Another Stepping Stones pillow

I had known for a long time that my mother in law had a big birthday coming up. But I just couldn't think of what to make her. But in my true style of just a week to go the perfect gift popped into my head and another stepping stones pillow was whipped up!

I say whipped lightly! My MIL's colour and pattern tastes are a bit different to mine which I was struggling with, so off to spotlight I went. With advise from the hubby pink and flowers had to be included, but I had the idea of sewing the boys hands on (like I did for my mum for mothers day) already and I didn't think pink hands for my boys would work!

Luckily spotlight had a fat quarter bundle with the perfect fabrics for me. I added a border to the centre square to add more pink into it. As I only ever use a small amount of batting at a time in my projects I usually buy a packet of it, but the one I usually get wasn't there so I'm testing out a different one. It's polyester not cotton, it has a much higher loft so the end result was a lot more puffy than I'm used to, I also tried quilting in the ditch but it's not for me. On a learning note, I ironed some of the seams the wrong way so the squares didn't quite match up. If I make this pillow again I might try ironing the seams flat and see what a difference that makes.

The back. Another lesson learned, make sure the material is lined up at 0 not 1 when cutting!! Luckily I had some left over to patch up, can you tell?

It's amazing how different another pattern and colour scheme makes to a project. Makes me re-think a lot of quilt patterns that I have seen but been turned off by the materials used.

As I was busy making this pillow I didn't get a chance to make the extra block for the Skill Sampler, oh well, maybe I can catch up.

TTFN

Stepping Stones Pillow

It's all finished and didn't take all that long to make.

I think I spent more time procrastinating over cutting into the beautiful Saffron Craig fabric.

I'm really happy with it, it's the first time I made flying geese, and everything seemed to fit together nicely. I've had trouble in the past with everything not coming together but I used the edge of my 1/4 inch foot instead of the guard and everything turned out beautifully.

I was going to quilt by hand but I just didn't have the time and coming down with yet another cold, so I shadow quilted in a square from the main square and back stitched over the wings which made them pop out. I machine sewed the binding down then hand stitched it to the back.

So if you have a fat quarter pack laying around that you don't know what to do with I recommend making this pillow, great skill builder and a quick project to commplete.

I gave it to my neice yesterday for her 5th birthday, think she was happy with it ;-)

TTFN

Finally Finished

Finally it's finished! I started this quilt a year ago when my niece was born, and she would have received it not long after that but unfortunately a whole lot of stuff got in the way. First my machine started doing it's horrible missing stitches thing, then I got pregnant and lost all desire to craft. The pattern is from a free tutorial by Oh Fransonn! on the sew mama sew blog.

I straight line quilted down the solid strips, not really worrying about it being exact (i like the look) then shadow quilted along each of the charm squares. The quilting was all working until I got to the shadow quilting then my machine decided that skipping stitches would be a good idea. I've had it serviced but it still seems to be happening. Could it have something to do with my walking foot? I pushed on and got it finished just in time for Niah's 1st birthday. I love the funky monkey fabric, I have some left over and I'm just working out what I can make with it next.

I loved this pattern it was so easy to follow and came together so quickly. After machine quilting this one I'm looking forward to hand quilting my next, I have ideas of what that will be, something on the lines of aussie designer Kate Conklin. But I should finish this quilt first!! I just have to find where I put it. I've claimed a corner of the lounge room now as a sewing space but all of my sewing "stuff" is still a bit everywhere.

TTFN

Charging Basket

Charging Basket, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

Another project on the wish list done, and it serves as another domestic project too. Unfortunately I've had some time on my hands this week, long story, so I've been able to get  a bit of sewing done. It relaxes me and when I have a finished project, I feel good inside, can't beat that.

This one is another free tutorial from Oh! Fransson, the Charging Basket. It could be very tricky to make but her instructions are fantastic, so clear, and guides you through every step. I had a flat fat from my stash (spotlight splurge) and some matching red and I used calico instead of linen. After cutting the main square for the outside I didn't have the correct size for the centre, so I just adjusted the red outside it to fit. It got to the stippling bit, which I was looking forward to as I've never done it and thought this would be a great project to have a go, only to realise that my machine doesn't have a darning foot, thought it did, oh well. So I just sewed wavy lines instead (see below). Great project to make, highly recommend it.

 

TTFN

Pincushion organiser

Pincushion organiser, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

I finally did it, I made Oh! Fransson's Pincushion organiser (also over at Sew Mama Sew). It's been on the to do list for ages. I had some time this week so, it got made. It was easy to make, mainly due to the excellent tutorial Elizabeth put together. I think I over stuffed the pincushion bit, getting the rice bag in was tough. If I make another I think I would put some interfacing in the pouch to make it a bit more sturdy.

I'm still not sure of the colours I've used but they are growing on me. I used 3 flat fats out of a 5 pack of coordinating fabric from spotlight.

TTFN

Ta da

Doll Quilt 2
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

Blog upgrade finished. For the moment anyway. May add some pics later not going to rush this!!

I can now tell you about my second dolls quilt now, the gift has been delivered. I made this doll for my cousins daughter for her birthday last year, and while looking at the photos again I thought, this doll needs a blanket, so out came the same fabric and I whipped!! up a blanket for her. I used the same pattern from the sew mama sew tutorial and the one I made for my niece. I think I may have made the binding too wide as the corners didn't quite come together as nicely. I'm now thinking of a bigger quilt but we'll wait and see!!

Quilt pattern from the doll quilt sew along on sewmamasew Handmade by MandyMade

Boy doll quilt

Boy doll quilt
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

The doll quilt in action!!