Patch Abilities Class-Feb

I attended my first PatchAbilities class at Quilts and Things.  Most ladies who attend the class don't come to quilt but to socialize... since I don't have a whole lot of time to quilt at home, I brought my machine and started working.  Due to it being the first class and a lot of people not showing up, we were late starting the class.  I was able to get the background sewn together and the appliqué pieces cut out during the class.  If the next class starts on time then I can get more done during class time and that is my hope.

After the class, I came home and positioned my appliqué pieces and fused them.  I have not yet started the button hole stitch around the appliqués yet because the teacher told us to quilt it with just the top and batting.  I have never done that before so I am going in on Saturday for more instruction.  Below is a photo of what I have thus far.

We work on the piece for a few months ahead of the current month so that maybe it will get finished in time to use.  In February, we are working on April's hanging.

Spring Arts and Crafts Boutique

I mentioned in a previous post that I will be a vendor at a craft fair hosted by my wonderful Mom's Group, Morgan Hill Mom's Meetup.  Advertisements have been purchased and it is being called the "Spring Arts and Crafts Boutique."  It falls March 9th and I have been working to sew items to sale.  

• I have the 4 full aprons and 1 half apron I posted in a previous post.
• I have also completed two other half aprons, 1 toddler size and 1 kids size. 

• 8 coloring book holders: 4 boy and 4 girl

• 1 of 4 (set of 4) picnic roll.  Plans for two more sets of 4 in different fabric.

• 1 baby quilt (photo not available)
• 2 sets of 10 colored beanbags (unfinished)

Other things in the works is some quilted bookmarks, coffee cup snuggies and two small tote bags.  If I have the time, I should have enough fabric for two doll quilts.  Then I think I will be done.  Hopefully what I have will be sufficient to turn a profit.

Mid-Month Check-in: M's Quilt

It's the 15th of February and time for my mid-month check-in for the "Lovely Year of Finishes" Challenge.

I have basted and begun machine quilting M's Quilt.  I stitched in the ditch around the pinwheels in a dark purple.   I am not crazy about how it looks on the back of the quilt and wish I would have used white in the bobbin but it's done and I don't think it looks bad enough to rip out so it stays.  I have stitched around all pinwheels but one.  That one lines up with the appliqué on the pieced back.  I will probably stitch around the appliqué on the back so that my stitching from the front does not obscure my lovely appliqué on the back.  

My plan was to stitch a vine like pattern on the green nine-patch blocks in a similar green color.  I  couldn't figure out how to make it work considering my limited quilting experience so the *new* plan is to stitch around the center green block of the nine-patch and a second larger square around the center square approximately 1 inch from the first stitch.

Lastly, I think I am going to stitch a large zigzag in the border, but I have been known to change my mind :)  I very much wish I had more machine quilting experience because I'd like this quilt to be perfect for my little girl.

Stay tuned for the finished project at the end of the month.

M's Quilt-UFO Challenge

M's Quilt top

So I have decided to join The Lovely Year of Finishes hosted by Melissa of Sew Bitter Sweet Designs and Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts to help deal with this UFO problem I have.  I am coming in a month late, so February is my first month.

For February, I choose to finish the quilt I started for my baby girl just before she was born, almost two years ago.  It is a completed top and a pieced back but needs to be sandwiched, quilted and bound.  These steps are the hardest for me because I haven't actually finished many quilts.  Check back around the 15th for progress.

 

Pieced quilt back for M's Quilt

I digress

I started this blog as a quilter, now I find myself not only quilting but making other projects as seen in the last two posts.  Well my girlfriend and fellow mom's group organizer is putting on a craft show.  All crafty mom's in the group have been invited to participate by purchasing a table ($25) and donating two items for a raffle.  I have next to nothing finished but want to participate.  Heck, it kind of sounds like fun.  So I asked my quilting friend, Shannon, to go in on a table with me.  Surely between the two of us we can fill a booth?!  Not only does it cut the table fee in half for me thereby making my profits easier to come by, I also only have to submit one item for the raffle again making my money making potential higher.

So what to make... I have gotten pretty good about aprons so off to the internet for free patterns.  I found a ton for both kids and adults.  I didn't find exactly what I wanted so I modified and I've put together (2) reversible kids full aprons, (2) kids full aprons (not reversible), (1) kids half apron and (2) sets of kids bean bag tossers (7 of 10 done).  I plan to make one more kids full apron to donate to the raffle and haven't decided on that fabric yet.  I didn't like the kids half apron I tried so I found another pattern and have two cut out and ready to sew for tomorrow.  I also would like to use the (2) kids quilt panels that I have been hoarding for no reason since I now have all the fabric and batting for them; some adult aprons (pattern and fabric undecided); some doll quilts (seriously, how hard can they be?), mini coloring tote, a few quilted clutches and some smocked bibs (I love these).  The craft fair is March 9th and I am sewing my fingers to the bone to get a good deal of stuff done.  I was thinking a few of many different items but the apron photos I have been posting on FB are getting such great response that I may choose to do more if I have time.

Here's what I've got so far:

                         

             

The Great Apron Debacle

My quilt guild has a optional homemade gift item exchange each year.  This year they choose a apron as the project.  The guidelines were that you make an apron (any style, your choice) and bring it to the Christmas Party, wrapped.  

I am not a pattern user and honestly, I've never made anything except straight-line quilts.  This was quite a challenge for me.  I spent 3 days (2 with my quilting friend and 1 own my own) working on this.  I generally don't work on crafty stuff during the day because my kids often get in trouble while I am working.  But I ignored them in the name of a deadline.  I even went out and bought fabric just for this project because I was sure that no one would like the stuff from my stash.  I have different tastes than the older ladies in my guild.  It was a learning experience but overall I was pleased with my project.   The below photo was the product of my efforts.

The apron I made for the quilt guild's Christmas Party gift exchange item.

Upon arrival at the Christmas party, you received a number and the same number was put on your package. We then drew a number based on the order we arrived.  Mine was # 33 because I was the last to arrive.   The group began drawing numbers and there were some beautiful aprons coming around... it  was amazing to see how talented our guild members are.  As the last person, I didn't draw a number.  I got what ever hadn't been picked.  I was so excited, I'd seen some great aprons.  There wasn't one I wouldn't have loved to have.  So when I got my bag, I eagerly ripped into it and found an apron that was not per the guidelines.  In fact, it was the only one of the night where someone "bought" the apron.  It was a kid-sized canvas apron with a Maxine comic iron-ed on and a ribbon stitched around the comic.   It is the photo below.

The apron I got at the guild's Christmas Party gift exchange.

I was gracious and acted excited but I was hurt and angry. Why would someone participate in a optional gift exchange if they didn't have time to properly do the project?!  The card inside said nothing about who made it; why would they when they did such a dismal job?  Normally, I am not phased by getting the "bad" gift in an exchange but this just it irritated me.  This person put in next to no effort and in turn got a amazing, homemade apron. That's just not fair.

I stewed on this for days and finally decided that I wasn't going to take this laying down.  So I decide to make a 2nd apron and this time for myself.  I pulled some fabric out of my stash that I love but didn't know what to do with.  I was not particularly happy with the first pattern I'd used... it was too difficult for me and I am not a fan of ruffles.  So I trolled the internet and found a free pattern on Joann.com for The Josephine Apron.  I decided to make this one for myself.  It took me several days over a few weeks (because we were getting ready for Christmas) but I got it done.  It is below and I LOVE how it turned out.  My one complaint is that the top is too wide and bunches a bit but I can deal with that. 

The apron I made for myself after what will forever be known as The Great Apron Debacle.

So what happened to the apron I got at the exchange?  I brought it to a White Elephant party and re-gifted it with some Joanns coupons.  Maybe someone else will have the motivation to re-do it but I can not stand to look at it because it makes me mad every time I see it.

EC Trainer Tutorial

Today I moved my quilting projects aside to make some EC Trainers for my 16 month old daughter.  I haven't been able to find potty training pants to fit her but she's using the potty so I need something easy to get on and off.  I found a great FREE pattern at Do-it-yourself EC: Non-waterproof training pants.  The pattern is super easy... I only had two "accidents" and for me, that's unbelievable.

EC Trainer for Baby Girl

1.  Line up the patterns on the fabric fold as indicated on the pattern printout and pin throughout.

For the underpants portion, I used a cute frog print (pictured left)  The fabric is a 100% cotton interlock found at Joann Fabrics.

The waist and leg bands were made of a rib knit
(pictured below) also found at Joann Fabrics.  This fabric is the stuff that sweatshirt cuffs are made of.

2. Cut out the patterns.  The photo to the left is what the underwear portion looks like after being cut out.

The photo to the right shows what the cut out waist and leg bands look like.  Be sure to cut out 2 leg bands.

3.  Cut out four inserts.  I used flannel as it is super absorbent and cheap but you can use anything you want.  I found it easiest to fold the fabric to make four layers.  Then cut out using a rotary cutter.  Go slow and hold it steady to avoid problems shifting or over-cutting. 

4.  The pattern recommends gluing and basting the inserts rather than serging them together.  I always have issues with shifting so I decided to sew them together.  I don't have a serger so I decided to use a overcasting stitch around the edge, which worked very well.

5. As per the pattern instructions, use a small zigzag stitch along the top and bottom of the insert to attach it to the non-printed side of the underwear piece. In the photos to the left and right, I am pointing to where I sewed the pieces together. 

The above photo shows what the right side of the underwear portion should look like after the insert is sewn in.

6. Fold the underwear portion, and the bands, right sides together.  Line up the sides of the underwear and pin together.  Pin the ends of the bands together.  Sew along the pinned edges using a overcasting stitch.  Be super careful when starting at the edges, my machine ate the edges.  I ended up starting half way down the side to the end then flipping it over and starting again from the middle down the unfinished end.  The photo above is what you should end up with.

7. Turn the underwear right side out.  Take the waist band and pin it, raw edge to raw edge with the underwear portion.  Pin at the back, front, sides and an additional one between each of these points.  You will have to pull the waist band taunt to get it to match up with the underwear.  I found that doing this as I sewed (rather than loading the whole thing with pins) worked best.  Sew the raw edges together using a overcasting stitch.  Be sure to catch all three edges.  The above photos show how I pinned the waist band. 

The waist band and underwear portion connected using a overcasting stitch.

8. Once you've completed overstitching the waist bandd, do the same with the leg bands.  

8. Stand back and marvel at the great job you did.

The above picture is the pair of trainers featured in this tutorial.  They are a large and too loose on my 22 lbs, 16 month old.  I ended up making a second pair in the medium size.  Photos to come of the medium size trainers for comparison.  Keep this sizing in mind when choosing which size to make for your little one.

Special thanks to Green Mommy for sharing her FREE EC Trainer pattern.