite marking pen ran out of ink, so I had to go with Plan B.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgDUHXPEmesZhyOyFinQC7lgbZic7R0P9Gvm5rGBcbDkltSZbih8Q-lTc_jh12mwhR-UxGD-Ma83k_nVmw59fbBvGWg8yNmeD7waYzWRAl3mNLEnzhRYco9G9LbY3csEHJFqzFo9NhIPp/s3024/IMG_2559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgDUHXPEmesZhyOyFinQC7lgbZic7R0P9Gvm5rGBcbDkltSZbih8Q-lTc_jh12mwhR-UxGD-Ma83k_nVmw59fbBvGWg8yNmeD7waYzWRAl3mNLEnzhRYco9G9LbY3csEHJFqzFo9NhIPp/s320/IMG_2559.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1" grid marked using a water-soluble pen - fabric is Meow Wow Wow by Alexander Henry. Thread is 40wt Aurifil in color 2510 (Light Lilac).<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To kick things off, I’d like to offer my best tip for marking pens/tools: ALWAYS TEST BEFORE USE!!! Test on the specific fabrics you will be using. You’ll want to check to make sure the marks will be visible, check that the marks can be fully removed (as desired), and check to ensure that the ink will not be permanently set by the application of heat or even some detergents. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the record, I do most of my marking on quilting cotton while I am making bags. Some of the fabric is pre-washed due to my allergies or because some colors tend to bleed, but I do not wash everything.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><u>My favorite method for marking lines:</u></b></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Air erasable!!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some people ask why I like air-erasable pens so much. I love them because the lines are temporary. Depending on the climate where they are used (heat and humidity), they may disappear within hours to a day or two. If you don’t want to wait for them to disappear on their own, the marks can be removed immediately using plain water (tap water works fine for me). The ink is often purple, so it’s easily distinguishable from the blue ink color used in many water-soluble pens. The downside to this method of marking is that the marks don’t last. I usually mark things that I will be working on almost immediately (within an hour or two), but the marks do fade before completely disappearing so you will likely have a little bit of warning before they vanish. My favorite of all is the Clover 5032 Fine Air Erasable Marker with Eraser. You can use the eraser end to remove lines immediately (or use plain water). The eraser is great for smaller marks or when you don’t want to get up to grab a spray bottle of water.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I go any further, I’d like to add a bit of a disclaimer, especially as it pertains to air and water-erasable pens, I will only buy them from brands that I know such as Clover, Dritz, or Sewline. I had a friend experience problems with a no-name brand </span>blue,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> water-erasable marker not coming out of her fabric, so I’m more than a bit wary. As I said before, <b>ALWAYS</b> test if you want to be safe. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O6lovxBHtPp126LpTi6LJ_k5h4c8UTB293CNMFWe5m4EpodCkCXFk-eK2eCxlWtH3SkqgN3ma78uV0sqtT5MsrU4nVs-nZNvk-vl83yBGAME9IGecWBtryMUVik0u9wz8phDPx062yaF/s3024/IMG_2593.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O6lovxBHtPp126LpTi6LJ_k5h4c8UTB293CNMFWe5m4EpodCkCXFk-eK2eCxlWtH3SkqgN3ma78uV0sqtT5MsrU4nVs-nZNvk-vl83yBGAME9IGecWBtryMUVik0u9wz8phDPx062yaF/s320/IMG_2593.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">From top: Hera Marker Slim by Clover, Frixion Pen by Pilot, Mark-B-Gone Water Soluble Pen by Dritz, Disappearing Ink Pen by Dritz, Chakoner (left), Fine Air Erasable Marker with Eraser by Clover, Mechanical Pencil by Sewline, and Chaco Liner Pen by Clover.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>Here are some other marking methods:</b></u></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve tried multiple brands and styles of chalk, and my favorite is Chakoner. It creates a finer line and makes less of a mess than the Clover chalk markers (my 2nd favorite). I will often use chalk if I need to mark a line on something that is very dark in color. I’ve personally had issues with pink, blue, yellow, and silver/grey not being totally removable (in my earlier sewing days before I fully embraced the always test mantra). </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another option is a fabric pencil. The one I like the most is by Sewline. I use their mechanical fabric pencil with white ceramic lead (they offer refills in other colors, but I haven’t tried them). It’s been awesome for marking on dark fabric. I haven’t had any issues with removing the marks, *BUT* you should take care to mark lightly. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I like water-soluble pens because they’re pretty easy to find. They come in a variety of tip width options. I tend to prefer a fine or medium point, but sometimes you just gotta use what you have on hand. The one I use the most often is by Dritz. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frixion pens (made by Pilot) are another popular option but something that removes with heat is not always ideal. Plus, the ink marks (or white lines where the ink had been) can return when the item is cold. I mostly use Frixion pens for marking the center lines (the cut line) when I’m making half square triangles or when there isn’t another good option and the mark will definitely NOT be visible even if it does return. These pens were not really designed to be used on fabric, but they’ve been popular with </span>sewists<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for years.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I *HATE* using the guide attachment that screws into the machine foot because my lines always seem to wind up being slightly crooked. You know what I'm talking about? That weirdly shaped metal thing that you might have </span>gotten<span style="font-family: inherit;"> with your machine. Yeah, THAT thing. I’ve tried this method on multiple machines, so it wasn’t a problem with a specific machine. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve tried marking with painters tape & washi tape, and I’m not a fan. If you’re only using it for marking lines when quilting, it works better than when it’s used to mark other types of lines. I don’t like how the tape reduces visibility on the project. I want to see all of the lines that I’ve marked and/or stitched. That bit of extra visibility can alert you to a mis-marked line. In addition to the visibility, the tape doesn’t always like to stay stuck to the project if you move the project around. Another downside of tape is that if you want to mark lines at different widths, you either need to measure the distance with a ruler then place the tape or you have to keep multiple widths of tape on hand. Once you get the tape positioned, you have to decide if you are stitching along the tape’s edge or at a specified distance away (like 1/8" or 1/4”) and you have to remember that!</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve had less-than-ideal experiences with Hera markers causing damage or not marking well (and they seem to work better on batting likely because the ByAnnie's Soft and Stable has better recovery), so that’s a no-go for me. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><u><b>Conclusion:</b></u></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are my thoughts and experiences based on products and tools that I've used over the last 9 years. Your mileage may vary.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most important thing to take from all of this should be to TEST BEFORE YOU USE A MARKING TOOL! You won't regret testing, but you WILL regret if you use something and it ruins your project. </span></p><div><br /></div>leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-573719001577773002021-03-09T21:47:00.001-08:002021-03-09T21:47:55.128-08:00A quick update and a promise of more to come!<p>It's been ages since I last posted an update, but I assure you that I'm still around! I apologize for being so bad about actually updating the website. As always, you'll find the most up-to-date info by checking out my Instagram account.</p><p>Things have been busy with editing and working on my lingering issues that I've had with my hands/wrists/elbows/shoulder for the last year, but it's gotten so much better. I've been sewing more over the last 2 months than I had been able to for over a year.</p><p>To be honest, I've been trying to keep the typing down to a bare minimum to preserve my limbs so that I could edit which has caused other things, such as this site, to fall by the wayside a bit. I'm going to try to do better. For real. :)</p><p>In the meantime, have you seen the 4 new patterns and 12 updated 2.0 to II patterns from <a href="https://byannie.com" target="_blank">ByAnnie</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/patternsbyannie/" target="_blank">@patternsbyannie</a> (her IG account) and the announcement of the new book by <a href="https://jaybirdquilts.com" target="_blank">Jaybird Quilts</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaybirdquilts/" target="_blank">@jaybirdquilts</a> (her IG account)? If you haven't, you should check them out!</p>leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-82134280141374241602020-05-17T10:00:00.000-07:002020-05-17T10:00:21.510-07:00Me Made May - Aurifil Artisan Challenge May 2020Welcome back for the final challenge for the 2019-2020 <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/auriworld/artisans" target="_blank">Aurifil Artisans</a>. It's been a great year!<br />
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Anyway, I'm excited to share my project with you. I wanted to do something that was a little different than what you may expect to see during Me Made May, but it was important that the project still fit with the theme for the month. So, without further ado, I present to you...a hat!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl_oBNgEPeRZ4nOVf-ZIOo2ZBHSNCUmZ7pawyq-u4L9v0T2XHWnPmteJmmUbtXQUrvl3X3jdHlu4qJcGBGSwPPzhptcDoFkGPY2LOnuDtzLSRG-qIst-hyM30LkJG6xeGWTsE2Shh6PX3/s1600/26AE88A3-ED7B-4F17-839E-C4E09BB33419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl_oBNgEPeRZ4nOVf-ZIOo2ZBHSNCUmZ7pawyq-u4L9v0T2XHWnPmteJmmUbtXQUrvl3X3jdHlu4qJcGBGSwPPzhptcDoFkGPY2LOnuDtzLSRG-qIst-hyM30LkJG6xeGWTsE2Shh6PX3/s320/26AE88A3-ED7B-4F17-839E-C4E09BB33419.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell that it's actually partly sunny here in Seattle?</td></tr>
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This is the <a href="https://shop.betzwhite.com/collections/sewing-patterns-pdf/products/reversible-bucket-hat-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Reversible Bucket Hat pattern by Betz White</a>. I love how the pattern includes multiple sizes (kids through adult), and I think the idea of it being reversible is cool because it's like 2 hats in one (even though I expect to wear the grey side out at least 99.9% of the time)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRMilcBcn7Qea1BlpEmf5NakAjriLXQG2BeN7YNgpW4cqAZfXowh7uyGCLhv7VD7J8ftBWUg66bm_FoD6lNHdvonXJzIy0MtAxXbQqpaXoB2MnShtUhAiQJIF8VzSjKWphSzyR8vXHlBZ/s1600/CDFC5855-DDE4-476D-B31B-675BB0A090B5.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRMilcBcn7Qea1BlpEmf5NakAjriLXQG2BeN7YNgpW4cqAZfXowh7uyGCLhv7VD7J8ftBWUg66bm_FoD6lNHdvonXJzIy0MtAxXbQqpaXoB2MnShtUhAiQJIF8VzSjKWphSzyR8vXHlBZ/s320/CDFC5855-DDE4-476D-B31B-675BB0A090B5.JPEG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the reverse side of the hat.</td></tr>
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For my hat, I chose a cotton/linen blend fabric from Trefle by Kokka and a Linen Mochi Dot from Moda. The grey and neon yellow colors seemed very appropriate for spring/summer, and I think dots pretty much go with anything. It's also important to note that I wanted my hat to be a tiny bit more floppy than the canvas/denim/twill exterior mentioned in the pattern, so there was a method to the madness as they say. Just as a side note, I chose to use a white fusible interfacing because I was more concerned about the possibility of black interfacing making the light grey exterior look darker than I was about the white interfacing making the black linen look lighter.<br />
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Once I had my fabrics chosen, I selected thread. I knew that my project would be sewn with a straight stitch on woven fabrics, so I chose to use <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/products/aurifil-cotton-40wt" target="_blank">Aurifil's cotton 40/2 thread</a>. I made the decision that I wanted the thread to blend in well but there wasn't an exact match, so I selected the thread color that was just a smidge darker than the fabric. My choice for the exterior was color 2620 (Stainless Steel). I really like how it turned out. For the lining, I chose to keep it super simple, so I used 40 weight thread in Black (color 2692). As I've mentioned before, I love how the 40/2 weight thread is great for construction and for details that matter like topstitching. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLzL4ggdp9QnYMUqH0NOwCIMctgboCreKp-GHpGasXy4wFkCt8QXAZF9mOc5jCM2sgIMt8-xqi8IKXaXFIXL2lGLwzr8VhdCQLwMmKeBwT7tgAgNlsWO3KcQyXZ3R8uVdXhB6abK-50GZ/s1600/IMG_3733.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLzL4ggdp9QnYMUqH0NOwCIMctgboCreKp-GHpGasXy4wFkCt8QXAZF9mOc5jCM2sgIMt8-xqi8IKXaXFIXL2lGLwzr8VhdCQLwMmKeBwT7tgAgNlsWO3KcQyXZ3R8uVdXhB6abK-50GZ/s320/IMG_3733.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think my thread choice was perfect!</td></tr>
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Overall, this was a fast and fun project that I can absolutely see myself making again. Other than attaching the brim to the hat which didn't require any exceptional sewing/pinning gymnastics to ease in, this pattern seemed like a good way for a quilter to make a garment/accessory that isn't super intimidating and it doesn't require a lot of fitting (though you do need to measure around your head to determine which size to make)! I think it's would be an appropriate project for a new sewist to get some practice with curves and topstitching.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSJniPbbKWanXAPfyq3-ONR5ttBrtk6aZa57mwDZBLjdPYFOo4kfIqAgxqlMyl32wgeIRsSI1CXjk9NX-hMeCGzMkU5x02CdXD0NPIGnMZNAyzXUKaTkGcyER78blhByBziQN2Ti62vS0/s1600/fullsizeoutput_255d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSJniPbbKWanXAPfyq3-ONR5ttBrtk6aZa57mwDZBLjdPYFOo4kfIqAgxqlMyl32wgeIRsSI1CXjk9NX-hMeCGzMkU5x02CdXD0NPIGnMZNAyzXUKaTkGcyER78blhByBziQN2Ti62vS0/s320/fullsizeoutput_255d.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally cute, right?</td></tr>
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So, that's it for me today! I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. I would also like to say a special thanks to the folks at <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> for giving me (and my fellow Artisans) a platform on which to share my thoughts and experience with their products.<br />
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<br />leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-74194502679658742312020-04-18T07:00:00.000-07:002020-04-18T09:36:24.044-07:00Favorite thread weight - April 2020 Artisan ChallengeHey everybody! After a few health challenges earlier this year, I'm to happy to be back here with you. Our <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/auriworld/artisans" target="_blank">Aurifil Artisan</a> challenge for April was favorite thread weight. This one was tough for me because I use different weights for different tasks. I thought I'd take the opportunity to write it all down and hope that it would lead me to a clear winner starting in the order that I really discovered <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a>.<br />
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So without further ado, off we go!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N9wpMWzObWuCI8V0w0i8VOP-O4cKdRzDkDbrs-4FBnFdD2roia_98UBBoCaS5tz5VI9yUkRSdzAYo5XmntTzm_yxIRFK5cX68QMk9alJRC3RKP6IbDf269DcNrqBbezk8RmbEqnNvUiQ/s1600/IMG_3231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N9wpMWzObWuCI8V0w0i8VOP-O4cKdRzDkDbrs-4FBnFdD2roia_98UBBoCaS5tz5VI9yUkRSdzAYo5XmntTzm_yxIRFK5cX68QMk9alJRC3RKP6IbDf269DcNrqBbezk8RmbEqnNvUiQ/s320/IMG_3231.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A thread pull from a recent project that I promise to show you soon!<br />
Top row (50 wt): 2692, 2435, 2600<br />
Bottom row (40 wt) 2435, 5004</span></td></tr>
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<u><b>50/2 weight - the orange spool</b></u><br />
My first Aurifil experience was with 50 weight thread that I purchased at a big sewing/quilting show. It's a thread that I've been using for 6 years, and it's the weight that I use for all of my quilt piecing. I use it for traditional patchwork and foundation paper piecing, but I've also used it when I've experimented with projects that had machine appliqué and English paper piecing. Before I started using 40 weight (coming up next on my list), I also used it for making some bags and machine quilting on a domestic machine. <br />
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<i>Why do I like it?</i> It's fine enough so that it doesn't add bulk in my seams which is super important for accurate piecing, but it's strong enough to give a lot of integrity to my seams. It blends in beautifully and helps me to get the super flat seams that I love. With 270 colors to choose from, it's rare that I have issues finding the right thread color for my projects.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE7xZrxKeGyjU4IsHP7_g6m-ppLDQ3YS1qcYAIgzb_H0z17vNDB0n3sq44WxIFwBb9qUAGZx9kgkD1DGcHJgO8xzIap7fGUxm0ij2Y8uOWE_zw4dh0DrzGAzA4a4KpPumDcZlCg0qOmvB/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="675" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE7xZrxKeGyjU4IsHP7_g6m-ppLDQ3YS1qcYAIgzb_H0z17vNDB0n3sq44WxIFwBb9qUAGZx9kgkD1DGcHJgO8xzIap7fGUxm0ij2Y8uOWE_zw4dh0DrzGAzA4a4KpPumDcZlCg0qOmvB/s320/fullsizeoutput_2520.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">50wt Aurifil in color 2600 (Dove Grey) used for foundation paper piecing. Each piece is just over 1/8", so thread weight makes a big difference!</span></td></tr>
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<u><b>40/2 weight - the green spool</b></u><br />
When I started making more bags and quilts, I started really thinking about what I was using and how I wanted it to perform. I wanted a thread with a bit more heft, so I decided to try Aurifil's 40/2 Mako cotton. I think it was a game changer for me. <br />
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<i>Why do I like it? </i> I love it for quilting because it gives me just a bit more texture which can be a little tricky when you are the type of person that likes the thread to visually blend in to the fabric. I use 40 weight when I make bags for the little bit of extra durability from the thicker thread. The slight increase in thickness over the 50 weight is perfect for topstitching on bags and garments (non-stretch fabrics) too. I also use 40 weight when I hand bind a quilt or bag. Binding always seems to have bit more wear and tear, so the slightly heavier thread holds up to that really well. It isn't really any more visible than 50 weight if you match the color of the thread to the color of your binding.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uDQht9n7EKy8NNose3K0WBpdu3XdFs8XD3iowGeE1aubk16Q_Ov6WBs5nmM39BkqdDY5hUJX_xGWTC77O6d4qDAJmjpFXTPffG86n5rGpMwLJ0I9f9w-wNC963ixm1neKmSTAXs9zflm/s1600/IMG_6020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uDQht9n7EKy8NNose3K0WBpdu3XdFs8XD3iowGeE1aubk16Q_Ov6WBs5nmM39BkqdDY5hUJX_xGWTC77O6d4qDAJmjpFXTPffG86n5rGpMwLJ0I9f9w-wNC963ixm1neKmSTAXs9zflm/s320/IMG_6020.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love how the 40 wt topstitching looks on this skirt hem. The colors are 1200 (Blue Violet) & 2692 (Black).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzx7_t6EX3HtGYtaZ6jxbDc8dLQXmefrEkxpYThPDGm8I1lGp1LSkTEp1JrvaoiWnlurpQS0rw_sSy7mjFUqXS-kaz2P_0y3rR3_ayUWtOnkquz_WmDjuqQqXVff9uDD3qwDQ-ohAPHgH/s1600/IMG_6502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="1389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzx7_t6EX3HtGYtaZ6jxbDc8dLQXmefrEkxpYThPDGm8I1lGp1LSkTEp1JrvaoiWnlurpQS0rw_sSy7mjFUqXS-kaz2P_0y3rR3_ayUWtOnkquz_WmDjuqQqXVff9uDD3qwDQ-ohAPHgH/s320/IMG_6502.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's some 40 wt used on a bag that I quilted. This is 2479 (Medium Orchid) and 1148 (Light Jade) on the zipper.</span></td></tr>
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<b><u>Aurifloss cotton floss - available on a wooden spool like 80/2 weight</u></b><br />
While I love Aurifloss, I know that it won't beat out 40 and 50 weight for being my favorite, but it's still awesome so I wanted to mention it. :)<br />
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<i>Why do I like it? </i> I started doing cross stitch last summer, and I love how this thread feels in my hand when I'm stitching. I love that I can wash my finished projects and not worry about the dye bleeding (this is true with all of the Aurifil thread that I've ever used). Another thing that I really like is that I can match the colors of my other threads (like the 50 and 40 weight, the same 270 colors are available in the floss). Plus, it's super cool that I can buy it in the same colors that frequently use in my regular sewing. Finally, those wooden spools are just so stinkin' adorable. LOL.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NOyI54zruvIzT7yOhSCB6109d4NwKAhuh46telyEKcCKilC1bYBxEtYCYwUG5XgP2fkHbXF0STKBG9qK3g_k2jBKoxBB4iB6oKA1_6Ax-yjp9n031YcLCnHD9w9ZzauMIQKxByE3ofp-/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NOyI54zruvIzT7yOhSCB6109d4NwKAhuh46telyEKcCKilC1bYBxEtYCYwUG5XgP2fkHbXF0STKBG9qK3g_k2jBKoxBB4iB6oKA1_6Ax-yjp9n031YcLCnHD9w9ZzauMIQKxByE3ofp-/s320/fullsizeoutput_2422.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A pretty assortment of Aurifloss in purples and greys.</span></td></tr>
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<b><u>LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!</u></b><br />
I pulled out a couple of projects that I made using the same fabrics, the same stabilizer (yes, it's <a href="https://www.byannie.com/byannies-soft-and-stable" target="_blank">Soft and Stable</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">®</span>), and the same color of thread, but they were stitched with 2 different thread weights. Let's start with a photo of both projects together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaPtUBWBLgHkA-O1_uTShCG8Om30-7FYM4WVVVfvwCc42_eg8XDipm_EfMZOJH_7P_zn-oolG1-hPfAHVIAEXEAImafCn8zu0XA4mtrOC80TE8GbwEQibfMeofXUy73iElUC9H0LdTg5X/s1600/IMG_3252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaPtUBWBLgHkA-O1_uTShCG8Om30-7FYM4WVVVfvwCc42_eg8XDipm_EfMZOJH_7P_zn-oolG1-hPfAHVIAEXEAImafCn8zu0XA4mtrOC80TE8GbwEQibfMeofXUy73iElUC9H0LdTg5X/s320/IMG_3252.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ByAnnie Ditty Bag (back) and a scaled down ByAnnie Necessories Mini Bag</span></td></tr>
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They don't look that much difference at first glance, right? Let's look a little bit closer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYNpgbS61ZDDxJ9Dw02Lf9mQRb6sPlGqCMW0SLTir0Zatk6X-Bt5VEyle_QdqxIYCEgIrUw1RrDxrVNmwGMrvCcxA0mRW_QolKkTZKL0-abEUlamssQz6YBJCHlPtX7CAZm5s5eVP7m6N/s1600/IMG_3257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYNpgbS61ZDDxJ9Dw02Lf9mQRb6sPlGqCMW0SLTir0Zatk6X-Bt5VEyle_QdqxIYCEgIrUw1RrDxrVNmwGMrvCcxA0mRW_QolKkTZKL0-abEUlamssQz6YBJCHlPtX7CAZm5s5eVP7m6N/s320/IMG_3257.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left is 50 wt. Right is 40 wt. Both are color 2530 (Blossom Pink)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMVj-mfPog1Ddj3IP_pW1e0fpU7Hxr_QhvYvRaMJ799LDb_EGObqCuIWY-EV6GQI2e-sPuWUnpSZpGGcMEgpYV6BM34ZSgxtpMRHf6d5T3CJWZ6FYxnsmAPR1jQZN7BEQBsTzS7K8pA79/s1600/IMG_3256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMVj-mfPog1Ddj3IP_pW1e0fpU7Hxr_QhvYvRaMJ799LDb_EGObqCuIWY-EV6GQI2e-sPuWUnpSZpGGcMEgpYV6BM34ZSgxtpMRHf6d5T3CJWZ6FYxnsmAPR1jQZN7BEQBsTzS7K8pA79/s320/IMG_3256.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Same photos just slightly more zoomed in</span></td></tr>
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When you zoom in on the bags, I think it's easier to see the difference. Can you see that the 40 weight (on the right side of both photos) looks a wee bit thicker? The weight gives the stitches a little more definition and texture. I just really love how it looks. Personally, I don't necessarily think there's an inherent benefit to using the thicker thread other than aesthetics on these types of small projects. They will not come under tension/weight bearing to the point that there would be a risk of thread failure due to overloading.<br />
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I do think that the thread weight can (and does) make a difference when you get into larger projects, especially those that may have a more rough life (ie., lots more trips through the washing machine, bearing heavier loads, being sewn through thicker materials).<br />
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I've shared this link before, but I think it's super handy, so I'm sharing it again. If you've ever wondered what thread weight Aurifil recommends for different types of projects, or if you've wondered what size needle is recommended for the various thread weights, check out <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AURIFIL-MAY2018.pdf" target="_blank">Aurifil's Product Guide here</a>.<br />
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<b><u>THE VERDICT</u></b><br />
Ok, so I guess it's time to make a call. I don't think there's really a wrong answer because I do use both of them an awful lot, but if I had to pick only one weight, my pick would have to be 40 weight. From quilting, binding to topstitching garments and bags, 40 weight is the thread that I use for most of my sewing. With that said, if I was just piecing quilts, I probably would have picked 50 weight. Does that mean I changed my answer?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi51bwA3lmqkgfqSelPoPhlVLJHNrd6oUvHo5ntChtAXMzV5zh_s182_v-P_gfac2GyrqOGi3Wet5u4Ju6D6j-l1Yg73uzRiIo86nBCdmXTHqhwydDXStSbNPPmEpB7opfAAuZju90Qbca/s1600/IMG_3230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi51bwA3lmqkgfqSelPoPhlVLJHNrd6oUvHo5ntChtAXMzV5zh_s182_v-P_gfac2GyrqOGi3Wet5u4Ju6D6j-l1Yg73uzRiIo86nBCdmXTHqhwydDXStSbNPPmEpB7opfAAuZju90Qbca/s320/IMG_3230.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I did promise to show you my project soon, didn't I? :)</span></td></tr>
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Yes and no - sometimes the best answer is to not pick just one favorite! This is the pillow that I made using blocks from the Mini Series Sew Along that featured <a href="https://alisonglass.com/shop-woo/mini-series-season-1-season-2-all-eight/" target="_blank">patterns</a> by Alison Glass and Giuseppe Ribaudo of Giucy Giuce. I pieced the blocks using 50 weight thread, mostly in Dove Grey (color 2600). I used 50 weight Black (color 2692) to sew the 4 smaller sub-sections together in the bottom left block (4 - 2" blocks are sewn to make a larger block), and I used 50 weight Peachy Pink (color 2435) to add the sashing. Once all of the top was pieced, I lightly quilted in the sashing using the same, beautiful Peachy Pink in 40 weight. Even though it isn't visible, the backing of the pillow is grey, so I used 40 weight Grey Smoke (color 5004).</div>
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That's all I've got for you right now, so thanks for spending a bit of time with me today. :)</div>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-27324528274322857862020-01-10T20:38:00.000-08:002020-01-10T20:38:50.426-08:00Organization - January 2020 Aurifil Artisan ChallengeIt's hard to believe it's January again, but here we are nonetheless!<br />
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The start of a new year is often a time that people make resolutions, and one that is fairly common is to get more organized. I love organizing, so our January 2020 <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/auriworld/artisans" target="_blank">Aurifil Artisan</a> Challenge is right up my alley. <br />
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When I first started sewing, I didn't have a cabinet that held my machine and supplies, so I pulled out my machine, supplies, and cutting mat every time I wanted to sew...and then put it back immediately after I was done. I still do not have a dedicated sewing room, but I do have space in our 2nd bedroom/office where I can have my sewing machine cabinet set up all the time (and my husband has been gracious in his acceptance of my sewing stuff encroaching onto his side).<br />
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I'm going to approach this from a few different directions, so hopefully one (or more) will apply to your situation. Please keep in mind that this is what works best for ME, and one solution will NOT work for everybody. It's also important to note that I'm pretty obsessive about organization, but it may not be for the reason you think. I use organization as a way to manage some of the chaos in my head. If I can go to a place/room/container/location and find what I need, that hugely reduces my stress and frustration. For me, it's worth taking an extra minute or two at the end of each project to put my thread back into its proper location. That way it's easy to find the next time I need it.<br />
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<u>My philosophy on organization in general</u><br />
I used to work for a beloved organization company, and the thing that I would consistently tell customers is that they need to figure out what works for them, especially as it pertains to storage of personal stuff.<br />
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<i>As an example, let's say you wanted to alphabetize your movie collection. You've got The Avengers. Do you put it under T for "The" or A for "Avengers"? This is YOUR movie collection, so if you're more likely to look for Avengers, put it as an A. If you always refer to the movie by its full title, put it under T for The Avengers. </i><br />
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The same thing goes for storing fabric. Do you store by color, collection, designer, manufacturer, or something entirely different? It's your stuff, so thinking about how YOU work really does matter. Struggling with something that just isn't working can make things feel even worse and more out of control which isn't any fun.<br />
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With that out of the way, let's get into it!<br />
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<u>Storing and organizing thread (AKA where I keep my <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a>)</u><br />
When I first started sewing, I was told that thread is best stored away from light, heat, and dust, so my primary thread storage area is a narrow 10-drawer cabinet that I purchased from The Container Store. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzKb_TmvEkU5-xAZ8I2L_-9QYFJ7BwfBBk0v1PI3tE22LbZ0kXr0XFzjpYiZa_4sE2fGeTXfa2QsWAEbnb3J6R1Z1VrBHKQGhi2XBcTQEYFwoYiGsM-0Anyiwd4T3rEDQKCU4-A06oK60/s1600/IMG_1283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzKb_TmvEkU5-xAZ8I2L_-9QYFJ7BwfBBk0v1PI3tE22LbZ0kXr0XFzjpYiZa_4sE2fGeTXfa2QsWAEbnb3J6R1Z1VrBHKQGhi2XBcTQEYFwoYiGsM-0Anyiwd4T3rEDQKCU4-A06oK60/s320/IMG_1283.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My thread cabinet</span></td></tr>
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This solution also works well for me because it's on wheels so I can move it around, and the labels on the drawers make it easy to find what I'm looking for. Here's how I came up with my system - when I am going to pull thread for a project, I think about what I will be making which, in turn, determines the weight of thread that I want/need to use. I primarily use 50 weight thread (it comes on an orange spool) for all of my quilt piecing, 40 weight thread (on the green spool) for quilting, binding a quilt, and bag making, and floss (on a wooden spool - note that 80 weight also comes on a wooden spool) for cross stitch.<br />
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With that said, this was a good place to start for me. Once I know which thread weight will be appropriate for my project (if you are unsure which weight is best suited to your project, I suggest checking out <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AURIFIL-MAY2018.pdf" target="_blank">this handy guide</a> from Aurifil), it's time to look for the perfect color of thread. Like many people, I have certain colors to which I gravitate. I put those colors right up front because I use them frequently. From there, I grouped similar colors together and worked that way down the line.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vSfGoVn9-q6dx7SnhfbwVeiWBnSOIX7SGTexvT-TUJMIzF5r6rS7FPv9UJ8jt_6xk18dfgnPgffXHrUxHvI9hN_RoD-ScJXlTNn7ATUxLEpeJz9IiAbLj9BoDYjWfC8Q1gnDC_-GMM4m/s1600/IMG_1286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vSfGoVn9-q6dx7SnhfbwVeiWBnSOIX7SGTexvT-TUJMIzF5r6rS7FPv9UJ8jt_6xk18dfgnPgffXHrUxHvI9hN_RoD-ScJXlTNn7ATUxLEpeJz9IiAbLj9BoDYjWfC8Q1gnDC_-GMM4m/s320/IMG_1286.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A peek inside the top 2 drawers</span></td></tr>
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For storing bobbins, I take a slightly different approach. My primary sewing machine uses different bobbins than my travel/backup machine, so I store the bobbins separately from my thread. The large bobbins for my main machine live by my sewing cabinet while the bobbins for my travel machine live in the bag with that machine. <br />
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Like my spools, I store bobbins by thread weight, but I have them split up by neutrals, warm colors, and cool colors. I added labels to each of the boxes to make them easy to identify.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfUWlEG4JzO6oWaIXTonvY0dGQRLruzDgyKadgKNAUfAwFlFY0wMRP0f-S1IZGl0wz0CKXGNF42XXJuWOwX7HTqQ_6I3pqu767Cp6L_yHWJYZNUz1DawTxeM_uVVfu0pcceWAjW5zf_ES/s1600/IMG_1287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfUWlEG4JzO6oWaIXTonvY0dGQRLruzDgyKadgKNAUfAwFlFY0wMRP0f-S1IZGl0wz0CKXGNF42XXJuWOwX7HTqQ_6I3pqu767Cp6L_yHWJYZNUz1DawTxeM_uVVfu0pcceWAjW5zf_ES/s320/IMG_1287.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've tried other styles of bobbin storage, but this is what I always come back to using.</td></tr>
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The exception to all of this is my Aurifloss. I really like to have my floss be super portable, and I found a storage box on Amazon that holds ~100 small spools of thread and snaps closed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMeYKkx2QA9n2wZLZOtWYapPXdAbfNSF1g5KSO54FxvtpWV8vAA80UVFlYrNohlLAuGe8T8Hbu33Fn0UFal-VPULziAteL5cNH1tL_cQlPUC_J4QlODMVRvBMv8lp9yQvnJM1Sogh_heK/s1600/IMG_1402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMeYKkx2QA9n2wZLZOtWYapPXdAbfNSF1g5KSO54FxvtpWV8vAA80UVFlYrNohlLAuGe8T8Hbu33Fn0UFal-VPULziAteL5cNH1tL_cQlPUC_J4QlODMVRvBMv8lp9yQvnJM1Sogh_heK/s320/IMG_1402.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Slimline Storage Box is great for helping me keep my Aurifloss tidy and accessible</td></tr>
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<u>Organizing my sewing space (AKA things to hold stuff that I've made with Aurifil**)</u><br />
This is a constant battle for me because I like to make quilts, bags, and occasionally some sort of garment (mostly PJ pants) or home dec item (mostly pillowcases). I also became hooked on cross stitch last year, so that's another thing to manage! The solution that seems to work the best for me is to keep what I need within arm's reach. Without further ado, let's get into this!<br />
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One of my favorite ways to organize is with the handy multiple spool holder that attaches to the back of my sewing machine. This particular one is made by Bernina, but I also have one that I used on my old Pfaff. It's also super handy because it is capable of holding thread on cones when you use the adapter. If you look closely, you can see part of the cone adapter on the far right. When I don't have this many spools on the rack, I usually keep a cone of my favorite piecing thread - 50wt Aurifil in color 2600 (Dove Grey). While the spool holder is really marketed toward people who do machine embroidery, but I love it as a place to stage the thread and bobbins that I will need for a project/series of projects. After each project, I put all of the thread and bobbins back into their proper locations for storage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYarlCUaQIVjH4D3JGpVylvV2rVgpMgAAeZXvbEnosi1a6k9dvUIkzXlV1rO2BtSBACFsYuZbN1HiBX6GYLrfw8RdN6X4PhrTQ7n40PpUe1uaUydA1s6p7z1Xnjf58nux_DlnTjoiqwmq/s1600/fullsizeoutput_238d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYarlCUaQIVjH4D3JGpVylvV2rVgpMgAAeZXvbEnosi1a6k9dvUIkzXlV1rO2BtSBACFsYuZbN1HiBX6GYLrfw8RdN6X4PhrTQ7n40PpUe1uaUydA1s6p7z1Xnjf58nux_DlnTjoiqwmq/s320/fullsizeoutput_238d.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bernina Multiple Spool Holder keeps my thread easy to grab as I need to change colors</td></tr>
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Other than thread, I keep my MVPs (the things I use very frequently or are likely to get misplaced) next to my machine in a <a href="https://www.byannie.com/in-control" target="_blank">In Control</a> caddy (pattern from ByAnnie*) that was a gift from a friend. It's the perfect size to sit on the windowsill next to my machine (the blinds and window shade are always closed on that part of the window). I keep tools like my favorite air-soluble and water-soluble marking pens, a stiletto (plus a backup), the oil for my machine, my bobbins, my 8" dressmakers shears for cutting fabric (plus a pair for paper), an old pill bottle that I use for holding bent pins and old needles, my magnetic pincushion, and a few 1" x 6" rulers. It's also a great convenient place to keep a backup pair of eyeglasses that is fairly close to my current prescription, a small notepad, and some sticky note pads.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V0jP4SxqHxkkf5hCX8IlKVbsLZ1XK4RAxY7jkxDm5FwIkme9yQCCZUSn1bPWzy8gsNV85oAggr9jrNH7aNBzcsf0m5ipNXCETobfPShh91slFlpO5UKIU4mWHALqGmA0Ej__bSr4BBNz/s1600/IMG_1294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V0jP4SxqHxkkf5hCX8IlKVbsLZ1XK4RAxY7jkxDm5FwIkme9yQCCZUSn1bPWzy8gsNV85oAggr9jrNH7aNBzcsf0m5ipNXCETobfPShh91slFlpO5UKIU4mWHALqGmA0Ej__bSr4BBNz/s320/IMG_1294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the pockets of In Control keep the supplies managed so they are super easy to access.</td></tr>
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I also have a "go bag" that is always ready for a class or a day spent sewing with a friend. Who hasn't been to a class and forgotten something essential? Maybe it's something simple like pins, a rotary cutter, or a marking pen, but I'm pretty sure we've all done at it some point. I'm also pretty notorious for being the person who has the thing that somebody else has forgotten. Maybe it's a something like a bandage or maybe it's different size or type of machine needle, I'm usually the person that has the item. I've tried to pare it down so it will fit in to a smaller bag, and that seems to work for now...until it doesn't. ;) <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdDgYKXu16kRDpokgZ5458D9YUSaKm6s4Ek_1gflkF930G2hGTMy5RmUjqfzH4IU71YAWdWH6UYpYdtpRQLOLhyfAtXgLK3Wp26tQltL7J8iFEjhFkVTvnPSNe9htVkc7c7OCjq9ls7lu/s1600/IMG_3086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdDgYKXu16kRDpokgZ5458D9YUSaKm6s4Ek_1gflkF930G2hGTMy5RmUjqfzH4IU71YAWdWH6UYpYdtpRQLOLhyfAtXgLK3Wp26tQltL7J8iFEjhFkVTvnPSNe9htVkc7c7OCjq9ls7lu/s320/IMG_3086.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Running With Scissors "go bag"</td></tr>
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At present, I'm using a <a href="https://www.byannie.com/running-with-scissors" target="_blank">Running With Scissors</a> bag (pattern from ByAnnie*), but one of my all-time favorite bags is Annie's <a href="https://www.byannie.com/a-place-for-everything-pattern" target="_blank">A Place for Everything</a> bag (not pictured). Running With Scissors is significantly smaller, but maybe that's not a bad thing! The nice thing about having a second set of supplies ready to go is that I know where I can quickly find a spare if I've temporarily misplaced an item!<br />
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When I'm working on a cross stitch project, I keep the floss I will need and a few essentials (mini scissors, a needle threader, and some extra needles) in this small case from <a href="https://www.byannie.com/thread-dispenser-2" target="_blank">Thread Dispenser/Sewing Case 2.0</a> pattern from ByAnnie*. It makes it easy to keep what I need ready for when I want to sit on the couch or in a doctor's waiting room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCng6sCUK-Xr6QwOEj43BOPxJBwfsk5Q7j-qlzxbn_fkS2q0ikSBzOnPlBtpDX1PTXCm1ctk2mfRjZtN74b8QEhXHzYJQ6vnuP_OD3rGm_h7q5U_DIYklDKsFU8HL2CVaLTNxJ1qCdlJzI/s1600/IMG_1301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCng6sCUK-Xr6QwOEj43BOPxJBwfsk5Q7j-qlzxbn_fkS2q0ikSBzOnPlBtpDX1PTXCm1ctk2mfRjZtN74b8QEhXHzYJQ6vnuP_OD3rGm_h7q5U_DIYklDKsFU8HL2CVaLTNxJ1qCdlJzI/s320/IMG_1301.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this little Sewing Case for holding my essentials when I am cross stitching. </td></tr>
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This is probably a good place to stop because I could go on for days about storage and organization, so don't tempt me! ;)<br />
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Before I end, I want to reiterate that there is no single solution that will work for every person. It's just not realistic. I also want to acknowledge that yes, I do have a lot of thread, but I've been building my collection since I first discovered Aurifil in 2013. Here's the <a href="https://www.50sqftstudios.com/2018/06/down-rabbit-hole-aka-story-of-how-i-got.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> I wrote about it back in 2018!<br />
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*If you think you've spotted a trend with a certain pattern designer, you'd be right. With that said, I want to be clear that I am NOT paid to make or promote her patterns, but I do some independent contracting work for her as a technical editor. In short, I try to find errors in the patterns and try to ensure that terms and verbiage are consistent and correct from pattern to pattern. The first pattern that I made of hers was the A Place for Everything bag back in 2013! I started doing editing work for Annie several YEARS after I was already making many of her patterns because they are sturdy, well-designed items that suit my needs.<br />
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**When I make bags, my thread of choice is 40wt Aurifil. If you actually scroll back through <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lelliebunny/" target="_blank">my Instagram feed</a>, you will find posts with information about the bags I make including specific thread colors and fabrics used.leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-16290924006030396372019-12-09T11:11:00.003-08:002019-12-09T11:11:54.587-08:00Holiday Project - December 2019 Aurifil Artisan ChallengeI'm in denial that it's December, but my calendar insists that it's true. Eek!!!<br />
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This month's Aurifil Artisan Challenge was to make a holiday themed project. I decided to go out of the box on this one and make drawstring bags. If you're wondering how this is holiday themed, it's because these bags would be great for reusable packaging for folks that like to retain their special packaging from year to year or as part of the gift itself. I also love that they aren't necessarily bound to a particular event or holiday just by choosing different fabrics! Plus, they are super cute, functional, and they can easily be customized to suit the tastes of the recipient. Just to show how great they could be, I made 8 of them in a variety of sizes and styles. Two of the bags (the black and blue) were made in non-holiday themed fabric just to show you the project with a slightly different look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-5m9d2b3iYR9TyLBG8uoy71zyunSG1YdnaYTyRMJYLtecAq5MxXk2WNiSw9D8wncF0nog8jZ0vpkuWr3-eWB5ohMZFOfIMcZA3LMcrt5ei2XW767xMmAj1ZUqY70SmZrjQGJul9SGMxF/s1600/IMG_0787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-5m9d2b3iYR9TyLBG8uoy71zyunSG1YdnaYTyRMJYLtecAq5MxXk2WNiSw9D8wncF0nog8jZ0vpkuWr3-eWB5ohMZFOfIMcZA3LMcrt5ei2XW767xMmAj1ZUqY70SmZrjQGJul9SGMxF/s320/IMG_0787.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These Lined Drawstring bags are perfect for any holiday, not just the ones in December!</td></tr>
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My favorite drawstring bag is <a href="https://www.jenibakerpatterns.com/product/lined-drawstring-bag-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Jeni Baker's Lined Drawstring Bag pattern</a>. She has a free single-size pattern available on her blog, but the paid pattern gives instructions for 8 sizes PLUS instructions for making your own custom-sized bag. Jeni recently released an <a href="https://www.jenibakerpatterns.com/product/lined-drawstring-bag-expansion-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">expansion pack</a> for the Lined Drawstring Bag that includes a bunch of fun options that include how to turn the bag into a backpack, changing it up to have the accent at the bottom of the bag, a cute mini accent, and even how to make the pattern from a single fabric (plus a few more)! I love how the bag is lined so that it's pretty on the inside as well as the outside, and the extra fabric improves the durability of the project.<br />
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In the interest of full disclosure, I did make a very slight adjustment to the pattern. I decided to topstitch all of the seams 1/8" from the edge before I assembled the majority of the bag. So, it isn't actually stitched through all layers, but it looks like it is! This isn't really necessary or even visible from a distance, but I love the little bit of extra detail that I get when I topstitch in a matching thread.<br />
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I may have gone a bit overboard with making 8 of them, but they really are a super cool project. After selecting my fabrics, I decided to use 40wt thread (Aurifil uses green spools for their 40/2 thread) for all of the bags. The extra bit of thickness it has over the 50wt (the more commonly seen orange spools) makes topstitching and quilting look extra fabulous! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ3Tz0aW8_mnsFKXwzR6sH4tlGCVZ1bR99AodCWRjWTa5CN0g1eGFQdqLE8C3MC8mIvrzaMsxFRRiRMl6VuGtSIK2KeiH3E-vkr0KmknYv8RSS9ocfd6i1T1Wbg8MgO_Pw1fK6UOU8kVK/s1600/IMG_0808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ3Tz0aW8_mnsFKXwzR6sH4tlGCVZ1bR99AodCWRjWTa5CN0g1eGFQdqLE8C3MC8mIvrzaMsxFRRiRMl6VuGtSIK2KeiH3E-vkr0KmknYv8RSS9ocfd6i1T1Wbg8MgO_Pw1fK6UOU8kVK/s320/IMG_0808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40wt Aurifil thread in colors (L to R): 4020, 5002, 5022, 2021, 4241, 4093, 1148, 1320, 2735</td></tr>
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So, without further ado, here's a breakdown of what I made (including which fabrics, thread colors, bag styles, and sizes):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxeclk9hR55M5_MSe_9uXYDhwugVgEVkHcNOunfwI9f_MI8kCmz_M61nTJAMSlx_HZIcFtR-jlGxJWKxCRipoBKljJV4sBorki8SMRaz4Ux00TFkXGzneyK9GCck_TJ9gOTil5d4QCFy5/s1600/IMG_0789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxeclk9hR55M5_MSe_9uXYDhwugVgEVkHcNOunfwI9f_MI8kCmz_M61nTJAMSlx_HZIcFtR-jlGxJWKxCRipoBKljJV4sBorki8SMRaz4Ux00TFkXGzneyK9GCck_TJ9gOTil5d4QCFy5/s320/IMG_0789.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from top: 1, 2, 3, 4</td></tr>
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<ol>
<li>Bottom Accent Backpack in Artist Size - Decoupage in Ink, Embroidery in Charcoal, Quilt in Magenta from Handiwork by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 4241 (Very Dark Grey) and 4020 (Fuchsia)</li>
<li>Easy Going (2 fabric) in Project Size - Kitschy in Brite and Ornament in Merry from Holiday by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 4093 (Jade) and 4020 (Fuchsia)</li>
<li>Mini Accent in DVD Size - Crossed in Fruitcake and Holly in Star from Holiday by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 5002 (Medium Red) and 5022 (Mustard)</li>
<li>Bottom Accent in Everything Size - Stripe in Pine, Diamond in Candlelight, and Chorus in Jade from Holiday by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 1148 (Light Jade) and 5022 (Mustard)</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABhzaFmJ_iYAu_rlBSZu4z-C5Esnxhs5xTto9Gx0wRfRbvKXD86ITN74bGstfOXu1BOGa9RaaoV-kEVEOp24eTGzvPJ3pt_QaC37HgX5D40yZh8-aUpkO0ebwuYn8M0Mx9sRsCuAzYo6Y/s1600/IMG_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABhzaFmJ_iYAu_rlBSZu4z-C5Esnxhs5xTto9Gx0wRfRbvKXD86ITN74bGstfOXu1BOGa9RaaoV-kEVEOp24eTGzvPJ3pt_QaC37HgX5D40yZh8-aUpkO0ebwuYn8M0Mx9sRsCuAzYo6Y/s320/IMG_0791.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from top: 1, 2, 3, 4</td></tr>
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<ol>
<li>Original bag in Project Size - Sew in Cobalt and Quilt in Sapphire from Handiwork by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 2735 (Medium Blue) and 1320 (Bright Teal)</li>
<li>Original bag in Snack Size - Chorus in Tradition, Holly in Star, and Crossed in Snowflake from Holiday by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 5002 (Medium Red), 5022 (Mustard), and 2021(Natural White)</li>
<li>Easy Going (2 fabric) in Tiny Size - Ribbon in Peppermint and Ornament in Merry from Holiday by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 4020 (Fuchsia)</li>
<li>Mini Accent in Snack Size - Ribbon in Garland and Holly in Wreath from Holiday by Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in 4093 (Jade)</li>
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There are so many great things about this bag and so many ways they can be used. I've made them to hold my travel sewing machine's foot pedal, but my favorite thing is to use the Artist size (the size of the black backpack) as a shoe bag when I travel. It's perfect to hold any of my shoes (I wear a size 9.5-10 in US women's sizes for reference), even my bulky running shoes and my 8-eye Dr Martens boots! As a comparison, my mom's smaller size (7.5-8) shoes fit in the slightly smaller Project size bag. If it gets dirty, it's easily washable because the bags are made with quilting cotton, and I'm pretty confident that we've probably all washed that before!<br />
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So, I'll wrap this post up (get it?? I'm so punny!!) with this - I would like to wish everybody a happy, safe holiday season. I'll see you back here in 2020!leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-48325988207214789802019-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:002019-12-09T10:48:54.390-08:00Travel Handmade - November 2019 Aurifil Artisan ChallengeHappy November!<br />
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I'm excited to share my November 2019 Aurifil Artisan project with you. Our theme for the month is "travel handmade", and nothing says travel handmade to me more than a bag. I've made quite a few bags that would fall into this category over the years, so I really wanted to make something that I hadn't made before. After auditing the bags that I like to use for travel and what I needed/wanted to carry, I decided to make <a href="https://www.byannie.com/" target="_blank">ByAnnie's</a> <a href="https://www.byannie.com/bowl-me-over-2" target="_blank">Bowl Me Over 2.0</a>. It is a purse-sized bag that will be my "personal item" (aka the bag that needs to fit under the seat in front of you) when I fly, but I also like the size of it to use as a regular purse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOj9CQfVSSQpTPvZGHl1Ctp6x-2YMA7mYY-O_u6zP7mS48ycaZSV5svXLJEbh7X1F6ApP2WbLc3p56icCOFGipDYtaYgwWvtLiMw695qrCr_ZZMXFu0H3VfjcLKVlQKgNu3mN6m3E9dk7/s1600/IMG_0934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOj9CQfVSSQpTPvZGHl1Ctp6x-2YMA7mYY-O_u6zP7mS48ycaZSV5svXLJEbh7X1F6ApP2WbLc3p56icCOFGipDYtaYgwWvtLiMw695qrCr_ZZMXFu0H3VfjcLKVlQKgNu3mN6m3E9dk7/s320/IMG_0934.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl Me Over 2.0 in Skull Camouflage</td></tr>
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Annie released the updated pattern at Fall Quilt Market 2019, so it's hot off the presses. I think what really sold me on making this bag was that the updated pattern included an option to have handles and an adjustable, detachable strap or the original version's long over-the-shoulder straps. I really like having the option to hand carry a bag, but I also love the flexibility of being able to wear it crossbody or on my shoulder. This bag gives me the adjust how I'm carrying it based on what works for me at that moment.<br />
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With my fabrics selected (Skull Camouflage by Timeless Treasures, Swiss Dot in Grey by Riley Blake, and a black solid), it was time to select thread. I chose <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/products/aurifil-cotton-40wt" target="_blank">40wt Aurifil</a> thread in colors 5012 (Dark Green), 2311 (Muslin), and 2692 (black). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVrY9AtODSTZp0WldnlmyaGu3zR3QW1aNpu0qQ7ZDG7kbW5sVBg30NLg165lsptk7WunPAWyKy-1jAUMUOy6giHicx5-JV1PSN1KA-PwCTYAHEZz-4N3aG7OwCQNPInLlEuEA8biR4Jfw/s1600/IMG_0949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVrY9AtODSTZp0WldnlmyaGu3zR3QW1aNpu0qQ7ZDG7kbW5sVBg30NLg165lsptk7WunPAWyKy-1jAUMUOy6giHicx5-JV1PSN1KA-PwCTYAHEZz-4N3aG7OwCQNPInLlEuEA8biR4Jfw/s320/IMG_0949.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40wt Aurifil in colors 2311 (Muslin), 5012 (Dark Green), & 2692 (Black)</td></tr>
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When I'm making bags, I like to use 40wt. It is a heavier thread than the 50wt that I use for piecing quilts. The extra bit of durability is super important especially when you get into larger bags, but I also like how it looks when it is quilted, especially when it is quilted on <a href="https://www.byannie.com/byannies-soft-and-stable" target="_blank">Soft and Stable</a>, my favorite sew-in stabilizer. I kicked off the project by quilting a 1" grid before cutting the individual pieces for the bag as the pattern instructs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3ExapqI7rY4mjzEV06vxckLXkbTvVkCo01sYKq4Kubj49Aj9Sdh5B3hK6Pzn7u8nzqpblb5Tx0wWWnKzvX07UPMzOHtyxOl-_VwT47GNK-UBJONK85Dv4kOmZq6eS0URH23q4NMbPtAg/s1600/IMG_0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3ExapqI7rY4mjzEV06vxckLXkbTvVkCo01sYKq4Kubj49Aj9Sdh5B3hK6Pzn7u8nzqpblb5Tx0wWWnKzvX07UPMzOHtyxOl-_VwT47GNK-UBJONK85Dv4kOmZq6eS0URH23q4NMbPtAg/s320/IMG_0141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A few months ago, I saw an Instagram post with the coolest skull zipper pulls from <a href="https://emmalinebags.com/" target="_blank">Emmaline Bags</a>. Even though I didn't know what I would use them for at the time, I had to buy some. When I pulled the fabric for my Bowl Me Over 2.0 bag, I knew that this was the right project for them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEUyoWVkBJhtiQ1xpyN3009SzFFHvMmHtnpSgPBbKdqSfNGkpq0vg97LYIe5_1XVAyg3gqzdaYdiwNzaS1_Ppb980hZNlY98Bs9lndVuMhomEbnk9QlaI0XQG1rhWGnCYxcP4zn-aQ6hh/s1600/IMG_0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEUyoWVkBJhtiQ1xpyN3009SzFFHvMmHtnpSgPBbKdqSfNGkpq0vg97LYIe5_1XVAyg3gqzdaYdiwNzaS1_Ppb980hZNlY98Bs9lndVuMhomEbnk9QlaI0XQG1rhWGnCYxcP4zn-aQ6hh/s320/IMG_0929.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Skull zipper pulls + the gunmetal hardware from emmalinebags.com<br />
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The bag has some seriously great pockets. There is a full-sized mesh pocket (instructions are included for making the pocket with mesh or with fabric) + a divided 3-compartment slip pocket on the inside and a magnetic closure flap pocket on the front + a 3/4 height zippered pocket on the back of the exterior. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin788DB-hjkpsb1eMtxadJFRj-WxuUQWwdWrlkP2Tm_04niV-0DF7o-Q8aavnLthvwowYJKIgvgP8vyYO1zhJxmYl8ZXEdgvv9thwawgr8__pMTKpCZNQ337G3fidfeIjHuoldnkZrtkg/s1600/IMG_0941+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin788DB-hjkpsb1eMtxadJFRj-WxuUQWwdWrlkP2Tm_04niV-0DF7o-Q8aavnLthvwowYJKIgvgP8vyYO1zhJxmYl8ZXEdgvv9thwawgr8__pMTKpCZNQ337G3fidfeIjHuoldnkZrtkg/s320/IMG_0941+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many pockets!</td></tr>
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Here's what I have in my Bowl Me Over 2.0 bag from my regular purse: a small wallet, cosmetic bag (it's a ByAnnie small Ditty Bag), glasses case, soft sunglasses case, backup battery pack for my phone, and my car keys. In addition to the regular bag stuff, I've also added my iPad (which I don't always travel with), my Kindle, a phone cable + power brick, and my somewhat bulky Beats headphones. I admit that I'm pretty good at making stuff fit in bags (put things in vertically rather than horizontally often makes a huge difference), but this all fit without drama. There's probably a good 3" or so that is empty when measured from the top of the stuff to the top of the bag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmfQUmzH7w76PGghuAiizkSqAWaAVPnpByCVbydDjFTewriLHCfumyaPHLdM_nY6-Px45UxAtCwSVKWtThPAaUa-6Q8BwCIHUqGinEGKnbvrZ4f8u2R8FuJqKzxevrUe2srOa-NcZ1J8e/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmfQUmzH7w76PGghuAiizkSqAWaAVPnpByCVbydDjFTewriLHCfumyaPHLdM_nY6-Px45UxAtCwSVKWtThPAaUa-6Q8BwCIHUqGinEGKnbvrZ4f8u2R8FuJqKzxevrUe2srOa-NcZ1J8e/s320/IMG_0240.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yup, it all fits!</span></td></tr>
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Overall, I'm super happy with how my bag turned out. I haven't had the chance to actually take a trip with the bag yet, but I can tell you that I'm happy with how my travel must-haves fit and how well the bag functions as a purse for normal use!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_keCnOxwVeh776DV4m-iiUDyiirGqZ6-vcoOfOdFyyW6LNEsu71dC4o3MOKJaPW3yaebWqnZH33gKUTYarkcNBCGtXWAU1YHSjGJ-87BiyXTPwZwkCfQL42-T2WML9H_f78tOJ77xFgAb/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_keCnOxwVeh776DV4m-iiUDyiirGqZ6-vcoOfOdFyyW6LNEsu71dC4o3MOKJaPW3yaebWqnZH33gKUTYarkcNBCGtXWAU1YHSjGJ-87BiyXTPwZwkCfQL42-T2WML9H_f78tOJ77xFgAb/s320/IMG_0928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm bowled over by my Bowl Me Over 2.0 bag. How about you?</td></tr>
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If you're curious as to what my absolute favorite bag for travel might be, I'm more than happy tell you all about it! It's the <a href="https://www.byannie.com/travel-duffle-bag-2" target="_blank">Travel Duffle 2.0</a> that is also from Patterns by Annie. I made the original full-size Travel Duffle pattern back in 2016, and I loved it from the very beginning. It's a bag that I use quite frequently for trips in the car or for using as my carry-on when I fly (as long as you aren't on a small regional jet or a turboprop, I have had zero issues with the bag fitting in an overhead bin). When I go to Quilt Market, I usually collapse the bag inside my large suitcase so I have an extra bag if needed. Who am I really kidding? Of course I will need to use it! <br />
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I decided to make the updated Travel Duffle 2.0 bag in 2018 before I was departing for a quilting cruise to Alaska. Why? To be honest, I really wanted to use a specific fabric that I had just purchased. There was nothing wrong with the original bag, so I tossed it in the washer/dryer and passed it along to my mom before we left on the cruise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbyzX1cMRHSBLXApr_bvo9Nn6kCY43IBGf0r13zb0GUATQqtWDYbm8ED4so6Xc1U4D_poSu6wF3BpU5JRdO58mSpLsaWLY61IJ0L7fVr9N0K-d0Gm1Tlidt4Rhy4mzuUoiimXmLvyuGxb/s1600/IMG_9292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbyzX1cMRHSBLXApr_bvo9Nn6kCY43IBGf0r13zb0GUATQqtWDYbm8ED4so6Xc1U4D_poSu6wF3BpU5JRdO58mSpLsaWLY61IJ0L7fVr9N0K-d0Gm1Tlidt4Rhy4mzuUoiimXmLvyuGxb/s320/IMG_9292.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Travel Duffle 2.0 bag is made with fabrics by Alexander Henry, Timeless Treasures, and Alison Glass for Andover using 40wt Aurifil in colors 1154, 2021, and 2692.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEX_QMWk6TuT4vrScCMPVYO1DvWv-d8VA_42hfvRp4XR7XRllN2u0y9Ry5cIzACSBkFbEd2FdhIJAjobJktpX4esoGvGr2aqxuvPs_Te69Yg3DTd8TqflktcAI_nMPPsnzUOCCneSze_G/s1600/IMG_3782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEX_QMWk6TuT4vrScCMPVYO1DvWv-d8VA_42hfvRp4XR7XRllN2u0y9Ry5cIzACSBkFbEd2FdhIJAjobJktpX4esoGvGr2aqxuvPs_Te69Yg3DTd8TqflktcAI_nMPPsnzUOCCneSze_G/s320/IMG_3782.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My original Travel Duffle bag is made with fabrics by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery using 40wt Aurifil in colors 2625, 2692, and 1243.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-GNtZLgpfkDjyBtK1NomsJp4ZePq1uSzQOm5q8MsIvOejp3pba4uPTh3pSz06JS0kCmOXJEpSHxuel6KxgGRewJqTHA2do7M4A_2nlgpdfzCHWjfpioiaWRD2LIEeshwg72-a1J98zGI/s1600/IMG_2158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-GNtZLgpfkDjyBtK1NomsJp4ZePq1uSzQOm5q8MsIvOejp3pba4uPTh3pSz06JS0kCmOXJEpSHxuel6KxgGRewJqTHA2do7M4A_2nlgpdfzCHWjfpioiaWRD2LIEeshwg72-a1J98zGI/s320/IMG_2158.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The pair of Travel Duffle Bags as we waited to be picked up from the cruise terminal. Mom's duffle is actually turned so that the front is toward the handle of her suitcase.</span></span></td></tr>
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That's all I have for you today because it's time to get back to making plans for my next sewing project! Thank you for visiting. leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-15023795428054691072019-10-15T01:00:00.000-07:002019-10-15T01:00:07.285-07:002019 #SewPINK Initiative Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mtKMTuHy0T8uF-8bf_vSo5HxW7PARLkQeVut4y57GR6woQf2b0gT6-YQ6oh8MsolZOPEhW1KQvbX9k7RdD_LPmepLXRjDeUO6qJP6lpDlx_oyFEOewmmfUxcB-e8voXzYP4wtwgk2h2e/s1600/SEWPINK-bloghop-square-+opt+-+revised.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mtKMTuHy0T8uF-8bf_vSo5HxW7PARLkQeVut4y57GR6woQf2b0gT6-YQ6oh8MsolZOPEhW1KQvbX9k7RdD_LPmepLXRjDeUO6qJP6lpDlx_oyFEOewmmfUxcB-e8voXzYP4wtwgk2h2e/s320/SEWPINK-bloghop-square-+opt+-+revised.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hey, folks! We are basically halfway through October, and it's finally my day to share the project that I created as part of <a href="https://www.byannie.com/" target="_blank">ByAnnie</a>'s #SewPINK Initiative blog hop!<br />
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Before I get to that, can we talk about the fact that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/breastcancerawareness/index.htm" target="_blank">Center for Disease Control</a>? That's pretty significant, and I think it's quite scary. Mammograms are not on my list of fun things to do, but they are a valuable tool for helping to detect breast cancer early. In combination with monthly self-exams and being checked by your doctor during your annual well-woman exam, it's worth the few moments of your time. Please don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about any changes that you may notice. The chance that it might help to save your life will more than make up for a couple of minutes of a potentially uncomfortable conversation.<br />
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Ok, let's get back to the thing you came to see!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPABNeT2SsbSuVmgN9lc0u_hPrzrlczIuZGoATe8oPPJJXlrDsXagmZu-em8IcUoPGNNKtZRH5kkvzzsOpnz5lttGQ4ad0n2R_K5CyANAyzcC6AbiANwwdPqPB_vslENIzv-Soxr6smTf2/s1600/Courage-IMG_0002-marblepink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPABNeT2SsbSuVmgN9lc0u_hPrzrlczIuZGoATe8oPPJJXlrDsXagmZu-em8IcUoPGNNKtZRH5kkvzzsOpnz5lttGQ4ad0n2R_K5CyANAyzcC6AbiANwwdPqPB_vslENIzv-Soxr6smTf2/s320/Courage-IMG_0002-marblepink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To celebrate the amazing strength, bravery, and courage of those women <u>AND</u> men who fight against breast cancer, I made a mini quilt that is ~15" x 20". I used an amazing pattern from <a href="http://happysewlucky.com/" target="_blank">Happy Sew Lucky</a>'s Tattoo block series called Courage. As usual, my insanely talented friend Teresa Silva of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/quiltingismybliss/" target="_blank">Quilting Is My Bliss </a>worked her quilting magic by adding some beautiful custom quilting to give depth, texture, and definition to the piece. I wanted it to have a little extra bit of oomph, so <a href="https://www.byannie.com/byannies-soft-and-stable" target="_blank">ByAnnie's Soft and Stable</a> was used in place of regular quilt batting. Soft and Stable adds a bit of body to the piece and helps to really show off the fabulous stitching. It's become my go-to "batting" for all of my mini quilts (in addition to being my go-to bag stabilizer)! If you haven't tried it yet, you really should!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DAPhEKhAYEvaa8Y6m1Cog6CU9WORanpDLxRdNrtlzI_kA4LQX26-c0QW5l3BlJ8aPsytXqPy9I0aFfuQY6oT9IDJtcUmQvhPlDvz6r_iFFu6eKAu-UM55dbwvzK23EOXj9mGgqI0MnXC/s1600/IMG_8460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DAPhEKhAYEvaa8Y6m1Cog6CU9WORanpDLxRdNrtlzI_kA4LQX26-c0QW5l3BlJ8aPsytXqPy9I0aFfuQY6oT9IDJtcUmQvhPlDvz6r_iFFu6eKAu-UM55dbwvzK23EOXj9mGgqI0MnXC/s320/IMG_8460.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I selected a range of pink and grey solids plus one of my favorite dots for the background just to mix it up a little. From top to bottom they are: Designer Solids in Manatee from Free Spirit, Cotton Couture in Ozone from Michael Miller, Polka Dot in Silver from Dear Stella, Kona Cotton in Valentine by Robert Kaufman, Designer Solids in Pink from Free Spirit, and Cotton Couture in Pink by Michael Miller.<br />
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The quilt was foundation paper pieced using 50wt Aurifil 100% cotton thread in Natural White (color 2021). I loved how subtle the grey looked against the quilt, so I also used Ozone for the binding so it would not distract from the design in the center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPJ5AcwwSZEbfUVY59X82aQx5XyrxgQFTJXOyFoGr2C_FItsNPEqnvSyOm2_Ix0RNlFjmMqhG790aUzM3ikgsFG6AvrUm8hN9TiCJBq3FxgJkMNOaoKt5i3HKteLmzsEYSMDObSv9GWFG/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPJ5AcwwSZEbfUVY59X82aQx5XyrxgQFTJXOyFoGr2C_FItsNPEqnvSyOm2_Ix0RNlFjmMqhG790aUzM3ikgsFG6AvrUm8hN9TiCJBq3FxgJkMNOaoKt5i3HKteLmzsEYSMDObSv9GWFG/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hope you are enjoying the posts from all of my fellow bloggers and the product deals that are currently being offered this month from ByAnnie! You can find the links with more information about the deals and giveaways below.<br />
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I would also like to say a special thanks to the team at ByAnnie for taking BEAUTIFUL photos of my quilt. You're a star, B!<br />
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For now I'll wrap up with a gratuitous close-up shot of the quilting! I love those swirls!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX2eP_tM19-pu8mhqPIlXSKK7me96WiDeKg3nN3SISaJ224owEaojpyVqEXesHP8gx0G0dIU38DRHTQW4vzXENVq7cUhw67vdHJXfff7vLzcA74MJDJS8j-C2Msbtbnd-hzwxCiSTB_Lq/s1600/Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX2eP_tM19-pu8mhqPIlXSKK7me96WiDeKg3nN3SISaJ224owEaojpyVqEXesHP8gx0G0dIU38DRHTQW4vzXENVq7cUhw67vdHJXfff7vLzcA74MJDJS8j-C2Msbtbnd-hzwxCiSTB_Lq/s320/Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Custom quilting done by Teresa Silva of Quilting is My Bliss</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>The #SewPink Initiative was created by <a href="http://byannie.com/" target="_blank">ByAnnie.com</a> LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. They have pledged to raise funds to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through sales and to promote action through giveaways.</em><br /><br /><em>To see the calendar of events visit: </em><a href="https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK#calendar" target="_blank"><em>https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK#calendar</em></a><br /><br /><em>For more information please visit the official #SewPINK information page: </em><a href="https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK" target="_blank"><em>https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK</em></a><br /><br /><em>To donate directly to the BCRF visit: </em><a href="https://give.bcrf.org/give/31404/#!/donation/checkout" target="_blank"><em>https://give.bcrf.org/give/31404/#!/donation/checkout</em></a><br /><br /><em>ByAnnie will be donating 30% of profits on all SewPINK items sold at their web store. You can search for SewPINK items on their website or see the list of items here: </em><a href="https://www.byannie.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=sewpink" target="_blank"><em>https://www.byannie.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=sewpink</em></a><br /><br /><em>Find a screening program near you:</em></span><br />
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<li><a href="https://www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au/</span></em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/screenings.htm" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/screenings.htm</span></em></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/free-breast-cancer-screening#1" target="_blank"><em>https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/free-breast-cancer-screening#1</em></a><em> </em></span></li>
</ul>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-44686979351145179112019-10-11T10:42:00.000-07:002019-12-09T10:49:03.290-08:00More than 5! - October 2019 Aurifil Artisan ChallengeIt's a new month, so <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/">Aurifil</a> has set forth a new challenge for the Artisans. Our October's challenge is to use more than 5 colors in a project. While it is quite common for me to use 2-4 thread colors in most of my quilt or bag projects, I don't often exceed that number (except for once which I will tell you about at the end). The greatest opportunity I have to use additional colors seems to be when I'm doing a hand sewing project. I've used 7 or 8 colors on an English Paper Piecing project that I never finished (and no, I'm not showing you that because it is NOT good). LOL. Cross stitch, my most recent obsession, has become a great vehicle for using a lot of color. <br />
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Because it's October and Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, it seemed timely to make this super cute <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/625247816/vintage-black-cat-cross-stitch-pattern?ref=shop_home_active_7&crt=1">Vintage Black Cat pattern by Not So Modern Millie</a> (be warned that the stitch chart is only in B&W at the time of this post, so dig out some colored pencils because you may want to color it in). I've used 8 different colors of <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/products/aurifil-cotton-floss">Aurifloss</a>, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNPafs6Awwp1qmdemwt3GdKkVYA8zwQUCKuEBMK3j_t1GUf2Yu1oO5fmXq7wErRC1PExSZKcxBCWv-9H2hPt8Yzx7JApVHY3MTBafOw_wNZLtod6INH95EjaDsk_0Ha0WbVzQywLSTg4r/s1600/IMG_9585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNPafs6Awwp1qmdemwt3GdKkVYA8zwQUCKuEBMK3j_t1GUf2Yu1oO5fmXq7wErRC1PExSZKcxBCWv-9H2hPt8Yzx7JApVHY3MTBafOw_wNZLtod6INH95EjaDsk_0Ha0WbVzQywLSTg4r/s320/IMG_9585.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Aurifloss colors from L to R: 1135, 1147, 1133, 4030, 2610, 2600, 2021, 2692</div>
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And because I couldn't stop there... what do you get when you find a pattern that would make a perfect gift for a friend and it has more than 5 colors? That's right! You get a second Aurifil Artisan project for October!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1KDO-NiJxQV-NhFL-eXsizYsyktczl83NRORHFQW3UmxM77o1K2iVLH225rjZ_pUizSxDvCrIzXwsBM_sCkafo_WjPoK7OVzABTWzwzWY2suUL9xbs814r8yQ8ktRkOvMYOkWXuij54H/s1600/IMG_9191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1KDO-NiJxQV-NhFL-eXsizYsyktczl83NRORHFQW3UmxM77o1K2iVLH225rjZ_pUizSxDvCrIzXwsBM_sCkafo_WjPoK7OVzABTWzwzWY2suUL9xbs814r8yQ8ktRkOvMYOkWXuij54H/s320/IMG_9191.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurifloss colors from L to R: 1114, 2892, 1100, 2479, 2105, 1246, 2692</td></tr>
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"You Can't Make Everybody Happy. You're Not Tequila" (pattern from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/663257232/pattern-you-cant-make-everybody-happy?ga_search_query=tequila&ref=shop_items_search_1&crt=1">@stephxstitch</a>) is the first cross stitch project that I have gifted to anybody. Thankfully, the gift was a total success and my tequila loving friend was THRILLED (here's the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3LWVDGnROv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">proof</a>)! I used 7 colors of Aurifil's Aurifloss to complete the project. Once it was stitched, it got a quick bath in <a href="https://www.soakwash.com/">Soak</a> wash before getting pressed, hooped, and mailed. <br />
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I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention my personal all-time record for the number of thread colors used in a project. For that we need to rewind and go back to the Sewology quilt that I finished in September 2018. I pieced the twin-sized quilt top with 18 colors of thread - 17 are 50wt cotton and clear monofilament. Yes, really! It seems pretty crazy to do that, right? Perhaps it is, but if you've ever pressed seams open on a quilt, you may have noticed that you can sometimes see little dots of your piecing thread between the fabrics. I absolutely didn't want that to happen on this quilt, so I went a little overboard (and my little thread loving heart thoroughly enjoyed the challenge). I matched thread to the fabrics that I would be using in each block. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gJYeUvjVT7F-dLeFGic4sDWR2SqY5tLwdGD2I-HXRq-ADHkCXQHJNBtqdydGm-Ylc-arNiiqpkEvjiPM6ZjZiEPy2K2xxA2wf9EIaxfTRXmUaVgtAHqi8dwfHyCDdOpm_7LfZ9Up9Sxh/s1600/20180608_031954223_iOS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gJYeUvjVT7F-dLeFGic4sDWR2SqY5tLwdGD2I-HXRq-ADHkCXQHJNBtqdydGm-Ylc-arNiiqpkEvjiPM6ZjZiEPy2K2xxA2wf9EIaxfTRXmUaVgtAHqi8dwfHyCDdOpm_7LfZ9Up9Sxh/s320/20180608_031954223_iOS.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thread colors (2230, 2021, 5004) matched to fabric picks for the Seam Ripper block</td></tr>
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The 12 block quilt was originally released as a block of the month program from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/623025020/sewology-pdf-block-of-the-month-pattern?ref=shop_home_active_10&crt=1">Pen and Paper Patterns</a>, so I was working in small amounts. 35 fabrics from the <a href="https://www.andoverfabrics.com/Grid.php?groupId=26284&GroupName=Kaleidoscope">Kaleidoscope</a> collection by <a href="https://www.alisonglass.com/">Alison Glass</a> for <a href="https://www.andoverfabrics.com/">Andover</a> and 18 thread selections later, my top was finished and off to be custom quilted by Teresa Silva of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/quiltingismybliss/">Quilting Is My Bliss</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2ZcKnWaIaLT5k3XarJ4NdxQy1FNEmuWWHp5C7Lz-DujoCaoegbKN0EbasuZeZIG1rv8wxsWW5haSOFDHiEialuIx9Hkmqc5PKpuN-Z-eX1M44eWwdKKAeh9RZXqOoNMh3LbrApEEvRew/s1600/IMG_3149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2ZcKnWaIaLT5k3XarJ4NdxQy1FNEmuWWHp5C7Lz-DujoCaoegbKN0EbasuZeZIG1rv8wxsWW5haSOFDHiEialuIx9Hkmqc5PKpuN-Z-eX1M44eWwdKKAeh9RZXqOoNMh3LbrApEEvRew/s320/IMG_3149.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://instagram.com/pinkdoorfabrics">@pinkdoorfabrics</a></td></tr>
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Do I actually think it was necessary to use as many colors as I did? Absolutely not, but if you've got 'em, why not use them? LOL. <br />
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That just about wraps up everything I've got for you today. I'm off to sew something, and I hope you are too! Thanks for visiting!</div>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-85429994920532652162019-10-01T10:14:00.002-07:002019-10-01T10:20:17.236-07:00October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month + ByAnnie's New #SewPINK Initiative (and Blog Hop!!)I wanted to pop in and take the opportunity introduce you to a special event during the month of October. My friends at <a href="https://byannie.com/">ByAnnie.com</a> have launched the #SewPink (note that not all posts with that hashtag may be related to this specific event because that's just how Instagram rolls) initiative to help raise awareness for breast cancer and to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.<br />
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I am very proud to have been selected to join a group of bloggers that have been tasked with creating something to share with all of you. You can find out more information about the event by following the links below, including a calendar so you can see the list of participating bloggers. Be sure to come back here on Tuesday, October 15 when I unveil my project. I will be posting pics on my Instagram account, but you will be able to read more about it here!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mtKMTuHy0T8uF-8bf_vSo5HxW7PARLkQeVut4y57GR6woQf2b0gT6-YQ6oh8MsolZOPEhW1KQvbX9k7RdD_LPmepLXRjDeUO6qJP6lpDlx_oyFEOewmmfUxcB-e8voXzYP4wtwgk2h2e/s1600/SEWPINK-bloghop-square-+opt+-+revised.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="915" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mtKMTuHy0T8uF-8bf_vSo5HxW7PARLkQeVut4y57GR6woQf2b0gT6-YQ6oh8MsolZOPEhW1KQvbX9k7RdD_LPmepLXRjDeUO6qJP6lpDlx_oyFEOewmmfUxcB-e8voXzYP4wtwgk2h2e/s200/SEWPINK-bloghop-square-+opt+-+revised.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>The #SewPink Initiative was created by <a href="http://byannie.com/">ByAnnie.com</a> LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. They have pledged to raise funds to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through sales and promote action through giveaways.</em><br /><br /><em>For more information please visit their official #SewPINK information page: </em><a href="https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK" target="_blank"><em>https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK</em></a><br /><br /><em>To donate directly visit: </em><a href="https://give.bcrf.org/give/31404/#!/donation/checkout" target="_blank"><em>https://give.bcrf.org/give/31404/#!/donation/checkout</em></a><br /><br /><em>To see the calendar of events visit: </em><a href="https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK#calendar" target="_blank"><em>https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK#calendar</em></a><br /><br /><em>ByAnnie will be donating 30% of profits on all SewPINK items sold on their web store. You can search for SewPINK items on their website or see the list of items here: </em><a href="https://www.byannie.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=sewpink" target="_blank"><em>https://www.byannie.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=sewpink</em></a></span>leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-81018243766242555512019-09-11T11:15:00.000-07:002019-12-09T10:49:12.602-08:00Adventures in Cross Stitch - September 2019 Aurifil Artisan ChallengeHave you ever woken up one day and decided that you wanted to try a new hobby? I've done that more than once. That's how I started sewing, and now I've done it again with my latest obsession - cross stitch.<br />
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Cross stitch seems to be making a comeback as a hot new hobby, and I am super excited to see what designers are releasing. From the snarky (my favorite) and profanity-laden to traditional designs, there's basically something for everyone. </div>
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This year's batch of Aurifil Artisans have been invited to participate in challenges. Each month has a different theme, and September is all about embroidery and cross stitch! Of course that means I couldn't resist signing up to participate. Without further ado, here's my featured project:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4VjIF-adqe-CyNNL-10yrbvfevZ0jCkQE7YQltdrOmrSeVzK0gDv5p2TfyBqjtkCV-MeiwyujEAXxQieJJ5wTbxhNtb_5jPVBW_Uo31BDH-TqZ6EA3JB01q5yKmlT_rgPV7GDsO2sHWm/s1600/IMG_8300+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4VjIF-adqe-CyNNL-10yrbvfevZ0jCkQE7YQltdrOmrSeVzK0gDv5p2TfyBqjtkCV-MeiwyujEAXxQieJJ5wTbxhNtb_5jPVBW_Uo31BDH-TqZ6EA3JB01q5yKmlT_rgPV7GDsO2sHWm/s320/IMG_8300+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For this project, I used a design by Subversive Cross Stitch with Aurifil's 100% cotton floss (aka Aurifloss) in colors 2692 (Black), 2250 (Red), 2870 (Green), and 2120 (Canary). To give it a bit of extra flair, I used some tiny sew-in rhinestones that I ordered from Subversive Cross Stitch's online shop. I was so happy with how the design came out that I decided to get it professionally framed! p.s. If you really want to go the extra mile when you're having something framed, I highly recommend using Museum Glass. It's a more expensive option, but it gives great UV protection and there's basically no glare.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5doTy1G4Fm_jF91fB0InXL_2QOKiBATPyz9JNOq8UvqH_aXdXDCOtEAt5pl5W9Xultw0fxFt-vqBoAGmLPw1opJiVUi7UMEQHEbCaIFcroUSx20swS2RbgsGIoob7i9uQLE7WcjW8yLFn/s1600/IMG_8813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5doTy1G4Fm_jF91fB0InXL_2QOKiBATPyz9JNOq8UvqH_aXdXDCOtEAt5pl5W9Xultw0fxFt-vqBoAGmLPw1opJiVUi7UMEQHEbCaIFcroUSx20swS2RbgsGIoob7i9uQLE7WcjW8yLFn/s320/IMG_8813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX7ZvyWr23Xao8CNamaNja07uCti0GVIuISF7DkS3za1ruL31lV3XwkVJ4r_ofLZGJVTzfBfH9TlWW9eSuj-KmmJx19TMSSi-a2B67TEwnl1Ce7Z7Jowo9qb7ipqg2LBapgcQekGNdWnC/s1600/Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX7ZvyWr23Xao8CNamaNja07uCti0GVIuISF7DkS3za1ruL31lV3XwkVJ4r_ofLZGJVTzfBfH9TlWW9eSuj-KmmJx19TMSSi-a2B67TEwnl1Ce7Z7Jowo9qb7ipqg2LBapgcQekGNdWnC/s320/Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am a big fan of Julie from <a href="https://subversivecrossstitch.com/" target="_blank">Subversive Cross Stitch</a> (<span style="color: red;">WARNING</span>: some of the designs do have bad words, so it may be best viewed when not at work or when children are present) because her designs probably aren't what you expect to see when you hear "cross stitch." If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen several of her patterns that I've stitched out, but I've shared a few of them at the bottom of this post for your viewing enjoyment (none have bad words).<br />
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While you can do cross stitch with a couple of different thread options, I've been using <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/products/aurifil-cotton-floss" target="_blank">Aurifloss</a>, <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a>'s 6 stranded 100% Egyptian cotton floss. Each wooden spool has 18 yards of floss, and all 270 of Aurifil's colors are available (with the same color number as the other cotton weights). I've been 3 strands with 14 count Aida cloth (as recommended by Aurifil), and it's worked very well. As always, I would recommend to test on a scrap piece of cloth and see if you are happy with how things look. <br />
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When I decided to try out cross stitching, I ordered a small collection called <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/flossie" target="_blank">Flossie</a>. The Flossie box has 5 small spools of floss in an assortment of colors that would work great to get me started on my adventure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AC30FC5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AC30FC5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Aurifil</td></tr>
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After a few projects, I knew that I was totally hooked, so I knew that I would want more colors to choose from. Enter the <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/best-selection-floss-2018" target="_blank">Best Selection 2018 </a>collection. With 45 spools in a lovely range of colors, my little thread-loving heart was bursting with joy and with excitement for all of the fun things that I plan to make. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ABSCAF45C-Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ABSCAF45C-Inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Aurifil</td></tr>
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Other than Aurifloss, my other cross stitching essentials are a <a href="https://www.qsnap.com/" target="_blank">Q-Snap frame</a> (I mostly use the 8"), a small pair of scissors, 14 Count Aida cloth, and tapestry needles (I'm still trying to find which I like most, but I've been pretty happy with size 24 John James Tapestry Needles). You'll also want to have good light. I use a Stella Sky lamp next to my living room couch that is great for when I'm cross stitching or binding a quilt. The Daylight Company also has some good floor-standing options. I have several of their lamps that I use on a daily basis, but they are mostly tabletop which isn't ideal if you don't have a table next to the couch to put them on. ;)<br />
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Here are a few other work-appropriate cross stitch projects that I've made with Aurifloss (information on colors used is included).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmED1FPc9MugRppCR3_-wiXvToXEYnKNgNqh_YXre2Sxzhuwq4QlpZ5CPwqi2HdfvtsgtfIRp20K-y6jD_NJxxx6DvGGKwHmtF4HfUBwsSWdlOPie6zvvrUIKAwBJLtsygFydao7gJMmX/s1600/IMG_8205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="778" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmED1FPc9MugRppCR3_-wiXvToXEYnKNgNqh_YXre2Sxzhuwq4QlpZ5CPwqi2HdfvtsgtfIRp20K-y6jD_NJxxx6DvGGKwHmtF4HfUBwsSWdlOPie6zvvrUIKAwBJLtsygFydao7gJMmX/s320/IMG_8205.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spark Joy Or Get Out pattern from Subversive Cross Stitch made w/ Aurifloss c<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">olors 2692 (Black) & 2545 (Medium Purple)</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKTFXtejVTtQPpJmxcnJpTXDV9pZA0mhAMVvm6riAgWq0s-LG5F_je5rAGg4Ph4g34ZBS30M_SsbtkYTLaYcjdMHiZVqv6MR-HeseL0IGy1ttzi1_QB9ucdP3bB0Medt93KvN0ukBiblZ/s1600/IMG_8410+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKTFXtejVTtQPpJmxcnJpTXDV9pZA0mhAMVvm6riAgWq0s-LG5F_je5rAGg4Ph4g34ZBS30M_SsbtkYTLaYcjdMHiZVqv6MR-HeseL0IGy1ttzi1_QB9ucdP3bB0Medt93KvN0ukBiblZ/s320/IMG_8410+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cat Is An Angel That Poops In A Box pattern from Subversive Cross Stitch made w/ Aurifloss colors<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"> 2692 (Black), 2610 (Light Blue Grey), 2423 (Baby Pink), 2140 (Orange Mustard), & 2815 (Teal)</span></span></td></tr>
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So, that's it from me because it's time to go sew!<br />
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leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-91492216778192311312019-08-24T01:00:00.000-07:002019-08-24T01:00:07.763-07:00Juniper Blog/IG TourHi there<br />
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Welcome to my stop on Jessica VanDenburgh's Instagram/blog hop for her new line with Windham Fabrics, Juniper!<br />
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From snails and dragonflies to tiny, adorable mushrooms, Juniper is a sweet, whimsical collection. You can check out the full collection on the Windham Fabrics website in more detail <a href="https://www.windhamfabrics.net/php/fabricshop/fabricshop.php?a=sc&Category=1200" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6OThFbxhKoHlisYbVFn3fncm04r9SNJWa5SIW7WW2cksl-9tXDnRtjd1RWBs-Q8O8qsoo8XPnL5809iHrSEHqNjMqSYdCIQfGgWRuzf6VK-xk7KR6_36lSCXMiMj5kYSw4l_ynKZC43f/s1600/IMG_8182+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6OThFbxhKoHlisYbVFn3fncm04r9SNJWa5SIW7WW2cksl-9tXDnRtjd1RWBs-Q8O8qsoo8XPnL5809iHrSEHqNjMqSYdCIQfGgWRuzf6VK-xk7KR6_36lSCXMiMj5kYSw4l_ynKZC43f/s320/IMG_8182+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To show off the collection, I opted to make a set of all 5 sizes of the <a href="https://www.byannie.com/clam-up?search=clam%20up%20" target="_blank">Clam Up</a> bag pattern from <a href="https://www.byannie.com/" target="_blank">ByAnnie</a>. The pattern makes a great gift, and it's quick to sew! Another reason I love this pattern is because it includes instructions for using quilted fabric, un-quilted fabric, and for using Slicker, a fusible vinyl product to give the bag an easy-to-wipe clean interior. I chose to quilt the fabric using a 3/4" grid set at a 45 degree angle which should probably come as no surprise to anybody that might follow me on social media. LOL. The simplicity of the grid quilted on the <a href="https://www.byannie.com/byannies-soft-and-stable" target="_blank">ByAnnie's Soft and Stable foam stabilizer</a> is super for adding texture without distracting from the prints or colors of the fabric. 40wt <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> thread is my thread of choice to add the perfect blend of strength and texture. With 270 colors and multiple thread weight options, I love how I can find the right thread for my projects with Aurifil.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LZ-StiU5WX3W8C18An3N5De6LbGksvTmNnQicRKgajgQSz6AAm5XtphtFTXjxvW5Lq2lKb325bMCrvO43YJKOQYm3w4DlykewtGeAnO-E7Ev7NTasv7M4e9dVAQXy2kTGbq15GJqNPpT/s1600/IMG_7663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LZ-StiU5WX3W8C18An3N5De6LbGksvTmNnQicRKgajgQSz6AAm5XtphtFTXjxvW5Lq2lKb325bMCrvO43YJKOQYm3w4DlykewtGeAnO-E7Ev7NTasv7M4e9dVAQXy2kTGbq15GJqNPpT/s200/IMG_7663.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I really did use all of these colors!</td></tr>
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Without further ado, here's a pic of each bag that includes the part # for the fabrics and the colors of 40wt Aurifil thread that I used:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywKsoVzDb6nY8CR_YvGIwZxYhCLUS2aZhNg-TvwyF1ZMuLoOmffQ8eYAoUkGYpkf8OdxfgbMyjB7lhzlqRZ6li2D9JRNLjcgxGRpEEU6CM5aT050HwnFn-tXgvSxGgxc_zborBEprnLtj/s1600/IMG_8183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywKsoVzDb6nY8CR_YvGIwZxYhCLUS2aZhNg-TvwyF1ZMuLoOmffQ8eYAoUkGYpkf8OdxfgbMyjB7lhzlqRZ6li2D9JRNLjcgxGRpEEU6CM5aT050HwnFn-tXgvSxGgxc_zborBEprnLtj/s320/IMG_8183.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;">
Extra Small - 51318-2 and 51918M-3 with Aurifil colors 2311, 2435, 2520</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGPmR0QGebyJprKYHh-tafIc79AuVz2ccEk0mxMsWAoTmRZBR1VKmtEhNqdOA87Fqj_hC3K-ymMo8dAIXvrrFpOHG48D_nv_HXLxNnMUBjetpMRNzhksSx32G6FoMnR2XabWjjZN7mknU/s1600/IMG_8184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGPmR0QGebyJprKYHh-tafIc79AuVz2ccEk0mxMsWAoTmRZBR1VKmtEhNqdOA87Fqj_hC3K-ymMo8dAIXvrrFpOHG48D_nv_HXLxNnMUBjetpMRNzhksSx32G6FoMnR2XabWjjZN7mknU/s320/IMG_8184.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Small - 51315-3 and 51317-7 with Aurifil colors 2311, 5002, 2423</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CEQzJVnzYMyhdi4dAmtsLdo23tQ2_mqGOIp4RifCSOiuCBD6tv5m-yZESY_FdZ2GzhHh6AWYag8ckc37JPKaHTc1IFvBDeW_zHNdr9AhrGCwzian8fATbr1vFPEwRoR6r72aPRX5suEG/s1600/IMG_8185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CEQzJVnzYMyhdi4dAmtsLdo23tQ2_mqGOIp4RifCSOiuCBD6tv5m-yZESY_FdZ2GzhHh6AWYag8ckc37JPKaHTc1IFvBDeW_zHNdr9AhrGCwzian8fATbr1vFPEwRoR6r72aPRX5suEG/s320/IMG_8185.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;">
Medium - 51318-1 and 51319M-9 with Aurifil colors 2783, 1320, and 1231</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZwhY9QEqKHOdPOB6pz8ypyMoNgG81uL1MGFMVPCIS_nQ9BfhCNyXHfROWnJZ4-VSEnqb0xhxy_2u5WNlHQNMN-jWJcUXymOXABf3htzkD0iJqnV-ORcBFuL0GgCIpn5gRuJ2qQAZ58Ci/s1600/IMG_8188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZwhY9QEqKHOdPOB6pz8ypyMoNgG81uL1MGFMVPCIS_nQ9BfhCNyXHfROWnJZ4-VSEnqb0xhxy_2u5WNlHQNMN-jWJcUXymOXABf3htzkD0iJqnV-ORcBFuL0GgCIpn5gRuJ2qQAZ58Ci/s320/IMG_8188.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;">
Large - 51316-4 and 51317-6 with Aurifil colors 2311 and 1148</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSvi6jDCzn-k81h2hySGsRANIsHOcymRA8123mMyzdMvEjz3KTw6gG4c3ZOh4fagddjm00uL2l-dX_ykpMDK2A_dnlKNAQijd1g2q_yCkZO5TK726fNG9-xDFmrEqg9tLUL5g1BUsafyc/s1600/IMG_8189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSvi6jDCzn-k81h2hySGsRANIsHOcymRA8123mMyzdMvEjz3KTw6gG4c3ZOh4fagddjm00uL2l-dX_ykpMDK2A_dnlKNAQijd1g2q_yCkZO5TK726fNG9-xDFmrEqg9tLUL5g1BUsafyc/s320/IMG_8189.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;">
Extra Large - 51314M-1, 51315-2, and 51315-1 with Aurifil colors 2783, 1320, and 4225</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqppnsndcpMHyauo8I4rRF4YvZ_MviQ5MGqe2bGDbFCczk1evjJyyx-v9IXNI8Yhxd4jTV3ySGX27vudjpxV0xcMxzwxoTaRdRWrEvhHVUR5BHZcpV7T8HfZKU8-AApRnk8nCCRdPWf2Q2/s1600/IMG_8180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="778" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqppnsndcpMHyauo8I4rRF4YvZ_MviQ5MGqe2bGDbFCczk1evjJyyx-v9IXNI8Yhxd4jTV3ySGX27vudjpxV0xcMxzwxoTaRdRWrEvhHVUR5BHZcpV7T8HfZKU8-AApRnk8nCCRdPWf2Q2/s320/IMG_8180.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And look how adorable the Clam Up bags look when nested together!</td></tr>
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Thanks for spending some time with me today. I hope you enjoyed seeing how I used Juniper, the new collection by Jessica VanDenburgh of Sew Many Creations for Windham Fabrics, and I hope that you will check out all of the other super awesome makers that are participating! Jessica is giving away a fat quarter bundle of Juniper to one lucky winner. You can find out more info on how to enter by following the instructions on Jessica's first post for the tour (August 18).<br />
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Here's the full schedule :<br />
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<div style="color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 18 - Jessica VanDenburgh <span style="color: #222222;">@</span>sewmanycreations</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 19 - Shayla & Kristy Wolf @Sassafraslane</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 20 - Natalie Crabtree @njcrabtree</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 21 - Nikki Maroon @thegirlwhoquilts</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 22 - Lee Chappell Monroe @maychappell</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 23 - Heather Givans @crimsontate</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>August 24 - Leslie Meltzer @lelliebunny - YOU ARE HERE! :)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 25 - Tammy Silvers @tamarinis</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 26 - Tiffany Sepulveda @sewtiffany</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 27 - Alison O'Grady @sewbeeitclothier</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 28 - Kate Colleran @seamslikeadreamquilts</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 29 - Jamie & Jill @Sunflower_quilt</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 30 - Sherry Shish @poweredbyquilting</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 31 - Linda & Carl @colourwerx</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">September 1 - Karen @LadyKQuilts </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">September 2 - Stephanie Soebbing @quiltaddictsanonymous</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">September 3 - </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Jessica VanDenburgh </span>@<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">sewmanycreations</span></div>
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leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-19467408933645263372019-07-11T12:41:00.002-07:002019-07-11T12:41:28.880-07:00It's time to make a choice...of thread colors!I'm selecting thread today for an upcoming project, so I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to share more about the way I go about picking colors.<div>
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For basic quilt piecing as a general rule, I will often piece in a neutral thread, such as a light grey (Aurifil 2600) or white (Aurifil 2021), that will blend in with most of the colors of the quilt top. Depending on the project, sometimes that "neutral" is anything but neutral. When I'm going to work on a project where the thread will be entirely visible, such as quilting or topstitching on a bag or garment, I get a little more picky on what I use (this is a massive understatement). ;)<br /><div>
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I like to select thread weights and colors before each new project so I can have the right thread on hand and ready to go when I need it. My process usually starts with comparing the fabric (or zippers/mesh/ribbon) with my trusty <a href="http://aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> color card. If I'm torn between a couple of colors or if one isn't quite a perfect match, I will grab a couple of options and go from there.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRthjETobSRK_d4PoWHmFa3pvN7W-r4ypu5-ReD7epVpte_nsxH8t6XbrvC2BNXKIdyhi9RPSIJXYE9fqs8u1DpinEjKVxNPXaLtbSuBWnifXiiIqzkVPBe22HPJAlOW_cesAuBSNsQqc/s1600/IMG_7667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRthjETobSRK_d4PoWHmFa3pvN7W-r4ypu5-ReD7epVpte_nsxH8t6XbrvC2BNXKIdyhi9RPSIJXYE9fqs8u1DpinEjKVxNPXaLtbSuBWnifXiiIqzkVPBe22HPJAlOW_cesAuBSNsQqc/s320/IMG_7667.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Based on what I see next to the color card, I would pull color 2588 as a likely match to coordinate with the fabric.</td></tr>
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I recommend color cards that have actual product on it when possible for thread or fabric. Purchasing the color cards have saved me a ton of time and money when I need to order online or simply if I can’t remember exactly which solid fabric I used. In a pinch, I've used pre-printed swatches, but they aren't usually as accurate as the real thing. I wrote a blog post about color cards and DIY versions a couple of years ago that is still applicable, so here's the <a href="http://I'm selecting thread today for an upcoming project, so I thought this would be a neat opportunity for me to share more about my process. I like to select thread weights and colors before each new project so I can have the right thread on hand and ready to go when I need it. My process usually starts with comparing the fabric (or zippers/mesh/ribbon) with my trusty Aurifil color card. I recommend color cards that have actual product on it when possible for thread or fabric. Purchasing the color cards have saved me a ton of time and money when I need to order online or if I can’t remember exactly which solid fabric I used. In a pinch, I've used pre-printed swatches, but they aren't usually as accurate as the real thing. I wrote a blog post about color cards and DIY versions a couple of years ago that is still applicable, so here's the link. From there, I pull the colors and unwind a few inches from the spool to see if I like the match or not (this also gives me a chance to see if I need to order more). One of my favorite things about Aurifil’s cotton thread is that that the color numbers are consistent across the weights, including floss! So, if I have the right color in the wrong weight (i.e. I have it in 50wt, but I want 40wt for my project), I can order with confidence that I’m getting the right color. That makes me super happy (and reduces my stress level)!" target="_blank">link</a>.<div>
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From there, I pull the colors and unwind a few inches from the spool to see if I like the match or not (this also gives me a chance to see if I need to order more). If you happen to be thinking, wow, you person must have a lot of thread, please also remember that I have been using Aurifil since 2013, so I've amassed a pretty good stash of colors. I really do have a lot of thread, but it wasn't purchased at one time. :)</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDC8FoO_U88cc18c2CL6DtxG-yuvvMsC-Bk-smsDWNvHuEXwbLpzOcXWAremEI6OrJAjHnU_75gVl9KKHGXcloJU64RZRzY6j8eLEeJ0L_Zjd8J3c3LCWnJxzUZ8dyKT6jhO5VG35MBNp/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDC8FoO_U88cc18c2CL6DtxG-yuvvMsC-Bk-smsDWNvHuEXwbLpzOcXWAremEI6OrJAjHnU_75gVl9KKHGXcloJU64RZRzY6j8eLEeJ0L_Zjd8J3c3LCWnJxzUZ8dyKT6jhO5VG35MBNp/s320/IMG_3200.JPG" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a little hard to see, but the grey thread is spread out over several of the colors so I can see if I like how it looks.</td></tr>
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If I unwind a bit and I'm still unsure, I will actually take a small scrap of the fabric and stitch a line of each thread to see how it actually works. Sometimes you just do what you gotta do, right? ;) If I am pleased with the color but I think it needs a bit more or less texture, I may decide to use a different thread weight.</div>
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One of my favorite things about Aurifil’s cotton thread is that that the color numbers are consistent across the weights, including floss! So, if I have the right color in the wrong weight (i.e. I have it in 50wt, but I want 40wt for my project), I can order with confidence that I’m getting the right color. That makes me super happy (and reduces my stress level)!</div>
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As a side note, I also record the colors that I use with each project so that I don't necessarily have to go back through the whole process if I'm using the same fabrics in another project. :)</div>
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Well, that's basically it. Now it's time to order one spool of thread for my upcoming project so I can get started!</div>
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leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-84506563081943876882019-06-07T12:09:00.000-07:002019-06-11T11:28:26.988-07:00Pattern Review - Wander Skirt by Gentle ClothingI realize that it's been ages since I wrote my last review of a pattern, but this seemed like a good one to write about. So, here are my thoughts on the <a href="https://gentleclothingsewingpatterns.bigcartel.com/product/wander-skirt-pdf" target="_blank">Wander Skirt</a> by Karen LePage of Gentle Clothing (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gentleclothing/" target="_blank">@gentleclothing</a>).<br />
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<i>In the interest of full disclosure, Karen and I are friends. We were introduced by a mutual friend after Karen moved to the Pacific Northwest. I received a copy of the pattern from Karen after I had expressed interest in making it. She did not ask me to write a review or anything of that sort in exchange for the pattern. This review is based on my honest experience with making the pattern.</i><br />
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Now that I got that out of the way, are you ready to hear what I think about it? GOOD! Let's go!<br />
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I wouldn't really consider myself a garment sewist. I've made a few pieces, but mostly I find something that I like and then I make it a few times as I've done with my favorite t-shirt pattern, favorite cardigan, and PJ shorts/pants. I can literally count the number of skirts that I own on one hand (and not even get through all of my fingers), so this pattern was pretty out of the box for me. I've had issues with wrap-style items being a little scary when a slight breeze happens, but Karen showed me how this skirt was different in terms of overlap. She was right (and I even experienced some pretty substantial wind while wearing the skirt, so I can personally attest to it).<br />
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The first thing that caught my eye about the pattern (when I saw pictures on Instagram) was that it can be made with a variety of different fabrics. Some of the fabrics mentioned as suitable for making the skirt include: cotton lawn, quilting cotton, linen, and denim. Perfect! Right after I saw how cute it was, I read that it was reversible! YES! That's even better! I decided to use fabrics from the <a href="https://www.andoverfabrics.com/Grid.php?groupId=26313&GroupName=Observatory" target="_blank">Observatory</a> collection by <a href="https://www.alisonglass.com/" target="_blank">Alison Glass</a> for <a href="https://www.andoverfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Andover Fabrics</a> for the main and contrast. The fabrics in the collection are created by hand using the batik process, but they don't feel like most batiks (which is probably why I like them). Just to mix it up a little, I decided to make the waistband/tie out of my favorite print from Alison's <a href="https://www.andoverfabrics.com/Grid.php?groupId=26155&GroupName=Adorn" target="_blank">Adorn</a> collection. The one that I selected is a cotton lawn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja180yITl45MWPC0OlPU0ojd_JwiTsY2_X3lXqbc3vqZaLFTVYIjUpCZRYhi4_pWxbvk47hGNGogoSVcZ2hMStlcZepdtqHJ44cLYw2vbOd9dfdCt0r9c-nuM_8xgK_bHg0FJH8tIDkrnX/s1600/IMG_5948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja180yITl45MWPC0OlPU0ojd_JwiTsY2_X3lXqbc3vqZaLFTVYIjUpCZRYhi4_pWxbvk47hGNGogoSVcZ2hMStlcZepdtqHJ44cLYw2vbOd9dfdCt0r9c-nuM_8xgK_bHg0FJH8tIDkrnX/s320/IMG_5948.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabrics are from Observatory by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics</td></tr>
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With fabrics in mind, I moved into selecting a size - not my favorite part of any pattern. There are 11 sizes included, so it is designed to work for lots of bodies. The pattern also gives some tips on selecting sizes, fitting tips, and options for variations including length modifications and widening the waistband (p.s. I did not make any modifications on mine). Perfect. I picked one and off I went to trace my pattern onto Swedish tracing paper while my fabrics were in the washing machine. Don't forget this step (if your fabrics can be laundered) because fabric will often shrink, so it would be a real bummer to make a finished garment then wash it and have it not fit in the end.<br />
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I found the instructions on laying out the pattern pieces to be easy to follow. I can never seem to remember which color is which (right or wrong side) on garment pattern illustrations, but thankfully, the pieces were labeled in the illustrations. YAY! After I got all of the pieces cut, I interfaced the waistband/tie (because it recommends to do so when you're using a lightweight fabric) using <a href="https://www.palmerpletsch.com/product/perfect-fuse-sheer-garments/" target="_blank">Palmer Pletsch PerfectFuse Interfacing in Sheer weight</a> to give the lawn a bit of body and to try to minimize the wrinkling.<br />
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Construction of the skirt was straight forward (and it's made using a straight stitch on a sewing machine - no serger required). The only tricky part was trying to figure out exactly where I needed to create the pass-through hole for the tie, but once I wrapped the skirt around my body, I understood where it needed to go. To be honest, the pattern illustration was spot on. I just got a little paranoid that I would put it in the wrong spot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pUI2qBTFXiB1L0f_thYxQls6TyMAtSGmnfk_E0rGcL7r35iZ5gdponn-KqW90gatnRANqopMBe131riiVeL7EZwvNAzzB-gjjh_IHKv7DnUW3-yT-Vw29UZN3Fbu8FWW4FlfXO0q_jig/s1600/IMG_6020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pUI2qBTFXiB1L0f_thYxQls6TyMAtSGmnfk_E0rGcL7r35iZ5gdponn-KqW90gatnRANqopMBe131riiVeL7EZwvNAzzB-gjjh_IHKv7DnUW3-yT-Vw29UZN3Fbu8FWW4FlfXO0q_jig/s320/IMG_6020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the topstitching along the bottom edge in 40wt Aurifil colors 2692 and 1200</td></tr>
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With that crisis averted, I finished my skirt. I washed it and packed it before I left for a trip to Kansas City where I wore it, and then I wore it a few days later with the reverse side out! Yes! I really did. Here are a couple of less than ideal pictures that I snapped in my hotel room (the cardigan is Universal Standard for J.Crew if you're wondering):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WxOnL9sKUF0gHVFgiZXUIg2rTUCHly_lQ0H2xqkLzOVkwjyvEZ71NFWomlpdQf3xEbuI5ppwVpwkh6xcbSoFU_0lfri318UYN6366_pJ63Mqjp0KRjo8Kcw9iDG1MYvbMUjZUELMymcM/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="921" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WxOnL9sKUF0gHVFgiZXUIg2rTUCHly_lQ0H2xqkLzOVkwjyvEZ71NFWomlpdQf3xEbuI5ppwVpwkh6xcbSoFU_0lfri318UYN6366_pJ63Mqjp0KRjo8Kcw9iDG1MYvbMUjZUELMymcM/s320/IMG_0993.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wore it first with the purple (contrast) side out to a trunk show </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXi2oOIuOYApt0Xuzaq924mtzdFXlcdzojbaAEtpwx6RAuE3wZ0UB0atKmU53W-z11IPPshcRgjcMZFx9YAoSQWcWGd7hJR8jPKbaEsQoTpu82LUGk0wRpLJFoHTr111JSXASdyjUUdwW/s1600/IMG_0942+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1052" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXi2oOIuOYApt0Xuzaq924mtzdFXlcdzojbaAEtpwx6RAuE3wZ0UB0atKmU53W-z11IPPshcRgjcMZFx9YAoSQWcWGd7hJR8jPKbaEsQoTpu82LUGk0wRpLJFoHTr111JSXASdyjUUdwW/s320/IMG_0942+2.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I wore it with the black (main) side out a few days later</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm43Xf1EDxNaP1GObDtgnnA6R3aCR_P8uT7TDs7vwklkjf32XS0-pzM1fUsaXQD235vzESnVQELeX3fZjyugteTqE92xiB6BinDrT7tF60AuYrvk4urUB3Axstfip0nNaAMzAIqVsOVGUk/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm43Xf1EDxNaP1GObDtgnnA6R3aCR_P8uT7TDs7vwklkjf32XS0-pzM1fUsaXQD235vzESnVQELeX3fZjyugteTqE92xiB6BinDrT7tF60AuYrvk4urUB3Axstfip0nNaAMzAIqVsOVGUk/s320/fullsizeoutput_2155.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A better pic of my completed skirt where you can see the colors. 40wt Aurifil in color 2630 was used for the waistband/tie</td></tr>
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This pattern is very well written. Karen's years of sewing and pattern writing expertise are evident. She's made this skirt a ton of times. She's worn this a ton of times. She's taught this pattern as a class a ton of times. I do believe it really is suitable for a person for a confident beginner sewist or even a quilter (who has sewn for years but never made garments)! LOL. <br />
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So, I've made the skirt. I've worn it. It's a skirt, and I liked it (yeah, for real). I think I'll even make another one...or two. Would I change anything on the next one? I think the only thing I may change the next time I make it is to make the waistband/tie a little bit longer so I can have a longer bow, but that's it. It's not an issue with the skirt. It's just personal preference. It was super windy on the second day that I wore the skirt, but it did not let me down. Everything under the skirt stayed under the skirt (and aren't we all thankful for that?)! I even sat cross-legged on the floor while wearing my Wander Skirt without any exposure/incidents/issues (take your pick of word). YES! YES! YES! I'm a happy camper. :)<br />
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There's only one thing that I wish it had...pockets. :). Maybe that's a suggestion for a future pattern!<br />
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leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-80151523151960656512019-05-21T11:55:00.000-07:002019-12-09T10:49:42.448-08:00Anna Maria Horner + Aurifil Showcase!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPAmJbM4n2dQpPsK5ArvOzfn6Lg8MCQaFD1z88nmmi5ptL9IAQjp6atW5dnmH1pSK0AoNFM_LjEVc5wuGjZxKbHyINTLQYcuisfHypmpgOyeS10n0OD-e7HRx5tPY-ObrdvW-Jh0lOXng/s1600/IMG_6662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPAmJbM4n2dQpPsK5ArvOzfn6Lg8MCQaFD1z88nmmi5ptL9IAQjp6atW5dnmH1pSK0AoNFM_LjEVc5wuGjZxKbHyINTLQYcuisfHypmpgOyeS10n0OD-e7HRx5tPY-ObrdvW-Jh0lOXng/s320/IMG_6662.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hey! I'm super excited to finally be able to share my project for the <a href="https://www.annamariahorner.com/" target="_blank">Anna Maria Horner</a> (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/annamariahorner/" target="_blank">@annamariahorner</a>) + <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aurifilthread/" target="_blank">@aurifilthread)</a> Showcase featuring Anna Maria's beautiful Passionflower collection for <a href="https://www.freespiritfabrics.com/" target="_blank">FreeSpirit Fabrics</a> (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/freespiritfabrics/" target="_blank">@freespiritfabrics</a>)!<br />
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Let's get the basics out of the way, and then I'll share more details (plus a few tips)!<br />
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Fabrics from Passionflower: Imposter in Medieval, Migration in Dahlia, & Passiflora in Silver<br />
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Thread: Aurifil 40wt in 1248 (Dark Grey Blue), 2479 (Medium Orchid), & 4241 (Very Dark Grey)<br />
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Pattern: Easy Does It from <a href="https://www.byannie.com/" target="_blank">ByAnnie</a> (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/patternsbyannie/" target="_blank">@patternsbyannie</a>)<br />
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For this project, like many of my others, I wanted to match the thread color to the fabric so I added in a few extra colors. :) My favorite thread for quilting, making bags, and binding is Aurifil's 40 weight Mako Cotton (I do my quilt piecing in 50wt Aurifil). The 40wt thread is a little more beefy, so it adds definition to the stitches without dominating. When selecting thread, don't forget to choose a needle that is appropriate for the thread and fabric that you are using because it really does make a big difference. Here's a <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AURIFIL-MAY2018.pdf" target="_blank">link</a> to a Aurifil's Product Guide which lists recommendations for needle types and sizes based on the thread weights.<br />
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If you've been with me for at least a few posts (or if you follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lelliebunny/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>), you have probably noticed that I have a bit of an affinity for grid quilting, especially when the quilting is set on point. There is such a beautiful simplicity to it, and it is a great way to add texture without distracting from either the fabric or the pattern. With the size of the bag and the scale of the prints, I decided to go with a 3/4" grid (I usually use grids between 3/4" and 1 1/4" depending on the project). I quilted the fabric to the <a href="https://www.byannie.com/byannies-soft-and-stable" target="_blank">ByAnnie's Soft and Stable</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">®</span> and cut the pieces to size as instructed. <br />
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When I am quilting a grid, I like to actually mark the lines rather than using the guide that I can attach to the foot on my machine. <a href="https://www.clover-usa.com/en/sewing-and-quilting/240-air-erasable-marker-eraser.html" target="_blank">Clover's #5032 Air Erasable Marker</a> (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cloverusa/" target="_blank">@cloverusa</a>) is my favorite tool for most fabrics. Please note that you should <b>ALWAYS </b>test your fabric + marking tool combo to make sure that you get the intended result. I love this specific marker because the ink will disappear on its own, or they can be removed immediately with water using either the eraser on the pen or a spritz of water from a spray bottle. Factors like temperature and humidity may impact how long the marks will stay, so I like to mark a couple of lines at a time then quilt them right away. Whenever possible, I also prefer to mark on the lining side of the fabric just to be extra safe.<br />
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I find that I have the best results with my quilting if I use a walking foot and a longer stitch length. The walking foot helps the fabric to move as one unit because pressure is applied from the top and the bottom at the same time. When using different colors of thread in the top and bobbin, I am extra particular about my thread tension. If I am sewing with the lining side up, I will often increase the TOP tension <b>VERY</b> slightly (basically the smallest amount that I am able to adjust) so the stitches on the main/exterior fabric look perfect. The tiny adjustment still allows for the threads to meet in the middle of my "quilt sandwich", but it gives it a nudge toward the lining. I will fully admit that the change isn't something that most people would notice because it looks excellent without any adjustment, but it's still something that I do. Maybe try it and see if you think it makes a difference.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2Rao8R6VmRXSqJuymi6g1HjptyTN1UuvfK9dxfUNopxJLUhVcdPwu8cxHZFcocJgIqI8F_kd5wFOGFoLzbBv2_mCJmFukxCNPAeMcHZYLqCxXBNWn-M9CAyxUb3Kngb9GAO4MCbei4mL/s1600/IMG_6493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2Rao8R6VmRXSqJuymi6g1HjptyTN1UuvfK9dxfUNopxJLUhVcdPwu8cxHZFcocJgIqI8F_kd5wFOGFoLzbBv2_mCJmFukxCNPAeMcHZYLqCxXBNWn-M9CAyxUb3Kngb9GAO4MCbei4mL/s320/IMG_6493.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quilting on marked lines with the lining fabric face up in 40wt Aurifil 2479</td></tr>
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After I've marked a few diagonal lines (I line up the 45 degree line on my ruler with the bottom edge of the fabric to make it easy for the first line then I use that as a guide for the other marked lines) for my stitching, I start sewing by working from the center toward the edge. Once that side is complete, I work out to the other edge starting from the center again. After all of those parallel lines have been quilted, I place my ruler across the piece perpendicular to the sewn line and mark a couple of lines and repeat the process until it's all finished. If you look closely at the lower left section of the picture, you will notice that the grid is not yet complete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA08eYt9Drh09lRp2B9dBsMlk7QtxxhvmabdHvdEFOa4b002JctiwmZnu1NFltVXpHPt9j-VcPt0oyhqtIPoyd-X2SVVZixHQ78pBdn17HiQ7ieLAB_xrX2Zb0pu5XVhcQ_oGwLZOiuoa/s1600/IMG_0826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA08eYt9Drh09lRp2B9dBsMlk7QtxxhvmabdHvdEFOa4b002JctiwmZnu1NFltVXpHPt9j-VcPt0oyhqtIPoyd-X2SVVZixHQ78pBdn17HiQ7ieLAB_xrX2Zb0pu5XVhcQ_oGwLZOiuoa/s320/IMG_0826.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main/exterior fabric quilted with Aurifil 40wt color 1248</td></tr>
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Remember, this is the side that was underneath when I was quilting (I used the Dark Grey Blue as my bobbin thread). It looks pretty great, don't you think? <br />
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The Easy Does It is a free pattern from ByAnnie (featured in Issue 6 / 2019-2020 catalog) was designed to use 3 fat quarters, so it was great for this challenge. I love the size of the bag, and I think it would be great for a variety of skill levels especially with their free <a href="https://www.byannie.com/add-on-videos/add-on-video-easy-does-it" target="_blank">Add-On Video</a> (the link should be active soon)!<br />
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Just to wrap up, I've got a couple of extra pictures for you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gcOpoI-5rpsvem2neARUVybDdnJfRzN9Wqid2VO0MDZbbd9ksqvIGN2iLTrEXgPOyNZDZrs6gr-wy_s4bR3UodoFLQrQHCyMVMFuiL5nuZJKqwTvsIFJzMVa_ty7W_CFs6RMHanAyYWy/s1600/IMG_6774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gcOpoI-5rpsvem2neARUVybDdnJfRzN9Wqid2VO0MDZbbd9ksqvIGN2iLTrEXgPOyNZDZrs6gr-wy_s4bR3UodoFLQrQHCyMVMFuiL5nuZJKqwTvsIFJzMVa_ty7W_CFs6RMHanAyYWy/s320/IMG_6774.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished bag interior. I love the bound seams!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoefD8X2gXu322aIAQBdIZZrIj27GKD6TuEM6crYYuOHgzvFHEscSD3wMf9pqqY7hyphenhyphenEdS5rp_y7aL0iQ_dqME69LLrhEAP80KUvDwSuhsr8Z8h7_T-IMC7uqDdnn-2U8rLyyMSHksvLEo/s1600/IMG_6689+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoefD8X2gXu322aIAQBdIZZrIj27GKD6TuEM6crYYuOHgzvFHEscSD3wMf9pqqY7hyphenhyphenEdS5rp_y7aL0iQ_dqME69LLrhEAP80KUvDwSuhsr8Z8h7_T-IMC7uqDdnn-2U8rLyyMSHksvLEo/s320/IMG_6689+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could be cooler than getting a picture of my finished project with the amazing Anna Maria Horner at Quilt Market?!?!</td></tr>
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So now that I've spilled some of my secrets, I hope you may find some of the information helpful! Much thanks to the wonderful folks at Aurifil and FreeSpirit for providing the fabric and a spool of thread to those of us that participated in the Anna Maria Horner Showcase. I am so happy to have the continued opportunity to work with Aurifil as I am a returning <a href="https://www.aurifil.com/auriworld/artisans" target="_blank">Aurifil Artisan</a> for 2019-2020!<br />
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p.s. (and a reminder to my future self) - lint rollers are only useful if you don't forget to use them to get all of the little bits of charm pack floof out of the interior of your bag before you take a picture! Oops!<br />
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p.p.s. I made the skirt that I'm wearing in the picture with Anna Maria! It's the Wander Skirt pattern by <a href="https://gentleclothingsewingpatterns.bigcartel.com/products" target="_blank">Gentle Clothing</a> (Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gentleclothing" target="_blank">@gentleclothing</a>).leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-28441786278343823312019-04-19T11:00:00.002-07:002019-04-19T19:19:43.420-07:00Adventures in foundation paper piecingLike many other techniques, foundation paper piecing (FPP) has its share of people that love it and hate it. I fall into the group in between. I do not love it, but I do not completely hate it. For me, it's simply a means to an end - I WILL do it if I must, but I will probably complain about it because I honestly do not enjoy the process. <br />
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I've put together a list of a few things that I've learned along the way which help to make the whole thing more enjoyable/less painful for me. As always, your mileage may vary.<br />
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As a side note for anybody that might be new to my blog, you will not find affiliate links in my posts. If I should happen to use them in the future, they will be noted as such. Many of these products may be available at your favorite quilt shop, sewing store, or Amazon.com. I'm providing links from the pages of the manufacturers because they are likely to be the most reliable in terms of whether or product is still being marketed/sold/available. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfLp1WaocAvToz3vymZv-oltJFgp73phQLLODbXorf2qarkzT2nxEWGsLpelSypP5qe5T9HofDXI_KsHu3wLMqIILs7qkmzHD0LL8K8tp1kJMC0Z3R3qRpQONHph3D1JknPlLeDBewhww/s1600/IMG_3552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfLp1WaocAvToz3vymZv-oltJFgp73phQLLODbXorf2qarkzT2nxEWGsLpelSypP5qe5T9HofDXI_KsHu3wLMqIILs7qkmzHD0LL8K8tp1kJMC0Z3R3qRpQONHph3D1JknPlLeDBewhww/s320/IMG_3552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My setup when doing FPP (my iron is to the left of the Wafer)</td></tr>
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<b><u>Let there be light!</u></b><br />
In my first FPP projects, I would hold my pieces up to a lamp. It worked ok, but sometimes it was hard to keep the pieces aligned where I needed them and hold it up to the light. Buying a lightbox was really a game changer for me. There are a lot of options available from different manufacturers, but I use the <a href="https://daylightcompany.com/wafer-1-lightbox-daylight-35040.html.html" target="_blank">Wafer 1 from Daylight Company</a>, the smallest of their three size offerings. It's a convenient size to store, and I love that they offer a <a href="https://daylightcompany.com/u35042.html" target="_blank">translucent cutting mat</a> so you can see and cut without moving to a different surface.<br />
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<u><b>You aren't going to get very far without thread.</b></u><br />
It should come as no surprise that I use <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> thread when I do FPP. I use the same 50 weight thread that I use for all of my quilt piecing. It is a 2-ply thread, so it's fine enough to not add a lot of bulk in my seams, and it's strong enough to withstand the dreaded removal of paper.<br />
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<u><b>Press it real good.</b></u><br />
This is one of the best ways to improve the finish of your sewing projects. I find that I'm happiest with my results when I use an iron, but I don't use my regular iron. You want to make sure that you are using a dry iron. I use a <a href="https://www.clover-usa.com/en/accessories/585-wedge-iron.html" target="_blank">Clover Wedge Iron</a> when I do FPP. It has a pointy tip which is a feature that is important to me in an iron, and it seems to get suitably hot (and it's a great size when I'm making mini quilts too). There is no water reservoir, so I don't have to worry about accidentally having water in the iron. My biggest complaint about the iron is that it takes a while for it to get hot. If I'm working somewhere that an iron isn't available, I will use my <a href="https://www.violetcraft.com/notions-and-tools/violet-craft-seam-roller" target="_blank">Violet Craft Seam Roller</a>. I think it's the next best option.<br />
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<u><b>Go big.</b></u><br />
I try to be as effective and efficient as I can when cutting fabric, so FPP was a bit challenging to get my head around. FPP is not a method that super low waste. It's just how it is. On top of that, unlike a lot of traditional/conventional patterns, many patterns do not tell you what sizes pieces you should cut. I've realized that I'd rather deal with cutting away more fabric as waste than deal with having pieces that are too small and having to rip the stitches. Generally, I will cut pieces that are 1" larger than the size that they need to cover to account for seam allowances. If I have a piece that is rectangular, I won't push it out that far. It's one of those things that you just have to look at for each piece. The bottom line is that you should cut to a size that is comfortable for you and adjust as needed.<br />
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<u><b>You rule.</b></u><br />
When I FPP, I like to use the <a href="https://cmdesignsonline.com/paper-piecing-tools/" target="_blank">Add-A-Quarter Plus ruler by CM Designs</a>. I love how one side has a beveled edge that allows me to fold my paper back easily and one side with a 1/4" lip for trimming without the need to line up things on a ruler. Just place it down, butt the lip up to the seam, and trim using your rotary cutter. You can absolutely use a regular ruler, but I love how much time I can save when I don't have to stop and measure. They also make a regular Add-A-Quarter ruler without the beveled edge if you don't fold your papers, and there are even rulers for other seam allowance sizes!<br />
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<u><b>It IS worth the paper it's printed on.</b></u><br />
There are a lot of different options you can use to print/copy your patterns. Some people use plain newsprint, vellum, or cheap copy paper. I like <a href="https://www.ctpub.com/carol-doaks-foundation-paper/" target="_blank">Carol Doak's Foundation Paper by C&T Publishing</a>. It prints without issues in my laser printer, it tears easily when I need it to do so, I haven't had any problems with line crispness or ink bleed, and it isn't bright white which sometimes gives me a headache if I look at it for too long. I also like the texture. <br />
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<u><b>Size matters.</b></u><br />
When you are printing (if your pattern is a PDF) or if you're making copies of the templates, make sure that they are printing the correct size. Many patterns will include a size guide on at least one page that you can measure to make sure that things are printing as intended. If things are not printing as expected, it is often just a simple, easily resolved misconfiguration of your printer settings. Personally, I also like PDF because it's pretty straightforward if you want to resize the pattern templates. The last FPP project that I made had blocks that finished at 4" square. I wanted to make them a little bigger, so I printed them at 125% so they would finish at 5" square. <br />
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<b><u>Write it down.</u></b><br />
FPP can be a bit of a challenge to wrap your brain around when you first get started. You sew on the printed side of the paper, so you sewing everything as a mirror image of how the finished block will appear. Some designers may shade areas of the pattern so you have an idea of what color to put where, but that's not as common in my experience. For that reason, I take the low tech approach and grab a pencil and write which fabrics I want in each section (on the printed side of the paper). <br />
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<u><b>Embrace it or don't.</b></u><br />
Maybe you will love the process of FPP or maybe you won't. You know what? It's ok either way! As I wrote at the beginning, it's just a means to an end for me. I am glad that I know how to FPP, and I feel confident that I can successfully make something using that method if I felt inclined to do so. Will it ever be my preferred method? I doubt it, but things have been known to change. I guess we shall just have to wait and see.<br />
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We've come to the end. I've basically said all I have to say on the subject right now, so let's all go forth and make.leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-14458970486609123462018-06-15T19:23:00.000-07:002018-06-15T19:23:58.019-07:00Down the rabbit hole (aka the story of how I got hooked on Aurifil)I thought I'd take a few minutes to tell you the story of my journey with Aurifil and why it is my go-to thread.<br />
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My first <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> purchase was a large spool of 50wt thread in color 2600 (Dove) at a local sewing & quilt show back in late February/early March 2013. I had seen the recognizable orange spool in some local shops, but I had never tried it. I figured that it was worth a shot, so I purchased the color that I most frequently use for piecing and the rest is history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVunz2IHef8vaLm2kL7FPQ-HIN8CxNXPaXcP54tbU_yF6aNSv82CwlzTckTAIdj_iI49cCxN3tS98_roqUcTkE97h5NDrhm3PFO9xIV1CrWSLbLt2A2bvTAW3AqFweiO2caTPaWBXXVJz/s1600/IMG_5321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="811" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVunz2IHef8vaLm2kL7FPQ-HIN8CxNXPaXcP54tbU_yF6aNSv82CwlzTckTAIdj_iI49cCxN3tS98_roqUcTkE97h5NDrhm3PFO9xIV1CrWSLbLt2A2bvTAW3AqFweiO2caTPaWBXXVJz/s320/IMG_5321.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! There it is in the pile of things that I bought at Sew Expo on March 3, 2013.</td></tr>
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Needless to say, I was totally hooked. I followed up shortly thereafter with the large thread box from Tula Pink's first collection for Aurifil. From piecing and quilting to making bags, I used 50wt almost exclusively until June 2014 when I bought my first spool of 40wt Aurifil. <br />
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Today, I still actively use both 40 and 50 weight. I do all of my quilt piecing with the 50wt (including foundation piecing and a little bit of english paper piecing that I've attempted) because it's the great combination of being fine enough so that it isn't bulky in the seams, it blends well into the fabric, and it doesn't generate a lot of lint. I prefer using 40 weight (on the green spools) for quilting, attaching binding, and making bags. 40 weight thread is thicker than 50, so the stitches become a bit more visible. The slightly heavier thread also adds a bit of extra durability which I love, especially for binding. If you are reading this and wondering whether you can you use 50wt for all of those tasks, the answer is yes, absolutely! </div>
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So, why do I choose Aurifil? </div>
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<li>It's really great thread. The long staple Egyptian cotton used to create most of Aurifil's products is amazing. Unless you are talking about nice bed linens, I don't think Egyptian cotton is generally part of a conversation. For Aurifil, it is. Starting with high quality raw materials, their threads are refined through an extensive process that results in amazing consistency and quality.</li>
<li>I am a big fan of the wide range of colors offered. With 270 colors (!!!!) available in multiple weights and spool sizes, it's exceedingly rare for me not to be able to find an excellent color match for my projects. As of today, there is no true neon pink. ;)</li>
<li>Aurifil offers a variety of different weights to choose from. From the heaviest 12wt thread to fine 80wt thread and floss, I know that I can find what I need for my projects.</li>
<li>Multiple sizes of spools are available in the most weights. I buy some small spools when I need a color that I am less likely to use regularly, and I prefer the large spools for my favorite go-to colors or when I have a medium to large project. </li>
<li>I've used Aurifil threads in a variety of sewing machines with amazing success. From a small Singer Featherweight to an inexpensive Brother and my current 7 Series Bernina (with a bunch of Pfaffs of varying ages, multiple Baby Lock machines, and a few assorted other brands and models over the years), I've seen incredible consistency with the thread's performance. </li>
<li>As I mentioned earlier, I love how the 50wt is fine enough so that it doesn't create a lot of bulk in the seams so my seam allowance stays accurate.</li>
<li>It's low lint. It's cotton thread, so there will be some lint, but that is easily manageable if you brush out your bobbin area as recommended. I find that most of my lint is often generated from the fabric itself rather than the thread.</li>
<li>My cats really enjoy playing with the empty spools (PSA - string/thread can be incredibly dangerous to a cat if ingested, so please use appropriate caution)! </li>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYzfx22jBHz/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Like me, Lucy likes to sort her @aurifilthread spools by thread weight. 😂 #LikeMotherLikeDaughter #AurifilThread #aurifil #LucyAndTabitha #AuriKitty #GottaKeepEmSeparated #catsofinstagram #tortiesofinstagram</a></div>
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lelliebunny/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Leslie Meltzer</a> (@lelliebunny) on <time datetime="2017-09-09T03:08:40+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 8, 2017 at 8:08pm PDT</time></div>
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Well, there you go. Now you know the story, and you hopefully understand some of the reasons for why I rely on Aurifil for my quilting and sewing projects. My name is Leslie, and I'm proud to be a 2018 <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/auriworld/artisans" target="_blank">Aurifil Artisan</a>. p.s. There's a wealth of information available on Aurifil's website - <a href="http://aurifil.com/">aurifil.com</a>.leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-54613932710115839992018-06-08T10:36:00.004-07:002018-06-08T20:00:51.121-07:00I'm an Aurifil Artisan!The most amazing thing happened recently - I applied to become an <a href="https://auribuzz.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/introducing-our-2018-aurifil-artisan-team/" target="_blank">Aurifil Artisan</a> for 2018, and I was selected. The Aurifil Artisans are a group of men and women from around the world that use Aurifil in a variety of disciplines. From hand piecing and machine embroidery to garments and quilts, we are bound by our love of thread and our passion to create.<br />
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If you've followed my blog or Instagram account, you have surely noticed that I am a huge fan of <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/" target="_blank">Aurifil</a> thread. I first found Aurifil during a class at a local shop back in 2013, and I've been hooked ever since. With 270 amazing colors to choose from, what is there really not to like?</div>
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If you're seeing this because you found my page because of Aurifil, I'd like to take the opportunity to welcome you to my itty bitty corner of the blogosphere! I tend to post here more sporadically, but I post on my <a href="http://www.instagram.com/lelliebunny" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page regularly. It's mostly sewing pics with the occasional pet photo thrown in. </div>
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I like to think of myself as a quilter, bag maker, and a maker of whatever suits my fancy at the time. For the most part, I use the 50 weight 100% cotton thread for piecing quilts, and I use the 40 weight 100% cotton thread when I make bags or for the limited amount of quilting that I do (mostly quilting on the bags to be honest). When I'm not sewing, I am usually still sewing (in my head) because I also work as a freelance technical editor! </div>
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I am looking forward to having the opportunity to play with other offerings from the company (especially their monofilament) and being able to share those experiences with you over the next year.</div>
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leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-66716699238837094472018-04-15T21:30:00.000-07:002018-04-15T21:30:24.717-07:00Book Review - Child's Play Quilts by Stacey Day<span style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to my stop on </span>the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> book tour for Stacey Day's Child's Play Quilts book.</span><br />
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Stacey's book is a whole lot of fun. Divided into appliqué and pieced patterns, Child's Play Quilts features quilts to delight kids of all ages. For my project, I selected Swish. While I don't know what caught eye first, the pink and purple fabrics or the design, I just knew that I needed to make it.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Pz9bblSLBg6VzFCtxPBHWM-TuK4N3vQRUp9jnpPDubffEMyRTiHkbKSwmuumKfWtRne80McQ_xE5VRAJMIqeUGB_MvHZ0K_CTnDKTBMUESX5xnYWaU9r5Fi0e_FYxz5iDhqoxl_zlase/s1600/11285_123+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Pz9bblSLBg6VzFCtxPBHWM-TuK4N3vQRUp9jnpPDubffEMyRTiHkbKSwmuumKfWtRne80McQ_xE5VRAJMIqeUGB_MvHZ0K_CTnDKTBMUESX5xnYWaU9r5Fi0e_FYxz5iDhqoxl_zlase/s320/11285_123+%25281%2529.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Swish. Photo courtesy of C&T Publishing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One thing that I really like about the book is that many of the quilts can be scaled to a larger size without a lot of difficulty. So, that's exactly what I did. With a couple of quick calculations, I changed the finished block size up to 6" which bumped up the quilt from kid size to 66" x 78" - a perfect for me to use as a lap size quilt!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swish in Add It Up fabrics by Cotton + Steel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll be the first to admit that I am not much of a scrappy quilter, so I selected 4 fabrics for my project. Technically, they are 4 colors of the same print, but I did say that I'm not a scrappy quilter, didn't I? Anyway, I love how it turned out. It has a very 80s/retro vibe which is really quite a departure from how the quilt appears in the book, but that's part of the fun of making quilts, right?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Eiwt2rD0ncoELej6D0lhyOvZmzl2yDI7hgse8k_R5aQz0C3ks0Uq_wdDUgJZ2pJSwLemI1pBKSZdltWSCCHnSKfTdNojFg5Krs2gT-xvA4eOneS7W-UJWCt5m3v4owkHGawEBXz6nvmk/s1600/IMG_9124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Eiwt2rD0ncoELej6D0lhyOvZmzl2yDI7hgse8k_R5aQz0C3ks0Uq_wdDUgJZ2pJSwLemI1pBKSZdltWSCCHnSKfTdNojFg5Krs2gT-xvA4eOneS7W-UJWCt5m3v4owkHGawEBXz6nvmk/s320/IMG_9124.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pantograph quilted by Teresa Silva of Quilting is my Bliss</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In </span>addition<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to the patterns, there are some really great tips on a variety of subjects, including organizing/managing your stash (a favorite hobby of mine).</span><br />
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Anyway, I'm bet you want to know where you can snag a copy of your own Child's Play Quilts book! You can order a signed copy of the book through <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/StaceyDayQuilt/" target="_blank">Stacey's Etsy shop</a> or an un-signed copy through <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Childs-Play-Quilts-Make-Stash-Busting/dp/1617456136/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523682462&sr=8-1&keywords=child%27s+play+quilts&dpID=61X0ceKKd7L&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://www.ctpub.com/childs-play-quilts/" target="_blank">C&T Publishing</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stacey is giving away a copy of her book to 2 lucky people (one winner via her blog and one via Instagram). To enter into the drawing to win your own copy of Child's Play Quilts, follow these three easy steps! The winner will be drawn on April 21st.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Read my post here on my blog - you're here, so you've got step one done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Follow Stacey Day on her blog at <a href="http://staceyinstitches.com/">staceyinstitches.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Comment on Stacey's blog post</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd like to thank you for joining me today on the Child's Play Quilts blog tour! Be sure to check out all of projects that the participants made for the tour. There are some very cool quilts! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would also like to say congrats to Stacey Day on the publication of her first book. You go, girl!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the complete tour schedule:</span><br />
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<td><a href="http://www.staceyinstitches.com/">Stacey Day @staceyinstitches</a></td>
<td>April 9th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/naturalbornquilter/">Brett Lewis @naturalbornquilter</a></td>
<td>April 9th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com/">Cheryl Brickey @MeadowMistDesigns</a></td>
<td>April 9th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://capitolaquilter.blogspot.com/">Karen Foster@CapitolaQuilter</a></td>
<td>April 10th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cathysmithmackay/">Cathy Mackay @cathysmithmackay</a></td>
<td>April 10th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://tangledblossomsdesign.blogspot.ca/">Fiona Kelly @tangledblossom</a></td>
<td>April 11th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://jabotquilt.blogspot.ca/">Jackie White @jackiesartquilts</a></td>
<td>April 11th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sew_catstudio/">Jean Jones @sew_catstudio</a></td>
<td>April 12th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.happyokapi.ca/">Reece Montgomery @reecemontgomery</a></td>
<td>April 12th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.3dogdesignco.com/">Carl Hentsch @3dogdesignco</a></td>
<td>April 13th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.sillymamaquilts.com/">Brooke Sellmann @sillymamaquilts</a></td>
<td>April 13th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.knotandthreaddesign.com/">Kaitlyn Howell @knotandthread</a></td>
<td>April 14th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.badskirt.com/">Amy Gunson @badskirt</a></td>
<td>April 14th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelbysews/">Kelly Bowser @kelbysews</a></td>
<td>April 15th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/themodernsewist/">Karis Hess @themodernsewist</a></td>
<td>April 15th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://sewsweetness.com/">Sara Lawson @sewsweetness</a></td>
<td>April 16th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.50sqftstudios.com/">Leslie Meltzer @lelliebunny</a></td>
<td>April 16th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.mysweetlittlestitches.com/">Pamela Morgan @sweetlittlestitches</a></td>
<td>April 16th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.13spools.com/">Amy Garro @13spools</a></td>
<td>April 17th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.stitchandbobbin.com/">Stephanie Perrins @stitchandbobbin</a></td>
<td>April 17th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pinkdoorfabrics/">Chelsea @Pinkdoorfabrics</a></td>
<td>April 18th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://factotum-of-arts.com/">Michelle Wilke @ml_wilkie</a></td>
<td>April 18th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sewtiffany/">Tiffany Sepulveda @sewtiffany</a></td>
<td>April 19th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sewilearned/">Rachael Riechmann @sewilearned</a></td>
<td>April 19th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://mamaspark.blogspot.com/">Pamela Lincoln @mamaspark59</a></td>
<td>April 20th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/katydidklm/">Kate Maryon @katydidklm</a></td>
<td>April 20th</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-59710027564800724992018-02-14T09:20:00.000-08:002018-02-14T09:20:26.612-08:00Wayfinder Quilt with revised flying geese construction<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">NOTE: I made the Wayfinder Kit (pattern by Stacey Day and Tula Pink for Free Spirit / Coats), I decided to use a revised method for creating the flying geese. I respect the copyright on the pattern and the work of the designer, so I am solely providing you with the measurements and the resulting change to the yardage needed to complete the project. I take no responsibility for any errors in cutting or with the accuracy of individual work. These methods are oversized to allow for trimming down to their final desired size.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></span>
I would highly recommend using a Bloc Loc Flying Geese ruler for this project. It saved me hours of time in trimming the geese to size using my regular ruler.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For 4 at a time no waste flying geese (used for all w/ Natural sky and non-directional prints w/ Manatee sky):</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cut print square at 5.75”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cut 4 solid squares at 3.25”</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For 1 at a time stitch and flip flying geese, aka rectangle and 2 squares (used for all directional prints w/ Manatee sky):</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cut print rectangle at 2.75” x 4.75”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cut 2 solid squares at 2.75” x 2.75”</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Following these revised methods requires additional fabric:</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Natural sky/background geese*: increase yardage by .333 yd minimum (.5 yd suggested)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Manatee sky/background geese: increase yardage by 1 yd minimum (1.25 yd suggested)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bear Hug in Star Light (pink): increase yardage by .333 yd minimum <u><b>OR</b></u> 1 FQ (.5 yd suggested)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">* I decided to create the single flying geese around the center star with solid background rather than the Arrowheads print, so my calculations do reflect that change. </span></div>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-82133709672027852582017-10-04T09:00:00.000-07:002017-10-04T09:00:28.184-07:00Book Review - Longarm Quilting Workbook by Teresa Silva<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi and welcome to the 3rd stop on the Longarm Quilting Workbook
blog tour. I am so excited to participate. I met Teresa Silva almost 3 years ago after corresponding via email about something that I wanted to have custom quilted. We've worked on 50+ quilts since then (including 2 that are in this book)! If you follow @quiltingismybliss on Instagram, you've seen her work on many of my projects. Here are a few pics from some of my favorites:</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeowyWxevjw7pmBtJmh7yCZL1bI9RPFCqIvDtd9_zkJxTU7PQts1QSdYZOiBKvMuHhbWxirNy9kwlUmEnLIXfjsOJuZ0p0fsrySt01hpMPbJSFl0Bz2wZRx7Z4wCn5XPq8pLn3Eq4RzXV/s1600/Version+2+%25283%2529.jpg">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeowyWxevjw7pmBtJmh7yCZL1bI9RPFCqIvDtd9_zkJxTU7PQts1QSdYZOiBKvMuHhbWxirNy9kwlUmEnLIXfjsOJuZ0p0fsrySt01hpMPbJSFl0Bz2wZRx7Z4wCn5XPq8pLn3Eq4RzXV/s200/Version+2+%25283%2529.jpg" width="200" />
</a>
<br />
From my Cookie Cutter Quilt<br />
(pattern by Jaybird Quilts)
</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeLxj3WpJvGPN8nEYWg5cwFOpTm9L0uPoRUYTnN7qwsmSU3Imwmb3Sv_PofYaEgjwsTuiIVIxbtA43bQJorQB7ZqJ1YTYdbNnl3EZiwrHZfC3PRecKrrmAuG1ptV6PC-MYKJHgilHYbwT/s1600/Version+2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeLxj3WpJvGPN8nEYWg5cwFOpTm9L0uPoRUYTnN7qwsmSU3Imwmb3Sv_PofYaEgjwsTuiIVIxbtA43bQJorQB7ZqJ1YTYdbNnl3EZiwrHZfC3PRecKrrmAuG1ptV6PC-MYKJHgilHYbwT/s200/Version+2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" />
</a>
<br />
From my Arcade Game Quilt<br />
(pattern by Jaybird Quilts)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY06ZzfWBBpP7NoKkURl00uEXCivAcuCEegsFJTt9VQcyDDs4E_ullN2-wSth299zd3mhqRRker9g2xx0S3tG2F-6Vsr-v53zSbrKDtrvBbsBwXaTUeyHlQV0wLwagDP3wu7IZx3TlVTFY/s1600/Version+2+%25282%2529.jpg">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY06ZzfWBBpP7NoKkURl00uEXCivAcuCEegsFJTt9VQcyDDs4E_ullN2-wSth299zd3mhqRRker9g2xx0S3tG2F-6Vsr-v53zSbrKDtrvBbsBwXaTUeyHlQV0wLwagDP3wu7IZx3TlVTFY/s200/Version+2+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" />
</a>
<br />
From my version of The Butterfly Quilt<br />
(pattern by Tula Pink)
</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H73XZ4VuGeCycbN7R9yjpMtxDz6C_LuREAPY8r1Jr0072zTs5lAwUaazJmcykc7BPaXuKtt9SS2e0UHL00wkNqzY1kcUOK8BlT2XvweSvct7CI2sWjhaGWWwr_TKollikUG0cQGilv5b/s1600/Version+2.jpg">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H73XZ4VuGeCycbN7R9yjpMtxDz6C_LuREAPY8r1Jr0072zTs5lAwUaazJmcykc7BPaXuKtt9SS2e0UHL00wkNqzY1kcUOK8BlT2XvweSvct7CI2sWjhaGWWwr_TKollikUG0cQGilv5b/s200/Version+2.jpg" width="200" />
</a>
<br />
From my August Stars Quilt<br />
(pattern by Jaybird Quilts)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll be honest, I harbor no illusions about my lack of a future
as a longarm quilter, but this book has a so much more to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond the pretty pictures lies a treasure
trove of information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Longarm
Quilting Workbook is a great reference to help you work with your longarm
quilter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it’s not written for that
purpose, learning more about how the longarm machines operate (as opposed to a
regular domestic sewing machine) can make the whole process flow more smoothly
if you understand the limitations of working on a frame, including the size of the machine and the frame, and the methods of operation (hand guided, computer guided, etc).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Call it part of my curious nature, but just because I don't want to be a longarm quilter doesn't mean that I don't want to understand how it's done. I love how the Longarm Quilting Workbook presents text and illustrations that work together to show how the motifs are created. I've actually watched Teresa quilt in person, but I get mesmerized by the whole thing and forget that I wanted to really watch to see how it's done.</span><br />
<br />
The book also has a couple of fun patterns for you to make. I opted to do single blocks of two of them so they could hang as mini quilts. Here are a couple of pictures of my interpretation of the Go With the Flow Table Runner and the Snicker Doodle Quilt:
<br />
<br />
<table align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_8kmxfe2WYA2dwvFgTXweKL40Q8KWvg_9HMGILN6D1gJftRIsvTcASdV_dDmB5lys3HlzcefNSXEx17Mscm1OhLYXA3oj4mjhMDvgBqoJqVi9PvJeEXNoBpWcLy-IvJs9v3usv1CdwkK/s1600/IMG_4858.jpg" imageanchor="1">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_8kmxfe2WYA2dwvFgTXweKL40Q8KWvg_9HMGILN6D1gJftRIsvTcASdV_dDmB5lys3HlzcefNSXEx17Mscm1OhLYXA3oj4mjhMDvgBqoJqVi9PvJeEXNoBpWcLy-IvJs9v3usv1CdwkK/s200/IMG_4858.jpg" width="200" />
</a>
<br />
<div class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">
Mini quilt based on the Go With<br />
the Flow Table Runner</div>
</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-oyaesZi9hPMee7RM6gpNIt1mPFHm2cY9qqN-cYnUsPt1gYejd-mKGN7_z1eBXX7sHw_Py_pJbvUF-b3jSDPCfwoCp9IdhDfhCi64T7VbcSCipN5vOumSKh-to78-EfU_HV8-bvplZl6/s1600/IMG_4852.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-oyaesZi9hPMee7RM6gpNIt1mPFHm2cY9qqN-cYnUsPt1gYejd-mKGN7_z1eBXX7sHw_Py_pJbvUF-b3jSDPCfwoCp9IdhDfhCi64T7VbcSCipN5vOumSKh-to78-EfU_HV8-bvplZl6/s200/IMG_4852.jpg" width="200" />
</a>
<br />
Mini quilt based on the<br />
Snicker Doodle Quilt
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
Thank you so much for joining me on the Longarm Quilting Workbook Blog Tour. There is much more to come from my fellow participants, including some fun prizes and the grand prize giveaway that you can enter if you comment on the LAST post of the hop as we rejoin Teresa back where we started at <a href="http://wwww.quiltingismybliss.com/">http://wwww.quiltingismybliss.com</a> on 10/17/17 (the window to enter will only be open until Friday, 10/20/17 at 4pm Pacific)!<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">-----</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the full schedule for the Longarm Quilting Workbook Blog Tour:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday, October 2, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Teresa Silva – Quilting is My Bliss – <a href="http://www.quiltingismybliss.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://www.quiltingismybliss.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday, October 3, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nancy Jewell – Free Spirit Fabric - <a href="http://freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">→ Wednesday, October 4, 2017 - YOU ARE HERE ←</span></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">→ Leslie Meltzer – 50 sq ft studios - </span><a href="http://www.50sqftstudios.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.50sqftstudios.com/</a> ←</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday, October 5, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Carrie Nelson – Moda Fabrics<b> </b>- <a href="http://blog.modafabrics.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://blog.modafabrics.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Friday, October 6, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane Kinzie – Quilter’s Dream Batting - <a href="http://quiltersdreambatting.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://quiltersdreambatting.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday, October 9, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kristen McVane – Instagram: Stashquilts (Please leave her a comment and come back tomorrow to our blog hop.) She will be giving away a Longarm Quilting Workbook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday, October 10, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Carl Hentsch – 3 Dog Design - <a href="http://3dogdesignco.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://3dogdesignco.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wednesday, October 11, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Helen Ernst Longarm Quilting - <a href="http://www.helenernstlongarmquilting.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://www.helenernstlongarmquilting.com/</a><u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday, October 12, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Julie Herman – Jaybird Quilts - <a href="http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Friday, October 13, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Karen Miller – Redbird Quilt Co. - <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com/</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday, October 16, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Linda and Carl Sullivan – Colourwerx - <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://colourwerx.wordpress.com/" style="color: #954f72;">https://colourwerx.wordpress.com/</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday, October 17, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Teresa Silva – Quilting is My Bliss - <a href="http://www.quiltingismybliss.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://www.quiltingismybliss.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can purchase the Longarm Quilting Workbook at the following sites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.quiltingismybliss.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://www.quiltingismybliss.com</a> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">(</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">For an autographed copy)</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.shopfonsandporter.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://www.shopfonsandporter.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.quiltandsewshop.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.quiltandsewshop.com/</span></a></div>
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leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-30143683120306141182017-06-22T12:53:00.002-07:002017-06-22T13:00:49.598-07:00A love letter to my rotary cutter(s) and some first impressions on a new productHere's my confession for today. I'm incredibly picky about the tools that I use (shocking, I know). I expect them to perform consistently over time, and I try to do my part to keep them in good shape.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the cutter looks strange to you, it's got the blade set for a left handed cutter.</td></tr>
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One of the tools that I use most frequently is a rotary cutter. The first rotary cutter that I bought when I started sewing was a <a href="http://www.olfa.com/45mm-deluxe-handle-rotary-cutter-%28rty-2-dx%29/9654US.html#start=10" target="_blank">45mm Olfa Ergonomic Rotary Cutter</a> (aka Deluxe Handle). I liked it because the blade automatically retracted when you release the handle (there is a button to lock the blade in place, so it can be locked open or closed). As a person that can be a klutz at times, I knew that it would be the safest for me. I have used this cutter or one of its identical siblings (with new blades, of course) almost daily for the last 5 years. I know that I can count on it. This is my go-to cutter, and it's designed so that you can easily switch the blade to the other side for those of us that cut left handed. I will also tell you that I have tried other cutters (other models and other manufacturers), but this is the one that I always come back to.</div>
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Over the next few years, my collection of cutters has expanded and they are all from Olfa. In addition to my original 45mm Ergo, I've added a 60mm Ergo, a 28mm straight handle, and an 18mm straight handle. The 60mm Ergo is great when I need to cut thicker items, like multiple layers of <a href="http://www.byannie.com/shop/category/byannies-soft-and-stable/" target="_blank">Soft and Stable</a> or batting. The 28mm and 18mm cutters work well for small cuts and with specialty templates. (I wish those sizes were available in the Ergo design, but sadly, they aren't.) I've purchased additional 45mm Ergo cutters over the years so I would always have one packed in the bag of sewing supplies that I use for classes, and I've bought them to use for cutting paper (the one that has the red x is my paper cutter). I use slightly older blades that aren't as sharp in my paper handle. When they are all too dull or nicked, I keep them in a blade container that is not-so-creatively marked as BAD until they can be safely disposed of in a sharps container.</div>
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So, when I ran into a couple of ladies from Olfa on the floor at Quilt Market, I had to profess my love for their products (I have multiple Olfa cutting mats too - the rotating and folding mats are my favorites), especially the 45mm Ergo cutter. They have recently released a new product, and they asked me if I would be interested in trying it out since I was already using their other products and share my experience. Without hesitation, I said yes. </div>
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The new product, the Endurance blade, is supposed to cut twice as long as their regular blade. Wow. That certainly sounded intriguing. They handed me a shiny, new 45mm Ergo cutter that was already equipped with the Endurance blade, and off I went (quite gleefully, I might add). </div>
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I'll be honest. I haven't had the opportunity to cut as much as I normally would have since my return home from St Louis. My kitty, Tabitha, had knee surgery, so I've been more focused on taking care of her. However, I needed to cut out a few quick projects, so I grabbed my shiny, new cutter and started cutting. I was not prepared for what happened next. I expected it to cut well, but it was even more than that. The <a href="http://www.olfa.com/45mm-endurance-rotary-blade-pack-of-1-%28rb45h-1%29/1128127.html#start=1" target="_blank">Endurance blade</a> is in-freaking-credible. It was like I was just cutting through air rather than multiple layers of quilting cotton. The cuts were so smooth and effortless (and this was on a less-than-new cutting mat) that I actually had my husband try it for himself after he asked me what was wrong (I had just been standing there with my mouth hanging open muttering wow several times). I put a new blade into my regular cutter, so it was a comparison of 2 brand new blades in the same model of handle. I didn't tell him which was which, but he could tell the difference after making a couple of cuts with each blade (and he was pretty impressed). As I mentioned before, I haven't cut a lot of things since coming home, so I can't speak to the cutting for twice as long part yet. Even if it doesn't quite make it to twice as long, I'm still impressed. </div>
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Wow. Wow. Wow. </div>
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I'm not going to say that I will immediately get rid of the existing pack of new blades that I have because I won't, but I will be switching over to buying Endurance blades for my future purchases. They are more expensive than the regular blades, but they are simply just that good. </div>
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<i>As I said in the post, I was actually given this new cutter with the Endurance blade and asked if I would share my experience. For anybody that has met and talked to me, I will not hesitate to say that I'm not a fan of something (and I will tell you why). This is my blog. These are my opinions. They may change over time, but they will always remain mine. I am not willing to sacrifice my integrity in exchange for talking about stuff that I don't truly like. That's not who I am. </i></div>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-18535860352285219112017-06-04T10:50:00.001-07:002017-06-04T10:50:14.170-07:00Quick tip on making multi-size patterns easier to readI have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with multi-size patterns. I LOVE that I get several size options (usually 2 or 3) within a single pattern, but they aren't the most fun to read especially when you are dealing with multiple sizes or measurements. <br />
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To make things easier on myself, I took a back to school approach and grabbed some highlighters. Normally, I don't like to mark on my patterns unless there is an error or change that I know I want to make as a more "permanent" adjustment (something that I would want to do every time I make the pattern).<br />
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Before I even begin to make anything for the pattern, I will read through the pattern and mark each multi-size measurement in a different color (I usually mark all of one size at a time). In the case of the example that I show here, <a href="http://www.byannie.com/shop/product/write-stuff/" target="_blank">The Write Stuff </a> from <a href="http://byannie.com/" target="_blank">Patterns by Annie</a>, I marked all references to the small in yellow, references to the medium in pink, and references to the large in orange. In patterns where there are 2 sizes, I will usually mark only one. The same thing is true for when I'm making a pattern where I know that I want to make a certain size. I don't necessarily mark all of them.<br />
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In the cutting instructions, I simply marked the header of the column for each size with the appropriate color. Using the highlighter gives your eye a visual cue of where to look, and in my opinion, helps you to minimize mistakes caused from mis-reading the line. Just take your time when you mark the pattern, and don't forget which size you're making!<br />
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So, that's that! Now, go forth and mark!leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862298681818451700.post-18484288094905600922017-05-23T17:41:00.000-07:002017-05-23T17:44:05.110-07:00Spring Quilt Market 2017 by the numbersI'll admit to not being the most consistent blog updater, but this year has already been a whirlwind and not in the best way. I thought I'd pop in and give you a quick recap of some of my highlights from Spring Quilt Market 2017. <br />
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<li>2,000 - the number of followers that I finally broke on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/lelliebunny" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (this is totally blowing my mind)</li>
<li>6 - the number of brand new patterns that I edited (there's more on the way)</li>
<li>1 - the number of books that I edited </li>
<li>7 - the number of existing patterns that I edited (that's just the count of what's been released)</li>
<li>2 - the number of quilts made by me that were displayed (quilted by <a href="http://www.quiltingismybliss.com/" target="_blank">Teresa</a>, of course)</li>
<li>5 - the number of bags made by me that were displayed</li>
<li>5 - the number of pouches made by me that were displayed (+ a tutorial for making them)</li>
<li>7 - the number of FQ bundles that I purchased</li>
<li>4 - the number of patterns acquired (not including copies of patterns that I edited)</li>
<li>3 - the number of schoolhouse sessions that I worked</li>
<li>1 - the number of schoolhouse sessions that I attended</li>
<li>21.97 - the number of miles walked from Wednesday-Saturday in the boot</li>
<li>7.28 - the number of miles walked on Sunday without the boot</li>
<li>1 - the number of national historic landmarks visited</li>
<li>1 - the number of airport evacuations that experienced (it turned out to be a false alarm)</li>
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With all of that said, there were some highs and lows as expected. I made some awesome new friends, and I had a chance to reconnect with some others. The countdown is already on to Fall Quilt Market in Houston (157 days until Schoolhouse - eek!). I'll be back to work tomorrow after a self-imposed 2 day break to decompress. </div>
leslie @ 50 sq ft studioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10875765563629879174noreply@blogger.com1