Never Judge a Fabric Store by It's Website

Recently, I visited my DD in Henrico County, VA, right outside of Richmond.  I always look for independent fabric stores whenever I visit a city.  An online search yielded Couture by LK Design, which did not have a website and Silk Trading Company, which did.  I was in Richmond to collect my DD before we set off on a Caribbean cruise, so I was mindful of spending money.  Silk's website promised high end silks and decorator fabrics.    I thought "high end silks" were not in the budget at that particular time and I was resigned not to visit any fabric stores during this trip.  "She's my daughter, after all," I told myself.  "I'll be back in Richmond again."  But, she doesn't own a television, and I had two days in her apartment with little to occupy my mind while she was at work.  (A mother can do only so much snooping.  I'm kidding.)  So, I ended up at Silk Trading Company anyway.

BSM 6-12-141B

The store was not the high end fabric salon I expected.  It was very much like every other fabric store I frequent on Fabric Row in Philadelphia and some of the stores in New York's Garment District.  No fancy displays.  No bright florescent lighting.  Just good fabric at good prices.  I was the only customer in the store and the sales associate tended to hover.  When I shop for fabric, I usually have no idea what I'm looking for until I find it.  I couldn't answer questions like "What are you making?" or "What kind of dress?"  The prices on the bolts were only suggestions and the sales associate was willing to negotiate a little.   I was able to find two pieces I liked;  one of the pieces will most likely be the dress pictured from the June 2012 issue of Burda Style Magazine.

My research on Couture by LK Design, including the review on Pattern Review gave me the same impression. As a matter of fact, it is very likely that I confused the two stores. I didn't have time to visit that store, but I can visit Couture by LK Design the next time I visit my daughter.

My First Quilt Expo

Now that I have dedicated some time to quilting, I thought I'd go to my first quilt expo.  My opinion was: "These quilts will either motivate and inspire me or make me stop quilting all together because I will never measure up".  Both situations were true.

All done by hand!

The 2nd place quilt stopped me in my tracks.  This picture was taken with my iPod and doesn't do the quilt justice.  It's all hand appliquéd and hand quilted.  And it's huge - large enough for a king size bed; as if you would ever put it on a bed.   And the colors are bright and gorgeous!  After seeing this quilt, I shouldn't honestly call what I do quilting.

But, let's get back to reality.  This is the yellow ribbon quilt.  It's a paper pieced pineapple quilt.  I love it for it's simple elegance.  I can actually see myself making a pineapple quilt one day.  This is an achievable goal, whereas the Baltimore Album quilt above is a fantasy.  I'll never be that good. (Notice how I just throw quilting jargon around!!)

The blue ribbon quilt didn't interest me.  The highlight of that quilt was the actual quilting, which in my opinion, requires a whole different skill set than piecing or appliqué.  I'm working on being a passable piecer – I don't think I'll live long enough to become good at quilting.  Besides, without my camera, it would have been too difficult to photograph the subtleties of the quilting.

Of course, I did some shopping.  I want to make a small Underground Railroad sampler and I bought some 1860s reproduction fabrics.  1860s era fabrics are not as easy to find as one might think.  Apparently, the trend for making civil war era quilts has passed, just when I decide I want to make one.  Lucky me.  Also, a representative was demonstrating Oliso Pro Irons.  I had a horrible experience with this iron, so what did I do?  I bought another one.  File this in the "some-folks-never-learn" folder.  In my defense, I really enjoyed using the iron.  The 30-minute shut-off feature was great!  And the "show price" was considerably less than the sale + coupon price I paid when I bought the iron  in June.  If Oliso can lower the price for a show, why can't they lower the price permanently?  I told the sales person about my experience and he said I could have sent it back for a replacement.  Turns out, my iron wasn't the only one with problems.  The Oliso management changed manufacturers and  I was assured the problems have the eliminated.  Time will tell.

I saw a wide variety of quilts and quilters at the expo. There is more to quilting than just the traditional pieced blocks.  There were more "art quilts" on display than anything else.  I expected to see  the stereotypical  gray-haired, quilting grannies, but that was not the case.  I saw many different types of women there.   Except for the granny part, I have all of the qualifications to be a gray haired, quilting granny.  With all the quilting styles and quilters I think there is enough room in the quilting-sphere for me and what I do.

Finished: Top Cutting Line 12269 & Capris Burda 7669

Top: Cutting Line 12269

I've always liked Louise Cutting's demos.  I own volumes 1 - 4 of her DVD series and I expect to get volume 5 when it becomes available.  So it was only natural that I sew one of her patterns.

Pattern Description: 
From the pattern envelope:  "Watching the sunset is a cherished ritual for Anna Maria in her updated camp shirt and ankle-length cropped panel pants with side pockets.  It only takes about three minutes for the sun to disappear after it touches the horizon but it always inspires spontaneous applause."  
You gotta love Cutting Line Designs patterns.  A basic pattern description is embedded in an evocative passage!  You can sew a blouse plus you have the seeds for a creative writing exercise!  (Anna Maria walked down the pier, away from the sea and remembered Ramon ………)

Pattern Sizing:
XS to XL (bust measurements:  XS 30"- 32"  XL 45" - 48")  The pattern runs a little large in my opinion.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions incorporated many of the techniques Louise Cutting demonstrated in the DVDs and TV appearances.  She advocates eliminating the bulk from the front of a collar by moving the seam to the back of the under collar. The technique is easier to carry out than to describe here and other experts have used it.  It works very well!  This technique is included in her directions and the necessary pattern changes are already done.  She also advocates the use of lots of Steam-a-Seam.  I didn't find it necessary to use that product where Cutting suggests. The instructions are very clear and well illustrated.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Lonely dart on the pattern sheet

Who doesn't love a good camp shirt?  This shirt runs a little large, though.  Front and back darts are an option.  I chose not to include them, but I will next time.  Rather than print the darts on the front and back pattern pieces, just the poor little lonely dart is on the pattern sheet.  That allows the sewer to measure her body and place the darts where needed.  A great idea and instructions for this process are given, but I was too lazy to go through with it.

Fabric Used:
Cotton.  I took a field trip to Sinking Spring, PA and visited the brick and mortar Fabric Mart, where I purchased this fabric and the fabric for the coordinating pants.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I sewed this blouse straight out of the envelope.  It could use a little adjusting.

Would you sew it again?
I would definitely sew this pattern again, but with some major changes.  it definitely needs the darts, if not a smaller size.


Conclusion: 

I like the Cutting Line Designs.  The are fashionable, a little different and appropriate for a woman of my age.  I'm sure I'll be purchasing more.

Capris: Burda 7669

Pattern Description: 

Fly front capris with a hem band and slit.

Pattern Sizing:

Plus size - 44 - 60 (European)

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Burda envelope patterns generally have easier and clearer instructions than the magazine patterns.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I like the hem band detail, which, of course, barely shows on the garments.  The hem band has a slit on the side.

Fabric Used:

Seersucker with a little lycra

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I made both the long and capri versions of these pants some time ago.  At the time, the thighs were a little tight.  This time I added an inch to the thighs using pivot and slide.  I also made minor changes to the belt loops. I lengthened them and moved the top of the loop to the top of the waist band rather than have them float in the meddle of the waistband.

Conclusion: 

I give this outfit a C.    If I were on Project Runway, Heidi would tell me my outfit made her "sad".  Michael would say something catty and mean and Nina would be just plain mean.  Good thing I'm not on Project Runway.  The complete outfit is not what I visualized.  This was meant to be an outfit for my cruise, but it's just not colorful enough for the Caribbean.   I'll probably end up wearing the capris with a different top.

Peaceful Pineapples

I just finished a small wall hanging for my sewing room.  There was an empty space on the wall and I didn't want yet another picture.  I wanted something three-dimensional.  I looked in Home Goods, Pier 1 Imports and any store that sold home decor items.  Then I remembered, "Hey, I can sew!  What better way to decorate a sewing room than with something I sewed?"

About 18 months ago I attended a demonstration in which Gyleen X. Fitzgerald (Trash to Treasure Pineapple Quilts) showed her tool for making pineapple quilt blocks.   Naturally, I bought the tool and the accompanying book.  Recently, I bought a pack of 6 fat quarters to practice the block.   The result was this small wall hanging I call "Peaceful Pineapples."

The aspects of quilting I thought would bore me are the things I like most about quilting.  The repetition calms me and is addictive.   Once I got the rhythm of the process, it was hard to stop.  I was up way past my normal bedtime making the pineapple blocks. Then the next morning, I took the piece to my front porch for the hand sewing.  Hand sewing is also relaxing.  Sitting on the porch, in the quiet of the morning was very peaceful – hence the name "Peaceful Pineapples". 

I like quilting more than I ever thought I would.  The planning, shopping for fabrics, buying books magazines, and patterns is a lot like garment sewing.  Quilting has become another outlet for creativity.

If at first you don't succeed ……

Who would have thought giving away free patterns would be such an ordeal?  Not me!

Over two weeks have passed and the original winner, VWBug, has not stepped forward to claim her prize.  I randomly chose another winner from the original entries.

That winner is Debbie Cook!

Debbie, please send me an email (Elaray2003 at gmail dot com) with your mailing information and I will mail the patterns to you!

Congratulations.

Last Call

VWBug, where are you?

On Aug 2, VWBug was the proclaimed winner of three Hot Patterns.  VWBug has not come forward to collect the prize.  Unless I hear from VWBug, I will select another winner from the current entries on Monday, Aug. 20.