Linking to…
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2013/05/bohemian-garden-quilt.html
Tag Archives: quilted pillow
Mickey Finish Friday
I started these Mickey Mouse pillow covers last year. There were four. I only finished one. These three were left. Sitting. Waiting. They were nagging at me so I decided to work on them. Actually I kept thinking about the first one and how it turned out. I loved it. And so did the little girl whose parents bought it for her at my 2011 December winter craft show.
This is how the one that sold looked.
Kind of made me think I should have finished the others. Maybe they all would have sold.
Which brings me to today’s Finish Friday. I finished one pillow cover two days ago. It didn’t take long since the front was already quilted.
Just needed to decide on a closure. I decided to add a zipper. Along the bottom. The 1st one I made had a fold-over envelope back but took longer to make. I thought putting in a zipper would be easier. Quicker. Not!! It took about the same amount of time. And I was only able to round the two top corners. Without it looking all funny.
I finished another pillow cover last night. This one… back to an envelope back and four rounded corners.
There is one more pillow cover ready to be quilted. I will do an envelope back for that one too. Though the zipper looks nice and all, the fold-over back just looks more polished, huggable.
The pillow forms were recycled. Made from batting scraps. I save all batting scraps, large and small in a plastic bag.
When the bag starts to overflow, I make pillow forms in different sizes. They work great for my photo ops.
Feels really good to finish up something that has been patiently waiting for some sewing love. Yay!!
I am going to work on the third one today and try to finish it up too. If I do, I’ll update this post.
Linking to Crazymomquilts for Finish Friday. Go check them all out. Lots of pretties.
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/finish-it-up-friday-week-12.html
Back-To-School Quilt Is Finished
This is where we left off. I was showing you the completed quilt top.
It still needed to be quilted.
And bound.
Ok, let’s go. Lots to tell you. Show you.
I love it when I try something new (to me) or different and it works out ok. There are a couple of “firsts” in this quilt.
No 1: First time quilting with other than a neutral color thread. Tried black. I held my breath each time I arrived at a red section. And wouldn’t you know it, my hands got all wobbly and I messed up a few times. Intimidated by red!! But I left it as is, didn’t stop, rip and start over. I am learning that perfection is overrated.
No 2: First time sewing the binding by machine. I sewed very slowly and stopped about every four inches to flip up the bottom to make sure I was sewing inside the binding area and not over the edge. I like the result and will likely do it again. For quilts this size or smaller.
I had just enough of the alphabet fabric to make Dresden Plate wedges for a pillow. Had to piece two of them. So except for a few small scraps, that fabric is used up. Yay!!
The pillow is different from any others I have made. I added a pocket. A secret hidden pocket. It is deep and the width of the pillow. I bet a child will be delighted to discover it. The intrigue of it all. It is deep enough to completely hide this notepad I covered with the ABC123 fabric.
This set is perfect for day care. Use it at home or take it to Grandma’s. Nap time and playing school. A playmat. Quilt measures 42″ by 52″ and pillow is 12″ by 16″.
I am finding I like black, red and white together. It is fast becoming one of my favorite color combinations.
What are your favorite fabric color combinations? Do tell.
Moving Right Along… Table Runner Ready For Quilting
Oh boy!! Can I please have my REAL sewing machine back!! I will be deaf in 10 working days.
My little sewing machine would be ok to sew on IF. If it wasn’t so LOUD. My hubby didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His feet did all the talking. He got out of bed and went downstairs. And my craft room (with the door closed) is down the hall on the opposite end of the master bedroom.
But I am making a bit of progress. I have the squares for the table runner sewn together. Front and back.
This is the back.
It will be reversible.
Now it awaits Big Jan’s (my real Janome) home coming. I plan to stipple it so I don’t have to worry about lining up straight lines on the front to match up with the back.
So now, I am working on the two sections I have assembled for the pillow. Or pillows. I could use both of these as a front and make two.
Hubby asked me why was I making a pillow to go with a table runner. Oh, I don’t know. I guess cause people have chairs and couches near tables!! He is such a kidder.
What else am I doing?
I am learning Paper Piecing. I love the result. So straight and perfect.
This was my practice block. My revolving cutting mat works great for trimming smaller blocks. I love it.
But to me, it SEEMS that I am wasting fabric. I can’t get over having to use a huge good piece of fabric to cover “an area”, trim it, and put the scraps in my scrap bin. Seems I have more scraps doing it the paper pieced way. Maybe if I use scraps to start with, I won’t think about wasting fabric. Hmmmm… now there’s a thought.
The instructions for the blocks I am making can be found here.
http://www.quilterscache.com/M/MonasteryWindowsBlock.html
Still not sure where I am going with this. I’ll just keep making them and putting them up on my design wall. Hopefully a design will pop out at me.
Well, back to sewing on Itty-Bitty.
I Figured It Out!! I Figured It Out!!
YAY!!
I am sewing!!
Up until yesterday, I had only used my little sewing machine for bobbin winding.
So, had to find the manual and read it to figure out how to thread it. And how to sew on it.
Here’s the good and the bad.
The Good.
- It can sew straight lines.
- It can sew zig zag lines.
- It has adjustable tension.
- It has adjustable stitch lengths.
- It can wind a bobbin.
- The foot can be raised higher than I originally thought. Yippee!!
And now The Bad.
- No light.
- One speed. Slow.
- Foot petal is used as the On and Off Switch. LOL!!
- To remove the item being sewn, you have to turn the side wheel several times to advance the thread out. You can’t just pull on the thread.
- The needle goes up and down the entire time the bobbin is winding. LOL!!
- It is LOUD!! OMG!! I am sure with the windows open, the neighbors can hear it.
BUT… it sews. And the stitches look pretty darn good too.
In fact, look at what I worked on late last night (after reading the manual). A table runner and pillow. The squares were already cut. Months ago. It was easy to get started. I was so in need of stitching up something!!
You know the saying… you get what you pay for. Well, for 50 bucks, I got a 5 lb, 10 1/2″ by 9″ sewing machine.
It does what it is supposed to do. Sew fabric pieces together. Can’t expect it to do more than I paid for, right?
A Few “Ta-Dah” Moments… Class, Bunting Set, Wall Hanging
And in no particular order…..
Ta-Dah!!!
I finally hung the first quilted item I made. My Dresden Plate wall hanging. It’s been so long. You have probably forgotten. I sewed a black polka dot sleeve on the back.
My Cold Connections class yesterday was FABULOUS!! I really enjoyed the instructor. What talent!! She teaches at several places including a Community College. I learned three ways to add a rivet, one way to “staple” metal together and used a Flex Shaft power drill to punch holes in metal.
Also more sawing of metal. We worked with copper and brass. In the last few minutes of class, I quickly added extra holes.
Don’t know what I will do with these pieces. I will figure out something. It was all hands on. My favorite type of class. I learn better when I am actually doing the work.
I created this Pillow and Bunting Set. I had July 4th on the brain.
You see bunting flags and triangles everywhere. So I decided to make up my own version. Using fabric, clear vinyl and cut up little pieces of yarn. (A perfect way to use up all that yarn just sitting.)
I pieced together some burgundy, blue and mustard fabric to make this patchwork pillow. I quilted the front and made an envelope back.
The pillow form is recycled. I took an old toss pillow not being used, was just being stored, took it apart, used the stuffing to make a new pillow form. The fabric is the same fabric I used to line the patchwork pillow cover. I have eight more pillows I can recycle.
Here are more photos. The pillow back. The bunting backs.
My sewing machine died!! It stopped on me when I was stippling my first quilt. I already had about half done. Got through another 12 inches or so and the stitches started to come apart. I did everything any sewing machine owner would do. Rethread, changed the thread, changed the bobbin, cleaned out the bobbin case, removed the bobbin holder, cleaned out under it and all around it, changed needles (several times, different color tips). I did everything I knew to do. Still acting ugly!!
So.. my Janome now sits in the front passenger seat awaiting a trip to the repair shop. The last time I took it, they had it for 3 weeks. I sure hope it isn’t that long this time. I will go through sewing withdrawal. I will have to drag out my little Sew Petite. And try to sew on it. The foot does not raise up very high, so no way to quilt anything on it. Just straight sewing.
A day without crafting!! No way!!
Maybe I will make up a few jewelry pieces. I have a couple coiled wire ideas. And I need to macrame a couple of plant hangers. This downtime may be good for me. Give me a break from sewing. Get a couple of patterns done. Get some of the many things I have made listed on Etsy. Now THAT is something I could do!! Should do. Will do.
