Civil War Generals' Wives BOM - Month Two

Okay, here's installment number two.  This block is in remembrance of Eliza Brooks Ellis Bragg.  Her husband was General Braxton Bragg, CSA.  Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Bragg, California are named for him as well as Bragg, Texas (a ghost town).

Snowman Throw

Since it was snowing here yesterday, I made this quilt top.  As you can see, it is not quilted yet.  That's my goal for later this week, but those cute, little, round faces were just begging to be shared!!!

It went together very quickly as the main body of the throw is just 5" charm squares (100 of them to be exact) and the top is just appliqued snowman faces.  Best part is that my snowmen won't melt.  :)

BurdaStyle 3/2010 #105 Skirt

This is not a terrific skirt because of the pattern details, as it really doesn’t have any.  But rather, what makes it a terrific skirt is the arsenal of fabrics that could be considered when making this pattern.  For my first version I chose fine wale corduroy from Yellowbird Fabrics in Salt Lake City. The fabric has just the right amount of body without being stiff.  I’m not exactly sure how I will style the outfit.  I just used the white button-up blouse because it is easier to see the skirt that way and the green sweater just added a pop of color.  I’m thinking a gorgeous silk blouse (perhaps made up from a salmon color silk I saw at Yellowbird fabrics) and a great belt will really set off this simple skirt. 

I made view A but cut the length for view B (it was approximately an inch longer).  This is such a basic, straightforward skirt pattern.  It has only four pieces – skirt front and back, and facing front and back; therefore, I didn’t follow the pattern instructions.  All I did was sew the darts in the front and back, sew up the side seams, insert the zipper and add the lining, and finish it up with the facing and hem.  IMO BurdaStyle patterns fit great.  I graded up one size from the waist to a size larger at the hip and it was a perfect fit without any alterations.  Here are the front and back pics, but since it lacks any design details they look pretty much the same.

I used my Bernina invisible zipper foot # 35 to insert the zipper and the method for the facing is from the "Simple Way to Sew Facings with Invisible Zippers" tutorial on the Colette patterns Web site. 

Invisible Zipper

Here’s a look at the lining. 

I used a brown ambiance lining fabric that I also purchased at Yellowbird fabrics.  The raw edge of the facing is finished with purchased double-fold bias tape.  I prefer a bias tape or some type of ribbon as opposed to a narrow, double fold for skirt facing edges as it adds a nice finishing detail to the inside of the skirt.

I will wear this skirt a lot this fall and winter and there are numerous ways it can be styled.  I will probably use this pattern to add skirts from other fabrics into my wardrobe as well.

Pot Holders

Yes, these pot holders are from the same TNT pattern that I use exclusively for pot holders (previously reviewed here).  These, however, are not for me.  They are a gift for my mother for Christmas.

If you are using this pattern from Amy Butler's book, the fabric requirements are listed in yardage.  But if you have fat quarters and would like to use them, three fat quarters will make two pot holders (with next to nothing left over so be careful to plan out your cutting strategy).


This next picture is simply because I wanted to show you the beautiful, and tasty, apple that I picked from my tree this morning:

Now on to some more garment sewing for me, me, me!!