Member’s Pursuits

The members of Midnight Oil Smockers take to heart the tag line of our national organization...

It's not just smocking! Heirloom Sewing & Quilting, Embroidery, Silk Ribbon, Drawn Thread, Appliqué, Doll Dressing, and more!

Just this past weekend two of the members attended a weekend workshop at 'The Quilt Room' located in Huffman, TX.

Here is Julie holding up a finished 'Tool Tote' example of the class presented by Barbara Hupy. The one she is furiously sewing on is placed the table by her machine. 

Leda, who also attended, was working hard on finishing up her project. Doesn't some of her fabric look familiar?

We all look forward to seeing these finished totes at the next MOS meeting for 'Show and Share'.

For more information about 'The Quilt Room', visit their website:

http://www.thequiltroomhuffman.com

Show and Share 

Evening Meeting

One of the new members brought several items for the October meeting.

This precious yellow day gown made from handkerchief linen features antique tatting and buttons. The pattern used is  Pricillas' Layette from ‘The Old Fashioned Baby’ by Jeannie Baumeister. 

Stuart shares this white day gown was sewn mostly by hand. She used nelona batiste, her special antique buttons and the same pattern.

To create this sweet bishop, Stuart paired Liberty of London fabric purchased at Britex Fabrics in San Francisco with the ‘Easy Bishops and Bonnets’ by Cynthia Finnerty smocking plate to Yvonne Denise’s pattern ‘Sarah’. What a perfect combination or fabric, pattern and design. Once again the antique tatting added just the right touch of daintiness.

October Meeting 

Show and Share

Susan presented a very informative program on how to make you own “Sewing Machine Mat”. Here she is with the one she made for herself. 

After supplying each member a handout with detailed directions, she walked through the process step by step with an example.

Cut out your main piece and pocket from pre quilted fabric or quilt you own fabric. Place the main piece on the table to ensure that it does not extend too much past the table that it interferes with your legs and becomes annoying while sewing.

After sewing the binding onto the pocket piece, it will be attached to the main piece. At this time, consider what you will want to place in the different sections of the pocket and sew vertical lines on the pocket to create individual smaller pocket sections.

Susan adds a special piece of fabric or binding to the right side of her mat before attaching the edge binding. She then tethers her scissors in place.

Now sew the binding all the way around the entire quilt. Susan suggests that you use a decorative stitch to add a bit of your own personality to the mat.

Roberta always inspires with her creations. This is CC pattern 'Lee' made in a floral print from Fabric Finders featuring burgundy corduroy collar and cuffs. The smocking design is 'Elizabeth' from Creative Needle May/June 2002.

This sweet 'Lucy' by CC was sewn with a red pique. The blouse is from the CC pattern 'Mary De'. She used a purchased insert. She shares that the insert guide threads have been removed and it takes a bit of patience to align all the stitching and the pattern to ensure it is even across the yoke.

This precious 'Lee' from CC is the perfect pattern with which to use a purchased inserts. She made a few adaptions to the pattern; using eyelet at the neckline rather than the collar and coordinating the sleeves with the same eyelet.

Trena brought some handmade pattern/fabric weights to show. She found this very cute Halloween fabric at Wal-Mart and used the familiar 'Frannie' pattern from CC. Set off the fabric with a perfect combination of orange with black polkadot collar trimmed with tiny black and white gingham check piping. What lucky little girl will wear this?

Debbie made this little boy one piece as the "coming home from the hospital" outfit for her newest grandson.



She used the Miche Mooney pattern #104 in the newborn size. The pastel blue broadcloth was monogramed in white.

Cathy also shared this lovely Chery Williams Basic Yoke dress. The inspiration for this dress was Strawberry Thieves from AS&E #41.

Teresa shows off her latest creation from AS&E issue 50. This sweet pink and blue fabric made a beautiful example of the Isabella pattern.

Brenda is so excited about these quilts that she constructed using fabrics from her stash! What a stash she must have...The above design is a variation of Flying Geese done in Halloween fabric. The quilt below is called Now and Later, also from Halloween fabrics.

Beautiful work!

And last but definitely not least is the group photo of those members who completed their Dainty Diaper Set by Debbie Glenn. Thank you Leslye for spear-heading this sew-a-long that encouraged so many to accomplish great things!