Beginning Sewing Camp July 2022

 

Milani and her projects

       After getting back from The ASG Conference in San Antonio, I had another beginning sewing camp.  Two of the girls had never used a machine before, one girl had a little experience and the fourth had quite s bit of experience.    We spent the first day sewing on paper and learning how to sew straight lines and practiced pivoting while sewing.

Dagny and her pillow

Khloe and her pillow

Milani and her pillow

Olivia and her pillow

     The second day they made their patchwork pillows  Then they learned about seam finishes and the zigzag stitch.

Khloe and her drawstring bag

Milani and her drawstring bag

Olivia and her drawstring bag

 

     The third day they sewed their drawstring bags and learned how to use a safety pin to thread the ribbon through the casing.  Then they learned how to shorten the length and sew a smooth curve.

Khloe and her book bag

Milani and her book bag

Olivia and her book bag

    On the fourth day they made their cross body bags and learned how to turn a tube.  The three of them did a great job and all seemed to have fun.  The fourth girl was disappointed with the projects and pace of the class though it was billed as a beginning sewing camp.  She only came a couple of days.  The other girls did miss her and her talk of the different things she had already made. 

Olivia and her projects

     One more Beginning Sewing Camp the first week of August.  This one wasn't full so when I had to cancel the Travel Time Camp I offered to have the one girl that was signed up, to move to that week and sew her projects with the beginners.  She thought is was a great idea and wouldn't have to miss sewing for the summer.

A Quilt for Amelia

 

Quilt for Amelia Kristine

     This is the quilt for Amelia Kristine, the twin sister of Alice Mae whose quilt I wrote about last week.  For this quilt I had bought a Fat Quarter bundle (8 fat quarters) while at the Sew Expo in June of 2021.  I also bought some patterns at that time that utilized 8 fat quarters.  

Blocks detail

     The pattern I used is called Big & Little.  One block has a large center square while the other has a small center square.  I found the same fabric line online at the Cute Little Fabric Shop.  I bought enough to make the binding but I wish now that I had bought more to do a border.  This quilt was quite a bit smaller than the one for her sister, duh only 2 yards (8 x quarter yard) of fabric versus three.  

Flannel backing and quilting

     

      The fabric line is called Ready Set Splash so I had the quilter do bubbles for the pattern.  I also added a frog appliqué to one of the labels.

Quilt info label

     I chose this fabric bundle for the twin quilt as the colors coordinated well with her sister's quilt.

Baby info label

     I have another family baby due in September, this time my nephew's wife is expecting.  Can't wait to see what they have.

A Quilt for Alice

 

Finished quilt

     My daughter-in-law's brother and his wife had a second set of twins in December.  In June they had the Christening so that is when I gave them the quilts I made.  The two quilts are very different using different fabrics and patterns,  They also turned out not to be the same size, oops.

Block detail

     For this quilt I used my tried and true, Pathways, a Three Yard Quilt pattern.  I found this fun pinwheel fabric and bought the other two fabrics that coordinated.

Border detail

     I matched the binding to the outer border like I usually do, I like how it keeps the edge flowing.  For the backing I bought orange flannel from JoAnn Fabrics.  Makes such a soft back.

Quilting detail

     Then my friend Joni, quilted it with a fun pinwheel pattern using a turquoise thread.

Baby info label

Quilt info label

     I made some labels with the quilt info and also the baby info.  Are you wondering why I have two different colored labels?  Well I stitched the baby info label on the orange and then when I went to tear off the stabilizer, I tore right thru the label, still not sure how that happened.  Of course I didn't have any more of the orange, so I used some turquoise the I did have on hand.  You just have to make do with what you have.

Baking Bread and Keeping Cool Sewing Camp 2022

 

Enjoying the fruit of their labors

      A week before the Fourth of July, I had a one day sewing camp.  This year I did the Baking Bread camp.  The four students who took Beginning Sewing Camp in June last year signed up.  

     They made a pot holder/hot pad, a hot mitt and baked bread.  At least that was the plan.  They started with the hot pad and when we took a morning break, they mixed up the bread dough in a bag.  They took turns adding the ingredients and 'mooshing' the bag.  There were some spills and lots of laughter.

Autumn and her hot mitt

Caleb and his hot mitt

Colton and his hot mitt

Kate and her hot mitt

     Three of the four chose to add a loop to their pot holder while Caleb chose just a plain binding.  After finishing their potholders, we put the dough into individual baking pans and set it to the side to rise.  Then we started work on their hot mitts.  I traced their hands so it was fit to them.  Then they started cutting out all the pieces.  We took a short break to place the dough into the oven and went back to work.  

     Since my husband is working from home, he was in charge of taking them out when done, as we were in the basement sewing.  When they were finished baking, we took a 'lunch' break to enjoy the fruit of their labor.  Only Colton added butter to his, the rest just wanted it plain.  They all agreed it was delicious.

     Then back to work when we tried very hard to finish the hot mitt.  Unfortunately we ran out of time and were only able to get the pieces layered and edge-finished.  Fortunately, Kate and Caleb's grandmother sews and will be able to help them finish as well as Autumn who is friends with Kate.  Also fortunately, Colton's grandmother sews (me that is) so I can help him finish his later.

Autumn and her hot mitt

Caleb and his hot mitt

Colton and his hot mitt

Kate and her hot mitt

    I left for San Antonio a couple of days later for the ASG (American Sewing Guild) Conference and came home the day after the Fourth of July.  I love teaching others how to sew and I also love learning new things.