trisha harrison:here at no.30

Making, A table runner.

Today I am sharing the process of my first homemade table runner sewing project. I was so into this project diving into fabrics and wanted to make something more with this machine of mine mostly I have been using it for Project Life pages and the odd coaster making and pot holders - Insert the ecourse I purchased from Elise about a year ago. I made the pillow (top) yet to finish it. Here is the making of a table runner.

First things it was the fabric, that very bold colourful print was a left over from Ikea a few years back that sat in my basket - I wanted to make it something. Then I went out to local fabric shops to pick up the other solids (which were meant to be in a different project - but this worked so good). cutting and cutting and cutting began.

Soon after all that cutting came the fun part of stitching it all together, I ran out of the bobbin thread twice. I then seen a tip in a quilting magazine to get at least 3 bobbins ready... I will do that next time. 

Once the stitching of the material is all together then it's the pinning or "sandwiching" of the top to the batting + the backing material this took a little time but with the help of Ava passing me the pins we got it done.

I truthfully had no real idea how to stitch this all together but knew it would be lines going vertically, then I wanted it to look not so stiff so I went with the wavy lines it totally helped as I am still new to this and wavy lines are easier than precise straight ones. 

For the wavy lines I decided to go with the orange thread - which I also ran out of. 

I began to understand that there are a lot of pins & thread, scissor cutting, and my tweezers came in handy.

Once this part of stitching the material all together was done (what a success on it's own) it was then time to bind it all - insert me frowning.

I had picked up this material in a clearance bin & although had no purpose at the time it sure fit in here nicely. 

Hard part & Easy part - there is no real easy thing about quilting ... I think the more you do it the better YOU are at this but it is still very time consuming & I have a new appreciation for quilt makers!! Trimming the excess off the runner to prep it for the binding was a pain because I am a memory keeper and I trim paper all the time - this is not paper, each time I thought it was straight it wasn't ... I let it go.

Here we go, binding & I think I held my breath the whole time. I know again once I do this more - the more comfortable I will be so I gave myself a break and kept on stitching with the help of Elise's step by step. 

It all started coming together & looking like a table runner - I was so so pleased I didn't screw this up.

That was it, it was FINISHED - I did it all the way, It's not perfect but I made it and I couldn't be happier with it and myself for following through.

I made a comment to my Husband Tyler when he got home work and I said "oh do you like my new table runner I bought from pottery barn"? He got up looked at it - "It was only $100.00" I added. Then I bursted out laughing "um NO dear I made it 100% mine - I did it"! He said "how did you make it"? I proudly said My sewing machine - duh. 

So all in all I love it - I'm hooked, I will make more & keep at that binding. Thanks for reading my little sewing adventures! Thanks to a great mentor for her ecourse you can find here.

 

 

 

 
 

 

Project Life | Week 26.

Hello Project life week 26 & the end of album number one. This week I added in some brushscripted cards that I made a few months ago. I also made the custom pockets from Design D.

I closed up the 6x4 slots and made more 4x3 pockets ... I am hooked on sewing on pockets! This week I also used Sunshine edition and some wood veneers from studio calico. 

Left hand side of this full page view is Design F with a closed up pocket to fit 12 3x4 spaces. I trimmed down the sunshine edition title card to also fit 3x4. 

Full view of Right hand side. That veneer "june" is from my Studio Calico kit called "hello hello". 

Adding in some journaling on the half & half cards and sewn them up the middle. 

 

Yes to making our way through another long winter and to celebrate summer & getting to the documenting part our life. This is still a favorite way to keep record + document still after four years I am loving this project! I am not yet sure how I will approach next years style in terms of kits and albums ... my 6x8 cookbook I was working on has taken a backseat and I would love to focus on that for a while too.

I am very grateful for Becky Higgins in creating this style of how we can document our lives & I am loving the oppourtunity to be sharing along on the Creative team. 

For more information on Project life check out Becky's site. Thanks for reading !!

Let the sewing Adventures begin ...

As a gift for my birthday I received an awesome new Singer Sewing Machine on Friday. I was more than Thrilled to get this gift thanks to Tyler, the kids & to my In-laws. Sewing has been a long time adventure I wanted to attempt (only attempting a little in the past years with borrowed machines) But this is it, I have my own machine now and I am ready. 

I bought a few books and watched many many online videos on youtube, I did my homework before the purchasing of this gift. I rushed to open it and get at it ... I pretty much had lock out the world this weekend except for datenight and baking all day Saturday, but my mind was all on that machine I was hooked just to sit and read and look and make bobbins until I was content with the know how. I threaded my machine and undid it and threaded it again  just to know that I CAN do this. It is very helpful that this machine has the threading diagram on the machine! 

Oh man this is going to be fun! I think last time I tried sewing I was too impatient about the whole process, this time I am allowing myself to learn and to figure out and to make a mistake & fix it. 

I have a bundle of books and online sources to help now verses five years ago so that is huge, knowing if I get stuck youtube it. I also have help from my mom on facetime if needed. In April I signed up for an ecourse by Elise Cripe knowing that my gift was on it's way, I better learn the how to's before hand. I also love watching Lotta Jansdotters videos and reading her blog.  

The first project I tried after a few practise stitches was the coaster from Lotta Jansdotters video found here. It was a simple start just cut rows of fabric and stitch together.

Oh technology is so awesome, watching lotta's vid while stitching feels like she is there in the room teaching me. So Awesome. 

I am loving Elise's ecourse too and I am so so new at this that I am going to do a few more practise stitches like the one above before attempting to do the assignments in her ecourse. I am in the right direction and it feels good so far & this is so so addicting!! 

I am hoping to carry on some family traditions on my Dad's side as his grandmother made all the blankets for the families and being in the freezing cold country in winter time it was much much appreciated to have one of Baba's quilts. 

Let the sewing adventures begin!!! Any sewing advice is welcomed thanks.