Chevron Baby Girl Quilt

I'm so excited to share this new baby quilt with you!  It's been finished for two weeks already.  As soon as I heard a friend of mine was having a baby girl, I knew I had to use up some of my precious Me and My Sisters charms.  Everyone else around me seems to be having boys, so I jumped at the chance to make something girly.  Everything else was put away for two weeks while I focused on this quilt and finished it with plenty of time to spare. :)

I peeked at my friend's pinterest board and found a few chevron inspired items.  That was all it took to get me started!  I've been dying to make a cute little chevron quilt!

I forgot to take a picture of the completed top, but I did take a few of it after it was basted.  I almost went with white (or tiny dots on white) for the negative spaces but that would have required a trip to the store and I was too impatient.  So I pulled out these two grayish fabrics and used every last bit of them.  I LOVE how the dark, scrappy background looks against the bright colors!

I attempted to arrange my HSTs so that the quilt had an ombre effect to it.  Can you tell?  Squint a little and you will see it. ;)

The quilting for this quilt was inspired by Christa's Charming Chevrons quilt.  Of course, mine has a different spin on it - I quilted lots of straight lines with a row of pebbles in the background and kept the quilting to a minimum in the colored parts.  I think it works great!

I really love pieced backs and debated doing something cute for this one, but I had this piece of pink dot flannel that was the perfect size and just seemed to fit so I ran with it.  Doesn't the back look so fun?

I tried something scary and quilted all my straight lines with gray thread on top to match the neutral colors and pink thread on bottom to match the back.  Thankfully, it worked!  No pink dots on top or gray dots on bottom.  Whew.  Then I decided to quilt the colored zigs with matching thread on top and bottom, so if you look closely you can see a few lines in different colors on the back.  Of course, when it came time to FMQ the pebbles - using a FMQ foot instead of a walking foot, I could NOT get the tension right and was forced to use gray thread on top and bottom.  Otherwise I had scary little dots poking through where they weren't supposed to be. 

I love how the pebbles add so much pretty texture to the quilt.  Pebbles are awesome like that.  

 For the binding, I auditioned several different prints from my stash, but ultimately I had to go with the same pink dots as used on the back.  The plan was to save time and fabric and fold the backing over to the top for binding, but of course when I was trying to trim my quilt top and batting after quilting, I managed to cut a huge hole in the backing.  Ah well.  So I tried out Alyssa's technique for Perfect Binding.  I think it turned out okay, although I still ended up with 3 or 4 pesky sections that didn't get sewn all the way down.  The tutorial is great, and I'll probably try her method again (she used Elmers glue instead of pins or clips!) although it is time consuming and it was a little difficult to work with the thick flannel fabric.  Hopefully the quilt will be nice and soft.

You can see some blue stitched lines in this photo...

I tried one more new thing this time around - I prewashed my batting!  (Actually, I prewashed the flannel backing as well because I know how much flannel shrinks.)  I really love the clean lines you get on a freshly quilted, unwashed quilt.  Sometimes I feel bad when a quilt is washed and all the hard work I put into quilting it sort of fades away, you know?  So I prewashed the batting/backing.  Since this is a baby quilt and is going to get washed lots and lots, I wanted to do a test wash before gifting it.  Here are a few more photos pre-wash:

And finally, fresh from the dryer:

In my opinion, prewashing the batting didn't really make a difference.  (NOTE TO SELF:  Next time try hang drying instead of machine drying.)  Although the quilt still looks basically the same when you take a step back, it has lost it's "fresh, new" look and has adopted the "wrinkly, old-fashioned" look.  Ah well.  I suppose I should call it "crinkly and cuddly."

 You can see the crinkly look better here.  What about you?  Do you prefer fresh and crisp or crinkly and cuddly?

Quilt stats:

Started: August 5, 2013

Finished: August 18, 2013

Total hours (I was curious, so I kept track this time):  11 hours (5 hours piecing the top, 4 hours quilting, 1 1/2 hours binding, 1/2 hour designing/layout)

Fabrics:  Amelia and Favorites by Me and My Sisters; Kona Steel and Bison

Finished size: 31 x 25 (post washing)

Recipient:  MM baby girl due in November 

Edited 6/13/14:  Linking up with Fort Worth Fabric Studio's "Oh Sew Baby" series.  Check it out!

Curling Iron Travel Case

My sister just had a birthday and I had the perfect idea for her gift this year.  I made her a curling iron/flat iron travel case!

So now whenever she goes on a trip and needs to pack her curling iron that is still hot because it was the last thing she used - she can put it in this!  It's insulated with insul-fleece, so it is safe to use while the iron is still hot.  My other sister has one and we are both a little jealous of it.  I guess I need to make one for myself now.

I used THIS tutorial from Sew4Home.

I tested it out and it works great!  Plus it's nice and big.  

 I was a little limited in my fabric choices because I wanted to use a thicker, stiffer fabric for the lining (something that would help keep the heat insulated), but I think it worked out.  I've been waiting to use up the last of this blue print.  I hope the sister likes it!

It even has a second pocket in the back to hold the cord. 

Happy Birthday Kim!

Back at it!

It's been awhile since I have sewed, but things are starting to settle down and I have some progress to share!  Yay!

July was a BUSY month.  We moved at the very end of June, so there was lots of packing, cleaning, unpacking and cleaning going on.  Followed by two separate vacations, two weeks of swimming lessons (Mommy and Me - so fun!), and a whole month of working here and there to get our apartment ready to rent.  Ugh.  But once we started settling in, I picked right back up where I left off.

But first, I have to say that we are LOVING our new house!  We moved from a duplex apartment to a 3,000+ square foot house practically up in the mountains and it is amazing.  I have so much SPACE!  And I have a SEWING ROOM again!!!  Yippee!  Check out the awesome view from my sewing machine.

Every now and then a little family of deer or wild turkeys will walk past.  That's kinda cool.

 And the amazing TWO closets I get all to myself!  Now I just need to fill them up. :)

Crazy picture!  My sewing room isn't THAT big - I was backed clear into the window trying to capture both closets at the same time.

Even with all that space, I can't help but keep my actual fabric stash out on the floor in my plastic drawers so I can see it all the time. :)

Now that we are living in a real house and plan to stay here forever, I decided it was time to get rid of our ghetto grocery bag dispensers.  You know the ones:

I used THIS tutorial from Gen X Quilters to make some super cute new ones.

I made the first dispenser following the tutorial exactly, with the exception of the scary grommets.  I just attached my handle on one side and sewed some velcro onto the other side so I can hang it from the rods in our laundry room and closets, rather than installing hooks.

I used the same super cute fabric I used on my favorite bibs for the boys.  It's going to look great in their room, hanging from the changing table.

I wanted to practice some FMQ designs, but this fabric DEMANDED to be quilted with straight lines.  SO I obliged.  I did, however, use some fun variegated thread.  

Complete with decorative stitches at the bottom and the top to reinforce the bag.

 

For the second dispenser, I decided to go a little smaller, since the first one is SO LONG.

It didn't take long for me to pick out this blue African fabric.  I used it in my skirt and I've been saving the leftovers for the perfect project.  It's so pretty, I'm glad I'll get to see it all the time now.

This time, I was able to do LOTS of fun quilting!  It was so fun, and I definitely need more opportunities to practice and get better at it. ;)

I used Angela Walters' Tiles pattern for the first sashing strip, swirls in the fussy cut circle strip, and a simple back and forth in the next sashing strip.  For the main panel, I couldn't bring myself to quilt over the design, so I just stitched around the flowers and echoed them.  The next sashing strip is Leah Day's Modern Art design, and the next fussy cut print strip had diamonds following the pattern.
The bottom section is left unquilted, because it is the part that holds the elastic.

Here's the inside of the panel before I made the bag.  You can see the quilting better. :)

Also,  I'm still plugging away on my Storm at Sea quilt.  I'm making Snail Trail blocks for the borders, using some of my lovely and precious Oakshotts.

I'm also stocking up on solid remnants from Joanns (50% off!) for the backing.  I've got almost 12 yards stashed now and I think I have enough to put together a quilt-as-you-go King size backing (sorry for the fuzzy pic.  I'd hate to give TOO much away now, wouldn't I?)

And lastly, I've started a brand new quilt!  A friend of mine is having a baby girl (FINALLY!  A GIRL!), so I broke into my long hoarded Me and My Sisters charms and whipped up some HSTs.  This quilt is going to be darling.

Stay tuned!  I've got a couple of birthdays coming up as well and you know the birthday people need something handmade!  :)  I'm so glad to be back.

Twin Boy Onesies and Bibs

One of our cousins just had twin boys.  When I first found out they were having twins I was SUPER excited for them and knew right away that I had to make something awesome for them, even though they live in a different state and none of my other far away cousins got something for their babies.  :)  I guess I'm too partial to twins.  But I'm getting more into this applique thing, who knows what will be next?

After browsing the new mama's Pinterest board for inspiration, this is what I came up with:

The parents are big baseball fans, so I was excited to use a little bit of this baseball fabric I picked up at a yard sale!  Of course, I had to make something with some super cute ties! 

Peanut Butter and Jelly always go together.

I wanted to do something a little extra for these bibs, so I found THIS pattern and embroidered it onto some flannel.  Of course, I don't have an embroidery machine, so all of that stitching was done by hand.  Let's just say it kept me busy during a road trip...

I found the frog fabric in my stash and HAD to use it (I think it was a yard sale find as well).  The little appliqued frogs were totally an after thought.  They were left over from cutting the hole out of the bib for the neck.  What do you think?  Do you like them?

I really love using towels to back my bibs with.  SO easy and cheap and effective.

While we're talking about bibs, I also made this cutie for a neighbor girl who just turned one.   I snapped a quick picture about five minutes before the party (are you surprised?), so this is all I've got.  It's a toddler sized bib - about twice as big as the twin ones, and I stitched around one of those pink butterflies to secure the bib/backing a tad more.  It was SO FUN to get to work with girly fabric!

Since I was in the mood, I decided to whip up a few more bibs for my messy, growing toddler boys.  I ended up making six (three for each of them).  I picked up some flannel at a yard sale for a STEAL awhile ago.  Most of it was smaller pieces, so I had to mix and match a little.  I like the extra weight flannel gives to bibs. 
Here they are!

Oven Mitts

I used to own own a pair of oven mitts (store bought).  And then, within a week, both of them split seams and ended up in the garbage due to a couple of burned hands.

So I got to make some new ones!  I've been waiting for the perfect project for this green argyle and this was definitely it.  The pink dots were a perfect match and I LOVE how they turned out!   I'm a little bit excited to go back something now...

I used THIS tutorial from Skip To My Lou, which was excellent.  Although next time I will have to cut my pieces at least an inch bigger before quilting them.  I had some raw edges that didn't quite make it into the seams.

The argyle was perfect for straight line quilting, while the dots called for meandering.

I didn't have enough of the green to cover the back, so I used up the last of my precious herringbone instead.

Of course, I couldn't stop there!  In my search for the perfect tutorial, I came across THIS one from Help Me Hanna for finger mitts/hot pads.  The tutorial was well written, although I chose to make my own bias tape and I made it WAY too skinny!  (Next time - make it much wider than 1.25")  I really struggled getting it to wrap around all 7 layers and sort of rushed to finish so they don't look as good as they should.  But I love how the colors play together!   

And now the sewing machine is all packed up :( waiting to be moved to our new home. :)  Hopefully I'll be back at it soon!

Rummy Royal II and III

Things have been quiet around here, but that is because I have been busy making gifts!  (And cleaning like crazy.  Our renters moved out and it took two and half weeks to bring the apartment back up to snuff.  :(  Then we bought a house and now I've got to clean OUR apartment - but we bought a house, YAY!!)

Anyway, now that these gifts have been gifted, I can blog about them...

I made both of my dads a Rummy Royal mat, like the one I made for myself.  The Rummy mat has been a huge success and now I won't have to remember to pack mine up every time we visit the family!

My original Rummy mat was made octagonal, which created a problem for anyone who wants to add the "Aces" element to the game.  (If you want to know more about how to play Rummy Royal - check this out:  Rummy.com.  It's a super fun game.).   On the original, I didn't haven anywhere to put the Ace corners, so I just split the Kitty section in half and put them there.  It was a little confusing (just trust me on that one if you've never played before), but I still liked the octagon shape.

After some thought, I decided to make one square mat and one octagonal mat to see which one I liked best.  The square one is for the Dad who introduced me to the game, the octagonal one is for my own Dad. 

Here is the square one:

The suits in the corner are for those who like to bet on the aces. 

This one uses Timeless Treasure Sketch fabrics, just like the original.

My applique skills have improved SIGNIFICANTLY since my last Rummy mat.  These look TONS better.  I really like the appliqued Kitty over the FMQ Kitty I attempted on the original.

The Hubby chose the backs for me - isn't he nice?  I brought out about a dozen prints from my "yard or more" stash and he picked two.  I think this one worked out great.

For binding, I used the same sketch fabrics as the center and attempted to make the center colors match up with the binding colors.  I ended up with slightly more than I needed in yellow and orange, so some of the corners ended up a little wonky with the extra fabric.  Oh well. :)


Here is the octagonal one:

I went back and forth on how to quilt these.  I wanted to try something different on one of them - maybe something with intersecting lines or something.  In the end, I quilted both mats with this spiral octagon.  I felt that having something that laid flat and was evenly and densely quilted was most important.  Thanks again, Mom, for the walking foot!

I wanted to try a scrappy center for this one, so I pulled some green, orange, and blue.  I've got a little bit of Kona, Lizzy House, Tula Pink, and Amy Butler in there.

I combined the aces suits with the kitty section, but added the extra strip of fabric to help divide them and hopefully minimize confusion while playing the game.  I think it looks way better than the original.

I really struggled coming up with a good binding for this one.  Since the center was scrappy, I didn't have enough scraps to match it, so I wanted a one-fabric binding.  At first I picked out that orange/green/brown stripe.  I thought it looked pretty good with the front and even went so far as to make the binding.

 Then I realized that it looked HORRIBLE with the blue backing, so I dug through my stash and came up with this green batik that I've always had a hard time finding a place for.  I think it looks MUCH better!

I did all the binding by machine this time - I wanted it to be extra durable.  

And here's a peek at the original Rummy Royal mat!  Does anyone else want one now?

ETA:  I've created a listing for Rummy Royal mats on Etsy!  You can get your own mat HERE.

Keeping Busy

I haven't had much to show lately, have I?  That's because I've been working on some secret projects - gifts for people who may or may not read this blog.  They will be up soon.

In the meantime, here are a few sneak peaks from my progress on my HUGE Storm at Sea quilt.  I'm still plugging along on that one whenever I get a chance.  Right now I'm working with pretty Oakshotts.

 

In other news, I have been busy cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning.  Next week I will start PACKING.  It turns out that June is the month for preparing TWO apartments (including the one we currently live in) to receive new renters.  Oh - and it's the month for buying a house!  We are so excited to upgrade our space.  I will even get a whole room for my sewing stuff again!  That is - until more kids come along...  Busy, busy.

Also - I'm finally jumping on the Bloglovin Bandwagon.  You can now follow me via Bloglovin.

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