Quilt Math Question

Is there any easy way to calculate the yardage needed to make a quilt?  I'm really struggling with it...

I was asked by one of Hubby's co-workers to design a quilt based on a photo she found online.  The problem with the photo was that

1. It did not have a link back to the original post or to a pattern (or any information at all for that matter)
2. The quilt pictured was rectangular and she was needing a full size quilt

I managed to put together a pattern using QuiltAssistant but am stuck on how to figure out how much fabric to tell her to get.  The program has a yardage calculator but I believe it calculates it assuming that I will be piecing all of these tiny squares together instead of them being one large chunk.  Removing the grids is possible but has to be done manually, one tiny square at a time, and I don't have the time or patience for it.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions!!!

Big City Bags SAL-The August Edition

It is once again time to go over the "rules" for this month's Big City Bags Sew Along.

I declared that August is a special month in the Sew Along.  By that I mean that you can link up both the Lucky Mint Denver Bag AND the Chandelier Swing Bag.  And I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it but you CAN link up more than one version of a bag as long as they are both made during the correct month for the sew along (I'll add that to the rules below).

 

(Photos used with permission of Martingale Publishing.  Photograph by Brent Kane.)

Just in case there are any new participants this month I will leave you with a reminder of the rules:

• We will be sewing the books in the order they are in the book.  Only the bag for that specific month will be eligible for the link up.
• The bag must be complete to qualify for prizes.
• On the first of every month I will announce a new project and prize. 
• You will have from August 25, 2014 until midnight on August 31, 2014 CST to link up your project for a chance to win that month's prize.
• You can link up more than one bag a month as long as they were both made during the corresponding month
• Join the Flickr group to see all the projects that have been made. 

This month's prize is courtesy of Blossom Heart Quilts.  Alyce runs a monthly Japanese FQ Club and she has offered up one of her monthly bundles to the winner.  And wouldn't you know August's color is pink (my favorite!!).  In addition to some super cute fabrics, she also has a couple of great quilt patterns for sale!

 

 Our Generous sponsors:

Fat Quarter Shop

Pink Chalk Fabrics

Pattern Crush

ByAnnie's Soft & Stable

LimaSews

A Material Girl Quilts

Cluck Cluck Sew

Happy Quilting

Blossom Heart Quilts

Sew Me A Song

Coats & Clark

Martingale  

 

And a special offer from zipit:  15% off of all orders for those sewing along

Use code sewingwithsqueak at checkout to apply the discount

Who knows, maybe this month I'll have a bit of spare time and be able to whip up a bag to show off!!

Three Lucky Ladies

This month's prize package worked out just perfectly!  There was no need for a Random Number Generator because Happy Quilting offered up three patterns to THREE different ladies and that's exactly how many linked up this month.

So congratulations to CeLynn, Betsy, & Judy!  I've put up a photo of each of their finishes but click on their names to read all about their experience with this patter.  I will be sending your e-mail addresses to Melissa and then you can claim your prizes :).

 

CeLynn made a gorgeous Lucky Denver Mint Bag.

 

Betsy made this great version

 

 and last but not least is Judy's amazing purse!

Thank you ladies for sewing along and I can't wait to see your entries for next month!!

Dora Art Caddy

Lately it seems like we've had a birthday every weekend.  The first one I didn't plan enough in advance to be able to make anything for the little guy but I managed to find some Dora the Explorer fabric at JoAnn's last week in time to put together this fun Art Caddy.  I was told that Dora, Barbie, and the Little Mermaid were favorites so I'm hoping she likes it!

In the future I may line the pockets on these caddies.  I know it takes more fabric and therefore more money to make but I think it would be sturdier and actually take less time to construct since I wouldn't have to press all of the seams under...just a thought :)

 

The pattern is one I bought on Etsy a long time ago.  It has been used once before, again as a birthday present.  I simply fill it with markers, colored pencils, crayons, a glue stick, safety scissors, a ruler and a coloring book when it's done.

One have one more birthday party (this weekend) and I've got another art caddy in mind for this birthday girl as well.  I ordered some Doc McStuffins fabric and am ready to start cutting it out...

Squeak may have gotten some Bubble Guppies fabric as well so be on the lookout for some great pants!

It's Been Awhile

But I actually took pictures of some of my WIPs this week!!  And there's no link up due to summer vacation, lol.  Figures ;)

I've actually made a little bit of progress on this since the photo was taken.  And yes, I did fix the piece on the bottom row that is turned the wrong way.  Thank you to the person on Instagram that noticed!

I know the deadline is past and it wouldn't qualify anyway since I used Moda Grunge for the background but at least I can say I gave it a shot :)

  And the most important WIP of the moment is this small quilt.  It is a custom order from a repeat customer.  I have made two quilts for her before and she LOVES Amy Butler.  These are the leftovers from the last quilt I made her and she requested a small blanket for her daughter to take to preschool this year.  We decided to skip the batting and back it with a soft flannel instead.  Should be a breeze to finish (knock on wood) since I managed to get all of the pieces cut to the proper size this morning.

There is of course another neverending pile of WIPs in my sewing room but for now I'll concentrate on these :) 

Tank Dress #2 In Action

Just as a disclaimer I need to let you know that I really thought this dress was more flattering on me.  I actually wore it to work and felt pretty good in it.  Then I saw the photos...

For my first version I made the straight dress without any elastic or shirring.  Paired with a cardigan and belt it is a great fit.

I learned a lot from my previous experience with this pattern and decided to do a couple of things differently:

• follow the instructions (except for one modification)
• use a fabric that I am familiar with

We'll start with my favorite photo of the bunch.  Of course the kids weren't cooperating but when do they ever?!  I actually like the dress in this photo, btw.

I will admit that I wasn't crazy about this fabric but it was such a great price that I couldn't pass it up.  NOW I love the fabric just not the way the dress lays on my body.  Sorry for the wrinkles I had been at work for 8 hours before we went to the park.  Fair warning, I have quite a bit of the fabric left so you may see it again in the future.

Caroline's method for finishing the neck and arms on this dress is brilliant!!  I plan to use it whenever possible in the future.  It takes an extra step, therefore a little extra time, but the finish is so wonderful that it's worth it.  The one place that I deviated from the pattern on this was that I got it in my head that a drawstring would be really cute.  I was wrong!  The original pattern has the option of elastic enclosed in casing or shirring (both of which are on the backside only).  I will definitely make this dress again using that method.  Third time is the charm right?!  In the pictures I have the drawstring as tight as it will go and still managed to get no shape.  I can't take in the side seams without having to take out the drawstring.  And let's be realistic--I'm WAY too lazy for that!!  So for now I will wear it like this (maybe with a cardigan, I love me a cardigan :P) and try again next time.

One more shot of the kids :)

Sometime We Just Need to Laugh at Ourselves

At least I hope that's what I was doing in these photos...

This is my first Tank Dress.  I used a horribly slippery, fraying mess of a fabric that I bought on clearance at JoAnns.

This dress has many, many issues of my own making...but I love it none the less!

I've admitted in the past that I am horrible about following directions and this was no exception which probably explains why I had so many issues.  Instead of using the method included in the instructions for finishing the neckline and armholes I simply turned the fabric under by a 1/2" and top stitched it down.  This would account for the wonky neckline and the facing that will not stay down.

After a frustrating attempt to create a hemline using an iron I resorted to hem tape.  Now if the hemline was straight it may have actually turned out ok...but due to the curves I ended up with a stiff, wrinkly, puckered mess.

And my third and final issue--the pockets.  While I love the convenience of having pockets I think I will leave them out of my dresses in the future.  They just never seem to lay properly on my hips.  Always puckering and bunching up in a place that I definitely do not need extra bulk.

All in all my verdict is that the pattern is great.  I absolutely love the way that the neckline and armholes are finished (if you actually follow the pattern, which I will in my next post) and will use this method on nearly every woven garment I make in the future.  And despite all of the issues with this dress I still wear it in public and love the shape and brightness of the fabric.

See my post tomorrow for my thoughts on my second version of this dress :)