Family Sewing Day 2015

Jessie and Phylicia cutting!

 One of our  family holiday traditions the last few years is the annual Family Sew-in in my hometown, Earling, Ia. We usually sew at my parent's house, but this year we met at my sister, Sharon's. We set up tables, machines and got started!

Dad stopped by for lunch.

 This past year, two of my nieces and a friend (almost a niece!)  have joined us. Jessie (right) started her T-shirt quilt last year. She's a beginner and got all of her shirts prepped with interfacing, cut out and learned how to make some pieced blocks out of smaller pieces. She is ready to cut her sashings.

 Phylicia (left) made some burp cloths for a friend who is expecting. She is the type of sewer that jumps right in with no worries and figures it out.

Ashley is also working on a T-shirt quilt...she spent most of the day pressing interfacing and squaring the blocks. I somehow missed taking a picture of her working...but I did get her blocks and will show you later.

 My sister, Deb, finished her first quilt last February, so our plan for #2 was for her to make the Jelly Roll Race quilt. Sharon, another sister who loves to sew, decided to make one too. Jessie's mom-in-law, Lori, and grandma-in-law, Leona, joined us for the first time. Lori didn't sew, but helped her mom, Leona, keep her strips straight on her Jelly Roll Race quilt.

Lori had her own jelly roll, so I wouldn't be surprised to see her sewing her quilt soon!

They got their strips sewn together before lunch. Deb and Leona sewed theirs together with a straight seam, Sharon put a square in between hers. Here they are at the beginning of the race, sewing the two ends of their 1600" of strips together.

More menfolk joining us for our soup lunch.

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 Nancy got about half of her quilt sewn together with sashings last year, so got right to work on her remaining blocks. She was the only one to wear her Quilt! shirt.

 Still working on the Jelly Roll Race quilts. They weren't really racing, as each one started at a different time, but since they were working on the same quilt, it was fun to have them sitting by each other to watch their progress.

 The sewn piles are growing!

 Nancy is busy piecing her last blocks.

Burp cloths all sewn, right sides together.

 Now they are making some headway.

 Jessie started laying out her blocks, very excited to be to this stage!

 Lori made a great assistant, helping her mom keep the strips straight.

 Mom was supervising! She has many years of sewing experience.

 Leona got her JRQ finished first. Gorgeous reproduction fabrics.

 Once her mom was finished, Lori jumped in and became Deb's assistant. She was really good at it!

 Phylcia's finished burp cloths. So cute and ready for her friend's baby.

 Jessie and her blocks. The picture below shows her blocks on her sashing fabric. Fun choice!

 Sharon's JRQ....soft teals, greens and gold.

 This was the only thing I made as I was helping all day, but they wanted to see how I made these bags so I did a little demo. I use the free pattern on Craftsy, Quilted Boxy Corner Pouch by Lindsey Sews. It's fun, quick and easy.

 Deb's second quilt. She loves purple and her jelly roll was gorgeous with purples, teals and greens.

 The Jelly Roll Race gals!

Ashley is happy to be finished with the ironing...and ready to find a sashing fabric! She has a few pieced blocks she wants to make and then will be ready to sash. Love all of her colorful shirts.

It was nice to watch Jessie and Ashley helping each other remember what to do. We might have some more quilters yet!

I am heading to Earling tomorrow for our annual New Year's Day dinner, so I'll see if Nancy has those blocks together... hmmmm, what do you think? She says she is a social sewer and only sews with us.

I've been working on the patterns for the new sampler, Larkspur, this week. I hope to finish them before I go back to work  on Monday. Wish me luck!