Sarah Jean Makes Lands End Quilt

Things I never thought I would do - test quilt pattern. I actually didn't think I'd sew another quilt (or not many) when I moved in 2019. I actually have away close to 3,000 yards of cotton woven from my stash. I spent many years making quilts that I rarely kept. I made quilts for just about everyone I knew having a baby and donated regularly to Project Linus. I kept 2 quilts that I can think of, and I honestly think I gave them to Goodwill when we moved. They were very worn and I was no longer attached to them. When we moved, I kept a small stash of cotton wovens. The photo below is my fabirc pull for the Lands End Quilt by Sarah Jean Makes. 

The prints I chose are Art Gallery fabrics. I love the feel of fabric from Art Galley. It's so smooth and feels so good as I run my hand over it. I probably bought these fabric and kept them solely because they were Art Gallery. I had very few solids. I rarely buy solids as I am a pattern addict. I had to send Mike with a scrap of fabric to get me solids at Walmart. The white was some Kona solids I had, and Mike got me the yellow and pale green from Walmart. They are the Waverly brand.  

I took my time working on the Lands End Quilt and took some photos of my progress as I went. The photo above is all my fabric pieces. The photo below is me preparing to make the half square triangle blocks.

I have this handy "Quilt in a Day" Triangle Square Up ruler. I love this for half square triangles. I can square up the block on the fold easily. 

The Lands End Quilt is very beginner friendly. It is basically 9 blocks which are very  easy to assemble. The center block  is just a large square and is perfect for using a panel.

I laid my completed top on the bed to look at it and Nia couldn't resist getting under it. 

Felix helped me get photos of the completed quilt top. 

Felix was shocked when I told him to drape the quilt top over these limbs. He was worried about it getting dirty. I reminded him it was just fabric and could be washed. 

I ordered a 40 yard roll of batting online. When it was delivered, the delivery person just propped it up against the sidelight and didn't ring the bell. Mike walked to the entryway to get some candy from the cabinet there and saw this tall thing blocking the view and went to investigate. He had no idea what it was. It was well  packaged in lots of thick plastic and was all good. I had to get him to help me unwrap it and get it in my sewing closet. After it arrived it took me a bit to decide on a backing. I order some and didn't like any with it. I decided to use a muslin backing I had in my stash and I think it was the perfect choice. I watched the Marvelous Auntie M's YouTube video on pool noodle basting and it made this a breeze! Her video is in two parts. Part 1 and Part 2. 

I then went to do the quilting. I had this crazy idea in my mind to do just a bunch of random lines and zigzags and then fill in spots in a maze like pattern. I don't know what the heck I was thinking. It took me forever! But I really love how it turned out. But I don't think I'll ever do something this crazy again. 

Sarah Jean Makes does this thing on Instagram called Quilt Swirl Wednesday. So of course I had to do my first quilt swirl using my quilt in her pattern. 

Next up was the binding. I had purchased 3 yards (maybe a little more) of each of the art gallery prints I used for my Lands End Quilt. I had about 1/4 yard left of the background print and a yard of the print I used in the center. I used the leftover print to make my binding. 

Here's a close-up look at my binding. I sewed it to the back, then  sewed it down in the front using a decorative stitch. 

Nia seems to think that this quilt belongs to her. 

I had Felix help me again get some photos of the quilt fully completed. It was very warm today, near 80, and very windy. But we had a beautiful blue sky and I laid down on the ground and took photos while the wind blew the quilt through the air.  

Felix is holding the quilt up in this photo. I told him to squat down a bit so his feet and legs didn't show. 

Then I had him lay it across these limbs again. 

Testing a quilt pattern was much different than testing a pattern for apparel. It was a lot of fun and it really motivated me to get it done. I only had to complete the quilt top, but wanted to get it completely finished. 

The Lands End Quilt pattern is on sale through Friday. This is the first pattern released by Sarah Jean  Makes and I can't wait to see what she has planned next. 

Greenstyle Bianca Pullover

Since its still winter and I'm still cold, I made two more wintery tops. When I saw the tester call for the Greenstyle Bianca, I was a bit undecided since it was called a cropped top. I'm too old and chubby for crop tops. But it had a funnel neck - which I love for winter and there was a high hip version in addition to the shorter cropped version. I sent Sharon Aguilar a message to ask her how long the top was on her. She's an admin for Greenstyle and pretests everything. She's just a smidge taller than me, so I knew I could get an idea of length from seeing it on her. I loved the length on her and threw caution to the wind and signed up. 

This turquoise french terry was something I picked up in the Dallas fabric district years ago. I love this shade of green and I probably bought 8 yards. I have several items made with this french terry - including a pair of Brassie Joggers. I used it for my fit test and figured if it was a complete disaster, I could make another one with the same fabric, but my fit test version was perfect! 

I had not worn these Greenstyle Tempo Tights since probably September or October. They are too big for me! I have lost weight since I have been working at home and walking almost daily, but I hadn't noticed much change in my body until I put on these Tempos. I didn't know  if I should cry for joy or sadness. This is my favorite pair and I made my fit version of the Bianca and my Final Bianca thinking they would look great with these Tempos. If you were to zoom in, you would see that there were loose wrinkles all along the back of my legs and at my crotch. The print helps to hide them. The print is called Stormy Streaks from Zenith & Quasar and I have made a few things with it - including the Greeenstyle Midway Bomber. 

But this top is perfect to wear with my leggings as it warms up a bit more. I'm a wuss and don't like walking when the temps are below 50. Thankfully, where I live that is not too frequent. 

I made the high hip with a regular band (there is an option for a narrower band with a drawstring) and love that when I wear my high rise tights, I am fully covered  even when I raise my arms!

I have been saving this fabric for something special for a long time now. It is heavy athletic brushed poly from Zenith & Quasar fabric. I knew whatever I made had to be something casual that I wouldn't ever accidentally wear to work. There are topless mermaids on it and well, that might get me into trouble at work. 

I loved the nautical theme and that it had jellyfish and octopus - two creatures of the sea that I adore. I have a capsule wardrobe that I use for my cruises and thought this print would fit right in. Hopefully one day I'll be able to hop on a ship and go somewhere.

This Bianca is definitely going to get a lot of wear as we go into March. It starts to warm up in March, but can still be a bit chilly at times. The heavy ABP, is not as warm and thick as a french terry so I will be able to wear it for more of the year.

Now to decide if I make new tights or take these apart and make them smaller. I think I'll wait a few weeks to decide. I'm still enjoying wearing my joggers.

I only made two Biancas in testing. I do see more Biancas making there way into my closet, just not right now. Winter is almost over and if I keep up my daily walks, maybe I'll need to make a smaller size when fall comes around.  A girl can dream. Right?

The Bianca Pullover is on sale through February 14th!

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