tutorial: the wonky triangle improv block

Wonky is my fave, ok my only, style of quilting. 

I really, really suck at sewing perfect seams and matchy corners.

So, wonky quilting is sorta my quilting salvation.

No pins -- no pressure -- no perfect.

Love it.

This block was inspired by this delicious snippet (thanks, Jeni!). It's so sassy and I can't get it offa my mind.

Let's haul out some scraps! 

I'm going to make a doll quilt... 3 strips... 3 colorways. 

For this tutorial: oranges and yellows.

We'll be making a 6.5 x 18 in (16.5 x 45.5 cm) block.

It's super easy to make any width/length block you like; just make sure your scraps are 2-3 inches wider than the finished width of the strips.

(The strip I made for the do. Good Stitches bee was 48 inches long!)

Since I'm making a 6.5 in block, I'll be using scraps that are mostly 8.5 in and longer, in a variety of widths, mostly between 5-9 in.

1. Start with 2 scraps.

2. Place them right sides together at an appropriately rakish angle and stitch.

3. Press and trim the block to about 7 in. We'll trim the block to 6.5 in when it's all finished, but for now, we want to give ourselves a bit of wiggle room while still ensuring that we're sewing on each new piece in a linear fashion, yaknowwhaddimean?

4. Pick your next scrap and sew it to the block, right sides facing, at a slightly different angle. Easy!

5. Press. Here's the block so far.

6. Some of the scraps can cover more than one piece of the block at more extreme angles. Make it interesting!

7. Be sure you trim up from time to time before pressing.

8. Press and trim to 7 in.

9. Add interest by using some smaller scraps. Sew that sucka on...

10. Press it open...

11. And add another small scrap.

12. See? You're getting the hang of it.

13. Another method is to pre-piece a few smaller scraps together.

14. It's a bit more manageable, especially when you're nearing the end of the block.

15. I like to add the small pieces to both ends of the block.

Ta-da! All done.

Time for a nap.

Thanks for joining me -- I love this block and it is so deliciously easy and mind-clearing. 

Hope you have some fun with this!

shop update: rainbow bias tape

Rainbow bias tape! Now available in the shop.

vintage sheet bee quilt top -- done!

Last night I got out my Vintage Sheet Bee blocks that I've been meaning to put together for-ev-ah. And oh! talk about a happy way to spend an hour on a summer evening. Vintage sheets just make me so stinkin' happy.

I sewed two blocks together really crooked, and as I was ripping them apart I thought of an article I read in the Ensign a while back. The author was talking about how ripping out just one stitch here and there can destroy a piece of sewn work, even though you might not notice it at first. Then she talked about how skipping scriptures and prayer here and there can weaken us without us even noticing.

I was adjusting my stitch length as I was thinking about that, then realized another parallel there -- the shorter the stitches, the stronger the seam. Likewise, I know that when I pray and read my scriptures more often and more consistently, I feel stronger and happier.

Parallels aside, I'm super excited about this quilt. I think I'm going to turn + tie it, rather than quilting + binding. More out of laziness/impatience than anything else. I can't decide whether to put in batting or whether to just sew backing + top together for a lightweight summer throw. Anyone have experience with that?

Epic thanks to the ladies of the Vintage Sheet Quilting Bee for this one! You can find my tutorial for this quilt block at my old blog.

Happy Thursday -- it's almost the weekend! Yay!

styled skirts

So I realize I totally posted these same exact skirts yesterday (duh Amanda, way to go). But I was so happy with the way the photos turned out that I wanted to post them all over again (and now they're up in the shop!). I hadn't thought of wearing a belt with these skirts until today, but I really like the way they look. Snazzy little watering can, eh? Ehhh? Which one is your favorite?

Be back soon with something new.

tomorrow? (fingers crossed)

Some other things:

* Thank you for your sweet comments about my new blog! All the design comes from the uber-talented Molly via the newly launched Life Made Lovely Designs. Molly and Heather are sweet, real, and amazingly talented. Jump on 'em!

* 70 degrees yesterday. Bare feet. Grass. Running. Sunshine. Bliss.

* These mustard flats are completely killing me. Somebody please buy them so I can't. Anybody seen any cheap shoes like this?

* Onion-parmesan sourdough. Yes.

* Love you guys. Thanks for being so sweet with this bloggy move. I was really nervous about it, so thanks for being so awesome + supportive. Let's do a giveaway or something soon, mkay?

new skirts for summer

The first batch of new skirts is now in the shop! I've drafted up a new pattern that's a little bit swingy-er for summertime. Each new listing is for a particular size, but can be custom made in any size you like.

Have a fun weekend, everyone! Kissy kissy!

snippets :: fabric + foot powder

:: have been cutting mountains of sheets for new skirts to put in the shop

:: little miss waiting patiently for her bath after a certain foot powder incident

:: {and} fah-REAK!! new fabric from AMH... I could kiss that lady on the mouth for being such a prolific designer

:: really -- on the mouth

wonderland mini

I just finished a sweet order for a sweet mama with some sweet babies. She really liked the Wonderland skirt (made from the same fabric) and wanted some pretties for her babies to match. There was just exactly enough of that fabric left to make two cute bow ties. Love!

new skirt for me

I've always had a little seller's remorse that one of my first skirts ever sold. I think I was secretly hoping that no one would buy it, but I guess it's a good thing that someone liked it, right?! Anyway, I had some very good luck lately (as usual, in the form of Evelyn) and scored another yellow butterfly sheet. I was using it making a new skirt for the shop, and was nearly done with it when I noticed a few tiny holes in the striped fabric. I'd be lying if I told you it upset me, because it made me do a little happy dance that I get to keep it. Maybe I shouldn't always wait for the rejects?

Another happy dance and a big thank-you to Sew, Mama, Sew for featuring my Bold Statement top on their blog yesterday!

{resources}
filmstrip textures :: blowback photography
scallop punch :: the pugly pixel
font :: impact label via dafont
flower bling :: kitschy digitals

frankie + jensie

Erin approached me a few weeks ago about making some skirts for her two girls, Frankie and Jensie. After hashing out a few basic preferences and details, Erin completely handed me the reins and told me to go for it (sah-weet!).



I pulled all the fabrics from my collection that Erin specifically requested, then started looking for coordinating fabrics. It's kind of a challenge when you're working with vintage linens, as the options are limited and there isn't always a perfect mate for every fabric. My favorite is this funky olive double-layered skirt. The print I used for the blue underskirt threw me for a loop when I held it up next to the olive print, and I spent hours saying to myself, "I think this works...does it work? It works, right??" I love it, though, and I'm planning to make one in my size, too!



Once I'd made the fabric pairing choices, I assigned a skirt style to each pairing (or threesome). Sometimes the number of fabrics in a group dictates the skirt style; other times it's decided by the amount of fabric I have available. Right now I'm using three skirt designs: two-tiered, three-tiered, and double-layered (with the underskirt).



If you're feeling inspired, come on in to the shop to design your own custom skirt -- for girls, and now for women, too!

I hope you love 'em, Frankie and Jensie, you cute girls!

go on, get in a scrap

((title to be said in a Lampwick-like voice))



Scrap packs! They went in about 24 hours last time around, so nab one while the gettin' is good.

custom women's skirts

Just popping in to say that custom women's skirts are here!

Have a beautiful Sabbath, friends.

the view from wednesday

:: been wanting a picture of this spot for weeks -- we drive by it every time we leave the house -- today I finally remembered my camera ::



:: more snow coming tonight ::



:: plucking pretty sheets during naptime for a big order of little skirts ::



:: 3 doors on this house -- 1 of them was bound to end up this way -- just so happens it's the front door ::



(no really, come by anytime)