Hi, I’m Still Here!

Nothing like a pandemic to get me to dust the ole blog off.  New name, same infrequent blogging. There’s been a bunch of knitting in my life lately along with sewing leggings for myself and daughter.

Stay turned for more updates!

Tada! Chenille Blanket

My Tada! posts have been few and far between this year.  I haven't done as much sewing/creating lately.  While prepping the house for the arrival of our daughter, my sewing things were relocated to our loft area.  Since I also have a 3 year old extremely curious little boy, I can't leave anything out and always need to clean up everything.  He is fascinated by the sewing machine and loves to turn/push any buttons.  

With starting a new job next week, I felt the need to finish up some things.  I purchased the fabric for this Chenille Blanket (Aesthetic Nest, Inspire Me Grey) probably close to two years ago and it's sat in my sewing room waiting for me to get the courage to start this.  It wasn't difficult by any means, just something different I haven't done before.

The sewing of the 1/2 inch spaced lines got quite tedious.  I started this around a year ago and finally picked it up again about 2 months ago.  Once I finished that, came the fun part of slicing the fabric. 

 

 This was my favorite part.  I found in my Amazon history I bought the slash cutter coming up on two years ago.  I've been anticipating this part ever since.  I have discovered that if I make another one of these, I should put the blanket on a table.  My bender-overer is a little sore.  Irish dancing this week was quite interesting.

After a spin through the washer and dryer, this is what I ended up with.

My 9 month old saw it hanging on the banister and seems to love the tactile feel of it.  It is quite soft. It will get even softer as it gets  washed.  Haven't decided the final destination of this one.  It may go to a future nephew.  My husband acted surprised I wasn't going to keep it.  I reminded him if I kept every blanket/quilt I made, we'd suffocate!  It might be hard giving this one up though.  Not sure if I'll make another one.  I'll probably end up buying more fabric next month.  Ha!

Christmas Update...I'm a terrible blogger

Christmas 2016 has come and gone.  My sewing list this year was much less ambitious than previous years.  I knew with baby coming in October, I would be busy even while being on maternity leave.

I had a brilliant idea to make my middle school aged niece and high school nephew fleece blankets for Christmas.  They run cross country and track and my SIL thought they'd get use out of them during their meets.  I started with the idea for the tie blankets, but I never liked how they didn't look too tidy and always end up a little wonky.  I wanted something durable as well.

I ended up making them like I do my burp cloths, sewing around, turning right side out then top stitching.  They turned out nice and fairly square for eyeballing it.  I used 2 yds of fleece for each one.  Their school colors are forest green and white with a little grey, but I couldn't bring myself to do a blanket that will most likely be used outside in white.  So I did the green with a very light grey on the other side.

Here's where my terrible part comes in...I failed to take pictures before wrapping them.  You'll just need to use your imagination.  My dad had this heavy wool letter blanket from when he was in high school.  I kept thinking of that while I made these.

The other thing I made this year, and failed to take a picture of was a little felt bear.  This year added a niece along with my Mallory to the family, but I wasn't making bears for my kids.  I figure I'll make them enough other things.  And the year Henry was born, I just ran out of time! I didn't get a picture of the one I made this year, but it looks quite similar to this one with the eyelashes.

That completes this years Christmas round up.  We'll see how much I get accomplished this year.  There's a new niece/nephew that is arriving in March so that means another quilt and eventually a bear.  Wish me luck!

Tada! Quilt for new niece!

For the first 9 nieces and nephews I made crocheted or knitted blankets.  At the rate my sisters are having kids, I was starting to have trouble keeping up.  Before Henry was born, I got a small stash made that helped for a while, but my knitting needles/crochet hook (and my wrists!) couldn't do it.

I decided to switch to quilts and started collecting some materials to make that happen.  When I found my latest niece was going to make an arrival (didn't know it was a niece at the time), I showed my sister the 3 options and let her pick.  Here's what we ended up with.

  

I had 1 charm pack (Color and Count from Missouri Star Quilt Co.), some solid fabric (thought it would be more grey, but turned out more of a silvery blue, from Missouri Star), and the back was yardage from the same Color and Count line. (I like keeping it easy to coordinate).

I hemmed and hawed for a bit on what to do and decided to do an easy 4 patch with larger patches of the solid to break it up.  It came together pretty fast.  The longest part for me is the layout.  My husband tends to have a better eye than me, so I get his opinion.  I also found that if I take a black and white picture, it helps me see the contrast. 

After doing the 4 patches, I cut the solid to the same size and started assembling.  I didn't keep a good log, but I think I got it done in just about a week.  After a quick trip through the wash, it turned nice and crinkly and I had it rolled up just waiting for the arrival.

By the time my niece arrived, my sister forgot what she picked and was pleasantly surprised with what it turned out to be.  

And just because it's a cute one.  Hopefully he's this excited about his new sibling!

Long Overdue Update

Don't think my lack of posting means there hasn't been any crafting!  Just the opposite.  I accomplished many projects this summer in preparation for a craft show in November.  Being 9 weeks from Baby E 2.0's due date, I thought I should get a head start this summer creating things.  Here's what I've been up to.

Keychain Fobs

These little things are addicting!  There's another set I've made that never got documented.  It's a quick easy project that's a great way to use up scraps.  I can't decide which one is my favorite. I think I'm up to at least 30 finished.

Burp Cloths

Another thing that has become an addiction.  Once I got a stack cut out, they came together pretty quick.  About 2 days worth of Henry naps.  Another project that it's easy to get a stack ready and just power through at the sewing machine.  I decided whatever I don't sell, I can always use as gifts.  

Taggie Blankets
These range from 8x8 to 10x10.  I buy the minky fabric specifically for this, but the flannel side is my way of using flannel leftovers.  (I have a little problem with flannel, especially baby flannel.  It's so soft and fun! I have 7 more yards sitting and waiting).  I've acquired a variety of ribbon and once they get pinned together, they come together quick as well.  (I like quick projects!).  Not a very good picture but there's not really two alike.  All fairly unique.

Coasters

This is something I'm still pondering.  Another great use of smaller pieces I have on hand.  I like that these four don't match, but they still go together.  I'm still working with the design and amount of batting to put in the middle.  I think they'd be cute in seasonal fabrics.  

Cell Phone Charger Holder

One of my sisters requested I figure out how to make these.  They come together easily. (Did one during Henry nap time) After my first one (on the right) I made some adjustments to fit my larger phone and ended up with the one on the left.  I like how these turned out.  A suggestion I read was to put a command hook next to the outlet rather than hang on the outlet.  That works great and it doesn't slip off the charger.  Shorter one fits iPhone 4s size great and the larger fits my iPhone 6 much better. Room even to tuck in cables.

And the last thing.  Didn't involve the sewing machine, but it was mighty tasty!

So that's what I've been up to lately.  It was a fairly productive summer.  I also have a quilt that is finished, but I'm waiting on a niece/nephew to make an appearance first before I post it. Pictures are ready to go though.  Stay tuned for that!

Tada! Busy Board for Godson

Lately I've been working on my stash of flannel baby blankets and burp cloths.  I did find the time to make a busy board for my godson/nephew.  I had made one for Henry about a year ago and used several different pictures as inspiration for this version.

I buy the board already cut to that size and back it with a piece of foam that fits the back.  Some of the screws and longer than the board is deep and I find it easier to do it this way rather than find shorter screws or file off the screws.  I keep it all together with felt and staple gun.  

The verdict is he liked it!  Henry was very sad that it is no longer at our house since he loved playing with the phone.  He had many conversations on it.  My brother-in-law was going to come up with a way to hang it so the kids don't keep knocking it over.  

I'm currently working on a few other projects so hopefully there will be another Tada! soon.

Chrismas Sewing Update

When I logged in to do this update, I realized it's been over a year since my last post.  I'll blame that on having a toddler and a crazy slow computer at home.

Christmas has come and gone and I had a pile of sewing projects.  As usual, there's more I would have liked to do, but this is what got finished.

Project #1 - Quilt for Godson/Nephew

I finished this one back in October.  I think that's a record for me.  It was the first quilt I did "correctly" meaning I did separate binding and finished it by hand sewing.  I've decided I'm not a fan of the "quilting" meaning sewing all the layers together.  I did enjoy hand sewing the binding.  We'll see what future quilts hold.

Storytime Squares Quilt

I used 2 charm packs (precut 5x5 squares) called Camp Cosy along with some grey yardage.  I got the top put together fairly quick.  Some of my corners didn't line up perfectly, but I was okay with that.  I found backing material at JoAnn's (don't remember what it was called.) It was a fun animal print.  The binding is something from Missouri Star Quilt Co. that I discovered is discontinued.  At least I have some extra to use on a future project.




Project #2 - Placemats for my Mom.

I started these anticipating keeping them, but realized I didn't have any ideas for my Mom.  Insert Take Four placemats.  I did break down and purchase the pattern.  It has 4 variations and I figured I'd make many many more over the coming years.  In a nutshell you take 4 fat quarters, stack them, make some cuts, shift the fabrics around, sew them together, slice again, make some shifts and sew together.  You get 4 placemats that coordinate, but aren't matchy, matchy. The back is the same on all.




Project #3 - Bears for new niece and nephews

This year there were 2 new nephews and one niece since last Christmas, which meant 3 bears.



Project #4 - Teepee for Henry

Henry has started getting into tents and hiding lately. I decided that he needed a teepee.  It wasn't overly difficult to make.  Was an undertaking namely do to the size and amount of fabric I was working with.  I can't have 5 yards of fabric out with Henry awake (well, I could but it wouldn't be very productive).  I used the tutorial from this website Pink Toes and Power Tools.

I made my pattern pieces from newspaper during nap time one Saturday, and dove into the construction during nap time at the start of my Christmas Break. This was by far the largest thing I've ever made on my sewing machine.  It came together during 2 days worth of naps.



He loved it!  We had it set up when he came down on Christmas morning.  He spent the first 15 minutes popping in and out of it.

I've had several people say they want one.  If you want more details, let me know and I can work up some cost figures.

That's my big finishes for the Christmas season!  I've been working on some other things since Christmas.  Maybe an update on those will happen before next January!