It has been so nice to have time to sew this week. Occupying space on my main design wall is the Flowering Snowball quilt I am making with Baycreek templates and Kaffe Fasset fabrics. I am so late to the party when it comes to Kaffe Fasset. Believe it or not, I had never bought any fabric from this designer. A friend gave me some fat quarters to play with and I started this Flowering Snowballs quilt with the idea that if the curved piecing didn't work out I wouldn't be wasting fabric that I was nuts about, and also that maybe Eva would like the bright pink colors.
Well, just let me say, the curved piecing is going great, and I have come to LOVE these fabrics. Sewing with them is like playing with paints. They remind me a bit of batiks for that same reason. Each of these prints is a kaleidoscope of shades of pink (and some other colors as well). Most of the prints are quite large, so when cut up, you can't always tell if the four pieces in each block are different or if some are from the same print. I could not be happer with this designer's fabric and will be getting more of it in the future.
As far as Eva is concerned, she thinks it is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen and keeps checking in to make sure I am on task and making progress.
I posted this week about the dress I made for Eva, and how I was disappointed in the Butterick pattern I had used. The fit of the dress wasn't great. It is rather boxy on her and at least six inches too short. Of course if I had measured her first that could have been avoided. I should have made a 4T rather than the 5T, and added some extra length to the dress hem. That wasn't the pattern's fault particularly, but I did find fault in the construction technique and directions. I asked if any of you had used little girls dress patterns and had recommendations.
Barbara got right back to me and suggested I try the Geranium pattern by Made By Rae. My goodness, this dress has a cult following! If you check it out on Flickr or Pinterest, you will find countless versions of it, and everyone who makes it seems to love it. I ordered the PDF pattern for $10 and am very impressed. The instructions are in color, with the stitching lines clearly marked, and extremely detailed directions. I cannot wait to make this dress for Eva, and guess what fabric I chose to use?
You guessed it! Kaffe Fasset. I think it will be wonderful. The print I chose is so cute--it has red, lavender and pink pencils. She is going to love it.
I am so glad you blogged about this project. I'm also late to the Kaffe party. I'll order those templates today. I love the look of yours.
Posted by: Thelma | January 28, 2015 at 05:26 AM
Wow...how beautiful this quilt is going to be!!! Hugzzzz
Posted by: Nancy in Utah | January 28, 2015 at 05:35 AM
Your snowball quilt is really pretty! And that dress is so cute. I can't wait to hear how you like that pattern for Eva!
Posted by: Lisa D. | January 28, 2015 at 05:50 AM
Love your glorious Flowering Snowball blocks and that fabric! Eva is right that it's just the prettiest!
Hope you'll add a wide border and possibly rick-rack to cover the seam to Eva's dress that is too short. A cute sash might cure the boxy problem, too. I was reminded that my mother always put wide hems in the dresses she made for me so as I grew, she could let the hem down -repeatedly!
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | January 28, 2015 at 06:16 AM
My LQS owner is known for her Kaffe collection -- she has a whole wall of it! I have a fat quarter of that very pencil fabric, and it comes in other colorways as well. I recently made your microwave bowl cozy in the green/purple chili pepper fabric by Kaffe. CUTE!
Posted by: sillysally | January 28, 2015 at 07:31 AM
Looks great! I am currently working on a string quilt made only with my Kaffe fabrics. I have been collecting them for awhile, but hadn't actually cut them until I started this quilt last year. Just picked it back up again and one of the fabrics that showed up in this week's blocks is that pencil fabric you are using. I have it in a couple of other colorways as well. I love my batiks, but Kaffe comes in a close second :-)
Posted by: Laura | January 28, 2015 at 09:19 AM
Loving this quilt top. I got to see Kaffe speak a few years ago at the AQS quilt show, and see an exhibit of his quilts and it was super inspiring.
Posted by: Laura @ Prairie Sewn Studios | January 28, 2015 at 09:30 AM
Love your Flowering Snowball and Kaffe Fassett :). What's great about his fabrics is they all pretty much coordinate from past collections and have the same feel and vibrancy to them. Can't wait to see what else you make with them and how the new dress comes out :)
Posted by: Anita | January 28, 2015 at 09:41 AM
i love that eva is keeping your nose to the grindstone....she wants that quilt! ;p
Posted by: ina | January 28, 2015 at 10:21 AM
Really cute dress! Will there be a matching one for Eva's doll? hmmmm?
Posted by: Jan | January 28, 2015 at 05:11 PM