I'm back, and sewing again.

I know I haven't posted anything in a very long time.

It is hard for me to find time to blog, and also have inspiration of what to blog about.

But I'll try to get a few more posts up to update you all (are there any of you out there that read this?) on how our summer is going and all that.

For now I'll show you a few sewing projects I've been doing.

First, my favorite! I put soo much into this quilt. I collected the fabrics for a long time. It took me awhile to find and acquire all the colors and prints that I wanted. Then, I slowing made progress on it. The quilt top was done for quite sometime before I pulled it out again and got it basted and quilted.
It's a huge accomplishment for me. Being a queen size it's the biggest I've ever machine quilted on my humble little Kennmore sewing machine.

I'm surprise at how well it went and turned out.

Here it is finished, basted and ready to be quilted.

Some quilting in progress and marking.

Finished and some up close of quilting details. 

And we now how a new bed quilt. This quilt is pretty lightweight, so were using it during the summer months. Our old heavy duvet comforter will probably go back on soon when it gets cold.

Here's another large quilt I made this year. It's almost a Twin size (more of like a bed topper).
They are my usual colors. But I kinda like the vintage inspired colors and prints.

 The Piano Keys border is always a favorite of mine.

 This was another first for me. Learning the Baptist Fan quilting pattern. It was easier than I thought, and I really like it on this quilt.

 I did different quilting designs for the borders though.

This quilt is for sale in the Etsy shop. Go check it out and share it if you want!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/192721963/topiary-tiles-twin-bed-quilt?ref=shop_home_active_2


I've got another baby blanket and a throw quilt in the works. Just picked up more batting so I should be quilting them soon.
I also am searching creative ways to use scraps, so I've got some table runners I'm finishing up as well.

Would really be great to sell some of this, so I don't go broke with this quilting hobby of mine.

However, recently I've been trying to be more frugal, and almost all of these recent projects have come from my fabric stash. I've just had to purchase extra fabric for matching backings/bindings/borders, etc.

I'll be showing some purely scrappy projects supplied purely from my stash without any additional purchases soon.

Sewing again.

So, I would say I'm quilting again. But since I'm not to the actual quilting part yet, I'm technically just sewing. Which is what piecing the quilt top together is.
Most quilters don't do the quilting step themselves. So, for them sewing a quilt top together is quilting. 

Anyway, I'll stop being all technical.
Here's a preview of what I'm working on.

It's coming together quickly. Picked up some batting for it yesterday and I'm hoping today will allow me time to pin and baste to prepare for quilting it.

Most of all, I'm just enjoying having the sewing machine out again. 

Nursery Complete

 Now that we know the nursery is for our little Girl I've added the finishing touches.

I'm using the baby girl quilt and had enough scraps to make a crib bumper, a mobile, some wall decor, and a crib skirt.
Thankfully, I was able to find a bit more fabric from this collection on the clearance rack at JoAnn's since I'm pretty sure this line of fabric was discontinued. I bought it all quite awhile ago.
I had enough to complete the crib bedding and accents!

 Here is up close of the mobile, made from fabric yoyos, ribbon, and an embroidery hoop. 

And a shot of the inside of bumper. I made it scrappy on the inside, partly by choice, and mostly out of necessity, as all I had were smaller pieces leftover from quilt.
The embroidered "Baby" sign was a gift from my sister.

 I found some sweet cream, green, and pink colored paisley fabric for the curtains.

 Here is the embroidery hoop wall decor with leftover fabric scraps.

 And I also was able to make a crib skirt as well. Though I didn't get a great photo of it.

I'm loving my neutral nursery turned girly!!
Will still be awhile before Esther spends much time in her little nursery, as she's still sleeping in a cradle in our room. But I'm glad it's all done, and it's nice to have a place to store all her cute outfits and girly accessories!

Baby Girl Quilt

 Finally have my baby girl quilt finished. I've now made one for boy and girl.

This one is a favorite of mine. I purchased the fabric a couple years ago and have been saving it specifically for when I get to make my own baby quilts. 

Machine quilting...

I love all these prints and colors. Since I bought these fabric so long ago, not sure if I can find more to make a complete crib bedding set.

Currently working on a matching crib bumper for the boy quilt in the meantime.

Sewing update

So a few weeks ago (might be more than a month by now....)

Anyway, I did finally get the skirts made. I found a really simple, easy sewing tutorial on pinterest. And even though this pattern isn't "maternity" I figured the stretchy knit fabric would still work.... and it did!! 

Here is the tutorial.

This one was supposed be a maxi length skirt. But I kinda messed up on the diagonal/chevron piecing and didn't add enough length.

I also made this pink, knee length skirt. As well as the cardigan. I was really impressed and proud of myself. Not only does it look decent and fit but it's also extremely comfortable! I love wearing it! Will definitely make more.

(Can also see my 23-week baby bump). <3

I still have some more knits, so I'll be sewing more.

New sewing projects

I've never really made clothing. Not sure why. Always seemed kind of complicated and a lot of measuring. Plus I don't like pinning and cutting out shapes for patterns and stuff like that.

But I found a really easy skirt tutorial on pinterest. So I figured I'd try it. Found these cute knits so I'll make a skirt or two. And also I plan to make a few "belly bands". They supposedly help with pregnancy wardrobes. Make up for shirts that aren't long enough, make pants waistbands more comfortable, etc.

We'll see how this goes.

I also found some tutorials for DIY baby items that I'm working on. It's really helping clean up my fabric stash!

Baby quilts

In October I will be an Aunt for the first time!!

We're all excited!
I had so much fun making my little Nephew a blanket. I can finally blog about it now too, since I gave my sister the quilt last week at her baby shower!

I thought the zig-zag/chevron pattern was a change from traditional quilts. It's seems harder and harder to find new and creative ideas!

The top is flannel, and the back is Minky! It's such a cuddly, soft quilt, I could have almost kept it myself.

Another friend is also due to have her first little boy in October. So while I was in Idaho at my sister's shower, I also gave her a blanket!

I like how the quilting turned out on this one. It gave it a nice "crinkly" look.

It's so much more fun making quilts with a specific person in mind. I feel like you can put more of yourself in the gift since I tend to think of them as I am sewing!

Glad to have the opportunity to give these little guys a comfy quilt.

This second one is all Flannel with hi-loft polyester batting so it's feels puffy and soft!

My new favorite toy

I finally splurged and bought a real darning foot for my sewing machine. I wish I had a long time ago. Can't believe I used to free-motion quilt without it.

After practicing on scraps for just a couple minutes I got brave and decided to do more than just "stippling".

I was given two table runners from a friend who doesn't do the finishing/quilting part of projects. She asked me to do it for her after seeing some of my other free-motion quilting projects.

I got both done in one afternoon because my new pressure foot was so awesome!!

The first one I each print had a flower-theme. So I did five petal flowers all over connected by vines.

I even practiced leaves on the borders...

Here is the back, it shows off the quilting a bit better.

The second one is a black and white. I just did more stippling because I couldn't think of anything else more creative than that.
However, I was able to do a much tighter pattern than ever before now that I can actually see what I'm doing with this new darning foot.

My new darning foot has changed quilting for me. It's faster, easier, eliminates common mistakes, and looks so much better! It has given me confidence to be more creative and explore trying new designs and patterns!! I love it!!

If you are free-motion quilting, hopefully you have a real darning foot. If not, you MUST have one. Nothing compares. I love it!!

Color Set in Stone

This quilt pattern was displayed on the wall as a sample in my local quilt shop and fell in love with it.
I acquired the patterned and put it away. Once I found the perfect fabric for it I got to work.

I really like this collection of fabric - It's called Stonehedge" by Northcott fabrics.
The prints resemble various types of stone all in various colors. I don't think any 2 pieces are exactly alike, even thought they are cut from the same piece of fabric since the colors change, fade, blend and the print/pattern on the fabric also varies!

Free Motion Quilting

When I found charm packs of these fabrics I knew I wanted to use them for this quilt.
I used a Charcoal grey Minky on the back. I love this Minky for blankets. It's incredibly soft and nice to the touch. It also really shows the quilting design without showing the stitches very well. Therefore hiding any mistakes or tension problems.

Since the fabric has a stone-like look to them and all in lots of different colors the finished product reminded me very much of a brick wall (especially with the white sashing between every piece).
So I titled the quilt Color Set in Stone!