Quilt Blogs - a few of my favorites

I'm finally getting around to adding a blogroll to this site! You'll see a link in the right hand column that will take you to a page where you will find the links. I'm starting small and adding some of my very favorite sites first. I thought I'd introduce you to them as hopefully some will be new to you. My first group is some of my favorite quilt blogs/sites. Most of them don't blog only about quilts and quilting, but their quilts are what drew me to their sites in the first place.

Tallgrass Prairie Studio, Beautiful, inspiring and original modern quilts. Also, tutorials for modern quilt blocks.

Bloom - Lovely quilts, needlework and gardens.

Modern Acorn - Truly inspiring quilts and process

Sew Katie Did - Great modern quilts and tutorials

Maggie and Sparrow - Lovely patchwork quilts, thrifty finds and decorating

Victoriana Quilt Designs - Not a blog, but quite possibly THE best resource on the web for quilters. Best of all, she maintains a huge list of free quilt patterns on the web!

EDITED TO ADD:

Quilting & Patchwork Inspiration - Like a huge inspiration wall of quilts!

I know that this list is in NO WAY comprehensive and I've left out some of the really famous quilt blogs because I'm hoping to introduce you to a few new ones. I'd love to hear what some of your favorite quilt blogs and/or sites are! Let me know in comments.

Inspiration: Organic Cotton Dresses

Today is a nice day to look at pretty dresses, isn't it? Especially pretty dresses made with organic cotton fabric!

First up, a dress to wear to accept your academy award. Or, maybe to attend the ball? Made with lime green organic sateen, found at Tammy Apostol Couture (photograph by Marlon Corvera).

A pretty organic cotton wedding party. I'm not sure if the dresses photographed are made with organic cotton, but they can be. Olivia Luca makes the dresses to order with your choice of fabrics from their shop. They carry Harmony Art sateens and the colors pictured above are consistant with colors Harmony Art produces.

Next, some dresses to wear to the wedding. Or, perhaps, to a garden party. From top left, retro-style dress with sailor collar in organic cotton by Tammy Apostol Couture. Slouchy Dress with Stitches in organic cotton by Fin Oslo found at Equita. The Edie Dress in organic cotton twill by Mountains of the Moon.

Finally, some destination dresses. As in, destination: beach. Maybe a beach wedding? Scallop Dress in organic cotton by Loup Charmant. Vista Dress in hemp/organic cotton linen by Loyale Clothing found at Equita.

Sewing Pattern Review: Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated

 

I made myself a shirt! The Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated, to be exact. I paired it with a lightweight plaid flannel from my shop (which, by the way, is now sold out). I was a bit unsure about using this fabric because it is, well, a bit blanket-ish. However, following my own guidelines for Successful Sewing with Patterns, I chose a fabric that I would wear. I love plaid and I wear a lot of grey and black. Flannel is wonderful for where I live since we won't really see warm weather until mid-May. Furthermore, flannel shirts are nice on cool summer evenings as well. OK, enough justifying!

The pattern was very easy to follow and came together quickly. I wouldn't recommend it for an absolute beginner, but easy enough after you've made a few other things (ahem, skirt or apron!) Most challenging: putting in the sleeves and the box pleats.

I have to agree with this review that the pattern calls for gathering the sleeves before attaching them, but they fit perfectly without the gathering. I had no problem with them at all.

My biggest challenge was the pleats, more so because of my inexperience than any problem with the pattern. Not having the pleats completely together where they meet the bodice will make the tunic look like a maternity shirt. Not a look I need to be sporting right now. I had a lot of trouble trying to keep the pleats together and eventually ended up tacking them together with a bit of hand sewing. Now it's perfect!

Also, I originally thought I'd make the dress length, but found it to be too long when I tried it on before hemming. I'm 5'2" and I felt like the dress was taking over, possibly due to my choice of fabric. I marked the length I liked with a safety pin, cut away the excess fabric and hemmed.

I'd love to make another one in a more spring-like fabric. And I will. After I make all the other million things I want to make. Or maybe sooner ...

Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated pattern can be found in the shop.

Happy Monday

Since today is a postal holiday, I'll be sewing instead of packing orders. Mondays are usually a busy day for me since all orders that comes in between Friday afternoon and Monday morning are sent off now. (Although, this week I sent Friday orders on Saturday because I actually remembered that there was no mail today!) Tomorrow will be my big day instead and today I hope to finish my Sew Liberated Schoolhouse Tunic.

After I finish my coffee, that is.

Looking For Organic Cotton Knit Fabrics?

I just received a new shipment of organic cotton knit fabrics (jerseys and interlocks). Including what's already in the shop, let's take a look at what you can find.

Bright fun colors (turquoise, coral, deep yellow and apricot):

Serious colors (deep purple, olive green, storm, maroon and black):

Fun prints (multi-colored polka dots, mod florals, ladybugs):

 

Perfect for baby (pastel blue, pastel pink, pink pin dots, alphabet print):

 

Find them all in the shop!