Hand Sewing Tiers

Hand sewing is something you just don't see much any more.  It is very easy, just using a simple needle and thread to create something new.

I have been working on a tiered skirt for myself, made of a dark stretch denim yoke from a pair of jeans, and tiers of green velvet gathered by hand and mostly attached by machine.  The last tier I am attaching by hand.  It is more relaxing than fighting the gathers on the machine. 

When holding the needle and thread, I feel a connection with the women before me who made their clothes by hand.  Not by choice, but of necessity.  I picture them sitting an old oil lamp with the flame dancing in the darkness of the main room where the wife sits and stitches on pants for husband or a dress for a daughter, an apron for herself, or piecing a quilt block out of scraps.  I see her fingers gently rocking the needle back and forth in the cotton fabric, taking tiny stitches that will hold for years. 

The current modern machines are amazing pieces of art.  They can do so much, from embroidery to quilting, but they just can't replicate the tender touch of hand sewing. 

When this skirt is done, I will return to the machine and keep on sewing.  But, a hand sewing or hand quilting project will arise again. 

I look forward to it!

Sewing For Fun

Lately I have been sewing clothes for myself and my step daughter. 

For Jess, I took legs off jeans, opened the seam on each leg, stitched them both together into a tube, then turned them upside down
  Then, I made the waist out of the original hem and then hemmed the raw bottom edges. 

For me, I took the top of the jeans and added tiers of fabric to make a flowing peasant skirt.  For this I added velvet in the tiers. 

Here in the coming days I should have patterns coming in from Candle on the Hill, a Mennonite company that focuses on modest clothing patterns.  I ordered a full slip and a vest pattern.  I already have their culottes, cape dress, contoured bandana, and apron patterns.  I really like their patterns and recommend them to anyone who wears modest clothing and sews

Quilting wise, I have hand quilted a Scrappy stars quilt from Bonnie Hunter's pattern from her site Quiltville.  I have pieces cut for a red, white, and blue quilt, and blocks ready for a red and gold quilt that's perfect for our University colors and Chiefs too. 

It's been busy here keeping up with the family, appointments, cleaning schedule, and so on, but one constant is the needle and thread. 

What are you working on this week?

Rocking the Sewing Machine

I think I mentioned in my first post--I am obsessed with anything fabric.  And sewing.  And quilting.  Call me a fabri-holic, but don't even bother to think I want rehab!  <grins>

So, in a notion to work on my obsession, I started filling up my Etsy shop with handmade bibs and burp cloths.  I've been collecting fabric for 13 or so years, and have a collection of all kinds of fabrics, from kid friendly to very much classical.  Now, I don't have babies at home, and haven't for years.  My youngest step child is 13.  But, making these for those who do have babies, or who want to give them as gifts for new moms, this is pleasing.

You can find these and more at my shop, KsPrairieStitches.etsy.com.

Do you have a small/home based business??  If so, feel free to share your link here in comments, or on our Sunny Patch Cottage FB page/group!  Us small biz folks have to stick together!

It's A Fine Day For Quilting!

I LOVE quilting.  OK, I love anything fabric related.  It's an addiction, and I have no desire to do rehab.

My absolute favorite is hand quilting.  I enjoy the slow relaxing movements of rocking the needle through the layers of fabric and batting.  The vintage look of slight puckers makes me happy, and I feel a connection to the women before me who took up the needle and thread.

This quilt is in the works for the 70273 project.  It has blocks made from others, and I pieced and am quilting it little by little.  

This is a Garlic Knot block for a Girard (Kansas) Trojan school colors quilt. 

This became a red/white/blue quilt with Air Force fabric in the center, for a dear veteran we love. 

I am still learning and growing as a quilter, and am loving every bit of it!