Category Archives: Quilting and Sewing

Sewing Machine Recommendations?

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My New Michley LSS-505 Sewing Machine

After sewing on my cheap small Michley sewing machine (see above) for a while, I’m considering getting a simple, but less toy-like machine. My Michley LSS-505 a pretty decent sewing machine for the price ($35); it gets basic stuff done, it’s super easy to carry around (only about 5 lbs.) and can run on batteries (no need to plug it in)… but I think I want a faster machine that can handle thicker fabrics (or more layer like in a quilt) and be able to attach a 1/4 inch or walking foot.

Any suggestions or recommendations? What sewing machine do you use?

Habitat Arrows Quilt Vote + Fabric Shopping…

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I created a rough draft and two alternate versions for my next quilt. Which do you like best: A, B or C?

Habitat Arrows Quilt Vote

Earlier today, I went to our local fabric shop to try to find fabrics to match the Habitat line that I got last night. I’m surprised the the employees there remember me and asked how my quilts are coming along :)

Fabric Shopping

Habitat Fabric…

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This evening, I went to the monthly East Bay Modern Quilt Guild meeting. As I stepped into the shop (early), a couple of the members where cutting up some fabrics into fat quarters, so I helped out. At first, I thought we were just killing time and helping Sharona, the owner of the New Pieces Quilt Shop (i.e. free labor)… but, then I found out that this was fabric that was given to the group from FreeSpirit Fabrics. There was a condition for getting these for free. They asked if we can make something using these fabrics and any other solids (trying to keep away from any other non-solid fabric line), then take photos of it… to kinda promote the line.

The line of fabric that they gave us is called Habitat by Jay McCarroll, who I discovered is a fashion designer who won the first season of Project Runway. There are three distinct “colorways”: Jewel Tones, Brights, and Earth Tones; we got Earth Tones.

Habitat

This first thing I thought when I saw the fabric was that it was kinda feminine, but funky (in a good hip way). I don’t think I would but it myself, but as I looked at it more, it grew on me. I especially like the Habitat Singing Forest Teal and Habitat City Planting Tan fabrics.

As I was brainstorming what I could make with these, two quilts came to mind, both by Marianne Haak. The first one is a modern style log cabin pattern called QAYG Log Cabin 2011. I really like this quilt and hope to make something inspired by it someday, but I think the Habitat fabrics may be too busy for it. The second is a quilt called Analeigh’s Quilt 2010, which I absolutely love. I think this may be a good pattern to use Habitat one.

So… here’s another quilt to start on. Quilt #4 for me… and I haven’t even completed any of my previous ones… but, I’m kinda excited and anxious to get started :)

More info:
– The Modern Quilt Guild: Jay McCarroll Habitat Challenge
– Spool: Preview: Habitat by Jay McCarroll
– Marmalade Fabrics: Habitat by Jay McCarroll (you can see the individual fabrics)
– Spool: Habitat Piano Keys Quilt (made using this line)

Berkeley Rose Garden + Westbrae Nursery + Complete Garden Supply…

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This morning, I went to the Berkeley Rose Garden to meet up with some members of the East Bay Modern Quilting Guild to take photos of some quilts. It was my first time at the Berkeley Rose Garden and they had tons of roses. I saw Cyn, Lauren with her two kids and Margaret. I didn’t have any of my own quilts but took some photos of theirs.

Afterwards, I stuck around and shot some photos of the Roses and other plants around the garden. It was a beautiful warm day… but I kept dropping my camera lenses! Argh!

I then passed by Westbrae Nursery and picked up two Coleus: Coleus ‘Mozaik Thin Mint’ Folia and Coleus ‘Mozaik Lava Red’ Folia . I also saw a pretty double Spidery Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum maximum ‘Aglaya’) Folia .

Before going back home, I also passed by Complete Garden Supply and purchased more cheap basic black pots (1, 2 and 3 galloon sizes) and some 10×10 trays.

East Bay Modern Quilt Guild – Feb 2011 Meeting…

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I attended my second meeting at the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild.  It was fun and very informational… and I really enjoy seeing everyone’s quilts up close… It was very inspirational.

You can also view the individual photos on my Flickr set “EBMQG – Feb 2011 Meeting“.

A Trip to Happy Stop…

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Happy Stop

One weekend, I stopped by a fabric shop in Oakland that I read about:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-stop-oakland

Happy Stop – 1132 E 12th St. – Oakland, CA 94606

The place is small, a mess and nothing is labeled, but there’s tons of fabrics…
ALL for $2.00/yard (half yard minimum). Cash only.

Happy Stop

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I Can Now Sew…

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Cute Twitter Icon by Mirjami Manninen“I bought a mini sewing machine and told my Mom that it can run on batteries. She then tells me that I can now sew when I’m in the bathroom.” …

Planning My First Quilt…

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I’ve been interested in quilting for a long time now, but didn’t take any action towards actually making one while a few weeks ago. I’ve been watching YouTube videos about quilting—mostly from the Missouri Quilt Company, who features some excellent tutorials. These got me inspired and I started looking everywhere on the internet for more inspirations. I collected a few photos from quilts I likes and narrowed them down to three quilts I want to make:

“City Scapes” by Cherry House Quilts was my favorite… but I think I will not attempt this until maybe my second or third try.

“Tokyo Subway Map Quilt” by Elizabeth Hartman is another that I like, and she offers a step by step quilt-alone that you can follow. I think I’l also make this as my second or third quilt.

“Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt” was one that I thought would be a good one to start with. It’s pretty simple, but not just a simple grid. Missouri Quilt Company offers a tutorial on YouTube. There is also a tutorial on Allison Harris’ blog Cluck Cluck Sew. I found a photo of one made by Ann-Marie on Flickr, who uses a similar color palette that I want to use… but I wanted something a little different and thought that maybe I can separate the quarters apart and divide them with white borders, similar to this lap quilt by Lynds0517 on Flickr.

I started buying various fabrics, mostly quarters. Many greens, blues and purples. I also bought various quilting supplies like a rotary cutter, various sizes of rulers and luckily I still had a self healing cutting mat from my old work that I rediscovered.

I also bought quarters of reds, oranges, grays and yellow in preparation to make the Tokyo Subway Map Quilt. Luckily Hancock Fabrics had a 50% OFF sale for the New Year, so I snagged several quarter yards and saved a bundle!!! I think I went there a total of three times to look for different colors.

So a few days ago I started cutting the greens, blues, grays and purples for the Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt. I got a total of 24 colors—three 5″ x 5″ squares cut out for each. I didn’t know how much I needed so I drafted a sketch:

My First Quilt (Sketch/Planning)

I calculated that I needed a total of 162 5″ x 5″ squares to make the 88″ x 90″ quilt that I want to make. I hope I did the calculations and sizes correctly.