Fat Quarters Are Not Just For Quilts

About a month or so ago, I bought a fat quarter bundle that was offered to me from an on line retailer. I can't remember now who it was, but I think it was from pineapple quilts. I might be wrong. Anyway, when it came it was even cuter that the photos had shown. I immediately wanted to do something with it, but I really didn't know what. I did know that I didn't want to just make it into a quilt. When I saw the fabrics I thought they would make a cute dress for Miss N. I have been making her variations of the Geranium dress from Made By Rae. She is only a size 2T so I thought this might work. I got out my pattern pieces and discovered that with a little finagling, I could get all the pieces I needed cut out. And this was what I came up with:

   I was able to cut the bodice and the bodice lining from two fat quarters.

 I cut the collar and the band for around the waist from another fat quarter. I really wanted a sash for this, but had not quite enough fabric.

          Found some cute brown buttons in my stash to put on the back.

I made the skirt from 5 fat quarters after doing a bit of math to figure out the best way to cut them.

 Then the pockets were cut from some leftover from the back skirt. Miss N loves pockets and her mom said I should make them bigger, so I used the pockets from the size 5 pattern. This one is on the bears and honey side.

And this one is on the bees side. So it is definitely very doable to make something besides a quilt from a fat quarter bundle. A good pattern, some math skills and have fun with it!
Talk to you soon.

Pleased As Punch

That is how I feel with the way this week has gone. I did everything on my list and then some. I had hoped to get it all done, but I did leave room for disruptions, as I know that can happen. But it didn't this week. Here is part of what I got done:

 This is the first of the 2 Hands 2 Help quilts. Sewn, quilted and bound. Now it just needs a wash.

 This is the fun back on this one. Love the ombre dots from oh so many years ago.

And the binding is made up of many binding scraps, which only adds to the colorful appeal.

 This is the back of the second quilt. Blogger decided to rearrange the pictures for me.

 Here is the front of the second quilt. Both quilts are made the same and of lots of 5 inch charm squares I have on hand. I seldom buy charm squares any more, but I bet I could make lots more of these with just what I have on hand.

And here again is a binding made up of scraps of other bindings. I was so happy to use up so much from my stash on these. I think I will probable continue to make more quilts like these and then figure out where to donate them. I love thinking of someone using them. These will go out in the mail next week.  This is my first year to join Hands 2 Help and I have really enjoyed it. Got a lovely little thank you not from Little Lambs. I am already starting to think about next year and eyeing my scraps. A great use for them.
Have a great weekend.
linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Happy Monday

I have such a huge sewing list to work on, that I thought I might hold myself accountable here in my blog space. I have made a list and want to work through everything on the list before I start a new project, which I am always itching to do. I am the queen of starts.

 The two most important items on my list are my Hands 2 Help quilts. They must be done and in the mail by the end of May. I would like to ship them off before Mother's Day. That is my goal. Last week I pieced the backs for them, so now it's time to pin baste.

That is my least favorite part of quilting. These quilt tops are 50 inches square, so hopefully won't take too long. On tap this week, not in order of achievement is to pin baste and quilt these two, cut fabric and hem for curtains for my middle daughter. I also have some head scarves to make for her that I have yet to start.

The last thing on my list is some pouches and note cards I am making to sell. I am trying to build up an inventory of these towards selling them. Maybe on Etsy, I haven't planned it all yet. I am using lots of scraps to make these and I just got a new batch of zippers from Zipit.

Gotta go. Lots to sew. Talk to you soon.

Big Bed Quilt Done!

I finished binding my big bed quilt this week and even got the label on it. I was so happy to have it done, I didn't even wash it before putting on the bed. I am happy it's done, but also, I love it. I have to give great thanks to Rachel at Stitched in Color for the push to finish this quilt.

Last summer I won some fat quarts of Improv by Amy Friend. When I received them, they were even prettier than their pictures. So I ordered some more that I didn't have and I added to it from my stash to make this big bed quilt. I pieced it in October and then folded it up and let it sit.

 I love all the colors and the way they look together. The pattern is Cobblestones, I think a free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop. I didn't know what to do next.

 And then Rachel spurred me to action with the Big Bed QAL in February. I had the top, but I needed the back and wasn't sure how to do that. One of her sponsors, Pineapple Quilts, sells some of the most beautiful wide backing fabrics. Once I knew that, I had a plan.

 I was thinking of quilting it in continuous eights, and Rachel confirmed that for me with her suggestion and a few tips on the width I could use for them. I quilted this over about a week and a half, using 2-3 rows as my limit for a session. It was big and heavy, and I didn't want to get worn out or discouraged. That worked rather well.

 I used leftover backing fabric to make the binding and I love the border it provides. The top thread was a Superior Threads variegated thread which I loved on the spool, but wasn't sure about on the quilt top until I saw a big chunk of it and then I knew it was right. It adds so much interest to the quilt.

I hope the next time I need a new big bed quilt I can afford to have it long arm quilted. I know just the person to quilt it for me. Happy weekend everyone. Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.

I'm Back and I Only Sewed Two Days This Week

Back from my visit to North Carolina. I had a great time with two of my daughters and their husbands and oh, those grandchildren. I can't believe how much they have all grown since I saw them last August. I go home Tuesday night and I was pooped. I only did a bit of sewing on Wednesday and a wee bit on Thursday. The weather here was so pretty I have found several tasks to keep me busy and out of the sewing room.

 I finished assembling this quilt top for the Hands 2 Help campaign that Sarah is hosting on Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This one is either good for a boy or girl.

 Then I cut the neutral squares for this more girly one. I need to get it stitched up this week so I can get backing done and get them finished up. Technically I have until the end of May, but I hate to wait until the last minute. Now that I am more rested, I should be able to get them moving forward this next week

 I also made the binding for the Big Bed QAL that Rachel at Stitched In Color is hosting. I used edges of the wide backing that were leftover after it was quilted.

 Looks a little washed out in this picture, but I got it pinned and stitched on to the quilt.

And now that that is done, I have an evening hand stitch project to work on stitching down the other side. After that, label and wash and dry and on to the bed!! Can't wait to see it all finished up. I will talk to you soon.

Birdie Birdie

I finished the Birdie Birdie quilt last week. Life has been a bit busy, so this is my first chance to post about it. I bought a new computer, as my old one was 8 years old and getting slower by the day. Posting had become very difficult. So this is the first post on the new computer. Hurray!

 So here are my birdies. This is pattern from Lorna at Sew Fresh quilts. I had wanted to make this for a long time, and finally bought the pattern. I love these sweet little birdies.

 I selected a multi colored stripe for the binding. It has all the colors that are in the quilt and sets it off quite nicely.

 I used up my leftover background fabric and a couple of other pieces to make the backing. I bought the birds on the lines fabric from Spoonflower a few years ago but could never figure our where to use it until now.

And this is the first use of my new labels I ordered from Dutch Label Shop. I am super pleased with these new labels.

I will be off to North Carolina this week to visit the Grandchildren. So, no sewing or blogging for the next two weeks, but lots will happen when I return. Have a great rest of your weekend.

Back From Whence I Came

In the last few months, I had an epiphany. I like handwork again. When I first started making quilts, I machine pieced and hand quilted. But then, in 2010 I discovered the modern quilting movement. I found blogs and so much inspiration to create, with quilts and pouches and pillows. And everything could be done on the machine, which sped up the production time table and enabled me to produce more, faster.

 Fast forward to 2018. After many many projects, I took the class for this quilt. I wanted to learn some new techniques. When it was done, I decided to hand quilt it with Pearl Cotton since, to me, there were too many elements to machine quilt it without making myself crazy. I knew this could take awhile, but I decided it was the best idea. And Surprise! I loved doing it and it didn't actually take all that long to do. Just a few weeks, mostly while watching football. And when it was done, I found I really missed having hand sewing to do. So I began looking for things to hand sew in the evenings.

 This is the third quilt I have decided to hand stitch down the binding. For years now I have done it on the machine, and I still do for quilts that will have heavy use. But I am enjoying stitching so much, that I like doing this step again, after years of avoiding it.

 And, I enjoyed hand quilting with the Pearl Cotton so much I decided to do that again with this small lap quilt. I wanted it to stay as soft as possible.

 This is my pile of hand stitching stuff that sits next to my chair that I usually sit in of an evening. It has everything I need and keeps it together in that small wooden box.

I even added Miss N's latest dress to the pile after all the machine work was done. Sewing on buttons counts as hand work.

I have also done some embroidery work as well. I am really loving this new enthusiasm I have found for hand work. I hope it continues. Talk to you soon.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.