Tuesday, June 11, 2013

And Now for Something Completely Different!

I have been really busy with my dressmaking and have made a number of lovely skirts and trousers as well as (almost) finished a blouse/top that just needs buttons and buttonholes.  Unfortunately, due to work schedules, Mr. SDSC and I haven't managed to get it together for a photo shoot, and my other photographer, the 'Old Folk' (my father), has taken himself off for a one month 'European Tour' (well, the UK and Tenerife!), as that leaves me somewhat high and dry, I decided to sew something that I could photograph myself!

I totally copied was inspired by Svetlana's patchwork place-mats and knew that I had to sew me some of them!  The fabric I bought about 8 years ago when we first moved to Canada.  I spent about 6 months working in a quilting shop and built up a rather impressive collection of quilting fabric - including this:


The fabrics were purchased for a quilt top (the pattern is somewhere safe!) and I really need to start using up all the lovely fabric in my stash instead of 'saving it for something special' - because everything we sew is special, right?

It took me quite some time to get my head around purchasing fabric in the $15-$20/m range, cutting it up into small pieces to then sew it up again into something larger (although it does sound like dressmaking doesn't it!!), but I persevered and overcame, and I do like making small quilted items.  I really like the precision aspect - using my 1/4" foot on my machine, straight stitching only, lots of pressing and trimming, it satisfies the OCD streak in me!  I made 6 place-mats, two in each design using the dimensions that Svetlana mentioned in her tutorial.  And I love them!  I kept the quilting simple - 2" (approximately!!!) squares with a hand-stitched border.  I did try a machined border but I wasn't too keen on the look.



I backed the place-mats with rectangles cut from some Ikea pillow cases.  I use Ikea duvet covers and the cheap duvets as dog beds, but have a surplus of pillow cases!


And guess what?  Svetlana has added another post with more place-mats . . . oh well, I wanted some in Christmas fabric as well, the temptress!!!
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10 comments :

  1. SvetlanaJune 11, 2013 at 8:56 PM

    oh, these look so very lovely :)

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    1. twotoastJune 13, 2013 at 9:15 PM

      Thanks to you! I am quite the stalker of your blog, so expect to see more :)

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJune 11, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    Cute!

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  3. The HojnackesJune 11, 2013 at 10:40 PM

    Very nice!

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    1. twotoastJune 13, 2013 at 9:20 PM

      Thanks - it was fun to work on a smaller project - even though they took up waaaay more time!

      Delete
  4. AnnJune 12, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    Very nice placements. I do like the pattern very much.

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    Replies
    1. twotoastJune 13, 2013 at 9:18 PM

      Thanks, the fabric is Native themed and was one of my first attempts at matching fabrics from different ranges. I spent 6 months working in a quilting shop and learned so much about colour/hue/shade etc.

      Delete
  5. The Slapdash SewistJune 13, 2013 at 8:44 AM

    " I really need to start using up all the lovely fabric in my stash instead of 'saving it for something special' - because everything we sew is special, right?"

    This is a great philosophy! The placements came out beautifully. I am highly impressed with their precision and hand-stitched borders.

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  6. AnonymousJune 30, 2013 at 11:52 PM

    Gorgeous placemats!

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