I Have Actually Completed Some Projects...

I have been working on finishing up several projects last week along with starting a few more, here's a recap:

 my mom was busy crocheting flowers for me so I could finish up the wreath and this scarf:

 I love the way both projects turned out. 

The next one was a last minute project that I found on the Moda Bake Shop but for some reason I can't find it now.

The stripe fabric is a thrifted sheet, the flowers are some leftover denim I had, and the inside of the flowers is some authentic from moda. I glued buttons to it that were from my grandmother's button selection. It is a little funky, but brings a little spring to my computer area. 

Using up my scraps I cut out a bunch of these ovals and turned them into these:

I saw this Easter Egg Tutorial from Retro Mama last year and made a plan to make them up for the next Easter. I finished up 11 and so far, Xavier loves them and they make for a great game of dodge ball. Also the lemonade in the picture is my new favorite mix to replace my pop- it is half Newman's Own Virgin Lemonade and half Lemon Perrier. I have finally found something that fills my pop craving and assume that I will be hooked on it for sometime. 

Now for some projects that are in the works:

A new spring skirt that I cut out for the One Pearl Button Sew Along; Marie skirt #9177  from BurdaStyle

 

Two pairs of pants and a pair of shorts cut out for Xavier.

A couple of fat quarters to be used for a mini quilt to hang up in Xavier's room...

so that has been what I have been up to, hopefully this week will be as productive!

 

Quilt Along Day 6

okay, let's finish the mini-quilt up...

All we need to do is sew the binding down to the back, here we go...

grab your needle and thread

fold the thread in half and tie a double knot at the end.

start a little bit in from the corner... i work right to left with my quilt laying out in front of me, but go the way that feels best to you.

 

 

so this is my process start with 1 (in the binding) straight back to 2 over to 3 (in the quilt backing), across to 4 over to 5 (in the binding) back to 6 and repeat. You should only be able to see the thread (the black lines). Pull everything tight and you end up with this:

Continue all the way around and until you have finished...

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the quilt-along... stay tuned for some fun updates, some answers to questions, a fun contest/giveaway..

oh don't forget to add yours to the The Three Pumpkins Mini-Quilt Along Flickr Group

Quilt Along Day 5

We are almost finished with the mini-quilt, how exciting is that! Okay, first up we need to grab the wall hanging and trim up the edges:

*I took off about 1/2" on each side to square it up. It will look something like this:

 

Grab your bias tape. (I used some 1" tape I had sitting around, but it is going to make a very thin border so I would use some a little wider at least 1 1/2". You could also make your own using a bias tape maker and your scrap fabric. ) You need a length of 74". Start in the center of the bottom edge, open the bias tape and pin matching the edges as shown below. (*underneath the pumpkins)

 

 Keep pinning until you reach the corner.

Sew starting in the middle and continue until you are 1/4" away from the corner. Make sure you backstitch.

 

Next up, pull the bias tape towards you at a 90 degree angle.

 

Then fold the bias back matching the edges once again on the other side.

 

Begin pinning.

 

Finish pinning edge and then sew, backstitching at each end starting a 1/4" and ending a 1/4" from the end. Repeat steps above until bias tape as made it around the entire quilt. Overlap the bias tape at the end.

 

 

Finishing sewing the bias tape.

Next trim your seam allowance.

 

and fold the bias tape over towards the back.

 

Pin bias tap down. (make sure the raw edge is folded under)

 

continue all the way around...

 

another view just because i liked this photo...

 

so tomorrow we will finish it up!

Have a good rest of your Saturday!!!

Quilt Along Day 4

Let the quilting begin:

A couple of quick notes before we start. I used both a walking foot and a free motion quilting foot with a darning plate for the quilting. My basting pins are these:

*image from amazon and can be found at Jo Ann's

Thread is by Coats and Clark: Sandstone

*image from jo-anns

Okay, here we go. First up grab you quilt backing and lay it wrong side up, put your batting on top of the wrong side, and finish by putting your quilt top right side up on the top. It should look like this:

 

Alright, grab your basting pins and I start in the center by the pumpkins. (not in the punpkins though)

 

Add pins all around the pumpkins.

then work your way around  the rest of the quilt

 

Next up, get your walking foot on and lets get quilting. I started in the center with the middle pumpkin. I quilted about 1/8" from the edge of the zig zag stitch.

Repeat until you have stitched around all appliqued pieces.

 

Now, get out your free motion quilting foot:

 

Now, I start in the middle along one edge and just go whereever and however I feel at the moment. Like this:

 

*note: this is only the third thing I have free motion quilted so my stitches aren't too even, but it really doesn't bother me.

As you get into the groove it will start looking like this. (* I don't do anything in the pumpkins or leaves)

 

 Keep quilting the background until it looks like this:

 Tomorrow, we begin binding... and in all of my picture taking madness I forgot to take pictures of the back. I will get one up for tomorrow. Alright have a good one!

Quilt Along Day 2

okay, here we go:

lets get all of the 8" x 5" pieces for the pumpkins and leaves and the 3.75" x 4" piece for the stems. Cut out enough wonder under (or other fusible web) for each piece.

next up, grab one piece of fabric and one piece of wonder under

and fuse together following manufacturer's instructions.

 

 Repeat until you have all of the pieces done:

Alright, cut out all of the pattern pieces and lay them out on top of the fabrics like so...

Grab a pen (I used a sharpie) and one of the pieces to start tracing:

 

Flip over the fabric and the pattern piece

 

Trace and label

 

Repeat with all of the pieces until it looks something like this:

 

*click to enlarge

Next start cutting all of the pieces out

 

When you are done lay them out and you should have 3 pumpkins, 7 leaves, and 3 stems

 

Get your main panel... iron it out and grab the piece labeled A2, peel the backing off of the piece....

 Put the piece in the center of the main panel about 5 1/2" up from the bottom

 Iron piece down, then repeat attach the stem(A4)

Apply the rest of the pieces in this order: A1, A3 (completes first pumpkin), B3, B2, B1, B4 (completes second pumpkin on the left), C1, C2, C3, and C4 completes the third pumpkin on the right).

Next, add your leaves...

That's all we need to do to the front panel for today... I thought we would also but the backing together.

Start by chain pieceing (all seam allowances 1/4")  A to B, B to C, C to D, press seams to one side. Then attach to the bottom part of the panel (18" x 9") to the pieced strip with piece D on the right side. Press seam to one side. Attach the top part of the panel (18" x  7 1/2") to the remaining long edge of the pieced strip, press seam to one side. You will have something that looks like this:

 

 Alright stay tuned for day 3 tomorrow.

Feel free to jump in anytime if you haven't started already... see tomorrow have a goodnight....