SEWmuchKNITting

My husband and I spent another week in July camping at Harrisville State Park in Michigan, on the shores of Lake Huron. Our kids were unable to join us due to school/work commitments, and that was a first for us! Home Sweet Home: We were able to snag a campsite right on the shore, tho you can't tell from this picture that the beach and the lake is just beyond that chair: We got to visit our favorite course and brush up on our game: OOPS!!! now what do I do?? Now THIS is a vacation.....that's Ishbel on my needles: (sunrise over Lake Huron from our campsite)

I've been playing hooky and doing some camping with my family during most of July. I've been back now for about a week, and it's time to get back to blogging! We spent the week of the Fourth of July at Indiana Dunes State Park , on the shores of Lake Michigan. We did a lot of this: and we always seem to eat well on the campground!: The girls were able to take the SouthShore Metra train in from Chicago, and Kenny drove down from Mt. Pleasant . And that is the BEST part....having the whole family together!! (sunset over the Chicago skyline)

UPDATE : The finished dress for my daughter Libby, which finally made it to Chicago.....USPS Priority Mail returned it to sender once, but after resending via 1st class it got there just fine in record time! My oldest daughter has been asking for another knit dress using Simplicity 3678, since she loved the first one I made for her and the fit was spot on. So, what's a mother to do? LOL! I found this jazzy summer print knit fabric at my local JoAnn Fabric's , and surprisingly the quality is very nice! No alterations necessary, used fusible tricot in the bodice and the hem. Shipped it off to Chicago, where she works as an attorney for a large firm in their litigation department. This dress will easily make the transition from work to play, perfect for a Chicago summer.

Last night was the summer picnic/potluck for the Loose Threads Quilt Guild, and it gave us all an opportunity to 'pose' with our charity project for 2009, which will be donated to the Karmanos Cancer Center . This quilt was really a group effort: the fabric was purchased on a guild outing, several members each pieced a block, another group set the top with sashing, one member did the quilting and another group sewed on the binding. I think it is stunning!

It has been my pleasure to make a signature quilt for the gift raffle at the All-Night Party for the Senior Class of 2009 at my son's high school. This is my fourth and last child to graduate from this school, and I have made a signature quilt of one pattern or another for each one. I'm not quite sure where I first saw this quilt made up, but it is just a mix of nine-patches and rail fence blocks, exactly like this one , only now in the school colors of blue and white. I backed it with flannel, and quilted it with a simple design on my trusty Bernina 1260. Not much quilting, so that the kids have ample space to pen their name and a few words if they would like. I also made a pillowcase for transporting the quilt and for the owner to use after. Fun!

I liked the details that  this pattern had, so I decided to sew one up! Using fabric from the Fabric Warehouse at $3.49/yd, I made it right out of the pattern envelope without alterations. I really am pleased with the way it came out: the fit in the shoulders and across the back is great, but I need to add a little in the hip area.....D%$# that secretary spread! Since this jacket is unlined, I serged all seams, and tried something new: I made the fabric-covered buttons to match! I think that helps this project avoid that "loving hands at home" look .I plan to make this one again, now that I know where the fit can be improved.

I finished the bag from Knotions , done as a KAL with the Monthly Adventures Ravelry group. I think it's kinda cute!, tho I'm not fond of the way the knitted band collapses some at the top. ( I may need to add a Velcro dot to close it). I quilted the the bag to a piece of  warm and natural quilt batt before adding the lining, and I also put a strip of the batting in the handle to make it more sturdy. I plan to use this bag to house one of my projects currently on the needles, most likely the Central Park Hoodie :-)