As part of my goal to stay on track and finish projects last year, I joined the 2016 Quarter Four Finish-A-Long Group.  The FAL was great motivation to finish projects, and I was relatively successful.  The Finish-A-Long was such a success for me, I decided to participate again this year.  If you are interested in catching up on my entire year (so far), read my posts for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2.

The Basics of the FAL

The FAL is a low pressure community event that allows you to make a list of projects that have already been started but not finished and thus are hanging about in your sewing room as UFOs. The list is linked up at the beginning of a quarter and then at the end of the quarter you link up a link for each item on your list that you finished. Each link is an entry into the random draw for great prizes sponsored by our generous sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing something on your list.

I was feeling really discouraged because I didn’t feel like I accomplished many items on my list from Quarter Two, but then I realized I actually got sixteen finished (!!!), and most of them where while I was still non-weight bearing following knee surgery.  The first 10 finishes were all part of one larger project – the girls’ dresses for my daughter’s senior class for their May Day Celebration.  The other six finishes were all Patterns for Pirates shirts I made myself and posted on my Instagram.

2017 Quarter Three Finish-A-Long Projects:

1.  Dress Up This Town Blog Tour Dress

I am really excited to participate in this blog tour!  Todd and I rarely do anything that requires us to dress up.  In addition, I am NOT  a dress-wearing girl, so I don’t own very many.  We are attending a Four Course Meal and Wine Pairing event in July, which gives me the perfect excuse to make myself a fancy-ish dress to wear!  I am making the Timeless Tunic from Patterns for Pirates out of this lovely black and turquoise boho Rayon Challis from So Sew English Fabrics.

2.  Christmas in July – Bowl Cozies

Todd’s mom gave me one of these for Christmas one year, and I love it!  Unfortunately, everyone else in our house loves it, too, so I rarely get to use it.  I am going to make several more using this TUTORIAL.  My mom made an offhand comment recently about liking them, so I will make a couple for her and my dad, as well.

3-6.  Tan & Red Floral Maggie

Emma wore one of the Maggie dresses I made for Harley to Harley’s graduation, and really liked the way it fit, so she asked me to make her a couple.  She has chosen these four fabrics.  The pattern I am using is the Maggie Top, Tunic, & Dress by Bella Sunshine Designs.

7 & 8.  Mom and Dad’s Happy Camper Tees

My parents go camping with their fur-baby, Tillie, nearly every weekend in the summer.  My mom paddles around on her inflatable kayak, and my dad spends a lot of time fly-fishing in his float tube.  They have a nice little trailer that is perfect for their adventures in the mountains, so I am making each of them a shirt with this panel.  My dad’s shirt will be made from the Patterns for Pirates Men’s Henley, and I will use the P4P Sweet Tee for my mom.

9.  “I Make Pretty Things” SFR

I have this iron on from Katy at Thread & Grain, and I think it is a perfect match for my sewing machine fabric from So Sew English Fabrics. The charcoal DBP is going to be the body and the sewing machines as the sleeves and bands on a Patterns for Pirates Slim Fit Raglan.

10.  Siren Swim Top

The Patterns for Pirates Siren Swim Top is adorable, and I am in need of a better fitting, more supportive swim suit.  I am actually making two of these since I have never made this pattern before.  This is my practice fabric.

11.  Bahama Mama Boy Shorts

I am going to pair these Bahama Mama Boy Shorts from Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop with the Siren Swim Top I make.

12.  Denim Quilt

Now that our crazy busy spring is over, I am hoping to get started piecing this quilt.  All the pieces are cut and squared, so it is just a matter of piecing them together.

13.  Sewing Machine Cover

Last fall my sewing machine quit working.  I frantically tried everything I could to get it working again, including cleaning.  I do clean it regularly, but it was still very dusty and covered in lint.  This is how I store it the majority of the time because I use it constantly.  I have decided that it needs a cover for when I am not putting it away completely.  I am going to use this pattern and tutorial from Bloom and Blossom.

14.  LARP: Breeches – Amy

Normally, I wear leggings with my costumes at camp, but I struggle with them staying up and not falling down.  I want to make myself a pair of breeches out of this pretty brown velvet for our next camp.

15-16.  LARP: Gold Blouse & Brocade Doublet – Amy

To go with my new breeches, I must have a new shirt, of course!  I am making it using the gold satin, and I am using the brocade to make a doublet/vest to wear over the blouse and breeches.

17.  LARP: Long Velvet Cloak – Amy

I found this lovely blue crushed velvet on clearance at Joann’s, and I decided I needed a floor length or longer cloak for LARP!  I can’t wait to get it put together!

18.  LARP: Mana Counter – Amy

I don’t have a pattern for this because it doesn’t require one.  In our LARP, magical energy is measured in “mana”, and each caster has a certain amount of mana they can use before having to rest or “refuel”.  In order to keep track of how much mana we use, we wear beaded strings that allow us to move beads one at a time to the “used” end; they’re built much like a golf stroke counter.  I have the beads already, I just need to get them strung before our next camp.

19.  LARP: Spell Packets – Amy

Similar to the Mana Counter, I don’t have a pattern for Spell Packets.  However, they are made using 8″x8″ squares and birdseed, so they don’t require a pattern, either.

20.  LARP: Blue Brocade Doublet – Todd

Todd has been wanting a new doublet for his LARP character, Lazero, for a while, but he was very specific about what kind of fabric he wanted (real woven brocade, not printed), and I finally found some.  His character is also a bit eccentric, so the mirror squares are going to be the doublet lining.

21.  LARP: Wizard Hat – Todd

I am making this hat out of a thicker upholstery suede so it can be shaped, but I can’t get to the fabric currently to get a picture. Oops.

22.  LARP: Spell Packets – Todd

Todd and I have both increased the number of spells/arrows we are able to throw, so we both need more spell packets.

What are your sewing goals this quarter?

Amy

Nature Girl. Mom. Wife. Friend. Photographer. Sewer. Crafter. Artist.

To borrow a phrase – “Yeet Ye Riche”