Sweater Hack!

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Sweater Hack!

If you know anything about my sewing style,

you know that I love a great pattern hack! 

This time I hacked Butterick 6244! I found a medium weight navy sweater knit at Joann's a few weeks before I went to the Houston International Quilt Festival last month.  Due to the changing weather in Chicago, I knew I needed something warm to wear while traveling - and I did not want to lug a full coat!

I was looking for denim for a totally different garment!  But when I saw this fabric, I forgot about the denim, because I knew this sweater knit would be perfect for transitioning from the Chicago cold to the cold aircraft to Houston (which was not as warm as it was last year).  The waterfall front was perfect for wrapping myself in this warm knit!

The pattern is designed to be longer in the front than in the back (a look I don't like for myself).  Sew... I reversed it and made the back longer and made it curved it vs. leaving it straight.  I love the resulting feminine look of the back!

I also hacked the waterfall shape of the front - I wanted soft edges vs sharp angles! I jokingly told the ladies in my FaceBook Group that I did 8000 fittings.  It certainly felt like that, but I am more than happy with the front shaping!

Now that all the fittings are done - I now have a new pattern that I can make again.  Oh yes, I make and keep copies of most of my hacks!

I completed most of the construction on my serger.  I set my differential feed to 2.0 for the entire construction.  Even though my current compulsion is bias binding finishes, I finished the edges on the serger by decreasing the stitch length - that gave the edges full coverage.  I opted to turn the sleeves up 3/4" and top-stitched them.

I think this is a very versatile piece! It can be dressed up or down!  And it is now one of my staple pieces! I received quite a few compliments in both the O'hare and Houston Airports! A Supervisor at the Houston Airport has actually commissioned me to make one for her!

A young design student in the Houston airport asked me to take it off so she could see the inside...I happily obliged!  She REALLY examined it!  I enjoyed watching her turn it inside and out and back inside again.  The entire time she was examining it, I could not help but think of what I often say to my students and other sewists...our me-made garments need to look as good on the inside as they do on the outside!

 Are you making cardigans or dusters this season?  My next Online Sewing Course will be a cardigan - which can be lengthened to a duster...with pockets! It will be available this month.  You can purchase the stand alone course or you can opt to purchase the 6 month membership, which includes all 6 courses regardless of when you join!

My classes include bonus videos for those who purchase the membership program.  This month the bonus videos will be about pockets...with a free pattern!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Fun at the Houston International Quilt Festival - 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase from these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Fun at the Houston International Quilt Festival - 2018

I had a blast working with Reen from Embroidery Garden at the Houston International Quilt Festival last week! We were easily found under the AllBrands and Brother "umbrellas"!

This was the 2nd year that Reen invited me to work with her at the fest!

 And this is the 2nd year we had a blast!

I spent a lot of time working on the Brother Dream Machine 2.  I learned a lot and created and stitched out a ton of designs, thanks to Reen! Below are just a few that I designed and stitched!

Reen taught many classes on the Design Center of the new top of the line machine...
The Luminaire Innov-is XP

We were next to Brent Taylor from Durkee Hoops, and Mike John's of Mama's Boy booths again this year! We also were neighbors with Scott from Hot Fix Fabrics They were all fun neighbors!  

Look at the size of that Durkee hoop!

Angela Wolf was also there! It is always great to see her!

  

I got to spend some snippets of time with many, many people...The talented Earlene Stalks and Barbara Douthat Chatelain were just two of many!

I had the pleasure of running into and meeting Vivian Varble of @_stitchesandseams_who I knew of from the weekly sewing show, "That Sewing Blab".  She is a fun, sweet sewist!

Everyone had fun!  Look at all the great smiles!

I got to see Sonja again this year! Sew fun!

Reen taught this young lady how to design and make her own luggage tag by using the Design Center on the Dream Machine 2 in just a few short minutes!  That smile says it all!

I've known Karen Pharr for many years, but we only get to see each other at sewing events! I was thrilled to see her!

Views from above!
The event was on the 1st floor of the convention center.  These photos were taken from the 2nd floor!  I think they give you an idea of the expanse of the space!  You definitely need a good pair of walking shoes!

Reen made Angela a "fish" Christmas Stocking! How adorable!

Wow! Check out Reen's blinged out Event Badge Pouches these ladies made!  Sew Creative!

And what would the Quilt Festival be without antics!
This was my runway walk! HAHAHA!

 More Antics!

Massages!  Ahhh!

 I wish we'd done this on the last day of show!

  We had a blast, but we were tired!

I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of the 
Houston International Quilt Festival!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Houston International Quilt Fest

Oh what a blast I had at HQF!

I had the opportunity to work with Reen Wilcoxson from Embroidery Garden at her booth for all 5 days of the Festival! Molly Madison was with us as well. She is the designer of the her wonderful Artisan Apron and the beautiful SVG cut files for Reen's cork front Zipper Bags.

We arrived on Nov 1 and set up in preparation of the 1st night. 

Molly made matching Cork Front Zipper Bags for us! 😄

The week was a great experience!  I met a few people from my Facebook Group. And of course Reen met a ton of members of her group and saw others that she'd previously met in some of her classes.

The week was a great experience!  I met a few people from my Facebook Sewing Group. And of course Reen met a ton of members of her Facebook In the Hoop group and saw others that she'd previously met in some of her classes. 

It was a blast working with the AllBrands and Brother Teams!  We actually got John from Allbrands to pose wearing Reens' Cross Bag! He is such a good sport! 😊

Reen, Molly and I reconnected with several "Sewing Stars" we already knew.

 And met a lot of other "Stars" and a ton of vendors! Such fun!

 

 Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilts 

Angela Wolf

Brett and Mike from Durkee Hoops

Mike from Durkee Hoops and Mama's Boy Design

 

Cindy Hogan from Cynthia's Embroidery

Reen taught classes twice each day on the "Brother Stage"!  She is such a great teacher! Many people were intrigued by the In the Hoop process and this was a great opportunity for them to see it first hand.

That's all for part 1 of our HQF adventures! Watch for part 2 - shopping, quilts and just plain fun!

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