Monday, September 27, 2010

Random Reflections quilt top

I've finally finished my Random Reflections quilt top. Pattern by Moda Bakeshop. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I think it's going to be the perfect size for our bed. I've booked it in with Quilts on Bastings for long arm quilting.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

My friend is due to have a baby in December and she asked me to make her a quilt. She chose The Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric with white. I love how it's turned out. It's much softer with the quilt lines 4cm apart. Measures 100cm x 130cm with the strip being 25cm wide. I hope she likes it!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Baby quilt by One Flew Over

When I fell pregnant, I hadn't really dusted off my sewing machine in a VERY long time. So I commissioned my very talented friend, Kate, to make a quilt for my new little guy (due in January). I asked her to choose the fabrics for me because I don't trust my own judgment :) Look at the amazing results! I can't wait to see it in person. I'm especially in love with those little cars. Thank you thank you thank you!

Little Stitches Kimono PJs

How gorgeous did these little PJs turn out? A size 3-6mths for my little guy on the way. The pattern is from Little Stitches by Amy Butler. The fabric is from Spotlight. I can see a few of these being made in the future.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Look at me!

Having started sewing, I was wondering whether it would renew my love of knitting. Sewing is not portable at all and knitting is. I have been making this baby blanket since April but lost my knitting mojo in May. Realising that sewing is by no means portable, I dragged this gorgeous thing out again. I have until January before the baby is born. Not that he'll need it in summer!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Fitted and flat cot sheets

In my endeavour to find bedding for my new baby that ISN'T pastel or cutesy, I decided to make my own fitted sheets for the cot. It's worked out perfectly. I didn't follow any pattern, I just winged it. But I'm going to make another one so might make a tutorial out of that. This one is using Robert Kaufman Pimatex. I'm loving it!

The flat sheet came up a bit short in the white. But that's ok because I'll have to short sheet the cot for some time.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Sleepover pillowcases

Two little girl birthday presents ready. One is turning 4 and one has just turned 5. I have another little girl's birthday soon who is turning 6. Maybe I could make another?

Here is my first sleepover pillowcase using The Cottage Home's tutorial. I love how this turned out. So pretty. I will make 2 in opposite colours.

Note to self: zigzag the ruffle edge before ruffling!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

More shopping

Apart from 2 very large packages on their way from Fabricworm and Quilted Castle, I bought this gorgeous little bundle from Figberry on Etsy. It's 6 x 1/2 yard prints of David Walker's Robots. LOVE!

Inspiration

I'm loving this bedding set for my little man.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

More stash!

Oops, look what was waiting for me at work this morning! This one was bought especially for making a quilt for myself for our bed. All this PLUS 2 yards of Cloud9 Organic Flannel in white for future baby wraps/blankets.



The bundle I received was slightly different as noted below.

Kei Honeycomb White/Black (substituted with Kei Honeycomb Black/white)
Michael Miller Ta Dot Ebony
Denyse Schmidt Pie Basket New Day
Riley Blake Boo To You Large Dots Black (pictured but out of stock, substituting Michael Miller Dandy Damask Grey)
Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen Taupe
Michael Miller Disco Dot Black
Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen Charcoal (Pictured but out of stock, substituting Kona Solid Pepper)
Alexander Henry Thea Smoke
Michael Miller Piccolo Alfabeto
Michael Miller Ring Dot Black
Denyse Schmidt Cactus Calico New Day (substituted Robert Kaufman Basic Polka Dots Black)
Caleb Gray Mod Stars Licorice

Monday, September 13, 2010

Baby wrap / blanket

Here's another blanket I whipped up using Michael Miller 2x2 in Navy/White and a bit of Sevenberry stripes for the boat applique. I used Heat n Bond Ultrabond to secure it just hand drawing the boat. I realised I cut the stripes about 5" too short so I cut 5" out of the white and sewed it to the top. I actually prefer this effect. I used a lovely white flannel for the backing.

Progress on cathedral windows

Well, I followed the tutorial and this is what I came up with. Not too shabby. I think I'll bind it with a beige/charcoal colour. Then put some white sashing in and bind again. What do you think? I'd love to see a finer version using the Hungarian Blue line. It reminds me of Delft Blue. I am Dutch afterall :)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

I'd really like to try...

...cathedral windows. Inspired by this gorgeous one by Little Miss Shabby!


So armed with this tutorial I set to work. It's time consuming and uses a lot of the base fabric, but it's interesting watching the lovely pattern emerge.



Weighted pin cushion

I found this tutorial online and HAD to make one for myself. Not only did I not have a pin cushion at all, but it's neat with the little scrap bag which will come in VERY handy. Sorry about the blurry pics but it's taken me til 5:30pm to finish...hence the bad light. Lots of steps but well worth the results. It's not the neatest job, but I'm ok with that :)


Thursday, September 9, 2010

Michael Miller love

As I've said, I'm only new to this sewing / quilting caper. I've been researching fabrics and patterns all over the world wide web. It seems I have fallen in love with Michael Miller fabrics. We're on the same wavelength. I bought 2 yards of Michael Miller's 2x2 in Navy/White from Fat Quarter Shop at a really good price.



It'll go really nicely with the navy stars and stripes I bought from Patchwork on Central Park (I forget who the fabric designer is). It will eventually become another bed sheet set for my baby.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Zoology and Guitars 1/2 yard bundle

Look what arrived for me in the mail at work today? A 1/2 yard Zoology and Guitars bundle from Fabricworm for bedding for my new baby which is on the way. I got an extra 2 yards of the stripey fabric for the fitted sheets. I hope they turn out ok.



Included:
Patty Young Dandelions Turquoise
Michael Miller Play Stripe Lagoon
Michael Miller Dinky Dots Gray
Michael Miller Zoology Lagoon
Michael Miller Ta Dot Lagoon
Monaluna Circa 50 Tree Stripes
Michael Miller Dinky Dots Lime
Monaluna Circa 50 Woodland Chain Pool
Michael Miller Groovy Guitars Lagoon
Michael Miller Quarter Dot Gray
Monaluna Circa 50 Starburst Pool
Robert Kaufman Pure Organic Solid Gray

Monday, September 6, 2010

J'aime le Ballet

Here it is. My first go at quilting. Originally meant for a cousin's baby's 1st birthday, but I didn't make it in time. Now it sits on my shelf eagerly awaiting a lucky new owner. Lucky there's lots of birthday's coming up :)



Random Reflections



Here is a sneak peak of my 2nd attempt at quilting. I'm going to make Random Reflections using my Freebird Momo Jelly Roll which I got from Material Obsession during my short trip to Sydney. I also got a matching Solids in Snow from Quiltopia on eBay.
I've decided to cut a total of 200 strips making it slightly longer. So far so good. A bit more cutting and sewing to go...

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Baby wrap

I've been wanting to make some little baby wrap blankets for a few friends who are expecting. One of them doesn't know the gender of the baby, the other one does. This is my first attempt. After a quick trip to Spotlight, where I picked up this spotty fabric and white flannel, I got measuring and cutting.

1. Cut each fabric 80cm x 100cm.

2. Lay the cotton down right side up, preferably on a carpeted surface. Smooth it out.

3. Lay the flannel on top right side down. Smooth it out to match the fabric edges.

4. Pin the corners and then the centre of each side, then pin in between each of those pins until pins are about 5 inches apart leaving a 5 inch gap on the bottom.

5. Use something round to trace for the corners then sew all around, leaving the 5 inch gap open.

6. Cut the corners off and snip around each rounded edge.

7. Turn right side out through the 5 inch gap, poke the rounded corners out and press to get a nice crip edge, turning in the seams at the gap.

8. Sew around 1/4" around the edges making sure you catch the seams of the open gap.


Friday, September 3, 2010

ABC 123

I have a friend's 1st birthday today (at 6pm at a playcentre?) so I thought I'd whip up something quick. I think these are really cute using londonmommy's tutorial. I sat looking at my fabrics to figure out which would be best for it and decided on white and red from Ikea and a blue/white elephant print I got from Washimatta from Etsy. I hand stitched ABC on one side of the white fabric and 123 on the back side of the cube.


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Love!

I really love this quilt which my friend, Kate, made. But Prints Charming don't sell the kit or even all the fabrics anymore. I'll have to find some other fabric for inspiration.


Sneak peak...

The newest craft in my life is quilting. I've never ever attempted it before but I saw one by Kate and I loved it so much I had to try my hand at it. Obviously I have a LOT to learn about quilting but I'm loving my first attempt. It was originally meant for my husband's cousin's baby's 1st birthday, but I missed it :) Unfortunately my baby on the way is a boy so I'll have to find some other lucky recipient. What do you think?