Simple Halloween Skirt

Hello! I hope you are all getting ready for a spooktacular Halloween! I know I am! We took the kids to the corn maze/pumpkin patch last week and while we were there I saw some girls in some cute skirts, so it made me itch to make one for Emma! I found all of my fabric choices at Hobby Lobby and while they aren't Hallween prints, they work! I knew I wanted a black and white, green, orange and purple so I looked high and low to find the perfect prints. I try and do all of my sewing while the babies are napping, so I knew I had to make it quick.

For the top, I simply sewed strips of quarter yard fabric together in each of the five prints. For the bottom, I cut 5 inch squares of all of the fabrics, sewed them together in a line (like a quilt) and then folded it in half, pressed it and sewed it to the top portion.

I really liked how the different seams came together to give it a quirky look.

Once that was done, I was able to sew the printed ribbon to the bottom. It is from Martha Stewart and I have been hoarding it for years. It was the perfect project to use it on. After the ribbon was in place, I sewed the whole thing into a tube. I made a simple elastic waistband and I was done.....well....almost. I had to add a few buttons to the bottom. I chose to add one where each of the large panels intersected with the bottom band. I alternated between black, green and white. I think it gave it just the right amount of extra for a simple skirt! LOL!

Forgive me for the photos...I took them in the morning before school, so the light wasn't right, yet. The thing I like about this skirt is that you can turn it whichever way for the front or back depending on what shirt you use. I had so much fun making it and I have some left over fabric that I might make a table runner with it. We shall see......

We are having a Halloween party this Saturday for my kids and their friends so I will be busy. I hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!

Thank you Emma for being such a great little model.

Sweet Divinity Baby Bib

Hello! It's me again! Shocking I know, but here nonetheless! I am excited to share the baby bib I worked on yesterday. I used the scraps from my quilt from my last post to make a quick bib. It is the same as all of my Cute as a button as far as the squares being constructed, but I made a few changes on this one. Since I am right in the middle of putting bibs on my little one at least 3 times a day, I decided to add a snap for the closure. I usually put double fold bias tape and have a tie, but sometimes you are just in a hurry, baby is cranky and tying a bow is the last thing that you want to do. I hope that the snap holds us. I used the Prym-Dritz snap system and I have had trouble before on another project, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that the snap will hold up!

I also changed things up and did the decorative stitching vertical, rather than on the diagonal. I chose to do it this way simply because of the pattern of the fabric that I ended up using right in the middle. I didn't want to compete with the diagonal pattern that was already going on. I added a felt flower and a button, which I know is a choking hazard, but I will tell her that she can clip it off if she feels like she needs to. I didn't tack it down to tight, so it be easy to clip it off. I just couldn't resist! The flower die, felt and Buttons are all from Papertrey Ink.

I made a card to match the bib and quilt! I just couldn't resist! I had already made her a card, but after it was all said and done, I had to make one to coordinate! I will be working on some Onesies next, which I will share when I am done!

If you would like more details about the card, you can visit me here. Have a great day and Happy Sewing!!!!

Sweet Divinity Baby Quilt

A friend of mine is adopting a baby any day now and I wanted to make her a quilt for her new little bundle. I absolutely fell in love with this beautiful fabric from Riley Blake Designs called "Sweet Divinity". The sample at the store used pinwheels on their design so I decided to use pinwheels for mine as well. I have done pinwheels before, so I didn't have to fiddle at all. I wanted a smaller, more blankety quilt; something that she could throw on the baby while in the car seat or cuddle up with. I have had larger quilts and because of the bulk, they really aren't comfortable or practical. I didn't use regular batting, either. I opted for diaper flannel and it worked out perfectly.

When I found out that the quilt shop was 3 months out on machine quilting, I decided to do it myself. I used my walking foot, so I couldn't get too fancy. I added the rick-rack to liven it up and I really like how it turned out. You have no idea how much I wanted to add buttons, but they are a choking hazard, unfortunately. A friend of mine has her daughter machine quilt her things at the high school for free. I might have to check into that in the future.

I told the kids to put in a movie last night, so that I could sit down with them while I finished handsewing the binding. It went quicker than I thought since it is a smaller project.
I had so much fun making this quilt and I will be making a few bibs with the leftover fabric, so I will post those when I am done. I have always found that when my creative well runs dry, it is nice to switch mediums to get them flowing again. My papercrafting well has been running dry lately so it was nice to sit down to the sewing machine. Have a great rest of the week and happy sewing!

Car Seat Cover-Up

Before Rowan was born, I really wanted to get a car seat cover made. I quickly whipped this up and I am so glad that I have it. The genius that came up with this idea really needs to be congratulated. The last time I used a baby seat, I just put a blanket over the top and called it good. These are so handy and they stay in place and don't slip off, etc. etc.....

I don't know the line of fabric for the top, but the lining is fabric from "My Mind's Eye". I had to laugh that of all the fabrics, I would pick one from a paper designer as well. I like having the darker fabric on the bottom, since it makes it nice and dark when Rowan is sleeping in there.

When I was buying my fabric, I asked the sewing shop clerk if she knew the dimensions that I should use (at this time, we hadn't bought the car seat). She told me to make my cover 42 inches by 42 inches with rounded corners. The extra fabric was used to make the handles, which really need to be measured based on what car seat you will be using.

I also added some super jumbo ric-rac to the edges, which I really like. It gives it some extra detail which I like.

The clerk suggested I use velcro for the handles, but I didnt have any that wasn't sticky back, so I simply made button holes and sewed on some buttons. Easy, Peasy and I didn't have to run to the store for extra supplies.

Of course, this is the best part...getting to see the sweet little bundle underneath. I get compliments on the car seat cover and the baby everywhere I go! LOL! I actually have been wanting to make another one, so that when I have one in the wash, I have another one to use.

Crayon Carry-All

The other day I got a little bee in my bonnet and decided to try my hand at making a bag for my daughter's friend for one of her Birthday gifts. I had made her a card and thought that a coordinating sewn project would be fun. I had a couple of fat quarters lying around that I had purchased a few years ago to make some bibs. I decided that they would work perfectly for my project.

I had seen a bag similar to this a while back at the sewing store, but it was made with loud, bright colors and wasn't my cup of tea, if you will. Since I don't have a pattern, I just had to make it up as I went along. The only goal I had was that it would be large enough to hold coloring books and that the small slots would be the right size to hold crayons; mission accomplished. Since I had the four fabrics, I decided to use each pattern for an element on the bag. I really like how it turned out and I hope she likes it.

I used one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine for the top of the crayon pockets, which worked out well, because I was able use the pattern as a guide for how wide each pocket needed to be. When it was all said and done, it ended up that you can fit two crayons to a pocket. Go figure! Oh well...that way she will have more crayons at hand. Also, I only put crayons on the outside that match the bag, but I am sure once she uses it, it will be filled with mis-matched combinations! LOL!

The photo on the left shows what it looks like without the crayons and you can get a better idea of how it is constructed. I added some buttons to the bottom for some added detail and fun.

Here it is, with the tag and card, which was the inspiration for the whole project.

If I make another one, I will make note of the dimensions and measurements that I use. After making this one, I know what worked and what didn't and what I would change. Thanks for visiting!

"Cute as a Button" star bib

I had some extra fabric left over from another baby project that I still need to share. I also had a baby project that I needed to put together for Papertrey Ink, so I decided to incoporate the left over fabric into the project to create a theme. You can see the sneak peek here. The bib is one of the projects housed inside the box. When I sold these bibs in the various boutiques I did, I called them "Cute as a Button" baby bibs, hence the title of today's post.

I created a tag to accompany the bib, which you can see in this photo. As I have mentioned before, I don't have a pattern for these bibs. I have just made it up as I have gone along, but I will give you the basic instructions.
Step 1: You will need (11) 3 1/2 inch squares of assorted fabrics. You will also need enough fabric for the back. You will also need double fold bias tape for the neck and tie.

Step 2: Create a 9 patch square, assembling fabric as desired. Add the two extra squares to the right and left top sides. Press seams open as you go.

Step 3: Lay the bib front, right sides to together, over the top of the back fabric and cut out. I like to pin the two together for the next step.

Step 4: Fold the entire piece in half and "round" the corners. I just eyeball it and hope for the best. Also, cut a hole for the neck as well, keeping it as symmetrical as possible.

Step 5: Sew around the entire bib using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave an opening to turn the bib out. Before turning it out, fringe cut the seam allowance around the neck hole, rounded corners and trim the corners on the two top sides of the bib. These simple cuts will allow the bib to turn out better and have nicer seams. I use a bone folder to turn out all of my seams on all of my sewing projects. Press.

Step 6: Use a zig-zag stitch, straight stitch or any desired stitch and top stitch around the entire bib front. Next, use decorative stitches on the diagonal across the top of the bib.

Step 7: Pin double fold bias tape in place around the neck hole leaving enough for the ties. Zig-Zag stitch.

As you can see, I didn't add any ric-rac around the edge of this one. If you are going to add some, simply sandwich it between the two layers before you start sewing.

Have fun and I would love to hear from you if you make one!

Dots and Damask Rag Quilt

As promised, here are the photos of the rag quilt that I made for my baby. It has been sitting here done for over a week now, but the sky has been so hazy that getting a good photograph has proven to be tough. Today, the sun has peeked through for a while so I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.
I have a bajillion blankets from my oldest, but of course the new baby needs new things that are just for him. I had a lot of fun sewing this and picking the fabrics. I asked the sales lady at the quilt shop if the patterns looked too girly and she assured me that they didn't. Now that it is done, I don't think it looks girly. They had the same fabrics but with pink and brown and I am itching to make a girl one as well. I don't know of anyone who is having a girl, but I could always make it and save it for the next baby girl.
This particular quilt is 8 squares across by 8 squares down, rather than the 9 that I normally do. I was one square off from having enough to do 9, so rather than going and buying more fabric, I just made the quilt a little smaller. Since I used 4 fabrics, the lady at the quilt shop recommended that I just get 3/4 of a yard of each rather than the full yard I get when I use 3 fabrics, but it ended up by not being enough by one tiny square! Go figure! Oh well. It is large enough for my needs since my baby is no doubt going to be a little peanut! LOL! I have some other projects that I finished this week that I will be sharing as well.