SEW KINDA WHAT?

Wonderful is not the experience I had making

Sew Kinda Wonderful's "Metro Rings" quilt top.

Countless, laborious hours, a shitty class teacher

Re-cutting and sizing pieces...praying I had enough fabric!

But...the quilt top is DONE!

The block on the top was cut and made correctly 

I did change the triangle pieces Kona navy.

Bottom pic shows two colors of the triangle fabric..

I decided one color would be better.

That block was also cut incorrectly, during class,

using the wrong registration lines on the ruler...

per the class teacher.  

Thank GOD I had a couple extra jelly roll pieces left

to fix a few incorrect cuts from the class.

I also had to trim up some gray background pieces!

Here it is on the design wall...

as I cussed my way thru the process!

You may think...no big deal, but it WAS 

a very costly BIG DEAL!

Because this was a corporate sponsored class 

I had to pay $5.00 dues to the activities association

just to get the class fee reduced to $35.00

That took several hours (priceless) 

because the corporate website

would not let me sign up via their crappy website!

 I ended up sending a check in for the class 

...another 54 cents for stamp!

Then I bought...

The Sew Kinda Wonderful Pattern $10.00

The Quick Curve Ruler $24.00

Zen Chic Jelly Roll $42.00

Background 5 yds KONA on sale $30.00

Navy fabric for connecting squares $10.00

Thread $10.00

Class Fee $35.00

Time invested...priceless

Total spent just to get to the "top finished" place $166.54 

Still need backing, batting, long-arm quilting fee!

The smoke is started to come out my ears again.

Oh wait, lemme be fair.  

The shopgave each participant a coupon for 

1 yard of fabric (up to $12)  

I got my coupon (later than most) 

and just a few days to redeem it... 

50 mile round trip!

Refunding the class fee would have been 

the right thing to do!

Are you beginning to see what this whole

experience was never WONDERFUL!

Sew here is  "Metro Stings"  cause it still does!

Thank for listening to my bitch post.

I think its good to tell the truth when shit happens.

Quilting is not all dream batting and unbreakable needles!

Tell me you worst quilting experience

so I know I'm not alone!

FABRIC SHACK ATTACK!

I have been to many quilt shops and 

The Fabric Shack is by far...my favorite.

  I usually catch up with my kwilty crime friend, 

Kathy Guenther for fabric, lunch and laughs!

Someone needs to remove that no-parking sign...

there is no where to park there anyway!

Luv the new paint job and logo face lift on the building!

The fabric inside is always incredible...

 Cotton and Steel "BOO" was ordered on-line for store pickup

I'm in a Halloween Swap on IG and 

this line is my partner's fav...sew I try to please!

Here's the goodies I found this time

Minus the 5 Lizzy House fabrics on the right. 

Those came in the mail from an Instagram destash!

I hope to make the Fancy Forest quilt...in this small size...

I was glad to see this hanging, it is 1/4 of the entire pattern

and just the right size for what I'm thinking.   

 I pulled some other C&S Spellbound to 

audition for the swap project...

And made this project bag for my swap partner.   

This reversible boxy tote pattern is free... get it here

 by Very Shannon and a project I luv to make!

Til next time...

SUPERTOTE SWAP...NAILED IT!

Yes I am an IG (Instagram) Swap Junkie!

I could not resist the #Supertoteswap hosted by 

Amista Baker  @amistabaker

My partner was Van Tabbert aka @flatbrokeminimialism

I stalked her profile to find she really loves these colors...

then headed to my stash...

I found very similar colors and prints but most

of these are Kate Spain fabrics.

I also noticed she like patchwork...so ta...da!

The front pocket is patchwork

the backing and lining are other coordinating fabrics

The Supertote pattern offers a recessed zipper on the top of the bag

and I added my label to the inside fabric pocket

Here's the finished Supertote!

Front...

and the back

Some extras items I made for Van's swap package included

a zippy pouch and note cards!

I threw in a pattern for good measure-ments!

I really enjoy swaps and try to make something 

the recipient will luv... and per her comments below

I NAILED IT!

I PASSED THE TEST!

I really enjoy testing patterns. 

Especially something I have not sewn!

Like this fun fabric wallet by Rena Blain 
@thesoutherbobbin (instagram handle)

I was hanging out on IG (imagine that)
 and saw her post asking for testers 

I had never made a wallet but this one spoke to me!

I took a stash dive to find fabrics, zippers and stabilizers.
Then cutting and sticky notes to mark the pieces 
and keep me organized...
The pattern as pre-printed labels you can cut out! 

Made a first zipper pocket...like this

Very few wallet patterns offer this valuable tiny zippy pouch!

No more loosing my change in my bag!

This Lotta Jansdotter fabric....
I only used 2 FQs and had enough for all pieces.
I just played with the fabric and cutting sizes as I went.
Worked out great!

Here you can see the credit card slots - also a first for me!

The magnetic snap was an easy install.  

Any snaps can work...I had the magnetic on hand.

DONE!

As a tester, it took me about 5 hours to make it.

From start (pulling fabric) to finish (snapping it shut)

I made some mistakes, did some stupid stuff, as I usually do

which required the seam ripper

and I wrote lots of notes for feedback.

The second wallet, also from my stash, took about 3 hours

Southern Bobbin can make them in 2 hours.

After vacation I will make one with my Ghastlies fabric 
and use the now published pattern.   

This pattern is well designed, instruction are easy to follow, 
 great diagrams, great cutting instructions and 
perfect for a first time maker!

If you like the Bobbin Wallet pattern head over to Craftsy 
and get it now!  
http://craftsy.me/2avV991

It is available on craftsy as a PDF download
OR

You can pre-order a paper pattern just email

southernbobbin@gmail.com w/your /PayPal email 
She will invoice you and waive the $1 shipping
cause you are one of my peeps! 

Mention @kwiltypleasures in your order. 

This was a great experience for me and 
apparently I offered some very helpful feedback.
Thanks Reyna for the opportunity!

YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE

I finished with this Lotta Jansdotter quilt but had some
quilting issues...and need your input!   

I decided on a large wave organic line pattern...
and started the design...like this.

Here some close up pics...that look amazing (to me)

This took hours and hours of quilting on my Bernina

and when I was done...

The damn thing was wonky...the bottom right corner 

had stretched out somehow!  The quilt was not squared!

I washed it without any binding

layed it out flat, tried to shape it up as best I could

Let it dry...

Then Hubby pulled out the carpenter square 

and his measuring tapes and I trimmed it

to the best squared up...I could get!

I used a white binding to give me some wiggle room

and hide the defects...

You can see the design pretty well on the back!

 Here is my method or setup for quilting...

• Pin basted (pinned the sandwich to the basement carpet and close pinning as I always do)  
• Used my Bernina B740 with a 10" throat space
• I do not spray baste (machine nor I like it)
• Used a walking foot, dual feed, and a 3.5 quilting stitch length.
• First quilting line was thru the middle, at a vertical diagonal (see pic above)
• I worked from the first center line out - one side then the other
• I may have pulled on the top a bit, trying to eliminate any puckering.

Any tips you can offer is greatly appreciated 
as I really liked this wavy quilting... 
just not the stretchy mess!