Scrappy Strip Quilt

If this quilt looks familiar, it's because I used only scraps from my Ring Around the Rosie quilt. I had many strips all cut into three widths from the pattern. After cleaning and sorting, I decided to put the scraps to good use and make a new quilt!

I simply stitched same-sized strips together along their shorter ends. I didn't put a whole lot of thought into the fabric placement, aside from avoiding the same fabric sewn together. I stitched all strips end-to-end, then sewed the 1 1/2" and 2 1/2" joined strips together along the length. I cut the length in half and sewed those lengths together, before sewing on the 3 1/2" width strip.  

If you are familiar with a Jelly Roll Race Quilt, I used a similar method, just with different width strips! The quilt stitches up very quickly and is the perfect quilt to sew while listening to your favorite audiobook or show because there's no thinking necessary! The results are random and scrappy, and thanks to spreading fabrics out along my original strips, I think I achieved a balanced top without stressing about color placement. 

To make the back, I took larger scraps and sewed them together to create a scrappy back that looks just as cute as the front! I tried spiral quilting for the first time, and although it's not perfect, I'm happy with the result and will try it again, probably on a smaller quilt. It will look great washed & crinkled and sitting on someone's lap. The quilt measures approximately 50"x 60"- a great throw size. I used even more scraps for the binding. 

This quilt was donated as a raffle prize at a recent Neurofibromatosis fundraiser to benefit NF Michigan. You can find out more about NF and the organization at their website. My cousin was diagnosed with NF at a very young age, and that was the first our family learned about the disorder. Thankfully, she is a healthy, smart, loving, soon-to-be 5-year-old, but many others have much more severe health and developmental problems. My cousin is blessed with top doctors and researchers right near their home in Michigan, where she can receive top-notch care.

If you would like to support NF Michigan, you can donate through their website. Contributions go toward supporting persons affected and their families, assisting in medical care, education, and research. 

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9 Patch Class

Last weekend I taught a really fun class all about 9-patch quilt blocks. I shared some of my favorite shortcuts for quick and easy piecing and everyone in the class did such great work. Some made pillow covers while others got started working toward a larger quilt. 

Here are a few little snaps from my phone. 

 Trimming up her finished pillow - this little sweetie had a great eye for color and design! 

 The dark and light prints in these fabrics created a great contrasting block.

These fabrics were the perfect pops for spring - she definitely has a favorite color, her pants and glasses matched the bright blues in her fabric perfectly!

I wish I had a shot of this one flipped right-side-out, the colors were really fun.

Here's a glimpse at the classroom space at Craft South. Despite our recent chilly temperatures, the sun was shining and supplied us with great afternoon light!

If you love a great 9-patch, I have a Pinterest board devoted to all things patchy and square! 

If you want a 9-patch pillow of your very own, I have a couple pillow covers available in my Etsy shop right now!  

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I plan to spend it playing with the boys, working on a couple Quiltcon projects, and maybe *just maybe* sneaking in a bubble bath!

January 31

If we were still living up north it would not surprise me that th temperatures are this chilly at the end of January. But as it is, we are not up north yet the weather still remains much colder than we prefer. 

We stay warm with lots of tea and hot cocoa and our flannel sheets are enjoying an extended stay on our bed. 

Curt has been working hard this week, so I snuck in some sewing time to check a couple things off my list.

I transformed a director's chair for my parents from the original mustard yellow to a much more pleasing purple ikat-like print. I shipped it off this morning and hope it fits! I just used the old parts as a pattern, making it a quick and satisfying update (if successful). 

And how about this adorable baby quilt for friends who just had a little girl?! The back is a flannel mermaid print, which helped inspire the pinks, corals, and aquas on the front. I love this color scheme so much I might just have to make a few more. Or a big one all for myself. 

I stitched it up and then quilted it yesterday. Turns out basting a quilt on the floor is not the easiest task in the world with a baby belly. Thankfully my pregnancy yoga has helped me remain somewhat agile in my rounded state. 

While I taught my piano lesson today, Curt ran some errands and returned with a heart donut. Delicious and cute. 

A friend from college is visiting Nashville this weekend to audition for The Voice so she will be staying with us. I need to vacuum the house and run the dishwasher and make sure everything is ready for her arrival before I met off to work tonight. I hope you have a relaxing weekend and a fun Super Bowl Sunday! 

What Day Is It?

I haven't slept well for week now, so the days are all starting to blend together and I'm functioning like a zombie, but - hey! - I'm functioning. So I'll just post some photos and ramble a little, and you'll just nod your head and oooh and aahh over the pretty new fabrics I've been playing with in preparation for Quilt Market. Okay? Okay. Let's do this. 

Anna spent the last couple weeks waiting and waiting and waiting for her new fabric to arrive, and slowly, piece by piece, it came in. Which means I've been sewing with it, project by project.  

Last week Friday I dropped Curt at the airport before the sun woke up and then spent the morning at Anna's, sewing like a mad woman. Then I spent the night at work, where it was very busy and I had a lot of crazy cakes to finish.

By the time I got home Friday night, I was exhausted. So exhausted in fact, that I somehow managed to fall asleep on top of the covers, contacts in my eyes, teeth unbrushed, and the pièce de résistance: the bedroom light was still on. Until I woke up at 6:30 Saturday morning to the sounds of thunder and garage sale early birds. It was sad.

Yes, folks, I am a hot mess right now. Sewing by day and caking by night. Caking by day and sewing by night. 

Despite the exhaustion, I can't sleep. Despite all the extra work, I don't have much of an appetite for anything other than mandarin oranges and Sonic shakes {half-price after 8!}

Thankfully, Anna sees to it that I eat a slice of toast and get my coffee in the morning. Now that Curt's back home, he makes sure I brush my teeth and make it under the covers at night. It's good to have people.

My moonlighting efforts have been a tad cray, but it sure is fun! I'll sleep next week sometime, after all the Mother's Day cakes are picked up and Quilt Market is off and running. Yes, I'll sleep next week Friday, I guess. And I guess I'll clean the house then too. yikes.

I won't even tell you what's been playing on my iTunes to keep me moving. It's mindless and fun and upbeat and easy to sing along with. Okay, I'll tell you. Don't judge me. Seriously. Don't judge me, it's a tad embarrassing.

One Direction. 

There, I said it. I have the One Direction Infection and I don't think there's any turning back. Can you blame me, though? Look up One Direction on YouTube for yourself and see if you can resist those cheeky smiles and adorable accents. Then come back here and we'll talk about how I need to find Curt a pair of suspenders and striped t-shirts asap. 

So much to do and so little time! Have a great weekend :) 

Tutorial: Seat Belt Pad

My sad, old seat belt pad was looking worse for wear and I really don't think it was doing anything anymore, so it was time for a replacement.

The construction is simple: a rectangle with a pair of velcro stitched down the sides. Easy peasy, right? Here's what I did:

You'll need:

Two pieces of fabric, cut to 7.5" X 8.5" - (If you want a longer pad, increase the 8.5" length)

Padding cut to the same size (I used leftover fleece and poly batting)

8" of Velcro

1. Cut your fabric to size. 

**You can also use scraps and piece them together to size.**

2. Cut your padding to size. I had some leftover fleece and poly batting that I used, but you could use virtually any kind of batting and make it as thick or thin as you want.

3. Make sure everything's nice and ironed.

4. Stack up your fabric as follows: 

~Fabric- right side out

~Padding

~Fabric- right side out.

5. Serge it together around all four sides. 

**If you don't have a serger or overlocker, you can use a wide zigzag stitch on your regular machine. Just cut your original pieces to 7"X8" because the serger trims down the edges.**

You should now have a cushy, rectangular pad 

that's roughly 7"X8".

Make sure your velcro measures the length of your 

LONGEST SIDES, around 8". Trim if necessary.

6. Sew the velcro to your pad. 

Make sure you are sewing it to the long sides. 

Trust me... I don't know from experience or anything...

When you get to the end of the velcro, 

stop with your needle down and turn the corner.

7. Sew one side of the velcro to the top, and the other side to the bottom. This way it will wrap around your seat belt. 

Make sure you are not sewing the velcro to the same side .. this photo shows one line of velcro, facing up on the left, 

and you can see the stitches of the other line on the right side,  velcro facing down.

Yay! You're done! Wasn't that easy?! Now make another one or three for your passengers. I made a his + hers for our car. 

For the Record:

I used fun Anna Maria Horner Loulouthi fabrics for my seat belt pads.

My serger is a Brother 1034D, which I got for Christmas and already love so much. 

Let me know if you make your own seat belt pads! They also make great gifts for just about anyone on your list. 

Handmade Holidays

You guys, I have been so busy preparing for the holidays, you'll have to forgive my bloggy absence and just believe these photos are proof that I have been sewing and stitching my fingers to the bone lately. More details after all the Christmas/baby/friendly presents are finished, I swear!

Are you making any holiday gifts this year? 

Fall Sewing

This past week has been a cold one in Nashville - fall has definitely arrived! All the more reason to sew a new scarf, don't you think?

I had some new Loulouthi velveteen just begging to be turned into a loopy scarf. I plucked some Loulouthi voile from my stash that was just the right blue and got sewing.

I followed the tutorial from Anna's blog, but I altered my measurements slightly to better suit my short petite frame. My fabric was cut somewhere in the realm of 12" X 54".

I love the chartreuse color of the velveteen - perfect for a pop of color in the cold weather. The voile and velveteen together make a very cozy, warm scarf, and the infinity aspect means no ends flailing around or getting caught in zippers. It was quick and easy to sew. (AKA you can expect me to make a few as gifts this Christmas!)

Hope everyone has a good week!