Blog Tour and Giveaway...Quilting ISN'T Funny!

Quilting Isn't funny is a collection of articles, insights, and random musings by Megan Dougherty.  I can't even begin to describe the hilarity of the contents, so I will just copy and paste from Amazon:


Book Description
Publication Date: November 10, 2013

Quick! There’s a horde of brain-eating zombies headed your way: you only have an acrylic ruler, some safety pins, and a bias tape machine. What do you do?

And, hey, zombies aren’t the only scary things quilters have to deal with. What happens when your teenager discovers your stash? What are your rights when you get arrested by the Quilt Police? Do you know how to tell which urban legends of quilting are based in fact? What should a quilter’s insurance policy actually cover? And what did the Buddha have to say about all this?

Quilting Isn’t Funny is a collection of hysterical essays by the inimitable creator of the Bitchy Stitcher blog, Megan Dougherty. This is quilting humor with a sharp edge, pieced together from wit, snark, and a little bit of satire. Turns out, quilting is funny. No, make that freakin’ hilarious.

I was first "exposed" to Megan on vacation a couple years ago.  I had spent way too much money on magazines for pool reading, and had a good mix of sewing and trashy celebrity gossip.  Megan's article in Quilter's Home had me laughing hysterically, disrupting other sunbathers.  Granted, it was very hot, and I had downed a margarita...but this was funny, funny stuff.  After reading about Megan in the Contributors section, I decided to stalk her blog and follow her on Facebook.  Even though calls herself the Bitchy Stitcher, she is actually very nice (I got to hang out with her at Quilt Market, and she didn't scowl or hiss like one would expect).

In addition to quilting and writing humor articles, she is a mom and creator of the annual Shirtless Man and Spicy Burrito Calendar.  Her book is a round-up of her very best articles, plus some great new, never-seen-before content.  You can read more about it here:

http://thebitchystitcher.blogspot.com/p/my-book.html

As someone who is on the fringe of the quilting world, this book gave me great insight into the minds and lives of die-hard, traditional quilters.  I know I've met them at shows and quilt shops, but I can't say I've gotten to know any of them all that well.  Sure we use the same tools and hoard the same fabrics, but they are a different bunch for sure, and they don't take to outsiders quickly.  It takes many years to be truly become one of them.  Then there are the young, hip modern quilters...Megan knows all about them too.  In fact, she gives the best definition of Modern Quilting EVER in her glossary.

This book would make the perfect gift for anyone who loves to sew and laugh!  Buy it for yourself, even.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed tuning out my family and indulging in this read.  You can buy the book directly from Megan in paper or PDF format (see the link above), or from Amazon in paperback or Kindle format. OR - you can WIN a copy by leaving a comment about quilting...is it funny, or not?  Or just say something silly about sewing in general.  I'll choose a winner (randomly, because that is how I roll) on Wednesday, December 11th.

You can also win the book from one of the other fabulous bloggers on Megan's book tour:

Dec. 2 – Maddie Kertay  - Bad Ass Quilter’s Society

Dec. 3 – Sam Hunter – Hunter’s Design Studio

Dec. 4 – Carla Crim – Scientific Seamstress

Dec. 5 – Scarlett Burroughs – Craft Gossip

Dec. 6 – Jill Dorsey – Made With Moxie

Dec. 9 – Victoria Findlay Wolfe – Bumble Beans Inc

Dec. 10 – Lynn Harris - Little Red Hen

Dec. 11 – Teresa Coates – Crinkle Dreams

Dec. 12 – Joshua Helms - Molli Sparkles

Dec 13 – Liz Kettle – Stitch Journeys

Dec. 14 – Leah Day – The Free Motion Quilting Project

Dec 16 – Lisa Sipes – That Crazy Quilty Girl

Dec. 17 – Charlotte Newland – Displacement Activity

Dec. 18 – Teri Lucas - TerifiCreations

Dec. 19 – Cheryl Sleboda – Muppin.com

Dec. 20 – Kelly Biscopink – Stitchy Quilt Stuff

Jan. 6 – Generation Q

Jan. 8 – Rose Hughes – Rose Hughes – Quilt Artist

Jan. 9 – Janice Ryan – Better Off Thread

Jan. 10 – Flaun Cline – I Plead Quilty

Jan. 13 – Heather Jones – Olive and Ollie

Jan. 14 – Meg  – Without A Stitch On

Jan. 15 – Laura Lochore – Quokka Quilts

Jan. 16 – Elaine Wong Haselhuhn – Dashasel Sews

Jan. 17 – Kim Lapacek - Persimon Dreams

I would be A-line-ing if I said this wasn't a fun Tutorial!

Colour blocking is always fun - am I right? And it is so easy to take our A-line dress pattern and with a few simple steps you can have a fun new look! Our A-line dress pattern also comes with doll sizes!

See bottom of the post for a cyber Monday code for 50% off (Dec 2nd, 2013)

To start with I find it easiest to redraw the pattern. I use a newpaper roll end that I picked up for $5 years ago from the local printers and there is no end in sight! (It is crazy how much paper is left on a roll end!) 

After I have the basic shape drawn I decide on what I would like my colour block chunk to look like. Do these steps for the front and back pieces. For the front you can see I went for a up shape that tapers at the edges. In the back I went for a straight across band. 

It is very important you measure the width of your colour block so you can get it the same for both the front and back! We want those side seams to line up! It is also important to pay attention to the overall length so that from armhole to bottom is the same length for both the front and the back.  

For the 'straight' across bottom hemband on the back of the dress I used the hemline template so that the curve is perfect to follow the bottom as well. 

You will cut your pattern pieces now according to how you drew them. the part you marked off as the colour block is it's own pattern piece now. 

IMPORTANT: when you cut the colour blocked pattern pieces it is VERY important to add a seam allowance to both the main dress and the colour block. If you look below you can see I gave myself the standard 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Now aftre you have cut your pieces out you pin the colour blocked piece to the main piece and sew them together with the seam allowance you gave yourself.

Below you can see the sides line up and so does the colour block! Very important to measure well :) As you can see my measuring on my back piece was a bit off. 

Now you sew up the pattern as directed! Be careful to line up the side seams when you are putting your front and back together !

This dress is such a fast and easy sew! Even with the colour blocking... and checking of facebook as I sewed... I had this dress completed in a short evening!

Now don't delay and take advantage of the cyber Monday deal! 

50% off using the code CYBER50 in the etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/scientificseamstress

Remember the code is good for December 2nd, 2013. 

A Fun Contest to Enter!

You REALLY should check out this fun contest! You choose a designer you love and use them as inspiration for your Christmas stocking/s :) The details are all in the post. 

We would LOVE to see some Scientific Seamstress or Sisboom inspired ones! (not that the other ones won't be fun, we are excited to see them all!) Oh and there are some pretty great prizes !

Ok, now that you have the info get stalking and sewing and hopefully win a prize!

GIVEAWAY Time!

(just a few of the patterns in the shop!)

Let us help you kick of your December (panic?) sewing! Whether you are sewing for a gift for others or a gift for yourself you are sure to find something you LOVE in the shop!

With the holidays right around the corner we thought it would be the perfect time for a GIVEAWAY! 

You can win any 1 pattern of choice from our Etsy shop and there will be 3 winners!!!!!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway