The Farmers Wife QAL

Only a few more days until this starts and I'm so excited!If you want to know more about click on the book above - it'll take you right to the page!
I've got my layout figured -

The applique design chosen, which was designed by Rochelle Martin of Cottage Quilt Designs

And then my Farmers Wives blocks will go around the outside of it, just like shown in the layout above. The only thing left to do is figure out how many blocks I'll need! Oh, and here are the fabrics I've chosen -

AND!!!! I am in the midst of folding and organizing my fabric ala Hungry Zombie. My dining room is a mess as all the fabric is waiting there to be folded, but look how pretty!!!

By folding my fabric properly I filled one shelf with 2 shelves worth of fabric! 

Now, with some space that can be used for other storage. Although I'm not done folding fabric yet, but the end is in sight! 

See the top? That's how the whole shelving unit looked :( Disgusting!!!!

It's a Great Week coming up - what are you doing?

Featured Artist of the Week - ME!

This week's Featured Artist is Karen Gass

Written by Bridgett

 She is just so much fun and a GREAT source of knowledge and always, always ready to jump in the breach and help you out if need be!  She also is VERY crafty and has a shop and all.. but don’t let me hog the floor! I will let her tell you all in her own words what she is up to!

I give you:
KAREN GASS!
I’m Karen Gass, and I’ve been sewing since I was 8 yrs old. Sewing is my main love, while knitting, crocheting and all types of embroidery compete for second place. I learned to sew in 4-H club after school. My grandmother was a great seamstress. She sewed for people ever since I can remember, up until the day she passed away.

Tablecloth crochet by Karen

I sewed my own clothes through school, even my fancy prom type dresses. After I got married, I made most of my kids' clothes, and knit them simple sweaters. When they got older they weren’t interested in my ‘home made’ clothes any more, they wanted clothes from the mall! And I was a little tired of sewing my own clothes, they turned out ‘ok’ but weren’t as good as I wanted them to be.

cute little baby blanket Karen crochet. Can you just imagine getting something cute like this for your little one?

So, I turned to quilting. I taught myself to quilt and was soon making quilts left and right! My sister and I started doing craft shows and we kept a booth in the local craft mall. I wasn’t sure what I was going to make for the booth and the shows, but I hung up one of my quilts while we were setting up our booth, just to have something in it. It sold right away and then it seemed as though I’d decided! I’d make quilts! So, I made ‘I don’t know how many’ hand quilted wallhangings. Most were in the 36” square range and then smaller ones about 6 x 8 primitives that I hung from a small stick with twine, and quilted pillows. Our booth became very popular and at the start of each show we had a crowd at our booth, vying for the newest things and buying most of what we had. It certainly was an ego booster!

I love, love, love this quilt! Karen Designed this one!

I started designing quilts and selling patterns. In 2005, my book came out ‘Log Cabin Quilts: A Brand New Story’ by Karen Murphy. Then I got married and all that name recognition went out the window! That’s ok, I’d rather have my husband than any recognition for anything. He’s a wonderful husband!
Then, my daughter and I started an online Quilting magazine called Cotton Spice. Actually, the first four issues were printed and distributed, but as the subscribers grew, it wasn’t enough to pay for more copies, so we decided to publish online and on CD. It went well, but not well enough. I chalk it up to being ‘before our time’ as now there are lots of online magazines and I even work for one as a copy editor! The Quilt Pattern Magazine.

Star quilt block designed by Karen! Told you she is awesome!

In the past few years, I’ve started polishing my garment making skills, because I do love to make nice clothes. I’ve been reading some couture technique books and learned quite a bit. I have a few clients I make clothes for, and myself, and then also for my grandchildren of which I have 14 None living with me though. They are spread out between Alaska, California and Idaho. Well, I do have two of them that live here in Joplin, two teenage boys, and they are well over the age of having stories read to them So, I just signed up for Skype and hopefully can do some chatting with them and at least see the little ones play and listen to them speak their own funny language.

Karen sewed this shirt all by hand from scratch!So, besides all that, I also have my own personal blog where I talk about a lot of things, mostly sewing. You’re more than welcome to visit   Karen’s Needlework and an Etsy shop where I sell natural laundry soap and my newest product Quilt Soap!  Quilts need to washed in a mild laundry soap, not detergent, and my soap just fits the bill! A friend of mine who does quilt repair and restoration has been using it to wash the quilts in, and they come out clean as a whistle! They are packaged up cute as a button, so you can include them with quilts you give as gifts, or quilts you sell.

QUILT SOAP! Treat your handmade projects like the treasures they are and try Karen's home made quilt soap!

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LAUNDRY SOAP! Handmade awesomeness!So, I’d better wrap this up, because I have sewing to do! It was nice to meet ya’ll, please come visit my blog and Etsy shop. I’ll also give you a coupon code for my Etsy shop for Free Shipping, just because you were nice enough to read this and stop by to see what I have! FREESHIPPINGINT is the code, just enter it in the coupon code box when you purchase and your shipping fee will vanish right before your eyes! (for US orders only) Have a wonderful day!!!

Support a handmade artist! :)

Bridgett

If you would like to be a featured artist on Indie Mosaic's Blog, and then make the rounds of our own personal blogs for plenty of exposure, please drop us a line and  write a little blurb like Karen did, attach a few pictures to your email and send it to slavetomyneedles@comcast.net !  We promise we will feature you. (We do reserve the right to censor what we feature. We do have a family friendly blog and WILL keep it that way! We hope you understand! )

A Great Review and Giveaway of my Laundry Soap!

My friend Tabitha, of A Restful Place did an awesome review of my Laundry Soap yesterday. I wanted to post this yesterday, but I confess, I was too busy sewing and I forgot. So go on by there today, the giveaway is still open! That link will take you directly to the review! 

And other great news concerning my Etsy shop, a new product!

4 ozs of mild soap, perfect for washing your quilts in.It comes in this cute little re-usable tin and there is enough soap to wash your quilt 5-6 times, depending on the size of your quilt. 

It also comes in this pretty organza bag. There will be a scoop included, it's just not arrived yet! 

These are two awesome gifts for the quilter in your life - the perfect gift for a quilt collector and it also works well on quilt restoration. Visit my Etsy Shop and try it out today! Or just get some Laundry Soap - we never run out of laundry!!

The Farmers Wife Quilt Along Layout

So, I've got my layout chosen! My quilting buddy Karen Bush gave me the idea and I'm taking it! :) Since I have a king size bed and the blocks are only 6" blocks - well, that's a LOT of blocks! My 'unoriginal' thought was to make a full size quilt with blocks and then put WIDE borders where I could put some applique. I do love to applique. She said, Why don't you put the applique in the middle and use the blocks for the border? Light bulb moment!!!! Exactly! So here is my rough layout for the quilt -

Now, I haven't measured or anything, so I have no idea if that's the correct number of blocks or not, but that is the next step.

The next question is - what are you going to applique in the middle? I knew you wanted to know :)

Floral Fantasy designed by Rochelle Martin 

I LOVE this applique quilt and have for years. It's the perfect thing to go in the center of my Farmers Wife Quilt - her flower garden! Still must decide on hand or machine applique, but I'll get that figured out. This Floral Fantasy comes in sizes from wall hanging to king size, so I know I'll have the perfect size middle for my FW quilt! 

I know this is not going to be a quick and easy project. It will take time, I'm under no illusions. It will my first (and probably last) king size quilt!

First Sewing Project of 2012 - The House Dress!

I have a thing for house dresses. I just love the old fashioned idea of them. Usually if we're going to clean our house, we put on our grubbies and a scarf over our hair and no makeup. Actually we look like WE need the cleaning! Add that to the dirty house and you've got a miserable picture!

Well, why not wear a pretty house dress? (is that one word or two?) Do your hair and makeup and wear some pretty (but comfortable) shoes! NOW tackle that bit of cleaning you need to do. And do some picking up and putting away - that's easy.

I know housecleaning is not the most glamorous job there is, but it brings great satisfaction. (and kills germs) So why not look good while doing it? I've decided to make some house dresses - that's what I'm calling them anyway. I'm sure they would be perfectly acceptable to wear outside the home as well. In fact, when I think of all the women I've seen at Walmart wearing their jammies - I'm pretty sure it would be acceptable to wear a  house dress 'out'.

Pictures - (my dress form has a piece missing, the piece that holds it up to my height, so it looks like the hem of the dress is near the floor, which it is, but on me it's just right below the knee)

The whole dress on my short dress form (which is also smaller than me) 

I've been reading Cool Couture by Kenneth King and am just finished the chapter where he talked about the use of piping on a dress, and how it can add so much. So, I decided to add the yellow trim, it's not piping, it's simply a strip of yellow, folded in half and inserted into the seam.

I also lined the dress. The dress itself is made from a Moda quilt shop fabric. 100% cotton. So I lined it with a white cotton. I simply placed the white piece on the green and treated it as one fabric. Except for the skirt lining. This is separate from the side seams and only attached at the waistline. I didn't have enough green to make it as long as I wanted, so I added the yellow ruffle to the skirt lining, so it would peek out from below the green hem. 

Closeup of the neck. They say wrap dresses are flattering for every figure. And it is, but my neckline gaps like crazy when I put it on. And yes, I did do a muslin of the top. I lengthened the top pieces 1" since I'm taller than the average bear, but I don't think that's the reason it gaps. I'm not sure why it gaps. 

In order to get my waistband to match the other side, I had to pin down this much of one side of the wrap. I had to pin the wraps where they cross, so I wasn't advertising the goods. And it was still gaping. I definitely had to wear another shirt underneath, but I didn't like the gaping, even with the sleeveless shell underneath. The only way I can think to fix this is to take out the waistband on the front. Got any great ideas? 

All in all I'm pleased with the dress. It looks the way I wanted it to look, now I need to make it fit the way I want it to fit! Thoughts welcome! What was your first sewing project of the new year?

The Farmers Wife QAL

is starting Feb 1 over at Brynwood Needleworks and I'm ready! I've got my book, I've had it for some time. I love reading those letters from the farmers wives - makes me want to be one! But I don't have a farmer or a farm so.... I'm pretty darn happy with husband I have, even if he doesn't have a farm :) Ya'll know I'm just kidding, I have a best husband in the world. I'd live with him in a cardboard box if we had to. Just as long as we're together!

So, this is my fabric -

You might notice some Moda French General in there :) I've been carefully saving it for a special occasion and this is it! I only had that little bit and I wasn't going to use it on anything 'everyday'!

The only decision left to me, is how big to make the quilt. I'd love to have one of my quilts on our bed, but gosh, it's a king size bed!!! That's a big quilt!!! So, I'm really torn about that.

I'd love some advice about a quilt for a king size bed. I'd hate to make the pieced part queen size and then just do a really wide border to make it king size, although...that would be a nice space for some applique! LOTS of applique!!! Now I'm even more confused about what to do. Advice - please!!!

A Cowl Necked Top

I purchased a lovely piece of wool knit from Fabric Mart sometime the end of last year and I finally had time to sew it up! I knew exactly what it was going to be. I'd been wanting to use Pam's spiral cowl neck tutorial (scroll down to the second post) for some time, but everything else kept getting in the way of it!

Don't mind the skirt under the top, that's the dress my dress form wears, since she has to live in the entryway, behind the front door. I didn't think it would be proper to let her be naked :( 

Close Up of the neck 

 As we go step by step in the making of this top, you'll see that I did cut the neckline lower, as Pam advised, but not low enough. I was worried that it might be very uncomfortable and then I'd have to take it out (didn't want to) but when I tried it on, the cowl around my neck was actually PERFECT! Not to tight, but close enough to me to keep me nice and warm. I found myself tucking my chin in there now and then when I got cold :) Ok here we go.

I used my favorite tunic pattern, which is really for a woven fabric, while this is a stretch knit. I thought it'd be ok, and it was.

I'd already adjust the bust darts, as the ones on the pattern were too high for this old granny! Lower those darts, sure sign of age! lol Just remark your bust point, and then draw lines from the existing dart lines as shown.

 

 

Sew the darts, running right off the fabric at the end point. Pull the bottom thread through to the back of the garment and tie your own knot. This eliminates bulk in that dart point, so it looks smoother at the end. We like smooth. 

Pin the shoulder seams, adding some clear elastic (because it's a knit) if it was a woven fabric, I'd have used some ribbon or twill tape. It gives strength to the shoulder seam. This would be my first time using the stretch stitch on my new sewing machine, so I was eager to see how it turned out. 

It was perfect! Combined with the elastic, it pulled and stretched without breaking any stitches. LOVE my new machine :) 

Ever had this happen to you? Seems no matter what you do, it can happen. no problem....

Fold your garment in half, so both sides are the same, and trim off enough of the back piece so the shoulder seams are even. 

Sew up the side seams...

I didn't sew all the way to the bottom of the top, but left these sides open

I'm also not finishing these seams, because it's a double knit and it's not going to ravel. Press the side seams open, and look at this ugly dart end!!! ugh...I don't want that in  my top! 

So, chop it off! And then give it a good pressing. 

After giving it a good press and steam, as soon as I could touch it (and it was still pretty warm) I smashed it down and held it till cool. This decreased the 'lump' be smashing all the fibers together. Yes, that is the technical term! And since it is wool, it will keep that shape until it dies. 

Since this is a doubleknit, it can be hard, if not impossible to tell your right side from your back side. So, unfold the sleeves from each other, opening them like a book. This ensures you'll have everything where it should be. Now, fold them back on each other and pin at the underarm seam. See those two white arrows? They point to my 1 notch, designating the front of of the sleeve. There is a difference between the front and back of the sleeve. You may not see it, but if you put your sleeves in backwards, you'll know it when you wear the garment. It just won't feel right! (if you click on this picture it will get bigger and you'll see my notches, er, cuts. 

Sew up the sleeve seam, and use your sleeve board to press that seam open. It makes it so much easier!!! 

Now, Pam says to lower the front neckline before attaching the cowl, which you can see I did, but not very much. This is where I 'thought' I screwed up by not cutting it deep enough. Turns out, it fits perfectly. But this is the way to lower your neckline. Fold the front together, ignoring all the other parts of the top, match the shoulder seams, make sure your front is laying flat with no wrinkles and meets properly at the bottom. Then trim off this piece, starting at the center fold, tapering to nothing at the shoulder seams. 

From here, I followed Pam's tutorial for the cowl, worked perfectly. I hemmed the bottom and it was done! (oh I hemmed the sleeves too)

This is a very simple top, quick and easy to make. I made it all on the sewing machine, no serger (I didn't want to change thread) and I love the way it looks and fits! I encourage you to try it out for yourself, and use Pam's tutorials, they are the best!

God Bless You!
Karen

Happy New Year!

Amidst all the goal-setting and the resolution-making going on right now all over America, I have but one. Keep it simple and my goal for this year is to learn to say NO! I have developed a bad habit of overwhelming myself at every turn, leaving me no time to participate in exchanges on some of my Yahoo groups, or even to write on my blog very often. Well, that has to change.

I'm not talking about being selfish, I will continue to give as I feel the Lord leads me too, but I have to start drawing a line in the sand and saying to myself, "This is all I can do." And then stop there. I need time to sew, I need time to be with my family, I need time for me!

I'm very good at scheduling every minute of my life. This came from a bad habit I developed during a bad marriage - justifying my existence on this earth because I didn't bring home a paycheck. I don't have to do that anymore, I have a wonderful husband who loves that I am at home, which is where I want to be. And it's time to start losing that mindset.

It's ok to do nothing. It's ok to do something for me. It's ok. And when I say nothing, I don't mean just sitting and staring - that would drive me nuts. My hands have to be busy, whether it's with sewing, knitting or crocheting or playing with paper. I learned from a young age to keep my hands busy and I will just because I want to. Sounds kind of contradictory I know, but I'm learning to relax - and sometimes that's not easy.

You'll see the graphic on the left sidebar about Share the Process - look for more step by step pictures of my projects. I have one ready to go, and should get it up tomorrow. But I wanted to take today, the first day of the New Year, to wish all of you the best of New Years, and ask that God would Bless each and every one of you.

Karen