weekend project

Pay day finally arrived and I ran out for some fabric to make the cut chenille blanket.  I started on Saturday and finished on Sunday.  I couldn't rest until it was done.  I love my new blanket and, just as I thought, I want to make more in every color of the rainbow.  I just love the texture.  The fabric I chose wouldn't have been my first choice, but I still love how it turned out.  It's this orange and yellow ikat pattern.  And for the three layers of cotton flannel, I chose a pale yellow, a gray, and a peach and white polka dot flannel.  

I had some helpers, too.  Colse wanted to help cut the cotton flannel layers and Griff wanted to push the foot pedal under my sewing table.  A lot of  "go". . . "stop!". . . "go". . . "stop!"  Eventually I kicked him out and took over.   ; )    

I have to say, I started the cutting process with fabric scissors and felt like I might go crazy.  I looked in my sewing box and found this tool that I didn't even know I had (the one Colson is using in the picture above).  I don't think I had ever used it before, but it saved my life!  Sooooooo much easier.  Sewing the lines took somewhere around 5 hours, and the cutting (with the tool) took about 45 minutes.  Phew!  I don't think I could have handled another five hours of cutting!  I have the Clover Slash Rotary Cutter.  Trust me, you'll want something like this if you make this blanket.  The tutorial I followed suggested a chenille cutter.  I've never used one of those but I'm sure they're similar.  

 Almost done, just need to wash it:

And the finished product.  So snuggly.  The kids watched their cartoon all cuddled under it this morning.  Can't wait for the next one.  

Let the Creative Juices Flow

I have the pleasure of joining a few friends in throwing a baby shower tonight.  I'm sure there will be some pictures soon.  : )

I dragged my feet on brainstorming for a long while, because my Texas trip came first, and I didn't want to stress about it while I was on vacation.  Also, I haven't DONE much, creatively speaking, in quite some time, and I know what happens when I open THAT door. . . .

It becomes my life and I have a hard time taking care of my other responsibilities.  Soooooo, I waited until a couple days ago, to really get started on party planning, so that I'd only be stressed for a minute.  It totally worked!  BUT, I kid you not, five minutes into my internet research, I found this GORGEOUS blanket and now THAT'S going to fill my every thought until it's complete.  -sigh-  I just can't win.

Chronicle of the Wife's Life

  If you don't think this is pretty, you're crazy.  Or maybe I'M crazy.  I couldn't take my eyes off this thing and couldn't stop talking my husband's ears off, about how I want to make it and NEED to go to the fabric store.  He, in turn, informed me that I can't just go off buying fabric, until his next pay day.  My poor, poor, patient husband.  I love that man.

SO, pay day is slowly approaching, and I can't wait to go shopping for some beautiful fabric to make a beautiful blanket.  And hopefully it's easy enough to start whipping them up.  I plan to fill a closet with all kinds of sizes and colors.

directions for the blanket, found at Aesthetic Nest.

Finished Quilt

First off, I made that soup last night and it was a big hit at my house.

Like, a BIG hit.

My boys couldn't get enough of it. If you're trying to decide what to make for dinner tonight, I strongly suggest you try it out. I'm not much of a cook either, but this was pretty easy.

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Now that that's out of the way, I finished the baby's quilt (a long time ago, mind you. I'm just not very good at posting my projects) and I love the finished product! I can see how this could easily become a hobby of mine.

I used the charm pack baby quilt tutorial from Diary of a Quilter, although I didn't actually use the 'charm pack'. I just cut out my own squares. This was my very first quilt (note: Petunia made THIS one, posted back in July. She was my inspiration.) and it really wasn't too hard, with these step-by-step tutorials.

I used this tutorial for the binding.

Hubba was jumping at the opportunity to help me out with this picture. He couldn't hide his enthusiasm.

Here's the back of the quilt:

and the top:

I used greens, yellows, and blues, not because those are the nursery colors, but because those were the fabrics that caught my eye. I've still been able to add some pink in the nursery and it's coming together just fine. (although I think I DO kind of have an eclectic style.)

If you're on the hunt for a good fabric store and haven't had much luck, go to Broadbents on 100 E. in Lehi. SO good. Love the selection and the store goes on forever with everything from baby clothes, to tea sets, to candies, to yarn, to vintage toys. Even though it's a little bit longer of a drive for me, it's always definitely worth it.

Want to make one but don't know where to start? Here's what I learned:

• Basic supplies you need to get started- a quilting mat, rotary cutter, and ruler. These are a MUST for accurate and easy cutting and measuring.
• You want your ruler and mat to be the same brand because the measurements will match up better
• I got all of these things at Broadbent's and they were very helpful and didn't make me feel dumb for having no idea where to begin
• expect to pay a little extra money up front for these types of supplies, but then you'll have them for future quilt-making
• cut down on time and stress-level by sending it out to get 'quilted' rather than doing it yourself. I took the finished quilt top and back (about 5 inches longer than the quilt top on all four sides) to The Quilting Cottage in American Fork. They did a great job. 1 penny/sq. inch plus the cost of batting and thread (both provided by them)

And PLEASE send us a picture if you make one. We'd love to see your creations!

sc{dot}dragonlily{at}gmail{dot}com

Baby quilt

I've always had a love for quilts. While my sisters were asking for new clothes for Christmas, I was begging mom for a new quilt.

So it's no surprise that, when I came across this Moda jelly roll at a boutique in Pasadena (for only $12!), I just had to have it. Something about the vintage feel just pulled me in. The only problem? I had no idea how to put a quilt together.

With a little common sense and a leap of faith, I pieced the strips of fabric together, to create this:

I sewed all of my strips together in the pattern above (right sides together. 1/4 inch seam. first I sewed the individual row, then I sewed the rows together).

Then I was stuck.

With a little internet research, I found out I needed layers:

a top layer (above)

a middle layer (the 'cushion')

and a bottom layer

then binding for the edges

(I used tutorials from connecting threads to learn how to make the binding--and I did NOT do any hand stitching)

Common sense, right?

I ended up purchasing some batting for the center and looking online for some fabric from this (discontinued, boo!) American Jane by Moda line, for the bottom layer and the binding.

After a lot of work and a big headache, I love my 'extremely-imperfect-but-I-did-it-all-on-my-own-so-I'm-proud-of-it' quilt.

Right about now, I'm kicking myself for not buying a few of the other jelly rolls I saw at the discounted price. I'd like to make a quilt for each of my kids. Time for more research.