Patterns

So, as I can't do the Kitchen quilt while a certain someone is home, and I am slowly (when the mood strikes) quilting the "Diced Chocolate" quilt, I thought maybe I could do a different project. I saw various dress patterns and thought, hey, maybe I could try it! Lol! It's just buying fabric, cutting it to the pattern and stitching them together right? Sorta...

I looked up various patterns, and ended up loving a pattern - Simplicity 2497.

Cute huh? So, first problem was, HOW MUCH FABRIC TO BUY? Turns out, patterns are a whole new world, with a whole new language. The nice lady at WalMart told me to look at the back, and read the pattern directions. Turns out, I needed 3 and 5/8 yards. I wanted to make it out of a purple satin, but it was 7 inches short! So, choose just plain black satin..for just $7.50! Took it home, started cutting, using my new tracing paper and wheel. Also an amazing thing, my sister just stared at me, like, "really? This is going to work?" Then I showed her where the lines came out, and she was amazed. We both were. So after cutting yesterday, I also sewed the bodice together. I made the rest today, except I couldn't find an invisible zipper the right size yesterday, otherwise I'd probably finish it. I made the skirt, added the midriff, put together all the pieces, made POCKETS! (OMG!! Love love love dresses with pockets!!). So far, it looks like a dress. Here's a really bad pic -

I still need to make the ruffle, add the zipper, and then finish the left side seam. And then, I'm going to buy REAL fabric - probably brocade.. either this:
or this: or this:

We'll see what I can find at the grand opening of the new JoAnn fabrics - I realize these aren't the coolest fabrics, but hey, when I can buy it for 50 % off and play with different things, I figure, hey why not!

Btw, I'm still amazed by the pockets. =)

Kitchen Fabric?

I'm out of town, but I'm still looking for fabric for my new project. I already have some fabrics - one with broccoli, one with garlic, one with tomatoes, one with green peppers, one with oranges, and one with bananas (do you see a theme? =) I'm planning on using a certain school's colors and have this so far...

Now I just need to find some fabric with aprons, spatulas, and chef's hats. If anyone has this, please let me know! I may end up appliqueing these shapes on if I can't find a nice fabric to use. We'll see how it goes.

Straight up, now tell me now...

Straight matters.

So, I figured out what salvage means. It's the ends of the fabric where the threads all meet and don't fray. (I don't know how to explain it) So I measured, 3 times, and cut. Beautiful, straight happy sides to my backing.

Then I had to cut the ends of the quilt top, so I had a rectangle and not 3 straight sides and 1 side with different edges (imagine a staircase). Slowly. sLoWlY. SLOWLY. And 3 sides are beautiful. Straight and lovely. One side, slightly curvy, not so happy. But when I'm finished, I have to cut all the sides anyways, so I figured, it's ok for now. Then I sewed the 2 large backing pieces into one gigantic piece. I pressed everything before AND after sewing. It's beautiful. Then I cut the batting. I measured (twice) and cut it about in half. Then I pressed it too. I have never pressed so much in my life. Even my clothes aren't this wrinkle free.

Now I have everything laid out to spray the batting adhesive, but I sprayed a bit to check the spray and smell. Ppp-ueeew, it's smelllllllls. So I decided to do it tomorrow morning, when no one is in the house, and when I can open the windows without rain coming in. So I'm excited to finish it! Because starting tomorrow, I have a reunion tomorrow night, second part of the reunion Saturday night, an author visit on Sunday, and then off to Denver for a week on Monday. A quilting break for about 9 days. Then time to free quilt.