Colette Patterns - From the shelf in my sewing room to you

Have you heard of these patterns? Colette Patterns is a boutique pattern company from New York in the United States. They have a blog here. At the moment that have only 13 patterns, with a 14th (the first one for men) due out soon. So far all the patterns have a modern vintage feel.

I like them.

I came across them for the first time during Make It, Wear It month at Sew Mama Sew earlier this year when they posted this image as an inspiration on the second day. I bought the pattern for the Lady Grey and one of the others.

I haven't finished either yet because I have a habit of getting excited and starting new things. Plus it is too hot for the jacket this time of year. What I have done so far has worked out great.

But a few weeks ago, when I was still thinking I had enough time to sew a dress for my brother's wedding, I went online to order another pattern from the US because I couldn't find it in Australia.

While I was on there I was playing around with some different things and wished I could have access to these great patterns faster. And I saw the wholesale button. 

To cut a long story short I ordered quite a few patterns for myself as well as some extras that I have listed for sale in my Craftumi store. The favourable dollar at the moment means that I can offer them for the same amount as the RRP in US dollars and the shipping is cheaper and faster to you, if you happen to be in Australia.

And since I also got copies for myself as well I'm making myself some new summer clothes.
First, a nightie from the Cinnamon pattern with some Anna Maria Horner

and then a Parfait dress with some Liberty

I also have a Macaroon dress traced out, but no good picture.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'm going for one or two a week over summer!

Bee Seam Piecing Downunder- November blocks for ... Me!

November is my month in Bee Seam Piecing Downunder. And I tell you, it's exciting.


I have known for a little while that I have wanted a 'circle' quilt and for it to have variety in the theme so I thought a bee would be the perfect way to achieve that, having 12 different  takes on it.


But some people are really scared or unconfident with curved seams so asking for these blocks was not an easy decision to make. And I can't say that it was a request met without trepidation but the wonderful ladies in my bee have really been gracious enough to say they will give it a go.


I sent out reasonably large pieces of 12 different fabrics

With two squares of Kona solid in a grey colour to act as the background of the block (the quilt will not have sashing so this offers the continuity)

I also sent some pre-made pieced circles - with different outer fabric that I have asked the ladies to embroider (or mark for me to embroider later) with the name and location. These will be pieced into the back as the label.


I made a mosaic (follow the links there are some just fantastic blocks out there)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/handmaderetro/5077052704/


and a few myself.

There are already some great blocks showing up on the Flickr page (link on the left of the blog) and I can't wait to see what else people come up with!


In case you were wondering (as my bee buddies where) what each of the fabric are there is a picture over on Flickr with all the fabric labelled. They all came from my LQS, Amitie in Bentleigh, Melbourne Australia. I made a mad dash there afrer work one day and the ladies were nice enough to stay open a little longer and help me put together the bundle of prints.   

Hotel Sewing...more hexagons

Being back in Sydney this week has meant the third hotel in as many weeks. Perhaps this should be re badged as a travel blog?

Hotels, of course mean more of the Matilda's Own Hotel Hand-sewing project.

The past few weeks being what they have been for me has of course meant the batteries in my camera have gone flat and I can's show you the three I have made this week.

Instead, I have gone searching for the three template sets I am missing from the (now known to be) set of five.

And since I am without a car and working on my finishing up to do list like crazy this has only been on the Internet.

I have found the three missing are,
The Curved Star


http://www.matildasown.com/templates/curvedstar.html

 The Whirligig

http://www.matildasown.com/templates/whirligig.html

and The Pinwheel


http://www.matildasown.com/templates/pinwheel.html


As it turns out I have had trouble finding them, except on the Matilda's Own site, which does not have a shop function. I have printed out the stockist list of the stores near my new home but I fear they may not have them in stock. Hopefully disproving this fear is a job for this weekend!

Have you seem them? Especially anywhere in the SE suburbs of Melbourne?

* Ok, apparently there are more, a whole new range of sets out for 2010/2011. Obviously some more investigation is needed.

Handsewing in the Hotel - Hexagons

I'm nothing if not a girl of contradictions. After not long ao declaring I didn't enjoy hand sewing now I've started a whole hand sewn project!

Generally, I’ve been busy the last week or so, the house was finally packed up and loaded on the truck, cleaned and then my Dad and I drove down to Melbourne with my dog to join my partner. Since we got here we have been looking for a house and signed a lease on Saturday for a house with room for a dedicated sewing space, I’m so excited!

Remember that ‘no new fabric until I’ve moved’ pledge? Well I almost kept it. As soon as the movers left I went down to the Remnant Warehouse sale. I justified it by needing something to do while I didn’t have access to my machine. I got some precuts and two different packs of Matilda’s Own Hexagon templates. I have since discovered there are a series of these (and am on the lookout for them) that each make 8.5inch hexagons across the widest point. They are designed to be used for machine or hand piecing but I have used them to make some English Paper Piecing templates and constructed them so far.

All of the pieces for each of the blocks will fit on a sheet of A4 cardstock and I have been cutting them form sheets of Whimsy layer cake I got in the sale. From 3 sheets I can get 2-3 blocks.

I completed this one first, I need to do another two of these with each of the colours in different positions but all the tiny triangles and diamonds are difficult to do and I can only get the point ‘pointy’ enough with the hair straightener method, but the tiny sixe leads to some burnt fingers!

These two were made with the same teamplate set but the templates offer two variations. Where as the first block took a week of short sessions these two came together in an evening. The bigger peieces certainly make the blocks go together more quickly but it is much harder to keep the pieces flat while basing when the edges are so long.

The plan is to keep these as a short hand sewing project, use up the layer cake and then see if I have enough blocks for a lap quilt.

What I'm supposed to be doing...and what I am doing.

I'm supposed to be tidying, culling even (if I am brave) starting with the fabric cupboard.

Tidying the craft supplies strewn all over the house and hoping, wishing and praying that the new house has a dedicated sewing space (caution to the wind: that there in fact, is, a new house).

But instead I went to get a few fat quarters for my do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee} blocks and came home with this.

The next day I went back to the fabric store with my partner  to get the backing for the blue and white quilt and came back with that and also this

But don't you just love the selvedges?

I'll really miss my LQS.

In my defence I also weeded the garden, planted out all the plants that we had in pots and washed the pots out for the movers, filed a years worth of filing in the study and did my tax.

I also started quilting the Happy Camper picnic rug, one of the three six unquilted tops I found. I am trying to get some of them quilted, basted or at least the batting cut to size for them in the hope these can be packed in the WIP boxes and I won't have to try to have the batting roll packed and sealed for transport.

But a pledge - no more fabric until after I have moved! I have some recommendations for Melbourne stores (let me know if you have any too) and want to be able to go shopping when I get there. I'll stand fast....except maybe on the 23rd when the sale starts...

A Project (with a capital P) - Amy Butler 'Lotus' Double wedding ring quilt

On the 27th of November this year my brother is getting married. Plans have been underway for a little while but with him, his fiancee and all of both families living in Western Australia and me being over here on the east coast I have not been as involved in the planning and preparations as my sister (who is a bridesmaid) and my Mum (who is making the wedding dress).
I did, however, play a small cameo role here. The dress the bride will be wearing has a sheer overlay and the bride has her heart set on this being a white organza with large (about 10c-20c piece size) on it, also in white. Trust me, a nationwide search has been carried out. It has been spotted on finished garments and one, I found a roll of fabric in Cabramatta that was just right.... except it was yellow. If you have seen or know where some of this fabric could be found please let me know. Officially the search for the fabric has ended but i know I haven't really stopped checking and I don't think the bride or anyone else has either. It's not too late till the dress is done!

The coveted fabric...in yellow :(

But I digress. The wedding is a family affair, and both my brother and his bride to be have added or a looking to add a number of personal touches to the wedding. One of these little touches is the way they are doing their guestbook, which will allow guests to take a photo of themselves holding a chalkboard with a message for the bride and groom. These will then bu uploaded during the reception to a digital photo frame for guests to see, and for them to display in their home after the wedding.

During our last trip I was trying to think of something special I could do for their wedding, while not being intrusive and my mind had moved several times to a quilt but I wasn't really sure. Telling me about the guestbook idea and showing me some inspiration pictures came at just the right time.

Is that a quilt I see there in the background? A double wedding ring? Just the pattern I was thinking about. I did think about it quite a lot more before I took the plunge and called them to ask them what they thought. After all, we are talking double wedding ring and, although I don't often get scared off by things that are supposed to be hard, this is a gift for a special occasion and I didn't want to over commit myself.

But called I did. And they said yes, they would like one please. And they also said yes, we like your fabric ideas (Amy Butler and Heather Bailey). Which was a relief to me because one of my first ideas was to go with the wedding colour scheme (yellow, light pink and navy blue, try and blend those colours!)

So now I'm making a Double Wedding Ring quilt. My partner, while being supportive of my sewing and crafting, doesn't really grasp why I would offer to do something like this but to me, it is the essence of why I craft. Making things for other people. Particularly people I care about.

I have the fabric, I went with Amy Butler's Lotus range and even found some of the hard to find yellow spots at Fred the Needle in Penrith. The rest came from Quiltsmith in Annandale and The Remnant Warehouse in Alexandria. And yes, there are a lot of the other spots too.

I have spent some time researching the pattern and method I will use, I auditioned a paper piecing method from freespirit and McCalls but, as much as I can see the wisdom behind paper piecing something like this, it just isn't me. I have a problem with the waste generated by cutting the fabric large to ensure it covers the arc and the all the paper getting tangled as I chain piece the sections of the arcs. Plus I never seem to achieve the accuracy with this method others rave about.

Then, on a LQS tour (I must post some of them sometime soon) I found this template set at Material Obsession from Matilda's Own. There was a hiccup when the lovely people at my Toyota car service centre lost one of the pieces the afternoon I bought the set but I'm trying to move on (helped by the actually lovely people at Matilda's Own, who sent me a replacement piece).
  

The advantage over paper piecing that I see this set gives me is the potential to cut and piece with the small arc section templates as I normally would, and then check it for correct size with the template piece in the set that is included for a quilt that doesn't have pieced arcs. There is also a hand little reference book for planning layouts and calculating fabric required in the set. And a paper template for squaring off the edges which I will be using.

The last decision I have to make is the dimensions. I can't do a full size quilt. I just don't have the time. I was thinking a large lap size (and will probably go with that) but then I wonder if that isn't big enough. I think I'll start by making the arcs and see how I go.

So now, amid moving plans, packing, house hunting, unpacking and staring a new job I'm going to sew and quilt this baby. I think it will be just the distraction I require some days.

The first step is to go home tonight and cut into this stack of fabric that will one day be a lovely quilt.

Blue and White Quilt - a new project

Several weeks ago I bought one of these Jelly Rolls and the 6" charm pack from my LQS, the Remnant Warehouse.

At the time I didn't have a plan for them but then one day I was reading the Quilt-as-you go quilt along at Sewtakeahike and I have one of those Eureka! moments.

I had been tossing around in my mind the idea of making a quilt for our bed but wanted something that was not too fussy, was reasonably unisex in design and fabric choice but was still interesting. I was also keen to try a quilt as you go, and like Sewtakeahike said, I had not idea how I could quilt something big enough at home. Using these precuts (plus one extra roll and some Kona Snow) seemed to fit the bill.


So the plan is to make a couple of these blocks every few days and hope to have this finished (or nearly so) when we move into our new home in Melbourne.





The finished quilt with alternate light (white centres and edges) with dark (blue quilts and edges) in the quilt.


Sound a plan?

Bee {a little bit} Japanese - August Blocks for Jennifer

My package arrived for this bee a few weeks ago and I was excited. It contained a great range of linen fabics and some Kaffe Fasset shot cotton and Kona solids, all in colours I love.

I had also been eagerly waiting for the package because the inspiration mosaic Jennifer had put together was wonderful.

And boy did I have ideas. I spent a Friday evening when I was a little too zonked to sew on the couch in front of the TV sketching out some ideas.

I don't know what it is about my bee blocks (perhaps it is that I have to make only one or two of each style rather that enough for a whole quilt top) but in my designs I tend to piece them much more heavily than I would do otherwise.

The first two ideas I had were ultimately the ones I decided to go ahead and make.

The first was designed to be a block with 3 small squares down the left side and one long rectangle down the right side.

The second was a log cabin style, with each of the logs being a pieced sqaure or retangle.

I started first in the Three Sqaure and Rectangle block and chose three of the fabrics to work with, the Kona solid and two different linen spot prints.

The three squares came together really well but when I came to do the longer rectangle I realised I had made a serious error in estimating the amount of fabric I had and would need to change the design, I decided to do two retangles instead. All was going well until I got really concerned I was going to run out of the Kona solid.

In a slightly panicked state I put that block aside and made the Log Cabin block, with two if the other three linen prints (I love the little houses)and the shot cotton which came together really well.


Feeling slightly more emboldened I went back to the first block and realised, as I had feared, that there was just no way I was going to have enough of the Kona to finish the block.

I thought about using some of the fabric used in the other block to complete it but as I had made two very differnt coloured blocks I didn't want to add a new fabric for only one section of the block. So I took out my Kona colour card and held up my scraps to try to work out which colour it was with the inention of trying to buy some more to finish it. I thought it was Espresso (which turned out to be correct), and rang several LQS trying to find it. In speaking to my LQS, The Remnamt Warehouse I discovred that, while they stocked the entire range availiable in Australia this was only 100 or so fabrics and none were the Espresso. :(

I emailed Jennifer and explained the bind and she very graciously pointed out the second block was a bonus anyhow and that she would add some more to complete the block when it arrived.

So this is the mostly completed second block.

And while I really like the Log Cabin idea and execution I can't help but be disppointed with the finish of the Three Sqaure and Rectangle block. It feels terrible not being able to execute a vision and send back something half completed. But I will, with a little surprise added to the package.


Have you ever run out of something at exactly the wrong moment?

LQS - The Remnant Warehouse

I should start by declaring this is my LQS, and I love it. And while the shops I have been visiting recently have opened my eyes to some other great stores out there I always feel a little like I’m cheating on this store.

Location and Parking
494 Botany Road
Alexandria

Located reasonably close to the city Remnant Warehouse is on Botany Road, easily accessed by several bust routes, and, if you don't mind a walk, the Airport line train. Parking is on the street (I usually end up parking on the road parallel to Botany Road behind the store)

Yardage
The fabric section of this store has a large of great designer fabrics. There are usually several bolt of many of the Moda ranges and there is also a healthy stock of Amy Butler and a good range of Kaffe Fasset. Prices ranged in store from $20-$30 on non sale stock.

Much of the range fabric is displayed on shelves in the middle of the store in ranges (including some great novelty fabric) and the walls of the shop are lined with other fabric sorted by colourway.

There is a sale section in the rear of the store where you can pick up some great bargains.

Fat Quarters
The store has two major displays of fat quarters (cut to Australian dimensions). One has a range of fat quarters in the $5-$6 dollar bracket and includes some great fabrics. The other tray has mostly 'blender fabric' but still great quality for between $2-$4.

There are also tubs of extra stock under the counter, so if you find one of something and really want more it is worth asking the staff.

The best of the fat quarter section in this store is Friday, or should I say Fat Quarter Friday where you can buy one, get one free. I love Friday's here.

Precuts
There is usually a healthy range of Moda (and sometimes other brands) precuts in the store, including Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs. There are also increasingly fat quarter packs put together in store with complementary or range fabrics.

Books
There is a small but quality selection of books in the store. On my last visit there were several of the Amy Butler books, Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings and the Jelly Roll Series as well as a range of others that usually tempt me.

Patterns
There are some patterns in the store, A few Make it Perfect, some Me and My Sister Designs, Amy Butler and a few others. (In addition to some regular brand sewing patterns I will mention below)

Rulers, Notions and Potions
There is a section of notions and potions on the right hand side of the store including rotary cutters, cutting mats, rulers (brands include Matilda's Own specialty shapes as well as some regulars). The section isn't huge but it has all the basics in good quality. If you were looking for something particular and were to travel a long way I'd call first.

Service
Shopping here is a joy. The staff are knowledgeable, sewers themselves and very friendly. Occasionally there are lollies on offer from the jar behind the counter and always a smile.

Classes and Services
Classes are on offer, check out their website for details. It is also possible to hire the class area for your group at a minimal cost per person.

Other Stock/Information
The Remnant Warehouse also stock fabric or dressmaking, notions and patterns for this as well. There is a second store next door (recently located) and part of the same business that has an even larger range.

Good sales are held twice a year. Sign up online for the newsletter for advance warning of these not to be missed events.

The store also operates a loyalty card for stock purchased at full price. Spend $200 and receive a $20 voucher. I have earned more of these than I care to think about! Ask for more details in-store.

The Remnant Warehouse
494 Botany Road
Alexandria
(02) 9698 7855
Website


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Calico & Ivy - A LQS review

Location and Parking
10 Glyde Street
Mosman Park

Located in the Western suburbs of Perth just north of the beautiful historic Fremantle this LQS is not central for all Perth metro residence but makes a great destination store for a Saturday drive or a jewel in the LQS crown for the lucky residents of the area.

Just off Stirling Highway, close to the Fremantle train line Calico & Ivy is accessible for many. Parking is on the street out the front. Although it is near a busy shopping strip I had not trouble finding a park on the street out the front, twice.

Yardage
The fabric section of this store has a large but not massive range of great designer fabrics. They stock a larger than normal range of Japanese cotton/linen blend fabric including a whole shelf of echino and Kokka. There is also a lot of Kaffe Fasset, Heather Bailey, Amy Butler and Anna Maria Horner. Prices ranged in store from $20-$40.
I could not see a sale section (even although it was End of Financial Year sale time)

Fat Quarters
Dotted throughout the shop are several trays of fat quarters. Cut from the bolt in store I can see these being matched with yardage from the same range or other fabrics in the store.

Precuts
I didn’t see any Moda precuts in the store the day I was there but there were several displays in the store complementary fabrics cut into packs and kits.

Books
I could have spent a lot of money on books in this store, thankfully for my bank balance I knew I could make my luggage limit stretch to accommodate them. There are quilting, general craft and dressmaking books galore.

Patterns
Then store had displayed the largest range of Oliver + S patterns that I have seen to date in an Australian store. Also spotted were some other artisan patterns. Interestingly there were not a huge number of quilt patterns in store (as separate from the books).

Rulers, Notions and Potions
The was a small section of rulers and notions and cool tools down the back in a small alcove but the focus was not on this section and there was noting there that I haven’t seen many other places.

Service
Along with the Japanese fabric this was perhaps my most positive impression of this store. People, regular customers obviously, were chatting with staff about recent trips, projects and family events. I am sure that one or two people came in just for a chat. Staff were also more than happy to assist people with their crochet skills (there is a large yarn section at the front of the store). The only slight down side to this friendliness is that I had to go and seek service when I had finished wandering but this was readily provided and was a friendly and helpful as I had seen with more regular customers.



Classes and Services
Calico and Ivy offers classes. Check out their website for details.

Other Stock
As mentioned above there was also a significant yarn section (with a whole other library of books). It isn’t my craft of choice so I didn’t have a good look around here.

The Local Quilt Shop

image from http://www.memorylanequiltshop.com/images/quilt-shop-front.jpg

In my last post I mentioned that I belonged to a couple of online quilting bees, as I said then one of these is locally based, all members are from Australia and New Zealand.

During the time we were waiting for the bee to fill so we could get started with the fun, hilarity and sewing there was a discussion post started about where we buy our fabric from.

The question was as general as that but the post really ended up being about buying fabric from online suppliers or from the Local Quilt Shop (LQS). And the consensus was that while a lot of us would like to buy local, with all that entails (supporting the local economy, being able to touch, feel and compare fabrics before making a purchase etc.) the increase in cost that came with it was just not able to be met comfortably by many of us.*

And it has got me thinking, and puzzling and thinking some more.

I buy online as much as the next person, not just fabric but books, movies and music. I'm not yet brave enough for shoes or clothes. And I guess with each of the items I do buy online there would be benefit to seeing the item I am about to part with my hard earned dollar for before I did so. In the case of books, for example, there is comfort in flicking through the book and making sure there is more than one project you would like to complete, that the type is one you can cope with when reading by the bedside light, that the hardback is not so heavy your arm muscles will have grown exponentially before you found out how the story comes out.

Plus with online purchases there is the added waiting for delivery, and, at least in the case of my local postie, the lottery as to where in my front garden it will be and the condition it will be in when I arrive home, especially on raining days.

I'm not trying to bag buying things online here, as I said I do it regularly and as with the case of many things there are some massive benefits as well as possible causes for concern. The one that was identified really strongly in the discussion by my quilting bee was the savings.

I guess the thing that got me thinking and puzzling was that the discussion that the cost factor. There are so many other services that a Local Quilt Stare might, and often does offer that to many they are worth the extra dollars per metre of fabric.

Earlier this year, while on a visit to my LQS, I found this booklet. Privately published it lists many LQS's, their opening hours and contact information as well as a number of quilting services and online sale sites.



So I have embarked on a challenge. I'm going to visit these stores, as many as I can manage (and since my family is in Western Australia, I currently live in Sydney NSW and will shortly be moving to Melbourne, Victoria and have friends in the ACT I'm hoping to cover a big range of the areas covered in the book) and write a little review or description of them. I'd like people to take a moment to stop and have a think about what they can get at their LQS they can't get online.

I won't stop buying online, I'm sure, as I am just as sure I won't ever stop visiting my LQS.

What information would you like to see included in the descriptions/reviews?

* For international readers. At most quilt store in Australia good quality fabric sells for between $20-$30 Australian dollars ($US17- $US26) a metre (100cm) which is about 2in longer than a yard.
In comparison I can buy fabric for $US8-10 per yard and with postage this is about $AUS9.50 per yard when it arrives at my door