SEW KINDA WONDEFULl...MESS!

Welcome to my Sew Kind of Wonderful-mess!

I signed up for a corporate sponsored class with my former

co-workers/guild peeps.  The goal here was to save $7.00

I had issues getting into the class...and getting on-line

to sign up...but that is boring and annoying stuff!

I got the Pattern and Quick Curve Ruler for Christmas

($35 my hubby bought it)

I had been hoarding a Zen Chic "Figures" Jelly Roll ($42)

and bought the rest of my fabric. ($40)

Class Fee $27.00 + $5.00 corporate dues ($32)

I am at $149.00 

I sewed my strip sets before class...I was ready!

In the class...instructor provides a QCR cutting demo 

to help us understand the ruler / cutting lines

She says cut the curve lining up the SOLID LINE 

Cutting and sewing away...then hmmm

  the end pieces of the blocks don't fit...1/2" smaller

I ask the instructor why?  

"Don't worry...sew it on that way and when we 

square up the blocks to 10" and it will be fine"

?

 I finish a 4-block square...Looks OK...
So...I cut some more curved pieces...

Later at home...someone in our group gets her ruler 

and pattern out and discovers we were using 

the WRONG DAMN LINE to cut the curves!

Instead of the LARGE DOTTED LINE - - -

we were told to use the  SOLID LINE ___ 
as the reference line which ends up being 

Exactly 1/2" too big (see next photo)
and why my pieces were not working!

 5 curved strips cut "per strip set" instead of the 7 needed!

 WTF!!!

Fortunately I had a couple strips of "Figures"strips left over.  

I mixed them up with other strip sets and FINALLY 

had enough fabric to make the number of blocks I need!

I had to fuss with my background fabric and 

made a curved template to cut the curves I needed 

out of my scraps to finish the blocks

Lesson Learned...

EVEN if you have an instructor...who is supposed to know

what the hell they are doing...

make sure you understand the technique and ruler

before going to a class!

Many will not have enough fabric and some will

finish it to the best size this mistake will allow...sad story!

The shop has admitted their error, apologized and those
attending will probably receive some small store credit.
Guess its better than nothing...
My hope is that the instructor will
"review her materials" before she teaches any class again!  

 I will name this quilt...

"Some Kinda Wonderful-mess"

LOST.FOUND.SAD.UFO!

This project has a moral of the story to consider...

It is a LOST project, FOUND in my stash for many years.

  It is now a UFO project for the 

All People Quilt Resolution Challenge

I bought this X block book and ruler many years ago...

This cute Halloween fabric had been cut for a very long time, LOST in my stash of many grandious projects.

I started making the blocks...

Put them on the design wall and much to my surprise...

 NOT at all what I must have envisioned so many years ago!

So I tried another layout, that I liked better.

Still not exciting, but will work for a table runner.

 This UFO makes me SAD because I waited so long to make

SAD that I don't really like it.   

I used part of the fabrics to make the backing and will get it quilted before Halloween.  

I will put this finished project in my stack of "pay it forward" projects for swaps !

Every IG Halloween SWAP needs a Swap Angel, right?

Moral of the story...try not to wait years to finish

a  UFO.  If you do you may be SAD and find yourself on the   

"what was I thinking" wagon!

Again I meet my challenges for...

SOCK IT TO ME!

I am not a sock knitter 

but I luv me some hand knit socks!

But I got very lucky last Christmas 

when Lucia, @pearlofthepacific on IG

and Lucia Pane on Ravelry

granted my yarn wish for a pair of hand knitted socks.

She knitted me THESE beautiful pink socks!

I saw Lucia had a goal to make 36 pairs of socks in 2016

So I commissioned her to knit me another pair.

I sent her the yarn I had in my stash

and picked out this pattern, Ludmilla

you can find it here on Ravelry

a short time later I received these beauties!

I am one happy gal and know I will need more socks in my future!

But for now.. Lucia has really "socked it to me"

Both turned out beautiful!
Please stop over on Ravelry and check out 
all of Lucia's patterns.
Just click here!

Knit On!

Kathy

TOO CUTE TO SPOOK - UFO #1

Sometimes I get far behind...on everything.   

I am busy sewing and knitting and well, I did have a couple eye surgeries (catarcts) and blogging takes a hit!

I did finish a Halloween top in Januay 

It was my UFO for the 

All People Quilt Resolution Challenge. 

Riley Blake fabric "Too Cute To Spook"

and a favortie pattern for novelty prints 

called "Peyton"

  

Before I knew it...blocks were on the design wall

Just look how fun the fabrics are!

and I like the NON_TRADITIONAL colors

for Halloween

The coordinating polka dot was perfect for the border

and the purple with black spiders 

made an excellent choice for binding.

The top is done and that was my UFO goal....

I will quilt it before Halloween!

I can check one off the APQR challenge list!

2021 update:  After sitting for years after it was sewn together,,

I am giving this to my friend, Alison Evans, to finish for her daughter.  I love to pay it forward.

EWE AND ME SWAP

Participated in my fist Yarn Swap...

on Instagram, of course!!!

Partners were assigned and we were introduced to

one another, emails provided so we could chat.

  The only rules were...include $30 of yarn and

we could add extras as well.

Mail by March 5th...no problem!

 Kari Cole out of Pittsburgh, PA

was my partner

I perused her partner form and IG account

to see what she liked!

I kept colors and specifics in mind for her and selected...

4 skeins of Pick Knits 4 ply yarns (turquoise)

2 skeins of Poems 4 ply yarns (variegated browns/neutrals)

She also liked tea and I added that to the package

I had a little note book that I included

and I made her a small zipper pouch

 to keep little items for knitting in.

She really spoiled me as my package included 2 skeins

of beautiful fingering yarns.

I am really crushing on lacey type scarves

and shawls, so these will be perfect!

some fun stitch markers and knitting accessories

in a cute box to keep them safe

Those owls are sew sweet!

A huge project bag from Noonday Creations.

Oh wait...check out these cute tags for knitted gifts 

I may (or may not...wink) give!

As part of the swap, several indie yarn dyers 

offered discounts....I went shopping!

and now these are also in my stash!

I should be knitting instead of blogging...but

hey sometimes I gotta chat with you!

NOTECARDS

February has come and gone even with Leap Day. 

I finished up a fun WIP for the 

All People Quilt Resolution Challenge.

Luv me some Notecards

and I hop you will too!

I like to save some scraps...well OK..lots of scraps!

I have been buying card and envelope stock

with those 40% of coupons at my local craft stores!

I think "Note Cards"  still have a place in a 
Twitter, Instagram, emailing, texting world!

If you send or give someone a card...
they will know  you cared enough 
to step outside the social media boxes!

It all begins with an old sewing machine needle...
This set on white card stock and
"Noteworthy" fabric scraps are sweet!

Brown card stock and (old) scraps from 

  Urban Couture, Basic Grey look amazing!

I signed the back of each card!
 "Winter's Lane" fabric scraps are some of my favs!
The colors just pop on this white card stock!



I just listed these sets of 6 Note Cards in my Etsy Shop
Just click here!
I have lots of other items in the shop.. 
so enjoy and browse around!

I really enjoyed getting these done and by using small fabric scraps
I was able to keep up with these two challenges!