Baby gifts all done!

Along with the Pinwheel Baby Quilt I made for our dear friends who are expecting their first baby in March, I also made a flannel receiving blanket, and had plans to make coordinating bibs and burpcloths.  I finished the receiving blanket first, made the bibs along the way while working on the quilt, and obviously, finished the quilt recently.

All I needed to do to finish the planned gift was the burp cloths. I've had the burp cloths ready and waiting for the flannel to be sewn on forever, but just hadn't taken the time to get it done.  Finally this past weekend I just sat down and did it.  It was super simple and quick, I don't know why I kept putting it off.  Well, I guess I know why, I was busy making the Christmas pajamas and the quilt. :)

The bibs (which I never posted a picture of), and the completed burp cloths.  The bibs are reversible, like the receiving blanket, and there are three burp cloths of each print.  I am very relieved to finally have this gift all done, and way ahead of the March due date!  I am NEVER done with anything with this much time to spare! I am proud of myself. Now I just need to get the label sewed on the quilt and everything boxed up to be shipped out.  Hopefully I can get that taken care of before March!

Pinwheel Baby Quilt - Finished!

The Pinwheel Baby Quilt is finally finished!  And I love it!  It turned out so beautiful.

I had my hubby take some pictures, sorry, they are kind of crappy, I haven't had a chance to take any with my good DSLR as I don't get home until dark every night!

(Click the pictures for bigger versions where you can see more detail close up)

In these pictures, the quilt is unwashed.  I have since washed it, and it's now all crinkly and has a well-used look. I still love it, but I'm a little worried about the recipients!  I know that's what quilts are SUPPOSED to look like, but I'm afraid they'll think it looks old or used or something!  My hubby keeps reassuring me, saying "That's what quilts are supposed to look like! That's what makes it look like a quilt!"  (He's a keeper! :) ) but of course I worry.  I had no option but to wash as the finished quilt had pencil lines on it from where I marked it for the quilting.  I think I'm going to hit it with the iron and some steam, just to try to smooth it out just a teeny bit (especially the prairie points, they are all curly now) and I think that will make it better.

I will try to get some pictures of the quilt in its washed state, and some better closeups of the quilting.  But for now I wanted to get these pictures up so you all could see. I am so proud of myself!  For my first real finished quilt, I think I did a great job! :) I can't wait to make another, this time for myself!

Editing to add -- I added this to Sew and Tell over at AmyLouWho's.  Go check out everyone else's projects!

Also, I've been getting several emails asking if this Pinwheel Baby Quilt is based on this Moda Bake Shop tutorial.  Yes, it is!  I mentioned this back in my first post about the Pinwheel Baby Quilt, but I don't know if I've mentioned it again since then, so I want to make sure I direct everyone over there so you can get the pattern if you'd like to make one too!

Update and Goals

I am still working diligently on the Pinwheel Baby Quilt.  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to show!  But as I mentioned last time (I think?) I got the quilt all basted and ready for quilting.  It took me several days to get the quilting done, and it looks great!  I did end up using the multi-colored Sulky thread, and quilting on the diagonal.  It was tricky because of the prairie points, I basically had to do the inside lines first, then do all the lines outside the points, making it look as if they are continuous.  This resulted in gaps in the stitching on the backside of the quilt, between where I stopped and started, but there wasn't much I could do about that given the quilting pattern I used.  This will all be much clearer when I finally have some pictures!

I also cut and machine sewed the binding to the front, and I'm in the process of hand sewing the binding down on the back.  It seems like it's taking forever, especially as I don't have much time to do it.  I brought it down with me today so that I could do it while relaxing on the couch, watching TV, but of course my daughter decided that she couldn't play with her toys or sit in her chair, she had to sit ON TOP of me, so not much got done.  I'm hoping I can make some good progress tonight once she goes to bed!

Since I don't have any pictures to share of my project, I thought I'd use this post to share some of my crafting goals for 2010.  I saw a post like this on another blog I visit (can't remember which one now!) and I thought it was a good idea.  So here it is:  my list of things I hope to accomplish in 2010.

1.  Frolic Quilt

I've been collecting fabric for this, and I really would like to get started on it soon. I just know it is going to take me FOREVER. I have hopes that I could have this finished before next Christmas, but I'm not sure that's going to happen.  But I do want to get started.  I did find this neat tip over at Alison's (Within a Quarter Inch) site that may help me with the applique, so maybe that will speed things up.

2.  Roundabout Quilt

I just love the Roundabout Quilt from Amy at A Commonplace Life.  I would like to try her tutorial to make one.  Maybe with my Flea Market Fancy fabrics?  I've got a new stack of Katie Jump Rope fat quarters too (I need to post about those...), maybe I'll throw them all in together for one super happy quilt.

3.  Stacked Coins Baby Quilt

I would also like to make the Stacked Coins Baby Quilt from the Moda Bake Shop.  I bought a jelly roll specifically for this (Aviary by 3 Sisters), and it's been sitting and waiting ever since.  It seems fairly simple and I am hoping this is one I could complete pretty quickly.

4.  ZigZag Quilt

I have been planning in my mind a zigzag style quilt, like this one from the Purl Bee.  I've been buying various pink and green fabrics for this, imagining one with pink, green, and white rows of zigzags.

5.  Dresden Plate

I have a Happy Campers jelly roll and charm pack waiting specifically to be made into a dresden plate quilt.  This was probably the first project I wanted to make once I decided to try my hand at quilting. I knew it was probably a good idea to get some other basics under my belt first, and so I haven't started yet, but I think I'm at the point now that I could try!


There are many others that I'd like to try as well (probably some that I'll start before these!) but I'm putting these down as goals for this year.  And when I say goals, I mean that loosely.  I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't get to it, or do other things first. :)  I don't have a lot of spare time and so I may be overly ambitious, but that's okay!

All right, almost time for the little one to get in bed, so I'll be able to get back to that binding...hopefully I'll be back soon with some pictures of a finished quilt!

New fabric, new project...

I have been a bad blogger.  I just can't seem to find the time in the evenings to get on the computer.  I have so little free time between working full time during the day and taking care of my daughter once I get home that it's a wonder I have a minute to do anything else during the day!  But anyway...

I finally received my order from Joann Fabrics that I mentioned before. I ordered some new flannel at the $1.99 extended Black Friday sale price.  I ordered 3 different one yard cuts for PJ pants for my daughter or perhaps baby items for friends, as well as a bolt of Christmas/winter themed flannel to make matching PJ pants for me, my husband, and my daughter.



Is it just me, or does Joann's seem to have better and cuter prints these days? I think these are all SUPER cute!  Obviously the bolt on top is the Christmas Pjs flannel. I love this print! I can't wait to make our matching PJs. I apologized to my husband because I think the print is maybe just a TAD girly, but that's okay, he'll get over it.  The background is blue, right? :)

The three on the bottom are definitely new prints I didn't notice when I ordered my first batch of flannels a few months ago. I love them all, but especially the two on the right.  That green and blue diamond is especially fabulous and I'm thinking it would make a GREAT backing on a cool, modern baby quilt. I'm wishing I had ordered more than one yard!

The other item included in my purchase was this, a new magnetic pin cushion.



I've been wanting one for a while, and that want turned to need after last week I bumped my little container of pins while working one night and the ENTIRE package fell into my trashcan and pins flew EVERYWHERE. I had to sit there and pick them up and pick them out of the trash. No fun.  So the magnetic pincushion was added to the order!

In other news, I completed the next part of the gift for our friends, the parents-to-be (who are the recipients of the yet-to-be-finished pinwheel baby quilt).  It's a flannel receiving blanket.



It's double sided.  It's hard to tell from the picture but the back side is a narrow green and white stripe.  I got the idea for the blanket from this tutorial from Chickpea Sewing Studio, although my dimensions are different (about 30" square).  Both flannels are from Joann's.  I topstitched around the blanket after turning right side out with green thread (actually two different greens, I just so happened to have two spools of green thread that matched the two slightly different greens of each side of the blanket, so I used one as my top thread and the other in the bobbin) with a wavy stitch.



You can see the topstitching a little better in the photo below:



I am now going to use these same two flannel prints to make a couple of reversible bibs as well as a set of burp cloths.  I also need to eventually quilt that darn pinwheel baby quilt so I can finish the whole lot up and send it off to them!  I'm just so nervous about quilting that quilt, my first 'real' quilt, and maybe messing it up!

I still haven't decided how to quilt the pinwheel quilt.  I don't know how to stipple, I've never done any free motion quilting before.  I know it takes practice and so I don't think I want to do it for the first time on this quilt (even if I practice first) and potentially mess up a gift. I'd rather try that on something I'm keeping for myself.  I'm thinking diagonal lines maybe, like a half inch on either side of the pinwheel seams? I just don't know. Any suggestions?

I'm also having serious second thoughts about my choice of quilting thread.  It's a Sulky Blendables, I think? Color 4108, American Antique.  Here's the sample photo of some stitching from the Sulky website.  The colors match the quilt colors, but I just wonder if it's going to be too distracting?

What do you think? Yea or nay?

Hopefully I'll have the bibs and burp cloths done sometime this week.  And then I've got to do the Christmas pjs to make sure they're done in time for Christmas. I don't know when I'm going to get to the couple of zippered pouches and tissue holders I was wanting to make for Christmas for a few family members...there's just not enough time in the day!

Hopefully coming up soon, the new STACKS of fabric I've been stashing up for the Frolic quilt (why am I so obsessed with making this quilt?), plus a few other things (hint: two fat quarter sets of Denyse Schmidt fabrics) *grin*

--Editing to add--I'm linking this post over at Amy's Sew & Tell.  Even though my project was super simple, it was a finish nonetheless, and for me, that's a big deal, since I get so few things done! :)

Meet Peanut, the Eyeless Elephant

Remember in my last post, I showed a super cute pink fabric with little elephants on it, wearing green blankets on their backs, and said that I was getting ready to use it for a super cute project?

Well, here it is!  It's Peanut the Wee (in this case, Eyeless) Elephant!  The pattern is from Joelle Hoverson's book Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.






Isn't she (I've decided to call it a she, because of the pink) so cute?!  She's a pink elephant with a green blanket! ;)

I just love how this turned out, and this will be going to my 18 month old as one of her Christmas gifts this year.  The only thing left to do is put on some eyes, I just haven't figured out what to use for eyes yet. I don't have any felt like they suggest in the pattern, so I'm trying to figure out if I can use something else I have (buttons?).

I love her ears...



...and her super cute tail.



This was a fun diversion from the quilting of late, and my very first softy. I think it turned out great! I can see many more of these in my future. I'm already imagining a version in a soft corduroy, I think I've got a remnant piece in my stash already that would work great.

It's time for bed, so I'm signing off, but before I go, I hope all my American friends and family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'll be enjoying my four day weekend.

Edit--I've added this at Sew & Tell for this week!

A Finished Pinwheel Baby Quilt top!

I actually did it! I finished the Pinwheel Baby Quilt top! And it is awesome! I'm so excited I can participate in another Sew and Tell!



Sorry for the crappalicious photos, they were taken inside tonight after dark with a flash.

I've been working on this slowly but steadily this week, a bit each night. Tonight I finally sewed on the prairie points and the sashing. I LOVE it!



And for being my first "real" quilt top (I don't really count the receiving blanket quilt as it was just squares and weird stretchy flannel, etc), I think my piecing is pretty good! Nearly all of my corners and points line up, there are one or two that are a hair off but you don't notice it unless you know to look for it. I doubt the recipients will look that closely!



Now I just need to get some backing and binding fabric. I have an early morning hair appointment tomorrow that isn't too far from the LQS so I think when I'm done with that I'll swing over there and pick something up. I noticed they've got some yardage of Wee Play and so hopefully I can get something that coordinates.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In other exciting news, there is a giveaway going on over at the Flea Market Fancy Freaks blog!

 

Run right over, there is all kinds of good stuff to be given away, including 29 fat quarters of FMF! Unfortunately, not all to the same person. ;)  Wouldn't that be awesome!  I'm running right over to enter, you should too!

Slowly but surely...

...progress is being made on the Pinwheel Baby Quilt.

I got all the pinwheels sewn together last night. Here I am auditioning them on the floor last night.



Sorry for the crappy photo, I had the wrong lens on my camera and I just couldn't get far enough away from the quilt lying on the floor, even standing on a couch, hence the funky angle and weird photo.

I switched the pinwheels up a bit from this layout, for better distribution of the colors and fabric patterns, and I now have all the rows of three sewn together. Now I just need to sew the four rows together and I'll have the top mostly done, and I'll have to move onto the sashing and prairie points. That's the plan for tonight, hopefully I'll have a completed top tomorrow! (Or maybe Thursday...)

Moving Right Along

I have in fact made some progress on the Pinwheel Baby Quilt. I managed to get all my half-square triangles pieced, and now I've joined sets of two together to form the tops and bottoms of the pinwheels.



Tonight I plan on joining the tops and bottoms of the pinwheels together. And if I'm able to finish that, maybe I can actually figure out the layout of the pinwheels and start piecing them to each other. I'm pretty slow so it might take a while. Luckily the baby won't be here until March so I've got plenty of time to finish (I hope!).

The Latest Project - Pinwheel Baby Quilt

I finally decided on my next project when I happened to be visiting a new local quilt store yesterday while out having fun with my family on a day off from work.

I was browsing the store, which had mostly stuff that wasn't quite to my taste (but was a nice little shop full of tons of patterns, kits, notions) and found a whole stack of these Wee Play charm packs in a little nook.

I've been wanting to make a quilt for some friends who are expecting (and who aren't finding out the sex, necessitating gender-neutral gifts) and have been trying to decide on a pattern and fabric.  I really wanted to make this Pinwheel Baby Quilt from the Moda Bake Shop but I only had two charm packs, neither of which would work.  I also really liked the idea of the Wee Play fabrics for a baby quilt good for girl or boy, but only had a Jelly Roll which I had already committed to another project, and which wouldn't work for this anyway (unless I wanted really tiny pinwheels).  So when I came upon these charm packs I grabbed up two, knowing immediately what I would use it for.

I cut my white squares first from Kona Cotton White, and then I separated out the charm squares and chose 24 for the pinwheels.  There are six color families in the Wee Play line (dark blue, light blue, red, green, yellow, and orange) so I chose 4 charms from each color family, coordinating sets of 2 to use in each pinwheel of each color.  I'll end up with two pinwheels of each color.

These are the charms I chose for the pinwheels, although you can't see all the individual ones I chose.  The remainder will be used for the cute prairie points in the pattern.

Rather than following the tutorial exactly, which calls for the charms and background squares to be cut into triangles which are then sew together for the pinwheels, I'm simply pinning the charms to the white squares, marking on the diagonal, and then sewing two lines a quarter inch on either side of the diagonal, then cutting down the diagonal, resulting in two half square triangles.  Feels like this eliminates an extra step or two.

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow or soon after with some more pictures of sewn triangles or perhaps even some finished pinwheels!