What ho, readers all! I don’t know that I’ve ever mentioned that I sew before, but I do (though on a very amateur level). I do quite a lot of hand-sewing, at any rate. I haven’t done very much machine-sewing. You see, a sewing-machine requires a lot of flat surface area to put it on, and it’s also harder to use it while watching a movie if you don’t want to accidentally maim yourself (which I don’t).
In any case, I thought that perhaps it would be diverting to you all to take a look at my current sewing project, which I have been working on for some time. It’s a blanket. I’ve been calling it my quilt, but it’s actually not a quilt at all. It would be more accurate to call it a patchwork blanket (hence the title of the post), though I don’t know that it’s technically that either.
You see, the idea of this blanket was to use up all the fabric scraps, worn-out clothes, &c. which there really isn’t any other good use for. I am a notorious cheapskate, and the idea of using scraps which there was no use for otherwise to make something I could actually use (I had even been wanting a light-ish blanket, so it’s not like there’d be no use for this thing) tickled my fancy mightily.
Also, it’s just fun to look at it and pick out that oh, this is from one of my dad’s old ties, and this was left over from the lining of that cloak that Noddy made, and this is from that bedsheet that got threadbare and ripped, and this is from that nightgown that I tried to turn into a shirt but has such an obvious nightgown-pattern that I couldn’t wear it.
The “pattern” of sorts that I’m using for this is as simple as they come. I cut the fabric into squares – I have a little rectangle of paper which I’m using as a pattern for that – sew in the raw edges, then sew ’em together. That’s it.
I’m currently sewing each row of squares separately, then sewing that row onto the main blanket. I was winging things more earlier on in the project…which you may well have already noticed if you sew yourself. To be frank, I cut corners most atrociously. That did lead to some messiness and some Issues. like one row being about an inch wide, for instance…
…but that will just add to its character, right?
What’s your latest craft project? Do you prefer sewing by hand or machine?
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Ooh, Lizzie!! I didn’t know you sewed too! Which, I guess, you did just say you’d never really mentioned, but still😜 That’s awesome!
I love hand-sewing too, though I don’t do very much of it these days…. And I was looking at the pictures, trying to figure out how you had done it, and then the final row made it make such sense, I ought to have looked there first😂 I’ve never seen this technique before, although it does eliminate the need for a backing, looks like…. That’s smart! Your poor fingers while you were sewing that jean block, though…. I hope you had a thimble??
Isn’t it so much fun?? Almost like looking at a photo album, there’s a story in each piece….
It’s funny that you should post this now, I’ve been getting ready to finish handquilting a blanket I did years ago, (so many scraps from my old dresses in it) and it has the same kind of story in at as yours, learning-as-we-go (; It really does add character…. Lets you kind of look back fondly and see how far you’ve come….
And I give up on reasonable length comments😆
Heh, I’m making this thing up as I go along, so it’s no wonder you haven’t seen the technique before! That’s right, I’m not doing a backing…it would probably be ideal if I did, but it doesn’t need it, and I do want the blanket to be lightweight. (I actually didn’t use a thimble…but I did at some points press the end of the needle against hard surfaces instead of just using my own force, heh. My fingers are pretty unscathed ;))
Exactly! Ooh, how fun that you’re finishing your blanket too! I’m sure it looks better than mine does xD Obviously, I take it that you sew too; how long have you been sewing?
Ooh, I’ve done that😜 Also pliers, when things are extremely stubborn.
Ehhh, it’s different, being freestyle rows of blocks, but really approximately the same skill level😂 It was begun at a time when my loathing for the sewing machine was at an all time high, sad to say…. Although now that it is complete but for 2/3 of the quilting, I’m starting to like the look of it (;
I do! It’s a Kent family tradition (:
I believe I was about 7-9 when I was first showed how to thread a sewing machine, and I proceeded to be grand enemies with it up until the past year or so…. (I do enjoy it now😜) And as for hand sewing, I fell in love with it whilst busily despising that poor sewing machine!
That sounds like it would look very cool! Maybe you can send me a picture when you’re done? 😀
Oh dear, so you and the sewing machine had an enemies-to-friends sort of relationship? ;P I’ve probably been sewing for around that long too…although I didn’t really seriously try to use the machine until a few years ago. While I don’t loathe it with the fervor that Younger Emi did, I just don’t find myself using it that much. I really should make an effort to use it more!
I love making worn-out-clothes quilts! Although I usually will use a machine to sew them, and quilt mine, with padding and backing and everything–not always, though. They still look quite cobbled together, though, and that’s the way I like them. 🙂 I don’t have the patience to hand sew something that big!
I love the look of yours! It’s always fun to make something like that, where there are memories in the fabric patterns!
Ah, those sound really lovely! Do you keep them, or sell them/give them away? Heh, it’s definitely less efficient to sew them by hand…I just personally find it much more enjoyable. I’m sure I would enjoy using the machine more if I did it more often; I should make a point of using it more!
Isn’t it fun? Such a cool trip down memory lane. <3
Oh, how sweet! Thrifty and full of stories . . . What could be better?
I’m afraid I don’t do much sewing. I had Ambitions, but then our machine broke. Ambition fled. I have not seen it since. 😛
Though, I am about to undertake a hand-sewing project: sewing pointe shoes. Which is more like a nightmare XD
Oh dear. That is tragic. (But your wording of it also amused me a little, I must confess :P)
Oh my, that does sound like rather an intense project! 😬 I hope you have a good, clear pattern to work from?
This is so neat, Lizzie! I like to sew, too! But not nearly as much as when there was a need for more doll clothes. lol
I think I prefer sewing machine, but hand sewn things are so much more authentic feeling.
🙂
Hehe, I definitely understand that! The vast majority of my earlier sewing projects were doll-related. xD
That’s true, too! And it’s such a cool feeling to look at a finished product that you sewed by hand and be proud of all the work you put into it. But sewing by machine definitely has its benefits too; it’s certainly a more efficient and neater option, especially for bigger projects!
Yeah, for things sewn just for me, I think I do prefer by hand. Things for other people are done with a sewing machine. 🙂
That’s probably a good way to sum up my feelings about the two techniques. 😀
That sounds like a good system! You get the neatness and efficiency for other people, but can still enjoy the ✨aesthetics✨ for your own projects. 😀