ZebraKnits

goodness (from friends + fabric)

Sheree spoiled me with a package recently, filled with a gorgeous floral bag, some fabrics from her collection (and store) and some yarn. She is one talented lady with the sewing machine and if you ever see some of her clothing designs for children and smacking bags she makes, you'll totally agree. I wish I could sew a tenth of what she does as she continually inspires me to sew! Thank you so much Sheree!

Along with that, I thought I could give you a little tour of my "not" sewing space in the basement where I keep my fabrics, notions and sewing machines. It's a little corner, it's dark and pretty much cold and is surrounded by a) a water heater b) a gas heater (talk about fire safety - I worry about losing my fabrics to fire)! I have barely touched this space since months ago, maybe just once in the summer. I'm so ashamed to admit but it is the truth!

 

Cheryl will laugh at me beacause that blouse is still hanging at the same place, un-steamed with unfinished hems just as she saw it last year in September. I think I like it as a decoration than a fashion piece for the winter. That's just an excuse!

 

You may recognise the shelves as Gorm from Ikea. My husband built them. I stack my African fabrics, buttons, magazines (on the top) and all sorts of prickly sewing gadgets there. On the bottom left is a sewing table that fits both my Pfaff sewing and overlock machine. A Jules chair is on the right covered with the stripy fabric. On the bottom shelf, there is more fabrics in plastic tubs as well as on the left corner (the white tubs)! So there, I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't sewn much lately ( a long while) but I do like to look at the fabric!

    

Next up will be some knitting FO that is currently blocking. Happy Friday!

Oh, thank you so much for the wonderful suggestions on sock yarns on the last Noro socks. I am far better equipped and knowledgeable about sock yarns before I make my next yarn purchase.

african log cabin and stars quilt

 

Yesterday when we woke up, it was like this outside - hot, humid, wet and drizzly. We spent the day inside, watching football, knitting and doing nothing much really.

As I was cuddled under this quilt while knitting, it occurred to me that I haven't shared about this quilt before. Apparently, this quilt was my 3rd in line since the first one "Malawi Quilt" and the 5th "African Mama" (both of which I shared a while ago here and here).

All the quilts except one, were done over 5 years ago, back in Africa. All quilts are made with 100% cotton African fabrics I've collected and stashed over the years. This particular quilt is made with fabric from Malawi (the print inside the log cabin) and Ghana (the printed star) and other solids from South Africa. 

 

Much of the detail of where I came up with the star over the log cabin is fuzzy right now although, I know I didn't get the pattern from the only two African quilt books I owned (and still own). I know the border was just my own inspiration as I spent a lot of time figuring out how to do it.

 

The quilting was machine done. Not perfect but it worked. At the time, I didn't have much quilting sense (like pre washing fabrics, stretching the fabrics when putting the three pieces together etc etc) hence the puffiness.

 

 We all enjoyed it yesterday, especially Little T.who declared loudly that "it's mine" when he saw his sister cuddle up under it. That made me feel good that these quilts were not a bad handmade investment at all, especially as the kids enjoy and appreciate them. It also inspired me again that I should quilt, maybe do a few quilts a year in between knitting OR maybe plan on a knitting sabbatical (if there is such a thing) and focus on sewing/quilting in the future. Right now, am tossing on the idea  and will see where it takes me.

If you are interested to see more of my quilts, you can view them here. Full view.

continuing on small things.....

I never thought making pincushions could be so easy, fun and less time consuming until now. These are a product of my current state of crafting mind - small things and another sewing date with my friend. Now, my pins have a new lovely home where I can enjoy crafting with them.   

I used this tutorial for the square one and the round one is from whip-up.

I also made these coasters a while ago for my in-law. These are also so quick and easy to make and can definitely be made as a last minute gift item. Here is the tutorial used.

Lastly, thank you all so graciously for my birthday wishes! I very much enjoyed my day!

Have a great weekend.

All day tote

For a friend I was visiting last week. I think she liked it.

All day tote from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing made with 100% cotton canvas with 100% cotton African wax print lining.

Made it on another sewing date with a friend.

Remember the green grosgrain ribbon? And I didn't forget to put a label inside. See?

I have another tote ready cut for sewing but will sew it after I have Gerda serviced.

Thank you all for your kind well wishes on our trip. We had a fabulous time .

Now off to catching up with Google reader and getting back into swing of things. I will have some knitting updates soon.

something old

This is the vintage suitcase filled with treasurea that my mother in law gave me after cleaning out her attic. It belonged to my husband's great grandmother who was a quilter. In it, we found three different unfinished quilt pieces (two of which I got) that she had been working on somewhere in the 1930's.

The first one is a flower design, meticulously hand basted and appliqued onto the white fabric.

Then, the butterfly pieces, some finished, some unfinished and some basted ready to be sewn.

I want to try and preserve her quilting by finishing the pieces. Since I have not worked with vintage fabric before, I need to do some research and see how I can best preserve her work. I don't know when I will tackle this project but I hope it won't be another decade before I do. 

I also found little notes, patterns, templates for the flower and butterfly and newspaper cutouts from 1935.

Thank you dearly for your overwhelming response to my finished quilt. You really made my day.