Speaking Yardage Wise

We interrupt the seemingly endless — and not-so-great-smelling — job of scraping off 30 years of kitchen grease for a sun-kissed, vintage fabric interlude. Take a breath of this:







French Babar from 1968, pink flowers on Swiss Dot, blue flowers on Seersucker, five yards of Border Print, and other tasty goodies. Thanks to my mother-in-law and an awesome rummage sale. It was a welcome respite to this moving business.

Vintage Chick

This is another made-for-Quilt-Market shirt (Simplicity 3835), although it never made the cut at the show because I felt a little too whimsical in it. It's made with what is possibly the best vintage chicken fabric of all time (thanks, Cicely) — though, this fabric is a serious rival. I wore this outfit to our preschool parent/teacher conference today and it got good reception. In my world, at least for me, this is considered "dressed up." Can I tell you how much that pleases me?

$20 target cardigan + home-sewn tunic from gifted, vintage fabric + $25 cords from the camping store + hand-knit hat + my sister's lipstick = "Dressed Up"

Craft Guilt: A Tale of Giveaways, Swaps, and Two Emilys

Ah, the craft guilt. Know what I'm talking about? Bitter Betty wrote about it and did something about it, too — she became pro-craftive and has been checking off craft chores left and right. Me? I'm just sitting around wondering when the hell I'm going to make good on my blogiversary gift for Emily. That was back in January for crying out loud. I'm stuck. I can't seem to hatch another chicken pincushion.

While I haven't been making Emily's gift (she's been so patient) I've signed up for swaps and worked on lots of personal projects, each time feeling at least a twinge of guilt, knowing I should be working on her project. Recently, I signed up for a patchwork & scrap swap set up by the lovely Linda P. I chose to swap with someone in Finland. Guess what her name is — Emily. I can't live with the guilt anymore — two Emilys overdue is too many. It's double or triple craft guilt at this point. Not only am I seeing another Emily, I'm late with my swap to her, too. ¡Ay, caramba! And, this, just before the big handmade holiday craft push. It must be resolved I tell you.

This sounds like I don't enjoy swaps and giveaways. I do, I do, but they torture me. I like to have deadlines, they usually kick my procrastinator butt into at least low gear — but, they do add an element of discomfort. Can you say craft masochist? Why put myself through this rigmarole when I could live in deadline-free luxury? It's the people. I love this silly craft community. Hi, my name is Michelle, and I have online friends. I enjoy sending a little handmade love into the world. It just takes me for friggin' ever!

So, Emily #1: is your heart set on a chicken pincushion? Can I make something else? Another style of pincushion? A mini quilt? A stack of vintage scraps, like the one in this photo — the one I'm sending to Emily #2? Oh, the guilt.

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Mini Quilt Swap With Jules Knoblock

Mini Quilt, by Me
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


Treehouse Quilt by Julie Knoblock
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Here, finally, is the unveiling of the little bird quilt that I made for a swap with Julie Knoblock. Many moons ago, Jules wrote a post about being inspired by one of my mini quilts. Since I admired her work, I suggested a swap — Jules enthusiastically agreed. I think that was about seven or eight months ago. Yes, I am the world's slowest swapper.

Jules was far more timely, and quickly sent this treehouse-themed beauty. I love it! The colors and motifs really fit our life: dog, flowers, mushrooms, and that awesome treehouse. Now, if I could just get it framed, I will hang it on this wall of our bedroom.

Julie and I were both inspired by Amy and her wonderful small quilts. A double congratulations to Amy on her book and her baby!

More details of my quilt over at my Fabric & Felt set at Flickr.

Sewn For My Sis

Sewn For My Sis
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


birthday_skirt
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


champagne skirt
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


Vintage Sheet Skirt
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

My favorite model and sewing muse, my sister. You've probably seen some of these photos before (here or in the Wardrobe Remix pool), but I wanted to make a group post to see them all together. It's about time for another round of sewing for her, maybe some shirts or a mini dress now that she's wearing things above the knees. I've also been wanting to make one of these, which would combine my love of yarn and fabric.

I sewed the skirts from a self-drafted pattern based on the "Tourist Trap" from Sew What! Skirts. The dress is McCall's M4369 tailored for a streamline fit.

The dress is new fabric — it's dragonflies. The pink skirt is vintage, the bubbley champagne skirt is new fabric, and the green and blue floral skirt is from a vintage sheet. I did a quick search trying to find the names of the new fabrics, but couldn't easily find them. If you know what they are, can you leave a comment so people who are interested can find out?

Aloha Aloha: New Shirt From Old

Aloha, my dear vintage shirt, until we meet again. I have worn and loved you till you were holey, faded, and threadbare. Buttons are missing and you are patched with at least five colors of thread. Thank you for being a good gardening and barbecue companion.


An evening date with the seam ripper taught me a lot about you. There was no consistency of seam. There were at least three different widths of seam. I wouldn't call you well made. Who was your maker? You looked homemade, but you had a tag that said, La Rosa San Francisco.


I made a pattern by tracing your pieces onto pattern paper. The grid really helped make straight lines. I wrote notes to myself on the pieces about the random seam widths.


I cut out pieces from vintage red fabric that just happens to be the same brand, VHY Hawaiian. What serendipity! I didn't know about the coincidence until I started looking at your seams. This new old fabric was a gift from Kathy who was cleaning out her 80-something mom's house. Thanks, Kathy!!


Here is your replacement, your clone — that *RED* one in the front. It's not all the way finished, but is taking on more and more of your look with each detail. I will use your remaining buttons intermixed with some that I have. I can already tell that it won't be the same, not so soft and comfy, too bright. Maybe after a couple hundred washings it will feel like you. Aloha old friend.

P.S. Thanks for all the empathy on the last post. We're feeling much better around here. Actually, for someone who leans towards depression, I'm surprised how rarely it makes an appearance now that I'm a mom. I guess I'm too busy. ;)

Fungus and Fabric

After two weeks of flu my son and I escaped the black hole that is our home and had great adventures in town and outdoors. We foraged for fabric and fungus and were successful with both--thrift store solids and small prints ($6US); and a couple handfuls of perfect chanterelles (free)! Exercise, dinner, and future crafts/clothing all for under ten bucks.