Baby Love

One more thing...

Who's the cutest little thing on the planet?

Well now...

That would be little Jewel!

With a sweet thing like this around, I couldn't help but make a few baby things.  So... yes, I made the little jacket for her, sash made of ribbon with a big silk rose, and crochet hat, too!

Guess I better add this one to the portfolio.

Simple Country Style

The Latest Sewing Room Project: ~

My client (and gardening friend), Mrs. Ann L,

wanted a country style guest bedroom.  I've done several other projects with my sweet friend, but she wanted this room to have a more masculine feel. 

She already had this fabulous wrought iron bed, painted ivory.

L.O.V.E.

Perfect fabrics for a (manly) country bedroom:

Natural flax color linen,

deep red burlap,

with taupe ticking stripe.

I made the duvet and shams with the ticking stripe.

I wish I could take credit for that FAB red & taupe quilt on the foot of the bed, but I believe it was from either Rich's or Macy's.  It was the perfect inspiration, and all of our projects were designed around that.

The linen drapes were tab top, and hemmed just below the lower edge of the window.   The valances were finished with a simple linen stripe a few inches from the lower hem, with center pleats.  The toss pillow on the bed was finished with the same linen stripe, as was the bed skirt. 

I didn't get a photo of the bed skirt, 

because Mrs. Ann wanted to share a little history, and some of her treasures with me,

and this is the kind of history that I love.

Her grandmother's name was Matilda.

She was born on December 26, 1862.

She passed away on Dec 18, 1940.

And she was a Quilter.

This quilt is almost 100 years old.

It is quite delicate,

but there isn't a single hole in this quilt, anywhere. 

It is in pristine condition.

A real treasure.

Mrs Ann has stacks of these incredible quilts that were made by her Grandmother, Matilda, as well as her Mother.    Matilda continued to make quilts until she was almost completely blind.  I feel absolutely honored that Ann allowed me to finish the last quilt top that Matilda ever made.

She made these quilts entirely by hand.

The precision on these points...

well....

I'm all about precision.

Especially when it comes to quilts. 

Hundreds of tiny little triangles, and diamonds, perfectly stitched.

And all of that perfect applique,

makes me swoon.

You fellow quilters know what I mean.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

And this is the work of a true artist.

This next photo is the back of the quilt.

You can really see the quilting on the back.

Those tiny little stitches...

so perfectly spaced...

I am in awe...

My quilting is all done on my trusty Bernina.

But one day, when I'm old(er)...

I hope I can slow down enough to master the art of hand quilting like this.

That's one for my bucket list.

My dear friend has entrusted me to finish several more quilt tops that were made by her Grandmother.  The next one is more beautiful than the last.

I will have photos to share in a few weeks.

Stay tuned!!

Every Quilt Tells A Story

This quilt is one of the latest projects I've been working on.

Quilts have to be the projects that I love best. 

Every quilt tells a story, has a history.

Most of us have quilt tops that we've inherited from Mothers, Grandmothers, or Aunts.  This quilt top was made by my clients mother.  I'm working on the 2nd quilt at the moment, and I'll share those photos as soon as it's finished. 

The quilt blocks are simple. 

And simple can be beautiful.

The design isn't intricate or complicated.

Yet... this is a treasure.

You can see in the following photo, just how many pieces of fabric that she used, in order to make the size needed.  For example, if you'll notice the brown triangle in the lower left of the block.  She used 6 tiny pieces of fabric, hand sewn together, just to make a 3 inch triangle. 

It reminds me of how much we take for granted.

And how plentiful our lives are. 

I can only imagine what she was like...

She didn't waste even the smallest scrap of fabric.  Some of the pieces are only 1/2 inch square. 

The blue fabric that she used for the sashing...

(for you non-quilters, thats the strips between the blocks)

must've been a dress.  You can also see in the photo below, how the strip that is horizontal, above the quilt block, is faded, compared to the strip that is vertical. 

Was this a favorite dress?

Is that why it's faded and worn in places?

Or was it that she had few dresses, and this one was just no longer wearable?  I wish I knew more about her.  My client did tell me that when her Mother made this quilt top, she was nearly blind.

That - to me - is amazing.

For me -  when I've finished a quilt...

the magic happens when I give the quilt it's first washing.

I use old fashioned, unbleached quilt batting.  1/4" thick cotton.

The kind our grandmothers would have used.

When it's washed and the dryed, it shrinks, just slightly.

Just enough to give it a little bit of puckering.

The same area of the quilt after washing ~

Now it looks like a vintage quilt that's been around for years.

I love that.

When I think about women from that era, it absolutely amazes me that they made beautiful quilts like this.  Every stitch by hand.  No sewing machines, no rotary cutters, just a needle and thread, fabric from feedsacks, or worn out clothing, never wasting a thing.

That is why this is a treasure.



Pillowcase Dresses

How to Make One ~

This one is made entirely from remnants,

so think of it as "Zero cost!"

Start with a piece of fabric measuring 14 x 28 inches.

This piece is a little short, measuring only 10.5 x 28".

It's easy to make up that difference by using more remnants to add to the hem..

Here, I decided to add a 2" strip of yellow fabric, folded in half lengthwise, layered on top of a 3" strip of red fabric, which I hemmed and gathered.

Next, cut out the openings for the arms.

Fold your main piece of fabric in half, then fold in half again,

like this...

You can see the 4 layers of fabric above. 

Cut out a small section measuring 1.5 x 3 inches,

in the shape of a "J", like in the next photo.

Now when you unfold your fabric, it should look like this...

For the shoulder strap, I'm using red fabric measuring 3 x 36".

For the arm hole binding, my yellow fabric measures 1.25 x 10".

Next, I've attached the ruffled section to the main section of fabric.

For the arm openings:

Lay the binding strip face down on the inside of the dress,

so that the right side of the facing is against the wrong side of

the dress.  Stitch using a 1/4" seam.

I find it's easier to do this freehand (no pins).

The easiest way to work around the curved area, is to keep

the binding strip straight, and to gently pull the curved section of

the main fabric to the left, so that the cut edges are even.  Sew

just a few stitches at a time, then re-adjust your fabric.

That may sound confusing, but it's really easy.  The photo

above should make it easier to understand.

Once you've done that, lay your piece right side up,

just use your fingers to fold your binding like the following

photo... You have a 1/4 inch seam allowance, now

fold 1/4 inch from the raw edge toward the seam allowance.

Then fold it over again, and you have a nice 1/4" binding

for the arm opening. 

Topstitch just along the folded edge.

Next, stitch the center back seam.

Fold over 3/4 inch hem along the top,  front and back.

Next,

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew your piece for the

shoulder strap, turn inside out and press.

Pull the strap through the top casing, and you are done!

How cute is that??

And made entirely from remnants!

In total using less than 1/2 yard of fabric.

Once I got started, it was hard to stop...

My sister has 2 grand-daughters under the age of one,

and another due in 6 weeks, so these will  come in handy.

And if I do say so myself...

I think this is the cutest way ever to use up all of those

little scraps of fabric and trim.

Six dresses in two days, and I think I may be everyone's

favorite Auntie after this.

Now I have to get some real work done...

Have a Lovely Day!!

Edited to add adjusted measurements for other sizes ~

For the main fabric piece (body of the dress)

Up to 6 months - 14 x 28"

12 months - 16 x 30"

18 months - 17 x 32"

2T - 18 x 33"

3T - 19 x 34"

4T - 20 x 35"

Upholstery Class ~ Part 5

Flossie Gets A Skirt ~

Ready class?

Now I will add the banding to the lower edge of the chair.  I like to begin and end the banding near the center back of the chair.  I'm going to place the flange of the cording so that lines up perfectly with the very bottom of the wood frame.  You want the cording to be snug, so pull it nice and tight as you staple every few inches, making your way around the chair.

Now you will want to measure from the seam line on your cording to the floor.  It's important to measure all the way around the chair this way.   The measurement across the front of the chair will be the same, of course, but sometimes the sides of the frame are angled slightly downward.  You can see in the photo that this particular chair frame is 11 inches from the floor at the front edge of the chair.  The back of the chair was only 10 inches from the floor.  So keep that in mind, and check your measurements.

Oh... one more thing...

Any excess fabric that is showing below the cording,

(like in the pic up there) can be trimmed away now, or stapled underneath the chair.



Now let's get a look at that skirt...



You could go with a smooth skirt, with no pleats....

But I think Flossie wants to kick up her heels a bit,

so pleats, it is!

The skirt is applied in sections,

1st - front

2nd - sides

3rd - back

The last thing you apply, are the corners.

8 separate pieces.

Don't let that scare you.

You can do this.

I like to use a nice wide hem, like this....

Temporarily pin your pleats in place, beginning and ending at each corner.  Then secure by adding tack strip and tacks.  But don't tack down the corners just yet.

Hopefully you can see in this next photo...
I have secured the front and side sections, which I've pinned up out of the way.
Each corner will be finished with a section of skirt about 8 inches wide.  You can see that it's folded down in this photo.

I fold it up out of the way with the rest of the skirt, and then tack the corners down.

The last thing you should do, is to add 1 more piece of fabric to the very bottom of the chair, to cover up those burlap straps.

Step back and admire your hard work...

You are done!!!

A star is born!!
Ain't she sweet?

I hope I've encouraged some of you to give it a go. 
Remember how Flossie began?

Find an old chair and give it a new life.  If you need any help, just let me know.  And I want to see some before and after pics....

Otay?

Upholstery Class ~ Part 4

Good Morning Class!

Today we will cover Flossie's Bottom.



Use your foam as your pattern.  Lay your foam on the wrong side of your fabric, and trace around it, adding 1/2 inch all the way around for a seam allowance.

The first thing you need to do is to sew the cording around both pieces of the seat pattern.  Clip the cording to ease around curves.  Like this....

Now we can add the banding.

You should clip your curves after you've added your banding.

This next photo isn't the best, so I'll try to explain in great detail...

  This little trick will help you to match all of those corners and curves on the top and bottom pieces.

\

Take the piece that you've added the banding to, and place it on top of your foam, right side up.  Fold the banding down over the sides, so it will be out of the way for the moment.  It should look almost like the finished product at this point.  Place the bottom piece, right side down, over the top piece, matching all of the corners and curves. 

I temporarily pinned my pieces together.

When I pull the banding strip back up, you see that  makes it much easier to match all of the corners and curves.  Pin the banding to this side of the cushion  now.

See how nicely those corners and curves match up? 



Remember to leave an opening to insert your cushion.

Stitch it up, clip your curves and corners.

This is not necessary, but I like fat cushions.

I add several layers of batting, so the corners are more rounded.

Now this next little tip isn't necessary, but is something I like to do.  If you have ever tried to wrestle a fat piece of foam into a cover... you'll appreciate this.

Before I insert the foam, I like to cover the foam with another piece of fabric. 

Use an old sheet if you want to. Just hand baste it all the way around.  Your stitching here doesn't have to be perfect, no one is going to see this.

Think of it like this....

You know how, when you wear a slip, your dress just slides on effortlessly?  This is flossie's slip.  You will thank me for this later on.

Now you can insert the cushion and stitch her up!

A curved needle makes this SO much easier. 

Again, use long stitches.  About 1/2 inch long stitch in the cording fabric, and then 1/2 inch long stitch in the banding fabric.

YEEE HAW !!

Flossie's lookin' good!

We'll have to do the skirt tomorrow class.

Teacher's dryer kicked the bucket - gotta deal with that.

Any questions?