Back to school

Well, not really.

After destashing some fabric on etsy (there's still some available, if you're interested!), I decided to sign up for the Summer Dresses course taught by Whipstitch. I've been making more garments lately, and felt the class would help me improve my garment-making skills. The biggest problem I face (and I'm sure I"m not alone in this) is fit. It's easy enough to follow a pattern, but catering a dress pattern to your body, accentuating you features, etc. is challenging.

Over the summer, I'll share progress from the class.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of the fabrics I might use for the class.

I just recently purchased these two knits from Drygoods Design. I am especially in love with the one on the right. I'm picturing a tank dress (or possibly a sleeveless one) and maybe some shirring?

I also hope to use this new Anna Maria Horner linen blend (purchased from Pink Castle), but I'm not sure which dress I'll make. Before washing, this fabric is a little stiff, but I imagine it will soften up after washing.

I've also got a pretty substantial stash of voile, mostly purchased on sale (luckily).
I won't use all of this for the class patterns, but hopefully, I'll make a dent.

And two large cuts of quilting cotton. The left print has been in the stash for EONS. I originally bought it for a skirt, but think it's much better suited for a dress. The right print is from that recent Sew Fine Fabric gift certificate.

I've got a few other fabrics that might come into play, but by the end of the summer, I hope I have a lovely handmade wardrobe!

Try, try again

I don't think I've mentioned that I signed up for Rachel's Handstitched class. I hemmed and hawed about it, partially because I have so many things to finish (and to start), and I wasn't sure if I "needed" a class like this. I talked to E about it, and he encouraged me to do it.
I realized there are many topics covered in the course that I have little or no experience with, and knew this would be a focused way to acquire those skills.
I knew I would learn these skills SOMEDAY, but Rachel's class will help me learn them NOW.
Signing up has already given me new tools and confidence when approaching a hand sewing project. I'm so glad I joined.
Not to mention, the Modern Medallion quilt. Ooh, such a beauty! Yes, out of all of the projects Rachel shared sneak peeks of, THIS project pushed me over the edge.
Fabrics have been selected for my MM version: I completed my center block this week, but I was not satisfied with my work. With little applique experience, I dove in, completing the block in one evening. Since this will be the centerpiece of the quilt, I decided that I would take the things I learned from the first to make an improved second block.

Block attempt #1

I used too much starch on the edges, my stitches are not very even, my inner corners are messy, there are puckers (I bet partially due to too much starch) and to top it off, I trimmed the block too much.

I'm not this picky about small mistakes typically, but as I said, this will be the centerpiece, and I knew I could make a better block based on the experience. I've already started it, and I'm much happier with it so far. There was not another large piece of that lovely HTF Amy Butler Coriander in the stash, so I'm using an Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party for the replacement.

Don't worry about the fate of this block; I see a pillow or mini in my future!

I plan to share other projects from Rachel's class throughout the summer.

In other quilting news, I'll have a fun finish to share very, very soon!