Memory Bear

Pieces cut and sewing begun

Goal number five on my October list was to make a memory bear. I'm using flannel from the sheet set my daughter had when she was around ten. This is the same fabric I'm using to weave the rug I posted about in the past.

The head is together

The reason I decided to make the memory bear was that when she saw the rug project, she said, I thought I would get a bear. Goodness! Look at all the time I've spent storing that sheet set and pondering what kind of project I could actually finish for her, when all it would have taken was less than a pillow case made into a bear!

Body sewn together, legs and arms started

Following the online tutorial was a challenge for me. I like following a printed pattern best. Over time and a few sessions with "Jack," I did manage to sew all the parts to the bear. 

Cutting batting scraps

Next up was stuffing the bear. I had a small bag of batting scraps that I used to partially stuff the body, the arms and the legs. I had planned to finish stuffing the bear with poly fiberfill. Then I decided why not continue using my leftover batting scraps. My four year old granddaughter, who loves to cut, took on the job of cutting the scraps into smaller pieces. I actually wore her hand out with the cutting job. When I cut the batting scraps, I use a rotary cutter so my hand is not going to tire!

She added her pile of scraps to the body but, there was room for more so it was back to the batting scrap pile to make more bits! My granddaughter did not like adding the bits to the body. It was much too slow a job!

Adding the mouth

She also was quite concerned that there were no arms or legs on the bear. She didn't see how it could be a bear with legs and arms! I was also informed bears have eyes and a nose. She said the bear needed a ribbon tie too. Such a lot of "needs" to make it work. . .she didn't know if I would be able to accomplish making an actual bear! For being four, she is quite the thinker!

Arms and legs ready for attaching

We did embroider a mouth. We decided the eyes could be buttons which we will work on today. We may also work on the nose. I ordered a set of doll needles to attach the arms and legs. This will likely arrive after she leaves. We did select a recycled ribbon from the wrapping paper that will make a great tie.

While I didn't finish the bear, the project is far enough along to share! Linking to: Finished Or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts. 

Two Reversible Aprons For A Special Granddaughter

Doll blankets AKA Fat Quarters

When I was visiting my youngest granddaughter in London last March, she showed me her doll blankets that one of her special aunties had gifted her. I tried to explain that I knew her blankets as fat quarters and asked if she would like to have an apron out of the fabric.

Apron making in process

She looked at me like I had grown horns on the top of my head. First, there was not "fat" in the fabric and it was "whole" not a quarter! She is four years old. I couldn't argue with her logic. She was NOT letting her blankets become an apron! I returned home sans the fat quarters. A month later her uncle visited. Her mama managed to slip the fat quarters into his luggage with a note to make the aprons! She and her mama will be here in a few weeks for a visit. It was time to make the aprons!

Pocket detail using a coordinating fabric

I found a free child's reversible apron pattern on line which used three fat quarters. I rummaged through my fabrics and found fabrics to coordinate with the fat quarters so that I could make two aprons. The prints with the people characters was printed horizontally. Using the fabric as per the pattern meant that the girls would be sideways on the apron. That orientation wouldn't fly with my granddaughter!

One side of two reversible aprons

I added a little fabric to allow the girls in the print to be vertical! It took some time to make the straps and apply the pocket. The yellow pocket is smaller than the printed pocket because that was all the fabric I had!

Second side of two reversible aprons

I hope my granddaughter will like the aprons so much that when she travels to her godparents home she will pack one. Her godfather is a chef. She does get to do a little meal preparation with him which she loves. At the least, I hope trying to decide which apron she wants to wear and then which side she wants to wear will be at least a five minute activity here!

Miss A

Making these aprons was goal number seven on my July list. I used the equivalent of two fat quarters to make these aprons from my stash. I have now used half a yard of fabric from my stash this month. I've a net loss of 74 and a quarter yards of stashed used this year. 

Linking to.Sew and Tell and To Do Tuesday.

Love Bug Pillows

Fabrics for the first pillow

A few days before I left to visit my daughter and granddaughter, my daughter let me know one of our activities would be helping with a birthday party for my granddaughter's best friend. That news meant I needed to come up with a gift! For best friends, that meant that I also needed to make a second item for my granddaughter!

I remembered making Love Bug pillows for my older grandchildren a few years ago. The pillows had places to hide notes or small gifts. The pillows are still being used three years later so this would be a good gift idea.

I uncovered the pattern and set about making two more pillows. I'm glad that I documented the finishes in a post as it was helpful to review the Shabby Fabrics video on how to sew the pillow.

I pulled my fat quarter containers and found a half yard piece to use for the wings, A bright purple to use for the body, a light purple/pink to use for the head and a gold for the back. These were all batik fabrics and three were fat quarters.

Pillow top 

The layout of the pillow looks a little weird. The directions are well written. The video follows the written directions which are available at the video link. This time, I machine appliquéd the eyes. I also used an aurifil spool to draw the eye shape. It didn't take long before I was ready to attach the legs and sew around the perimeter of the pillow. I placed the legs differently between the two pillows. I also used hem facing that was in my grandmother's stash. There was enough for both pillows. I folded it in half and stitched close to the edge.

Back of one pillow

I had a bag of bits of batting that I've been saving for a long time. I used that, some leftover polyester batting and pillow forms to fill the bug. I made a separate case for the stuffing materials. The stuffing case allows the outer fabric to be laundered when needed.

First Love Bug finish

I have a book, a card and some stickers to slip into the folds of the pillow. The wings and head are three dimensional. I can slip my hand in those areas and that is where I will place the gifts. The pillow is the wrapping. I hope it goes over well!

Second Love Bug finish

For the second fabric, I used fabrics that had a wedding theme and were pink/purple since pink is my granddaughter's favorite color currently. The pattern called for five fat quarters; but, since I cut away the corners, I'm estimating that I have almost a fat quarter in scraps! I have processed the scraps into useable units. I did cut strips and squares. 

Usable units remaining after scrap processing

Again, I made a separate case for the stuffing, batting and pillow form. The pillow forms may have come from my mom as I don't remember buying circle pillow forms!  I over stuffed the pillows because after a bit of hugging ,the batting will compress. 

Finished back of second pillow

The girls liked their pillows. Annabelle was getting a big girl bed and her mom sent the photo of her princess bed. She had a Frozen themed party. Can you tell that she is a fan of Elsa? Note the Love Bug pillow in the upper right.

Annabelle's big girl bed 

Miss A got a kick out of getting a pillow. She knew where to find the "treasures" that I had packed into the pillow.

Miss A and her pillow

I used two and a quarter yards of fabric from stash to make these gifts. This brings my use of stash this month to a net loss of two and a quarter yards. For the year, I've used 13 yards from my stash! Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

 

Garment for the Youngest Granddaughter

 

Fabric for the project

Goal number three on my December list was to make a garment for my youngest granddaughter. The fabric came from my friend Marla whose sister made wonderful suits from polyester fabrics. Since my granddaughter, A, likes pink, this fabric would be appreciated. This project came from scraps as I had made a dress for the oldest granddaughter in 2021.

First choice pattern

I looked through my pattern file and located a multi-size one that featured a simple A-line dress. Unfortunately when I opened the pattern, I remembered someone had gifted it to me. The pattern had been cut on the size four lines. I wasn't gong to sketch out the larger size.

Cut out skirt and pattern

It was back to the pattern file for another option. Eventually, I decided to make a simple skirt. I cut out the skirt and I still had lots of yardage left! In May 2021, I made a dress for my oldest granddaughter from this fabric.

I decided to add the tulle ruffle. I dusted off the serger and I spent hours trying to adjust the tension. I could have made three skirts in the time it took me to determine that one of the threads had slipped out of the tension disk!

It took me more time to readjust the serger to do a fold over hem with bulky or wooly nylon thread. Miss A loves pink, so I stitched the edge of the ruffle with pink thread. The pattern didn't call for an edge finish; but, I thought that my granddaughter would appreciate the detail.

After three more days of fiddling with the serger, I gave up on the rolled hem finish idea. I never could stitch without the thread breaking.

Bias tape packaging; note the pricing

Instead, I got out my grandmother's bias tape and found two packages that were pink. They weren't the same pink; but similar enough that it would work. At 17 cents and 85 cents, these were definitely vintage! One of my quilting friends googled the year one could buy the bias tape for 17 cents. The answer was the 1970s! My grandmother would be tickled to see her notions being used. . .especially when the notion was used for a kid!

The bias tape accent

The bias tape made a much better impact on the tulle. The ruffle at the hemline is super cute and I think that my granddaughter is going to love this skirt!

Finished skirt

It is going to be hard to wait until Christmas to see her reaction! I used half a yard of fabric. This brings my total yardage used from stash to 109.25 yards. I have a net loss of 48 yards for the year. 

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell.

Garment Sewing--A Shirt

Prewashing in process

Goal number five on my November list was to make a garment for my middle granddaughter. I can't remember the last time I sewed a long sleeved shirt with a yoke. There was a time that I would make a western styled shirt for my brothers, dad, and husband. It's been about three decades since I've done that!

About 10 years ago, I bought this fabric thinking it would make a nice shirt for each granddaughter. I didn't make the shirts. In an effort to move the fashion fabric out of my studio, I decided to sew this fabric into a shirt for my almost twelve year old granddaughter. She likes plaid shirts.

I pre-washed the fabric. I was impressed that the fabric was color fast and didn't appear to shrink!

Drawing the pattern pieces from
the master pattern

The next step was to draw the pattern off of the master pattern. I have a little pattern tracing fabric left from a purchase from JoAnn Fabric store. I miss that store for notion purchases. To stretch the pattern fabric, I used wax paper to draw off the smaller pattern pieces.

The pattern

The pattern that I'm using is a Kwik Sew that I likely bought thirty years ago! 

Cut out ready for stitching

Next, I cut out the pieces from the fabric. It took a while because I ended up cutting the pieces out one at a time so that the seams, when I sew them, will match. 

Buttons from the button box

When I made shirts in the past, I did have to iron the areas of the finished shirts that were interfaced because the fusible shrunk. I did try a new to me technique which was to preshrink the fusible interfacing. I followed J Stearns Design YouTube video that she posted ten years ago! Her recommendation was to place the interfacing in hot water for about 10 minutes, gently squeeze out the excess water, roll the interfacing in a towel, gently squeeze the towel and hang the interfacing to dry. I'll be interested to hear if that process works!

The pockets went on without an issue. Then I managed to be challenged with stitching the front bands. I stitched, I ripped. I stitched and I ripped. Finally, the third time I got it right. I don't know why I was making it such a challenge! 

I have done a lot of ripping. . . goodness! I managed to make two right sleeves. . . ugh. So there was even more ripping. When I was ready to stitch the buttons, button holes and hem, I danced around the studio a bit. I gave a shout of joy when I found eight buttons in my button stash that worked! I don't know if these came from my grandma, my mom or me. I'm leaning toward my grandma. I placed a similar red \button on the collar stand. 

I thought I would finish this project over three days. . .HAH!!! It took me a week; but who will know that fact but you and me? A finish is a finish!!

I used a yard and three quarters for this project. This brings my net loss of fabric used from stash this year to 47 and a half yards. I likely will not meet my goal of having a net loss of 100 yards by the end of the year. I am pleased, however, that I have used 108 and three quarters yards of fabric from my stash. Perhaps, next year, I'll be able to curb my purchasing a bit more!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell.

One Sweater Body--Upcycled Into a Skirt!

Sweater body

I've had this sweater body in my stash. It previously lived for decades in my mom's stash. My mom would pursue the Jantzen fabric outlet for "buys." She bought a lot of fabric. She made a lot of garments for my dad, my brothers and even some of their friends. She made clothing for herself and for me. Although, I was stitching my own clothes so I didn't receive that many items! 

There was no fiber content available regarding the sweater body; but, I would venture to guess it is a wool and polyester blend. When I pressed it, it smelled like wool! It was 31 inches long by 72 inches wide.

Serged back center seam

I did bring it to the free table at a September guild meeting; but no one took it. Rather than put it in the landfill, I decided I would make a usable garment from it. Since there was no trim with the sweater body, I didn't want to make a sweater or a vest. I pondered what I could make with the supplies I had on hand. I looked on Pinterest. I searched Google and You Tube for ideas.

Center back seam with edges secured

A skirt for my oldest granddaughter seemed to be the best option. I could use the ribbing as the waistband and I could serge the edges of the fabric for the one seam. To make the skirt couture, I whipped stitched the seam allowances to the skirt body. Those seam allowances will remain as they are!

Waistband from sweater band

I used the sweater band as the casing for the waistband. The knitted waistband was wide enough that I folded it in half. I used a zigzag stitch to secure the casing. The stitch isn't visible from the front and the finished edge of the sweater band made a neat finish for the inside of the garment!

Hem

There was a finish along the lower edge of the fabric. I decided I could turn the edge and hand stitch the hem. The skirt finished about 28 I/12 inches or about four inches below my granddaughter's knee. I'm thinking this skirt paired with boots would look great. Miss K loves to wear boots. I will invite Miss K to go shopping for a blouse and/or a sweater or a vest to complete the outfit. I hope she likes it!

Finished skirt

I am rounding to the nearest quarter of a yard so I used three quarters of a yard of fabric to make this project. This brings the total used from stash this month to 4.75 yards and the total used from stash this year to 45.75 yards!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell!

Gifted Quilt

The bride and groom

I have a niece who loves the color purple. Years ago, I made a two color mystery quilt that was purple and lime green. I set it aside to gift it to her as a wedding gift. In July, she married her best friend. 

The gift area. . .note the lime green package

My niece is an honest to goodness cowgirl. Her wedding reflected her love of ranching. She and the love of her life, are so happy together. They were filled with joy and exuberance on their special day!

Back made from the leftover

Regarding the two color mystery quilt, I added a second label that listed their names and washing instructions. Best of all, I gifted it in a pillow case of coordinating fabrics. I''m sure that they didn't receive a second gift like this one!

The front

I hope it will warm them both when they need it! Documenting this quilt's forever home was goal number three on my September list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Santa Tree Skirt--post 3

Ready for basting 

Over the years that I've made this pattern, the useable width of the fabric has decreased. I found that I adding a 4 inch strip to the backing made it much easier to layer this project. I used long pins to pin the layers together. 

Stiched around the edge and pin basted

Then I hand basted the sticking area. I added this time consuming step because doing it will decrease my chances of stitching in a tuck. A tuck would mean having to rip and restitch an area. 

I trimmed the excess batting and backing. I carefully stitched around the edges leaving an edge open for turning. Hand basting was worth the effort because I had no tucks! 

It was a beast to turn inside out; but, I did it without as much angst as I had anticipated. 

I pressed the turned edges and topstitched them to hold the layers in place. Then I pinned basted the layers to ready the project for machine quilting.

I stitched in the ditch with monofilament thread. In the first stitching session, I completed the ditch stitching and more than half of quilting the six belts.

Belt and Santa suit quilting

In my second stitching session the following day, I finished the belts and stitched half of the Santa suits before my body cried, "ENOUGH!"

Detail of suit and boot quilting

In my third session, I finished the Santa suits and started on the boots and dark fabric on the arms. I finished two before my body needed to stop.

Continuous curves stitched in the green part of the arms

In my fourth session, I finished the boots and the arms. I used a curved ruler to stitch a continuous curve in the green section of the arms. 

Defining the eyes

I stitched the outline of the eyes to provide a little more definition. I added a straight stitch around the mustache.

Paisley motif quilted in the beards

Using a paisley free motion motif, I stitched five of the beards. My body was super tired after that session!

Loop motif quilted in the background

The following day, I stitched the last beard and started quilting the background. I used micro quilter thread by Superior to quilt the background. I used Aurifil 50 weight cotton threads to quilt the Santas. I needed two more sessions to finish the quilting. 

Thread used in the project

I added the label, sashing it with the last of a Christmas fabric I purchased early in my quilting journey. I finished the tree skirt! Finishing this project was goal number three on my June list. I used seven yards of fabric; but, I've purchased some more wide backing so my net stash numbers are not increasing as much as I had hoped! 

Label

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 12 yards  (I bought two three yard wide back bundles.)  

Fabric in year to date: 38 yards

Fabric used from stash this month:  7 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 55 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 5 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -17 yards 

Ring of Santa's finished

This is a gift for my niece whose wedding is in July. Previous posts: cutting it out; piecing the skirt. Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.