Perfecting the Pillsbury Dough Boy Look - part 2

 Longtime readers know that I’ve made quilted jackets only to later cut them up and make them into zippered pouches and totes.  When will I learn my lesson?  Apparently not anytime soon… 

I made this tote years ago from a Jinny Beyer kit.  But I made it before I learned about bag interfacings and underlayers.  The bag is gorgeous but would just collapse on itself.  For over 10 years I’ve had the fabrics and paper pattern (this is paper-pieced). So I decided to make a bag that would actually stand on its own.   But as I made the new front and back for this new bag, I decided it was too pretty for another bag.  Instead, I deconstructed  the bag above and retrofitted it with Soft and Stable, thus creating the bag I wanted.  

But now what do do with the bits I just created?  10 years later these Jinny Beyer fabrics are still among my favorites.  I think there’s a depth of color in her RJR fabrics. 

I ordered a jacket pattern - Tamarack Jacket by Grainline Studio - and a bolt of Thermore, a thin batting.  And then I got busy.  

It’s almost completed.

I lined it with one of my favorite Art Gallery fabrics, Hello Bear.  And I’m still figuring out the closure.  So far toggles seems to be the answer.  To be determined…

I still have some leftover colored bits.  And a lot of odds and ends of a plan white/cream.  Thinking… but it’s what’s up next! 

Turning Jackets into Totes

These are Arabesque purses, a free pattern from Sara Lawson at Sew Sweetness.  It's one of my favorite purse patterns - see the  Index on the right bottom of this blog.  While I would normally use Soft and Stable as the purse base, these purses are actually quilted jackets that I made - look at the December 3, 2007 and the March 17, 2009 blog entries.  The first jacket has traveled with me many times - look at this wonderful picture of me with two Turkish friends in the capital city Ankara.  But these two jackets have just been taking up valuable closet space since I haven't worn either of them in two years. So obviously deconstruction was called for.  This makeover has been very liberating, something I need since I'm gearing up for a new focus in February - more of this soon...

The straps are from the jacket.  So is the Exterior Pocket and the Interior Pocket.

These purses will allow me to continue to enjoy these fabrics in the most utilitarian of ways.

These sleeves will make perfect little zip pouches. 

A Liberal Jacket

This spring John and I toured several national parks of the West.  One of the women on our tour loved the quilted jacket I was wearing.  Before the trip was over she ordered one of these jackets in Grand Canyon colors and paid for it in cash.  Doris is a Democrat regarding Wisconsin and national politics, so of course I have her the Liberal Discount.  She and her daughter are traveling in October, and she wanted her jacket by then.  Here it is - all ready to go in the mail and then be broken in. Breaking in a jacket?  Absolutely, especially a quilted jacket.  Despite using the thinnest batting (Thermore), there are essentially five mini quilts (2 sleeves, 2 front, and a back) that have been sewn together.  This jacket needs to be washed and handled and worn.  So, Doris?  Get busy!  And stay politically active!

Something is different

In fact, I'm surprised you recognize me at all.  My laptop is at the hospital and will be for another few weeks.  The way I carry on you would think I'm working with chisel and stone rather than my husband's computer.  The parts for the Grand Canyon jacket are complete - with this technique it's like making four mini-quilts before constructing the garment.  The collar is all cut out and ready for my sewing genius friend Midge.  I'll have to figure out some way to reward her for her help.

The three appliqued pieces done by fellow quilt guild members at a demo day are quilted and bound and ready for next week's meeting. One piece was echo quilted. Another was stippled. And the dark one is one that i quilted each individual shape. Great practce. If one person expresses interest, they are hers!

Bear with me as I reinvent the blogging wheel - and a whole bunch of other things - on this different computer...

For the week...

 There's much to do in the next week, but I couldn't think of starting or continuing anything until I fixed my new duffel.  As I was making it, I knew the 1" handles weren't enough.  And as I used it this weekend to travel to the White/Johnson wedding in Mishawaka, my instincts were confirmed.  So I added 3.5" straps and am much happier.  Now on to other things...

I've finally settled on a palette for the Grand Canyon jacket.  My friend/client lives in Racine and wants this jacket for her October European river cruise. I haven't made Morninglory's Town and Country Jacket for a couple of years and am looking forward to this project, even though I have never mastered the collar technique.  Thank goodness for friends with skills!

 The June meeting of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild was devoted to applique techniques.  I demonstrated fusible raw-edge applique.  Here are three pieces that groups put together using this technique.  I said I would quilt these pieces and bring them in, but I was hoping no one heard me.  But someone did. And asked about these pieces at the last meeting.  So I do want to get these done for the August meeting.

 This one is an odd landscape.  Wonder if any quilting can help this...

 This one shares the same whimsy at the top piece.

When John and I were out west in May, he found these fabric scenes of Yellowstone and bought them.  This piece will hang in the studio bathroom, matching the colors of the walls and towels.  A nice reminder of a lovely trip and a beautiful part of our country.

Gotta go sew!

Wendy's Jacket in Progress

 
Working with black and white fabrics is something new for me. I love the contrast of these fabrics in combination with the pattern design. This Morninglory Town & Country jacket still intrigues me, and I love the process of making it.

Organizational Demonstration

As evidenced by some of the blog entries in March, I have really been enjoying working on quilted jackets. My sister-in-law Terry - she of the Quilting Injury Hall of Fame - bought the fabrics to begin her jacket. As a way to get started, I've decided to make this little photo organizational tool. Even though the pattern directions are very clear and I took this class from the Morninglory pattern designers, I think this picture is useful. These fabrics are for Wayne's wife Wendy's jacket - they chose these fabrics, and it's obvious that they understand the concept of contrast, which is essential for this pattern. There are 7 fabrics. The left column is for the front, the middle for the back, and the right for sleeves and collar. Can't wait to see how this jacket will turn out!

New Jacket Pattern

Not only is this a new pattern, intead of using thermore batting (lightweight for clothing and warmer climates), Ive used a flannel as the batting. While I've enjoyed sewing with it, the proof will be in the wearing, which may not happen for a while. These colors are fall-like. The lining is the same fabric as the thin vertical flanges. This jacket doesn't have a collar which makes the construction easier. However, preparing the vertical strips of fabric added some time. This is the second Morninglory Park Avenue design that I've done, and I like the way these patterns are written. This is another pattern I would like to do again.

"When I'm an old woman...

 
I shall wear purple." So the poem goes. My "oldest" friend - wait, let's rephrase that - the person I've been friends with the longest is Cathy. I've known her since the last days of 1st grade. The fall I went off to college, she married. She now has 2 daughters and 4 granchildren, works hard, and is part of the lay ministry team at the United Church of Christ in Downers Grove. She will be 60 Monday, and we're celebrating at our favorite restaurant, Saffron in Westmont. Although we normally don't exchange gifts, a 60th birthday is one to be fussed over. Cathy is a quiet person. This jacket is a great contrast. Good.

Paula's Jacket is Ready to Ship

 
I love how this turned out. It took me over a year to begin wearing my quilted jacket. And once I did, it has become a staple of my wardrobe. Once this jacket gets "broken in" (brother Doug wants to know if we can bend our arms in these things), I hope Paula wears hers with the same enthusiasm.

For Paula

 
My sister is very generous and works way too hard and long. She suggested teals - I think these colors work well. It's bluer than I'd like, but the teals that had black in them also had some other day-glo colors. Perhaps a black binding might work. To be determined!

Another Jacket

 
This one is for me. After working on the beautiful batiks of Pauline's jacket, I began to second-guess my fabric choices. But I do like this. I know it's Spring, and I know this is dark. These's always next winter!

Get Well Wishes

 
My Quilt Buddy Wayne is in the hospital and has been uncomfortable. In addition to any physical discomfort, I know there's a mental discomfort going on: wanting to get back to quilting but not yet ready to resume a normal schedule. Wayne, maybe you can use this time to do some priortizing and designing so that when you do get back home and feel like it, you'll be able to attack your next project (the silks from Thailand?). While I was in India, Wayne and his mother-in-law Pauline went shopping for jacket fabrics for the MorninGlory Town and Country pattern. Yesterday I did the back of the jacket as shown here. Click on the picture to see some of the detail. The front pieces are just about done. Which then leaves the sleeves, which are great fun to do. Long-time dear friend Midge is coming over Friday to help me with the collar. I may be a more prolific quilter than Midge, but she is a far-better seamstress and detail person than I, and I will be very happy for her help.

I love this jacket pattern and this combination of fabrics. Thank you, Wayne, for helping me ease my way into sewing after jet-lag. This project has been perfect. And as long as I'm sending get-well wishes, let me include my husband John, whose series of nosebleeds put us in the ER 3 days ago. Our systems were ravaged by the dry air pollution in India and Nepal as well as time in planes.

My Quilted Jacket in Turkey

John and I were both unprepared for how much we would love Turkey - the land, the food, and especially the people. Ankara, Turkey's capital city, is in the middle of the country's Anatolian Plain. It's a city of 4 million, the second largest after Istanbul. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and went to the Ataturk Monument and Museum. Just like some of the museums and monuments in DC, this one was crowded with tourists from everywhere. These two young women are university students studying in Ankara and symbolize the open warmth with which we were met. Later that evening a group of us were trying to find a restaurant in downtown Ankara, and a young couple helped us with directions and even accompanied us on our walk. Thanks to Susan for snapping this photo!

Perfecting the Pillsbury Dough Boy Look

I have always known how to make clothes, but that has held no interest for me - probably because of my not-so-great body shape. Quilting has been so perfect because there's no need to fit flat fabric to curves and bumps. Still, I cannot resist doing what so many other quilters have done: making quilted clothing.

Neighbor Susan and I took a class two years ago and made fabulous jackets. While she has worn hers alot, I have just recently started wearing mine (thanks to the latest 10-pound drop at WW). Still, I always feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Picture Ralphie's little brother from "The Christmas Story" when he has on his snow suit, falls, and really can't get up.

Despite this feeling, I have forged ahead and made another quilted jacket, pictured here. I think the colors and pattern are so striking. It was foundation-pieced onto a cut-apart sweatshirt. My dream is to have a wardrobe of black slacks and black t-shirts and a variety of fabulous jackets to wear over them.



















The image here is the sheet of fabric I made from various fabric strips.