Wednesday 23 March 2011

Bliss! A post in which I say "piping" quite a lot

After the weekend's shenanigans with my machine, she's working again.  I put her through her paces on Sunday.  Should I be calling her "her"?  It sounds like I like her and at the moment I still don't - I'll refer to her as "it".  I decided to get going on the sewing machine cover I'd started.  I managed to finish it in a record 7 hours!  You people that whip up a quilt in 2 hours amaze me!!

I have noticed that I like looking at progress photos on other blogs as much as I like seeing the finished item, so I thought I'd take some as I went along.

This pattern is from Australia Homespun Vol. 11 No. 11, but you can buy it from the lovely Bloom, see this page here.

I had been struggling with my patchwork pieces when the machine died, so I finished them off on Sunday.  Then I added the side panel that I'd hand-embroidered with the word "Stitch".



I've used white linen, a Bliss layer cake (well a tiny bit of it!) and some tape measure twill that I happened to have in my card-making stash!  The embroidery is sewn in DMC Light Effects thread.


Here's a close up so you can see just how wonky my patchwork is!


I'd forgotten I'd need buttons and I didn't have 13 matching so I used a combination of red and pink buttons (again from my card-making stash).  I think they offset the blue thread nicely.  This is the DMC Light Effects again.  There is a thick layer of fusible fleece on the back of this machine cover, so does this count as me having done some hand quilting?  If you enlarge the photo you'll see the spot of my blood!  I do like to put something personal into a project...


See it?


I thought that I would be stitching in the ditch along the patchwork, but the pattern didn't call for it, so I didn't.


That's my piping.  I've never done piping before and I was scared but it was EASY.  I used my zipper foot as I don't have a piping foot and it worked fine.  I did have to do an emergency mid-project run to Hobbycraft to get the piping cord... I really should consider planning ahead!  I bought a metre of one Bliss print and a half metre of another for lining and piping, but this used up the tiniest bit of fabric, 2 inches I think!


Piping added.


What do you think of my piping efforts?

The next step was to sew the main panel and the end panels together.  We're talking 2 layers of linen, 2 layers of fusible fleece, 2 layers of medium-weight interfacing and 2 layers of cotton.  My machine said no, so I bought out this baby:


Oh yes, the walking foot.  Why was I scared of it?  It took about 20 seconds to install and is BRILLIANT!!  It made short work of all those layers and soon I was finished.


Ta Da!!  Sorry about the light - it was 6pm when I finished but I HAD to get photos.


This is the back, and you can see that I messed up the lining:


I used a blue spot print for the lining and when I put it all together, it formed a sort of cuff on the right side.  The lining isn't supposed to be showing on the front, but I liked it so sewed it in place like that.

The lining was bigger than the outside piece, so I ended up with ruffles and tucks and it looks a bit of a mess, but it's on the back! 


Go on, admire that piping again!

Sandra, I'm declaring this as my March LANT (Learn a New Technique) - I did walking foot sewing, piping and Quilt As You Go, oh, and hand quilting!  No full quilt for me this month, maybe April (or maybe not!).

By the way, I see I have loads more followers, thanks girls and welcome!  I wanted to come and visit you, but the list is no longer in date order of when you joined so I can't identify you, feel free to let me know if you're a new follower so I can come and visit you.

28 comments:

Nicky said...

It is awesome Wendy! I love it, especially that great piping and of course, the Bliss fabric too! I'm pretty sure I couldn't acheive all that in just 7 hours. Well done!

Ninu said...

very pretty! great job done! Love it

Shelley said...

Wendy...You did such a great job!!! Your first time with piping ROCKS!
Isn't it fun to try out new things? Just like the walking foot...sometimes the right tools make it easier for us to have fun!!

Coisas da Laura said...

Wendy! I love it!!! great job! I have this pattern but did'n have time to make it yet! I guess I'll be inspired by you!
Hugs from Brasil!
Laura

Tezzcan said...

It looks fantastic!
It put's my little plasticy cover to shame.
Any machine in my house is a she, until it starts acting up then it suddenly becomes a he.

lovestitch said...

Great job, Wendy! I love it, love the pipping too! I never tried a patchwork before, and the "Stitch" on it looks very cute, another inspiring thing you made! x

Nancy Lee said...

Well done, you! Don't point out what you consider mistakes. These details are what make your project your very own! Be proud of your lining, your piping and your patchwork. It will be good practice for when you have to live with sags, bags and gray hair!
;-] xo

Lisa said...

Hi Wendy! Wow! I love your new machine cover!! Everything about it looks perfect, and the piping, ohlala! Great job, and so inspiring!

Libby said...

WENDY!! That cover is SO adorable!!! and the piping is wonderful!! You should be very, very proud!! Now, I have to order me some more Bliss!

Joysze said...

WOW.... awesome job, Wendy. It looks great!!! All that piping is awesome!!! Great job on the piping, Wendy. I bet you had a lot of fun with all that ..... PIPING. LOL!!!

Mary Jo said...

Sooooo pretty!!!

Kandi said...

It's fantastic, well done! I only learned today that there is such a thing as a piping foot I always use my zipper foot with varying degrees of sucess.
Kandi x

RobynLouise said...

I haven't done piping yet and I like how yours shows on the right side :). That's a really nice machine cover.

Donene said...

I love the colors and I love the piping! I am a new follower and thanks for visiting and your nice comments!

Allie said...

Wendy it's brilliant - I love it! And I knew you'd love that walking foot, lol!

cauchy09 said...

Oh, that's beautiful! I love the Bliss fabrics--so fresh and happy.

I also really love progress shots. This is where we learn from each other and get new ideas. Thanks!

said...

So cute! I love it! Saving it to my bookmarks. I need to make one for my machine.

Come by & check out my blog when you get a chance. http://stellasola-boutique.blogspot.com/2011/03/viva-fiesta.html

Cheryl said...

I posted about the same machine cover a few weeks ago.
Lately I am into instant gratification projects and this one foot the bill. I don't have the pattern for the machine cover, but my plane is to make mine similiar.
Yours looks really nice. Great job with the piping. It's surprisingly easy, isn't it?

Sandra :) said...

I think it's gorgeous! Piping - hmmmmmmm I should LANT it too!

Sachiko said...

This is so cute and you did very nice job! Thank you for linking to my blog!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely cover you made!!!
The fabrics are sooo cute and the bottoms you added are just perfect... the stitching, a great touch... Love it!!!

You did great with your pipping and with your walking foot... I had mine for a year or a bit over a year and I'm still afraid... LOL.

nicolette {momnivores dilemma} said...

Love the word "stitch" detail. That could be "her" name...lol...

Thanks for linking up to Creative Juice Thursday! Hope you can make it back this week {party opens wed. night @ 8pm CST}

Valerie Earnest said...

Visiting from Market Yourself Monday!

I love this- especially the colors! You are brave, but it turned out really nice. I'm always afraid to sew things....

Valerie- www.occasionallycrafty.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

This is so awesome!!! I'd love for you to link up to Wow Me Wednesdays!

http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/2011/03/wow-me-wednesday_23.html

Kelly @ Run With Glitter said...

VERY PRETTY!!!!I'd love it if you would
link up over at the glitter party! http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekly-tues-thurs-link-party.html

Shabby Soul said...

I love your sewing machine cover! It makes me want to make another one!! I think it was 7 hours well spent!

Sewandthecity said...

Hi Wendy, this is one GORGEOUS machine cover…I would love to add it to the piping list if you don’t mind! I love the colours, the piping the patchwork,the buttons...everything…it’s lovely!

Unknown said...

How lovely! Thanks so much for directing me to this post - I'm inspired to get my cover finished now! Fab piping, by the way, I'm a bit intimidated about that step...Chrissie x