Category: 2016 Finish-A-Long Q4

It’s day 2 of the Q4 Finish A Long and I’ve already tied with the number of finishes I had last quarter. ROFLMAO!!! While I did finish numerous things in Q3, I only finished 1 that was on my Q3 list. Hopefully I’ll finish most, if not all, of the things on my Q4 list since they are mostly either Christmas presents, show entries, or for my small business. Fingers crossed!

Here’s my first Q4 finish, a winter dress for my little girl.

I got this like new tunic for her from the thrift store, however, it was too tight around her tummy and butt. So I turned it into a dress. First thing I did was to determine where the empire waist needed to go, added an inch, and cut the bottom part of the tunic off.

Since the fabric is literally like new, I didn’t want to just toss out the bottom part. So, before I continued with her dress, I dealt with the scrap. From what was otherwise trash, I got 4 pretty buttons, a few scraps (between 0.75″sq and 2.5″sq), a few strips for an improv quilt I have in mind, and 52 – 2.5″ squares! I’m thinking those 2.5″ squares will make a cute mini paired with some low volume scraps and either some Heather Ross or Tula Pink for focal. Not sure what, it’s just a fuzzy thought for now.

I purchased numerous 1 yard cuts of cute print flannel when it was on sale for approximately $2 a yard. My little’s widest part of herself is 32″ around so the typical WOF is 42-44″ that’s enough to go around her with some wiggle room. I then cut the length down. To get that length, I measure from where I want the empire waist down to where I want the dress to end and add 1″ for seam allowances.

Then I take that big rectangle of fabric and sew the selvage edges together to form a tube. After that comes the bottom hem. Then, since the top part of the skirt is bigger than the bottom part of the shirt, I need to gather the skirt part. This is easy! I simply set my sewing machine to the longest length stitch and sew all around the top edge leaving about 1/2″ open. Then – easily – start pulling on the top thread. The fabric will start to gather up. Space this out how you’d like it until it’s the same size as the bottom of the shirt. Sew them together and you have a dress complete with cute little gathering!

There’s other things you can do to finish the seams. Personally, I like to top stitch approximately 1/4″ from the seams. It not only gives it a finished look, but it also keeps the seam laying flat instead of rubbing against her skin causing discomfort.

Since I only needed 23″ x WOF of the yard piece I bought for the dress, I used the remaining 13″ x WOF to make a cowl scarf for her. Actually, I only used 13″ x 25″ for the cowl and have a 13″ x 11″ piece in my scrap pile. Since my little girl is really into her baby dolls, I’ll probably save up the scraps and make her some things for her dolls (clothes, blankets, etc) for her next birthday.

She was so excited when she woke up this morning and seen it that she wanted to wear it right away. LOL Well, that’s 1 thing off my #ridiculouslylongfallist for the 2016 Q4. Now it’s on to dress 2. If you’d like to read my entire 2016 Q4 list you can find it here. So what are you busy working on?

Till next time – happy creating!

It’s time to start Q4 of the 2016 Finish-A-Long. The amazing hosts for this event include:

• Jess – Elven Garden Quilts – Australia [elvengardenquilts]
• Stacey – SLO Studio – Canada [slostudio]
• Jennie – Clover & Violet – USA [cloverandviolet]
• Helen – Archie the Wonder Dog – UK
• Nicky – Mrs. Sew and Sow – UK [nickyeglinton]
• Rhonda – Rhonda’s Ramblings – USA [rhondatherambler]
• Leanne – She Can Quilt – Canada [shecanquilt]
• Cindy – Fluffy Sheep Quilting – Ireland [fluffysheepquilting]
• Debbie – A Quilter’s Table – USA [aquilterstable]

In Q3 I had only 1 finish for things that were on my list. HUH?!? I did finish more things than that, however, they were not on my list. DUH! 😉 Oh well. Hopefully I’ll be able to cross most of the things on my Q4 list off. Some things from Q3 I did remove from the Q4 list simply because they got bumped down on the priority list. I have too many Christmas gifts and show projects I want and need to finish before I can do some “just cuz I wanna” projects. lol  So, some things have been removed and others have been added.

Before you get down to my list, I want to warn you, I’m a member of Helen’s (from Archie the Wonder Dog blog) #ridiculouslylongfallistgang ROFLMAO

I’m dividing up my projects by type so that’s why there’s multiple lists. Some things could easily fall under multiple project types, however, I’m putting them under the category that would take up the most time for me to do.

• Quilty things:
  1. Deer Silhouette Wall Quilt
     I’ve had a stack of khaki pants from a friend’s daughter-in-law just sitting here. They are not worthy of going to the thrift store due to being ripped and having paint splatters all over them (she works in a paint store), yet there’s plenty of good, usable fabric on them still. I’ve been playing around the idea for an improv quilt with them but haven’t been sold on any one idea until the other night. I’m combining something similar to the cover of Simply Moderne issue #2 with an improv background. This will be a Christmas gift for hubby for Christmas. I also have a stack of camo clothing of his somewhere that he was going to throw out (old, worn, etc) that will also be used in this quilt.
     
  2. Farm Fun quilt
     When I bought the panels with the momma and babies stuffies to make for my granddaughter and my youngest daughter I also ordered a charm pack and a 1/2 yard of the main print in white. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it, but it will be simple. I’m thinking of cutting the 1/2 yard into larger 9″ squares and pair them up with a solid that compliments them. We’ll see. I’d like to have this ready in time for Christmas to give to my little girl with her stuffies. At first I was going to give it to my granddaughter, but her momma picked out an afghan instead of a quilt.
  3. #100blocks100days
     Yep, I got sucked into another QAL. This time I brought a friend. ROFL and no surprise, I’m behind and she’s ahead. You can see all the blocks I’ve made over on my IG account.
  4. My little girl’s quilt
     My 3.5 year old wanted to learn to sew on my machine. So, I pulled out a stack of 8″ squares cut from Disney Princess & coordinating fabrics and we got started. We sat on the floor for close to 2 hours arranging and rearranging them until she thought they were “just right.” I was having a serious internal argument with my OCD self. My OCD side wanted to rearrange them again once she went to bed to make sure that there weren’t any like squares touching each other and that the different colors were evenly distributed. My *ahem* “normal” side wanted to leave them just as they were because it’s going to be her quilt that she made. Don’t worry, I left them just as she arranged them. So far we’ve sewn together the blocks for 2 of the 8 rows. Using 8″ squares, it is 8 squares across by 9 squares down. Realize this – I am NOT sewing these together – she is! I sit next to her and run the foot pedal on the sewing machine. At 3.5 years old she does not have the skill to fully operate the sewing machine herself yet.
  5. Super Secret Autograph Quilt
     Our guild president is stepping down and I was informed that as the guild VP I’m responsible for either making or organizing a quilt to be made for the president as a thank you to be presented at our Christmas party. I had everyone make a signature quilt block and I’m going to be making the center block and sewing it all together. If I can find one of our members to quilt it great! If not, I’ll do some simple straight line quilting on it with my vintage Singer sewing machine. (If I’m correct, there’s only 1 person in my guild that reads, but I could be wrong…)
  6. Halloween Mini Quilt
     I’m designing this with the help of my bff. You can read all about it and get the pattern on the first day of the Eerie Nights Blog Hop on October 20th.
  7. Fall Leaf Table Runner
     I’d really really like to make a fall themed table runner for my table if I have the time. Not sure of a pattern, but I bought fabric from the owner of Tillalili on IG that included a charm pack of Moda Beauty-fall and 4 matching fq’s.
  8. Vintage Truck Quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
     I’ve not done anything with this during Q3. This will be a Christmas present for a family member made from a pattern I came up with. I’ve gotten most of the fabric for it cut already. Once I finish cutting, I’m going to chain piece the blocks together, fussy cut the trucks and applique them onto the blocks, sew up the top, quilt and bind it. 
  9. Vintage Kitchen BOW – this is a carryover from Q3
     All the patterns are designed and half of them are sewn. I just have to finish sewing them up.
     
  10. Entry for The National Quilt Museum contest – this is a carryover from Q3
      After I realized I can only enter once, I put this project on hold. While on hold I had another idea clarify itself which is what I’m going to do. The pattern is finished, I have my background fabric, and am awaiting my fabric order in the mail for the remainder of the fabric. Shhhh – it’s a secret sewing project.
  11. Illusions quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
      This will be a Christmas present for a family member. During Q3 I did manage to get all of the fabric that I need. YAY! I’ve already started cutting but have lots to do still.
  12. Eagle tabletopper – this is a carryover from Q3
      I’ve not done anything with this during Q3. The pattern I designed and fabric is sitting here all together just waiting for me… With everything else on my plate, this will probably get pushed to the back-burner for 2017.
  13. Pixie Summer Home QAL – fall version – this is a carryover from Q3
      Fabrics are ready to go! Eagerly awaiting the QAL. I’m making this for me to use for a couch quilt. However, with everything else on my plate, this will probably get pushed to the back-burner for 2017.
  14. Pixie Summer Home QAL – Christmas/winter version – this is a carryover from Q3
      Fabrics are ready to go! Eagerly awaiting the QAL I’m making this for me to use for a couch quilt. With everything else on my plate, this will probably get pushed to the back-burner for 2017. 
  15. Crossroads QAL – this is a carryover from Q3
      This was supposed to be a Christmas present for a family member. However, I’ve changed my mind and this will probably get pushed until 2017. 
  16. Summer Solstice QAL – this is a carryover from Q3
      I did manage to get approximately 1/2 of the background fabrics cut out for this. This will be a Christmas present for a family member. All fabrics except the background fabric is cut.
      
  17. Tribute to Perry, GA challenge quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
      There’s no fabric for this pile yet as I’m not sure what fabric I’m going to be using for it. I think it would look best scrappy, but I really doubt if my OCD self is able to do scrappy… My original pattern is all ready to go.
      
  18. Wallhanging Quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
      Another artsy idea I’ve had based on this image. It’s a secret sewing project because it’s getting entered places. Y’all can see it once I get it all done. I’m thinking this will also probably get pushed back to 2017 unless I get antsy and want to enter it into my guild’s upcoming quilt show.  
  19. Super Secret Surprise Quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
      Why is it super secret? Well, because I hid the fabric so well that, well, ummmm, I wasn’t able to find it in time to photograph it for this post. LOL It’s going to be a present for a family member. I have the panel (chickens – her favorite), other fabrics, and pattern. I just, ummm, can’t find them. ROFL
  20. Spooky Delights QAL table runner – this is a carryover from Q3
      Well, I started this QAL with good intentions. Then I sewed up the borders wrong… After taking the time to rip out around 15 feet of stitching, I kinda lost interest for the moment. I would like to get this done as it’s the only thing I’ve cut into my precious (insert Lord of the Rings jokes here LOL) Ghastlies fabric for. I have not done a single thing with this in Q3!?!
• Sewing projects
  1. Birthday dress for my granddaughter
     This will happen only if my oldest daughter get’s me the measurements in time…
  2. Halloween outfit for my little – this is a carryover from Q3
     Using Simplicity pattern 1305 with some tweaks
  3. Christmas stocking for oldest daughter – this is a carryover from Q3
     Christmas present for oldest. Have pattern and fabric ready. It’s just waiting for my time and attention. Shhhhhh! It’s a surprise.
  4. Christmas stocking for granddaughter – this is a carryover from Q3
     Christmas present for granddaughter. Have pattern and fabric ready. Just waiting for my time and attention. Shhhhh! It’s a surprise.
  5. Christmas tree skirt for oldest daughter – this is a carryover from Q3
     Christmas present for oldest. Have pattern and fabric ready. Just waiting for my time and attention. Shhhhhhh! It’s a surprise.
  6. Carry bag for Hubby’s iPad for work
     Self-drafted based on the dimensions of the iPad and his requests
  7. Wallet for a friend
     I tested a wallet pattern and brought the finished wallets to my quilt guild’s meeting where a friend seen them. She’s getting one in blue, her favorite color, at our Christmas party.
  8. The Farm Fun stuffies (numbers 8 thru 15)
     I bought 2 of these panels – 1 to make for my granddaughter and 1 to make for my youngest daughter. Each panel has 4 sets of stuffies – each set includes a momma and her 2 babies. Maybe instead of counting each set I could count each stuffy? 😉 lol
  9. Winter dresses for little 1 thru 10 (numbers 16 thru 25)
     These will be a combination of the top yoke crocheted and the rest of the dress in flannel. She can wear these with a short or long-sleeved shirt and I’ll be making matching leg warmers for each dress to keep her legs warm. She wears dresses and skirts 99% of the time – not because of our religion but because that’s what she wants to wear because in her words “princesses wear dresses and I’m a princess, right momma?” So I tell her of course she’s my princess for which I am rewarded with a big smile.
  10. Felt Christmas Tree with ornaments – TWO
      I need to make 2 of these – one for my youngest and one for my granddaughter for Christmas. Hoping to get them done by the end of November so I can send my granddaughter her’s right in time for when my oldest puts up her Christmas tree.
• Crochet projects
  1. Shawl for myself
     I won a beautiful skein of this yarn from Long Dog Yarn and am going to do some selfish corcheting with it. Right now I’m thinking I’ll make the Dragon Wing Shawl by Jasmin Rasanen.
     
  2. FRAN mystery CAL afghan – this is a carryover from Q3
     I’ve finished over 3/4 of this so far. I was hoping to finish it for hubby’s birthday which didn’t happen so he’s getting it for Christmas. 😉
  3. Mermaid Tail blanket – this is a carryover from Q3
     Christmas present for youngest. Have yarn and pattern and waiting for me to finish (1) FRAN mystery CAL, (2) combo crochet & quilt blanket. – I’m strongly debating on pushing this back to make it for her birthday in March… We’ll see how time permits.
  4. Circle sweater – this is a carryover from Q3
     I actually started on this. However, I had to frog what I did because it would not have fit her properly. So I’m having to make up a pattern as I go. 
     
  5. Crochet Sweater – this is a carryover from Q3
     I actually finally committed to a pattern – the Tokyo Jacket by Vashti Braha (it’s a free pattern on Ravelry) and have started it. However, I’m altering the pattern as I go since I would never ever wear a cropped top or jacket. Since this is worked in a very unusual way, you simply cannot add some rows.
     
  6. Crochet Shrug project – this is a carryover from Q3
     Christmas present for a family member. Have pattern and yarn. Waiting for me to finish (1) FRAN mystery CAL, (2) combo crochet & quilt blanket, & (3) Mermaid Tail blanket. This does not have to get finished by Christmas though as the person who I am planning on this for is also getting #22 in my quilty things list above.
  7. Leg Warmers – 10 different pair
     These are to match with the dresses for my little girls winter dresses above in the sewing category.
  8. Pink Pearl Cap CAL – 2 different ones
     This is a CAL for Expression Fiber Arts group over on Ravelry. I’m making one for myself and one for my oldest daughter
     
  9. Winterbird Shawl
     I actually started and finished one of these during the Q3 to test the pattern for the designer. It was given to my little girls Aunt for her birthday. My oldest daughter seen the finished one on my IG and wanted to pay me to make one for her. LOL!!! She’s getting one for Christmas.
     
  10. Scoody / Beanie / Scarves – 5 different
      I’m not sure the patterns I’m using for these as I still have to determine that with the help of my oldest daughter since they will be for my son for Christmas.
  11. Fingerless Gloves
      I finally broke down and bought a skein of Haute Knit Yarn. It is wonderful! I’m in the process of making myself a pair of fingerless gloves with it. They are almost finished. YAY!
      
  12. Kaboom CAL
      This will be a Christmas present for my granddaughter. I asked my daughter if she prefered this or a quilt and she picked this in pastels. It’s just started – only 2 clues have been released – but I’m all caught up.
      
  13. Leg Warmers AND
  14. Scarf 
      to match the Birthday Dress for my granddaughter up above in the sewing category. Once again, these will only happen if she get’s me her measurements in time…
• Knitting Projects
  1. Learn to knit!!!
     I started to learn just the other morning. I pulled up a youtube video, some yarn and a set of needles. I -was- thinking that it would be like crochet, you could use bigger needles and get a looser stitch. I figured out how to long tail cast on with no trouble – had it down pat after about 3 stitches. Then I attempted a knit stitch. Which I was able to do with no problem and had it down after about 5 stitches. I was also able to finish a row and start a new one. However, after about 5 rows I realized that knitting with a larger set of needles than recommended for the yarn actually just makes the stitch look all wonky… Or it could have been my tension. Regardless, I frogged it all. When I pick up a smaller set of needles I’ll try it again.
  2. Make hubby a pair of socks – this is a carryover from Q3
     using this nice soft yarn and this needle. Seriously, look at how fuzzy and soft that yarn is! I just keep squishing it against my cheek. LOL I found a pattern using this weight yarn and it said to use this circular needle so that’s what I bought. I have NO clue how to knit… However, I’d love to learn, if only to knit hubby socks. Why? My hubby is a big man who wears a size 15.5 wide boots. Do you know what it’s like to find ANY socks that fit him in the rural area where we live? I don’t think he’s ever had a pair of nice soft socks. I’d love to make him a pair for Christmas. 
• Hand Embroidery
  1. Little House on the Prairie Hoop Art
     A Christmas present for a family member who is crazy about Little House on the Prairie using the toile print Little House fabric
  2. Fall Love QAL – this is a carryover from Q3
     I’ve finished all the patterns and sewn up approximately 1/2 the blocks then stalled because of the pain.  
  3. Floral Fairies 2 mini quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
     My hand embroidery pattern I’m turning into a mini quilt. 
  4. Floral Fairies 3 mini quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
     My hand embroidery pattern I’m turning into a mini quilt. 
  5. Floral Fairies 4 mini quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
     My hand embroidery pattern I’m turning into a mini quilt.
  6. Floral Fairies 5 mini quilt – this is a carryover from Q3
     My hand embroidery pattern I’m turning into a mini quilt. (My pattern and floss for this one is included in the picture right below this one.
• Other
  1. Finish reupholstering the mini recycliner for my little girl for Christmas.
     When I seen this chair for $5 I had to buy it. The framework is strong but the fabric was yuck. It’s not a full sized chair, but it’s also not one of those tiny kid chairs you see nowdays. It’s right in between which is good since my little girl is a big little girl. Her daddy (who’s 6’4″) likes to say that we knew she wasn’t going be a horse jockey. LOL Right now at just over 3.5 years old, she’s 4’1″ tall!!! I found a really cute heavy-duty canvas fabric that I’m hoping will last until she outgrows the chair.
     
  2. Finish my class on Skillshare: Micro Batch Preserves Peach Jalapeno Sauce 
  3. Finish my class on Skillshare: Fold Over Clutch
  4. Finish my class on Skillshare: Hand Embroidery Sampler
  5. Finish my class on Skillshare: Basic Quilting How To

If I’m counting right that’s 84 things?!?!?!?!? Have I lost my freakin’ mind??? Of course there’s no way all of this is going to get done. But, with my A.D.D. I’m not sure exactly what I’ll end up finishing. I know I’m missing some things, but I think I remembered all the different presents I’m working on and have planned. LOL

Till next time, have fun!