Easter Basket Liners

As promised..the Easter Basket Liner Tutorial.

I really wanted to post this because if you are like me, there is probably a good possibility that the bin you store your Easter decorations in is still sitting out.  Why not make them now and then you don't have to worry about it next year!  If you don't have a basket/baskets...run to the store now.  Usually they are upwards of 70% off at the local craft stores!

The reason I decided to do a tutorial is that every liner tutorial I found was very loose and I like a tailored look.  I found these baskets at JoAnn Fabrics on sale two weeks ago.  They are really sturdy for my rough and tumble guys.

TUTORIAL

First, I measured the bottom of the basket by drawing a circle on cardboard.  I then trimmed it to make sure it fit on the inside.

The template made it much easier to make 4 circles the same size.

Measure the circumference and height of the basket sides.  I added 2 inches for seam allowance and hem. 

 A simple small hem (folded twice 1/4 inch) is sufficient.  At this point is when you embroider the name.

Fold and sew the short ends together (wrong sides facing each other).  Start at the raw edge and stop at the height of the top of the basket.  Be sure to backstitch to secure the seam.

  

  Fold the circle in half so the center is marked.  This is where the basket handles are.

 Pin the strip with name onto the circle.  Align the seam with the center that was marked on the bottom circle so that the slit that was left open matches the basket handle.

 Then sew the edges with a 1/4-1/2 inch seam allowance.

Using the centerpoint line that was folded into the circle, cut slit down from the hem on the opposite side for the other basket handle.

I was in a rush for the boy's Easter egg hunt so I had stopped right at this point.  I thought the fact that it was so snug to the basket, that it wouldn't get loose.  So I came up with the following plan to fix the problem.

I used a two inch bias tape maker.  You don't necessarily need it, but I find them pretty handy.  Otherwise, just fold and iron both side in.

I didn't do a good job taking photos!  I forgot to show exactly WHERE the bias tape goes!  Hopefully you will understand when I say that the bias tape goes on the edge of the slits that were cut out.  Start at one hem and work your way up the slit, then keep going down the other side of the slit.

After adding the bias tape, I added a two buttons to the corner of the FRONT flaps (where the name is)

I added two looped elastic on the corners of the back two flaps.  I made mine about 2.5 inches so that when it was looped, it was one inch after being sewn on.

Now the flaps are secure and ready for RUNNING!!

     

Or hopping?

Here they all are in a row...terrible picture taken in the wee hours of the night.

Which brings me to my next question?  Why is the Easter bunny depicted as a boy?  Last time I checked, he was sacked out in bed the night before!

Brand New Heart

"Only God can take the pieces of a Life that's come apart and patch it all together to make a brand new Heart."

Quote and design from: Love and Friendship Quilted Pillows

I really wanted to do at least one project for a new sew-a-long blog challenge.  It involves my favorite group of ladies "Crafty Sewing Mamas"  Do you just love that name?!?!?  Anyway, today is the second week of the blog challenge.  I missed out on the first week because I have had my hands full.  And honestly, don't think I will be able to participate every week.  I am hoping that I can at least make a dent in the list this year!

This week's project:  A pair of pjs or something for Valentine's.  I decided that I wanted to do something that not only was Valentine's, but also related to our blog love-fest "What Love Really Means".  I hunted through my MANY books and found this foundation pieced pillow design.  I instantly knew that it would be perfect.  I needed a pillow cover for the Valentine's holidays for my studio, wanted to do a bit of piecing and quilting (it has been a while) and I thought the quote was so fitting for our goal this month!

I just LOVE when a saying or a quote fits my mood and I can use it as inspiration for my projects! 

My life was in pieces...and God has patched it together.  I think He is doing a pretty good job!

 

I have never attempted foundation piecing, so this was quite a joy to do! 

 Keep your eyes open for a tutorial (shooting for tomorrow)!!!

TUTORIAL HERE!!!!!!

And as always........totally made with scrap fabrics I had.  The background fabric is an single loney napkin I had hanging out in my stash.  You know that always makes me happy to use up items from my hoarded supplies!!!!

Happy Winter

I love to crosstitch, but whenever I finish a project, I wonder what I am going to do with it.

One day, I was wandering Hobby Lobby and saw a pillow that was embellished like the one I made with buttons and random stitches. 

It caught my eye because it was, of course, made with scraps of different fabric.  I clicked a picture so I wouldn't forget and kept it for later.

I decided to make another throw cover.  Storing pillows are a pain and it is much easier to just recover the same pillow!  I made the cover like a sham so it is easy to take off after the season is over.

I pieced the scraps of cotton, felt, and upholstery fabric and then stitched the crosstitch project right on top with an embroidery stitch on the sewing machine.  I frayed the remaining edges of the Aida cloth (linen colored).   Added buttons tied on with twine, and then added a row of crooked crosstitch stitches with yarn (on the right side).

Happy Winter!!!!

Scrappy Quilt Wreath



 Finally finished a Christmas project!  This does not take long and can be done sitting in front of a fire, or if you are like me, in front of the TV watching a great movie!

I know this fabric looks a bit "old"...because it is!  Normally I would not do a minty colored green, but this wreath was made with only things I already had sitting around my studio.  The green scraps are actually from my first quilt (remember...the one in my Climbing post?).

BTW...while I was working on it, my hubby started cracking up.  He said that some day I am going to be sending hideous gifts to my grand kids someday just like his grandma.  I had to laugh, because I agree, the fabric is a bit "dated"....but I love that I finally used up this old fabric taking up space in my fabric stash!!!

TUTORIAL

Supplies:

Sewing Machine (only for a small portion)

Scissors or Rotary Cutter

Straight Ruler (love my Omnigrids!!)

Hand Needle

Materials:

Corsage Pins (pkge of 144ct)

Styrofoam wreath

1 strip of wired ribbon (about 12inches long)

10 strips of "red" fabric (2inches x 12inches)

125 (approx) strips of 3 different "green" fabrics (2 inches x12 inches)

135 strips of batting (1 inch x 10-11inches)

1 square of scrap green fabric to cut a 4 inch circle.

Thread (any color because you won't see it)

Directions

 Step One:

Cut your strips.

Sandwich the quilt batting in between the folded

piece of fabric.

After doing a few, I found folding the corner down to start made a better roll!

Keep rolling until you have an end like this:

Then like the beginning, fold the corner of the end like

this:

Then thread your hand needle to secure your roll.

First, I came through the roll from right to left.  I did two stitches to get this cinched look.

Next, I sewed from top to bottom.  Two stitches will do the trick!

When you have it nicely cinched...tie off!

Cut excess thread, flip over, and push corsage pin through. 

Step Two:

Start attaching all your rolls to your wreath.  I actually reccommend a more rounded  one.  I only used this squared off one because I already had it in my stash!

Try to do clumps of three of the same fabric to get a nice verigated color look. Don't forget to put three berry clumps with your red fabric rolls intermittently! 

Use one corsage pin per green roll.  Use three pins for each berry roll to make them a bit different.

Step Three:

After all your rolls are done, you are in the final stretch!

Next, wrap your ribbon around the wreath and pin in your last berry roll.

Then you will need to make two leaves (see tutorial below!)

Flower/Leaf Tutorial

Cut out your ONE 4 inch circle and then cut in half.

If you were making a flower, you would use 8 circles!

Fold the half circles in half, right side in.  Sew the resulting straight edge.

When finished, turn it inside out and you will have a cone!

Then fold your cone in half again.  Make sure the seam is in the middle so it will be hidden!

Weave your hand needle to make a stitch every 1/4 inch.

Then cinch your fabric.

Do not cut your thread, repeat step to add the next leaf.

NOTE:  If making a flower, you would do this with 8 more "leafs" to make a flower.  Also add a button!

(I might do a complete separate tutorial to explain that a bit more later!)

Add your two leafs underneath your berry.  I decided to leave my seam side up so that it would like a leaf vein!!!

And my finished project is looking pretty darn cute above the quilt I did 14 years ago.  I can't believe it!!!  NO more mint green fabric in my scrap stash.  More room for newer fabrics!!!

Camera Strap Cover Tutorial

 I have seen some expensive straps and also needed more padding on my neck.  With my bulging discs in my neck, the weight of the camera can be a bit much.  Of course, me being "crafty", I had to make one. 

I made this last month, but wanted to see if anyone noticed. 

 I have recieved a lot of compliments and a lot of inquiries on where I purchased it.  I even asked hubby what he thought last week because he didn't say anything about it.  He said that he didn't ask, because he didn't want to know how much I paid for it! 

I told him I made it ALL with spare scrap fabrics and batting.  He REALLY liked it then!!!

TUTORIAL



Supplies:

Sewing machine

Iron & Ironing Board

Scissors or Rotary Cutter

Straight ruler (I prefer Omnigrid products)

Straight pins

Quilting/Chalk pencil

Hand needle

Materials

(1) 4 inch x 25 inch fabric of choice (I recommend you measuring your straps width and length...add seam allowance to width, and about 2 inches to length (1 inch to each end)

(1) 4 inch x 25 inch muslin piece of fabric

(2) inch x 23 inch piece of batting

Thread in coordinating color

Directions



Mark lower edge and upper edge of batting every 3 inches



Step One

Place decorative fabric face down.  Place piece of batting, centered at lower end of fabric. 

Place and align muslin fabric on top of the other two layers.

Step Two

Mark muslin fabric with chalk pencil every 3 inches on lower and upper end of batting.

Stitch every 3 inches to opposite sides of batting

Step Three:
Stitch diagonal lines every 3 inches to the opposite side of batting.  I used white thread in my bobbin so that I had white thread on my decorative fabric.  I used black thread as my upper thread in order for my lines to show a bit better for this tutorial.



Step Four:

Repeat Step Three going the opposite direction.  This will create quilted diamonds.



Diamonds seen on Muslin side





Diamonds seen on Decorative Fabric side



Step Five:

Fold the fabric length wise, with decorative fabric on the inside.  Pin and sew along making a "tube".

Sew along seam allowance (I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance)

 Step Six:

Turn Tube inside out!  Always tricky,  but I love using a safety pin and pull it through!

Turning your tube inside out!

Step Six:

Slide strap through the cover.  Ensure that the quilted side is on the "bottom" side (the side where the strap will be on your neck)



Pull strap through.  Quilted side down!

Step Seven:
Remember that extra inch on each end.  Make sure the strap is aligned with the excess even on both sides. 

Step Eight:
Fold excess under and hand sew the end of the cover to the strap.  I sewed through the cover and the strap to the other side.  I used very small stitches to make it neat.




Hand stitch the ends.  Secure straps to camera. 

Step Nine:
Secure your strap back on your camera.  Make sure it is on correctly so that the quilted side lies on your neck and that it won't fall on the ground off your strap!!

POINT, SHOOT, and ENJOY!!!!!!!!





Quilted Coasters

I can't say enough how easy these are!!!!  Hoping that you think so too when you view this tutorial!  I am thinking of making holiday sets.  Make a set and tie up with a ribbon.  Voile!  A hand made gift that keeps on giving!

For this project, I had a bunch of scrap pieces of fabric from my window treatments,  birdhouse quilt, and pillow in my studio.  

TUTORIAL

 Supplies

Sewing Machine

Walking Foot preferred

Iron & Ironing Board

Scissors or Rotary Cutter

4 1/2 square ruler (optional)

Straight pins

Materials

4 1/2 inches x 10 inches piece of fabric for each coaster

Batting

Cotton thread that blends with the fabrics

Directions

Step One:  Cut fabric.  Each coaster should be 4 1/2 inches x 10 inch pieces. 

Step Two: Cut Batting.  Each coaster needs a 4 inch square of batting.

Step Two:  Fold the fabric in half, right sides together to form a 4 1/2 inch x 5 inch rectangle.

Step Three:  Sew the 5 inch sides, so you have an opening at the end of the rectangle.

Step Four:  Trim corners, and turn the fabric right side out.

Step Five: Tuck the batting in between the two layers.  The first time was a bit tricky, but since I used a low-loft batting, so it seemed to lay flat easily.  Each time I did another, it became easier and easier! 

Step Six: Fold the coaster's open ends in.  Make sure that your coaster is 4 inches square.  Iron the end to keep the end secure.

Step Seven:  Pin the end.

Step Eight: Attach your walking foot on to your machine if you have one.  A normal foot is possible, but be prepared for possible snagging in your bobbin area because of the layers.

Step Nine:  Start sewing at the pressed/pinned open edge of the coaster.   Start at approximately 1/8 inch from the edge.  Make sure you backstitch to secure your work!

Step Ten:  Sew to the bottom edge of the coaster and stop approximately 1/8 inch from the edge.

Step Eleven:  Make sure your you put your needle in the down position.  I am lucky to have the ability to preset my machine to always stop at a needle down position.  *If you don't have this option, hand turn your needle to secure the needle in the down position.

Step Twelve:  Lift the presser foot and make a 90 degree turn.  Lower the presser foot and continue sewing 1/8 inch away from the edge until you reach the next edge.  Again, stop approximately 1/8 inch away from the edge.

Step Thirteen:  Again, keep the needle down, lift the presser foot, and turn your coaster 90 degrees.  When you reach a point where you are meeting previous stitching, keep your next sewing line 1/8 inch from the sewing line next to it. (see whre my finger is pointing?)

 

You will continue this procedure until you have made concentric rectangle/squares to the center.  Make sure complete with a backstitch to secure your quilting! I don't know if you can see my thread well, but I am surprised how nice and flat the coasters out.  I have no worries that my glass might spill over from the coaster being too fluffy.

Other Ideas

Double sided:  I had some extra fabric, but not enough to make up for the length of 10 inches I needed.  I took two squares of 4 1/2 x 5 inches and sewed the two pieced fabrics to make a 4 1/2 inch x 10 inch strip.  When I folded it, I made sure that it was on the seam line where the two fabrics met.  Now I have a coaster that can be either fabric, depending on my mood!

Gift ideas:  I am thinking all of that holiday fabric I have been collecting over the years could make a nice set.  I love decorating for all the different holidays, but don't like to overdo.  I think these are a subtle way to have Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanskgiving, and Christmas make there way on our coffee tables!!