Kris Kringle gift - McCall's M6132

Maybe I just work better under pressure.

As a part of my Kris Kringle gift I decided to make my KK an apron.  Why an apron?  Because if you willingly clean out the fridge at work, you need a special apron to make the task more bearable!  Besides this pattern makes me smile.  I hope it does the same for her.

I have combined two things I know she likes into this apron.  Cats and the colour green!

I had this vintage fabric that I have had for a while, I have come to the conclusion in my life that I need to use things instead of them becoming objects that you just look at or that become someone else's problem when you're no longer around.

This is a lovely pattern, I have used it before.  It is easy to put together.  It allowed me to do some applique and use some of the other types of stitches I don't usually use on my sewing machine to complete the whiskers, mouth, ears and nose. So, if you are looking for an apron to make, this is a bit of fun.

I actually made two of these in the same fabric, the other is for a friends birthday.

I want to make another two, one of which will be for me.  More of that at a later date.

Merry Christmas everyone, the real gift is in the giving.

Happy sewing.

Sandra

Fabric Christmas Postcard

Is this too late in the year to begin your Christmas projects?  Probably.

I set the challenge down to my friend Ronda a few weeks back.  That challenge is to exchange quilted/appliqued Christmas cards.

I, of course, had to give it to her first before I blogged about it.  I don't usually exchange cards until after December 1, but, I had to break my own rules this year.  What's life if you can't break a rule or two now and then?

I got the inspiration from Pinterest.  I must apologise, I have modified someone else's design slightly, but I can not acknowledge them as I have not saved their idea as a pin.  If someone finds it, let me know and I will acknowledge this person.

Let us start with the finished product:

While I prefer everything to be properly finished I chose a design that, was not.  It was more naive in finish.

You will need:

Visofix
Phellon (or fusible batting)
Cotton fabric (in red, white and green)
2 buttons

These are so easy to make.  Here's how it was done:

1     Cut out two 6" x 4" rectangles for each postcard that you wish to make.
2     Cut out two pieces of stiff interfacing - 6" x 4" - attach one piece to the wrong side of the pieces          that you cut out in point 1 above.
3     Fuse Visofix to each of the red, green and white fabrics.
4     I then used my Sizzix cutter to cut a 3" red circle and a 3" white circle.
5     With the white circle I cut these freehand through the middle to make the shape shown in the              picture above. I also freehand cut the leaves.
6     Remove the backing from the Visofix and iron down onto the backing fabric, as shown in the              picture below:

7     Cut out one piece of phellon (or you could spray glue attach a piece of batting) - 6" x 4" for each        card. Attach to the rear of the front piece with the applique and sandwich the three layers                    together holding together with pins or clips.
8     I then free motioned quilted the three layers together around the plum puddings.

9     Then, using one of the embroidery motifs on my machine, found a motif resembling snow flakes        and placed these randomly above the plum puddings and the leaves, also freemotion around the          perimeter of the card.
10   Hand sew the two buttons at the base of the two leaves,

And there we have it, I finally made eight of these cards.

This will become a yearly tradition.

Give it a try, they're quite easy to make.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

PS and Merry Christmas to one and all.

Wonky star patchwork

It's been a busy time.  Finally, I'm seeing some relief in sight, and after weeks of not even remotely touching my sewing machine, and hurting my back; finally my machine and I are reunited.

Three fabrics sitting in a bag for weeks, with an intended recipient ... a deadline is drawing near.

I like this design, I have used it before.  What I like about it is that it doesn't really matter where you place the fabric for the triangles, so no stress in matching up the blocks.

I used this design previously to make a cushion cover:

I need to finish the piecing for the quilt as it has to go to Ronda to be quilted when I'm done.

Looking forward to seeing it when it's completely done.

Happy sewing everyone.. yes, I'm still here!

Sandra

So Sew Easy Boxy Bag

I decided to purchase this pattern, it was only a few dollars to download off the So-Sew-Easy.com website.  I weighed up the pros and cons of drafting myself, and decided that it would cost me more time to develop the pattern and test it and then produce it.  Plus, the patterns from this web site, whether you purchase them or are for free are as they suggest, so easy to sew.

Boxy bag

Boxy bag and tiny bags

Tiny bags

The red one is for me (finally made a decision about what fabric to use for me).  I'm always misplacing my keys, so this is their new home in my handbag.

If you are after free patterns and ones that fit (the clothing patterns) and other items such as these try out the patterns on this website.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Baby quilt

This is the same patchwork pattern that I used in my Three Shirt Quilt:

It looks slightly different because I had to make do after I ran out of the purple fabric.  So I added sashing to the outer borders.  This time I used the Madeira Aeroquilt 3000 thread that I picked up at the last quilt show.

Now you know that quilting is something I am pushing myself to do as one of my challenges, but I must say that whilst using this thread I had a moment where I thought "I really enjoy doing this".  So I stitched in the ditch for most of this and then did this quilting pattern (didn't use the blue tailor's chalk this time to mark the pattern).

I used my regular sewing machine, not a long arm machine.  I think having the right equipment to do a job is very important.  Earlier this year I purchased a Horn Sewing/quilting table and it was the second time I'd used the quilting extension to the table.  Conclusion, it helps to keep the quilt flat and not running off the table.

Here's a close up of the quilting (the quilt has been washed, so that's why it's looking a bit crinkled):

I think I have a home for it to go to now.

What have you been up to?  I have another quilt of this design almost done and it seems that the baby making phase at work has started up again, so Ronda and I are busy again making baby quilts and one retirement quilt.

The weather is still coolish here, but, we are seeing the sun a bit more often, my October Design magazine has just arrived and it's time to investigate my stash to pull out some summer fabrics to make outfits from.

I have so many projects in mind that going to work is just an inconvenience (but funds the fabric addiction!)

I hope all is well in your world.

Happy sewing.

Sandra