Mystery Monday Link Up and Design Wall Monday

What do you do after Christmas?

I sew. And sew and sew.

Did you know neutrals are my favorite color? 

How fun to spot my picture as part of Bonnie's collage!!

First I needed to finished clue #5 for Good Fortune.

I really like making this block.

I can't wait to see where it lives in this quilt.

I learned something while removing pages from my phone book.

I didn't knew there was a reverse directory in it. 

I had to look for my own phone number.

Bonnie suggests only working on 2 pages at a time.

I wanted to try 3 just for the heck of it.

It blew up in my face pretty fast.

2 pages sewn together meant the tape and the scalpel seam ripper came out.

That blade wouldn't cut melted butter so it had to be changed.

I love the removable Scotch tape for paper repair.

It doesn't get sticky and gunky when it's ironed.

Of course I don't apply the iron to the tape, 

only to the fabric.  

Like everyone else that is working on Good Fortune,

I cannot wait for the next clue. 

Next up this week will be cutting into some of these lovely sweater knits. 

I figure if I cut it out, it will get sewn up faster.

Pieces have been matched to the patterns.

Crossing my fingers for a new top or 2 this week. 

See what others are working on at 

Quiltville's Mystery Monday Link Up 

and

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilt.

Design Wall Monday

There wasn't much quilting happening around her this past week.

We made a quick trip to the beach on Tuesday, 

attended 4th grade graduation Friday,

helped put on a big picnic and our son got married on Saturday.

On Sunday I barely moved.

Wednesday and Thursday I sewed. 

I have a pretty fabulous knit fabric stash.

If you are in the market for some nice knits,

check out Knitpop.

I made myself some  2 new tops.

The camo top was my tester the week before.

I really like Love Notions patterns.

These are all from the Rockford Raglan pattern.

I also have made several Laundry Day Tees.

I'm a big gal and I love my shirts to be flowy, not showy!

Today we head back to the beach for several days.

There will be some block construction happening there.

Check out the quilters that are actually working on quilts this week at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Yeah For Pants!

 

 My Jacole skinny pants are done! 

Yeah for pants that fit!!

There will be modifications.

I will never try to topstitch a pocket with 5 layers of fabric with the coverstitch machine.

It was a mess.

But I fixed it and used my sewing machine.

Modification #1...I do not like this patch pocket.

I feel like it is down to my knees but it isn't.

I prefer a nice little pocket inside.

I can make that happen.

This is how I hem...pants and shirts.

I serge the seams, then press up the hem, press on fusible tape.

I serge around the bottom for a clean finish.

I clip the seam being careful not to clip too far.

Then twist the seam. 

Remove the paper, press and topstitch.

Other modifications:

#2-shorten the hem by 3"

#3-lengthen the back rise on the pattern paper

#4-shorten the front rise

(I have a weird shaped body!!)
Oh and I used  drawcord elastic in the waist.

I'm unsure of using just the band. 

I need the security of elastic-old school I guess.

I wore them all afternoon and evening.

They were so comfy!

I have a nice selection of pants fabric from Knitpop.

I'll be cutting another pair today.

Yeah for pants!

Design Wall Monday

This is not a quilt related post,

it's a sewing pants post.

I'm making myself pants! 

It's been a struggle all my sewing years to make pants that fit me.

I get frustrated and give up way too soon.

(Quilting is so much easier!)

I was determined to make it work this time.

So after research and talking to my daughter who sews lots more clothes that I do,

I decided to try the Jacole Skinny Pants pattern.

I started out Sunday morning taping the pattern together in my outdoor office.

Then I got a phone call asking me if the kiddos could hang out with us while 

their parents went on a date.

Uhhh, yeah!

So this girl and her 3 brothers spent the day with us.

So much activity and talking and laughing and planning.

I loved almost every minute of it,

I do not like having to bandage up war wounds.

After they went home and I recouped,

I decided to cut out my pattern with some Ponte I bought from Knitpop.

Then I basted them together and tried them on.

I was almost in tears with how happy I was with the fit.

I only need a little adjusting for my big hinnie,

other than that, perfection.

I'm a happy sewer.

Today I get to play with the serger and coverstitch machine and

will finish them and cut out another pair or 7.

Yes, I have that many knits earmarked for pants.

Long pants, and caprices.

When will I go back to quilting?
I'm not sure.

I'm too pumped about new pants right now.

Check out other fabulous design walls at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

After finishing Grand Illusion,

(4th finish this year!!)

I decided to get to that pile of t shirt knits.

Shirt one is done and after another press it will be ready to wear.

I've discovered a new online fabric shop.

Knitpop, they sell knits.

Really nice knits.

I may have already ordered a couple of times.

With my design wall empty and my machine clear,

I'm going to spend time with my serger and my ball point twin needles 

and make myself a few more shirts this week.

See what others are doing at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.