• Size: Each panel is about 46 inches x 61 inches (excluding tabs)
• Fabric: 100% cotton; variety of brands and colors
• Pattern: 12 blocks are from one of these books: Quilter's Mix and Match Blocks: A Comprehensive Handbook 2004 and 365 Quilt Blocks a Year (Pertetual Calendar) 1999
• Backing: Cut from a set of sheets we replaced recently
• Date: start July 13; finish December 20

Here they are! My Quilt Block Curtains for the craft room! Today I bought a thicker and better quality curtain rod. The rod in the photos is slightly bent from the weight of the curtains and moves when the curtains are opened or closed!

The stained glass look was a pleasant surprise!

The curtains have a backing cut from the set of sheets we replaced recently when I bought new sheets.

Size: XL
Fabric: Cats flannel (colors: white, browns, greys, golds, pink)
Pattern: Simplicity 9330 - Size A - Top C
Date: start August 13; finish August 27

I finished my first wearable sewing project! A sleep shirt in a soft kitty print. I wore it yesterday afternoon and evening and slept in it - it's very comfortable!

Fabric: Atlantis Fabric Shower Curtain by At Home with Meijer

The curtains for the bathroom window were started June 3 and finished June 4. Easy, peasy. I made the valance from the top of the shower curtain and the bottom panels from the bottom of the shower curtain.

I'm not entirely pleased with them: The valance is too long, the bottom too short. The hem on the valance is too long (about 3 inches), the hem on the bottom is the one that the shower curtain came with (about 3/4 inch). If I was more industrious, I could make the valance shorter and that may help the bottom panels not look as short.

Many moons ago on eBay (at least over a year!), I bought a green-toned shower curtain with patchwork turtles (and dolphins, crabs, and sea horses) (Atlantis Fabric Shower Curtain by At Home with Meijer) that I fell in love with! Shortly afterward, I decided to buy a second one in the same pattern that I could use to make curtains for the bathroom window. I think I'm ready to begin that project - maybe even this weekend! Rectangles with a pocket for the curtain rod are easy!

[June 16, 2006] View the finished bathroom window curtains.

I'm still deciding what the next step should be for the Keepsake Kitty Wall Hanging. The top is pieced, the backing is cut.

Do I want to use batting and practice quilting (which I'm still trying to figure out how exactly to do - and need a darning foot first)? Or do I just want to finish the project by adding a border on the edges of the front and back and calling my first pieced project "done"? I'm leaning toward getting it done since I'm itching to start something else and don't like unfinished projects hanging around!

But first, I need to figure out how to applique the kitty's tail! Hand sewing it did not turn out well since I didn't allow for a finished edge. I want to machine sew it on but don't know if it can be done without a darning foot. I've tried the darning plate that came with the sewing machine, but I cannot move the fabric with the general purpose foot down and the fabric is way too free with the foot up. (Again, a basic sewing or quilting class would probably be helpful!)

My piecing skills definitely need practice as evidenced by not-so-pointed corners for the corner squares! It would be helpful to know exactly where the 1/4 inch mark is on my sewing machine...

Size: about 34 inches x 58 inches (fits board 24 x 48)
Pattern: My own
Date: May 2006

I love the fabric of the cover I made for the fabric cutting board Bill made for me! I finished the cover last weekend after a few struggles with the casing for the elastic. My first attempt was too narrow, then I needed more fabric, then I made it too narrow again (!) but made it work by using a finished edge on only one side of the casing. The idea was to make a cover that tucks under the cutting board like an ironing board cover fits on an ironing board. It works!

The top fabric is the lovely dark purple / dark green / dark blue / maroon / red tropical print, the bottom is a dark purple, and the center is polyester quilt batting. I did very simple quilting of the "sandwich" by running 2 parallel lines in one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine lengthwise down the 2 dark purple sections you see on the tropical fabric. Then, I ran a few diagonal wavy lines from side to side.

I feel like an addict. A sewing addict. The grey thread I'm using for the Keepsake Kitty quilted wall hanging ran out last night. I stopped at Longs on the way home to pickup a Mother's Day card and grey thread - but there was no grey to be found! Only black, white, navy, and an ugly greenish gold. So I stopped at the corner store...no thread at all. Because we're leaving tomorrow, I don't want to run to a larger store. Bah!

I finally started my first quilting project Sunday afternoon! I bought this Keepsake Kitty Wall Hanging quilting starter kit a few years ago when I first wanted to learn to quilt. It came with a few basics (9x12-inch cutting mat, 4x12-inch acrylic ruler, 45mm rotary cutter, etc.) and a pattern for a small cat wall hanging (available free on the Dritz website). The last photo was taken last night after all pieces were cut and laid out, before I started assembling the pieces.

Size: about 88 inches x 72 inches
Pattern: My own
Date: April 2006

My closet curtains are done! The final 3 panels (2 greens, 1 reds) were finished last Sunday. Here are all 8 panels hanging across the closet opening. I will probably buy a thicker spring-loaded curtain rod since the current one easily pops out if the fabric is pulled even a little. The 8 panels can be arranged in a variety of ways. Purple is my favorite color, so I put the 2 purple panels together for now!

On Saturday morning, I finished the top pocket and bottom hem on the first purples panel. Between Saturday and Sunday, I started and finished the second purples and second yellows panels. 1 reds and 2 greens panels to go then the colorful closet curtains are done!

It took until Thursday night to finish the first panel (yellows). The second (reds) was started and finished today. I'm exhausted from repeatedly standing to iron, bending to measure and cut, sitting and leaning forward to sew, and...

• ironing, measuring, cutting, pinning, sewing, unpinning, ironing strips together
• measuring, marking, folding, ironing, pinning, sewing, unpinning, ironing the left seam
• ditto for right seam
• ironing, measuring, marking, folding and pinning the finished edge, folding, pinning, ironing, sewing, unpinning the bottom seam for the curtain rod pocket
• measuring, marking, folding, pinning, sewing, unpinning, ironing the top seam for the pocket
• measuring, marking, folding, pinning, sewing, unpinning, ironing the bottom hem

Time to sit in with hubby in the living room, crocheting and "watching" TV. I'll probably start another curtain panel tomorrow...6 more to go.

The sewing machine hates me. I know that's kinda strong, but I really think it does. Or, maybe it senses my fear.

Yesterday...

Cut one strip to 14 inches wide by 8 inches long for the top piece of this first panel.

On the very first seam for the pocket, the sewing machine choked when the needle tried to go over a pin. Apparently, the pin was too fat. So, I removed the pin. Then the needle refused to go up and down no matter what I did for about 30 minutes...until I accidentally touched the knob on the wheel, realized it was lose, and tightened it.

Good to go, I thought. No, not yet. The thread broke. And broke. And broke. For another 10 minutes while I threaded and rethreaded after each break. Then, I removed and reinserted the bobbin. Lossened and tightened the knob on the wheel. Removed the needle to check whether there was a sharp edge in the hole (a troubleshooting suggestion in the sewing machine manual) and struggled with putting it back in the right way (correct: flat side to the right). When I tried the troubleshooting suggestion to reset the number of stitches (I closely followed the directions in the manual), it worked. I had missed a step when I originally adjusted that setting (without checking the manual).

One seam finally made for the curtain rod pocket at the top, and the second. Then, a call to Mom to ask "How do I sew 2 pieces together? How do I keep the 1/2-inch seam straight? Iron it first? How?" ... "Put the right sides together, and there's a 1/2-inch mark next to the needle..." ... "Oh." I may need a sewing machine class! She then told me to do the pocket after seaming the left/right sides of the panel (so the pocket isn't sewn closed when the side seams are made). Ooops...I'll deal with that later.

After sewing the second strip to the first strip, I decided I needed better measuring and cutting tools. Any excuse to go to Michaels Craft Store (closer to me than Jo-Ann Fabrics) is a good one.

I brought home: another skein of Patons Devine in Regal Red so I can finish the Flattering Jacket (sweater), a 6x24-inch quilting ruler, a 12x18-inch cutting mat (for the rotary cutter Mom gave me when I wanted to teach myself to quilt), more bobbins (the spares were rusty), long flat-head thin pins, a fabric eraser, fabric scissors (to leave on the ironing board), short scissors for cutting thread (to leave next to the sewing machine). And, I could not resist a fat quarter piece of fabric of colorful kitties (which will be added to the 2 purple themed panels) and a larger piece in a Hawaiian theme (which I may use to make a valance for the craft room window).

At 8:00pm last night, I stopped for the evening. My lower back was (and still is) sore from standing at the ironing board while ironing, measuring, and cutting pieces of fabric. The first panel, a yellow-themed one, is about 3/4 done (pictured above). So far...

After my oldest stepson moved out, I moved my computer from the "den" (now the craft room) to his then-empty former bedroom. Bill took the hanging doors off the closet so I could put in 2 file cabinets (which didn't fit with the doors). It's been about 10-11 years now...

Over the past 1 1/2 years, I've thought about hanging two hand-painted bamboo curtains across the closet opening, but eBay and Google searches didn't yield anything I liked enough.

I got the idea to sew curtains instead from a variety of home design shows on television. The idea stuck, but action is another thing altogether...

Last weekend while organizing the linen closet, I found a set of sheer white panels that we no longer used - so I hung them across the closet opening to get a feel for what it would be like to have something hanging there. I liked the "something" but not the white sheers.

Joann Fabrics' 99¢ sale on fat quarters drew me in this morning. (Fat quarters are pieces of fabric cut to about 18 inches x about 22 inches.) I spent 2 hours picking out 40 different fabric patterns to make 8 patchwork-like panels in 4 color themes (red, yellow/orange/brown, green, purple) to hang at the closet entrance. Instead of combining the 8 panels to make 4 or 2 panels, I'll keep the 8 panels separate so I'll have the option of hanging them a variety of ways. For example:

2 red, 2 yellow, 2 green, 2 purple
• 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green, 2 purple, 1 green, 1 yellow, 1 red
• 2 purple, 1 green, 2 yellow, 1 green, 2 red
• etc.

Of course, making curtains means using the sewing machine again (see first and only machine sewing project so far), which makes me nervous (because I'm a recovering perfectionist who has to overcome possible failure or producing a half-assed product due to not being well-practiced at machine sewing). Way back in September 2003, I was hot to trot about learning to quilt...but haven't done anything more than get quilting books from Mom, buy a few more, and look at the pretty pictures. Someday though...

I've now organized the 4 color themes of 10 fabric patterns into the order I want to use, stacked bags and large plastic containers of yarn against the craft room wall, cleared off and dusting the sewing desk, setup the sewing machine, setup the top of the vertical file cabinet (which stores yarn) as an area I can measure and cut fabric strips, brought the ironing board and iron from the garage (very rarely used in this house) into the craft room, dusted them and setup the iron board.

And, whew, I'm ready to start making the curtains...tomorrow. Tonight, Bill and I are going to watch the latest Netflix arrival: Jarhead. (Any excuse not to use the sewing machine is a good one!)

[April 28, 2006 update] Check out the finished closet curtains.

I installed the curtain rod and hung up my curtains today!

Photos are:

(1) Window with posters taped to the glass.
(2) Window with my new Hawaiian fabric curtains!
(3) Close-up of the curtains.

Size: 4 panels (2 on each side) at 42 inches x 51 inches each.

The area above the curtain rod is larger than the area above the posters so more natural light flows into my office, but not into my eyes when I'm sitting at my desk.

In addition to being a more attractive way to block light, the curtains prevent students from peeking at me - and keep me from being distracted by people moving back and forth across the window and combing their hair or picking their teeth or straightening their clothes... I can also now look outside when I hear something going on in the quad (such as a concert or a fight).

I am so excited! About 30 minutes ago, I finished the Hawaiian fabric curtains for the window in my office at work!!!

Two different patterns, one for each side because (1) two layers of fabric block more light from my migraine-prone eyes, (2) the window looks onto the quad so one pattern will face that area, and (3) I'll have two patterns to switch between in my office if I want to.

Photos above:

(1, 2) Curtains laying flat on the ironing board in our kitchen. My favorite pattern is the turquoise - bright and cheery!
(3, 4) Close-ups of the pocket for the curtain rod. If you look closely, you can see the uneven sewn lines...
(5, 6) Close-ups of how the curtains look on the rod.

When I first thought about making window coverings for my office window, I thought about crocheting a set of curtains with heavy yarn. One day, however, I held up a heavy lap blanket to the window and discovered a lot of light coming through. That's when I decided to find fabric I liked and sew a set of curtains.

I found the fabric a few weeks ago but let the sewing machine (and my reluctance to not be perfect) intimidate me until yesterday!

I started measuring, ironing, and sewing yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm, stopped to eat dinner (about 30 minutes), and stopped again at 8:30pm for the evening. By then I had finished seams on both sides and the top of 4 pieces of fabric. Saturday hours: 4.5.

This morning, I started measuring, ironing, and sewing again around 9:30am, stopped at 12:40pm to take the climbing roses to Paula, started again around 2:30pm and finished around 4:30pm. Sunday hours: about 5 hours.

Grand total: 9.5 hours.

Crocheting a set of curtains would have taken much longer than 9.5 hours!