Summer Sewing Camps 2023

 

Beginning Sewing

      I will be offering Beginning Sewing camps the week of June 12, July 10 or August 7.  The camp meets from Monday through Thursday from 9-12.  You will make a patchwork pillow, a drawstring bag and a book bag.  All supplies are included, you just need to bring your own basic sewing tools.

     I will also be teaching several camps for those who already have the basic sewing skills.  The first is Purse-onality Fun 7 the week of June 19.  You will make a purse, tissue holder, coin purse and a matching billfold all from just a yard of double faced pre-quilted fabric.

     The next camp will be Cozy at Home the week of June 26.  You will make a shower headwrap, a fancy pillowcase and some cozy slippers.

      The final camp of the summer will be Pile of Pillows the week of August 14.  You will make four different pillows.

     I will also have a one day camp on July 5, Ice Cream Fun.  You will make an apron from a pair of jeans and we will make ice cream in a bag to enjoy.

     If you want to join the fun, just email me at sewmuchfungrayslake@gmail.com for more info.

Simply Beautiful Shrug, Floral Edition

 

Shrug with the seams on the shoulders

     At ASG Conference in San Antonio this past summer I took a class with Katrina Walker and made a Simply Beautiful Shrug.  At that time I used a blue silk fabric from my stash for the class.  You can see it here.  While at conference I bought some fabrics from Nancy Nix-Rice.  This beautiful sheer I bought to make myself another shrug.

Shrug with the seams front and back

     I used Terial Magic to stiffen the fabric to make it easier to work with.  I just could not get a nice rolled edge on the neck curve no matter how hard I tried.  After a few attempts, I finally did a narrow hem on my sewing machine.  However it did make the neck opening larger than I wanted.  I added a tuck to each seam to make the opening smaller.

Tuck at the seam

     I also used the full two yards of the fabric I bought so the shrug is larger/longer than my other one.  It is hard to see the colors but it is a pretty, navy, brown and pink print.  It will match so many of my clothes.   Just waiting for the right opportunity to wear it.

Floral sheer fabric

Retreat Sweatshirt

 

Sweatshirt ready for retreat

     I go on a quilt retreat twice a year with my friends.  It is a fun time of sewing, eating and talking.  I decided to make myself a sweatshirt to wear while up there.  We go in March and October so it is usually cold.  

Stitching

     I bought the sweatshirt from Lands End and the embroidery design from Embroidery Library.  When I hooped the sweat shirt I hooped it sideways.  I thought this would give me a better embroidery field.  Instead I did wind up with some of the sweatshirt back getting caught up in the embroidery.  I was able to remove the stitches without unhooping the sweatshirt and then redid those stitches.  You can see the snafu at the top of the W in SEW.  

Close-up of the design

     Quilt retreat is in about 5 weeks and I can't wait to meet up with my friends for time to sew, talk and eat (and drink a bit of wine).  I have four quilts cut and ready to go.

Plush Blanket Embroidery

 

Stitching complete

     I had a client bring me a plush blanket to be embroidered.  I did the lettering in MasterWorks and added a basting box in Designers Gallery.  

Hooped and ready to stitch

     I knew I couldn't hoop the blanket as it might leave marks so I need a sticky stabilizer.  I was worried that my usual sticky stabilizer would pull out too many fibers when I peeled it off.  I opted to use Aqua Mesh Plus which is a sticky stabilizer that washed away.  On the top I used a dissolvable topper to keep the fibers down.  I did try to smooth them all in the same position before I put it on.  I opted to pin it down so it would not move while stitching the first set of stitches.

Basting box done

      

     The first stitches were the basting box around the lettering.  Those stitches would ensure that the topper would not bunch up while stitching.  I did stand at the machine, supporting the blanket as I was afraid it might drag.  The stitching went well.  I removed as much of the stabilizer that I could without actually washing the blanket.  The client will need to wash the blanket before giving it to her friend.  

Stitching complete

     I am a bit concerned that the lettering will get lost in the loft of the blanket over time.  Next time I might suggest a patch or maybe some knockdown stitches under the lettering but that would change the whole texture of the corner.