Snowy, Sewy Saturday

Yesterday, I cut out all the blocks and strips for the new baby quilt.
This was the view from my kitchen window this morning . . .

(Yes, I sew in my kitchen. If I didn't, I'd never get anything finished.)

I finally managed to clean my machine, and then started in on finishing the edges of the receiving blankets. I have 2 completed, one almost done, and one more to go.I didn't sew as much as I could have because I got sidetracked by my trashy romance novel, but hey, you have to take advantage of the couch by the fire on a snowy day.

Whilst watching Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting and Sewing with Nancy on PBS this afternoon, I laid out the blocks for a friend's baby quilt.I'm going to try and finish at least the third receiving blanket tonight. I have to finish them before I start piecing the quilt, and I really want to start piecing it. It should go together quickly. I just want to bang it out and see the finished product. I hope it's as cutie patootie as I envision it.

TTFN

New Project

This is fabric I got tonight for my newest project, a baby quilt for a friend.

Here's the fabric, which will be made into a quilt a la this Sane and Simple quilt.

I still haven't gotten around to cleaning my machine, thus no sewing yesterday or today, but that is definitely on tomorrow night's list, as we wait for the snow to arrive.

TTFN :)

Doggie Quilt aka “George’s Quilt”

This project started out with the idea that our dachshund needed a blanket to sleep on. He won’t sleep on the dog bed, always sleeps on the couch snuggled up in whatever throw is left there. We were tired of the throws smelling like dog and getting dog hair in them, so my hubs told me to make the dog a blanket to sleep on. I was getting into quilting again, so I decided rather than just make a plain blanket, I would take the opportunity to make a quilt. I figured it was the perfect project to practice with – small, not much fabric needed, and George won’t care if I made mistakes.

I decided on a 12” Card Trick block and three fabrics: brown, a green fabric with brown and cream dots, and a cream fabric with brown dog-related words. It took me block or two to realize I needed to make all my “word” fabric line up to look nice.

I have been wanting to learn how to machine quilt, and I figured I might as well go ahead and try on this one. First, I needed a cone adapter for my spool holder. Then, the instructions for my machine didn’t quite work (completely releasing tension on the darning foot didn’t allow the needle to get all the way through the fabric, and I was skipping stitches). So I just barely put some tension on the foot, and I was off!

I had to take a couple of breaks to let the machine rest. I didn’t want to hurt my old workhorse (which is older than I am).

You can tell where I started from how tightly it’s quilted and how I got the hang of it and relaxed later on. You can also see where I was learning to keep the speed even and where I had to reposition and forgot to drop the needle.

The quilt is 3 blocks by 3 blocks or 36”x36” finished. I used the plain brown for backing and the word print for binding. I was originally going to make bias binding, but my last experience with bias binding made me mad, so I just did crossgrain binding strips. I actually enjoy sewing on binding. I think it’s because it’s “the end,” and it just finishes up the quilt so neatly.

I had to forgo posting last night because I was thisclose to finishing the binding. And . . . it's complete!

Now I have to figure out what to do next. I have several projects, just have to decide which one. But I guess the first thing I should do is clean my machine. Old Faithful needs some love now and again.

Completed baby quilt!

I finally finished the baby quilt! The fabric is Riviera collection by Connecting Theads. I also made crib sheets from the small scale blue, green, and yellow florals,and the crib skirt and window valance from the blue stripe.

The stinking binding is on the bias and wouldn't lie straight, but it's just for us, and you have to learn somehow.

It's hand-quilted with stitch in the ditch.

I'm so glad it's done! Quilt finish #1 for the year. (I've been reading all these quilt blogs where they count their quilts and yards used from stash, and it's inspired me.)

Fabric, fabric, and more fabric!

Why does there have to be so much gorgeous fabric? And why do the fabric catalogs constantly come in the mail with new pretty fabrics? It all wants to come live with me, but sadly my budget requires choices and my stash needs some attention. Of course, I manage to sneak in new goodies here and there . . .

This collection I got from Keepsake Quilting, and has big flowers and smaller coordinating prints. I was going to do burp cloths to sell with half of it, and save the other half for quilting, etc., but maybe I should do sets of 5 burp cloths instead of sets of three (the brown marble can be used for anything).

I love this Snorkel fabric from Andover that I got at Fabric.com. I’m going to do two sets of three burp cloths, but I have enough fabric to make several sets, or I could keep the rest for a coordinating baby/kid quilt. I LOVE these fabrics. I totally want to order more to make a kids’ quilt or cute outfits. I thought they were nice online, but they are fantastic in person! The only one I’m not 200% thrilled with is the stripes, but it’s still nice, I just probably wouldn’t order more of it.

This Scottie dog fabric I got from JoAnn’s (online). I am seeing a little (toddler) girl’s dress with puffed short sleeves and a big black ribbon waistband and bow. Lined in matching red broadcloth to make it all nice on the inside. I am so excited about the thought that I kind of want to keep it for our future little girl (hopefully), but then I think maybe I’ll only have boys and I should sell it. I guess I could always sell one and order more to hold in my stash for later.

This was from JoAnn’s (online). I thought it was flannel, but it seems to be kid’s pajama fabric. So I am going to make the little man some pj’s at some point. It’s super cute with the little woodland critters.

This is Bella Baby fabric I got from Fabric.com. Also planning to make sets of burp cloths, but ones backed with a coordinating Minky or terry cloth instead of diaper burp cloths. It’s much better in person than the online pictures. I’m not a fan of baby blue in general, but these are cute prints, and I know lots of people love the baby blue. (I’ve come to appreciate it more since my boy looks so good in baby blue.)

I couldn’t resist this fabric even though it wasn’t part of a collection. I’m not sure what to do with it except maybe make a set of identical burp cloths with it? Save it for a baby quilt? I’m sure something will come to me. I have a half yard of it (18”x42” – any suggestions?)

Definitely burp cloths for these flowery fabrics from Fabric.com! A set of two.

I was thinking a cute little sundress for this alphabet fabric from Keepsake Quilting. Maybe order more for use in a quilt? It’s super cute.

I had eyed this at my local JoAnn store on clearance. It’s somewhat old lady, but for some reason I am drawn to it. One day it will be in some kind of quilted something.

Freaking cute dinosaur flannel! It was 50% off, so I got two yards because I couldn't decide what to do with it and wanted to make sure I had enough. Either a onesie or a shirt for the little man, or maybe pjs when he's a bit bigger. And then maybe use leftovers in a flannel quilt for him? The background is more of a cream than the picture shoes, and the colors really pop when you're actually looking at the fabric.

And other fabric I found at JoAnn's. The pink cotton will be for my quilting stash, the blue and green floral a cute baby girl's dress, the middle print for my quilting stash (I'd been eyeing that one a while), the jungle interlock will be clothes for the little one.

And the rest of the day's finds. Black cotton with white embroidery will make a cute shirt or skirt. And buttery yellow eyelet fabric will make a cute summer top (I don't think I have enough for a sun dress).

Now I need to get cracking on using all this stuff so I can buy some of the fab new stuff in the spring catalogs! :)

Really?

I actually decided to do this? Oh, well. Onwards and upwards. :)

I am a working woman, wife, and mom (and just a bit of a fabriholic)! I'm trying to sew more often and build up an inventory so that one day I can open an etsy.com shop and sell my goodies. My dream would be to make my hobby into a full-time job so I can stay home with my kiddo.

This blog will chronicle my sewing/quilting/crafting adventures in detail - a way, if you will, to share my projects with those who can appreciate them and avoid boring those in real life who don't (ahem . . . hubby).

Today I finished hand-stitching the binding to the baby quilt that I started back in May (before my baby boy was born - he came early and the quilt sat on the back burner for a while). It's a bit girlier than I expected when I first planned it, so it doesn't work as well for our little boy and might end up being used sparingly until we have a girl.

I also taught myself to machine quilt! I made a 36"x36" quilt for my dachshund. I figured he wouldn't care if his quilt had mistakes. I have lots of pictures, but uploading them will have to wait until tomorrow, maybe later. I was able to quilt the entire sandwich in a meandering, stippling kind of way. It wasn't too bad, but more practice is definitely needed! Tomorrow I will cut the binding strips and start sewing those on.

I have a quilt for our bed, and a quilt for the guest room that are up next (in between sewing clothes for the little one and burp cloths and receiving blankets for my inventory stash). My list of projects is always growing, and my fabric closet and dresser don't seem to be getting smaller, either.

My two favorite things I got for Christmas: The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt and EQ6.

I guess that's enough to start with.

As Tigger would say: TTFN!