Last month I had the chance to do some more indigo dyeing! It's become a summer tradition, and I look forward to it each year.

This year, I thought it would be fun to try combining indigo dyeing with wax resists. I first tried wax resist techniques back in 2011, and always meant to do it again. Thankfully I held onto all the supplies.


This technique uses a combination of paraffin wax and beeswax. It's melted and kept at a stable temperature, so that it remains a liquid. The wax is then applied to the fabric using a variety of different tools and techniques. I like to keep things simple, so I stuck to cardboard stamps and a paintbrush for the most part.


It is time consuming and messy, but it's really fun. Once the wax dries on the fabric it is dyed. After that the wax is removed and the fabric is finished! I highly recommend Color Your Cloth by Malka Dubrawsky if you're interested in learning more about this technique. I have constantly pulled for this book year after year.


On the dyeing side, I've been using the Jacqard Indigo Kits for each of my indigo sessions over the last few years. For more information on dyeing, check out my Indigo Dyeing Tutorial. I find dyeing fabric so magical and these kits make it so easy. I think the key is going in without expectations. Often times you don't know how a resist will turn out, and even when you think you do, it can still surprise you!


In addition to the wax resisted pieces I dyed this year, I also used resist techniques to dye two pieces of utility canvas and a piece of Kona white. At the last minute I threw in a piece of embroidered double gauze from a friend (thanks Anna!). I have before and after photos of each piece that I dyed below. For more of these, see my tutorial.


Machine embroidered piece with polyester thread. We weren't sure what kind of thread was used for the embroidery when it went into the bath, but the result tells me it wasn't cotton! The stitching stayed white, while the fabric took the dye.


Fabric was scrunched into big messy balls and then resisted with rubber bands.


Accordion folded, secured with clothespins.


This fabric was folded and then resisted with a square on the top and bottom held together with clamps.


Wax resist applied to fabric before dyeing.


Wax resist applied to fabric before dyeing.


Wax resist applied to fabric before dyeing.


Wax resist applied to fabric before dyeing.


I've got an indigo kit leftover from our retreat this year, so there will be another session for me later this summer. Lucky me!

Happy Dyeing!

July Monthly Report

Happy August! It's time for July's monthly report. See past reports here.


The last few months have been really busy and stressful for Michael, and July was especially so. At the end of the month he defended his PhD, which is what brought us to Wisconsin six years ago. I'm so proud of him, and we're both looking forward to what the next chapter brings!


This month we also had this year's cabin weekend. It was nice to get away, spend time with friends, and sew! I made teeny tiny open-wide pouches for everyone. I used little 4" zippers, and sized the tutorial down proportionately. I used a 1/4" seam throughout. I think they turned out pretty cute. Just big enough for a set of earbuds.

I bought my 4" zippers from Zip-it.


I have a new pattern coming very soon! I'm finally turning the Giant Vintage Star Quilt into a proper pattern. Don't worry, the tutorial version isn't going anywhere. The pattern will have a baby size and a pillow, plus more instruction on how to tailor the pattern to more or less fabrics for the star. Look for that hopefully next week!


I started knitting a new Daybreak shawl. My original Daybreak is one of my favorite and most-used shawls, and I really enjoyed knitting it. So much so that I wanted to knit another one! I'm using sock yarn (as is called for) this time. I am still knitting the entire shawl in garter, just like my first one. It's total comfort knitting, and I love that I don't have to think too much about what I'm doing.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I'm tracking my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track my here. Here is how I did in July:

July Fabric
Used up: 155.25 yards
Brought in: 18.75 yards
Net: -136.5 yards
Year to date: -151.25 yards

July Yarn
Used up: 819 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -819 yards
Year to date: -3731.5 yards

Lots of fabric went out this month! I took a bunch of fabric to share on our retreat, just like last year. It's always a good excuse to go through my stash. I also did a fair amount of sewing, finishing my plus quilt, a baby quilt, a pillow, three shirts and a few other small projects. Still brought some fabric in of course, but quite a bit less than last month, so that's good! Yarn wise, I destashed a skein and gifted some leftovers, so another negative month on that front.


I have been terrible about taking photos of garments I've made, but here is a funny one to make up for that. We happened to end up in Mt. Horeb on the day of their art festival and I managed to get a photo with the Culver's cone (thanks for taking it Brianne!). I'm wearing a recent garment finish, a rayon Gemma tank. New favorite garment pattern, hands down. It fits so well. I already have two more rayon Gemma tanks cut out. Hopefully I can manage one big post with them all together at some point.


Didn't do a lot of work focused on my goals this month, but I did make a few more pineapple blocks. I'm also keeping up with The Fussy Cut Sampler blocks too, so that's good! I would love to get back on track in August, in particular with my double wedding ring quilt. Hoping to put together my fantastic quilt voyage top too.


George bunny is finally all done shedding, yay! Now we don't have to limit his treats so much, which will make him very happy.

Happy Sewing!

Sugar Plus Quilt

Happy Tuesday! I'm excited to share a finished quilt with you all today!


Last month I was approached by Free Spirit Fabrics about making a project with one of their upcoming collections. When I heard they were trying to schedule someone to work with Erin McMorris' new Sugar collection I was immediately sold.

Over the years, especially the last few, my stash has been a bit of a revolving door. I have gotten better about letting things go that are no longer my taste or just aren't getting used. One thing that has always made the cut to stay is Erin McMorris' collections. I'm always on the look out for her collections!


So, I was totally tickled pink to sew with Sugar! This collection is so cute, and I was already counting down the days to July so I could snatch some up. It's full of sugary sweet prints and feels so summery.

I'm so happy one of my very favorite prints (the bikes!) made a comeback in this collection. They were in Erin's Weekends collection and they're just the best. So glad they're back!


I really wanted the prints to shine, so I returned to an old favorite, my Arithmetic quilt pattern. Lucky for you, this also happens to be the free tutorial size! It's a nice healthy throw size at 64"x75".


I backed this quilt in a print from Weekends that was too good of a match not to use! It's bound up in a crosshatch print.


This is the first quilt I've made where I got to use my new custom woven labels from Dutch Label Shop. I'll be sharing more about those soon!


When I do the quilting myself, I tend to keep things pretty simple. For this quilt I quilted diagonal lines through each square. I've done this on many of the plus quilts I've made, and it never gets old. I think it gives quilts such a soft look.


This quilt was pieced and quilted with Coats All Purpose Dual Duty thread in a nice neutral off-white that was provided by Free Spirit Fabrics.


You can find Sugar by Erin McMorris hitting stores now! Make your own Arithmetic quilt using my free tutorial or pattern.

Happy Sewing!

Handmade Gifts: Baby Sweater Set

This Spring I had the chance to knit my first baby sweater! Now that it's been gifted and the baby has been born, I can share it.


The parents didn't find out the baby's gender, so I knew I'd need to knit something gender neutral. I love this Malabrigo colorway (pearl ten, which I also used for Michael's convertible mitts), and thought it would work nicely as a basic in baby's wardrobe. It's a difficult color to photograph and it looks different depending on the light, ranging from black/brown to purple-ish gray. I almost bought yarn in an oatmeal color, but thought this darker color would be a little more practical.


I chose the Baby Sophisticate Sweater pattern by Linden Down. I love how it looks like a little grandpa sweater with the shawl collar. It knit up pretty quickly, and the sleeves were small enough that I could knit them on my favorite little 9" circulars. I knit the 3 month size.

I hemmed and hawed about the buttons, but ended up finding these super cute wooden ones on Etsy, that are made on a farm in Ohio. These particular ones are made from Elm, pretty cool! Find all their wooden button options here. I was a bit nervous about putting buttons on a baby sweater, and I did quite a bit of research on the most secure way to attach the buttons (helpful articles here and here).


Once the sweater was finished, I knit up a simple hat to match. It was easily the fastest thing I've ever knit, so quick and tiny. I used this free Calming Baby Hat pattern by Stacey Winklepleck.


Of course as a maker I couldn't stop there. I ordered some Robert Kaufman speckle french terry knit (sadly now discontinued) destined for a sweatshirt last year. When it arrived I couldn't help but think that it would be great hemmed as a blanket. I ordered another cut and made a little throw for mama and baby to hopefully enjoy together. I used a stashed chambray for the binding. I rounded the corners and using bias binding, I bound it double fold like a quilt. I have to say, it was totally pain-less. I think my french terry cut is destined to become a blanket too! So cozy and simple.


All the years I've been making and giving handmade gifts, and it's still one of my favorite things to do. When I'm not rushing at the last minute that is! Thankfully I started these projects early and finished with time to spare.


Happy Making!