update: 1/4" mark shop

 {miss misty}

{ miss jul}

 { miss sweet}

sold

update: 

 

 {Patchwork zippered pouches} have just added to the {shop}.

Enjoy~ 

xxc

Random: spring break Thursday

 {needle books}

 { soft and floral}

 { she has been waiting}

 { so retro}

{For the shop}

 { free motion quilting}

 { perfect print}

{ dots, dots, dots, dots, dots}

This week is the spring break for me { that allows me to be here all week long}! Yes, I feel so lucky to have a full week off during the day while S is in school. S feels a bit of "unfair" that mama gets to stay home for all the fun things and possible eating some sweets and drinking tea. I have promised that once she made it to the college; she will have spring breaks! Her look was surprised and can't wait till she is in college. I counted in my head she will need another maybe 9 or 10 years to reach that point {hope she takes her time to make to that point}.  However, this is my last spring break as a student. I try to enjoy as much as I can and not to waste of the time.  This morning, I looked back my days that I have been off... I have been sewing like storms and enjoy the time alone at home and yes with tea and a bit of sweet treats, but don't tell S.

Completed two new mini needle books yesterday. The left one is going to be send out to a friend and I am keeping the right one. The new needle book will be for the between needles. It will be easier for me to find them and not need to dig in the other needle book.  Never too many needle books, right?

 Lately, I am looking for soft and floral prints and felt the need of some.  Soon after I stand in front of the fabric section,  I spot these floral prints.  They are 1/4 yard cuts, since I am not sure if I will stay in soft and floral for very long.  They will turn into a smallish quilt. Randomly... pieces. 

The free motion quilting is fun when they are smallish! Until this year, I have felt comfortable with machine quilting.  It does come with many practices and understanding the machine.  { Free Modern Quilting with Angela Walters} guide to machine quilting book is a great book for the adding to the quilting library at home. From this book, I have learn how to handle free motion quilting { from setting the machine tension, batting choose, needles, and many more}and create my own design. If you are trying free motion quilting it is a good quilting book that I would recommend to you.

This morning, a new layer of snow was layer on the ground and the visibility of the city drive is low. We should Miss Spring is here, but it will be a little while still.  Another day to be home... a bit of cleaning from last night's crazy making, a bit of baking as S is asking for some chocolate cookies, a bit of much sewing,  as  Spring break ends after tomorrow then weekending approaches us.

xxc

xxc 

Scrappiness patchwork

{opening}

{front}

 {back}

 {lining}

{hand-quilted}

{Thank you so much} for the sweet comments on the {soft and sweet girls}. I surely have enjoy the process of making them. The best part is seeing the mama and baby lambie came alive with lovely French knots. In the series of drawstring bag making there is a scrappy patchwork edition that  finished last week, but haven't get the chance to share with you. 

These drawstring bags are really made {handmade by hand} special!  Not just because it is hand-quilted, but I am also careful on planning each process and do take great care of each step of the craftsmanship as a maker! The size is perfect for the patchwork/sewing tool storage. With the scrappy patchwork style it is one of a kind, which I treasure the idea of assembling and composing a new life to the scarps!

I have awarded that{mad in scraps} is taking over my sewing table lately! It is a perfect play and enjoy process. Of course, playing with colors and shapes makes me happy and enjoyable! How can I give up tiny scraps?  Save every small scraps of fabric is so important.. there are always what if the tiny scraps fit in the patch somewhere....  They are the kind of process of patchwork I have enjoy the most~  I know.. I've gone really { mad in scraps} almost. every .time. everyday. oh dear...  More {mad in scraps} is coming.. .... This drawstring bag has listed in the {shop}.

xxc

soft & sweet girls

 { front}

 {embroidery details: sweet french knots}

 {back}

 { be a star}

 {simple closure}

 {hand-quilting}

 { time to sew }

 {back}

 {be loving}

 { you and me}

 { lining}

 { never say not to french knots}

{lining}

{Thank you} for the sweet comments on the { about hand-quilting post}. It has been fun to put up a informative post and to share with you. Thanks to S for taking majority of photos that have my hands in them. She did a great job for captured the movement! I'll for sure ask for her to take a photo of how I wear my thimble and update the post.  

As you know that I have been into soft tone and pink lately! Maybe is the time of the year, I am ready to see colors other than brown. I have had an idea of making a set of kin-cha-ku aka {drawstring bag}. Alike the ones that I made for {S }and {myself}. The little lamb drawing done by S that near by my sewing space allowed me to start this new set of patchwork. 

I have something soft, sweet, and woolie.. a bit of spring colors in mind! I used back-stitches for the lamb contour lines then added French Knots for the fur. The floss  I used was DMC 100% cotton and used either 2,4, and 6 flosses for the fur, French knots, so that make the lambs' looks more fun and the texture is really nice! The embroidery has added great texture on and makes it more unique in the way.

The inside is lined with 100% cotton without fusible interfacing.

For the bigger drawstring bag, I added message {be loving} above the lamb. For the small drawstring bag, the message is { be a star}. For sure, the designed was original set as a mother and daughter matchy bags. When S was much littler, I would try to find clothes that match, shoes that match together, still up today I still try to do so! make so! I love how her {kin-cha-ku} and {mine}are matchy. Her Mr. Rocky is always stuffed things and my Mr. Rocky is always stuffed with sewing related items. These two lambie girls for sure is sweet and soft. They both have added to the {shop}. 

 

xxc

About hand-quilting

 {about hand-quilting}

There were many comments and emails asked about {hand-quilting}, so I though I'd write a post to share how I work with {hand-quilting}. There will be few things that I might do differently from other hand-quilting quilters, but I think hand-quilting comes in a personal manner of how to handle the needles and which type of hand-quilting thread to use, how the hand control the running stitches, which batting to be use, etc. 

First of all, there are hand-quilting supplies that I recommend to purchase if you plan to work with hand-quilting and love the process. 

100% cotton hand-sewing thread

hand-quilting thread

basting needle : long needle

between needle: #9/#10

thimble: leather/ plastic/ metal

ruler

b-gone pen

embroidery needle#5

Hera Marker by Clover 

How to baste a quilt, mini quilt, handmade project with basting needle and thread? 

Working with small project: 

When working with small project such as mini quilt. There will be a quilt top, a batting piece, and a backing fabric to be sandwich together. Likely using safe pins are the quickest way to baste it, but with hand-quilting I have always gone with using {basting needle} thread with {cotton thread}to baste the mini quilt. After the hand-quilting is completed, you'll be able to remove the basting threads.

how to using basting needle for a large/mini quilts/ handmade projects: Use basting needle thread with cotton thread  tied a knot at the end. The cotton thread can be as long as you can handle, but it could get tangle up if the thread catches between the threading. Flatten all the fabric pieces by hand{ quilt top, batting, backing fabric}. Start basting from the center out; Likely start with a cross look then 45 degrees angles. Slowly you'll add more thread to secure the fabric pieces together. 

How to choose quilting threads?

Quilting threads have a coat of wax, so it is thicker than the cotton/ sewing thread. There are many brands of hand-quilting thread you can find in the store. My personal favorite is coats cotton. It is thick and gives a little shine of the wax on the quilts. I also love Fujix Quilter hand-quilting thread which is made in Japan.  I recommend spend some time in the store and look into the hand-quilting thread section. You will discover the thickness is slightly different from brand to brand. I have stick with coats cotton for 6 years now and still loving it, but you might find something that works for you. 

 

How about quilting needles? 

The quilting needles is called between needles.  The higher the number the smaller the needles are. When first started hand-quilting, the needle number I used was #9 then later on I have stay with #10. It is a perfect size for my fingers. You can also find #11 and #12 in the store. #12 needles are very small and I actually never give it a try! 

How about thimbles? 

There are many different type of thimbles you can find. I am the leather thimble person! The new leather thimble is a little hard and not fitted right at the first place, but after a week. It will start shape like your finger and very comfortable.  Metal thimbles are too hard for my fingers, since I have really boney fingers, so it is hard to stay on fingers for me. Many of my friends also enjoy plastic thimbles since it is soft and fits in fingers right away. 

be-gone pen

Be-gone pen is great for tracing hand-quilting stencils. You can trace all the pattern on your hand-quilting piece. After finish hand-quilting spare water then the marking will be gone. Don't press heated iron on the be-gone pen marking or it will leave as it. 

Hera Marker by Clover

Hera Marker is the new toy that I added to the hand-quilting supply. It is great for marking lines on fabric without using be-gone pen. 

Embroidery needle

There are times I use embroidery thread for hand-quilting. I prefer two flosses and embroidery needle #5. 

How about quilting frame? 

The only time I use a quilting frame is quilting a large quilt. For small handmade pieces I don't put a frame around. I think this might conflict with other hand-quilter, but I found it is easier for me to handle the quilt piece and the needles.  If you are looking for a D.I.Y. quilting frame this is the {tutorial} I made for my own. It roughly cost less than 70 dollars and yes, I am loving my quilting frame! 

How about batting?

There are so many batting to go for! I really recommend go for what you like!! I have always hand-quilted the small projects on 100% cotton batting, but the cotton batting is very dense, so it is harder on the fingers. However, I love the texture and the sturdy weight when I make bags. 

For large quilts, I have been using { poly-down batting}. It gives really nice texture when finish hand-quilting. {Quilter's Dream batting} is another recommendation that I have been receiving from my hand-quilting friends.  I will give it a go and share with you later on! 

How to keep the quilting line straight? 

If you just start hand-quilting, it is likely you'll have 2-3 stitches per one needle work. Try to keep your fingers on the line that you drew/mark. It will help to keep the line straight!  I have my one needle work per 7-8 stitches. The more stitches  per one needle work would keep the line straight and clean. When encounter seams, I recommend work one stitch at the time. It is harder to let the needle to work through the thick fabric. 

 Loving hand-quilting now? 

I'd love to know how your process goes... 

xxc

update: inch mark shop

update:

Lately, I have been working longer hours and hoping to add more handmade items into {1/4" mark shop}. It is true that I am getting ready to obtain a degree in hand and also unnerved some of life style will change after that!  I have slowly sewing handmade goods and list them in the shop. It is a small way of supporting our little family and keep me going and share my handmade with you. 

I'd like to take this moment and thank many of you who stop by the {shop} and am really feeling flatter that you have found something there you enjoy and love to bring home with you~

There are few more hand-quilted bag have completed and will be list to the shop later this evening. { in the shop}

xxc

Spring forward: Weekending

 {small feet, big shoes}

 {spring time=icicle season}

 {never give up colors}

 { she is here; meet miss Meggie rabbit}

 { ready in  the shop}

 

 { almost black and white}

 {simple prints}

 {remain stash from last week, the week before last week and sew on..}

 {bet you have a stash like this... }

 {the hope is to clean the top, but the result, it didn't happen}

 { decision making}

 { S, the ukelele player.. first completed song, Celementine}

{ found here}

Happy Spring~  

Fingers are crossed for Spring season that's around the corner!  No matter how much we loved cozy sweaters, woolie socks, layers of quilt, cozy afternoon tea times, and toasty kitchen when oven is in action. All the winter lovelies are start turning to antsy going out and about. 

There's a new wish list that have been created lately... "when is the spring coming?  I would like to go out more, mama. Take walks around the neighborhood. Can we do that when spring comes? The bike might be too small for me. Maybe I need a bigger size, is that ok? ". oh, miss S is ready for the spring and asking if her spring outfits still fit on her, since her had { the BIG girl birthday}.  She is looking forward being outside without heavy coat on and perhaps join the puddle for some fun; same am I.

S and I decided to start our {weekending} on Fridays instead of Saturdays. We felt that Friday when we get home we could take our time to visit with each other, not need  rush to finish tasks, dinner and movie in the cozy couch and even push the bed time a little late. Enjoy the days off and rest well for the new week that's coming upon. 

Do you know {Miss Meggie Rabbit}?  She is here and ready for me to turn her into life! I felt instant attached the miss Meggie when {Alicia} shared with her creating process. The kit arrived yesterday and  it feels like open a late Christmas present.  I look around the room and see fabric piles everywhere, there isn't much room since stashes haven't been put back and reorganized.  I think it would be great if that the back of the space is twice wider, but by the time I will wish another  "twice wider" space. Fabrics will keep growing and not going away. The sorting process never stops..

Are you still work in progress { Framer's wife sample blocks}? There's a difficult decision to make... should I complete all the blocks or stop where I am now. It might not be the priority decision making, but every time when I saw the block stack, I take them out and reminded myself that I haven't work on this project for a long time. Slowly I put them back in the package and hope that I will get around it soon. It has been almost 2 years project and the goal is a king size. This quilt will be a wall quilt when it is completed.  I could see lots fabric choose that have been changed throughout last two years.

Tonight we'll forward our clocks and be ready to wake up in Spring hours tomorrow.  It might seem the bedtime is shorten, but the days will get longer and brighter! I still confused why forward and backward the clock since I lived in states. It is hard to explain to my mom the 14 hours different in the winter season and 13 hours different in spring season.  Now what she understands is not to call to late in the winter time and not to call too early in the spring time, so we can catch her phone call

This weekending is a bit special to S and we are heading out in a moment. A lovely {weekending} just stated at {1/4" mark house}....

xxc