CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO

the GIANT quilt.

The shop quilt is taking shape despite Finn's chaotic new self. I just learned that as soon as you believe you know your baby quite well and can predict his routine, said baby quickly switches everything around in case you were becoming too comfortable. The vocalizations are most unusual, ranging from cute tiny chirps to slaughter of the swine.
Despite the deafening soundtrack I have made some progress in my sewing and today. All the (140) blocks are laid down on the kitchen floor minus two rows because that won't fit. I am going for a queen size which was a bad decision when the blocks are only 8" by 8". What was I thinking...I wasn't as usual. So now I am stuck having to put all those together and feeling tired just looking at it:

A new quilt

A new quilt is on his way, at last. It's most likely going to be a repeat of my Birthing quilt pattern, with a few minor changes  (possibly). The fabric is Wee Play (Moda), the stash I used to make the banner for the blog ( look up!). I added a few pieces from the line as I came across them while shopping elsewhere.
All the bands are cut and ready to go, I just need an hour or so of peace to get it going. We transitioned Finn from the bassinet to the crib last night and I couldn't help but feel a pinch in my heart. The baby on his end feels nothing and looks content as usual.

Back to yesterdays discussion about baby wraps... Thanks to everyone that left a comment. I have a few more questions if you'll indulge me. I ask them here this way everybody gets the answers.
1. When you say that the stretchy fabric is good only until they get heavy, how heavy do you mean? Finn is already over 13lbs.
2. Has anyone tried to use Kaffe Fassett shot cottons for this application, are they strong enough? They are really nice, and not made by slaves ( Made in India with fair trade practices).
3. If I go the woven route, can I make a seam in the middle, a French seam, and save money?

Quilt and Bags

       

            
      

My new pattern is fresh off the printer this morning! I love putting each little stack of paper in the plastic sleeves, it really make me feel like it's all accomplished...ready to go. Hot Cakes!
In truth it was cutting it close, the open house at the shop is Monday and the quilt is already up in the classroom.

Pink bamboo bag with linen lining

Blue bamboo bag in Jitterbug fabric.

The quilt and the bag are the two class project I will be teaching at the Shop this spring, I hope I get enough student because it will be fun sewing!

Color and Value

Color gets compliments but value does all the work. That is essentially what I learned from a day quilting class from Master Teacher Sandy Bonsib I took today. I took the little Finn bug with me, not a small undertaking getting out of the house on time for the class at nine am. Much screaming was involved, but after that he pretty much was perfect until 4:30 pm when we left. Another thing I learned? You can breastfeeding and sew half square triangles at the same time! pretty convenient ...

The quilt I chose for the class is blue ( we only made one block, the morning was a lecture). It is called Periwinkle Cupcake.

Sugar Rush

To those (including myself) that might believe sewing a lost art in this house, I would like to announce the near completion of Sugar Rush! It's my new quilt pattern for the spring classes at the store. I am currently binding it and have almost made it all around.

The fabric is Ginger Blossom from Free Spirit and the block is a crazy nine patch on point. You don't want to stare at it for too long or you might get a headache!

Incidentally I got the idea for the block on Allsorts.

While He Naps...

My son is one month old today; incidentally it's the first day I spend alone with him. I don't think I know what I am doing and he already spent an unnecessarily long amount of time in dirty diapers because I don't seem to read any of his cranky signals right... classic first time mom mistake (isn't it?).

Lets hope the morning taught me something useful for this afternoon. But first a little bit of macro photography:

30 days macro-photo challenge now has a Flick group.

Well the afternoon hasn't got much bragging rights so far, but a short nap lets me start my 'little art quilt' project. Over a month ago Karin and I had the idea of swapping some supplies to make each a little art quilt on the theme of Modernism. The baby as well as the fear of making something dumb and ugly kept me from getting started. But I finally decided to just put the scissors to the fabric and see what happens...no real plan on paper just some ideas in my head. My inspiration comes from old television sets, with their weird rounded shapes, colors and texture (of the speakers). Some are huge with a tiny screen and big round buttons. My favorite is the Philco Predicta:

Birthing Quilt update

It came back, quilted with circles all over. I couldn't be closer to ready for the baby, now that I have something to hide under when they come to deliver the boy!
The picture is a bit blurry I admit, but being pregnant feels like this most of the time.

I had made a small tutorial for this block, here. I have since learned that it is called disappearing nine-patch. Snazzy name, simple block.

Making a Birthing Quilt

What is a Birthing Quilt?

A birthing quilt is something that I made up completely about half way through my pregnancy.
The idea was to make a twin size quilt, with cheerful colors, that I could bring with me to the maternity ward when I go into labor.
I must admit that for a first timer as myself the thought of delivering a relatively large ( to look at them through the nursery window) baby is a little bit disconcerting. So I devised a plan to make looking forward to the birth more appealing, less traumatic. I am sewing my own birthing quilt.

Being past 32 weeks you'd except it to be finished, but of course it isn't. So to get back on track I decided to share with you the pattern I whipped up, this way now other people know and I can no longer procrastinate.
That said I have already made a whooping 75 blocks!

The block I am showing is terrific to make Moda 'Charm pack' quilts. It can be made any size you'd like.
This is a very quick block, unless you become lazy and stop working on the project for weeks like I did!

Download birthing_quilt_pattern4.pdf

Valentine's day panel

Sometimes I get asked to write a special pattern for the store. A sort of custom job. Here is a picture of the most recent one. I designed paper pieced blocks and traditional blocks to go around and between the pre-printed panel. It's funny and interesting to hear people's positive reactions to something you made but not for yourself, just for work.I liked planning the quilt, I am just not crazy about pinks and red together. But it's always nice to make people happy isn't it?

I wonder if I'll make my child things with ugly truck fabric, because that is what he really wants, even if I think the print is vile?

A Quilt pieced at Last!

They say (who?) that during a pregnancy's second trimester all your energy should be back with a vengeance. I'm just not seeing it... You just get bigger and bigger, and that alone is not  motivation enough to get up. The only up side maybe : now you really look pregnant, and people all over make sure to remind you of it. You know, just in case you forgot why you keep banging your belly in things.

I have had this quilt assignment for what seems like months. Always putting it aside for a quicker, more instantly gratifying, project. It's finished now and I really, really like it. It's hard sometimes to give those special quilts back to the store, but that what they are paying me for and that in itself is pretty great.