I see some of “us” are cycling {ha! get it? cycling??} right along for the Quilt Le Tour de France. I see new photos up in our Quilt Le Tour Flickr group
Me? Well…uh…I have done these! Not my quilt blocks but they ARE cycling related. I gave them yesterday to the All Ladies Alley Cat Race director.
They will be given as prizes.

Sew, Mama, Sew! Wants to know about our Thread Stash.
My thread stash is dwindling…especially in the quilting and general sewing threads selection. I have used up so much. I haven’t shown pictures of all my threads. Many cones of serger thread are stored in a plastic bin. My excess machine embroidery thread is also tucked away. I love Guterman and Mettler threads for sewing…Madera, Gunold and Robison-Anton thread for machine embroidery. I am in process of testing out some other companies for quilting thread. Superior and Aurafil come to mind. I do have some Coats and Clark leftovers but rarely buy it.
As you can tell from my wonky organizing… I am in dire need of some thread racks! I also want to do a stock up shopping spree as soon as I am able.

Here are the Sew, Mama, Sew! Questions:

* How did you select colors for your personal thread collection?

For machine embroidery I bought large cones of each available color. For general sewing I will usually stock up 3 or 4 from the same color family

* Do you always match the color perfectly to your project?

I try to. Many times I focus on blending it.

* Do you ever use contrasting thread?

Oh Yes! Especially if I want the thread to play an artistic part in the project

* Do you use the same color in the bobbin as the upper thread?

If it is going to show or if I am picky about what the inside of a garment will look like, then yes. Otherwise I use a neutral color made special for bobbins

* What if a fabric has big areas of very different colors?

Then I lay several across the fabric and see which blends the best. I also love to use variegated.

* Do you have any tips or suggestions about choosing thread?

Never use thread that you don’t know the age of without testing its strength. If it breaks toss it in the trash. Keep a good supply of neutral colors.

* Can you show us a picture(s) of your thread collection?

Yup. They are in this post. The pictures are just a partial selection of my threads.

* Do you ever buy thread because you fall in love with the color (without a particular project in mind)?

Yes! I have been known to succumb to yummy colors

* Do you “invest” in thread?

I do … but as you can see I am overdue in my thread investing. Cha-Ching$$.

* What types of thread do you have? (elastic, quilting, all-purpose, wool, etc.)

All of the above and add in Silk, Heavy Duty Nylons {used for packs, tents and cycling / outdoor gear}, buttonhole…I’m sure there are others that slip my mind.

I’m sewing sun hats for some special little munchkins. This is the first one. I used some old fabric from my stash. . . O L D . . . this fabric was used when my now 20yr old daughter was a munchkin! {so I’ve had this fabric about 15yrs??}
I still need to steam the Yo-Yo flower into submission. Bad Yo-Yo!

Literally. These babies leave on their journey tomorrow to a Cyclist in the Midwest.
Made from a recycled wool suit and some stretch cotton knit. Done.
Now I can sew something QuiltYish.






{Hats ©2010 Kongko Design}

I made place mats and coasters as a wedding gift. It got me dusting off my FMQ {free motion quilting} skills or lack there of. I experimented with thread brands and which of my machines did a better job. I ended up favoring my old faithful Bernina 1530 for the quilting and using Güterman machine quilting thread for this project. {Later this week I will post the birthday quilt I made over the weekend using Masterpiece thread. Pam had recommended the thread. It is very fine… so fine you can fill up your bobbin with gobs of it!}
Did I get pics of the coasters? Nope. Thought I did. Didn’t. Rats.
The fabrics are Freebird by Moda and some linen/cotton blend leftover from the Groom’s Hat I made.
Oh, and I thought glass head pins aren’t suppose to melt??

You’ll notice…over there, in the right side margin…the Process Pledge button…see it?
I, Robyn aka Coffee & Cotton, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them into words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there.

Hiya Peeps!
Yesterday was spent meticulously sewing a Wedding hat {bicycle cap} for a Cycling Groom. A lot of the bike community here will be attending the outdoor wedding after they all ride to its destination in costume…sort of a pre-wedding parade. I will try to get pictures. It should be fun. They are having a Queen cover band play. Can you sing “B-iiii-Cycle!, B-iiii-Cycle! I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike…” And if that sewing wasn’t enough to make the disc in my lower back bulge, I sewed their wedding gift today.
Sidenote / sidequestion?? – Any of you have your back go out from sitting and sewing. I had to finish today’s sewing standing up. I can barely walk and sitting hurts like a mofo monkey! I think I need an ergonomic chair.
Ok, the FOOD part …{My Daughter’s recipe. TEACH your kids to cook!}
PIZZA Empanadas
Empanada discs —Take some of these (about $1.75 for 10 discs)

Put some of this in it – Monterey Jack Cheese {or Mozzarella}

Chop up some O’ deeze Tomaaattooooeees…mmm Heirloom ones

Add in FRESH Basil and Oregano {I have some in my garden}

Thaw Empenada dough if necessary. Roll each disc out a bit to thin out dough
Fill to liking (leave room to fold in half)
Press with fork…or a BETTER sealing method is to fold and pinch like a pie crust.
Brush with egg wash or, easier, some canola oil
Bake at 400F on baking sheet for 10-20 minutes until yummy brown…

Dip in marinara sauce or just EAT!! Mmmmmmm…taste kinda like calzone!!

Dearest 1/4 inch Seam,
I think our relationship is on the mends. I know we had words. I know I yelled sewing obscenities at you and made your stitches cringe. Much to my chagrin I have to admit it was not your fault. It’s me, not you. Well maybe neither of us are at fault. I was relying on my blurry eyes and blue painter’s tape placed oh-so-not accurately at what I thought was the proper distance. What or who has given me a change of heart?
Well a wonderful PamKittyMorning yelled insisted told me I really needed to become a real quilter buy a quarter inch presser foot. So I did! In fact, I bought two!. I credit her with saving our relationship. So you see darling 1/4 inch we now will have double the pleasure…. SEWING pleasure. I promise not to shout at you again. I may curse the thread but not you. Forgive me? I look forward to blissfully perfect scant quarter inchness with you.
With abundant perfect tension and 100% natural fiber love,
~ Me

So yes dear reader, if you do not have a 1/4 inch patchwork presser foot… GET ONE. You too can enjoy the bliss.
Sew Mama Sew is asking what our favorite sewing tools are. Well my new one is, of course, the 1/4 inch foot. I also like to keep a soft bristle type hairbrush nearby to sweep up thread snippings. It is great to get them off carpeting too! BAD BAD sewist! You should not have carpet in your sewing area! I now have all wood floors… but it works for threads on the table, ironing board, etc. Just don’t brush your hair with it unless you like the look of threads dangling from your coif.

Actually all four are sewn now but this is a pic of one.

It’s going to be a small cuddle-up-and-read-a-book quilt. That’s all I can do with 1 charm pack of Cherish Nature by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics . I want to assemble it in an asymmetrical style. Maybe the four main blocks (with sashing) to the side and … oh I dunno. Ideas? Maybe some prairie points??

Here is a poor diagram I did in Photoshop. The area to the left with the “X” would be something else going on to the left of the 4 blocks. Maybe some solid Kona with quilting?? I am using eggshell for the sashing… I think.
After laying it out on the floor {yeah, I know, I need to make a flannel quilt wall} I think I have decided to keep with some traditional sashing in between the four squares and go from there. Now, do I use the Eggshell or Aqua Kona????

I am known to be easily bored, distracted, sidetra….OOooo look at that pretty… yeah, well I love making the hexagons but I needed a break.
I made a needle case with a little pincushion on top. The pincushion part was made by stuffing the smallest hex with some wool roving. Again I apologize for camera phone pictures.
Wasn’t it bad enough that last year someone dropped and killed my Digital SLR and I had to resort to a point-n-shoot? Must be karma for complaining. My lil’ point-n-shoot is now shooting pics of storm damage off in another land with Mr. Coffee. Ack! Look! I’m even sidetracked in my post! All that to say if the pics of the needlecase / pincushion looks like a mini boob to you, it does to me too. I think. Maybe not. I mean, who has hexagonal boobs???

{{{ Any interest in a tutorial for this?? }}}

{©2010 Coffee & Cotton}

This morning I sewed a simple gift for my son and daughter-in-law. 4 Napkins and another wonky/uneven pieces/ scrappy potholder. I didn’t learn my lesson from this one…and I think I kinda like my method.