fabric for addicts

fabric for addicts
Originally uploaded by girlwithgreencard

Well, friends, I'm glad I'm not participating in a certain challenge (though I could probably really benefit). I was in a fabric store on Monday ($5 grab bags!!!), bought some delicious fabrics online on Tuesday, and ended up at JoAnne's again on Friday with my new friend Lary. She's pregnant and I seized the opportunity to have someone to quilt for immediately (cause I'm giving that way) and offered to make her baby a blankie.

Irritatingly, she's not finding out if she's having a boy or a girl, so unisex was the order of the day when we chose fabrics. We settled on a vintage Americana theme, and I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THESE FABRICS! If only I didn't have to focus on finding a job and do silly things like "grocery shopping" and "cooking dinner"...

Anyways, as soon as there's a break in the depressing job search routine, I'll be quilting.

catch-up

I've been having quite the week with allergies and job-related drama and PMSing, but am happy to report that I'm feeling much better today, and that I've gotten quite some crafting done. See for yourselves:

item #1: Purple Dress

I finished the pants and the hat. I decided to improve the pattern by making the hat reversible, which turned out a wee bit crumply, but mostly fine and definitely reversible.


I'm calling the whole thing a success!

item #2: Knitting
I needed something to do while watching a movie last week, so I dove into my yarn stash and taught myself to cable from this book. I had somehow thought that cable-ing was extremely difficult and only to be attempted by knitting super-heroes, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was and by how well I did with it.

The yarn was an inherited left-over, so the one ball I got was all there was. The pattern I was working with is for a jacket, and since I didn't want to end up with a one-sleeved jacket or anything similarly embarrassing and frustrating, I decided to turn this first attempt into a little clutch purse, lined with satin or some other fun fabric.
Then I moved on and bought this lovely green cotton ease, which I'm very much in love with even though it's only 50% cotton. It won me over with its pretty colors and soft softness. I'm making this jacket. Cute, huh?!


It's turning out well, isn't it?!

item #3: Quilting
I have a friend who had her second baby on Tuesday. I'm making dinner for them next Sunday, so this should be done by then. So far, the progress is promising...

It's going to be a nursery wall hanging, and my plan is to quilt the two boys' names into it. Thankfully, they're both short names. :)
(individual star pictures on flickr)

item #4: boldly going to where I've never gone before
I'm getting an application for a booth at the annual local craft fair this October. Booths run upwards of $150.- and I don't have anything to sell (at this point). But I made the call!

purple work in progress

progress
Originally uploaded by girlwithfabric.

This dress hasn't been as easy to make as I anticipated, and while it's certainly not been a walk in the park, I've gotten a little bit of work done each day this week. It looks done in this picture, but alas, the worst is still ahead of me: buttonholes.


back
Originally uploaded by girlwithfabric.

My machine makes buttonholes automatically, but I haven't used that function before, so I'm a little nervous. I'll be making some practice buttonholes before I touch this project again!
And once the dress is done, there's the hat and the panties I'm making to complete the set.
And as if that wasn't enough crafting on the horizon, I also have (at least) one more project for the fat quarter challenge, a nursery wall hanging for a friend with a due date in April, a denim skirt for myself, and a bunch of curtains to make. Yikes.

Spring Break

Spring Break
Originally uploaded by girlwithfabric.

It's officially Spring Break, and I'm working up the energy to get out of my PJs and into some real clothes. I have a couple of projects - the purple dress (pattern is cut out), some more fat quarter challenge sewing (fabric is cut out), and a crocheted bag that is not coming together quite like I'd hoped (maybe blocking it will help). Last night, I ran out of white thread, so I'm thinking a trip to the fabric store is in order...