Pyrex: The Unauthorized Collector's Guide

Happy Tuesday! A few months back the folks at Schiffer Publishing asked if I'd be interested in receiving a copy of the new edition of Pyrex: The Unauthorized Collector's Guide. As someone who has collected a lot of vintage Pyrex over the years, I've somehow never owned one of these books, despite this being the 5th edition! When it came to identifying Pyrex I always turned to the internet rather than books.

See my Pyrex collection here and my Pyrex 101 Series here.


That being said, there is a lot of interesting information in this book. I think the most enjoyable thing about it is all of the background on the history of Pyrex. How the company that made Pyrex started, what they made originally and how they evolved to eventually make the colored Pyrex that is so collectable. For instance, check out those glass battery containers above! Too cool.


I wouldn't say that this is completely comprehensive, I think the internet is still the best place to find a lot of identifying information, especially if it's a promotional or rare piece. This book is still a useful resource, and certainly helps to fill in some gaps!


There is a handy pattern guide in the back of the book, with photos of many patterns. The identifying part has been one of my favorite parts of collecting Pyrex. Learning the pattern names, piece types, and then using the information to go out and find treasures! I miss doing that. Must plan a thrifting trip soon now that the weather is warming up!


It's been a while since I acquired any Pyrex, but I was gifted a piece at Christmas this year! Michael's Mom had been holding onto a Bride's Casserole for me for a while, and decided to go ahead and give it to me. It must have had some magical powers or something, because Michael proposed a few weeks later. So that's pretty cool!


A lot of times when I'm given Pyrex it's something I already have, or had at one time. This is one piece I never saw out in the wild! It's a welcome addition to my collection and is in great condition. Plus it came with it's lid!


I still have a number of pieces left on my "want to find" list, but this is one I can cross off!

Happy Pyrex Hunting!

Favorites

1. Main Street made up in Timeless Treasures precuts!, 2. Finished Mod Pop quilt, 3. Flying Geese Baby Quilt Front, 4. Birchen Quilt, 5. La passacaglia update teals and orange, 6. summer flag quilt, 7. T-Downtown, 8. Aztec Chevron Quilt, 9. Emerald and Orchid Quilt by Rossie

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!

Recent Knitting Finishes

Happy Thursday! I recently finished my first knit of 2015! I did a decent amount of knitting this winter, but it's been hard to get any photographs with the weather. When we finally got a nice warm day this past month I took the opportunity to take some photos of a few recent finishes!


First up, is my most recent finish, a Schwimmen hat. The pattern is from Shannon Cook and Jane Richmond's new mini collection, Seasonless Volume 1. I loved Shannon's Swift pattern, so I was excited to try out her hat pattern in this collection. I used Madelinetosh DK in Moonstone for this hat. I love the color and own it in a few (read: many) bases. It's the same color I used in my Daybreak. The lacework on this hat is really striking, but it did turn out a little big for me. I think next time I'd go down a needle size!

This project is for the Headgear knit-a-long for the Eat Sleep Knit Yarnathon! I'm participating again this year, and it's been lots of fun so far! I am on the Fleecy Foxes team! 


Next, I finally finished up my Beatrice scarf. This pattern is by Jane Richmond, and I started it in November 2013, yikes! I used some Malabrigo Rasta in Azul Profundo from some frogged projects. It knits up super quick, but I put it down for a long time. It's super long, big, and cozy!


Finally, I knit an Autumn hat. Another Jane Richmond pattern! I wanted to make a hat to match the giant squishy cowl that I knit last winter. It was so cold last year, but I didn't end up needing this hat much this winter. I'm sure I'll need it at some point! I used Madelinetosh ASAP in Tern for this hat. It's super warm!

Happy Knitting!

Magazine Column Catch-up

Happy Tuesday! Today I want to catch-up on documenting my column in the last few issues of Love, Patchwork, and Quilting magazine. I'm a bit behind, but I do like to make sure and at least share a peek of each! Use their handy Find Us page for where to pick up the latest issue! You can find back issues here.


Issue 14 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting! My column in this issue is about making and giving handmade gifts! I love Let's Get Cosy quilt by Susan Standen in this issue.


There is also a super sweet feature for Geometric Bliss and my Aurifil Favorite Things Thread Collection!


Issue 15 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting! My column in this issue is all about binding, including my tips for the final join! Laura Jane Taylor's Retro Bloom pillow is a favorite in this issue!


Issue 16 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting! My column in this issue is about experiencing burnout and how to overcome it. I really want to make Laura Pritchard's Threads Away thread bin/pincushion!


Issue 17 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting! My column in this issue is about vintage quilt finds and care!  I love Fiona Calvert's Super Spools bunting in this issue!


Issue 18 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting! My column in this issue covers a typical work day for me! The cover of this issue features Ashley Newcomb's Macaroni Quilt!

Happy Sewing!

Favorites

1. Great Pillow Fight swap: top finished, 2. Metro Hoops, 3. Wonky Stripes baby quilt finished. , 4. GatherRoundPink2, 5. Vintage Obsession Quadrant, 6. Curvy Fantasia Quilt, 7. IMG_0959, 8. Mustang in the Sky with Diamonds, 9. Finished quilt

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!

Geometric Bliss One Hour Top

Happy Tuesday! Last Friday we had a beautiful Spring day, so I took advantage of the warm weather and snapped some photos of a few recent finishes. One of those is a successful sewn knit garment! I have never had great luck working with knits, but this one came together nice and easy!


Art Gallery Fabrics has started including knits and voiles from each collection to go along with the usual quilting cotton. I have been scared to cut into my knits from Geometric Bliss, but the time came to finally get on with it and try! I thought the One Hour Top by Fancy Tiger Crafts seemed like a pretty painless sew. Plus, it's free, so that's a bonus!

Print is Radical Blooms Blush from my Geometric Bliss collection.


I made the XS/S size, but did have to trim some away from both sides as it was quite large. It's supposed to be a pretty loose fit, but it was comically big, so trimming was necessary!

I sewed the majority of the top on my Juki MO654DE Serger. To finish the neckline, hem, and sleeves I used a stretch twin needle with Aurifil 50wt #2024 in the top and wooly nylon in the bobbin. It was a good excuse to dust off my backup machine!


Look, I'm a bat! I can fly! (maybe not, haha!)


I don't know what I was so afraid of. These knits are so buttery and soft, and they sewed up great! I want to tackle a simple t-shirt next. Perhaps a knit Scout Tee!

Happy Sewing!

Favorites

1. Off-the-Chart-close, 2. fair isle quilt, 3. Bubble!, 4. a new quilttop..., 5. Hexagon flower, 6. GatherRound3, 7. exodus, 8. do good stitches hsts quilt, 9. Triple X 1

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!

2015 Desktop & Printable Calenders

Happy Thursday! I have some 2015 calenders for you today! I realize these are quite late, but I've had a few folks ask about them (Hi Amanda!), so I thought better late than never!

Just like last year, I made two versions of each! This year I chose the Tessellate print from Geometric Bliss in both the Pinkest Angle and Turquoise Angle colorways.


2015 Desktop Calender in Pinkest, download here.


2015 Desktop Calender in Turquoise, download here.


2015 Printable Calender in Pinkest, download here.


2015 Printable Calender in Turquoise, download here.

You can download all four calenders in one fell swoop, here. See how I printed and mounted my calenders last year, here.

Enjoy!

Drawstring Bag Add-on Zipper Pouch

UPDATE 9/2020 - Unfortunately the tutorial referred to in this post is no longer available. I'm leaving the post up as originally written for my own record. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Happy Tuesday! I have something fun to share today! Jenelle Clark of Echinops & Aster has written a great tutorial for Imagine Gnats on how to add a zipper pouch to my Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern! The zipper pouch is on the inside of the bag, and separates it into two halves. Makes it easier to keep little things organized in it. She shares measurements for adding it to the Everything Bag (tutorial size), and walks you through the math to adapt to any of the sizes in the pattern.

Click here to be taken to the add-on tutorial.


I couldn't resist stitching one up this weekend! I made the Everything size, but will definitely be trying it out on the larger sizes too! Her instructions are really clear, and it's such a fun addition.


I used the new Maker fabric collection from Art Gallery In-House Studio for my bag. I love the colors in this collection, and the prints are really pretty. I added in the Honey Pure Element for the lining, and a zipper from Zipit, of course! I used the dark gray Aurifil 50wt thread from my thread collection to sew this bag.


A special thanks to Jenelle (and Rachael!), for featuring my pattern for this tutorial! I hope you'll try it out!

Happy Sewing!