Baby Blues Quilt

This quilt was a great learning experience for me. Trying to keep a puckered minky fabric flat while quilting it is difficult, but the final result is worth it.

Materials:

dimpled minky fabric

Warm 'n White cotton batting

cotton flannelette backing

pre-made satin blanket binding

Because I wanted to create a pieced look (I used one piece of each fabric), I quilted with straight lines that were 3 inches apart.

A month or so after being given this quilt, the giftee's mother informed me that the satin binding had fallen off. I was not impressed, as the store I purchased the binding from assured me that this binding would be machine washable. This quilt was given to a little girl, so I decided to remake it with a more girly binding.  I made my own binding from a flowery quilting cotton, rebinding only the top part of the quilt, and leaving the flannelette fully visible. My favourite part of this repair is how the minimal blue in the cotton binding is set off by the blue of the quilt top. To date, the repair has held up.

 Baby Blues Blanket Repair

 Baby Blues Blanket Repair & Detail

What I learned from making this quilt: Pin stretchy fabrics to non-stretchy fabrics with the longest pins you can find. Place pins as close together as you can. Never use satin blanket binding. Because of this experience, I resolved to continue making my own bindings, or to use pre-made broadcloth binding.

Pastel Alphabet Quilt

I have discovered a love for quilt panels. They are fast to work with, and it is often easy to find a coordinating background and binding. This is a pastel version of another panel quilt I have done.

My favourite part of this quilt is the rick rack trim. I really appreciate the way this orange border pops and sets off the other colours in the quilt.

Materials:

cotton flannelette for backing

cotton quilt panel

Warm 'n Natural cotton quilt batting

rick rack trim

pre-made broadcloth fold-over binding

The quilting method I used was freehand machine stippling.

Pastel Alphabet Quilt Front

Pastel Alphabet Quilt Backing and Detail

What I learned from this quilt: Rick rack can make an interesting focal point when added to the binding frame of a quilt. I received this tip from a co-worker.

Simple Bag Tutorial

Pattern pieces for Jasmine's Bag.

Materials needed:

ruler

chalk or marker

paper (optional, for drawing out pattern)

pins

fabric

buckles (optional)

purse closure (optional)

Step 1: Trace or draw pattern pieces onto fabric, cut out pieces.

Step 2: Cut out rectangle A, which will be the front, bottom and back of purse. Cut according to desired size of purse.

Step 3: Cut out rectangle B or C, which will be sides and strap (B) or straps (C) for purse.

Step 4: Fold piece A in half. Match side B1/C1 with fold at A4 (should be matched with the center of the width of B/C). Pin in place. Pin up the sides of B1/C1 with the sides of A4 created by the fold. Take out this pin and squish fold so that it is a flat line matching up with B1/C1. Pin in place. Sew all three sides.

Step 5: Repeat Step 4 for the other side of the purse.

Step 6 (C only): Cut strap down the middle from the top of the purse on one side to the top of the purse on the other side. Leave newly sewn edges intact, making 2 straps.

**Follow Steps 1 through 5 for the outside of purse, purse interfacing, and purse lining. Interfacing and lining can be sewn together to the outside for ease.

Step 6/7: Finish all raw edges with bias tape.

Enjoy!

-IC