Anna Maria Horner Receiving Blanket

Anna Maria Horner Receiving Blanket, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

Blanket 4 out of 7 receiving blankets. I'm quite partial to this one. Shame I don't (and won't) have any girls.

His & Hers Personalised Quilt

I've always wanted to make this quilt coz it was so cute. I have lots of babies due around me within the next 3-6 months so I'm making a few of these in advance. Then all I have to do is applique their name on. I'll be making 2 of each fabric selection. My hubby took the baby out for a coffee while the toddler slept so I managed to cut 4 and piece 2 of these quilts. I've just ordered some Kona solids for the backing. That'll give me a couple of weeks before I start basting and quilting. It might give me time to prepare the binding.

Do you think these are gender neutral or do you think the top one is boy specific?

Dr Seuss quilt / playmat

Yay, I've finally finished Ryder's playmat. He's only 2.5 weeks old and ready for some tummy time. It was a simple design I made on EQ7. It is just 4" squares (finished) sashed with 2" of Kona Turqoise and then 5" of the Dr Seuss characters fabric. I used a double layer of poly batting to maximise squishiness and plain red flannel for the backing for a bit of grip. Then all I did was stitch in the ditch again to try to maximise squishiness.

I think it's a perfect size for my little 2.5 week old Ryder. And I'm in love with the gorgeous bright colours of the Dr Seuss fabric. It's the first quilt I've made using my new Janome Horizon. I've always had trouble with straight line quilting with puckering at the intersections. But I've had no such drama with this lovely machine. I'm also in love with the speed control. It really helps with getting into a rythm of stitching.

Dr Seuss and EQ7

Here is my EQ7 design slowly coming to fruition. Next I need to cut the sashing and binding.

Voile baby blanket #2

Finally finished - newborn is only 9 days old.

Janome Horizon!!

Looky looky what my husband bought me! I've only just unpacked it and managed to start piecing my Playmat and finish the binding on this blanket while both my newborn and 3yr old are asleep. Yes, they slept at the same time!!! Clearly I haven't mastered the art of machine binding, but it will have to do with the little time and energy I have at the moment.

Voile baby blanket

As I said earlier, I HAD to make my own version of Anna Maria Horner's Little Luxuries baby receiving blankets. I've used AMH voile in Maybe Sixpence together with Robert Kaufman flannel in Blue Cloud and AMH voile in RiverRock for binding. I've made a second one using AMH voile in Diamond Mine Ink together with Robert Kaufman flannel in White and AMH voile in Water for binding. Making the bias binding has been a bit of a challenge. After researching several websites, I finally understood the instructions. Note to self: Don't use disappearing ink pen to mark the lines as they disappear within 15 minutes! I've only got the binding to go for the Diamond Mine Ink blanket. But with the new baby home and having a toddler too, it's difficult to find the energy to craft at all. Not to mention all the healing I've got to do too. Nobody told me having a large baby would take such a huge toll! :)

Kiila and other things

Here are a few things I'm working on at the moment.

Firstly there is my Kiila socks. I'm using Wollmeise 80/20 Twin in WD fuchsia. It's such a rich and vibrant colour. They are a bit full on with the twisted stitches on every row. I've already made a couple of mistakes but I'm not going to show you where :) These are great to knit when I feel like something challenging instead of my mindless Neat Ripple Blanket. The Neat Ripple Blanket is packed and ready to head to the hospital with me for when I have my baby...which, by the way I think has finally engaged. Bring it on!

Secondly, I HAD to make my own version of Anna Maria Horner's Little Luxuries baby receiving blankets. I've used AMH voile in Maybe Sixpence together with Robert Kaufman flannel in Blue Cloud and AMH voile in RiverRock for binding. I've made a second one using AMH voile in Diamond Mine Ink together with Robert Kaufman flannel in White and AMH voile in Water for binding. Making the bias binding has been a bit of a challenge. After researching several websites, I finally understood the instructions. Note to self: Don't use disappearing ink pen to mark the lines as they disappear within 15 minutes! I've only got the binding to go for these.

Thirdly I really wanted to use up the Moda Bliss jelly roll I had leftover from this project. So I got to work on EQ7 to design something. I've never made a pinwheel in my life and these turned out a lot smaller than planned. But they still look cute. I'm binding it using Kona Primrose and Moda Bliss flannel in Polka sweet. I didn't have a recipient in mind for this, but a friend gave birth to a baby girl after 2 sons. I know she loves shabby chic, so I might have to gift it to her. I'm still not sure how I'm going to baste this since I think the baby has decided to! engage itself at 38 weeks. I'm not sure I'm going to finish any of these before the baby comes. Aargh!

Burp cloths and pram blanket

Ok, so here they are. What do you think? I just made a template maximising the longest side of a fat quarter (approx 21"). I made a dent on one side about 7" long and 2" deep. I only made half a template to be cut on a fold.

I cut the fabrics on the fold using my half template. I placed one printed fabric and one flannel fabric right sides facing and overlocked the edges leaving one straight side with a 5" opening. I then turned them right side out and pressed. Then I topstitched about 1/8" from the edge. That's it.

Pram blanket, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

And here is the matching pram blanket. Designed and planned on EQ7 and then put together in an hour and a half. To top it off, it was exactly the same size as the nappy liners I used to back the burp cloths so no cutting was involved :) Perfect pram size at 25" x 30".

A few things in the works

Neat Ripple Blanket. This is a great little project to carry around. I've made it so it's about 90cm wide and the pattern repeat can almost be done blindfolded...or whilst watching a movie :) I'm loving these lovely fresh colours for summer. I've had this project in the planning for zonks. I'm using Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton 8ply.

And when I'm not crocheting in front of the tv I'm cutting and sewing things for the baby. In this case, burp cloths. We don't really have these in Australia, but they are a brilliant idea. With my 1st son, I mostly used white face washers bought in packs of 10 for a few bucks. But they are really quite small and, in hindsight, really rough. I'm planning on backing these with 100% cotton absorbent flannel used in reusable nappies. I bought a packet of 12 for $44 at Baby Bunting. I can probably get 2 or 3 out of each nappy liner.

Each burp cloth only takes up half of a fat quarter. I could make 2 matching newborn bibs from the other half of the fat quarter. Or maybe wash cloths? I'll be contemplating which whilst I'm prewashing the flannel. Stay tuned.

1. Michael Miller Ring Dot Turquoise
2. Michael Miller Ta Dot Teal
3. Robert Kaufman Kona Solid Marine
4. Echino Nico Glasses Gold (85% Cotton/15% Linen)
5. Monaluna Çirca 50 Pebble Stripes Citron (100% Organic)
6. Echino Nico Bicyles Turquoise (85% Cotton/15% Linen)
7. SEI Playful Geos Teal

Christmas pillow rip off

Christmas pillow rip off, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

These pillow covers were totally copied from Crazy Mom Quilts. I loved them so much I had to make a pair to match my Christmas stockings. I used only the smallest of scraps except for the binding. Obviously my free motion quilting is a far cry from Crazy Mom Quilts, but I'm getting better at it. One pillow was hand sewn binding. The other was the first time at machine sewn binding. Also a first is the envelope closure. I usually do zip closure. I finish this more than a week after Christmas :)

Controversial Latvian Garden Baby Blanket

Controversial Latvian Garden Baby Blanket, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

Yay, after 8 months, I've finally finished this blanket. Baby R is due at the end of January. Not that he'll need a warm woollen blanket then of course being summer. It's not a very square blanket because it was my first time knitting continental, in the round and fair isle, not to mention steeking! So one end is tighter than the other. I don't think R will mind :)

Pattern: Baby Blanket Latvian Garden
Yarn: Wollmeise 100% WD Stella Polaris, 100% WD Am Kalten Polar and Twin Schwarz
Backing/binding: Kona Pacific
Tutorial for backing/binding: Here but I doubled the overhang on each side to 2"

Christmas stockings

Christmas stockings, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

Being Dutch, I've never had my own Christmas stocking. Then I met my hubby and he had one from when he was a kid. Then we had our son and he had one made for him while in the NICU just after he was born. It's a bit sad to see a mantel with just the 2 stockings. So I decided to take it upon myself to make us all matching ones using Fabricworm's tutorial. There is a 4th one there for our son who is due to be born mid January. He already has presents under the tree.

Contra bibs

I made a deal with my friend, Lisa, to swap her photography services for things that my husband and I could supply her. So we are giving her a cordless phone set and these 4 bibs. She has 3 boys under the age of 4...crazy girl. I hope she likes these :)

Fabric: Riley Blake Circle Dots and Monaluna Chain Dots
Backing: Cloud9 Organic flannel

Matching pillowcase

Here is the matching pillowcase to match the Babushka quilt I made for a work colleague. I hope you like it, Gina!

Gina's response (verbatim): "OH MY GODDDD!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love it!!!!!!! That's the best thing I've ever seen!"

Random Reflections quilt

Random Reflections quilt, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

I've finally finished binding and taking pictures of this quilt. It is a huge one (for me). Quilted by Karen from Quilts on Bastings.

Fabrics used:
- Jellyroll - Momo by Freebird
- Jellyroll - Basics in Snow

Backing: Freebird Ovals in Grape
Binding: Freebird Eggs in Grape
Batting: 100% cotton
Finished size: 59" x 65"

Tickled Pink quilt

Tickled Pink quilt, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

I have fallen in love with this quilt. It has a lot of firsts in it. I used Oh Fransson's crazy 9 patch tutorial. But I only used 8 fabrics so each square has one double up. But I ended up with the right amount of blocks. I also tried free motion quilting for the first time which pretty good success. It goes so quickly!

Fabrics used:
- Denyse Schmidt Four Square Fiesta
- Denyse Schmidt Thistle Leaf Fiesta
- Robert Kaufman Pure Organics PFD
- Densye Schmidt Dimaond Dandys Fiesta
- Sanae Oz Dots Pink
- Denyse Schmidt Wallpaper Fiesta
- Kokka Trefle Sewing Notions Pink
- Joel Dewberry Napsack Berry
- Robert Kaufman Kona Solid Stone
- Joel Dewberry Dogwood Bloom Berry
- Keiki Wee Stripe Pink
- Amy Butler Memento Burgundy

Backing/sashing: cotton linen blend
Binding: Kona Deep Rose
Batting: 100% cotton
Finished size: 34" x 40"

FOR SALE IN MY ETSY STORE

Rainbow Bright quilt

Rainbow Bright quilt, originally uploaded by stitch-by-stitch.

I've finally finished binding this gorgeous quilt. It's such a shame that the basting/quilting went so horribly wrong. I love the fabrics and the bright colours. Something different for a baby than the all too usual pastels available.

Fabrics used:
- Patty Young Dandelions Fuchsia
- Monaluna Organic Woodland Chain Strawberry
- Jenn Ski Bees Orange
- Dinky Dots Lime
- Monaluna Organic Pebble Lines Citron
- Laurie Wisbrun Itty Bitty Chairs Grass
- Riley Blake Cheery Circles Green
- Monaluna Organic Woodland Chain Teal
- Riley Blake Cheery Circles blue
- Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen Purple
- Patricia Bravo Chick Paper Dark

Backing: Riley Blake Cheery Circles blue

Binding: Kona Lime

Batting: 100% cotton

Finished size: 37" x 47"

DISCOUNTED IN MY ETSY STORE

Argh - Rainbow pain in the butt

This quilt has turned out to be the bane of my existence. That will teach me to use inferior quality sashing. This thing puckered up so many times that I don't think I can list it on Etsy. I'm thinking I'm going to have to hang on to it to gift instead. Boooo! What do you do with your quilts that pucker or have other 'imperfections'?

Rainbow bright

Progress on Rainbow Bright. I've finally started quilting after the backing fabric and batting arrived this week. A bit of straight line quilting to keep things simple and soft.