Traced Hands Pillow

My latest creation moo awww awww awww ah! lol



As it just seems to go these days, I was trolling Pinterest late one night and I ran into a post that said MAKE ME! Isn't Pinterest just so good at that!

Well, my version is similar but since every wall in my house is either used or accounted for I went for a pillow instead :) I really love how this turned out. And believe this could also make a wonderful gift!

My version began with a simple piece of muslin in cream -- cut to 10 x 10.5 inches.

Onto this I traced first my husbands hand (the largest) using my very favorite Ticonderoga #2 pencil ensuring that he spread out his fingers just a bit. 

A bit on procedure here. On his hand, as well as all the others, I used DMC floss and chose to use just 3 strands. I also used a simple embroidery back stitch. I did also use a small embroidery hoop to keep my fabric manageable.

Hubbies hand was back stitched using a steal gray floss.

Next came my hand. I used a lightish medium purple. Things were getting bit confusing but I took my time and it came out nice!

Next I had some figuring to do. Next in line would be my 10 and 9 year olds who happen to have the exact same hand size. I figured it would look really funny to do two rows of the same stitching so I elected to only use one of them, which the 9 year old volunteered and the 10 year old was a-ok with ;). Their hand is represented in the red.

Finally came baby girl. Her hand is so tiny and fit so nicely into the nest of the rest of our hands. She just had to have baby pink for her color.

After I finished all my stitching I took a trip to JoAnn Fabrics and was so pleasantly surprised to find the background fabric!

It is gray in color with white flowers that have poka dots and wouldn't you believe! the same color scheme as the colors I chose for the hands! perfect match! I love it!

I ironed my fabric, then cut a strip 15.5 inches by the width of fabric. From this I cut a 15.5 x 14.5 inch piece for the back. I set this aside for now.

Then I cut 4 strips 3 inches wide by 15.5 inches long. I knew these would be too long but I placed the long strip on the top of the embroidered piece and sewed them together using a 1/4 inch seam. After sewing I cut off the extra fabric then went on to sew the bottom strip on. Again it was too long but I sewed and trimmed again. I ironed my seams towards the gray.

Next came the 2 sides which fit perfectly. After sewing all 4 strips on I ironed my seams again towards the gray.

I picked up both the top and bottom and pined it all in place. I sewed using a 1/4 inch seam, and left a 3 inch hole for turning on the bottom.

to sum up...

materials used:

cream muslin 10 x 10.5

#2 Ticonderoga pencil

DMC floss in desired colors

background fabric15.5 inch strip

       from this I cut a 15.5 x 14.5 backing and (4) 3 inch strips.

I still need to purchase some batting to call this one done, but I'll get to that soon!

Happy Sewing :)



Because I am in the Craftsy 2012 Block of the Month Club

Let me just start by saying I am really enjoying this BOM with Amy Gibson very much!

I have posted a few of my creations from the Craftsy Free Block of the Month Club but not all of them. And so, to make my posts up to date, I post this anthology.

from top left january to bottom right June

Missing from this mix are my two most recent creations.

First the Modern dresden. Which was very fun and easy to make. I used the easy Dresden template by Darlene Zimmerman. This bit of plastic is well worth the $10 I paid for it! I totally recommend it if you plan on doing a dresden! Fact is, I'd never attempt a dresden without one.

This template allows you to cut and stack your fabric to cut several at a time. You just move your way down the fabric turning the template this way and that to keep things all lined up!Iit took meer minutes to cut out all 20 blades to complete this block!

A quick tip I'd like to share; I am not so sure if it is on the package directions or not. This was not included in the Craftsy directions but, to speed things up, cut your fabric into the same size strips that you plan your finished blades to be.
So for this Modern Dresden my blades were to be 4 inches. I selected my fabric then cut the fabric into strips of 4 inches wide by width of fabric long.
Then using the template, I made my first cut, tossed that scrap, turned the fabric and the template the other way and cut down the row turning the template this was and that to match the "slant" of my next cut.

I did this same technique to make the second Craftsy BOM for July. This one being the Modern Dresden.

The blades on the modern are 4.5 inches.

All in all I am pleased with the success of this quilt thus far. I belive in the end we will end up with 20 squares. oh, and each square is 12.5 inches. So my math tells me this will be a good sized quilt!

I am also proud of my quilt because I put myself to the challenge and made a use up what you have on hand rule...tough going because I like to match stuff up but I am sticking to this rule.

I may be overwhelmed in the end with all the colors but who know's it may just turn out to be the cutest one yet!

It's still not too late to join the fun! Happy Sewing :)

Custom Roman Shade

Well here it is! It took me about 10 hours to get this project completed today and it had NOTHING to do with the actual project!

First let me say (before I rant), I used the very simple, very well written, tutorial over at Cherry Street Cottage to make my Roman Shade.

Other than the minor adjustments to make this fit my window I used her tute to the T. Check it out here :) oh and if things had run more smoothly I would expect (minus shopping time) this is less than an hour project!

Now, why did this take me soooo long???? My stinkin' finicky serger that's why! UGH!



Viking s15



I began my day all calm and excited to make a new shade.

A few days ago I had created a plan (using the tute from cherry street cottage) and purchased my material. So that today I would be all set to cut, sew, hang, enjoy!

I measured my material, cut out the panel and was going to do a really fast up one side down the other then all around 4 thread serge to ensure all my edges would stay nice and neat.

I placed my serger on the dining room table (aka mom's sewing spot). Plugged it in. Adjusted my threads. Did a fast chain stitch. All looked well. I took a scrap piece of the shade fabric (which I should add was nothing more than (the cheapest I could find at JoAnn's) curtain lining *used a coupon too :) and did a practice stitch to ensure all was well.

NOPE! the lower looper was going NUTS!!!! ok, so I adjust to tighten--better, not good, but the upper looper is going nuts now. and on and on this goes. I cut my threads and rethread over and over and over. For 7 hours I fiddle with my machine. about half an hour before dinner I decide to take things apart. I raised my upper cutter and I dust bust, oil, and cut the threads off and push my machine aside.

After we eat dinner, I decide to come back one last try and see what can be done. I adjust all my dials back to N, rethread, and do a practice stitch. THAT was the trick! It sewed just fine! UGH!!! so happy and feeling victorious and frustrated all at once! rant over, thanks for reading [;)]

So why the new shade??

This window did have a homemade Roman Shade on it but the pattern I used (McCall's) was way to complicated and I ended up with an ok curtain. Ok because it was not a perfect fit into the window (length and width were a weeee bit too small and this let in annoying light). Also, when we pulled the shade up it did this really goofy bunchy thing that drove me NUTS!

I decided some time ago a change must be done! My google search led me to the Cherry Street Cottage blog. When I read over her instructions it all made perfect sense to me. Plus, I just loved the idea of all the rods to keep things nice and straight!!!

The directions are so easy to understand and the pictures are placed at the perfect time! It was so easy peasy! I totally recommend this one to anyone looking to try a roman shade of their own!

hope this post inspires you to make one too :) Happy Sewing!