Teaching Classes

Hopefully within the next few weeks I will be teaching sewing and other crafts at a local craft store. I am very excited about it because I haven't taught in a "structured" multi-pupil environment before. I've only taught one-on-one and usually just tips or a specific technique or two.

I'd like to teach two different types of sewing classes for all levels of skill. One would have to be a series of classes and teach students they way I was taught. I learned about fabrics, threads, machines, patterns, hand stitching and more. The alternative or joint class would be "let's make a skirt today"...basically taking measurements, cutting fabric and sewing it up all in one class session. I don't think a student would learn much from that and may leave the class with the attitude that they can sew anything. I appreciate that kind of confidence, but sewing is an art and a science and I know it's important to learn as much as you can. Heck, I'm still learning.

If you have any experience in teaching sewing please give me all the advice you can. I think I will start out with a craft class initially...maybe making a fabric covered photo album. Something in red with nice little hearts all over it - just in time for Valentine's Day.

There's still the lesson plan(s) and syllabuses to draft and finalize. That has been on the back burner with Christmas and New Years in my face!!! LOL.

Wish me "luck" and good fortune with this endeavor and let me know your thoughts and ideas.

The world does not contain enough orange!!!

Just a pix of the quilt top. I need to make more blocks for a coverlet or actual quilt for a queen sized bed. I'm sure that I will probably have to take some of these blocks from the quilt top and intermingle with new blocks that I'll make. Tell me what you think.

Fabric Bowls

I saw fabric bowls for the first time on a quilting TV show and loved them.
The artist had made vases, too. That were fabulous. So, I finally decided
to try it after seeing them about 4 years ago. I got nice fabric for a very
good price at Joann's, as well as the stiff interfacing. They turned out
excellent from the beginning. That satin stitch sure uses a lot of thread,
so if you're so inclined to make these - make sure you have 3 or 4 spools
of the color(s) of your choice. Variegated thread would look good, too.

This is one of my first fabric bowls. I've seen many that are absolutely beautiful.
I used this retro print with very vivid colors...notice the orange!!!

Top View

Side View

Reverse Side

I've made couple others, but have given them away as gifts long
before I received my digital camera from my son for Mothers' Day.

This is a quilt blocks for a small quilt I made a little over a year ago. I chose orange because....well...take a guess. The first picture is the "spark" block. A smaller numbe rof blocks are the "spark" block with a brighter fabric in the center than the other blocks.

At this point its only a quilt top made of about 24 squares with about 6 different prints and the solid orange fabric. Here is the link for the pattern: http://www.quiltbus.com/free.htm I do plan on finding the same fabrics (Joann's) and make a Queen size quilt, or at least a decent sized coverlet.

I did enjoy making the quilt top, but had a few problems along the way. First, finding the right fabrics that coordinate well together was not an easy task. I finally sort of gave up and just bought anything that had orange, red-orange, orange-red, orange-yellow, yellow orange...yep..those are real colors. I also had problems with the sizing of the blocks because I didn't realize until it was too late that I was ironing the blocks wrong. One should never use steam or pull on the fabric squares as you are ironing it. That will stretch it out of shape. The blocks are supposed to be 8"x8. Mine are a little larger because of the steam pressing and stretching I probably added 1/2" or 3/4" to the most of the blocks. Some even came out lopsided because of the fabric content - not all of the fabrics are 100% cotton. As I was squaring them off I got concerned because they seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. I went on a board to ask other quilters who have much more experience that I at piecing quilt blocks and ended up frustrated, but determined it make it work one way or another. After all the squaring off it seemed to work well when all was said and done.

I'm sure this pattern is a wonderful to dwindle down your stash or use up your scraps. I'd say you don't have to stick to the same amount of different fabrics to make it work. I'd like to see it done in black and white - possible geometric shapes or illusion fabrics.

So Excited!!!

I didn't get much sleep last night...hmmm...maybe 4 hours!!! I am too excited about this new blog of mine that I had to get up and post more pics. This grey heather scarf made from Red Heart Super Saver # 0400 (No Dye Lot - I like that).

I generally take my knitting with me to work and knit on the express bus to and from the "park and ride" lot. After a hard and stressful day I saw that the needle had wandered off to places unknown. I suppose it's in "Lost and Found" for METRO!!!

The scarf is for "MyBubbaMan" - one of my dear brothers. He lives in Oakland Calif, and while I was there for Thanksgiving I had made him a Beret from the same yarn. The Beret was a little small so I made another a little larger -yep using that same pattern for the other Berets. I asked him if he wanted a scarf to match - he said, "No, it doesn't get cold enough to wear a scarf"...I said to myself, "Yeah, right...he'll be eating his words". Well, lo and behold after talking to him just a few days after that, I asked if he thought it was cold enough for a scarf. He replied, "H*LL YEAH"....I smiled...he only asked that I make it so that the "holes aren't so big". Gotta love him.


I used a reversible pattern which is a multiple of 4 sts, p1 k3 on each row. You actually purl the first stitch on each row rather than slipping it onto the needle. It makes a nicer edge than usual.


I think it's a classy "quasi-rib"...I'm using it for most of the scarves now. I need to try it on the beret to see how it works with the increases and decreases in the instructions. For some reason it's showing up brownish...maybe I should have taken the pictures in natural light instead at night under a fluorescent light.




Here a couple of slippers I made for my cousin and her husband.
I've had them probably for 2 years (the gold ones anyway), and
made the other dark variegated pair a couple of weeks ago.

They got married after finding each other again after quite a few years.
They eloped and went to Las Vegas and got married on 07/07/07...Isn't
that romantic? He's a well-established artist based out of Chicago,
I really like a lot of his work. Take a look for yourself:

Click here >>> DALUSHAKA

Here's a work in progress - an orange scarf, just a regular garter stitch, because of the texture I didn't think it made sense to complicate the scarf with anything more detail than a garter stitch. It's a gift to a co-worker who loves orange like I do. I am also making a beret like the other above, but haven't gotten close to even starting on it because of the gauge. It's a thicker yard and much fewer stitches per inch so I don't want to make it to fit an elephant. I will have to do a little math to determine how many stitches it will need for the cast on/first row.


Here's a close-up shot of the scarf. I just love the color.

OOPS!!! I forgot - updated twice for your enjoyment

OOPS!!! I forgot to include the picture of the slippers that match. This Beret, Scarf and Slippers were the "Natural" Color in Bernat's "Soft Boucle".

Although they look like the others, these have an iridescent "glitter" thoughout, as well as the scarf and beret.

It's rated #5 "Bulky", Size 8 US knitting needles, and 15 sts x 22 rows gives you
a 4"x4" swatch. Not bad for immediate action, right?

Update 01/07/8: Well, here's my update with the instructions for the beret. I had no idea that the clarity would be close to nill when I uploaded the scanned instructions to this post. It's horrible. If you care to have a copy, I will be more than happy to send it if you email me (ladywhosews@gmail.com) so that I can give you my address where you can send a SASE. If you can to you can send me a pattern or two also. I will take the instructions to Office Depot or such, and enlarge it on their copier. My "view" of the scan before I uploaded it was legible. If that doesn't work well I will go on and type it out...wish me luck with that because it is in very small print (figures) and grey vs. black!!!

Here's the pattern for the Beret, which I love because it's done on circular needles. And of course, wouldn't you know it, I forgot the info regarding the guage and needle size(s)...or well...let me see if I can get my hand on it right now...yep here we go:

Bernat Beret Pattern
Cast on 82 sts/ Work 4 rows in (K2, P2 ribbing, inc 3 sts evenly across last row, 85 sts.

Proceed as follows:

1st row: (RS). Knit,
2nd and alt rows: Purl,
3rd row: K1 (M1, K14) 6 times, 91 sts.
5th Row: K1, (m2, k15) 6 times, 97 sts.
7th Row: K1 (M1, k16) 6 times, 103 sts.
Cont in this manner, Inc 6 sts as before on every alt row until there are 115 sts.
Work 4 rows even in stockinet st.

Next row: K1 (K2tog, k17) 6 times, 109 sts.
Next and every alt row: Purl
Next row: K1 (K2tog, k16) 6 times, 103 sts.
Next row: K1,(K2tog, K15) 6 times, 97 sts.

Cont in this manner, dec 6 sts as before on every alt row to 31 sts.
Purl 1 row
Next row: K1 (k2tog, k3) 6 times, 26 sts.

Break yarn leaving a long end. Thread yarn through rem sts. Draw up tightly and fasten securely. Sew back seam. Also, from tips I found on the net you would leave enough to pull through a double strand of your yard. This is to make it more secure.

Note: This pattern is from the label for the I yarn used in the Grey Beret that I made for my brother MyBubbaMan, I don't have a picture of the 2 I made him, but the scarf is pictured above. I left out part of the instructions for mitts whose knitting instructions are also on the label. Also, from tips I found on the net you would leave enough to pull through a double strand of your yard. This is to make it more secure.

If you decide to knit one yourself, please send me pix as you are progressing pix of the finished beret.

Gosh Darn It!!!

Well that worked well...so here we go with a few completed projects and a WIP or two.
Enjoy:

Here's a Beret and Scarf that I made for my ex-stepmother who I love dearly. She lives in Denver, Colorado and is freezing her buns off about now.

I used Bernat's Soft Boucle - which is wonderful. I just love it!!!

MY FIRST BLOG AND MY FIRST POST, YIPEE!!!

After much consideration and adoration of others sites and blogs, I have decided that I want one, too!!! Here I will add a few pictures of projects that I have completed, and Works-In-Progress (WIP). I hope you enjoy my blog, visit often and post even more often (is that possible?).