Remembering me Bears

Having finished Albert's wedding outfit, I was deciding on my next project when a friend asked if I would make her something from the clothes from a relative who had died during lockdown.  On further discussion, she decided that she wanted some (!) teddy bears and a couple of cushions making up for the families.  As the memory bear pattern would make up too big for the purpose, I suggested the Psycho Bear pattern due to it being that much smaller.  That settled I waited for her to drop off the clothes and to start proper.

She duly brought a bag of clothing and I began to sort it into colour ways so that each bear would be different.  I had a variety of teddy joints,  coloured eyes and noses/wool for the features so they were all gathered together and organised.  My machine was cleaned and oiled, new needles found and the table cleared for the mammoth cut out.  (Personally hate this process!)

Once the pattern pieces were cut, I realised that the cotton fabric was too thin to make up for the bears to last any kind of long term handling so I added lining to each piece.  In hindsight I should have realised this as the items of clothing were already lined and I had removed all the lining thinking I wouldn't need it.  So a hateful process was made twice as odious as I now had to recut all 4 bears' pattern pieces again only in lining.  (Deep breath.  Did I mention that I hate this part?).

Finally I had a pile of bear - and lining - pieces on the table along with their eyes, thread for nose and ribbon for neck bows/ties.

Two of the bears were for brothers, two were for daughters so, although I know we are supposed to be all equal etc and not gender specific, I didn't think that the guys would appreciate bears made with flowers on the fabric so I made their out of the darker, less flowery material but ensured that the ones for the two girls included more flowers.  I fussy cut the pieces for the inner ear and paws and was well impressed with the final products.

Finished bear left (minus bow) and bears in progress above.  I had already finished one bear and it had been given to one of the guys.  All recipients have loved their memory bear.  Now on to the cushions. (More cutting out 😣) LOL

See you later 💖

Outfit for a Page boy

So with Vic's quilt done, I could now concentrate on Albert's wedding outfit.  I know that the wedding is in September but I have a few projects in the house which need to be done and I am assuming that I shall be having the usual two clutches of ducklings (again!!) so I am going to be busy from now until September.  As my friend Carole and I say, "don't put off 'til tomorrow, what can be done today", so I got my creative hat on and began.

I had already planned out the shirt, collar and bow tie - see previous post - but I now needed to tweak it and obviously make it up in the white cotton, shirt material and pink bow tie.  I oiled and cleaned the machine, new needle and matching top and bottom cotton thread, found my material, buttons and prototype items made up from the green stripe.  The iron was set up in the utility room to give me some exercise getting up and down to press seams and I was ready to start.

I first sewed up the bowtie so that I could make sure that there were no issues with the machine.  I have previously thought all would be well with whatever project it was only to be thwarted at the first step because the machine wasn't set up right.  I made sure all stitches and tensions were ok on the pink material before I set about the shirt front as the tie is a simple square of fabric sewn, turned and then handsewn into the shape of a bow.  This was far simpler than the shirt front which involved curves, turning then the double seam up the front to mimic the buttons and button holes.  

Anyhoo, all went swimmingly.  The shirt front and collar were finished in no time.  I re purposed some of the buttons from the shirts I had deconstructed for Vic's quilt on the front to look like it had been buttoned up.  (see photo right.)

I have been thinking about making a waistcoat to add to the outfit.  Basically my sewing skills are basic and I make it up as I go along but clothes sewing is a whole different ball game and a jacket would be too far out of my skill set so I changed tack and thought about a waistcoat.  I have made them previously - Boner and Psycho Teds and Panda Groom - but they were very small. I had been able to find toy patterns via Pinterest but Albert's was quite a lot bigger than the one I had so back to Pinterest I went and tried to source a larger pattern.  

I wasn't really happy with any of the options on the pages but quickly realised that most of the patterns were very similar, so using Albert's measurements, one of the harnesses I use on our walks and the shirt front as a reference, I sketched out a front piece.  If I got it right, I would be able to simply reverse the shape on the material to make the other side, hopefully ending up with two matching sides.  

Again, I found some fabric to try out the prototype and eagerly awaited the next time I would see Albert for his fitting.  I already have a lovely dark blue fabric picked out for the final piece, but am definitely keeping this a secret from Karen.  She knows I am making the outfit, but not the waistcoat.  I have a couple of other ideas too but am keeping them from the post just in case they either don't pan out or I post this before the wedding. I am hoping that because he has white legs, it won't matter so much that the shirt doesn't have sleeves.  Plus if the weather is good, I don't want him to overheat with the extra fabric on him.

I have finished the final (!) outfit and it looks so good and Albert couldn't look any cuter.  I am not posting photographs as this is definitely a surprise with added extra accessories just for the day.  Looking forward to it and any reaction will be posted separately.

Love has no labels

 Although Vic's quilt isn't my first, I haven't ever added a label to the ones I've made.  I didn't think it was necessary, bearing in mind that they haven't gone to anyone so I haven't felt the need to add a label. Plus they have all featured on my blog and Facebook accounts so dates were not going to be a problem.  However, when Vic asked me for something for her quilt, I wanted it to be personal for her to remember me by - let's face it, the quilt will be here longer than I will - and to add the date as she might not want or need access to my blog to remember when I made it.

Pinterest is a wonderful resource for all manner of things and quilt labels were no exception.  I took a long time looking at the how and what but nothing struck me as being 'right'.  Does that make sense?  I wanted something that reminded Vic that she was loved and that the quilt had been made with love by me.  So feeling a little crestfallen that I hadn't been able to find anything suitable, I went out for a walk.

Usually, I have at least one dog with me - I dog sit during the day for friends - but today I didn't have one but my friend, Carole, did.  Anyhoo, during our walk, I mentioned the problem I was having and suddenly I got it!  I am sure some of you will have been in the situation when you have had to say something out loud to someone else or just out loud in order for you to understand it or work a problem out.  I don't know what it is but talking to myself or most often, the dogs, helps my thought processes.  Just by telling Carole what I wanted to do, gave me the light blub moment and the idea hit me.

When the kids were little - and occasionally now even though they're big! - I would wait until they were leaving the house with friends - especially with friend's for maximum effect - put my arm around their neck and give them a big kiss on their forehead.  As a family, we don't do grand gestures very often, hugs as and when but its taken for granted that we love each other so we don't say it.  Sad, maybe, but that's just us.  We know that we love one another - even when we don't feel like we do - and don't show it very often.  So this was the basis of my personal touch quilt label.

I have, on occasion, put GBSWKoF in my Facebook posts to my girls or as a reply to a comment they've made. It's a family 'secret'.  Everybody knows what it means without having to say it and it makes them smile so this is going on my label along with the date.  Vic will understand what it means and, hopefully, smile and remember me when she sees it.

I spent some time this afternoon, creating the design and perfecting the look until I was happy with it. 

My plan is to sew the letters, message and date using a simple running stitch, unless I can see something different on Pinterest.  I have a hoop and thread and have worked out how to add the outlines to my material.

I wanted to create a heart shape but knew that the cotton material I used in the quilt would fray unless I could hem the outline.  Hemming curves sounded too difficult so I have opted for a piece of felt.  Ironing a piece of freezer paper onto the wrong side of the felt stabilised it sufficiently for it to go through my printer and I now have a very feint outline of the heart and message I can use to sew (see photo left).  I realise this is cheating but it is a long, long time since I did any cross stitching/embroidery so need all the help I can get.  I am pleased with the final design so will start this, probably Thursday when I have no dogs to walk and/or play with.

So I have now finished the label and have attached it to the quilt.  I checked out the embroidery stitches on line and realised that I could use a very small running stitch to complete the letters.  Once I had done this, there was quite a large empty space in the middle.  I looked up a design of lips puckering - looking like a kiss to fit the 'theme'.  However after unpicking my satin stitches for the 3rd time, I knew I was in danger of putting holes in the label so had to come up with a different design.

I raided my stash of craft materials and found a piece of red felt.  I cut the shape of the lips out, used some ordinary red thread and stitched them onto the label using the small running stitches again.  I am really happy with the finished label and hope Vic is too.  She doesn't want to see it until I have finished the quilt, so these posts won't be posted in 'real' time.                                                    

I then set to and was able to machine sew the patchwork to the throw.  It went a lot easier than I was expecting but I guess a new needle and the correct tension on the machine helps significantly!  I have left the opening alone so that I can get my hand inside it to help me lose the knots on the embroidery thread - don't judge me!!  Using the very small stitches and whole bag of patience, I stitched the label onto the quilt through both the patchwork and the fleece.  I need to 'anchor' the two sides together.  Although the quilt is not very heavy, I would feel better about it.  So I have also made the decision to use the shape of the label to anchor the corners and middle of the quilt.  I was going to do a random pattern, but I couldn't do it 'randomly' enough so have gone for each corner and the middle.  The label is in the bottom left hand corner.

I have finished the quilt today and have it ready for Vic for when she comes home.  Finger's crossed she likes it, otherwise I have a new throw for the settee......  Update later. :) 

Wilting whilst Quilting

I have now deconstructed the 'new' shirts, cut them into squares and have been sewing 7 squares together.  I need 9 strips of 7 and I am using 6 plain with 1 patterned square.  I have put the squares cut from a shirt into a pile which I am then randomly picking from as I go, hoping that when I come to sew the strips together, I won't have any squares from the same pile together.  I know I could work this out one strip at a time but that would make the quilt predetermined rather than random.  Each strip has been ironed so the seams were in the 'open' position making it easy for my machine to cope with the 'bulk' of material going through it.

I then placed each strip flat on the settee so I could arrange them in such a way to ensure that there would be no two squares alike next to one another.  Each strip was numbered to help me when I put them together and so I began putting 2 strips together, slowly to ensure that the seams remained open.  

Unfortunately, the label showing no. 7 was a little too close to the edge of the square and I managed to sew it into the seam (see photo below)  Fortunately the sticky label was made of quite thin paper so it wasn't a problem taking it out of the stitching. Phew!!

The rest of the assembly went very smoothly and the patchwork side of the quilt was done.  Each seam was ironed and with this done, I began working on the label.

 

Quilt 'til I Wilt

 So..... Following months of looking, my youngest daughter, Vic, finally bought a house.  Well I say house but really mean a concrete pad (the last time we looked) ready for building on.  Amongst the things she wants for her house is a quilt.  Oh dear.... LOL  

I have already made her a quilt, (see photo right) from the colours she gave me to work with and the measurements for her bed (at the time).  Now regular readers will know that maths is not my strong suit so the quilt actually fits my king size bed rather well.  Shame really as she had a double bed at the time (secretly pleased it was too big).  Anyhoo.....

When she moves into her new house, she would like a single quilt of grey and white for her bed.  Having picked my jaw off the floor. I began planning what and how I was going to do it.  This time, instead of 4 inch squares, she has opted for 8 inch ones.  Great, I thought, fewer squares to make. 

However, this was soon going to be a problem.  Friday afternoons - Ladies that Do.... day - is still going on and so my favourite charity shop was raided for plain grey, white and patterned shirts of the same colours which would make up one side of the quilt.  Following conversations with Vic, she decided that she would quite like a single sided, pattern quilt with a plain side of any colour.  This cuts down the amount of stitching and piecing significantly so (of course) I am happy with this.

Having washed and ironed the shirts, I spent an afternoon deconstructing them.  The buttons and some of the button hole detail tabs have been saved for future projects.  

With a pile of cotton material, I searched for my square template.  Sadly, my template is only 6 inches square so not helpful.  I found some cardboard and made my own 8.5 inch square template and we were all set to start cutting.

Previously when I have used cotton material, I used pinking shears as an added fray protection measure.  I realise that this takes time cutting as you have to mark/trace around your shape then cut out, but in the projects I have used cotton for, it has paid off.  Now I am a little more proficient using tools and in the actual sewing, I felt that I would be able to cut out the squares using a rotary cutter to quicken up this process - not that I mind taking my time - and still achieve a high level of finish to the seams.  Using the blade did quicken up the process but it wasn't kind to my aching joints being stood up for 3 hours cutting out the 99 squares I managed to get from the 'shirts'.

The main problem was that some of the shirts I had bought were small and/or medium sized and their sleeves were too small for the template, thus reducing the amount of squares I would get per shirt.  I would also be left with quite a lot of 'spare' material I couldn't use in this particular project. Good job I wasn't paying a lot for them!

Note to self:  if I ever make another cotton quilt, ensure I buy extra large shirts as there is much more material in them especially if the size of the pieces is 8 inches plus!! 

Vic had mentioned that she liked the size of one of the throws I use on the settee so  I bought a similar fleece throw from eBay to use as the 'flip side' and lining.  When it arrived, I laid out the squares as a rough guide and realised that I would only need around 67.  Result!! Although I now have a lot of cotton squares going begging...... mmmmm.  What to do.... lol.

Whilst putting the squares down, Vic stated that she wanted more of the plain squares in the quilt and not many patterned ones.  Oh.  My 99 is now reduced quite a lot so I might have to try and find a couple more plain shirts!  Who knew that grey and white, men's extra large shirts would be in short supply!?  Ah well.  Fortunately have just done a trawl of the local charity shops and found 2 more plain ones so all is well.  

I mixed up the piles of squares so that I would not be stitching two of the same colour/design together.  As she had stated that she wants more plain ones, I have put only one patterned square in the strip of squares I have sewn.  I am doing 9 'rows' of 7 squares which will then be sewn into the quilt proper.  This is how I did the previous ones and it works for me.  I need to know now how I am going to 'fix' the front to the back...  I might just pick out a couple of the squares and stitch in the ditch like I did in the denim quilt (see previous quilt posts).

The last thing Vic said she wanted was for me to 'write something on it'.  I think she means like putting on a quilt label.  I have spent a few hours (!!) looking on line for ideas on what and how and I think I am happy with my design.  Just working out how to produce it but it will be another of the skills learned in the long distant past that I will be using.  Watch out for that in another post, lol.

So that's where I am at the moment.  I am ironing the seams of the rows of sewn squares whilst waiting for the 2 new shirts to dry before deconstructing them.  I have a design for my label currently waiting for me to start - spoilers lol - you'll have to wait!  Until my next post, take care and stay safe. There's a lot of weather out there!!

Suits you, Sir

For four days a week, I look after the pet dogs for two friends.  Henry is a Bichon Frisé cross with Jack Russell (right) and Albert (bottom left) is a Jack Russell.  Karen is Albert's mum and is getting married this year - 2022 - to Stephen and would like to include Albert in the wedding photographs.  As Albert is going to be with me on the day, she has asked me to walk him across to the church when the photographs are being taken and I thought that it would be a nice idea to make Albert a wedding outfit, like his 'dad'.  It is January 2022, they are to be married in September, so I am currently working out patterns for a shirt, jacket and bow tie.

Now, for those of you who have read my previous posts, you will remember that I do not sew clothing - unless it is taking up trousers/jeans - so this is a big deal for me.  I need the items to look good because I don't want to do anything to spoil the wedding and I don't want to embarrass myself by 'creating' something which looks shabby.  So, I am going all out at the planning stage and am currently sketching out patterns and cutting out 'drafts' in scrap material which I can work on before I start on the final product.

Cup of coffee and brain cell primed, I realised that I could play with the harness I have for both Henry and Albert.  However, the chest/tummy width of the harness is a lot slimmer than I want it.  If you look at the one Henry is wearing, you can see that the harness has a bow tie fixed to the front of the chest/tummy piece.  My thinking (rightly or wrongly), is that I can broaden this bit and then add a wider piece onto the top (Albert's back).  The chest/tummy piece would be white - simulating a shirt front - with a navy-blue top piece - to simulate a jacket.

I want the chest/tummy piece to look like a buttoned-up shirt front so my thoughts are to put a pleat/fold in the centre of the pattern, folding over around ½ inch, which I can then add two lines of stitching to give the pleat/fold the look of the button hole top of the shirt.  I can then add buttons onto this section to emulate a shirt front.

 

So, taking a piece of scrap material, I created the pleat/fold, tacked the seams down both sides, placed my harness pattern on the top and traced around the outline.  It looked ok, so I put it to one side. 

I then took a look at a shirt from my hubby's wardrobe and fashioned a collar - needs to look more like a shirt than a harness.  So far so good.  This will eventually be sewn onto the top of the shirt front so is currently an individual pattern piece.  

I really need Albert now so that I can check the size - too small and it won't look like a shirt; too large and it will crease/fold over where his legs are and be uncomfortable for him.  I have therefore left the 'draft' shirt front alone and will try it on him when I see him next. 

 

In order not to completely waste my day, I then searched for a bow tie pattern.  Pinterest came up trumps again and a simpler one I could not find.  Basically, you take a rectangular piece of material, sew a running stitch through the middle, pull to gather up the centre and tie off your bow.  A smaller piece of material is then added to the middle to both cover the stitches and to also imitate the knot of a bow tie.  It worked brilliantly - even using the scrap material, fabric glue and an iron!  

So, I have a vision - shirt front lookalike with jacket and bow tie.  I have a plan - patterns and materials.  I just need Albert.  As this is being kept secret from the bride, I also need a barrow full of patience and self-control not to let the cat out of the bag (so to speak).  Updates and photos to follow.  Wish me luck.

 

UPDATE

I have now placed the pieces altogether and have also tried them on Albert.  I have managed to keep him still for long enough to take a photo so here goes (Sorry but managed to cut off his ear).  The green stripy fabric is NOT the end fabric.  It does look a lot better than I hoped. It should look better with white buttons rather than black pins and also a pink bow tie.   Loving it and I am feeling a lot more confident about the whole piece now.

Phew!                                                                                                                              

Updates as and when.  😊

Christmas Covid Chaos

 Well, long time no see......  I have had a few problems accessing my blog recently and through the blogger forum I made a new friend, https://www.myfairyblogmother.com/, I hope, though I suspect she never wants to hear from me again as I believe I caused her a few headaches, lol.  What an absolute star she was and I am indebted to her.  Not being technically minded I was ready for having to let this blog page go and to start over.  Thankfully, I don't have to do that and I am now back on board with new projects and stories to share.

So anyway, occasionally I get hit with what I would describe as a 'tag line'.  This can be an idea, sentence, story, and they behave like an ear worm and keep going around in my head until I finish whatever the poem/story is.  Recently I was hit by a "tag line frenzy" where I got 'hit' by 2 lines.   I knew that they were 2 different poems as the meter for each line was different.   As I had also been struck by Covid and found myself having to do 10 days isolation where I was not able to get out of my bedroom, I wrote the poem below and another which was given to my dog walking mate as a Christmas 'treat'.  Hope this one makes you smile......

Christmas Covid Chaos

It’s a good thing for you I’m not poorly
Cos you lot would be in a mess.
It’s a wonder that I haven’t died yet
From the arguments, swearing, and stress 

This damn Covid bug has knocked me for six
I’m sitting upstairs isolating
With headache, and sneezes and shivers, a cough,
I’m bored, and the TV’s frustrating. 

Christmas was meant to be better than this
I didn’t expect to get ill
You weren’t banking on me not being around
Now I haven’t the time or the will. 

I thought that you would have taken the time
To find out and learn how things work
Where to dust, what to use, how to do it and then
The cleaning you wunt need to shirk 

I don’t want to moan or to lecture,
I really don’t want to get mad
But looking around this place we call home
It’s honestly making me sad 

The pots in the sink have gone mouldy
The light on the washer dun’t flash
The clothes in the drum, are all covered in scrum
The sky box says “Wait – there’s a clash”! 

The cushions and throws on the sofa
Are faded and covered in hairs                       
The carpets and rugs
Are muddy, there’s bugs
In the curtains, the flowers, the chairs 

The TV remote has gone missing
Its batteries dead, like the plant.
The goldfish is floating on top of the tank
(This is starting to sound like a rant) 

The hoover is full of goodness knows what
That came from the bedrooms upstairs
The toilet is making this gurgling noise
(Not sure what it is, but I’m scared) 

The kitchen bin sits in the corner
Silently being ignored
Whilst wrappers and boxes
And leftover food
Make mountains of mess on the floor

The loo roll is empty, the basin is full

Of shaving foam, whiskers, and spit

My blood pressure’s high, my dander is up

I’m losing my mind, I’ll admit 

There’s a smell in the air,
I’m not sure what it is
But I def’nitely know it’s ‘not good’
It’s a smell, not a whiff, not a stink or a pong
But the house doesn’t smell like it should

 So do me a favour and clean up, guys, please?       
Open the windows and doors
Let in the fresh air and rid it of bugs
Wash the door handles and floors.
Take out the rubbish and sweep up the dirt
Straighten the cards on the side
Polish the windows and tidy the rooms
Just do it and do it with pride.

It won’t be for long, this illness, I’m sure
We’ll celebrate soon as I’m well 
But frankly I’d rather be upstairs, near death
Than downstairs. Thank God! I can’t smell!!!

December 2021