Grandma Quilt Sunday -- Hawaiian Quilt

This beautiful quilt was given to my grandparents years and years ago when they lived in Hawaii. The entire quilt is hand appliqued and hand quilted. I can't believe the amount of detail there is in the applique! I've always wanted to try one of these, but certainly would only do so on a (MUCH!!) smaller scale!


I believe the technique is that there are two pieces of fabric -- the red and the white. They take and fold the red fabric into eighths and cut their design for the center. Then it is pinned to the white fabric and needle-turn appliqued on. The quilting is a ripple effect around the applique.

Gorgeous!

Tutu Cute!

Ha! What a cheesy name for a post!

It was my niece's 1st Birthday party today. I whipped up this sooper floofy tutu for her, using this tutorial. There were just a couple things I ended up tweaking, but overall it was very easy, with super clear instructions. And it turned out so cute! I liked leaving it long and wild-looking, although it would be very easy to change the look just by trimming it up.

Here's what I did a little bit differently from Bethany's tutorial: I followed the "two inches smaller than the waist measurement" instruction, but it ended up GIGANTIC. This very well could have been a problem with my elastic choice! I ended up tying a loopy knot so it wouldn't fall off, but that definitely isn't a permanent solution. Also, since I am incredibly scatter-brained these last couple weeks, I tried to go off memory when I was at the fabric store, and ended up buying four yards of tulle instead of six. Duh! I actually really did like how it turned out with just the four yards, but if I had used more it certainly would have been much more "ballerina-y."

Moral of the story: The tutorial was fantastically easy, and I can't wait to do it again. I never had a tutu or anything like it when I was little, but I tell you -- there is just something about it that I was super-loving, even just making one! So, so girly and cute!

Back to my niece: She was quite happy wearing it -- as long as it didn't touch her face!! Her six-year-old sister was quite envious, and even squeezed herself into it for a little while.

Looks like I'm going to be making more of these in the (very near!) future!!

Flashback Friday -- Peep-Quack-Chirp Blanky

Fleece is SO FRIENDLY to work with! It's very forgiving, and soft and fuzzy. It has just a little stretch, which is perfect for making softies. Best of all, the raw edges don't fray. All these qualities make it absolutely perfect for certain projects!

Last year I made this Peep-Quack-Chirp blanky for my niece's 2nd birthday. Yes, she is obsessed with Peep and the Big Wide World, too!

The little guys are appliqued on using my Top Secret Fleece Applique Technique (okay, I just made that up!), and I just LOVE how they turned out!!

I've also made fleece blankets with intricate snowflakes, trees, Halloween cats, and... gee, I don't know. Lots of others. It's fun and quick and has such a great result!

Goofballs

These little guys certainly aren't a new idea, but let me tell you -- they are ADDICTING to make! They whip up very quickly, and make great baby gifts. I find that even the bigger kids like to use them as ammunition in pillow fights!

Here's what you'll need:

~Flannel scraps (use those ridiculously small pieces!)
~Ribbon scraps (I found a package of 6 coordinating 18" cuts at Target for $1!)
~scissors
~pattern for a 6-sided ball (use mine, or for a bigger one search "fabric ball pattern." It might be easier to start out with a bigger one!)
~pins
~sewing machine
~poly-fil


(right click on the image and select "print picture")


Step One: Cut out three pieces from one flannel,


and three pieces from another. I "fussy cut" these ones so I could center the motifs I liked.


Step Two: Lay them out, alternating the two fabrics.

Step Three: Cut 9 pieces of ribbon about 3" in length. Fold each in half, and pin on every other ball piece -- one ribbon on the left, two ribbons on the right.
**As you are pinning, make sure that the folded side is more than 1/4" inside the opposite side you are pinning it on, to ensure it won't be caught in your stitching!**
(If you are using a larger ball pattern, you may want to use 15 ribbon pieces -- for each piece do two on the left, three on the right.)

Here they are in the order you will sew them.

Step Four: Take your #1 and #2 pieces and put them together face-to-face like you are shutting a book, with #2 on the top. Using your 1/4" foot, sew along the entire right side, backstitching at the beginning and end. I sew right over the pins; nothing bad has ever happened.

Step Five: I like to sew this line again, just to the right of the first row of stitching, to be sure those little ribbons won't be popping out and creating choking hazards.

Step Six: Open your first two and lay them in line to be sure you are going to sew #3 onto the correct side. Take #3 and fold it over #2, once again like you are shutting a book.

This is just a little bit tricky, but don't be scared! Stretch #1 out of the way a little bit, and line up the corners of #2 and #3 as shown in the picture. (Just start with lining up that corner -- don't worry about the rest yet!)

Step Seven: Sew as far as you can before the edges aren't lining up anymore, then stop with your needle down. Pull #3 over to line up the edges, and finish your stitching line. Don't forget to backstitch, and stitch that second line for safety!

Now sew #4, #5 and #6 in the same way so you have two ball halves.

Step Eight: Once again, shut these guys like a book. Starting at the top, pinch the ends together so all those seams line up right in the center (as shown in the photo).

After those ends are together, gently pull the sides of the ball out until they line up flat against each other.

Here, make sure the side that has TWO RIBBONS in it is in front! Starting just behind that endpoint where all the seams line up, backstitch and head all the way around to the other endpoint, lining up the fabric in front of the presser foot. Go slowly!

Then continue around, just past the final ribbon, and backstitch. Don't sew it all the way shut or you won't be able to turn it! Then go back and sew your second line of safety stitching.

Step Nine: Turn your ball right side out. Stick your pointer finger inside the opening, and pinch with your thumb on the outside, as shown in the photo.

Still pinching, push your thumb back through the opening. Those little ribbons are quite handy for pulling this little guy right side out!

Ta-Da! Empty ball!


Step Ten: Stuff it!!
(The more lightly you stuff it, the easier it will be for little tiny hands to grab.)


Step Eleven: Whipstitch the opening shut.

You're done!
I like to pair these with a matching burp cloth for a baby gift!

Toy Basket Liner

It's been quite a week so far, and I can hardly believe it's only Wednesday. I haven't had much time for projects, so I've been working on little bits here and there. Here's one quick thing I threw together:

I took this basic basket, which I've had for AGES...


...and made a new liner for it out of a pillowcase. It will house JellyBean's toys quite nicely, which means they will (hopefully) be up off the floor! Now if only there were a basket large enough to hold all my boys' toys that are taking over....... Nothing is that big!