Category Archives: Being Creative

Fostering creativity through sewing and other hobbies

Book Review: T Shirt Quilts Made Easy

T Shirt Quilts Made Easy by Martha Deleonardis

Published in 2012

ISBN: 978-1-60460-014-8

Some Chapter Headings:

  • Hints and How-To’s
  • Projects
  • Gallery
  • Easy Planning Guides

I should preface my review with this:  I borrowed this book from my mom when I was ready to make my daughter’s t shirt quilt.  I’m comfortable sewing and piecing quilt tops.  I was looking specifically for information about the coordinating fabrics, what size to cut the blocks, and how-to make all the blocks fit together.  This book did that.

I liked:

  • “It’s All About the Fabric” section that explained the best way to choose your fabrics for your project.  (Spoiler alert:  Don’t try to match your tee shirts!)
  • The entire “Easy Planning Guides” chapter.  To be honest, I skimmed over the other parts and camped out here.  I knew I wanted to start with 5 inch squares (a charm pack) so I used her “5 inch Grid Cut Block Chart to get the measures I needed to cut my tees.

My dislikes:

  • I found her grids too small for me to work with and designed my own in excel.

Conclusion:
I already know how to sew.  I already know how to piece a quilt top in a basic 4-patch or 9-patch.  If I didn’t, I’m not sure this book would have helped much.  But since I already knew those techniques, I was looking for a book that would help me design a cute t shirt quilt.  That’s why I found the discussion about fabrics so helpful.  I also love math and grids, so her planning guides were right up my alley.  This book does not teach you how to quilt–only piece the quilt top.  If you need a book to teach you how to quilt, keep looking.

Would I buy it for myself?
Yes.  If I had a stack of t shirts and a basic sewing knowledge, this would be a great place to start.

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer?
Probably not, but for a sewist who has mastered straight seams—you’re good to go!

Beginning Sewing Class January 27th

Just a quick reminder!  I’m offering my beginning sewing class twice next week.

9am  Monday, January 27th at LSUS.  Sign up here.

OR

5pm  Monday, January 27th at Lil’ Miss Priss.  Sign up here.

If you’ve never used a sewing machine before, this is the class for you.  Learn how to thread the machine, fill a bobbin, balance the tension, and sew a straight seam.  Create a finished pillowcase while you practice.  You can bring your own sewing machine or use one of the machines provided.

Supplies:  Three (3) pieces coordinating 100% cotton quilting fabric in the following amounts:  Fabric 1 (1yd), Fabric 2 (1/2 yd), Fabric 3 (1/4 yd); all-purpose thread; sewing shears; straight pins; size 11 universal sewing machine needles; sewing machine and manual. Machines are provided at LSUS.  Please message me if you need to borrow a machine at Lil’ Miss Priss.

 

My favorite King Cake Recipe-with a Twist

While the rest of the world is cleaning up Christmas and already breaking New Year’s Resolutions, we in the South are counting down to our next big party—Mardi Gras!  Parades, beads, masks, parties, king cakes, and, for this seamstress, sewing with purple and green and gold!

mardi gras bell sleeve ruffle pant combo

While the season doesn’t actually start until January 6th, I wanted to share my favorite recipe with you a few days earlier.  I’ll be baking our first king cake for Monday.

Last year, I decided to fill my king cakes with something a little different than just cinnamon and sugar.  I mixed a stick of cream cheese with a cup of Nutella and spread this heavenly goodness over my dough before I rolled up the cake.  Oh. My.Goodness.  Another fun option is a stick of cream cheese and some strawberry syrup.  Oh yes, it is as good as it sounds.

How ever you choose to fill your king cake, don’t forget the baby!  Have fun baking and laissez bon temp rouler!

Well, hello there…

It’s been a while. A long while. I wasn’t prepared for the busyness that the fall would bring.

The kids are good–wonderful really. Swimming all the time–ALL the time. When they aren’t in the water, there’s school, homework, church, piano, ukulele, and even eating and sleeping. I’m posting about them on FB occasionally, but I’m most excited about the daily pictures we’ve remembered to take every single morning before school. We reached Day 86 just before Christmas break!

My little shop is keeping me quite busy. I’m excited to start stitching up Easter pieces and seersucker jon jons. I’ve also added ruffle pants and bell-sleeve peasant dresses to my collections. I’m so excited about the dresses. I hope to release a pattern for them soon.

Speaking of patterns, the sewing classes are on holiday break too, but the winter session of classes will start soon. I’ll be posting that calendar tomorrow.

And there’s more! A new kitten, lots of house updates, a ukulele, shepherding a group at Bible study. The list could go on and on! But, I won’t. Instead, I’ll leave you with this…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I’ll see you later.

Sewing Machine Love: Your Sewing Machine Manual

Where is your sewing machine manual?   Why do you even need it?

Your sewing machine manual is the go-to reference for the maintenance and use of your machine.  Having trouble balancing your thread tension?  Go to your sewing machine manual.  Can’t remember which bobbin to buy?  Go to your manual.  Should you oil your machine?  Go to your manual.

So…where is your sewing machine manual?  Can’t find yours?  Inherited mom’s old machine and no manual?  Try here.  You can also try eBay.  If you do have yours, is it close?  I keep my manuals right here, within arm’s reach:

sewing machine manual

Every sewing machine manual is slightly different.  Some are only a few pages long, others are 1-inch thick spiral notebooks.  Some have 4 different languages within them.  Your manual isn’t going to be much help if you don’t know what type of information is inside.  Here’s a little create-your-own table of contents for the information I use the most in my manuals.