Wrong or Right Way?

I am loving this tutorial. As I was looking at it, I was thinking about how I would piece it. I do not mean to say that the way she pieced it is wrong. I just mean that we all piece things differently.

She pieced it by sewing rows together. For me I would piece it as if making nine patches then sew those together into units until I finally had to sew the long width together (I hate to sew the width or length), because that is how I prefer to put it together.

This thought reminded me about how hurt a fellow blogger was when someone (many people) made comments about the way that she was piecing her blocks together. They were telling her the "easier way" to piece the block she was making. It was rather rude.

The truth is that we all think our way is easier. Guess what, it is, but only to us. How can we think that our way is the only way? It is not about the only way to do something. It is about the finished product, if we enjoyed the journey, and enjoy the completion. Who cares how we got there. We all got a quilt didn't we?

I admit, right now, that I have made this mistake. I looked at a person's piecing and cringed. I did! I feel awful about it to this day. Maybe she has forgotten or forgiven me, but I still think about how I acted toward her piecing and regret it.

So, let's try to be nice and supportive to each other. We can do that, right? I am doing my best.

Still Quilting

Well, I am very busy! At times I feel overwhelmed, while others I feel validated. I often think to my self "I can do this!" and then just as quickly think "What was I thinking?"

During this time I have found SOME time to sew. I have finished the T-Shirt quilt, other than a sleeve and tag, and I have finished a simple baby quilt top. Not a lot to talk about, and I have not taken pictures.

So, just a quick re-cap of my sewing quilting activities and my woes at student teaching.

Behind

Have you looked at my project list lately? I have. I am behind. I took a road trip to see friends who might as well be family, and I let everything go (plus it was wishful thinking anyway ;) that I could get all of that done). It was nice to see them and forget self-imposed deadlines. Now the student teaching thing is about to start. I do not see a lot of progress being made starting Monday. With that said, do not look for a lot of posts. I will do what I can and work on projects. I will post as much as I can (example I will probably tell you about the fabric shopping I made on my trip) but do not expect a lot of stuff between here and December. I hope that I can get a lot of sewing stuff between now and then, but I am going to be student teacher crazy. See you on the other side! Wish me luck!

Baby Stuff to Make

I think I am branching out. I am obsessed with making baby/ toddler sheets! I asked a friend (who is expecting) if she would like a set. She was very to happy to have them and asked me to make an entire baby room set that includes baby bumpers. That sounds exciting. I have already started. Chosen color: red! This is what I call a wonderful baby color. Newborns love the colors black, white, and RED.

Here are a few sources that I am using:
bumpers
another bumper
most definitely baby sheets

Also I have been making several flannel baby blankets.

WIP

work in progress

Today just me, the sewing machine, and this project!



Sewing is good therapy!

Surging (Serger) Thoughts

Being that I have only used a serger once (yes once and in high school no less) and I cannot figure out how to thread the thing or it needs to be fixed because it will not make a chain or sew properly, I have taken it in for servicing. It will come back threaded (thankfully, because that was a pain!) and should be in working order.

I am super excited about getting it back so that I can use it and make all sorts of things!!

T-Shirt Layout

To get an idea of a layout for this quilt I started arranging the rough cut t-shirts.

This looks like a promising layout.

As I have been pressing the interfacing and trimming the shirts into a conforming 16 inch square, the layout will most likely change. Soon I will have this top finished. I already have the backing material, so now I need to get my butt in gear, finish the top, get some batting (or at least dedicate some stashed for this project), and start quilting. Hmm... sounds like a plan that will start this weekend and end sometime next week!

Just for some fun (and because I need to get it in gear), I am making a wonky quilt similar to this one and using the tutorial, only in greens, yellows, and blues for a nephew due in September.

T-Shirt

This will be my second T-Shirt quilt. I love making these; being able to turn a shirt that may not be worn again into a quilt to hang, snuggle into, or sleep under.

There are so many memories wrapped in a T-Shirt and once the quilt is finished it can be wrapped around a person to remind them of these memories.

I also love the idea of up-cycling something.

Serge Ahead!

Stupid pun, I know :o)

I got a serger! Now I will make a whole bunch more stuff. Like baby sheets for all those having babies... oh and more bandana pants!

I could not resist. I have been wanting a serger (I hate pressing over and then pressing again then sewing it... serge ahead!) and scouring Craig's list for a good one at a decent price. When I looked today it was right there! I could hardly believe it. I was super excited, and the lady I got it from was so happy that a stupid excited nut like me got it. Yeah serger!

Now I just need to get some thread for it. Joann's here I come.

eek...student teaching!

I know that I told you that I am working on my degree to be a teacher. Today I received the location of my school and the teacher that I will be working with. I know the school and teacher well, because it is the school that I work at!

I will be teaching English, and I am fairly sure that I will be teaching twelfth grade.

I am very nervous and excited and crazy. Well, I have approximately forty five days to get in shape. "Get to work!"

Time to write my leave of absents letter... ugh!