Baby Beahr Quilt

I finished it! Earlier this week, but I haven't had time to get good pictures and post until now. This quilt and I had a love-hate relationship, but I absolutely love it now. The colors are awesome, I love the background fabric (might have to go buy a whole bolt of that white-on-white pin dot), I love the way it puckered up when I washed it. I hope the parents-to-be and their little girl like it as much.The top and thread are 100% cotton, and the batting is 50% cotton/50% bamboo. I bought it because it was a hard-to-find 60"x60" when I was buying. But it's really soft, and I like it a lot. It quilted well.

Rrrrrrip!

Tonight I spent the evening ripping. I decided I didn't like the way the new quilt was coming, so I ripped out what I had done so far. I decided I just wanted to use two of the four colored squares, so I have to go get more fabric this weekend. Luckily, I can reuse some patches and it is quick to piece.

Other than that, I have some new goodies I need to show off, and I need to get pics of the Baby Beahr quilt up - all done! But that will have to wait until tomorrow, maybe Friday.

It's not been much of a sewing week here, but that's the way it goes.

Tomorrow night I'm going to teach my friend how to hem her pants. I've never done it, but I have a lot more sewing knowledge than she does, and I'm sure we can get it right.

Okay, off to do dishes and get some shuteye.

TTFN

Oops!

This is why you measure twice (or three or four times) before cutting . . .

And why you buy extra fabric, so you can find a way to fix it.

Sleep Sacks

Last night I whipped up a monkey sleep sack for my little one. His room is a little chilly, so he needs a little extra warmth at night. He only had one that fit, so I drafted a pattern from it a couple weeks ago, cut out three sleep sacks from fleece that I bought at 40% and 50% off, and started sewing.

I used my trusty J-foot to do a combined zig-zag and straight stitch. And zippers are easy when you can do each side separately and not have to worry about covering the zipper, etc.

So after cleaning this morning, eating lunch, and putting the little one down for a nap, I whipped up these two . . .

The red monster fleece is the absolute best! After I got some for the sleep sack, I had to go back and get more to save until next fall for a little fleece pullover sweatshirt. On the red one, I decided to change it up and use a straight stitch, double-stitching the armholes, neckline, and zipper front. I timed that one, and it took me 27 minutes to sew. So including cutting time, from start to finish for one sleep sack, it takes less than one hour!

Phew!

The quilting of the Baby Beahr quilt is done! Here are some pics.
I put the binding on tonight, so it's all ready to be hand sewn to the back. And when I was walking past it in the dim light of the kitchen, the quilting really stood out on the back. I'll have to try and get a picture of that.

And here are all the pieces for my next project.
But before I start that quilt, I need to sew up the three sleep sacks that I cut out for the little one. They should be super easy, but my back needs a break from pinning and cutting, and the sewing machine needs to be cleaned. Sounds like a job for tomorrow.

And I decided I need to add another two projects to my list because I'm a glutton for punishment. I'm going to recover our ironing board and make my own hanging dishtowel (that second one might make more sense once I show you pictures of it in progress).

Well, off to do the dishes, feed the baby, and start some hand stitching.

TTFN :)

Finally!

I have been on a sewing hiatus the past few days. Not intentional, more a result of being overwhelmed with working, mommyhood, and wifedom. It’s not easy to do all three and get sewing in. Thursday night I tried to quilt some more butterflies and broke a needle on the first one. I decided it was just not my night. Sunday afternoon I finally got to the fabric store for some notions and their big sale – batting and thread was 50% off, so you can guess what I got a bunch of. They also had some cute monster-print fleece that I grabbed for the little one, some for a sleep sack and some for a fleece pullover next fall.

Monday I had off for Presidents’ Day and went to Sew Biz, a local quilt shop that I am rediscovering (I have been there only infrequently in the past). They have a lot of the big name fabrics I love (Kaufman, Hoffman, Moda, etc.), and buying there is cheaper than buying online and paying shipping. They also have some notions at lower prices than JoAnn’s regular prices, so I figure I’ll support a local business when I can. I got a bunch of fabric I had been waiting on, and then came home to get some things finished. I am starting to have a real backlog of projects . . . and I said I was going to try and complete things this year.

I sat down and finished up the last butterflies, then started the stippling of the background fabric. Right now I have three rows and the outer border left. It’s so close I can almost taste it! This Baby Beahr quilt has been a big project, but I’ve learned a lot from it. I can’t wait to finish it so I can move on.

Yesterday evening I cut out the binding strips for Baby Beahr, a sleep sack, cut pieces for a new (for sale) baby quilt, and washed and cut some for the next friends’ baby quilt.

Today I ordered the rest of the fabric for some projects and some dinosaur appliqués. I think I’ll do some different things with them as I’m inspired – burp cloth, bath towel, overalls, onesies, etc. There was a lot of other stuff I wanted to order, but I’m really trying to be good and not buy too much. (Still, I’ve added to my stash more than used from it this year.)

Here is my latest list of projects (at least for the near future, I have lots more floating around my head):

To Sell:

Picadilly baby quilt

Snorkel diaper burp cloths

Chicks baby quilt

Baby blue minky burp cloths

Alphabet sundress

Barbie Clothes

Bunny Baby Quilt

Crab Baby Quilt

18” Doll Clothes

Quilting:

Baby Beahr Quilt (finish by March 11^th, in progress)

Friends’ Baby Quilt (by March 11th)

Master Bedroom Quilt – changed design, need to measure bed, piecing in progress

Guest Room Quilt – need to measure bed, figure out fabric placement, etc.

Riviera Lap Quilt (Riviera Charm Squares and Fabric from stash!)

Yellow Gypsy Paisley Throw Quilt

South Seas Rose Fabric Throw Quilt – need to finalize design

Secret Project

Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt w/Civil War Reproduction Fabrics

Scrappy Quilt from Stash

Blue Flower fabric throw quilt – need to finalize design

Sewing:

Work Skirts (ASAP)

Sleep Sacks (ASAP)

Flannel Onesies (ASAP)

Shark PJ Pants (ASAP)

Cloth Diapers

Shoes/Booties

Work Shirts

Dresses

Overalls for little one (1 pair from truck stash fabric for spring/summer)

Bubble in Green Plaid from stash (Easter)

Stuffed Elephant – should be interesting, 1^st stuffed animal attempt

Clothespin Holder

Pillows for Master Bedroom & Guest Bedroom

Hooded towel from red terry cloth in stash

Something from Truck Thermal Knit Fabric

I know this list is ridiculous, but I do so love playing with pretty fabric!

TTFN :-)

Mommy Daycare

The little one's daycare is closed today (snow + wind = no fun), so I'm at home with him until lunchtime when Daddy will take over.

Looking back on my last post, I didn't get very much of that list done that night, but at least I gave it a shot.

Last night choir practice was cancelled for sleet/snow (do we see a pattern here?), so I was able to quilt another row on the Baby Beahr quilt (2 more rows/14 more butterflies to go). The butterflies and I were not friends, but that's another 7 done. Introspection: Why do I always pick complex things and make my life hard?

This morning, Mommy Daycare has been washing some fabric (it doesn't always get done right away when purchased), designing a new quilt from scraps/stash with EQ6 (a secret project, and yes, I know, I have many other things to do right now), and making a sleep sack pattern from the current lone ranger. All in the midst of feeding and playing with Little One. Another hour and I'm off to work.

No pictures today, maybe soon (if I ever get these dang butterflies done).

TTFN

Manic Mondays

I have lots to do tonight.

• Dishes
• Laundry
• Get little man ready for bed
• Gym
• Make cheeseball for choir tomorrow night
• Etc., Etc., Etc.

and . . . Quilt!

But here is what I did yesterday - quilting 28 of 49 butterflies (21 more to go).This is my favorite, and one of the easiest to actually do.

And here is the ugly/gorgeous fabric I bought. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of quilt is best to show it off with solid colors pulled from the fabric.

Quilting butterflies

I started quilting the baby quilt today. Yesterday I laid it all out on my kitchen floor and pinned all the layers together. My knees hurt a little afterward. The first couple of butterflies were tough because I was nervous not to mess up the quilt, but once I got into the groove things started to flow better. I'm doing 4 different butterflies, but most of them are one design because I thought it would be the easiest. Turns out, the ones that look more complicated are the easiest to do! I'm about 1/4 done with the butterflies. I hope to have this thing finished by next weekend, because I got the invite for the next friend's baby shower, and I have to get that one going earlier than expected! I was going to do a different design, but in the interests of expediency, I may make another of the Baby Beahr quilt, but in different fabric. And that means ordering some online and another trip to Sew Biz!

I also had a friend's mom ask if I knew how to do t-shirt quilts. So I may end up with a commission here shortly. (I haven't done one, but they are simple to do.)

Okay, back to more butterflies before the Super Bowl!

TTFN :)

What I've Been Up To

I've been slacking on the blog front this week. But I've been busy. Here's what I've been up to.

Finished piecing the Baby Beahr top. It was way too big for a baby quilt, so I ripped out a row and made it 48"x48" (still big, but a more manageable size). Then I had to figure out my quilting design, and settled on butterflies in the squares and stippling on the sashing and border (with some random butterflies on the border - whoops, another to-do!).

Thursday I took a detour and went to Sew Biz in Radford. I found the ugliest, coolest fabric. It's so ugly, but I love it (pic later, I promise - it's a mustard yellow with blue and red paisley). I got sidetracked and tried to design a quilt using it as the focal fabric. I also saw some fabric that I want to get, but I needed to design the quilt first and figure out how much to buy.

Yesterday, the snow closed work early, so I spent a good part of the day tracing the butterfly designs onto tear away stabilizer for quilting templates. (The doggie wanted to help.)And then pinned them onto the squares.I also made a label and attached it to the backing (I wanted the quilting over it to really make it permanent.).

Quilting plan is to quilt butterflies first, then stipple in long rows (with stippling crossing in intersections). That means today I have to pin my quilt sandwich and practice some more butterflies on scraps (this was my first attempt).

Sunday's Progress

Yesterday I had a blast piecing the Baby Beahr quilt. Of course, the quilt is pink and brown with flowers and butterflies, but Baby Beahr is its name. I got about half of it pieced, and that was with numerous interruptions. It’s so simple, just as its inspiration’s name implies.

1) Piece alternate squares and rectangles.

2) Join to sashing strip.

3) Join to previous row.

4) Repeat until center of quilt top is pieced!

I love it already. I can’t wait to get the whole top done and make my quilt sandwich so I can quilt it. I’m thinking a butterfly in each square (or alternating butterflies and flowers), and just some wavy or loopy quilting on the sashing strips. And butterflies on the border? Of course, this means I have to practice butterflies and flowers . . . which means I need a stencil . . . which means . . . a trip to the local quilt shop!

I need to copy the one sleep sack that still fits the baby and make him another one, but this quilt has got me captive. I also need to make myself some work skirts, but that’s for later as well. I’m going to try and go to one Sew Biz in Radford after work Thursday. I haven’t been there in a while. And Saturday, I’m hoping to go to Schoolhouse Fabrics in Floyd (barring more snow). I’ve lived here for how many years now and have never been in there. Three floors of fabrics? Yes, please. :) Even better if the in-laws want to watch the baby and I can go by myself. :) :)

I really need to order the fabric for another friends’ baby quilt. That one will be more involved, but I have the greatest design for it. I’ve got to solidify my design and yardages so I can get that ordered. That one isn’t due until May, so I have some time, but it’s still better to plan ahead so I don’t have to rush. I’ll have to design my own quilting templates for that one and practice them. More details once I begin . . .

And of course, I still have the quilt for our bedroom (my first attempt at quilting that I’m still working on) and the designed-but-not-yet-made guest room quilt to do. Plus all my other sewing projects (burp cloths, baby clothes, Barbie clothes, etc.). I made a list, but it grows by the day, and I tend to go off on tangents. Like last night when I went to bed late because I spent an hour designing quilts for a certain fabric I have (and I still haven’t decided what to do with it).