Elias has been keeping me a bit busier this past week, so I haven’t had much time being creative. I caught a few moments to tidy things up in the studio today. Here’s some new fabric that needs a fun pattern. I was really drawn to the fresh color combos and the organic/free feel of it.
Our dog Dakota, whom I know call Frau Kota in honor of my sister-in-laws family…(well actually it might not be an honor, but I’ve started calling her Frau and it has stuck) is doing very well with baby Elias. Pre-baby she would beg to go in one of the back bedrooms each night to nap, now she will not leave the living room since that is where Elias is. How cute! Frau Kota gets a lick in when she can, but other than that she really minds her “p’s and q’s.”
Little Elias and I did some binding in the afternoon sunlight. He is great at holding my thread!
Here’s a future re-make project that I am really excited about. This piece was left in our house when we bought it and I have held on to it because I think it has some fun potential. I am going to paint it white, put some paper or fabric along the back paneling, and put some new knobs in. ohhh, I think it will come out swell!
I got my hands on some of Heather Bailey’s new fabric–”Nicey Jane.” Love it! After a few days of pondering and dreaming, I came up with a pattern I think fits well with the fabric. Between Tony and a very sensitive baby monitor I was able to get some sewing time in today. New fabric and new patterns–so much fun for me!
And how much fun are fresh cookies with a mug of milk?! Someday Elias will enjoy warm cookies when he gets home from school…because that is just the way it is supposed to be right?
I love free patterns! Here is a pillowcase pattern that I use all the time. The finished pillowcase doesn’t have any raw edges so it looks professionally done. Check out the pattern below and get making some easy gifts for yourself and your friends!
This is a pillowcase I made using the pattern just last week. After the little guy’s diaper leaked a bit on this one, I decided I better have a back-up.
Handmade Pillowcase Pattern
Use 42-44” wide fabric. Use a ¼ inch seam unless otherwise noted.
2/3 yard fabric for base of pillowcase
2 ½ inches for accent strip
1/3 yard fabric for header of pillowcase
- With right sides together, place accent strip on header fabric, sewing down the long edge. Side edges may not match—that’s ok!
- With right sides together, sew base fabric to accent strip along the long edge.
- With the right side facing up, roll up the base fabric and then match the raw edge or your header material with the seam that you made when you sewed your base fabric and accent strip together. Pin in place. This will form a tube with your base fabric lying inside. Sew ¼ inch seam along the edge you pinned.
- Pull the base fabric out of the header.
- Fold the pillowcase in half with WRONG sides together. Trim side edges even. Sew across down the side and across the bottom using a scant ¼ inch seam. Turn wrong side out and press. With right sides together, sew a 3/8 inch seam making sure to cover the raw edges of the previous seam. Turn right side out, and press seams. Enjoy!
I was inspired by the Pleasant Home blog to use up some of the fabric that I have in my stash. She says she is not going to buy any more new fabric until all of her projects are caught up…I’m not going that far, but it does feel good to get a 3-year shelf sitting project started!
So here is the project of the weekend. I bought this fabric when I worked at The Calico Shoppe in Eau Claire WI. As I was ironing the fabric, the smell of the fabric brought me right back to the shoppe. Oh, how sweet! A little trip down memory lane…
The pattern I am using is “Twist and Shout” (I modified it a bit) by Terry Atkinson. I was again reminded why I like her patterns so much–she does a fabulous job of making everything as easy and fast as possible. If you are a beginner quilter I highly recommend doing some of Terry’s patterns as your first projects.
First I made my “strip sets.”
Then you do a secondary cut.
Here you see my 3 piles from my different strip sets. (strip sets=fast cutting!)
Your blocks go together just by sewing the strips together in different ways. I started this last night and I already have all the blocks done!
I am using Civil War fabrics for this quilt. After I wash it and it gets all crinkly, it will look like it has been around for years–love it! This quilt will actually be a gift for a special someone…can’t wait to get it done in time for the big day!
