Monday, February 10, 2020

Vintage Housewife Sew Along - Week Three!!



Welcome to week three of the
 Vintage Housewife Sew Along



 if you need to download the 
Sew Along Guide and 
if you are just joining us and 
need to read the Bee Prepared post 
that tells you all about this sew along:)



We are using my new fabric
 Vintage Happy 2


And my new Sew Simple Shapes


To make the 
Vintage Housewife Quilt
74" x 82"

These are the blocks that
 we have done so far:






And today we are making the 
IRONING BLOCK


Tie on your apron and let's get started!



Your Ironing Block kit should be
 all ready for you to sew 
as per the cutting instructions 
in the Sew Along Guide.
Sew Simple Shapes needed 
for this block are:
J-1
J-2
J-3
J-4
J-5
J-12
J-18
You will also need 
straight bias strips prepared 
by running them through the
 bias makers 
(sizes are listed in the guide 
with the cutting)
and then
 cut and pressed to the 
following measurements:


Hanger - Cut One - 9" long
No pressing ends needed
Spool - Cut Two
1 1/4" long after pressing each end under
Thread - Cut One 1 1/4" long
No pressing ends under needed
Jar Lid - Cut One
1 1/2" long after pressing each end under
Plug and Cord Bottom - Cut Two
Both about 5/8" long after
 pressing both ends under 
for plug and one end under
 for the other one.
Iron Button - Cut One- 3" long
I pressed mine in half
 and had plenty to tuck under:)

You will need to use the
 small red vintage trim for the cord 
and several buttons from the 
 bag of tiny Cute Little Buttons!



Before sewing the button jar 
you will need to trace that line from J-12.

Sew all of your shapes 
after they are traced:)


After trimming and before turning...
take note that you will need to 
clip the cleavage and inner curves 
on the hanger and the button jar.



Don't let the hanger scare you
 just because it is long and skinny. 
It looks strange after turning and shaping...



But just press one half at a time...



Like this!!
Totally do-able:)



Same goes for the folded laundry pieces.
I just cut straight instead 
of making an x 
in the back for turning these:)



Easy peasy!



Now that your shapes are finished...
it's time to lay out your block!



This is what the two shapes 
J-2 and J-3 looked like 
as I prepared for basting.
Most of them are tucked under
 and can be trimmed off afterwards...
 but I left on quite a bit until 
the very end because I didn't
 want to trim off too much!

When drawing this block...
instead of making these 2  
Sew Simple Shapes be
 just for the iron handle...
I knew these shapes would be easier
 to sew and shape if I made them this way
and they can also
 double for other things later...
like cute little vases!



I layed out my iron piece on top 
like this and adjusted until
 it looked good!
You can pin at this point.



Don't forget to tuck this piece 
under the iron bottom.
You can trace the embroidery pattern
 on first or last...
whichever is easiest for you.
Those patterns are on page 15 of the guide.



Here is my plug all ready pressed under 
and ready to pin or glue...


I glued mine down and tucked 
the end of the cord under it first.



Pinning...pinning...pinning!



I glued down the cord at the 
same time as I glued the shapes.
Use the glue sparingly on the cord...
I did and that helps a lot!
I used 3 strands of the white 
in my Aurifloss set to sew down 
the cord like this!
It's fun and easy to do and it 
really ends up looking like
 one of those vintage cloth cords:)



Use 3 strands of gray Aurifloss
 and backstitch the hanger top.
I used a satin stitch and a
 backstitch for the needle.
I also used the gray for the plug ends.
Use 3 strands of floss and
 a backstitch for the thread:)



Everything is all embroidered
 and ready for appliqué!


On this block you will have about
 1/4" WITH-IN THE RULER WINDOW
 around all sides when finished.
This picture will help you with the 
layout and placement of your pieces:)



Use these buttons for the jar.



Randomly lay out your buttons 
to fill your button jar and
 sew them on with matching Aurifloss.



Cute as a Button Jar!
LOL



My grandma always had a jar 
full of buttons for a 
quick mending job on washdays:)
She kept it on the shelf next to the 
washing machine along with a 
spool of thread and a needle.



Back in her time...
and my Mom's time too...
Wash Day meant Ironing Day as well.
No permanent press back then 
for the vintage housewife!

My mom still irons so many things 
including her pillowcases 
just because she likes things that way:)



This block brings back so many fond memories.
I took this photo right after 
applique and before
 trimming it up and 
sewing on the buttons 
and the borders:)


IRONING BLOCK should measure 
14 1/2" square before 
you sew it into your quilt.
LOVE IT!!


Are you ready for more 
vintage housewife photos???

Scroll down and enjoy...
and I'll be back next Monday 
with the Typewriter Block tutorial:)
xx
Lori





















2 comments:

  1. Love all the vintage ironing ads, thanks Lori

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love all the ads-makes me remember when I was a kid...carefree and happy. I loved watching Mom sprinkle clothes with the cola bottle with a sprinkler cork in it. Some she rolled up and put in the freezer for a bit (why? I don't know). Then hanging them out on the line.

    ReplyDelete