The year long (48 hr) sewing project

 Almost one year ago I had started a sewing project with enticing hints of what to come and then proceeded to never mention it again in the year 2012...

Perhaps it was my forgetfulness, lack of time or inspiration, but I began that small quilting project in hopes that it would turn into a much needed sewing machine cover.  I was also on a recycling kick then and I really wanted to use up a lot of leftover fabric just sitting around my apartment.  I found a simple enough pattern from my Fresh Quilting Book by Malka Dubrawsky and began piecing.  I got as far as putting together the entire front piece before I packed it up and moved out of my first SF apartment, began school, new projects, etc, etc until I ultimately realized that nearly a year had passed without much progress.

So, this morning, I finished it!  As my post title reads, technically this project took me one year to complete, but the total amount of active hours sewing was probably around 48 hours.  It really was a simple project to do and I only spent about 4 hours today finishing up where I had left off!

 

 After piecing, I was able to cut out a piece of sturdy cardboard to place as the top structure of the cover.  I slipped the cardboard under the front piece and quilted around it.  After quilting, I cut all for sides even and sewed on the binding, making sure to add four ties on the sides to keep the cover snug on my machine.

I'm really happy with the results and I'm a bit embarrassed that I didn't get to this sooner.  But now I have a cute and efficient dust cover for my sewing machine!

You can find this project from Malka's book:  Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration

October happenings

I can't believe that we're already into the second week of October.  I still keep thinking we're somewhere near the end of August!  Where did September go???  Seriously, WHERE DID IT GO?

That's OK though.  Many, many great things are happening this month.  Below are a few things that I managed to get together and show:

My little nephew is turning ONE! soon and I had the awesome foresight to put together these small stuffed owls during the end of summer when I wasn't so busy.  I managed to finish them a little while back and now I'm sending them all off to him!  I had made a similar set of these guys for my other nephew, the tutorial can be found here via Moonstitches.  Super fun and easy!  I only wish I could be home to give it to him in person and kiss those oh-so-chubby cheeks!  Happy birthday little man.  :)

The second thing that I'd like to share is a piece that I put together over the last few weeks.  I recently was accepted in this year's Soho Photo's Alternative Process exhibit in New York. Things have been a bit crazy since I needed to get the piece together in time for my flight back to New York this week.  The image is printed as a tea toned Cyanotype on Japanese rice paper.  Edges are hand torn to emphasize the delicate nature of the imagery.  I float-mounted the piece on foam core and then on mat board.  The frame is built from old reclaimed barn wood. 

I really love the frame.  It really is a great compliment to the piece.

Finally, a new image to share via The Jacket series.  I felt it very fitting to photograph in this particular environment since it's the only time of the year that I really wish I were back home in New York to see it's beautiful fall season.  Oh man, how it kicks in my sentimentality.  Pumpkins!  Fall leaves!  Apple Cider!

Beginning, ending, starting, losing...

These past few days have been filled with abnormal activity.

To begin with, I sold my car.  It took me a total of two days to do so.  From starting the research, finding a buyer, completing the necessary paper work and receiving a check, I was car-less!  Hell, I even deposited the check in the second day.

Though, I cannot say that parting was quite as easy.  It was silly actually.  Because the moment I shook hands with the buyer and promptly walked out the door with Thom, I turned the block, looked around bewildered and burst into tears.  (Ironically the exact same block I cried at when I fell off of the Vespa.)

I cannot, for the life of me, explain why reasonably.

I really held no emotional attachment to the car itself.  I was quite happy to get rid of it financially.  Living in the city for a year now had made Thom and I both see how silly it was to keep paying for a loan and insurance just to keep a car we rarely used!

It's hard to explain but I will try and just say this.  I have lived my whole life having the convenience and ease of getting around where and when I wanted to.  Losing that car was like losing that freedom and in way, grounding myself to one place for an indefinite amount of time.  That kind of thinking is completely scary and irrational for me, thus the sudden crying.


Secondly, Thom and I are moving out!  We're headed closer in the city (now without a car) and found a nice house that has LOTS of room to spread out in.  Lease begins in February, so for now, no pictures.  :(

During this month long semester break, I was able to finish knitting a pair of gloves...but do not seem to need them as I had previously thought?  (Thank you sunny San Francisco weather!)  I also finished a T-Shirt quilt for a running friend of mine.  I can't wait for her to get it.  K had sent me all the needed materials for this quilt six months ago, so I hope it turned out exactly how she envisioned it!

So, with my last week before school starts and apartment moving, I decided to take some R&R and try some improvisational quilting.  Not too sure where I am going with it but I have an idea.  (To share with you all later, in another post!)  I think it's the best kind of sewing when you needn't follow all the rules.  ;-)

Update:  Check out the beginning all the way through to the end of this T-Shirt Quilt!

New month, new project
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part II, Before the Cut
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part III
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part IV and updates
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part V
Quilting and Binding:  Part VI

Quilting and Binding: Part VI

 

After basting the quilt together, I was ready to begin quilting.  I kept a 1/2" border inside the t-shirt and quilted each block.  Working with a large piece like this involved me having to roll the piece underneath the sewing arm constantly.  It is definitely a tedious task and it took me over the course of three days to finish quilting.

But it was worth seeing the end result and I'm satisfied to know that I had accomplished quilting such a large piece with my little Brother machine!  Once I had finished quilting each block, I trimmed the outer edges and snipped away any loose threads.

Next I needed to address the top of the quilt.  K had asked me to include a way to hang the piece on her wall at home.  After much thought and online research, I came to the conclusion of adding loops to the top of the piece for her to easily slip a curtain rod through.

 To begin with, I cut out eleven 4"x12" rectangles in the bordering fabric.

 Next I ironed each rectangle in half, right sides together.

I then sewed a 1/4" seam on the open end.

Using a large knitting needle, I turned the loop inside out.

And ta-da!  An instant hanging loop!

I then spaced out the loops to the backside of the quilt and pinned them in place.

Next I turned the quilt over to the front and began sewing the binding on.  You can find a detailed tutorial on how to make biased tape here.

Now that the binding has been sewed all the way in the round from the front, I can now begin to hand-sew the back of the binding onto the quilt. 

I will try and stay diligent on the binding but as many quilters know, this is the most impatient and time consuming part of making the quilt!  I hope you can all bare with me as I finish this last step of the whole process.  All most there!

Update:  Check out more this quilt's progress!

Before this post:

New month, new project
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part II, Before the Cut
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part III
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part IV and updates
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part V

After this post:
Beginning, Ending, Starting, Losing

T-Shirt Quilt: Part V

More progress on K's T-Shirt quilt.  This week I was able to piece the three layers of the quilt together; the bottom piece, batting and top piece.  This process involves a whole heck of a lot of ironing, space and basting pins.  K had sent me all the needed materials a while back, so I had to re-iron all the needed pieces again.

After ironing, I laid out the bottom piece, right side down on a clean surface and began measuring.  I usually take the dimensions of the top piece and add one foot to the length and width.  My top piece measured out roughly to 60"x80".  I then cut my bottom piece and batting to 72"x92".

After measuring and cutting out the bottom piece, I laid it out on a flat clean surface and taped it in place, nice and taunt.  (Don't stretch!)  I then placed the batting over the bottom piece and finally the top piece on that to create the quilt layers.

Once I was satisfied with the layers, I began to baste the quilt.  Basting is just a temporary way of holding the layers together.  This makes it easier to handle and quilt the piece before binding.  As you see, the last time I had used my basting pins, I carelessly threw them back into their container...so they were all jumbled together.

Starting from the middle of the quilt and working my way out, I began basting all the layers together using the safety pins.  I smoothed out any bumps and kept the fabric taunt.


Once the quilt was basted, I rolled all the edges inwards and held them in place with additional safety pins.  (This was done more out of ease for quilting on my sewing machine.)

With this part of the piecing and basting completed, now all I need to do is sew the layers together aka, quilting!  It's funny to think that this is the true definition of quilting.  But when we mention the general act of making a quilt, people tend to think, "Oh, she's quilting!"

UPDATE:  Check out all this quilt's progress!

Before this post:
New month, new project
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part II, Before the Cut
 T-Shirt Quilt:  Part III
T-Shirt Quilt:  Part IV and updates

After this post:
Quilting and Binding:  Part VI
Beginning, Ending, Starting, Losing

More photo garments

Hello!  Happy holidays.  I just got back in New York last night and I'm feeling refreshed, joyous and excited.  I FINALLY have the time to get back to blogging and finishing up some long neglected projects.  (That means your quilt Kyra!)  So for now, I just wanted to share some of my latest sewing projects for a photo final this past semester.  What I did was create wearable pieces of clothing and accessories and applied images on them with Cyanotype.  The process is exciting and very new to me still, so I'm really inspired to keep making more.

Hopefully everyone is almost done with their holiday shopping and enjoying time with family and friends...I know that I am.  Cheers!

A marriage of craft and imagery

The biggest and most revealing answer as to why I have not been blogging...is because I've been sewing!  Sewing, sewing and more sewing.

Recently, I combined my love of sewing and photography together to create unique pieces of art/clothing/accessories.  I used Liquid Emulsion to light sensitize the fabric and expose an image on top in the darkroom.  Afterward, I processed the fabric like photographic paper, waited for it to dry and then pieced and sewed together the rest.

My first attempt was with a completely sewn shirt (shown at the beginning of this post).  I painted liquid emulsion directly on the front of the shirt and exposed it in the darkroom.  My second attempt was with a dress.  Keeping the bodice and skirt pieces separate, I put liquid emulsion on each piece before sewing together.  Similarly, I created a simple hand tote working the images on separate fabric pieces before joining them together.

I am drawn to and amazed by the idea of imagery and textile.  I hope to create a few more pieces to come.  Unfortunately, liquid emulsion is not a lasting image-making medium and it easily comes apart when the clothing is washed.  My hopes are to move into Cyanotype and create these pieces once again but with a steadfast and lasting outcome.