Winners: Fancy Feet Sewing Challenge

I almost forgot!  Everyone worked SO hard meeting the Fancy Feet Challenge, and I nearly forgot to post the winners of the poll.  Shame on me.  So here I am at work, hustling to post this before the kids show up....  sorry about the brevity, but I'd rather not let another minute pass before I announce the projects that received the most votes in our just-for-fun poll.

Congrats to Marisa who received the most votes:

Marisa used her pintucking foot to create this beautiful table runner.
She blogged about her project HERE.
Find more of her tutorials HERE.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://ricochetandaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/vote-fancy-feet-sewing-challenge.html" title="Congrats! Gold Award!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoV4AsjJQ8ZrJTdvSqx4Fc1daCrSWOR07gaEszdXdCfxiAkVjcGCI-0qtEKo-w6469fvC4mROreKCSTQOMdZc6tPRVreWns2xv7jSeMkLoOb8hex_SYYVgR0sBG5JkUJYyfmgyfyNFTo/s1600/goldbutton.jpg" alt="Congrats! Gold Award!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Congrats to Pam who received the second highest number of votes:

Pam used her roll and shell hemmer foot to hem the ruffles on this nappy cover.
She blogged about her project HERE.
Pam has lots of sewing tutorials to be found HERE.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://ricochetandaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/vote-fancy-feet-sewing-challenge.html" title="Congrats! Silver Award!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0URKCybjyi-sDqK6FNO6V-2GryJ7r8yeEFmbzN40SgHOMQinl3cfS360K91y1K6wehK3Z8G51NxD_Vby1hediOZOf4O2uozLgzkTJR380FTuRwSy8-2XNcFkvSOpKsiF0_pYEzifS30/s1600/silverbbutton.jpg" alt="Congrats! Silver Award!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Congrats to our 2 bronze award winners!

Here's Kirstin's entry:

Kristin used her free motion quilting foot to quilt this baby blanket.
Read about her experience HERE.
Here tutorial page can be found HERE.

Here's Diya's entry:

Diya used her gathering foot to add the ruffles to her pretty blouse.
She blogged about her challenge HERE.
Find Diya's tutorial page HERE.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://ricochetandaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/vote-fancy-feet-sewing-challenge.html" title="Congrats! Bronze Award!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIsRQJkk-6bYq-z20s00Qaq3L9efcSP8dYLossZItvS1Gh3RjMFKu7JpmSBa_3DBBHemUC5xFeepButiK3yO0ZMTZX5bMyPBZxn-PhnmWJ0lxRzYhZ1kOPaIfxTh-kbHtguPNAgEy_OQ/s1600/bronzebbutton.jpg" alt="Congrats! Bronze Award!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Everyone did a great job and should be very proud of their projects!!!!

Thanks so much for all your hard work and for joining in my challenge!!!

If you're new to my challenges, you can see all the homepages for my past challenges by using the button on my menu bar.  You can see all the finished projects for the Fancy Feet Challenge HERE.

Happy Crafting and BIG Hugs from Montana,

Vote: Fancy Feet Sewing Challenge

March's challenge asked the participants to learn how to use a new foot on their sewing machines.  I tried to master my rolled hem foot without very much success.  You can read about my own foot misadventures HERE.

A total of 10 participants were able to meet the challenge by creating finished projects using their new and/or fancy feet.  It's not always easy to meet a challenge and fulfill a commitment, but 10 of you did and I think that's just so incredibly awesome!!!  Thanks so much for all of your hard work and dedication.  All of the challenge entries are so creative and inspiring.  Please scroll down and follow the links to all the projects.

After the list of projects is a just-for-fun poll to vote for your top 3 entries.  Anyone can vote once per day throughout April.  The entries receiving the most votes are awarded with bragging rights and nifty badges for their blogs.

Linda used her bias binding foot when she turned this men's shirt into a cute apron.
Please visit her website and see all her beautiful smocking skills HERE.

Kristin used her free motion quilting foot to quilt this baby blanket.
Read about her experience HERE.
Here tutorial page can be found HERE.

Signe used a piping foot to install the zipper in this e-reader pouch.
Find out how she did it HERE.
Locate more of her sewing tutorials HERE.

Celtic Thistle made this oilcloth toiletry bag using a teflon foot, a piping foot, and her zipper foot.
She blogged about it HERE.
Find her sewing tutorials page HERE.

Pam used her roll and shell hemmer foot to hem the ruffles on this nappy cover.
She blogged about her project HERE.
Pam has lots of sewing tutorials to be found HERE.

Cindy used her ribbon/sequin foot to attach the lace to this zippered bag.
Read her blog post about this project HERE.Visit her etsy shop HERE.

Suzie used her buttonhole foot to sew a bunch of cute bunny pouches.
Read her post about them HERE.
Scroll through her blog archives, and you'll find she has sewn a wide variety of things.

Diya used her gathering foot to add the ruffles to her pretty blouse.
She blogged about her challenge HERE.
Find Diya's tutorial page HERE.

Marisa used her pintucking foot to create this beautiful table runner.
She blogged about her project HERE.
Find more of her tutorials HERE.

Line used her new teflon foot to sew this roomy oilcloth beach tote.
She blogged about it HERE.
Check out an online album of her work HERE.

Happy crafting and big hugs from Montana,

Scarf: Rolled Hem Foot

This month's sewing challenge is kicking my butt!  The rolled hem foot I chose to work with is a tricky little thing that I can't seem to get a handle on.  Plus, my photography skills...well please accept my usual apologies.  I think I'm loosing my blogging mojo!  Not that I had much to brag about in the first place!

Anyway, March's sewing challenge is to try a new sewing machine foot.  I choose the rolled hem foot.  I took it out once many years ago and it was a disaster.  So I decided to do a bit more research and really try to master the foot.  I started out practicing on a thin cotton print.  You may recognize it, I used it to make my maxi dress. 

After stitching about 5 inches, I was really getting the hang on it.

I stitched the length of the scrap of fabric and proclaimed myself a master!

What went wrong so many years ago when I first used this lovely foot?

So, enter the scarf fabric.  I bought this Red Tag (clearance sale) fabric at JoAnn's a couple weeks ago with making a scarf in mind.  At $3 a yard and me only buying 18 inches, it was a bargain!

The fabric itself is red and green paisley on a navy blue background with thin stripes of gold metallic thread.  You can see it draped over my sewing machine below and notice how sheer it is.

Once I squared up the fabric (not an easy task with this thin fabric) I pressed a 3/8 inch hem along the edges.  Then, using my trusty rolled hem foot, I started stitching.  The results were less than stellar.  Only about 20% of the hem was a perfect double fold.  The rest was only a single fold.  Maybe you can see in the photo below how the second fold didn't catch.

I considered trimming off the offending hem and trying again, but in the end just decided to live with it.  I got out my lighter and singed the fraying edges that didn't get folded into the hem.  I don't know how it will hold up in the long run, but for now I'm not too worried about the hem coming undone and the fabric unraveling all over the place.  Here's a look at the length of the scarf.  You can also see how I rounded the corner on the end:

I had both my kids take a crack at photographing me wearing the scarf.  While I'm sure they did their best, the results were pretty blurry.  Here's the well-edited best of the bunch:

In conclusion, I believe that my rolled hem foot has limitations when it comes to fine, sheer fabrics.  I have some thin jersey that would make a great scarf as well....but I'm not sure if I'll try to hem it or just leave the raw edges.  Hmmmm, decision, decisions!

What is your experience with rolled hem feet?  Any tips on working with sheer fabrics?  

Visit March's sewing challenge homepage here:

Happy crafting and big hugs from Montana,

Before you click away, I'd like to invite you to join in my current sewing/craft challenge.  

Winners: Curved Seams Challenge!

We spent the month of January working on projects that include curved flat seams.  And we spent the month of February voting on our favorite projects.  Please visit the voting page and check out the finished projects. You'll see that choosing a favorite was very difficult considering the high quality of the entries.

I'd like to take a minute to thank all the participants who make these challenges so darn fun.  Everyone has always been such a good sport and so open to new concepts and techniques.  Everyone has been so forgiving of my screw-ups and patient when I'm not able to stay right on top of things.  You all inspire me so much and make this whole sewing/blogging experience more rewarding than I ever imagined.

Thank you!!!!

Without further ado, let's hear a round of applause for the entry that received the most votes:

Pam from Threading My Way made a dress featuring  wavy curved seams in the skirt.
She blogged about it HERE.
Congrats on winning the gold badge.
Your bragging rights are fully instated! 

<div align="center"> <a href="http://ricochetandaway.blogspot.com/2013/02/winners-curved-seams-challenge.html" title="Congrats on winning the GOLD!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomg9IbQmLnJoZBbSHQxHNuQZA1CwjbuaK1IdKb6QD2LN3gR2KyCSMrJmTC66Rd4m6GF0bdZp6zMR_WBzl7nX5BFJAStKdSTNRNRi_8GrwN8vack8uZMDiWiNFcfNw8k-mFz2zfBAVH1s/s1600/gold.jpg" alt="Congrats on winning the GOLD!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

The silver badge goes to:

Fiona from Celtic Thistle Stitches completed a two-sided tablecloth.
I attempted to brighten/lighten this photo, so the colors aren't true--apologies!
See the original photos in Fiona's blog post HERE.
Congrats on winning the silver badge.
Feel free to brag away!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://ricochetandaway.blogspot.com/2013/02/winners-curved-seams-challenge.html" title="Congrats on winning the SILVER!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLCfYMm2Hz_916ydRnbpbnTWssd46OE7YmtzKDr1mB2LTQzPSQ9cqUZMZ_nz0QcDPC-xKIPMrV29ryci41nCGVsEneTUZ5dcyvAgExwzRED3Rgrog6w_5vtcxm2VwTvbzTwwRO52V6Lo/s1600/bluebuttonsilver+winner.jpg" alt="Congrats on winning the SILVER!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And our bronze badge goes to:

Caroline at Artfully Caroline was able to finish 2 curved seams projects.  She blogged about them HERE.
The first project was this pretty pillow using the drunkard's path quilt block.  
Congrats on winning the bronze badge.
Bragging rights are yours!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://ricochetandaway.blogspot.com/2013/02/winners-curved-seams-challenge.html" title="Congrats on winning the BRONZE!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxudKjvkPOO1YdgKZwycTLpzNUePGfv2sXAnjFNZIQ9vAMphXOWpw9qCEZNG0ilpmVlgOKoakJ9ozasd-_sRQuJzGzXdBZ0XGph1K3ZX4ofUqt3dy5ws8OQ46TqDpoOsy_dzq-rxNHVmk/s1600/bluebuttonbronze+winner.jpg" alt="Congrats on winning the BRONZE!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you're interested in honing your sewing skills, meeting crafty folks from all over the world, and/or trying sewing new, please consider joining March's challenge:

Happy crafting big hugs from Montana,

Before you click away, I'd like to invite you to join in my current sewing/craft challenge.