6/14/2015

Le Challenge "single" toy





Le Challenge (click HERE) for this month is the theme SINGLE. 
I have not participated as of yesterday, but the email I got today put an idea into my mind right away.

I had taken instructions on how to use my new embroidery machine last week. 
I embroidered a single bug and put the single word "bug" on the fabric. 
I today decided I would make up this child's toy using that single embroidery. 


And if you would like to know how I sewed this in a mere 20 minutes, the short version is below:

Trim front and back fabric squares to same size (6" x 6" for mine).
Collect ribbons, elastic, cord, rick rack for the playful loops. 
But use things that can be sewn in and will not be easily chewed apart for the child to swallow. 
On the right side of the back square, 
fold and pin or twist, fold and pin the ribbons,etc. to the edges. 
I had the ends extend a good amount beyond the edge of the backing fabric 
in order to sew those pieces well. 


Sew with a small stitch length all around edge with approximately a 1/4" seam. 


With right sides of both fabrics facing each other and the ribbons, 
etc. pointing in toward center of the square, pin, pin, pin so the edges line up for sewing. 


Use a 1/2" seam and stitch length 2.5 to sew around the edges. 
Leave an opening in one side for turning right side out and stuffing. 

In the photo below, my opening is near the lower left corner.
I back stitched at the start and end of the opening so the stitches would not 
pull out when I turned the piece right sides out. 
You can see my small stitching line for holding the ribbons 
and the stitching line inside that for the actual construction stitches. 


Turn the piece right sides out.


I used polyester fiber fill for stuffing. 
I put some into the corners first.
You can see my small opening in the bottom right corner in the photo below. 


Sew the opening closed by hand or with your sewing machine. 


What a fun toy for a little child. 
A heavy satin or velour fabric would have been a good backing givng an interesting textural feel.

6/10/2015

Row-A-Long and Giveaways

Today I am happily announcing 
my participation in an upcoming 
Row-A-Long!

In April, Marian from Seams To Be Sew, sent an email to me and others asking for interest in joining her in the Row-A-Long she is hosting. 

I was excited. I had not been involved in a blog hop for awhile and thought it was time. 


It is called
EQ Seasons Row Along

You do not need to own Electric Quilt to create your quilt along with us.

There are 20 participating bloggers/designers!
I can't wait for my reveal date of September 22, 2015!

Each week, several designers will be featured, 
each offering patterns for a row of the quilt representing a season of the year.

You choose the rows you want to make for your quilt. 
Of course, you may want to make all the rows and a number of quilts!

Designers will supply PDF patterns to create your row. 
Some designers will also offer the PJ7 file for Electric Quilt.

There will be a linky day to show the progress on your quilt.

BUT---WAIT---THERE IS MORE NEWS for YOU! 

If you are quilting along with us, 
there will be giveaways during the 6 weeks of the Row-A-Long.

Fat Quarter Shop
The Fat Quarter Shop is generously providing each blogger with a $25.00 gift certificate to give away on their featured day of the Row-A-Long. 
That means 20 bloggers = 20 gift certificates = 20 winners! 
How cool is that?

Fat Quarter Shop

Klic-N-Kut
another great new sponsor,
is giving away a Zing Air Cutting System.

Zing Air

This looks a great tool for quilters. 
I can sure think of a number of ways to put it to use!

KNK USA



I want to thank our other gracious sponsors: 



Northcott Fabrics

Watch for updates about the Row-A-Long in the coming months!








6/09/2015

3 Fabric Baby Quilts


Tuesday Archives




This week the theme is receiving blankets. 



I posted a tutorial HERE. Use 3 cuts of fabric to make 3 small receiving size quilts, for a new baby. 




As an aside, to protect our precious little babies, I want to mention that I use 100% cotton, flannel and batting in any baby quilts I make. It was brought to my attention years ago that if polyesters and other man-made fibers (not natural fibers) get near a heat source, the material melts and sticks to the body. And, unfortunately, I was reminded of a 6-year-old girl I taught in class years ago. Flames started in their camper and a polyester blanket was used to smother the flames, but melted and stuck to her. She suffered severe burns.