Christmas Pillow

Detail of the snowmen embroidery

     Here is the pillow cover I made for Christmas.  I bought a few different designs of snowmen from Embroidery Library.  My husband chose this one.

Adding fusible stabler to the front, corners cut to prevent dog-ears

     I chose a deep green wool from my stash and embroidered the design with white thread.  Then because it was a thinner fabric, I used a fusible stabilizer from Rowley Company to give it a little more body.  I also serged the front and back pieces to a lightweight lining fabric.  I do this with most of my pillows to protect the face fabric.

Making the covered cord

     I had some red and white ticking fabric in my stash that I used to make covered cord, even matching the stripes at the seams.

Detail of the covered cord on the pillow

     I added a zipper to the back and then sewed it all together.  Another fun holiday pillow.  Next I will be on the look out for something for spring as I think I can leave on the snowmen cover for most of the winter.

Finished pillow

Thanksgiving Pillow

Finished Thanksgiving pillow

     Here is a pillow cover I made for Thanksgiving.  I have now made a fall one, a Halloween one and now this one for the family room.

Detail of embroidery design

     The designs are from Embroidery Library that I got as a free gift with an order.  I stitched the designs on a black crinkle linen from my stash (same as my Halloween pillow and fall pillow) that I backed with a fusible stabler to give it more body.

Detail of ribbon trim

     After cutting the squares to size I added a sashing and border from the rust colored wool that I had used in my fall pillow.  I felt it needed a little something more so I found some ribbons in my stash.  Instead of sewing them, I used Jewels tape to apply them.  Looks so nice without the stitching.  Them I added a loop fringe that I got at JoAnns, same as the fall pillow.

Detail of fringe trim

     Next up is a cover for Christmas.  Look for the details and photos in the next week or so.

Christmas Jammies 2019

Jammies for 2019

     This year I got the Christmas jammies done in time for them to be given from St Nick.  I bought the pajamas last year and then over the year I worked on them.

Fabrics chosen

     I bought the designs from Designs by JuJu.  I then chose fabrics from my stash so I could make them all similar.

Hooped shirt

   I hooped sticky stabilizer and then hooped the top on the hoop sideways.  I had to be sure to keep the back from getting caught while stitching.

Step one of the applique done

     The first steps are always the hardest with an applique design because of the constant stopping and removing the hoop, cutting the fabric and then putting the hoop back onto the machine.

Gingerbread man stocking

     I really like applique designs though because they have better coverage with less thread.  For a couple of the designs, would stop the stitching so I could change the color of thread I was using,  Maybe if I spent more time with the software, I could have split the colors there but it was almost easier to do it while stitching.

Penguin stocking

      I had a lot of fun doing these for the grandkids.

Snowman stocking

     Already thinking about jammies for next year.

Santa stocking

Cork Coasters

Cork coaster

     Each year for our Breensgiving feast, I try to add something new to the table.  This year I made cork coasters.

Cork sheets

     I bought the design from Embroidery Library.  I then went on Amazon and bought cork sheets and sticky back felt sheets.

Hooped cork sheet

     I cut all the sheets of cork and felt in half.  I then hooped sticky paper and put the half sheet of cork down.  I then stitched out the design.

Hole left after stitching

     When I was done, I removed the cork, leaving a hole which I patched with another piece of sticky paper.

Patched hole

     Then I placed the piece of sticky back felt onto the back of the embroidered cork piece.  I used my scissors to trim the coaster to shape.  The felt on the back covered all the stitching.  This is a little different than the directions but I liked it because it went quickly for me.

Finished coasters

     I chose the colors based on the colors I had used on my napkins a couple of years ago.  The rust and brown show up nicely but the green and gold are harder to see.

Breensgiving 2019

Dining room table

     This past Sunday we celebrated "Breensgiving"  One of my sons came up with the title a few years ago as we celebrate Thanksgiving the Sunday before.  Then on Thanksgiving they can all be with their other families.

Cornbread salad

     I use Pinterest to find tasty recipes,  The first course was a cornbread salad.  I bought a trifle bowl this year, married 43 years and never had one.  The salad looks so pretty in the bowl.  I did use store bought cornbread that I crumbled instead of cubing.  Then all the layers, topped with a ranch dressing made from a Wildtree mix.

Marinated pork tenderloin

     The main meal was a marinated pork tenderloin recipe that my husband and I had had earlier.  We both liked it so much we decided it would be great for Thanksgiving, I don't like turkey so I won't cook it.

Cheesy corn casserole

Cranberries

Mashed potatoes

     The sides included cheesy corn casserole, crockpot cranberries and mashed potatoes.  The cheesy corn casserole was a big hit, nothing left of that.  I thought the cranberries were a bit tart, maybe I would add a little more maple syrup next time.  I did make these a day ahead so I could use the crockpot for my mashed potatoes.  I was worried that the mashed potatoes were going to be too soupy when I started mashing them but they turned out delicious also.  The other sides were Polish sausage, sauerkraut and noodles supplied by my son-in-law's parents.

Cranberry margarita

   
     I also made cranberry margaritas.  For the appetizers we had a cranberry spread that I have made in the past and my son and daughter-in-law made pinwheels.  Dessert was supplied by my daughter and sister-in-law and I made chocolate chip cookies for the grandkids.

Fresh ingredients

     Every year I try to add something new to the table, this year I made cork coasters.  I'll write about them in the next week or two.

Fall Pillow

Pillow for fall

     I am making a series of covers to go on a chair in my family room.  Last week I showed you the Halloween one, this week is the fall one.  I bought this exquisite design from Embroidery Library.  It has over 86,000 stitches and uses 11 unique colors.  It took a couple of hours to stitch it out and used a couple of bobbins also.

Getting ready to make an on-point pillow

     I bought some rust colored wool melton at JoAnn Fabrics.  The black fabric I had in my stash.  It is a crinkle linen blend so I needed to add some fusible fleece to give it enough body to support all those stitches.

Cutting the front to shape

     I chose the exact colors to go with the wool and also the fringe I bought at JoAnn's following the guidelines from Embroidery Library.  I thought an on-point placement of the embroidery would be more interesting.  The first set of rectangles I sewed on were too small, I didn't remember that the height of the rectangle should be half of the base.  I then cut my lining to the shape using my template from Rowley.  I pinned it to the back of the front piece and trimmed around.  I then serged the edges.

Detail of the fringe

     For the back, I cut my piece with the template and then my zipper strip.  I did not line the back or serge around the edges since the fabric had enough body and doesn't ravel.  I felt though on the front I wanted to cover the back of the stitching and the seams from the piecing.

Kaleidoscope of Leaves Square

     I added the fringe to the front piece and then sewed the back and front together.  After removing the chain stitch that kept the fringe together, I had to steam it to remove the flattened part.  A gorgeous addition to my family room.

Halloween Pillow

Halloween Pillow

     I know Halloween is over, but I finally got this pillow finished.  I bought the design from Embroidery Library.  I changed the colors so I could stitch it on black fabric from my stash.

Detail of the covered cord

     I chose the colors based on this striped fabric that was also in my stash.  When cut on the bias for the covered cord, it has a fun spiral look.

Detail of the embroidery

     After I did the embroidery, I cut the front using my pillow template from Rowley that eliminates the dog-ears.  I then serged on a piece of lining to give it more body.  I did the same for the back piece and added a lapped zipper near the bottom. Bias cuts of the striped fabric were used to make the covered cord and it was all assembled.  I am going to make several other covers for the pillow form so I can change it out seasonally.

Fluttering by Floral Quilt

Fabrics from Mill House Quilts

      On my trip up to quilt retreat in March, I stopped at Mill House Quilts.  I wasn't planning on buying any fabric but this large floral print practically jumped into my arms.

Pattern used

     I saw a quilt hanging at Mill House that used a large print and multiple coordinating prints cut into smaller squares.  I bought several other fabrics that would work with the large floral I fell in love with.

Paste up sheet

     I came home and found a pattern in my stash called 'Just Can't Cut It'  Didn't quite have the right amounts but I made it work by adding a different fabric for the border from my stash.  I wound up not using the bright orange fabric as I didn't need that seventh color.

Fussy cutting a cornerstone

     I did use the paste up sheet in the pattern to keep things straight.  I had some of the large floral left after cutting my blocks (but not enough for the border) so I fussy cut some cornerstones for the border.  I used my square ruler to preview the size square I wanted and then cut them out.

Border and quilting detail

Block detail

     The cutting and piecing went pretty quickly once I had planned everything out.  I then went shopping for a backing.  I have been using flannel from JoAnn Fabrics that I prewash in hot water.  It shrinks it up and makes it so soft.  I usually choose a solid for my backs but this time a pretty floral was just the right touch.

Pretty floral backing

    After taking it all to the quilter, I made my labels and then added them and the border once I got the quilt back.

Label 1

Label 2

     I think this may be the fastest I have gone from buying the fabric to finishing the quilt unless it was a gift.  I really like how it all turned out.  My husband did ask what or who this quilt was for.  Silly man, it is just because.  :-)

Finished quilt

Halloween 2019 Sewing

Mask patterns on Skirtex

     This Halloween my two oldest grandchildren wanted to be characters from Paw Patrol.  My grandson wanted to be Mighty Chase and My granddaughter wanted to be Mighty Everest.

   My daughter sent me a couple of photos and then went to JoAnn Fabrics to buy the flannel for their costumes.

          She also bought some shiny fabric for their 'light-up' front paws and faux fur for the tails and ears.  I drafted the patterns using my Kwik Sew book.






           My granddaughter's costume was pretty straight forward with just color blocked pants and hooded top with contrasting sleeves and hood.  I sewed the tail into the center back seam, not adding too much stuffing so she would be comfortable wearing it in school.  The ears I sewed into the hood by cutting slits in the hood and tucking them in.

Mighty Chase top

    My grandson's costume was a bit more complicated as it needed zigzag contrast.  I opted to make the whole thing out of the navy flannel ( had to go to the store to get more) and then applique the yellow on top after turning under the edges.

Mighty Chase pants

     For the paws, I found an old costume pattern in my stash that had mittens and I made those with elastic in the wrist. I didn't even finish off the bottom edge since it was a knit fabric and wouldn't ravel.

Working on Mighty Chase mask

       For the masks I used Skirtex, the material that is used to stiffen the flaps on upholstered furniture.  I measured their faces and heads to get sizes for the mask and the elastic.  I drew the pattern onto pattern paper and then cut out the flannel.  I used spray adhesive to bind it to the Skirtex and then cut it out.  I then applied a back layer of flannel and stitched all around to keep it all in place, stitching on the elastic at the same time.  My grandson's had a yellow piece appliquéd on top while I used the shiny fabric for my granddaughter's mask and then drew on the eyebrows and eyelashes.

Bucket pinned under the hoop

     Then I needed to make a Halloween bucket for the youngest grandchild as I didn't make one for him last year.  I used a split Halloween design from Designs by JuJu.  I had many problems with it, (the actual stitching, not the design, it was perfect) including it coming unhooped when I got a thread nest underneath.  Got it finally finished and looking okay, not great but okay.  As I was texting my daughter-in-law that it was ready, I realized I had misspelled his name.  How does a grandma do that?  Oh well it was too late to make another.  I might make a new one for him next year or maybe I will try embroidering his name on a patch and sew it over the wrong spelling.

Stitching with it pinned under the hoop

     All that matters though is the grandkids were all happy and they had a great time trick or treating with their cousins.

Mighty Chase and Mighty Everest in action