Fashion Redesign Class

This weekend my friend Lesley and I took a Fashion Redesign class at a local sewing machine shop.  We had a great afternoon, and only wished the class was a bit longer.  

We each brought a bunch of stuff to reconstruct.  Here's my bag of things, and though I only got to one skirt project, I got a few ideas for the other things in here, (I think my next project will be a sweater-cardigan conversion.)  

These are some of our classmates and the teacher.  

Lesley was working on a sweater to cardigan conversion herself!

And I was turning a pair of torn but well fitting jeans, (plus another torn pair from my husband's pile) I'd saved into a skirt with some petals.  

I really like the way this is turning out... I've done some pin tucks in it to hide some seams, and I can't wait to work on it again so I can wear it this spring!  I have yet to wear something I've made, (other than a small knit/crocheted item), so I think this will be a good test of my skills! 

Fishy Hair Clip Holder

I found some cute little hair clips on sale the other day, and my daughter's hair is just long enough to hold them now, so of course, I needed to have them.  

But where should I keep them?  

So I had to make this little fish with a ribbon hanging from him.  

I cut pretty much on the fly, and hand sewed the whole thing while watching TV.   I'm pretty satisfied with it, though there are a few things I  might change about the shape if I did it again.  

The star at the bottom is weighted down with beans.  

Doll Quilt Quilt-Along, Part II

Well, I finished my doll quilt up!  I like the way it came out and am glad I participated.  I'm pleased with my birdie applique, and enjoyed doing some different, wiggly quilting.  

I liked trying the loops around the  border without being forced to commit to it for a large quilt.  I also liked the small scale for trying out a color scheme that I wouldn't have normally chosen!  

My baby isn't too interested in this quilt, but might find it more fun when she's getting into dolls a bit more.  Chewy, the cat, on the other hand, seemed to like it a lot!!  So that makes it a success as far as I'm concerned!!  (Sorry about the sideways picture - it doesn't want to cooperate!!)

Knit Mouse

When I started this, it was going to be a cat toy, but it ended up being much bigger than I'd thought it was going to be!

Good thing the little one likes it!  I'll have to make a smaller one for the cat and fill it with nip!!  

The pattern came from the Knitted Toys book that Renee gave me for Christmas!!  Thanks again, Renee!!  :)  

Mittens and Socks

I have been saving that multicolored yarn for mittens since I got it!!  I think I have enough for a pair of matching hats and maybe even a scarf too!!  Yey!  

I was waiting to finish the last mitten before posting this... four pairs just seemed a lot more impressive than three and a half - but boy did that last one take some time!!  I got my mitten pattern from the book Weekend Knits, which has lots of cute things in it.  It was an easy pattern, and good thing because I left my copy of it at a friend's house after only the first mitten!!  

The socks are from the Debbie Bliss, Simply Baby book.  I think my little one is pleased with them!!  I'm not even sure her thumbs are in there... 

Note to readers though - never let Baby try to crawl in mittens!!  

Doll Quilt Quilt-Along, Part I

Here's my quilt top for the Sew, Mama, Sew Doll Quilt Quilt-Along!!  I love the way it came out, and was excited to find a good use for these cute fat quarters my mom picked up for me!!  I love the kitty theme, and I think my little one will appreciate it later, since she's such a fan of the feline already!!  

I'm planning a birdie applique for the next step.  I'm also planning on using a different free motion quilting technique than I usually do, (like I've done a ton of quilting - Ha!)  

House Quilt Top

I've been taking advantage of my last couple of days of daycare, (paid in full through the month of January!) to get some quilting done!! Well... this quilt will take quite a long time to actually complete, but at least I can clean up all the little scraps making it created in my guest room (so now you have a place to sleep when you come to visit!!)

Anyway, here's the full post, on the Lazy Cal: House, Home, or Pantry Quilt Along blog. I think I've been a bit ambitious with my quilt, since it's really the first time I've done any free-piecing, but I love my little houses, and my DH requested that I work on that one before starting another quilt I've cut pieces for. He liked the houses too!

So now I just need to decide what to do about the back, and if I'm going to add any lettering to it!