Marfa Lights Finish

I'm back with another quilt finish entirely made from stash and from a pattern I already own! Marfa Lights is from the book Southwest Modern by Kristi Schroeder. I made another quilt from the book a while ago: Rustic.

I chose two shades of blue for my version of Marfa Lights: Kona Celestial for the background and Kona Bahama Blue for the "lights". I didn't have quite enough of the Celestial to make the full 60 1/2" x 64 1/2" quilt so I made the top and bottom borders a bit smaller. The finished size is about 58" x 60".

I quilted it in wavy horizontal lines with my walking foot. I struggled a bit with the basting and you can see drag lines but I'm pretty confident these will all but disappear once I wash it.

The backing is the same as my last quilt finish: Big Blue Blocks. Except I didn't have quite enough so I used a beautiful butterfly print to make up the rest. I matched perfectly!

The details:

• Pattern: Marfa Lights from the book Southwest Modern by Kristi Schroeder
• Size: 58" x 60" 
• Fabrics: Kona Celestial and Kona Bahama Blue 
• Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2780 (dark blue) in 50 wt

The Cielo Top - Practice Version

When I signed-up for Closet Case Patterns' Learn How to Sew Clothing online class, I also got access to three of their latest patterns. I already made the Pietra pants and blogged about them here and now I've made a practice version of the Cielo Top and Dress.

The good:

I really love how easy this top came together and the pattern instructions are simply fabulous. I like the fit at the shoulders and the length is good (I added 3 inches at the shorten/lengthen line).

I also absolutely love the crazy big sleeves!

The bad:

Because this was always going to be a practice piece to see the fit, the length and so on, I used an inexpensive cotton poplin in a pink colour that really does nothing for my complexion! It's also crazy stiff and doesn't feel great against the skin. Anyhow, probably not the best type of fabric for this pattern. It would probably look way better in something a little softer, drapier and flowy.

I made a size 14 based on my body measurements and because the fabric is so structured, it's hard to tell if I should have sized down. I have a really nice rayon that I purchased from Blackbird Fabrics recently that would be amazing for this top. I might try using that fabric next time I make this.

Adjustments I'll make for next time:

As I said, I'll use a fabric will a little more drape. I'm also going to try the top with the short sleeves. As much as I love those big statement sleeves, a short sleeves I can wear a cardigan over might work better for me.

I might also try blending a size 14 at the shoulders and arms down to a 12 at the waist and hips. I think I'll also lengthen by only 2 inches so it hits me right at the hip bone.

I'll share my next version as soon as it's ready!

Big Blue Finish

I'm a huge fan of big quilt blocks. I mean, what's not to love - you only a few to make a fairly large quilt. So when Kitchen Table Quilting came out with their Giant Block Series in 2018, I made the first blocks as soon as they came out. But then work and life got crazy and sewing wasn't a big priority anymore so although I continued to download the instructions for each block, they never got pieced.

Then a few weeks ago, I was scrolling through my pattern library looking for something quick for a baby quilt and landed on the April Giant Block tutorial. I pieced four blocks and then put them together into a 48" square quilt.

I used Kona solids for these blocks (don't remember the exact colours though) in different shades of blue. The star points are white and the background is a grey.

I stared at this quilt top for a few days before making up my mind about the quilting. In the end, I went with a random square meander in grey Aurifil 50 wt thread (#2600).

The backing is a blue and white print from my stash and the binding are leftover blue strips from other projects.

The details:

• Pattern: April Giant Block by Kitchen Table Quilting
• Size: 48" square 
• Fabrics: Various Kona solids in blue, white and grey 
• Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2600 in 50 wt

A coin purse for my sister

A little while ago, my sister asked me if I could make a coin purse for her. I had to travel to Denver for work last week so didn't have a whole lot of time to sew, but a coin purse is really quick and easy so I decided to get it done!

A simple Google search resulted in me finding this tutorial. I then found some Rifle Paper Co scraps and the perfectly matching zipper right there in my stash! This pattern is perfect for some gorgeous prints because except for the zipper on the front, the design is basically uninterrupted (no seams on the top, bottom or back.

I can't remember where I got the zipper pull and charm but I figured something for my baby sister requires a little something special.

The lining is a solid blue fabric which coordinates really nicely.

And can I brag a little about the zipper installation and top stitching? I think this is my best work!

The details:

• Pattern: Coin purse tutorial by Keeper of the Skies Wife
• Size: 4.25" wide x 3.5" high 
• Fabrics: Rifle Paper & Co scraps with a blue solid for the lining 

My new Pietra pants

I'm really sewing garments out of season, but I really want to use up the fabrics and patterns I already have so I went ahead and made my Pietra pants muslin even as the temperatures dropped near freezing!

You can't really tell by the picture, but it was actually 5 degrees Celsius when I took these pictures!

I made View A of the Closet Case Patterns Pietra pants in a straight size 18. I did shorten the pants by 2 inches but that was the only modification I made.

I love everything about this pattern and the instructions are phenomenal (I also signed-up for Closet Case Patterns' online class which walks you through everything). I like that the front is flat and doesn't have a waistband. And the back has an elastic which makes the pants super comfy.

The pockets are another feature of the pattern that I absolutely love - and they are super simple to create.

I used a Robert Kaufman linen blend for this version and although you can't really tell from the pictures, it's a little bit see-through. But they are super nice and light and they will be really cool next summer.

When I make these again, I'll shorten the front rise by an inch or so. These are meant to sit on the high waist, but I find them more comfortable right at my natural waist. That does lower the crotch and leaves a "pocket" of fabric on the front that isn't very flattering when I'm sitting down. I'll also lengthen the back rise by 1/2" to give my booty a little bit more room.

The details:

• Pattern: View A of the Closet Case Patterns Pietra pants
• Size: 18 - no modifications
• Fabrics: Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Died in denim

I'm really pretty pleased with this first pair of Pietra and I will definitely be making more. I've seen some pretty awesome twill versions on Instagram, but another pair in a more opaque linen is going on the to do list for next Summer!

Orange Zola Quilt - Another Baby Quilt

I have another baby quilt finish to share with you today! I purchased the Zola Quilt pattern from Erica Jackman on a whim a little while ago and when my daughter asked me for a baby quilt for her cousin, I immediately thought of this one.

This is a fat quarter friendly pattern and I had loads of orange fat quarters in my stash. I paired the orange with a Kona White solid and I'm really liking the look. This is a pattern that looks complicated, but it's, in fact, pretty easy to put together.

I quilted it with some wavy lines using my walking foot and my favourite neutral thread (Aurifil #2600 in 50 wt).

I didn't have any fabric in my stash that would be an appropriate backing for a baby quilt, but then I found some really large scraps from another quilt I made a long time ago. The fabric is blue and that works quilt well with orange I thought so I went for it.

And the binding is an orange print I have had in my stash forever!

The details:

• Pattern: The Zola Quilt by Erica Jackman
• Size: 36" x 48" 
• Fabrics: Various orange fat quarters and Kona White 
• Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2600 in 50 wt

Wonky Plus Signs Finish

I'm back with another plus sign quilt! This time however, I decided not to follow a pattern and use a bit of improv piecing to make wonky plus signs. These are so much fun because there are no seams to match up - they are perfect when you're tired and need a more relaxed, less precise kind of piecing.

I used black, white and grey scraps for the background squares and pink and purple scraps for the plus signs. I didn't have quite enough scraps for all the plus signs so decided to leave some of the background squares intact. I tried to piece the blocks in a way that would hint to a gradient, but not sure it actually worked. I do like how it looks though so I'm ok with that.

I went back to my favourite free-motion quilting design - some big flowers. I used pink Aurifil 50 wt thread and it's a pretty light pink. So you get a hint of pink in the stitching but it doesn't really scream pink... know what I mean?

The binding is also scrappy - I used strips of black, white and grey fabrics - although you can't really tell from this picture.

The backing is a super soft pink flannel with cute little cat faces all over it.

The details:

• Pattern: None (this is my own improv design)
• Size: 68" x 81" square 
• Fabrics: Black, white, grey, pink and purple scraps from my stash 
• Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2415 (light pink) in 50 wt

I'm not quite sure yet where this quilt is going to end up, but I'm really tempted to keep this one.