Cats are mysterious creatures, and one of the most lovable. This feline was modeled after all those wonderful black cats in the world.
The cat sketch.
Using a weave in the background in one of my favorite filling techniques of late.
A real cat’s cradle.
What have you been stitching? Thanks for stopping by!
2016, like all years, has been incredible. This embroidered piece is influenced by the many sunrises I caught this year; waking up in the dawn’s dark is one of my favorite activities.
After the embroidery was finished, I machine quilted the double wool batting with gold Gutermann thread.
The front up close.
The blue behind.
Thanks for stopping by at any point during this year and after!
Eighty squarish circles later and I am feeling pleased to the max with the colors: I’m still in the sea.
The pattern is Carolyn Friedlander’s Aerial Grove from her book Savor Each Stitch. Check her work out, and you will be picking up some fabric quickly.
One of the strips was appliqued by my auntie during her visit and I completed the rest.
Have a wonderful weekend!
This quilt is an amalgamation of cloth, time, patterns, and my brain. I started making this quilt for a class using The Rabbit Factory’s Homespun Hill. The pieced blocks were fun and quick to put together. The color palette is dewy grass.
I modified this quilt top by adding Carolyn Friedlander‘s Creativebug Polk block. I’ve done some paper-piecing, and found this exercise to be helpful and inspiring. Paper-piecing is a great stash buster. Creativebug provides excellent instructions, visually and in print format (I’m big a fan!).
The quilt top has batiks, prints, solids, and paper-pieced blocks. The fabric on hand became this quilt; in the past year my taste, knowledge, and understanding of fabric has become more robust, and I’m happy to see some old fabrics being incorporated into a quilt and removed from the stash. Sarah Watts’ Honeymoon made it in and some batiks my auntie gifted to me. I’m partial to Sarah Watts round lines.
Honestly, sitting close to this quilt top since April, I don’t know if I’m ready to look at it as a whole. And really, it isn’t complete, because I have to add quilting, backing, and binding. Overall, I like the movement and the quilt top.
What did you make over the weekend?
The morning light is soft, warm, and surprising. With all of the resettling here I surprised myself by cutting out squares for applique on a quilt top. The color palette is warm with pinks and oranges highlighted by blues, greens, and purples. Looking up from under the water reminds me of summer, and for me these colors reflect the interplay between sun and sea.
Two summers ago I took Alabama Chanin’s Studio Week. It was an amazing experience and helped me understand a lot about garment construction and the make up of fabric and a pattern. I’ve made a dress, circle skirt, and a pin cushion since that time. Ideally my entire wardrobe would be handmade Albama Chanin, and I’m working on that! Whenever I wear the baby-doll dress people stop to ask about it and are shocked to learn that I made it.
At the workshop I also cut out a long-sleeved t-shirt top in a dark blue cotton jersey. Like all items cut and set aside I planned on finishing this top a long time ago, but now I am grateful for the time. I hadn’t learned how to applique yet, and I really wanted to applique a panel of this top.
The other week I caught the flu like many others and was laid out in bed. Luckily this shirt was all handwork! I used blanket and straight stitches. The fabric is Alabama Chanin’s cotton. 
The shirt is incredibly soft and form fitting. I love the sense of accomplishment I have each time I make a garment, especially a hand sewn one! Have you made any of Alabama Chanin’s garments?
When I expressed to my seamstress-aunt a desire to start up sewing again, she recommended Shea Henderson’s School of Sewing. After browsing reviews online & checking out the awesome book trailer I decided to buy the book. Hotdog! It is a hit. School of Sewing has fantastic projects that’re immediately useful. The Half-Square Triangle quilt is the final project, and I couldn’t be more excited to be hand-sewing on the binding.
Right now I’m sewing with mostly solids (Although, there’s a half yard of Cotton + Steel from Sarah Watts’ collection Honeymoon waiting to be an apron pocket!), and went with warm & bold here complimented by grey.
Years ago I made three quilts in a summer with whim guiding my hand, and I doubt a ruler ever entered the room. Over the next ten years I dabbled with a few shirts, dresses, and other random items. School of Sewing helped me feel more confident with myself and a sewing machine.
For the quilt backing I went blue. It feels fresh & light and helps anchor the quilt top’s bright movement.
Happy New Years! What are you working on right now?
Brambleton Threads 