July mixed bag

This mug rug is for a sweet young lady who was my first and only confirmand.

She will be a freshman at Mississippi State where I received my BS & M. Ed.

I hope she has a great experience.

I am concentrating on my Midnight Garden quilt.

I use a design bed instead of a design wall.

I have played around with all the blocks I have finished so far

Now I have an idea of how many blocks I need.

It takes a while to make each paper pieced block.

I made a couple of things for myself.

I bought a panel containing four bandanas.

It wasn't enough fabric to cut into a blouse,

so I made my own pattern.

I like the finished on point flutter top.

I also bought this floral knit.

It was thinner than I expected but worked well for this quick to sew dress.

I keep trying to make something for Kenton but can't find the right pattern.

These shorts fit Ava perfectly.

Another bucket hat.

I like the free pattern I found at Sew She Can. 

I'm working on the AQS wool challenge block.

A good hand sewing project.

I think that is all for now.

Happy Sewing!

 

June projects

 Wow! June has been a busy month. Ava, Kenton, and I spent a fun week GUMC's vacation Bible school. I led preschool music all week - 5 groups every day. Kenton enjoyed being in gran's music class each day. Ava had fun with the elementary rotations. Martin was our chef for lunch and afternoon snacks. No sewing that week.

I ordered some knit yardage because knit is the fabric of choice for some kiddos.

This navy and white stripe was my first attempt of a T-shirt. Lovely fabric but it did not fit.

The red and white stripe shift was a win. 

It was so easy and quick to make.

I used the back pattern piece of VFT's Maude tween with sleeves from another pattern.

Ava loves a simple dress.

The American Quilt Society and Wonderfil Threads is having a wool applique' challenge.

I bought two kits and started working on a design.

The large circle was cut into four pieces to make the wings of the butterfly.

The six sizes of smaller circles were used for other elements.

This close up is showing the edge stitching made from a whipped running stitch.

A very easy stitch.

I shared my start with UTQG this past Tuesday.

Hope some others want to join this challenge.

Below is my third mini house quilt for Habitat for Humanity.

On June 13th all of the mini quilts were displayed at a reception for new home owners.

Each family chose a mini quilt to take home.

Two of my minis are in this view of the quilts.

My first attempt is above my third.

The presentation and stories of the donors and recipients were very inspiring.

I'm glad I was part of the celebrations.

Happy Sewing!

Bucket Hat Blitz

 

I downloaded a free pattern for a bucket hat with multiple sizes.

I planned to make several different colored hats 

to wear in water aerobics.

I cut out this hat from quilting fabric.

The free pattern had directions but not for the reversible hat I wanted.

So, I just sewed the crown and sides of the outer and inner fabrics.

Then I sewed the outer and inner brims together.

When I sewed the top to the brim, it didn't fit right.

The top part had stretched and the only way to fix it 

was to make tucks in two places.

It's wearable but not too pretty.

I finished the raw edge of the lining by turning under an eighth inch and stitching it down.

I cut out another pair of hats.

This time I used canvas fabric that is 

much heavier than quilting cotton.

Also, I looked at some video directions 

for making reversible bucket hats.

Success! I made each hat -crown to brim - then sewed them together along the outer edge of the brim.

I left a 3 inch space open to turn the hat right side out.

I topstitch around the brim that closed the turning space.

I stitched several times around the brim. 

Tada. A reversible bucket hat.

After looking at my photo above I decided the hat was too tall.

I compared the side section to a similar hat I bought.

It was about a half inch shorter.

So I shortened the pattern and made one more.

 

Perfect! The above fabric is leftover from dining room curtains.

And the one below is from a tablecloth I made.

I offered to make some hats for L & D but they passed.

Too bad ...

They could have been invisible in front of the curtains like me.

The takeaway -

Canvas is a better fabric choice for hats.

Make a practice one or two when using a free pattern.

Now there is a box of knit fabric calling my name.

Happy Sewing!

How to make a Friendship Star Flower

At the end of May my term as president 

of Uncommon Threads Quilt Guild will be over.

Members make out-going presidents a block to remember the year.

I liked this Friendship Star Flower block but could not find directions.

So I am writing the directions here.

Fabric requirements:

Fabric A - (3) 5" squares any flower color

Fabric B - (4) 5" squares any flower color

Fabric C - (2) 5" squares green preferred

Use any quilting cotton, solid or patterned.

The variety will make it special.

Mark a diagonal line on the reverse side of the B squares.

Pair two A squares with two B squares and 

pair the other two B squares with the two C squares.

Make half square triangles from the pairs.

Sew a quarter inch seam of each side of the marked line.

Cut the two halves apart between the parallel seams.

Now there are four half square triangle blocks in each color combination.

Trim each square to 4.5 inches including the center square.

Blok Lok is helpful with the half squares but not required.

The star can spin either way.

After trimming, sew the squares together like a 9 patch block.

Below is a finished block.

Remember to sign the block.

I like to spin the seams.

The block should measure 12.5 inches now.

Thanks! Happy Sewing.

 

More May finishes

I bought a quilt book with patterns for letters, numbers, & punctuation marks.

Our quilt guild agreed to make 30 mini quilts for new Habitat homeowners.

This one was fun to design and sew.

Finished with label and hanging sleeve.

One last photo.

I took these photos to show how to make a Friendship Star Flower block.

I used 5 inch blocks in 3 colors.

Color A is in the center.

Four half square triangles with colors A & B.

Four half square triangles with colors B & C.

Trim all the blocks to 4.5 inches.

Sew together as shown.

Block is 12.5 inches unfinished.

Now back to the Sewcialites 3 blocks.

Happy Sewing!

 

Early May Projects

Not yet two weeks into May and I have finished several projects.

First, I made little finger puppets for my preschool choir kids.

They sang about Noah and the Ark, so I made these wolves.

Surely wolves were on the ark?

Next, it was David's 10th birthday.

I asked what he wanted and he replied - a costume.

He chose a Renaissance doublet like I made for Noah Lesh several years ago.

Since I couldn't get the same fabric as the first doublet, Emily suggested anything with gold.

I found this maroon and gold decorator fabric at a local shop.

I added a gold cotton lining, gold trim, and gold buttons.

The finished doublet.

I used my serger and sewing machine.

There are 19 buttons! Four on each sleeve and eleven on the front.

Instead of buttonholes I used gold cord loops.

It will take help to get dressed in this heavy coat.

After the costume I finished a skirt and shoulder bag for Miss Ava.

This is the baguette pattern with an adjustable strap.

The lining is two pink fabrics because I didn't have enough of either one.

The baby quilt I shared in the previous post is now finished.

I used a multicolored stripe for the binding.

What's sewing at your place?

Happy sewing!