Reindeer Shirts

A friend of mine asked me to make some matching shirts for her & her sister's children for Christmas.  I think she wants them all to match on Christmas morning for photos....how adorable, right?!?

I thought reindeer would be a good Christmas symbol that was unisex!

I had a heck of a time finding a reindeer pattern so I ended up having to make one on my own.  I did find a picture online that I liked it and I used it as an inspiration/guide.  I thought I would share my pattern here in case someone else out there is looking for one!   This is a jpg so you can copy and re-size it to whatever size you need.

I used Heat N Bond Ultra for the lettering, because some of it was intricate and I did not want to sew around it.  I used regular Heat N Bond for the reindeer so that I could embroider around them.

The girls reindeer have bows on the antlers and for the one boy, I made his reindeer nose red.

I think they turned out so cute and may just have to do another project with these little guys!

Here are some shots of mine ready to be applied.

Chunky Cowl

It is getting to be that time of year here in Illinois and it is really starting to cool off.  When the weather gets like this, I really get the urge to crochet!  It is just not a craft that I can get into in the spring and summer, but fall and winter I LOVE it.

I decided to whip up a chunky cowl for myself and then another for a friend.  I apologize for the pictures...I took them with my phone in not the best lighting!

Here is one that was done in a chunkier yarn.

This one was done in a regular yarn with a large needle.

I used an N(9mm) hook for both.

Start with a Foundation chain or a single crochet.   I used about 75 stitches for my regular yarn one and about 60 for the chunky yarn one.  

Use a Herringbone Half Double Crochet for as many rows as you like until you have reached the thickness you would like. 

Once you have reached the desired size, join the narrow ends with a whip stitch and weave in ends.

FCH-Foundation Chain:  Chain 2.  Insert hook in the first of two chains.  Yarn over, draw through loop (chain stitch just created).  Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.  You now have two fch completed.  *Insert hook in upper loop of stitch just created.  Yarn over, draw through loop.  Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.*  Three FCH completed.  Repeat from * to * across for desired number of chain stitches.

HHDC-Herringbone Half Double Crochet:  Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch.  Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.  Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.

Make sure to HHDC in the Back Loop Only for each stitch across!

Box of Sunshine

It has already been an incredibly busy week at work.  I have taken a new position that I start in a couple of weeks and I have been frantically trying to get things in order before I go.

It is a bittersweet departure as I work with some really great people!  One of them was pretty down today (for a very legitimate reason which I won't go into).  I think the world of this gal and wanted to do something to cheer her up.  What could be better on a cloudy day than a box of sunshine?

 Here is my finished box:

Now, I already had this great container that a friend gave me a while back.  It actually came with a lid, but in this case, I can't use it.

So, I started with my container and the top of my paper shredder.  You know the pesky ends of shipping paper rolls?  That piece that is too short to wrap a box with but just big enough that the Hoarder in you doesn't want to throw it out? Cut those into strips the width of your shredder and let them fall straight in your container like so:

Next, I took some tissue paper, cut it into strips and ran those through the shredder.

Fill the box with your sunshine.  I chose a lot of lemon flavor items.  My friend has a little girl that is young, so I figured she could use some of the items in the box :).

I will probably add some paper flowers as filler.  You could also use a hat box for this and prop the lid up behind the back and shrink wrap it.  I can think of a ton of ideas!  If you make one send a photo my way!

Boo Bags!

Well, it's been another weekend of a head full of craft projects and not enough time to do them all!

I had to get some treats ready for my littlest guys school party on Halloween by tomorrow, so my other projects had to take a back seat for a while today.

Now, I have always said that when your financially challenged, you have to be creative.  I think some of my creativity comes out of necessity, really.  

I was looking for a project that I could give one of to 20+ kids in the classroom for under $10.  A tall order, I know, but I managed to pull it off!

These little "Boo Bags" fit the bill perfectly!

To make these, you will need:

• 3 bags of Cheeto's Puffcorn (or less, depending on how many you are making).
• Cheap (and I mean any bag will do) Ziploc bags.
• Printer Paper
• Black construction paper
• Stapler
• Sharpie
• Glue

I got about 6 Boo Bags per Puffcorn bag.  I also did some microwave popcorn mummies, so the 18 Boo Bags plus my popcorn mummies will take care of everyone in the class. :)

1) Fill each Ziploc bag with Puffcorn a little more than half way.

2)  Cut strips of construction paper the width of your Ziploc bag and about 4-5 inches tall.  Fold each strip in half, position it over the top of the bag (to hide the zip strip) and staple it down on each side.

3)  Make some ovals on your computer that are about 1 1/2" tall.  Print them off and cut them out.

4)  Glue two eyes on each bag.

5)  Use Sharpie Marker to draw a black dot on each eye.

This craft couldn't be simpler, was fast and cheap and I think the kiddos will get a little kick out of them.

Now....off to make my little guy's costume out of a pack of construction paper and an empty cardboard box!

Mug Rug!

Today I was inspired to make my first Mug Rug after seeing one on Craftsy.  The one on Craftsy was a fall one with a couple of pumpkins.  It was cute, but I wanted to try for one that was not seasonal and I could use anytime at my desk at work or in my sewing room.

I also think that small projects like this give you an opportunity to experiment and practice your fundamentals.  

My experiment on this little project was putting a roughly 1/8" seam around the edge before binding it.  I have been wondering for some time now if that would make the binding easier to fold over when doing my hand stitching on the back.  I think that it did make a difference on this project and I will probably use the technique again in the future.

I actually think you could get away with not binding this and just doing a 1/4 inch seam around the edge.  However, lately I have been on a big "frame everything in white" kick, and this project was no different!

Here is a shot of my finished project.  Start to finish...maybe a 45 minute project.  This (to me) makes it perfect for gift giving!  I am itching to try a square one with an applique monogram......I feel another project coming on!

Circle Quilt Part 2

Today I got through enough steps on the quilt to do Part 2 of this tutorial.  Now that you have your circles made, you are ready for your next step.

Arrange all of your circles on your backing fabric.  I used a roughly 42" X 42" piece of muslin.  I really contemplated putting these on a white background (which would have looked great), but I have always wanted to do a top with muslin.  I had this muslin lying around that someone had given me and I used a little more than a half of a charm pack on this quilt, so for the roughly $3.50 I have in this top....I figured I could chance it with the muslin.

After you have your circles arranged the way you like, pin each one down.  I just used a single quilting pin in each circle.

Next, following the package directions on your fusible stabilizer, iron each circle down.  

Now, using a narrow zig-zag stitch.  Sew each circle down to your backing fabric.

Here is a finished circle.  They are actually quite flat once they are sewn down.

And, here is a shot of some of them tacked down and some not sewn down yet.  

 I have not quite made a decision on how I am going to quilt mine just yet! 

Circle Quilt

Well, this weekend I have a LOT of projects going in the sewing room.  I just finished cutting a quilt kit for my mother, who is making a quilt for the newest addition to the family....a new grand daughter.  This marks the first grand daughter in the family :).

I have another "Basket Weave" quilt in the works as well.  This one I am calling "A Walk in the Woods".  I will show that one later when it's a little more presentable.

So, in the midst of these projects I decided to try out a circle quilt that I have really, really been wanting to do.  I am calling this "Part 1" of the tutorial on how to make it.

This would be the absolute perfect quilt to make if you only had two or three days to put something hand made together for a baby shower!  It is simple and easy.  I am a firm believer that a quilt doesn't have to be complex or difficult to be beautiful and I love the modern cute look of the fabrics in this one.

Here are some of my circles:

Start by selecting a circle template in whatever size you want.  I started with charm squares for my fabric so I used a CD which was the PERFECT size.  For my quilt, I am using 25 circles.  Use your circle template and cut out as many circles as you like.  

Next, cut the same amount of circles out of a lightweight fusible stabilizer with the same circle template.  I just picked up some at Jo Ann Fabric.

Now, take a circle of fabric and a circle of stabilizer and put them right side of fabric and fusible side of stabilizer together.

Now sew your circle completely closed all the way around.  Sew as close to the edge you can while still making sure to get both the stabilizer and fabric.

If you are wondering why you don't leave an opening....here is the answer. 

 Pull the fabric and the stabilizer apart from one another and cut a small to medium sized slit in the stabilizer.  Be careful not to cut your fabric!  Turn your circle inside out.  Trust me, it won't matter that the stabilizer has a cut in it later in the process.

Next, use a pencil or sewing marker and gently shape your seam to flatten out your circle.  Be careful not to push too hard!

Now you have a finished circle! 

Now, fashion as many as you like and come back in a few days for the next segment of this tutorial!

Flower Basket Quilt Pattern

Well, my flower basket quilt is finished (except for binding).  I promised a pattern and here it is.  Now, bear with me here.....I have never written a pattern before.  Come to think of it, I have only ever followed one or two quilt patterns.  I have made one particular quilt several times, but now that I think about it, it is only one of two patterns for a quilt I have ever used.  

I usually just come up with my own, but never write the directions down.  I get inspiration from all sorts of places and when I think of a quilt I want to make I sit down with excel or graph paper and figure out how I am going to make it.  I cut all the pieces and put them on my design wall, then figure out what order I am going to sew the pieces, what direction I am going to iron my seams and how to assemble the rows.

That being said, here is my first attempt at writing down how I made a quilt!  Please feel free to email or comment with any questions and I will do my best to answer.

Here are a couple of shots of mine quilted:

You will need:

41 5" X 5" Charm Squares (I used Moda Coquette)

100  2" X 5" Rectangles (Mine are white).  This is 3/4 Yard of fabric.

60 2" X 2" Squares of an accent color (Mine are yellow).  This is less than 1/4 yard. 

8 6 1/2" X 6 1/2" Squares for the sides of blanket or end of rows (Mine are white.  Yours need to be the same color as your rectangles).  This is less than a 1/4 yard.

1 7 1/4" Square for corners.  This is less than 1/8 yard.

This quilt is assembled on the diagonal and I worked from bottom right corner to top left corner.  This is certainly not the last word on how to assemble this quilt, this is just my method of doing it.

Each odd numbered row begins and ends with a 2" X 2" Square and each even numbered row begins and ends with a 2" X 5" Rectangle.

Row #1 - 2 Squares / 1 Rectangle

Row #2 - 2 Rectangles / 1 Charm Square

Row #3 - 4 Squares / 3 Rectangles

Row #4 - 4 Rectangles / 3 Charm Squares

Row #5 - 6 Squares / 5 Rectangles

Row #6 - 6 Rectangles / 5 Charm Squares

Row #7 - 8 Squares / 7 Rectangles

Row #8 - 8 Rectangles / 7 Charm Squares

Row #9 - 10 Squares / 9 Rectangles

Row #10 - 10 Rectangles / 9 Charm Squares

Row #11 - 10 Squares / 9 Rectangles

(Rows 9-11 are "segmented" from the other rows for a reason.  Explanation coming up!)

Row #12 - 8 Rectangles / 7 Charm Squares

Row #13 - 8 Squares / 7 Rectangles

Row #14 -  6 Rectangles / 5 Charm Squares

Row #15 - 6 Squares / 5 Rectangles

Row #16 - 4 Rectangles / 3 Charm Squares

Row #17 - 4 Squares / 3 Rectangles

Row #18 - 2 Rectangles / 1 Charm Square

Row #19 - 2 Squares / 1 Rectangle

Assemble each row ironing seams to the dark on each row.  On even rows, this means you will iron your seams toward your 2" X 2" Squares and on odd rows you will iron your seams toward your Charm Squares.

Next, assemble the rows in this order:

Rows #1 & #2

Rows #3 & #4

Rows #5 & #6

Rows #7 & #8

Rows #9, #10 & #11

Rows #12 & #13

Rows #14 & #15

Rows #16 & #17

Rows #18 & #19

Iron your seams toward the Charm Squares on each row.  Now, I actually ironed mine toward the rectangles and small squares, so please, Quilt Police....don't come get me!  It really should have been ironed toward the Charm Squares, but some things can only be seen in hindsight!

So, you should end up with 9 rows total.  

Now that you have those assembled, cut your 6 1/2" squares corner to corner.  These will be sewn to the end of 8 of your rows to complete your strip.  The longest side of each triangle should face out.  I find it easy to get confused on these and would suggest you lay it out so that you can get your mind clear on which edge you are sewing to your strip.

Sew one triangle to each end of rows:

#1 & #2

#3 & #4

#5 & #6

#7 & #8

#12 & #13

#14 & #15

#16 & #17

#18 & #19

Do not sew these onto your row that is made up of strips #9, #10 & #11!

Now that you have your rows complete, sew each together in any order you like.  I assembled each half first and then attached each half to my large center strip (#9, #10 & #11).  

Now cut your 7 1/4" Square from corner to corner and again from corner to corner on the opposite corner.  You will have 4 small triangles.  Sew each triangle onto each corner.  There is not much room for error with these measurements so I suggest pinning so your corners don't slip on you!

And, wha-la, you are finished.

This quilt measures 42" X 42" finished.  You could certainly add a border to make it larger, but I liked the absence of a border.  Quilt however you like.  I love the simplicity of the straight lines on mine, but I think this quilt would be beautiful stippled as well.

There are a few pictures of this quilt in varying stages on this blog, so I would suggest using them for reference.  I take a photo of it on my design wall and have to use it often when making a quilt.  

Flower Basket Quilt

I did a post a little bit back about my design wall.  When I did that post I had thrown up some charm squares I had just gotten on it.  I could already see that it was going to be a beautiful quilt, and now that it is all laid out on my design wall, I am even more excited about it!  I am calling this quilt "Flower Basket" and it will be available on my Etsy shop when it is finished.  The pattern will also be available here on this blog when it is done.

I say this every quilt I make, but this is my favorite quilt so far!  It just screams spring and little girl!

Design Wall Heaven

I am super excited about my latest quilt project.  Granted, it is about 4 projects down the line from now.  But....when I threw these charm squares up on my design wall, I knew this was going to be a beautiful quilt.

Now, it's really too early to talk about the quilt (but the pattern will be available in the future when I complete this quilt), but I'm really posting to talk about my design wall.

This was, by far, the BEST few bucks I ever invested in my quilting room!  I always thought I could not afford a design wall, until I stumbled upon this idea online.  It works like a charm and is super cheap to make.  I LOVE having the freedom to arrange all my pieces, and rearrange them, and rearrange them some more until I love my design.  I also love that I can walk away from it for a day or two without it taking up space on my table or floor.

This design wall is made of:

1 Large Tablecloth from Wal - Mart.  Get an inexpensive one that is plastic on one side and sort of fuzzy/felt on the other side.

4 Command Strip Hooks

4 Curtain Rings with Hooks.  I got mine at Wal-Mart.  They are small rings with a clip built on so you just clip them right on where you want to.

That is it.  My fabulous other half measured and leveled for me so I knew how to evenly space out my Command Hooks.  I did have to trim and hem the end of my tablecloth a bit so that it did not drag on the floor.

You literally just press your fabric against the cloth and it stays where you put it!

If you don't have a design wall, or think you can't afford one, I highly recommend this cheap solution.  It has worked wonders for me! 

Flannel, flannel.....and more flannel!

Today has been another one of those Sundays where I feel like the walls are closing in on me because I have 1,000 things I want to get done before the new work week that is just mere hours away!

Guess I shouldn't have spent all day yesterday yard sale shopping, going to the movies and grocery shopping!

After a frantic morning of trying to get my housework done and my meals planned and precooked (as far as I can take them) for the week, I decided to squeeze in some time doing what I love before going back to work......quilting.

Some time back, someone commissioned me (for lack of a better term) to make 6 cupcake quilts for their grand daughters.  She had a ton of chocolate brown cupcake fabric and wanted some used in every quilt.  I was down to my last one and it has been 75% finished for quite some time now.  I just have not been "in the mood" to work on it lately.  But, today I decided to step away from my vintage sheets for a few hours and finish up this quilt!

This was the last of the 6 and, as far as I am concerned, a bit of a scrap quilt.  By the time I got to this one, I did not have enough of the focus fabric to do whatever pattern I pleased.  Instead, I had to work with what little I did have and make something that made sense.

I don't have a formal pattern for this quilt as I did not use one, I just sort of winged it!  However, I can tell you that there are:

90 3 1/2" squares (solid green)
90 3 1/2" X 6 1/2" rectangles (various patterns/colors)

You essentially put them together in an alternating pattern and fashion as many rows as you like.  I honestly think this would have looked nice in a group of solids as well.

If you happen to make one, send a picture my way!

Here are some of the other cupcake quilts in the "collection" 

"Argyle"

"Chocolate Hopscotch"

"Zig Zag"

"Neapolitan"

This one was for a baby and I made the executive decision not to use the chocolate cupcake fabric and opt for a pastel one instead.  

Vintage Project Update

Well, here are some photos of the Vintage Sheet Quilt in various stages.  This quilt is turning out beautifully.  I love the simplicity of the pattern and the colors in it.  The green highlights the pink well!  And, the more rows I put together, the more I love it.

Vintage Sheet Project

I am always trying to expand my horizons with quilt making.  I have made quite a few quilts but I still consider myself quite the beginner.  I have recently started getting into vintage sheets.  I have found some at yard sales and, recently, a good friend of mine gave me some that were her late mother's.  They were beautiful and the thought of making something out of sheets that were so old really appealed to me.  The idea of making something that someone was about to turn into trash into something that could be treasured just tickles me.

I don't normally go for the flowery, girly patterns....particularly roses.  But, when I saw these sheets, they really spoke to me.  I think it must be the squiggly blue in them that called to me.  It toned down the flower pattern enough for my pallet and it also reminded me of stipple quilting which I think makes a quilt look just yummy and scrunchy.  Now, these came from a yard sale so I can't be sure how old these are or how "vintage" these are.  The blue and pink sheets are definitely old enough to be called vintage, though.

These are not all the fabrics that will be in the quilt, but these are the dominant ones.

And, here is a sneak peek of one row.  It is hardly a reflection of the finished project, but I do like the feel of it so far!  I have dubbed this quilt "Tea Cup Rose Garden".  It will be a beautiful addition to my bedroom when it is finished.  :)

Quilt For Kids

Downy has a great program to give quilts to little ones in the hospital.  The program is called Touch of Comfort and you can check it out here.  

You go online, sign up, and they send you a kit with fabric and a pattern.  You assemble the quilt, wash it and ship it back.  I just love this program and had a wonderful time working on this little project over the weekend.

The programs website says that they have collected more than 20,000 quilts for sick children through this program!  If you are a quilter, you should really consider participating.  This quilt is small and easy and could be made in one or two days by an experienced quilter.  It is also easy enough that a beginner could assemble it as well.

Here are some shots of mine:

Daisy Wheel Crochet Washcloth

I just finished up this washcloth for my bathroom. It will be one of several to coordinate with a new shower curtain I got at a yard sale.  

I stumbled across this pattern online over a year ago.  I loved it!  I printed it off, made one, gave it away then stowed the pattern away in a crate for a rainy day.  When i finally decided to make one for myself....could not for the life of me remember what I did with it.  I thought, "no problem, I will just google it".  Yeah....two days later and zip....zilch.  Finally found it in a bin full of patterns.  My faith in the world was restored!

I worked this one up while watching Breaking Bad on Netflix tonight.  But, I thought maybe I should throw this up on my blog in case 1) someone else may be looking for it and 2) in a year from now, I may decide to make another one and won't know what the heck I did with the pattern!

Happy Hooking!

It is my understanding that this pattern was originally available as a free pattern from Lily that someone picked up from Michaels.....not positive where it originated to be honest.

Instructions:

With 1st color, ch 4.  Join with sl st to form ring.

First round:  Ch 3 (counts as dc).  9 dc in ring.  Join with sl st to top of ch 3.  10 dc.

Second round:  Ch 3 (counts as dc).  1 dc in same sp as sl st.  *2 dc in next dc.  Repeat from * around.  Join next color with sl st to first dc.  20 dc.

Third round:  With 2nd color, ch 3 (count as dc).  1 dc in same sp as sl st.  *2 dc in next dc.  Rep from * around.  Join with sl st to top of ch 3.  40 dc.

Fourth round:  Ch 3 (counts as dc).  1 dc in each of next 2 dc.  2 dc in next dc.  *1 dc in each of next 3 dc.  2 dc in next dc.  Rep from * around.  Join 1st color with sl st to top of ch 3.  50 dc.

Fifth round:  With 1st color, ch 3 (counts as dc).  1 dc in each dc around.  Join with sl st to top of ch 3.

Sixth round:  Ch 3.  1 dc in each of next 3 dc.  2 dc in next dc.  *1 dc in next 4 dc.  2 dc in next dc.  Rep from * around.  Join 2nd color with sl st to top of ch 3.  60 dc.

Seventh round:  With 2nd color, ch 1.  1 sc in same sp as sl st.  * Miss next dc.  8 tr in next dc.  Miss next dc.  1 sc in next dc.  Rep from * to last 3 dc.  Miss next dc.  8 tr in next dc.  Miss last dc.  Join with sl st to first sc.

Fasten off and ta dahhh!