Archives for April 2016

Baby Clothes Memory Quilt

April 28, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

My friend and her daughter recently came to visit all the way from Washington, DC. She brought with her a huge bag of baby clothes that she had saved from her 5 babies and I helped her make this keepsake quilt. This is such a great idea! How many of us have boxes of baby clothes we can’t stand to part with but lets face it no one will ever where again. This quilt keeps the memory of those sweet clothes alive but is now functional and way more attractive then a pile of wrinkled and stained clothes 🙂

We used my Sizzix Bog Shot machine and even the kids could help on this project.

It was helpful to cut off snaps, arms and legs of the fabric. We used the Sizzix 4 1/2″ square die. This project would have been difficult to cut on the rotary mat. To cut with the Sizzix simply lay the piece on the die, double or single layer, wrap the rest of the clothing around the back of the die and then crank it through! Again, I love getting kids involved in the process and this is such a great tool to do so.

We used every type of clothing and it all worked great: knit, cotton, sweater, valuer, waffle, denim, polyester. Just make sure that all fabrics can be ironed.

Since each fabric has a different degree of stretch, it is necessary to back each square that stretches with Heat n Bond fusible stabilizer, light or medium weight is fine.

I cut the staibilizer in 4 1/2″ squares. Fuse each stabilizer square to the wrong side of the fabric squares.

Lay out the quilt as desired and then sew the squares together in rows and the rows together. Make sure to press the top of the fabric and NOT the side where the stabilizer is. I was still able to use 1/4″ seams because the stabilizer kept everything from shifting.

I basted and quilted this just like a regular quilt. I quilted a little slower just to account for the varying degrees of thickness. I was able to put a sweatshirt piece next to a thin polyester pj fabric and it totally worked!

We cut a few pieces of trim and top stitched them onto the blocks.

My favorite is the ACDC t-shirt!

Best of all my friend loved how it turned out because each piece has such a special meaning!

Filed Under: quilt, sizzix, Therm O Web, Uncategorized

Ric Rac Zipper Pouch Tutorial

April 27, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I love coming up with different versions of my favorite zipper pouch. I made this one for a friend and thought I would share the details with you! They really make the perfect gift! I hope to make one for myself to keep some day!!

Begin by cutting

(2) 2.5″ x 11″ accent strips

(2) 6″ x 11″ main strips

(2) 8″x11″ pieces for the lining

Sew the accent strip to the main strip as pictured above. Use 1/4″ seams and make 2 of these. Press.

I tried something new on this one which I really like. Grab some old fabric and base the top, batting and the old fabric (backing) just like you would a quilt. I ALWAYS use Spray n Bond. It’s super fast! I normally just quilt the outer bag piece and the batting. By adding this extra piece of backing fabric (that won’t be seen) it makes the bag stiffer but still soft. I will always do this from now on!!

Once it is basted quilt the 2 pieces just like you would a quilt.

Sew the ric rac on with matching thread.

Square up each side. Measure the pieces again, they will shrink slightly with the quilting. Make sure to adjust the lining measurements so they are the same.

Follow THIS tutorial to insert the zipper and to complete the bag.

I love the big black and white gingham for the lining!

Filed Under: FEATURED, Therm O Web, zipper pouch

Strawberry Festival Pillow Tutorial

April 26, 2016 by Amanda 1 Comment

It feels like summer here in Southern California and that means fresh strawberries! We always pick up a flat of juicy ripe berries on the way home from the beach. This new fabric from Jennifer Jangles called Strawberry Festival totally reminds me of summer days eating strawberries and making strawberry jam! This cheerful pillow is sure easy to make. I used Heat n Bond® Feather Lite to applique the pennant shapes. I love the Lite version of Heat n Bond® especially in quilting because it makes the fabric easy to cut and applique yet is super soft and you almost can’t tell it’s there. The pennants are cut with the Sizzix Fabi which makes perfect cuts every time. I’m sharing all the details and measurements over on the Therm O Web Blog!

This Sizzix die is called Rocking the House. It’s actually a quilt block but one of the shapes makes a perfect pennant!

Filed Under: FEATURED, Heat n Bond, sizzix, Therm O Web

Backyard Roses Quilt Blocks

April 26, 2016 by Amanda 3 Comments

I am so happy to be part of the Backyard Roses blog tour! And how timely is the release of this fabric as all the “Backyard” roses in Southern California are in full bloom today!

I am so excited about this new fabric line from Riley Blake Designs designed by Nadra Ridgeway!! The colors are so bright and cheerful and they match my house perfectly!

For my project I decided to problem solve. I have this narrow strip of wall in my family room that corners into the kitchen. I just repainted my family room last week and I wanted something new and fresh hanging there. Backyard roses was the perfect solution! I got out my Farm Girl Vintage Book and began selecting some of my favorite quilt blocks.

I made each of the 4 quilt blocks in the 12″ size. I quilted diagonal lines going one direction about 1.5″ apart. Then I bound each of the four little quilts.

I love how the fabrics play together!!

Here you can see a little peek into my kitchen from the wall where I hung them.

How do you hang your little quilts? I find the smallest pins possible and I hammer them in through the corners of the quilt into the wall. I figure my quilts usually have pins in them so no harm there and it makes a super tiny hole in the wall!

I am so excited how this little project turned out and don’t the colors totally just go with my kitchen!

I get excited every time I walk by this little wall!!

I love all the amazing projects on this blog hop. Check out this list of all the talented designers participating. Thanks so much to Nadra and Riley Blake Designs for the wonderful fabric and all the inspiration 🙂

4/18/2016	Julia	rileyblakedesigns.com/blog
4/19/2016	Christina	onelittlepooh.net
4/20/2016	Dorthe	lalala-patchwork.blogspot.com
4/21/2016	Liz	simplesimonandco.com
4/22/2016	Sedef	downgrapevinelane.com
4/23/2016	Vicky	venividivicky.wordpress.com

4/25/2016	Erin	whynotsew.blogspot.com
4/26/2016	Amanda	www.jedicraftgirl.com
4/27/2016	Gesine	allie-and-me-design.blogspot.com
4/28/2016	Peta	shequiltsalot.com
4/29/2016	Sharon	lilabellelane.blogspot.com
4/30/2016	Barbara	das-mach-ich-nachts.com

5/2/2016	Jemima	tiedwitharibbon.com
5/3/2016	Ashley	mommybydaycrafterbynight.com
5/4/2016	Taunja	carriedawayquilting.blogspot.com
5/5/2016	Judith	septembersquiltdelight.blogspot.com
5/6/2016	Melissa	ohhowsweet.com
5/7/2016	Iva	schnigschnag-quiltsandmore.com

5/9/2016	Lisa	aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com
5/10/2016	Katharina	greenfietsen.blogspot.com
5/11/2016	Andy	abrightcorner.com
5/12/2016	Nadra	ellisandhiggs.com

Filed Under: FEATURED, Riley Blake

Spooky Delights Quilt Along from Fat Quarter Shop

April 25, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

SpookyDelights-Header

Whose ready for a super fun quilt-along!!! I am!!! I am totally excited for this FREE Spooky Delights Quilt Along from Fat Quarter Shop! October is such a busy month that I never have time to sew anything fun for Halloween. I love sewing holiday projects early so I can look forward to using them. This Spooky Delights table runner is perfect for a dining table, a coffee table, a buffet, or even folded over the arm of a chair or a couch!

SpookyDelights-SM2

Best of all this little project is divided up into 3 manageable tasks:

SpookyDelights-Schedule

You can download the Fabric Requirements right now by clicking HERE.

The fabrics I choose are traditional black prints and orange prints with a touch of light teal tossed in for fun. I can’t wait to get started!

Of course I always consult Mufasa for all my fabric selections. If he lays on them it means he approves!!

So join in the fun – all you have to do today is download the fabric requirements and choose your fabrics! Super easy – you’ll be so happy you made this come October 1st! SpookyDelights-SM

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, Halloween

Strawberry Biscuit Matching Skirts

April 25, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Yay! It’s my turn on the Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop!!! I have loved seeing all the AMAZING creations on this super fun blog hop! I love strawberries, I love fabric, and I love this new line of fabric by the talented Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics. I could sew with it all day long!

Upon receiving my fabric I put my guard cat on duty so no one would touch or take my new fabric!

I knew as soon as I saw this fabric I wanted to make several quilts with it and I was dying to make my girls coordinating skirts. I got out my two favorite skirt patterns and began sewing away. For Sally’s skirt I used the Little Sassy Skirts book and for Ella’s skirt I used the Blythe skirt from the Magic Pattern Book. Both of which I have sewed many times and I always return to.

I always get a little nervous cutting into a piece of fabric – especially when it’s this pretty!

The Blythe skirt is an A-line skirt that has an elastic back, a flat front waist band, and a center pleat. You can totally make this skirt in an hour. I am so in love with the large floral print on this style of skirt!!

Sally’s skirt has several tiers, an accent band, and ric rac trim on the bottom. This style is perfect for showing off several prints and I love how they all work together in this skirt! That’s what’s so fun about this fabric line!!

I love having girls to sew with and I can’t believe how grown-up they are getting! Time sure flies. I am so happy to have pictures like this with them looking so happy wearing something their mom made 🙂

Be sure to visit Taunja from Carried Away Quilting today also for her stop on the tour. And tomorrow you’ll have to pop over to see what Jemima from Tied With A Ribbon is making!! These girls are all so talented! This blog hop is making me hungry for more strawberries! Thanks so much to Elea and Penny Rose for making it all possible!

I also made this cute little quilt out of Strawberry Biscuit and you can read all about it HERE.

Filed Under: clothes, FEATURED, Penny Rose Fabrics

True Blue Summer Satchel

April 21, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I love summer! Isn’t it the best!!!! In our family we have lots of outdoor actives and camps scheduled. Sometimes I need to carry a few items around that I can have quick access too, like my clipboard, water, bug spray and flashlight. I came up with this pattern for a cross-body satchel. It’s not complicated and sews up quick – it would be fun to make one for the whole family – you can match at your family reunion!

I used Heat n Bond® Medium Weight Fusible Stabilizer to give the bag more stability. Don’t you just love these whales by Blend Fabrics!!!

Here is how you can make one:

Supplies:

1/2 yard outer bag
1/2 yard lining
1/3 yard bag strap
1 yard Heat n Bond® Fusible staibilizer

Cut:

(2) outer bag 15″wide x 16″ tall
(2) lining 15″wide x 16″ tall
(2) stabilizer 15″wide x 16″ tall
(2) Strap 5″ x WOF

Fuse the HeatnBond® stabilizer to the wrong side of the (2) outer bag pieces.

With right sides together, pin all the way around the outer bag, leaving the top open. Do the same with the lining pieces. Sew using 1/3″ seam all the way around leaving the top open. You should have (2) bags, one outer and one lining.

To form a pleate in the bottom, cut a 1″ notch out of the bottom corners of the outer bag and the lining.

Match seams, pin, and sew 1/4″ seam, backstitching to start and stop.

Sew the (2) 5″ strap pieces together end to end. Press the seams open. Measure how long you want your strap. Mine was 48″. Cut at the desired length. Fold in half, right sides together and sew 1/3″ seam all the way down.

Turn right side out, press and top stitch.

Baste (1/8″) the ends of the strap centering on the side seams on the right side of the outer bag.

Place the lining inside the bag so that right sides are facing each other. Match side seams and pin all the way around.Sew 1/4″ seam all the way around the top of the bag leaving a 3″ opening. Turn bag right side out and press. Sew a 1/8″ top stitch around the bag top, sewing the opening closed.

To add a little detail to the fabric, I used Deco Foil™ Transfer Adhesive and followed the loops on the fabric. After it dried I rubbed the Deco Foils™ on the adhesive. You can add a little shine to any project this way!!

Filed Under: bags, Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical, whale

Anchor Pillow Tutorial

April 21, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

It’s feeling like summer here in Southern California with temperatures reaching up to 90 degrees! Let the fun begin! I’m such a summer girl – I hate to be cold! In celebration of the wonderful warm weather we’re having I thought I would share this fun nautical pillow with you. The fabrics are from Blend’s True Blue line which is in reproduction since it was so popular! Which is great news because it’s one of my favorites!!

Let’s get started!

Supplies:

Fat Quarters or quarter yard cuts of a variety of the True Blue Fabrics

fat quarter or 1/2 yard white fabric for center

2/3 yard backing

2 yards ric rac

Heat n Bond Lite EZ Print Sheets

20″ pillow insert

2.5 yards pillow trim

Anchor Pattern, Click HERE

Cut the center white fabric 12.5″ x 12.5″. Print out the anchor on the Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets or trace the anchor onto Heat n Bond Lite. Press the Heat n Bond to the wrong side of the anchor fabric. Cut the anchor out and peel off the backing paper. Press the anchor in the center of the white fabric. Top stitch around the anchor.

Position the ric rac as picture:

I used Spray n Bond to hold it in place while I sewed. You can also use pins. Sew the ric rac on with matching thread.

Refer to the above diagram for sewing the patchy boarder. All squares are 2.5″ and all seams are 1/4″.

Once the pillow top is complete, spray baste it to the batting and then to a backing. The backing fabric won’t be seen, it just gives the pillow added stability. Quilt as desired.

I quilted mine with wavy lines and then “pebbles” in the center. After quilting square up each side. The final measurement should be pretty close to 20″. You loose a little with the quilting.

Baste the pillow trim onto the pillow top. Finish the quilt as desired. I always put a zipper in the back of my pillow and you can follow the instructions in this tutorial.

I love how this pillow turned out and it goes great with all my other nautical sewing projects! For more nautical projects, click HERE.

Mufasa was especially impressed with this project 🙂

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, nautical, pillow, Therm O Web, whale week

Patchwork Tote Bag Tutorial

April 7, 2016 by Amanda 4 Comments

I love sewing for Sally! And I love that she loves everything I make for her! I was thrilled to receive this bundle of fat quarters from Ft. Worth Fabric Studio. Every Friday they feature a fun Friday bundle! This is the perfect project to make with a handful of fat quarters and a few cuts of yardage. This is such a versatile size of bag! And the fabrics are so perfect for a little girl 🙂

Let’s get started!

Supplies:

7 Fat Quarters assorted prints

1/2 yard lining

1/4 yard handles

quilt batting

Press all your fat quarters so they are nice and smooth.

And by “press” I don’t mean let your cat lay on the fabrics!

The bag is made up of 2 outer pieces and 2 lining pieces. For the outer bag, cut 3.5″ blocks. You will need 25 for the front and 25 for the back. I added in 1 solid white square to applique a heart on.

For the applique, draw a heart onto Heat n Bond Lite. Cut the heart out 1/4″ larger than the drawn heart. Iron it to the wrong side of the flaming fabric. Press. Then cut out on the heart line. Peel off backing paper and press the heart onto the white fabric.

Top stitch around the heart a few times in an accent color.

Once you have all the blocks cut and arranged, sew them together using 1/4″ seams, just like you would a quilt. Press each row in opposite direction so the seams match up nicely. Make 2 of these. This should measure 15 1/2″ square.

Next we will be making a quilt. Baste each patchwork outer bag piece onto the quilt batting. Then baste onto plain fabric for the backing. This backing will NOT be seen. I used some fabric I didn’t like very much 🙂 This extra layer will give the bag a bit more weight and stability.

Basting spray is the greatest invention ever!!!

Here you can see my “junky” fabric on the back.

Quilt as desired. I quilted 1/4″ away from each of the seams. The quilting will shrink the up the quilt a little bit. Measure the size of the patchwork piece, mine measured about 15.25″

Once each of the 2 pieces is quilted, trim off any excess batting. Pin right sides together, matching at all side seams, leaving the top open. Sew around the sides and the bottom using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Cut (2) lining pieces 15.25″. This should be the exact measurement as the patchwork outer bag. Place the two lining pieces right sides together, and sew around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open. I like to take a slightly larger seam on the lining, so a generous 1/4″ seam allowance.

Cut a 1 3/4″ notch out of the bottom of each corner.

Open each notch, and match the seams, pinning. Sew a 1/4″ seams across. The picture below is slightly confusing because I used 2 different fabrics on my quilt back.

Once each of the corners are sewn, it’s time to make the handles.

Cut (2) 4″ x 23″ strips. Press in half lengthwise. Then fold each side up to the center. Then fold again, giving you a 1″ wide handle.

Top stitch each handle 1/8″ from the edge. Position the handle 4″ from the side seam. Pin in place. Baste in place.

Place the outer bag and the lining right sides together, matching side seams, and pinning all the way around. Sew all the way around the top of the bag using a 1/4″ seam.

Unstitch a little section on the side of the lining and turn the bag right side out.

Top stitch the opening closed. Tuck the lining down inside and press the top edge of the bag. Pin along the edge so the lining stays down. Top stitch all the way around the bag using a 1/4″ seams allowance.

It’s all done!!! And it’s oh so sweet!!

Filed Under: bags, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, Therm O Web

Classic Heirloom Quilts – Fat Quarter Shop Sew Along

April 7, 2016 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I love the classic style of Heirloom quilts, don’t you! I have inherited several quilts from my Great-Great Grandmother, Veda. These quilts are such treasures to me. When I look at these quilts with their hand cutting, hand piecing and hand quilting, I marvel at the the time and love that went into their construction. Veda was a poor farmer’s wife with 3 daughters living in Kansas. I hope my attempts at quilting make her proud.

This is one of Veda’s red and white quilts – all those triangles!! I love this book, Classic & Heirloom Quilts inspired from the 1800’s. There is even a video you can watch!! I choose to make a small quilt with Riley Blake Designs Strawberry Biscuit fabric. I love this pattern because it uses 2.5″ cuts and it’s a perfect scrap-buster as well. This book shows how to make each of the 8 patterns in a mini, throw, or queen size quilt.

Mufasa was very helpful in messing up all my rows I had lined up!

Then he redeemed himself by taking a very smart photo next to the finished quilt 🙂

In piecing this quilt I used my favorite method of “grab and go” which means I didn’t lay any blocks out – it’s totally random. Some “like” prints ended up next to each other and I’m totally ok with that, it makes it unique!

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake

Archives for April 2016

Baby Clothes Memory Quilt

Ric Rac Zipper Pouch Tutorial

Strawberry Festival Pillow Tutorial

Backyard Roses Quilt Blocks

Spooky Delights Quilt Along from Fat Quarter Shop

Strawberry Biscuit Matching Skirts

True Blue Summer Satchel

Anchor Pillow Tutorial

Patchwork Tote Bag Tutorial

Classic Heirloom Quilts – Fat Quarter Shop Sew Along

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