Who Is Responsible for This?

Who can I thank for this wonderful pattern? I know I thanked you when you first brought it to the shoppe but I want to thank you again because it is sooooo good! And simple! Your gift of the blanket pattern was written to be used with flannel. I think your name is Sally but it could have been Barb. You gave it to me along with showing me your sweet sample. I have given the pattern to countless people and I wanted to share it again. It's free but it's not my work so I didn't want to put it out to the world. Just stop in if you want a printed copy. And if you are the wonderful customer who gave it to me... "much obliged."

This one is made from a Japanese print and Moda Quilted Texture.

My friends Sonia and Jason are having there first baby, a girl. A group of women and men (yay for men at baby showers) at our church put on a lovely baby shower. I love that my church does bridal showers and baby showers. It takes the pressure off those of us who are in homes that need work (me). They send out the invitation to all the congregation, no exclusions. Jim didn't really want to go to the shower but I promised him they were serving lunch and that got him there.

This project started with a pot holder that Sonia spied in my kitchen. It had a matryoshka on it. April made it for me for a Christmas gift. She actually made me a set, 2 pot holders and an oven mitt but I burned the oven mitt on my electric stove (hey, I am used to gas. You can see when gas is on. I burned up many so things with those darn coils that we dc'd the smoke alarm). Anyway, Sonia saw the pot holder and loved the matryoshka doll on it. We had just gotten a re-order on our Japanese matryoshkas and I knew then I was going to make something out of it.

This little blanket is made from two pieces of fabric one 30" and one 40". The pattern says use two coordinating 2 yard pieces of flannel and you get two blankets with the pattern reversed on each. I chose the Moda Quilted Texture because of the obvious; texture and a quilted look without quilting. It is an amazing fabric. It is often over looked in the shoppe because before washing and drying it looks virtually flat and out of the dryer it poofs and scrunches and turns into a luscious fake quilt plus it is 100% cotton!

You can see the before and after effects of washing and drying. It comes in natural and white .

What baby gift would be complete without a Target gift card?

Sonia opened my gift first. There were some "Ahs" in the room and the look on her face was pretty sweet. She seemed to like it a lot. Her husband, Jason was sitting next to her and said, "Wow. This sets the bar pretty high." I don't know about that. I see fabulous quilts that you guys make all the time. And I know our friend, Savannah did something fabulous for them too... Jim and I ducked out of the shower early so I didn't get to see much else.

So really, this was an hour project that goes together beautifully. I love it for that and I was happy with how it turned out. I will make it again soon, probably with linen!! And one with the white Moda.

I think this combo of Japanese prints and leather colored linen would be sweet. Know anyone having a boy?

So if you are responsible for getting this pattern to me... Let me know. And anyone who wants the pattern... I'll make you a copy because the lady who gave it to me said I could share it. If you live out of Columbus and don't make it in the shoppe but want the pattern... send me a self addressed envelop stamped and I will mail it to you. Anita at Sew To Speak 4610 N. High St. Columbus 43214. Share the baby love!!

Springy Stash Buster

Sewn or not.. pennants are a super simple and springy stash buster. Inspired by a lovely customer and fellow blogger, Erin, I first made this small one for our front window and then set out to make another for above the fireplace. They go together quickly and are just so cheerful that I really want to sew some more! I think it'd be fun to string them around Aelyn's bunk bed, above the kitchen sink or across the front porch...  I wonder how many I could complete before the baby comes??

For more bunting/pennant inspiration and tutorials check out these blogs:

Bloom - No-Sew Pennant Banner Tutorial

Joyful Abode - how to make a Bunting

The Mother Huddle - No sew bunting using vintage handkerchiefs

Hooded Baby Towel and Wash Mitt

This relatively easy to sew duo would make a lovely handmade gift for a new baby or expecting mother.  Plus they're also a perfect chance to practice your bias tape binding skills! 

Place the set in a sweet basket along with my very favorite baby soaps and it's certain to be a cherished receiving gift. 

This new 100% cotton, terry velour fabric is so soft and cuddly that it almost makes me want to have another baby just so I can snuggle him or her inside it...

...yeah I know, I'm constantly debating another baby. Oh, those tiny little fingers and toes... and adorable little animal prints, cuddly fabrics and cute baby projects are so tormenting. They certainly help to tally up the pro's column in the poll I take in my mind.

Come to think of it, I have been oohing and ahhing over other peoples babies quite a bit lately, perhaps because mine is turning into such a big girl! :(  Don't tell her I said so though. She's really into being small right now. She's constantly saying "I'm tiny" and I say "Yes, you are. You're my tiny girl." ♥

She's still my baby. She still lets me rock her and snuggle her. 

I tell her she'll always be my baby, just like I remember my mother telling me. And she will be, just as I am. 

And we'll all be our mothers babies in someway, no matter how big (or old) we grow.

Happy Mothers Day.

Here's what you need: 

*1 1/2 yards of 60" wide terry velour by Spechler Vogel, this is enough for 2 towels and a mitt. 

One fun fat quarter, cotton print or a large enough scrap to cut an 11x11x16" triangle.

130" of bias tape or 1/2 yard of fabric to make your binding (since the towel has no curved edges I did NOT cut my tape strips on the bias, this saves both fabric and energy).

Coordinating thread

A rottery cuter, acrylic rule and cutting mat

Fabric shears

Pins 

and a sewing machine

+ scrap paper and pen for drafting your Wash Mitt templet

Here's how it's made:

The Towel

Select you fabrics. For this project I've used a 100% cotton, extra wide terry velour material from Spechler and Vogel. It is wonderful because the terry side is nice and absorbent while the velour side is oh, so cuddly!! Also for this towel I've used a fun hedgehog print and a red gingham flannel, both from Michael Miller.

First: Cut a 30"x 30" square from your terry velour; if you are using the 60" wide terry you can cut it straight down the center fold, then cut two 30" squares at once. Do to the salvage edge you may not end up with an exact square, as long as it's close it wont be noticeable.

From your printed cotton cut an 11"x11"x16" triangle. Pay attention to the direction of the print. I've made my 16" cut across the fabrics grain and two 11" cuts on the bias so that when the hood is up the hedgies aren't slanting sideways. 

Cut another 11"x11"x16" triangle from the terry.

Next with velour side up place your printed triangle face down on top. This way you will end up with a hood lined in extra soft velour, to be nice and gently on new baby skin. Pin bottom edge and stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn right sides out and press.

Trim off any little triangle tips that stick out or any other discrepancies between the two triangles. Then topstitch, a 1/4" from edge, along the bottom of the hood. 

Next aligned the hood with one of the towels right angles and pin.

Baste in place.

Trim any discrepancies.

Prepare binding.

Attach bias tape with mitered corners. Save you extra bias tape.

Trim out balk seam allowance around hood to allow the tape to neatly encase the raw edges. 

Finish your binding with the final topstitch, take your time neatly forming your mitered corners and making sure all raw edges are tucked in and well encased, if they are not fraying and unraveling might accrue during washing. Save you extra bias tape.

The Wash Mitt

First onto a scrap piece of paper, trace a rounded mitt shape about 2" away from your hand all the way around. Note the mitt I drew here was only an inch larger then my hand and it fits very tightly. 2" extra fits much better :)

Cut mitt shapes from your left over terry cloth.

Place velour sides together, terry sides facing out, pin and stitch 3/8" from edge, leaving bottom open.

Trim seam allowance to about 1/8"-1/4", being careful not to get too close to your stitches. Turn velour side out and stitch another 3/8" from edge.

Using the extra binding tape from your towel, begin attaching it to the open end of the mitt. First fold the sort raw end of the tape back and then pin around the perimeter, sew. 

Take about 4" of tape, top stitch closed, then fold length wise to make a loop. Stitch short ends together.

Turn mitt right (terry) side out.

Pin loop close to one of the side seams (but not all the way at the side seam to avoid too much bulk). Finaly fold binding over raw the edges and topstitch to finish.

Happy Sewing and lovely weekends to you all!

Snuggle your babies once for me,

♥April

Quick and Simple Hooded Tube Scarf

Burrr. It's getting pretty chilly. About time I got my act together and shared this fun hooded tube scarf that I've been meaning to post for over a month now!
Inspired by a ready made scarf from American Apparel, I set out to make my own and have found I like mine even better than any of the mass-market scarves I've recently seen.

It goes together incredibly fast and due to the material used it requires very little finishing. I plan to whip up at least three more as gifts. They are great for a last minute handmade treat and a few of my friends have already shown interest in receiving one.

Here's what's needed:
   1/2 yard of 54" or wider Sweatshirt material, interlock, bamboo knit or other stretch knit.
   coordinating thread
   fabric marker/chalk pencil
   rotary cutter, straight edge or acrylic ruler and mat
   any hoodie or coat hood to trace
   optional - scrap felt for flower embellishment

Here's how:

Lay out your fabric still folded at center seam, take care to smooth out any bumps or folds. Fold hood in half and lay ontop of fabric at selvage, with hood opening looking toward center fold. Use chalk or fabric marker to trace outer edge of hood. Remove coat hood or hoodie.

Next draw a straight line from bottom of hood line across to folded edge. Then freehand draw a curved line starting from the top of the hood continuing straight out to the folded edge. This line should become nearly perpendicular to the bottom line. The shape should be as pictured above.

Now using your rotary cutter and straight edge cut along bottom line. Then free hand cut along hood edge and top curve, slow and steady with out lifting your blade. Set this large piece aside. Next using your straight edge or acrylic ruler cut a 4"x 22" strip from the remaining fabric (see upper left portion in above photo).

Unfold large scarf piece, pin strip right-sides together along one rounded hood edge. Strip will be longer then hood edge, trim off extra. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim seam to 1/8". I find I can get the cleanest cuts with knit fabric by laying it flat on mat  and trimming seam allowance with my rotary cutter rather then with scissors.

Now with right side facing pin center strip to opposite hood edge. Again, sew with a 1/4" seam allowance and trim to 1/8". Turn right sides out and Voila.

To wear first put on hood, twist once and wrap slack around to back. Wear with hood up or down.

For felt flower (same as the flower in our current header) simply cut out a five petaled flower and 2 green leaves from scrap felt. Get pdf of flower template here. Attach the three pieces by sewing a few cross stitches in the center of the flower with a contrasting color of floss. Attach a safety pin or a brooch back and pin onto scarf.

Though knit fabrics yield the quickest results, this scarf could be made from anything you like, as long as it's wide enough. It'd be supper cute in the new extra wide Anna Maria Dobby Dots or a wide wool, lined with a sweet voile print. To do this I would make two of the above scarfs, one from an exterior fabric and one from a lining. Then I would sew the two together with right sides facing using a 1/2" seam allowance, first along top curved edge. Then along the bottom edge leaving about 5 inches open. Turn right sides out through opening and close using a blind stitch or topstich around top and bottom edges.  And done!