Bandana Blanket?

  Ever make a bandana blanket?

Well I did, and in the end, I realized a big oversight! It's terrible; never do this!

(read till the end to find out what that was!)

I'd been curious about making one of these for a long time, and finally, gathered the supplies and made one! It's a 9 square by 9 square. Each square is roughly twelve inches each side.

However, it's not the best quality. In fact, I got the bandanas from Amazon, which were cheap; and you can tell because you can see right through each one. I used scraps of leftover batting I had in my stash, which I stitched together (the pieces were not of equal size or shape) to make it fit the size of the bandanas. Then I had an old used (but in good condition) ivory colored flat sheet, that I cut to size, with enough overhang to fold over the top for a binding. 

After putting all three layers on the floor and lining everything up, I folded it up and put it away until I knew I would have time to tie it. 

And then, (drumroll, please) I pulled it out and tied it! On the floor. With no quilt frames or stands. Amazing! It reminded me of the early days of quilting when you didn't have any frames or stands, and everything was done either on the floor or in a quilting hoop.

The nice thing about a tied quilt is that you can work on it for a bit, walk away, and come back to work on it again (while its on the floor). Please note that in my case, there aren't any children around anymore to walk all over it, wrap themselves in it, and play with it while I'm not around!

It was so much fun to put together, that I think I'm gonna make another one! Overall, I'm pleased with the outcome. 

Okay, here's the big oversight: When I put all the layers together on the floor, and had tied all four corners (to keep it all in place), and had even tied the first row of 3 bandanas, I realized that I had sewn ALL of the squares, yes ALL of them, upside down! And how do you know they're upside down, you might ask? The printing of "100% Cotton" on each square is backwards! So all of my squares were upside down. The only positive and lucky save out of this whole project, is that the color on the wrong side of each square isn't faded like usual, and is the same intensity both sides! Next time, I'll be more careful!

New Crochet Organizer

Made from a little baby girl dress (shown in the previous post), 

this new crochet hook organizer has a scissors pocket included!

So fast, trimmed with white lace on the inside flap, this'll be a great organizer for crochet hooks! 

Newborn Dress

Although not pictured exactly as I would like it, 

this little dress I made for a new granddaughter!

I cut a size XS from the Simplicity pattern #1447 and top stitched the pleats instead of sewing seams.

 I also added a lavender straight stitch and a hand-sewn star on the collar.

The white edge is added extra, too.

The bloomers were super easy; I haven't sewn bloomers for many years and I like how fast they went together.

I can't wait to see our newborn in this new dress!

(as always, there are a few things I think I could have sewn differently, but I like the end product quite well)

 

Yarn Galore!

I pulled out my few bags of my favorite Red Heart yarn to see what colors I had. (and this is only a few skeins) There were brights, pastels, white, and variegated shades of green, blue, brown, etc. So many choices! So many colors!

What to do.....

Looking for something to make with these. I'm sure there's a project that's resting in the back of my mind, I just have to pull up the list!

 

Fancy Dress Quilt

Fancy Dress Quilt made for a granddaughter. 

Machine appliqued, hand quilted in an original design, edged with fabric from the dresses.

Took quite a while to finish due to other activities going on, but enjoyed every minute of the quilting!

(I was afraid that by the time I finished it, our granddaughter would be married with 6 children!)

The Bag...

THE BAG

A put-together, piece-as-you-go, month long project that should have taken only a day to complete. No exact pattern, no exact process, no exact plan. Just throw it together a step at a time.

But constant refiguring, and reconsidering that next step took up a whole month to progress in increments.

Finally, I just bit the bullet and made it work. Not perfect, not exactly how I'd like it to have turned out, but it's done!

Thanksgiving Hot Pads

Thanksgiving hot pads just waiting to be used to bake a turkey, pumpkin pie, and a lot more!

Rectangle Crochet Granny Square Blanket

This gift of a crocheted blanket was made with about 5 skeins of Red Heart Ombre variegated yarn.

I figured making a rectangular shape blanket would be challenging, but in fact, it wasn't. It was easier because I didn't have to worry about making a ton of squares and then joining them together.

The instructions I researched said that you chain about 58 stitches to start with, but I increased it to 70 chain stitches. Once you have your center stitch (the chain stitches), you just double crochet all the way around, row after row. Simple! And fun!

Now the blanket measures roughly 56" x 70"

I added a V-stitch edging of 2 rows, with the last row being a combination of a half double crochet, double crochet, and single crochet to give it a slight scalloped look.

It was so simple, I have plans for another one in a different color: maybe a coral, or lavender!

Super Soft Receiving Blanket

Baby Blue Fleece Blanket

Perfect for a little baby boy!

Crocheted scalloped edging, soft and cuddly!

Ready for the next new baby boy in the family!

Bright Yellow Granny Square Blanket

Bright yellow double crochet granny square blanket!

Each square has 10 rows of colored yarn, and edged with two rows of bright yellow yarn.

I joined them all together with a single crochet which leaves a raised seam. My first try at this joining method, and I like it! 

The entire outside is edged with a row of single crochet, and then a row of double crochet.

I like this large granny square idea, so I'm planning another one in a different color pattern!

Rag Quilt

This rag quilt is the first one I've ever made! I used scrap fabric for the hearts and stitched them to squares of old sheets (that were still in good condition...). I added a thin batting, which I had to cut for each square (time consuming!) Then sewing the squares together with the seam edges on the top side, I snipped the edges of all of the hearts AND seam edges (more time consuming!).

Overall, I'm glad I made this quilt for the experience of it. Would I make another one? Well, I think I might need some time before I consider making another one like this. But it'll probably happen... 

Adding a Scalloped Edge to a Quilt

Attaching a scalloped edge to a quilt is quite easy; the trick is to trim the edge to the size scallops you like, and making sure the scallops are the same on each size. I cut this quilt with a slight scallop.

For the binding, I bought 1 yard of a larger polka dot fabric because the store didn't have the smaller polka dot fabric. But it's the same shade of pink as the quilt, so it matches.

I opened up the one yard of fabric, spread it out on the floor, and drew 5 straight lines diagonally, about 1-1/2" wide, making four bias strips. I machine stitched the ends together perpendicularly, so the seam would be at a diagonal, instead of a straight seam. I think it looks better on the quilt.

Then I pinned the bias strips on the top fabric of the quilt, placing the edges together.

After I finished pinning the bias fabric, I machine stitched it to all of the layers along the edge of the quilt but only about 1/4" from the edge. Then it was trimmed to 1/8", and then began the more tedious part of the binding.

Fold the bias strip from the front to the back, turning it under, even the slightest bit. However, takes a ton of pins!

I hand stitched all the way around using the blind stitch, and it only took a few hours! (I was happy about that!)

And, voila! It's done!!!

Fabric Waiting To Be Used

I found these swatches in the drawer. There's gotta be something to make out of this!

The question is, WHAT?

A million thoughts start filling my mind when I start thinking of the possibilities.

In the end, something will be created!

Latest Project!

(not a very good picture)

This is the latest project I've started. Another baby quilt. But this one is a little smaller. I bought one yard of fabric of both the top and backing fabric, intending to square it up. Lining up the selvages of both fabrics together, I cut 3 inches of the selvage off. That squared the one yard fabric!

Then laying it all out, fabric, batting, and lots of pins, I attached it to the quilt frame.

In looking at this fabric and imagining how to stitch it, I imagined quilting between the flowers, almost edging them. But after starting with that idea, I found that after the first few rows of stitching, it looked rather dull on the back; mostly wiggly lines from one side to the other. 

The next few rows, I decided to be more exaggerated and extend the stitching a little more up and down around the flowers. 

It may be hard to see, but the stitches go around the flower and up to another flower, then back down again. I think this'll look good not only on the top, but the design on the back will be a little more pleasing, too.

One thing I like about making a little bit smaller quilt is that it gets done a little faster! As any quilter knows, there's always another idea for the next project lurking in the back of your mind while you're working on the current one.

Red Heart Williamsburg Yarn

It's almost done!!!

I'm so excited! It fits a queen size bed (just the top), and of the four skeins left, I have only one more to go until I can start working on the border. I plan to crochet at least two rows all the way around the blanket, then add a decorative edge - maybe! 

There are 20+ skeins in this work of art, and much like getting close to finishing a quilt, I've put so much time into it, I'm wanting to both hurry and finish it, and also take my time to do it right.

So when I get to that next step, I'll re-evaluate, and post what'll come next!

Tools of My Favorite Trade!

My collection of crochet hooks! I love to crochet, and found a great way to keep all of them organized. Much like a crayon roll for kids on the go, this is the best way I've found to keep all of my hooks at hand! I like to keep a few of each size, but sharing with upcoming crocheting granddaughters slimmed down a few sizes.

Stripey Crochet Blanket

Stripey Blanket

This pattern was one I found on pinterest, and I loved the idea. Each row (or two or three) is a different color, and decorative stitches are thrown in along the way. As a throw blanket, it's fun and the perfect size, and the color choices are endless. Visit here and here to see the post.

I would make this blanket again, because it goes quickly, and I love double crochet!

Flower Afghan 

A pattern I came across that had the white flower edged with green, and then a pastel color as the border. I added, for my own design, another row of white, and a narrow row of that same pastel color. Then I added a few more rows of white to make the squares larger.
All of the stitches are double crochet, except for that narrow row of pastel, which is single crochet.
Also, I used a size H hook for all the rows, except for the white edging, which I used a G hook.
The flowers are a bit looser in the center, but the white border pulls it all in tighter, so it holds together better.
A scalloped edge was crocheted along the edge as the final stitch. And of all the scalloped edges I've crocheted, I like this one best: one stitch of the scallop per space on the blanket.

Pink Polka Dot and Lace, Cute Dish Soap Apron

Another version of a cute kitchen necessity! A larger braid on this dish soap apron is the icing on the cake, along with the lace and bows! The elastic band across the back holds the apron in place on the container. This is a must-have for your kitchen counter!
Perfect for gift giving!  $9.00

Vintage Lavender and White Scissors Cover

What a fun way to keep your scissors safe and also keep some pins handy!
Made of felt, this scissors cover is light and easy to carry with your sewing supplies. Great for gift giving, Mother's Day, and just to dress up your sewing table!