Sewing Scientist: August 2022

Week ending August 28, 2022

I had a busy week. Monday, I went to the immunologist to get tested for a penicillin allergy. I was allergic years ago, but I am not any more! I was there for 4 hours and used my new By Annie Project Bag I made and took my EPP supplies to work on my Lucy Boston blocks.

I worked on a quilt pattern test for Fieldstone fabrics.

I ordered photos printed on fabric from Spoonflower for my Dia de Los Muertos project. These are a few of my grandfather. The 9 year anniversary of his passing was this week.

The Mushroom Table Runner pattern from Rope & Anchor Trading Co released.

Friday was Fun Friday at Stitchhouse and I bought a lot of fabric half off!

I started on a pattern test for a wall hanging for ndcc patterns. I'm using Tula Pink mineral prints.

I should have more to share soon.

Mushroom Table Runner by Rope & Anchor Trading Co.

Rope & Anchor Trading Co. has some of the cutest patterns that are extremely beginner friendly. They are all made from squares and half square triangles with easy to follow diagrams. I love mushrooms for their appearance and purpose, but you won't ever find me actually eating one. When I saw the Mushroom Table Runner, I volunteered to test it immediately.

The pattern provides instructions to make each mushroom individually and also all together as a table runner. Having the separate diagrams and cutting instructions allowed me to cut out different fabrics for each mushroom cap.

Each mushroom cap can be easily cut from a fat quarter. I used my Anna Maria Horner scraps for mine. It was fun to mix and match the fabrics. I went with some fallish colors.

I did some free motion quilting on my table runner. I still need a lot more practice. I used an Anna Maria Horner print from the Love Always Collection for the backing and binding. The fabric was gifted to me by the Jaftex fabrics president Scott Fortunoff. I am so lucky to be an ambassador for his company.

After I made my mushrooms, I also didn't finish my Mushroom Table Runner. I thought - How fun would it be to make a bunch of these mushrooms and make an entire quilt with them? However, the fabric I used for the background was the last bit I had left from Minerva from another project and I thought if I did a whole quilt I would probably do it even scrappier with the stems each unique and use all different colors of green scraps mixed up for the grass. I might have to try it later on.

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Week Ending August 21, 2022

I didn't do a lot of sewing this week. I did finish up my projects for Jaftex fabrics and need to photograph them. I then spent time cleaning and organizing my sewing room.

I ordered some fabric from Thistle Creative Reuse that arrived with the best sticker! Thistle Creative Reuse is a fantastic shop in a nearby town that sells donated craft supplies. They currently have 60% off their online shop. They have all kinds of craft supplies.

I pulled out a bunch of fabrics that I'm not sure I'll ever get around to using. I'll be finding new homes for it soon.

I finished my By Annie project bags. These were so fun to make. I used the Let's Partea Collection by Satin Moon Designs for Blank Quilting Corp.

I reorganized my fabrics a bit. I put my favorites (all my Anna Maria Horner prints) out here by my sewing machine. I attempted to make a pretty rainbow. I hot document storage boxes and filled them with unfinished projects and smaller cuts of fabric.

I ended my week starting a new pattern test. It's the New Mercy Quilt by Fieldstone Fabrics. I'm using it as an opportunity to make a Christmas quilt. I'm making the baby size and plan to display it for the month of December. I'm hoping to make small quilts for a few holidays to put out as decoration and use.

I'm also starting another pattern test this coming week. I started cutting out my fabric on Sunday and decided I needed to order a different fabric. I also hope to jump into the Hurrication Sew Along. I ordered some fabric from Spoonflower for a project and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I have so many projects to make and finish and probably need to slow down on new projects and just finish a few first.

Week ending August 14, 2022

I have been busy and forgot to post last week. So this posts covers the past 2 weeks. I received my fabric for August from Jaftex. I normally sew for Studio e Fabrics, but this month I'm sewing these Let's Partea Collection by Satin Moon Designs for Blank Quilting Company.

I received a pack from Kelly Renay thanking me for being a tester. She sent me some fabric and these cute sewing machine stickers. She created the stickers and the card.

I also received a thank you gift from Julie at Running Stitch Quilts. I love having a paper copy of the pattern! I'll be making a trip to Starbucks soon to treat myself to a Frappuccino.

I worked a lot on my pattern test of the Pinot Vines Quilt Pattern by TJ Wright.

My blocks

I finished this quilt and it is gorgeous!

I received a second package from Jaftex fabrics and it was a kit from by Annie to make project bags. I'm making 2 with fabrics I received this month.

I made some blocks for another project.

More blocks.

Made Whimsy is having a big sale and I bought some quilting cottons.

I also got Sweatshirt knits for joggers.

The beginning of a project bag.

Some blocks I sewed together for a coffe/tea mat

Here's my mat in use.

Scrappy Rainbow Entropy Quilt

I love the Entropy Quilt Pattern from Squats and Running Stitches. There are instructions for making a scrappy version on their blog and that is what I used to make mine. The blog instructions give you various size cuts that work, but I like to keep things simple and stick to just 5" squares (charm pack cuts) and 4.5" squares. The pattern goes together so quick! So quick, that I was able to make this top in 1 day! Granted - I had cut the background fabric and some of the scrappy pieces a few days before.

I had to finish this quilt quickly as I was making it as a surprise gift for a dear friend. She just became a grandma and would be leaving in a few days to go see the new baby.

I initially was going to make my quilt in only shades of teal and turquoise. When I heard the baby was a little girl, well - I felt like I could do something more colorful and playful. I took a Friday off from work and went through my box I keep of 5" squares and charm packs. I picked out a rainbow of fabrics and just started sewing.

The lady that does longarming for me occasionally happens to be a mutual friend and she agreed to quilt my quilt in a day! I was so thankful she was able to work me in and save me some time. I took the quilt to her on Friday afternoon and was able to pick it up from her on Sunday morning. I added the binding and called my friend and acted like I had a sewing emergency that I needed her assistance with.

The new mother is a doctor and when I first heard that she was expecting, I knew I was going to make a quilt for her and use this vintage medical diagram print for the backing. I got this fabric from Zenith & Quasar in 2015! It's been sitting in my stash waiting for the perfect use and I found it!

Most might think that this fabric is a little macabre, but I find that those with a scientific background tend to gravitate toward what "normal" people would consider dark.

The quilt is now in it's new home and I'm eagerly waiting to hear from the new grandma about meeting her granddaughter. I loved making this quilt and hope the baby girl will enjoy it for years to come.

If you didn't notice the kitty in the photo above, here you can definitely see her. That's Nia and she's wondering when she gets a quilt of her own.