Brianna's Quilt

I didn't take any pictures of the Christmas stuff Dusty and I made. Ridiculous I know. I was just so happy to wrap it and be done with it. My sister, Bri, sent me a picture of her quilt. I loved it so much. I wanted to keep it. It had this really vintage nostalgic feel to it, like it belonged to my granny. It was pink and orange and yellow and burgundy. I backed it in a bright green fleece. It was cozy. Anyways, here is the pic....

Old McLucy Had a Farm.....

Lucy has a "farm" room and I couldn't find bedding that I loved so I picked up some fabric and wha-la. I love her blanket and it was super easy to do.

Long Sleeved Toddler Smock

I am so frustrated.

I have been planning on making a smock for my kids for a while AND I've been searching for a pattern to make a long-sleeved crafting smock. I could NOT find one anywhere (did I mention that I didn't look through purchase patterns.... I can't sew so I can't justify spending money on a pattern I'll most likely mess up). I decide How hard can making a pattern be???? My answer.... I shoulda paid for a freakin pattern!

I drew a picture of what I wanted the smock to look like on packing paper (I have a ton of it and I never really appreciated how handy the stuff is).

I drew it on the fabric

I cut it out (wrong.... clearly should of been paying more attention)

Redrew and adjusted pattern

finished cutting.

Started sewing (everyone tells you oh this is the easy part......... YEAH RIGHT! (maybe if you already know how to sew))

I finished.

It only took me a 4 hours from start to finish (which I'm positive that if you have even the slightest clue what you were doing it wouldn't take you that long)

There are a few things i would change.

1) pay attention when I'm cutting

2) go buy thinner elastic instead of using the elastic off the top of Dusty's underpants.

3) the neck... something weird is going on. I probably should of used bias tape (or whatever it's called) but I didn't know how

4) ask for help

For a first one, it's fine.

It's better than fine (as long as I don't focus on the many many mistakes)

Luce Loves it, in fact we had a little screaming match about taking the dang thing off. (mother of the year...I think so (except for the screaming.... although it was a good release))

Denim Quilt

This is the second jean quilt I made. This one is Lucy's and it's similar to Ellie's. This time I tried to make a polar fleece border BUT it didn't work out so well for me.
I do not know what to do at the corners.



They ended up being really bulky and awkward to sew.... not to mention terrifying to actually sew because I thought at any moment the needle was going to snap off and painfully impale me. I seriously would welcome suggestions and tips on all projects (Because clearly I need the help). This blanket is super-d-duperty warm because of all the batting I put in it and Lucy loves it (not to mention I also like the occasional cuddle because of it's warmth)

Ellie's Denim Quilt

I DO NOT sew. In fact I am so clueless about sewing my husband had to set up the sewing machine for me. But I am bound and determined to learn how. Once an idea gets in my head there is no getting it out and I have been desiring to make a quilt since at least junior high. Of course, I have put it off due to the fact of my busy busy life (which in fact I must say was no so busy busy as I thought). I got married and had two kids and then I was going stir-crazy last winter. I LOVE my kids but sometimes I wonder if I was really cut-out for this "stay-at-home-mom" bit. Anyways, I was going crazy out of sheer boredom and I needed to find a hobby so I figured what a perfect time to bust out the brand-new-been sitting in the back of my closet for the last 3 years- sewing machine.



I pulled out the instruction manual that comes with such a machine and began to assemble it to the best of my knowledge. I was pretty darn proud of myself until Dusty came home and has to "re-assemble" it. (minor set-back.... clearly anyone could of set it up wrong... it's a compact complicated little machine!)



So I started browsing through the trusty Internet for a "beginner" quilting pattern and as I am browsing my determination and confidence in my ability to "do anything you set your mind to" is wavering until..... I have a brainwave. This is my first "quilt" so I don't really have to make it out of whatever quilts are usually made out of and I can just throw together a denim one! GENIUS!!! So I immediately run up stairs and start cutting up Dusty's jeans (he has a lot so i know he can spare some). I could keep on with the story but I'll spare you the anguishing details....



2 days later from the set up of the sewing machine came the first (not so beautiful but at least meaningful) quilt......




It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. There clearly are mistakes that I made but all in all I am completely happy with it and more importantly, Ellie LOVES it. It is the blanket she chooses to pack around with her on all the outings we go to. Plus it's super warm because I didn't listen to anyone who said not to put batting in it.



The lessons I learned on this quilt...

1) Hand stitching with yarn threw denim is painful. I had to use pliers on some of the patches that were newer
2) cut your squares bigger than you want (I was a little zealous in the cutting department and neglected to think about the sewing together part
3)It would of been particularly helpful when tying the quilt to have somewhere to put it....
4) my blanket didn't turn out so smooth and tight (i haven't figured out the lesson in that but I will eventually and it's ok that it isn't because it's really floppy and cozy)

I didn't use a particular pattern from somewhere I just went to town on it and i don't know if i did it the "right" way but all I did was cut the squares into 4 3/4" and then sewed them together in strips. I gave myself a 1/2" seam allowance (I actually don't know what I just said.... I pretty much just sewed it together and hoped it was straight). After the top was all together I had stitched hearts and stars and Ellie's name on it. Dusty (who watched his mom and grandmother and great grandmother all quilt) helped me built a frame and tack the top down and stretch it. I cut the batting to size and laid it down and tacked it down. I put the polar fleece on top of that and tacked it down. I tried to stretch the polar fleece but it kept getting distorted so I gave up on that ( I think perhaps this is why it's "floppy"). I tied it all together and then sewed the outer edge (and because I don't trust my sewing ability I then stitched yarn around the border of the blanket. TA DA done!


I like it. Ellie likes it. and best of all it hasn't fallen apart.
I have made one more for Lucy and it is different but not without it's mistakes. I liked doing this project and will continue at my attempts BUT I still don't LOVE sewing. Maybe that will change with a little time and practise because I do LOVE the outcome of it.


I got some helpful how-to's off the Internet and the most helpful was this site:
http://www.mormonchic.com/crafty/denim_quilt.asp