Sunday Stash Report

I had great plans that today I would be finishing building up to a great finish for the year as I was going to be using the long arm at the club rooms this week and planned to get at least 2 quilts quilted and bound this week. However the longarm was not working properly and I didn't get even one finished. It is nearly done and I should be able to finish it off at home but I just haven't gotten to it. My husband was away from Monday morning to Thursday evening and my plan was to sew my heart out. However - I caught up with friends, helped one do some sorting and tidying and one way and another the week disappeared. Ho hum.

I didn't get my Stash report written last week so today is for 2 weeks

I have made 3 satchel or messenger bags over the last 2 weeks. One was as a Christmas gift for the secret Santa we had for my Handmade With Love Christmas Party. The lady who received it was thrilled by it and hoping that her grand daughter didn't spot it and claim it for herself. The other 2 were Christmas gifts for special friends. One got hers today. I used Rugrats fabric on hers as she loved that cartoon as a child. (.65m each 1.95m total) 

My other finish for the fortnight was some more rainbow bunting for our Handmade With Love stall decorations. We now have 4 strands of the bunting that I have made and another person made some as well so we have PLENTY. (.92m)

I forgot there were the 10 mini stockings that I completed as an order for HWL. They were pretty simple and used .14m in total

My stats for week 50 and 51

Fabric used        3.02
Fabric added      0.00
Net usage          3.02

Year to Date     
Fabric used     167.41
Fabric Added     81.19
Net Usage         86.22



Linking up with Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report

This week I have managed a couple of small finishes, making some half square triangles that were "buffalo bits" ie left over off cuts from another project. I made 2 little zipper bags. They will be for gifts at my retreat next month.

They aren't going to add much to my usage pile but every little bit counts.

No purchases this week - despite some temptation at a second hand shop that had lots of great off cuts. I resisted cause there wasn't anything I needed - no projects in mind for them so they stopped in the shop.

I have some more half square triangles... black this time. Planning on making a couple more....

So my usage this week

Stats from Week 19

             Fabric used          1.09

             Fabric added        0.00

Year to Date

            Fabric used         37.03

            Fabric added       32.37

Net Used                          4.66

Linking up with Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash - More finishes

So excited. I am on a roll. I got another quilt finished. Dash That Cat is now done, even labelled and ready to go to its new home . It is great to have another finish under my belt. The finished quilt is 265 cm x 232 cms (91"x 104") and used 13.91m of fabric. It might even have been more since both the binding and backing were pieced but I will let it sit at just under 14m of fabric. I occasionally use a bit of fabric I have acquired and no add into the spread sheet so it evens out in the end.

I'm sorry I don't have a decent photo of it but its so huge its hard to get one, especially since my rotary hoist clothes line broke a few years back

I have also been making some cute little baskets for Handmade with Love. 

Anyway back to the fabric baskets I made. We put Easter Eggs in them for a little but it was so hot they were getting soft so we had to put them into the cold box to firm up. Some of the fabric in them was from Handmade Love but I supplied all the linings. 55cms in all. 

The pattern for the baskets was based on this link which came from an email from All People Quilt with links to Easter projects. I adapted it to make some slightly larger baskets and also to account for one way fabric.

We had a stall for Handmade Love on Saturday at the markets associated with our town Sunflower Festival. We didn't make a heap of money but $200 is a welcome addition to our coffers and it is encouraging to see stuff we make going on out into the community. 

It helps us recognise what sells and what doesn't. So far my zipper pouches for the ear buds haven't been a big hit but I love them and so does everyone I've given them to. I made another rectangular casserole carrier to go with one I'd made earlier in the week and 3 sets of pot mitts to match. The fabric used in the carrier and pot mitts came from Zambia, bought back by our project director on one of her trips to the school (Our Rainbow House in Chainda, Lusaka Zambia) 

I also made a little zipper purse for the stall. None of the fabric for these things came from my stash - all was from Handmade Love stocks. 

No purchases this week.

Stats from Weeks 13

                 Fabric used            14.46m

                 Fabric added           0.00m

Year to Date

                 Fabric used         29.38m

                 Fabric added       19.17m

Net Used                              +10.20m  

Yes I am finally into the black for the first time this year. Those two fat quarter bundles at the beginning of the year have taken a lot to pare back. But we are there at last. I have another quilt pinned and ready to be quilted - My Twilters Hashtag quilt, a quilt top finished that I am working on the backing for (Diamond Dash 2), and another top finished this week (My Hexie Quilt - still no name - maybe that is going to be it). If I became uber productive in this next week I could get all 3 finished (or not) They will make a giant leap in my fabric used stats.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report A FINISH

I got a finish. At last. Only my second for the year... 2nd quilt that is. In fact it was basically a start and a finish in the same week. I had pulled the fabric out and cut some of it the week or so previously but had stalled again. And then... this week I got home from something... Monday I think it was and just thought... right that is it and boom... got onto it. Got the back and front put together and was able to pin it Wednesday morning and then Wednesday afternoon I got it quilted and I did the binding that night. BOOM. It felt so good. 

The quilt (that I have already posted lots of pictures of here) used a number of panels and fabrics to do with the Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

My kids loved that book. In fact when I was talking about it to my husband we were both able to quote reams of it off to each other (our baby is 21!!) so we obviously read it a lot. The mother of the baby it is for is someone we have known since birth (conception even !!!!!) Bub still hasn't put in an appearance yet so I haven't done the label yet. I am sure I read the book to her whilst she was little too. 

We bought a copy of the book to send with the quilt. (one can never have too many picture books or quilts)

So a finish! Yes... even if it was only a cot quilt (well 120cm x 130cm) Given that it was pieced back and front I added a bit extra fabric in the usage and came up with 4.17m fabric used.

I also purchased some fat quarters. I had to go to the fabric shop to buy more pins as I had to pin out 2 quilts, and already have one pinned. The one already pinned was pinned within an inch of its life as it was a bit out of shape and needed to be well pinned. Then one of the quilts I had to pin on Wednesday (not my finish) was huge.... Drat that Cat.... I bought 3 boxes of 150 pins and still needed to borrow some from Lyndi. The LQS had a selection of fat quarters on special for $3 and I got 3 featuring lady birds - 3 different colour ways. They will make cute little bags I think. 

Stats from Weeks 11-12

                 Fabric used            4.17m

                 Fabric added           0.77m

Year to Date

                 Fabric used         14.92m

                 Fabric added       19.17m

Net Used                              -4.25m

So I'm still in the red but clawing back gradually. I have 2 quilts pinned ready to go and another top made that I have to do the backing for... so I am making progress.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash report

I received in the mail this week some fabric that I ordered on Massdrop last year. Its some gorgeous Japanese fabric that I will use in a secret project. There were 35 fat quarters in the drop. Its the most beautiful fabric.

 Due to an error I made in the process I actually ordered it twice and so at some point another similar bundle is going to turn up. I don't really need the second bundle but I didn't get around to cancelling it and I have been billed for it. So far only one bundle has arrived. I won't mind if I DON'T get the second bundle so long as they refund me my money. According to the tracking notification it is still in transit so it may turn up in the next few days. Otherwise I will be on the war path over it.


I managed to get 2 little finishes done last night - 2 little zipper purses - incy wincy tiny finishes but they are a finish and so its not all negative this week. They are earbuds carriers - and I have 2 special people in mind to receive them. 

 

I think this is the first time I have had a negative on my spreadsheet ie more overall input than output. Some weeks I have had that but usually overall I have had it going out. Hopefully I will make up the deficit.

Stats for week 2
                 Fabric used         0.23m
                 Fabric added       8.22m

Year to Date
                 Fabric used         0.23m
                 Fabric added       8.22m
Net Used                             -8.22m


Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Stash Report and Update on Monthly Goals

It's 10 days into the month and even though I only articulated my goals a few days ago I am excited to be able to report I have made some good progress
1. Set up my fabric tracker for 2016 I've done this. I did it the slow way as my dh (ie Fixit Guy) was busy. He would have been able to do it simply but I did it my way... slow and tedious but got it done.
2. Empty my scrap basket. This did NOT happen... not yet anyway. I have dug through it and used some fabric from it... but largely its sitting there reproachfully near my sewing machine spewing everywhere.

  

3 Review my WIPs and UFOs list. I have done this. I went through my project shelves in the big white cupboard.


 I sorted them out. I didn't get rid of any I must admit. There is one heading that way but I'll marinate on the idea of turfing it for a little bit longer before I act. I wrote a list of all the projects I had and checked off what I had on my list on my blog. I got to take a couple off that had been finished. I have also created a new page which includes some of the projects that I have fabric for, and perhaps ideas for what I am going to do with them, plus the panels that I own. These are projects that haven't really started so I don't count them as WIPs or UFOs.

4. Work on backing for my POD quilt. Yes I have started! I put in a bit of time Friday and Saturday. I am piecing it so it is taking a while but I have made progress

I'm piecing it from a variety of fabrics. Fangirl gave me some fabric  (the owl f, the turquoise  that has various wizard.witch related items, and the wonder woman fabrics) that that I am working  in with a book block that I remade, another Marauders map, and various bits of purple fabric  pictured. Since I took the photo I've worked in some left over background fabric from the font and some leftover piano keyboard strips that were in my orphan block box. Will add some lavendar solid all around to make it big enough

5 Complete the last of the hexies for the Hexagon quilt No progress here at all. I will get there... eventually.

6 Make the label for the quilt I have made for my new great niece Chanel Grace born on New Year's Day. I got the label made and have posted it off to my sister who is going to stitch it onto the quilt and give it to the family for me (and take photos)

So... I was pretty pleased with the progress I have made in just a few days.

And its a zippo on the stash report. Nothing bought or acquired this year so far and no projects finished. That's pretty good too I reckon. I am still having guilts about not recording my purchases and gifts for December. I couldn't do it because my computer was out of action but still... feel guilty... but that is so stupid. Its not like its a crime or a major failing.  As at the end of  November I had a net usage for the year of 68.82m  

New year, new start.


Stats for week 2
                 Fabric used         0.00m
                 Fabric added       0.00

Year to Date
                 Fabric used         0.00m
                 Fabric added       0.00m
Net Used                              0.00m

I wasn't going to do the Linky as I had nothing to report but when I checked, Judy's fabric report was exactly the same so I linked up anyway. Might as well start of the right way

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

sunday stash report really late... I found this in my drafts

It was a bust this week... a nil all draw. I've been sick most of the week with what feels very much like the fatigue I felt when I had Barmah Forrest virus. I had this first back in 2013 and had what felt like a relapse of it 12 months later and now again 18 months after the last bout. Medical tests last time showed no virus active in my system but as my doctor said, not much is known about Barmah Forrest virus so ... who knows. It may be a touch of chronic fatigue or it may be just that the virus ( or a bout of Glandular Fever back in 97) has left me a bit susceptible to fatigue. I don't know. But I know I have been wiped this week with very limited energy. I can do things for a while but then just have to go to bed. I blogged about the virus here when I was sick with it again last year

Anyway - suffice to say I haven't finished anything this week. I have worked away on a number of projects in little spurts but nothing completed. At the same time I haven't bought any fabric so... that is good.

Actually looking at my boxes that I keep my stash in I realise I am making progress on my stash and getting through my frequently used fabric. What is left in my boxes is more and more becoming the hard to use fabric.I might have to have a good go through it and decide if I am going to use that fabric, and how I am going to use it or else give it away to someone who might use it.

Part of the reason I haven't joined in the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt is that I didn't really have the fabric in my stash that I could use and I was reluctant to go out and buy 13 metres of fabric. - on something that I might not like in the end. I do like scrappy quilts BUT I like to use my scraps in scrappy quilts and not buy fabric... if that makes sense. But I did buy the special rulers to use with it... I don't have to put rulers in my stash report.

I have finally got my hands on my Hashtag blocks from our Twilters block swap. Another quilt I need to put together. Oh that reminds me... Carole who did our block swap sent me some fabric with my blocks...I should count that into my stash but I haven't measured it... so will count it next week.

Stats for week 49
                 Fabric used         0.00m
                 Fabric added       0.00

Year to Date
                 Fabric used      145.52m
                 Fabric added      76.70
Net Used                             68.82



Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report

Very pleased to report that I have had 2 finishes this week. Again they are only small but it is good to be getting stuff done.

At our Handmade With Love stall at the craft fair last weekend I was asked about rectangular casserole carriers by a number of customers and 3 of them were keen to place an order for us to make  them to order for them. Of those 3 2 have followed up with specific orders and I got them made during the week. The first one took me hours to make and I reckoned that with the wages I can earn as a supply teacher it was worth $360 in time alone!! 

I asked on the Twilter page on Facebook for pattern recommendations as when I had googled it there were lots of patterns (many for sale) but was keen to chase up recommended ones. This is the pattern I ended up going with for the first one and it worked out pretty well. I made the handles differently as I wanted them to go right under the carrier. It was recommended by a couple of people.



For the second one I used the same dimensions as for the first one but instead of making the fabric handles (which were an absolute pain to turn out the right way) I made the doweling handles. Its all finished and I showed the lady who wanted it (in black and white) and she loves it but does want the velcro added to the first flap over pieces so still have to stitch that on.

I did have a bit of a giggle. She wanted it in black and white to match her kitchen.... but you use the casserole cover to carry your dish to someone else's place, not serve it in your own kitchen. I guess if you are having a party at your place you might use it to keep a dish warm.....

The pattern called for the special insulated batting but I didn't have enough and local shops didn't sell it. The shop assistant says that most people just use the natural fibre batting ie cotton or wool. I have plenty of that so used it and it looks fine.

No fabric in this week

Stats for week 48
                 Fabric used         3.19m
                 Fabric added       0.00

Year to Date
                 Fabric used      145.52m
                 Fabric added      76.70
Net Used                             68.82


Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report

I've been busy this week sewing lots of different things but haven't got much in the way of finishes.

I did finish a small 6.5" heart block to go into a quilt that a group I am involved with is making for the children of a friend of ours who died. I have been tasked with putting the blocks together for one of the quilts. Another member of our group had already squared all the blocks up so that made everything a whole lot easier. I only received the blocks and other fabric on Friday at lunchtime and by dinner time I had the blocks sewn into rows. I had also made the one extra block I needed to make to have 36 blocks so I could have 6 rows of 6 blocks. 

I also made a cover for Fixit Guy's Chrysalis worship book. Mostly when you do your flight or walk in the Emmaus/Chrysalis movement and you are given your little book they also give you a cover for the book. Somehow FG missed out or managed to lose his and so I made him one (using butterfly fabric). Its another tiny finish using 20cmx30cm piece of fabric.

Its sitting on my ironing board but the flowers behind look rather good with the butterflies

On the plus side I haven't bought any fabric so that is good for the spreadsheet.

My big finish for the week wasn't quilty related. I completed my talk for our Emmaus gathering. The theme was Refreshment, very applicable to country Queensland at the moment as we haven't had proper rain for 4 years. I based a lot of my talk around our recent visit to my husband's brothers' properties, North of Charters Towers. The pictures I took there as well as some of our experiences were a big part of this talk. I made a couple of special slides (I did a power point to go with the talk) which I was very pleased with. I loved how they turned out

So my stats for this week

Week 46
              Fabric Used                   0.10
              Fabric Added                 0.00

Year To Date
              Fabric Used               138.39
              Fabric Added               76.70

Net Used/Added                         61.69 used

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report

Its been a nil all draw this week. That is to say I haven't bought any fabric and I haven't finished any projects. I have been sewing... making progress with some hexies and completing 5 more blocks for my Harry Potter POD quilt. These will go on the top of the bookshelf, which I have put together. I am going to make a couple of more blocks to go along the side and then I have few things that will go under the bookshelf



So my stats for this week

Week 45
              Fabric Used                  0
              Fabric Added                0

Year To Date
              Fabric Used               138.29
              Fabric Added               76.70

Net Used/Added                         61.59 used

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report - catch up

I haven't done a stash report for awhile. Being away has done that to me... 

I have bought some fabric. Yes I have to confess that BUT I have stuck to my aim to only by fabric for specific purposes. Whilst in Mackay and Townsville I visited Spotlight and succumbed to some lovely fabric which I planned to make bibs for Handmade Love. These fabrics have featured in all the bandana bibs I have made over the last couple of weeks. I do still have some of the fabric left but most of it got used up including the metre (or was it 1.5m...I forget) for binding. Its all basically gone so it doesn't really matter. I got 2 fat quarters of funky Michael Miller Christmas print and 3 co-ordinating spots for the bibs. I got .3m of 2 other funky Christmas fabrics for bibs as well. Its all just about gone. I have bits and pieces of each fabric left. I could make a couple more bibs but not sure that we need more for the stalls. Thinking I should try some pot mitts or towel hangers.



I have acquired some more fabric from my mother in laws linen press. Sigh. If I am honest and count it all it is going to blow my stash numbers out of the water.

My MIL's cousin Ruth was about 10 years older than her. She  never married and was always very fond of her little cousin Nancy and family. Ruth had a heart of gold and was always very generous but... well her gifts whilst well meant weren't always as useful as she would have liked them to be.

Cousin Ruth in the 1950s - in her 30s

At some point she acquired some bolts of fabric - rather thick heavy cotton (like a heavy homespun) that she decided was ideal for sheets. She proceeded to make several flat sheets for the family. Trouble was... the fabric was of course not wide enough so had to be seamed down the middle and some of them she patched together to make long enough. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to sleep with a seam under you... or over you for that matter. So these sheets, made from quite good quality heavy cotton, were largely unused because they were uncomfortable (another time she did a stretch knit course and learned how to make men's undies. She promptly sewed a heap for my brothers in law (Fixit Guy had left home by this stage) but being economical she used every skerrick of fabric and this meant that many of them had seams down the back of the undies. Again... not comfortable. I think the young teenaged boys that my BILs were at this stage weren't keen on them at all so I don't' think they got very used at all. Ruth and my Mother in Law were always very close although they were 11 years apart in age. Ruth died towards the end of 2005 and my mother in law died just a few months later in February 2006.


Ruth was very practical and no nonsense - bit rough and ready but loving and generous so the family never told her that her gifts weren't always appreciated. The sheets were still in the linen press till I liberated them this trip. They should come in handy for backing of quilts at some stage. But it is hard to count them into my stash when I don't have a use by date on them.... Just tallied it up 4 sheets and some curtain fabric... just over 14m of fabric. Oh that hurts.

Then when I got home I found a Massdrop parcel had arrived with my fat quarter bundle. Neko by Hyakka Ryoran. Isn't it gorgeous. 

 
There were 20 fat quarters in the drop which was 5 yards or 4.7m I do have a project in mind for this lovely fabric so we will see how we go.

I have already told you in other recent posts that I made

16 bandana bibs and 12 baby bibs (4x10" long and 8 x8"long)
  
I also made 2 hanging towels for my sister in law. I found the new hand towels in my mother in laws linen press (despite the fact that she died 10 years ago, much of her house on the property is as it was when she was there including the linen press. I raided it this trip for a few bits and pieces myself and found these hand towels. My SIL uses them. Like me she likes a thick full towel rather than the little half towels made out of tea towel. They were green and I happened to have some green with me... the spotty stuff I had used for binding as well as some darker green check. She seemed very happy with them... no photos of course.

So the stats for the last few weeks 

Weeks 39- 44
              Fabric Used                  3.01
              Fabric Added              18.90

Year To Date
              Fabric Used               138.29
              Fabric Added               76.70

Net Used/Added                         61.59 used

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Stash Report

Despite the fact that I haven't done a stash report for a couple of weeks I have only 2 tiny finishes to report and even those are only the backs. I have managed to get 2 bibs for Handmade Love completed but the fronts of the quilt were supplied by HML so I can only count the backing... a measly 21.5cm square for each. I haven't done a whole lot of sewing at all over the last few weeks. 

Life has gotten in the way.I have finished off a banner (or did I talk about that last report... yeah I think I might have) but the front and back of it were donated so I only got to count the binding and the hanger. I had hoped to get stuck into the POD quilt but I haven't ... I realised that I needed to choose the background fabric for the "Wall" behind the quilt if I wanted to make the extra stuff to go around the bookshelf. I couldn't use the same stuff as I'd used for the background of the bookshelf. I wasn't sure I'd have enough for a start and I really thought that it should be different fabric. So put that on hold till I got to a shop. I do have local quilt shops but didn't really feel like spending $28m that is the usual shelf price. They do have sales and have some fabric that is less expensive but I couldn't be sure that they would have something suitable. I wanted to have a choice.

I have finished off my blocks for the Twilters Swap. We made the wonky hashtag.. or pound signs. I ended up making about 33 but 3 of them were too small to be used so ended up swapping 30. I will use my small ones on the back of the quilt. They will be mine. I can't count them till I get them all back and make up the quilt. 

I had thought about packing up the POD blocks and bringing them with me on our holiday but finding all the fabric that I would need for the paper piecing was going to be way too challenging. So left them all at home. .I had meant to pack my Amy Gibson blocks to finish off and then put together but that was forgotten too. Oops. And then I thought about bringing stuff to make zipper bags for HML but... uh... needed to choose the fabrics and then make sure I bought enough wadding etc so skipped them too.

Instead I have packed my Hexie project. I've bought all my cut and pinned squares, plus all the extra hexies I had cut out ready to pin, extra fabric to cut (all my 3.5" strips) extra hexies printed out to cut and all my premade hexies.. I am going to knock out so many hexies this trip. (lots of time in the car, lots of evenings sitting chatting to the family) I've done over 100 in 2 days so far. 

I'm storing the finishes hexies in this container I bought years ago but have never had a use for. Its perfect. I'm sorting them into colours. Originally I was going to sew them into flowers and have 17 such flowers made. But now I am not sure if I am going to continue with that design. My current plan is to stitch all the fabric I have cut into hexies and to keep cutting up my 3.5" strips into squares and stitching those. When I have about 1500 I will work out what I am going to do. Since doing the Joen Wolfrom colour workshop I am wondering if I can do an interesting design using some of her concepts... and the coloured hexies I have. I'm not sure. Just madly stitching hexies for the moment'

'

I've also packed a Christmas project. Its a panel and some extra fabrics... not sure what I am going to do with it but will have 2 weeks to work on it so hopefully will get some way with it.

I did  have some time in a fabric shop yesterday. I've bought 2 metres of background fabric for my POD quilt and 5 fat quarters of funky Christmas fabric... well 2 of them are christmas fabric and 3 are co-ordinating plains. I hope to make some great baby bibs for our Christmas stall for Handmade Love. They should appeal to the younger mums out there.

So... That is a total of 3.34 metres in and only .09 of a metre out... not good figures. That's the first negative I've had this year I think... or almost anyway. Can't whine too much. If I get POD finished this year it will be a big outage



Week 41

          Fabric Used                      0.09    
          Fabric Added                    3.34

Year To Date
         Fabric Used                    135.28
         Fabric Added                    56.15        

Net Used/Added                       79.15

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Stash Report

This week I have made

3 baby bibs. They were very small and 2 were made at Handmade Love and used their stash so can't count that. One I made at home. I stuffed it up and it looks pretty ugly... won't matter for mopping up stuff and hanging around the neck of a bub to get muck all over... but not sure anyone would buy it. I cut the neck wrong and used to wide a binding. Sigh. They were only 21.5cms square so not much usage there.

Peace and Harmony wall hanging. This was made using a panel. There is very little I can count for this finish in the way of stash usage. The panel I acquired this week and its going straight out, the backing was donated for this project so not part of my stash (it was from a bed flounce... the rest is going to Handmade Love). I didn't do an in out calculation cause I forgot to measure it. Oops I did contribute the binding so that is a little count. Again no photos cause I forgot

And that was it for the week as far as finishes.

And no photos


So this weeks stats

Week 38

          Fabric Used                      0.47    
          Fabric Added                    0.00

Year To Date
         Fabric Used                    135.19
         Fabric Added                    52.81        

Net Used/Added                       82.38

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

Sunday Stash Report - kats and Kaftans

I've only had one finish this week but as I had to buy the fabric for it its almost the equivalent of a nil all draw.

At Handmade Love on Tuesday (that's a sewing group I am part of that makes things to sell to raise money for Our Rainbow House, a school in Zambia) a visitor to town who is also part of the Our Rainbow House Community, taught us how to make kaftans. I had forgotten about it till that morning so had to dash to the shop as soon as it was open to get fabric to use. I chose a lovely soft batik that had a gorgeous pattern and was soft enough to drape well.

It was really easy and straight forward to make. Basically I measured my length, folded the fabric in half and cut it off to that length plus 5 cm for the hem, cut a neck line, faced it, hemmed it, sewed the side seams and boom it was done. Well that is how it was supposed to go. I had trouble with the neckline initially but we got there. (Peggy, our co-ordinator for HML, is a very experienced sewer and she was able to fix my issues) I didn't even have to hem my sides as the batik's selvage was so beautifully finished.

If I make another one (who am I kidding... when I make another one) I think that instead of just folding my fabric in half I will do shoulder seams. It might help to stop it slipping about so much. It's not bad but just slipped back a bit.

The 3.6m of fabric bought and used in this project was my only purchase for the week although I do confess that I have ordered a fat quarter bundle on Massdrop. I'm collecting cat fabrics so this is just perfect. But it hasn't arrived yet so I don't have to count it this week. Whew.

Speaking of cats, we've been catsitting our daughter Fangirl's 2 felines this week. They are gorgeous and playful and far more attention seeking than our old boy cat

 

Fangirl is out of town this weekend to attend the Brisbane Comic Convention. She has had a stall there for the first time selling her Geeky cross stitch patterns, kits and some made items. Her youngest brother has gone with her to help her with the stall. Not sure how much he knows about cross stitch but by the end of the weekend I'm sure he'll know a lot more. He's been company and has meant she can go for bathroom breaks if nothing else. Actually apparently yesterday he was able to go off and go to the forums etc and look at the other stalls and displays and today it was her turn.

So this weeks stats

Week 37

         Fabric Used                       3.4    
          Fabric Added                     3.4

Year To Date
         Fabric Used                    134.72
         Fabric Added                    52.81        

Net Used/Added                       81.92

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times