Thought I’d pop in and remind you all about some cute Father’s Day crafts we’ve done in past years to give you some ideas for this weekend.
Archive for the 'Sewing' Category
A Few Ideas for Daddy’s Day
Published June 19, 2009 Crafting With the Urchins , Fiber Crafts , Not Cards , Paper Crafts , Sewing 1 Comment
My parents — really my mom — recently spruced up their bedroom a bit. They have a new bed quilt and gorgeous new draperies in an up-to-date color palette but kept their beautiful dark cherry furniture. I think it was just the right kind of change, it made their bedroom — which is on the main level of their home — look much more current but didn’t break the bank. Anyway, back in February I was visiting a fabric store and saw the Twiggy fabric collection by Moda and was inspired to make my mom a quilt.
I used some of two layer cakes to make 35 rail fence blocks. I then laid them out in a way to create the brown and cream zig-zag lines. After completing the top and back — sorry for the it being sideways in the photo — I sent it to Amanda Jean who agreed to stipple it for me. I love how the back — when facing the right direction — looks like a forest with a sky. My mom loves it of course and keeps getting annoyed with my dad when he puts something on top of where it is draped across the back of a chair.
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It’s time to spruce up the summer wardrobe and Katie was first up with a couple of new shirts. First is a short-sleeved raglan shirt in Heather Ross’s adorable mendocino fabrics:
This is a modification of pattern #18 from the latest issue of Ottobre (03/07) size 122. Bascially I shortened the length and the sleeves to accomodate the fabric I had on hand – scraps from a quilt I hope to finish and show you soon. Since this photo I made her a pair of shorts to match.
The other top is this halter top. I just love this deer fabric from Jay McCarroll’s woodland wonderful line. It matches the tree fabric — from Joann’s — perfectly. I made this pattern up on the dress form while Katie was at school so the fit is a little off — dress forms don’t move — but Katie really loves it so I think she’ll be wearing it a bit anyway.
Has it been raining in your neck of the woods? It’s been non-stop here. The grass is growing inches a day it seems and there is no way to mow it. Spots of sun have been measured in minutes, until today. Today, we have had hours of sunshine. Thank goodness, we were all starting to feel a little grey.
This outfit for Katie is actually the same as the previous one with minor changes. I omitted the bottom panels on the dress to make it a tunic-style shirt. I also shortened the pants as well as adding about an inch in width to each leg to make comfy pedal-pushers. Yellow is Katie’s favorite color so when I saw this sweet embroidered cotton at Joann’s with a matching seersucker plaid I knew it needed to be in her summer wardrobe.
Finally, something to show you, a new outfit for Katie. I got my new issue of Ottobre about a week ago and I’ve been itching to make a few things from it. This was a really good issue. First up was this dress. The sample in the magazine is a sundress with attachable/detachable sleeves. I modified the pattern to just sew the sleeves to the dress. The pants are just the generic pant pattern I always use modified to have a ruffle on the bottom. The sash is a strip of kona cotton with the ends cut on an angle. The prints are from Alexander Henry, not sure of the line. My mom says the outfit is a little loud and I guess it is but I kind of feel like age six and loud go hand in hand. And the verdict from the six year old is that she loves it and clothes don’t have voices so how can they be loud anyway?
Circus Quilt
Published March 20, 2009 Crafted by Friends , Fiber Crafts , Gifts , In the Mailbox , Sewing 7 Comments
If you read Amanda Jean’s blog you’ve seen this quilt before. She quilted it for me a bit ago and I just needed to get the binding on. I did a poor job of it but it is now bound and ready to send off. It will be joining the blocks and balls that were made of the same fabrics. The back is chenille and super soft — learn more about quilting with this type of chenille backing from Amanda Jean — and will be very tactile for the baby. I love this circus line by Felicity Miller for baby gifts. It’s so fun and bright. I think it’s still around so if you’re looking to make a baby something you might want to hunt for it.
A Bit of Random
Published March 16, 2009 Fiber Crafts , Gifts , In the Mailbox , Knitting , Sewing , Virtual Quilting Bee 8 CommentsI was up half the night with a sick little urchin so the best I can offer is a little bit of random this grey Monday morning:
- I finished this pillow for my friend Sarah. Now Martha’s pillow is safe from the threat of the pillow-napper.
- I also finally finished these big brother gifts. That pencil case drove me crazy. It’s pretty cute though so I’m getting over it.
- I finished my last two squares of the Virtual Quilting Bee. There is more to say as this project wraps up so I’ll save that for another day.
- I started a new pair of socks. The yarn — Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in Pinstripe– and the pattern — Jaywalker by Grumperina — were made for each other.
Happy Monday!
This is quite possibly the best and quickest thing to make for a baby shower. It’s good for girls or boys and all babies love blocks and balls, most moms do too. To make the balls I used the the purl bee’s pattern for fabric beach balls — there are three sizes, mine are medium. I decided, like Erin, to omit the circle on the end because I went to the trouble of lining up the points. Also, I think the circle is mostly there to complete the beach ball look which wasn’t what I was going for anyway.
The blocks are made from six 5-inch squares sewn together to make a cube. Each side is a different fabric. I then used two pieces of foam stacked on top of each other to fill the block. I was afraid one piece of thicker foam would be too hard to squish into the block but now I think it might have worked. Last thing was a bag made from the chenille — babies love that stuff. I sewed a contrasting fabric at the top but instead of a drawstring — not really safe for babies — I used a length of elastic small enough to gather the top so the blocks and balls don’t fall out. It can still be easily stretched to load up the bag. The last thing I added was a small loop of orange twill tape so the bag can be hung up or easily carried by a tiny hand.
I love Valentine’s Day. I know there are those who don’t but I just love all the hearts, the glue, the glitter, the candy. We got some terrible news from a friend earlier in the week though that has dampened my spirits this year. I did get Katie’s valentine dress made a couple of weeks ago and it turned out really cute, if I do say so myself. The snowflakes on the bodice are felt shapes that are meant for scrapbooking but they’ve been through the wash a few times and still look great, I just top-stitched them on. The fabrics for the skirt are from the Two Young Street line by Marcus Brothers. I didn’t use a pattern, just the size 7/8 dress form — did you guys know I got a dress form for my birthday last Autumn? The bottom trim is white ball fringe. Katie loves the dress, despite the look in the last photo and it should fit her next year as well.
A Pillow for a Friend
Published January 31, 2009 Fiber Crafts , Gifts , In the Mailbox , Sewing 15 Comments
I like giving pillows as gifts. I mean, who doesn’t need another pillow? They’re small, they’re fun, they’re quick. What’s not to love? This one went to Martha. I’d been hoarding these two Amy Butler prints to make something for her for the longest time. I had a half yard of each so it couldn’t be something too big and of course it had to fit in her clean design aesthetic. When she posted photos of her new studio space I noticed that her chair could use a pillow — you know, for her cat Fritz to sleep on — but I still wasn’t sure what exactly to make. Just a few days later I came across this mini quilt by Rita and had my inspiration. Why not make a squares-in-squares log cabin and then cut it up and turn one quarter a-la disappearing nine-patch? I quilted along the seam on the inside of the grey strips. A good wash for that quilted wrinkle-y goodness and it was in the mail.
