Big Brother T-shirt

 

     When we went out to Iowa to visit our newborn granddaughter, I wanted to have a gift for her big brother who is 2.  I found this cute dinosaur fabric in my stash and then bought the embroidery design from Designs by JuJu.

     I chose some matching colored fabric for the letters and embroidered the design after cutting out the pieces.  Then I sewed the shirt up.  So much easier than trying to hoop a small t-shirt.  So fun to be able to quickly sew up a gift.

Latest Receiving Blanket

 

Receiving blanket

     Baby Violet made her appearance on November 27th.  She is grandchild number 6.  So happy she is here.  We went out to Iowa to meet her a few days after she was born and of course I had to have a gift for her.

Measuring for the embroidery

Hooped fabric

     I made her a receiving blanket with all her stats.  I cut two coordinating flannel fabrics the same size.  I measure up 6 inches from each corner and place a pin.  I hoop the fabric and then stitch out a stat in each corner.  I use my computer program to do the lettering and then transfer to the embroidery machine.

Rotating the corner wording

     At the machine I rotate the lettering so that when I place the hoop onto the machine I can have the extra fabric hanging in  the front instead of towards the back of the machine.

Rounding the corners

     After finishing the embroidery, I round the corners using my Cut A Round.  Then I sew with right sides together leaving an opening for turning.  After I press, turn, and press again, I stitch close to the edge all the way around.  This closes the opening and stabilizes the edges.  

Outdoor Dining Cushions

 

Summer dining

     We recently did some work on our front porch.  We had a seating area with two rockers and a small table on one side of the porch.  We had a fan installed over that area as we sit there a lot in the summer to enjoy a glass of wine or read.  This adds a nice breeze on those really hot days.  

Comfy cushion

     The other side of the porch originally had a swing but we found we didn't sit there very much, so we got rid of it.  We moved a small table there and found we were eating a lot of meals out there.  We had a hanging light installed over the table for those little darker evenings so we could still enjoy eating dinner out there.

Ready to head outside

     The chairs were okay but I figured since we were eating out there so much that cushions would be nice.    The seat of the chair is a bit short front to back so when I measured for the foam I went all the way back to the supports in the back.  I found this helpful as after the cushions were made, they fit in there snugly and I didn't need any kind of tabs or ties to keep the cushions in place.

Keeping the Dacron in place

     I ordered outdoor foam covered with Dacron.  I didn't get to making the covers right away and by the time I did, the glue they used to put the Dacron together had released so all the edges were apart.  I used a curved needle and did an over stitch all around to keep the batting in place and closed at the edges.

Lining envelope

     I then made a lining from muslin so that the forms would slip in easily as I plan on washing the covers at least once a year. I made an envelope of the muslin and then boxed the bottom corners.

Boxed corners

     Then I slid the form inside and pinned the top in place and hand stitched it closed.

Sewing the lining closed

     I did this for all four forms and now I had forms that would be easy to put into and take out of the covers.

Already to be covered

     Then it was time to make the covers.  First I had to find the right fabric. I wound up ordering from The Fabric Outlet.  I chose a denim color fabric for the top and bottom plate and a navy blue fabric for the boxing strip.  I did a blue stripe fabric cut on the bias for the covered cord..  I had planned on using my new industrial machine to sew it all together but I couldn't get it to work right, it kept breaking the thread.  

Cutting the bias strips

Cord all finished

    First I made all the covered cord using a foam like cording that is meant for the outdoors.  Next I cut the cushion pieces.  I had to snip the selvedges of the fabric to get it to lay flat so I could cut the pieces accurately.  

Clipped selvedges

     I then applied the covered cord to the top and bottom plates.  

Ready for the boxing strip

     Then it was time to make the zippered boxing strip and apply everything to the top and bottom plates.

Comfy dining

     When I took a class at CWC I did learn several things that will make my next cushion job faster and easier.

J Stern Tee Take 2

 

Brown print tee

     Last summer I made a t-shirt after taking a class at the ASG Conference.  It fit okay but I felt the shoulders were too narrow and the neck just a touch too high. To see that tee click here.

Shoulder detail

     After emailing with Jennifer, I widened the front shoulder piece and also added the same to the back shoulder.  I also scooped out the neck in the front about an inch.  After making those alterations to my paper pattern, I cut out the fabric that I had bought at the 2022 ASG Conference from Nancy Nix-Rice.  I added a binding to the neck as I wanted a little nicer finish.  It fits so much better.  I have worn it a couple of times already and I can see how it can go with so many pieces in my closet.

First one made

Second one made

     You can see in these photos how much nicer the sleeve hangs.  This is a great pattern for a 'basic' t-shirt that is slightly more elevated.  

Pattern used

     If you ever have the chance to take a fitting class with Jennifer Stern-Haseman, do it.  You will not be disappointed.

Breensgiving 2023

 

Table setting

     This past Sunday was our Breensgiving, Thanksgiving with the Breen side of our family.  This year was a bit bittersweet as my mom passed away just last Sunday.  We had the wake and funeral during the week and decided to still get together for Breeensgiving.  Also our son, daughter-in-law and grandson did not come in as she is expecting baby #2 any day now.  Our son did come in for his grandma's funeral but had to get home again.

Breensgiving table

     This past year I bought new fall leaves glasses and also some napkin rings.  I was tired of tying the ribbons from before.  The main course was beef.  I made sweet potatoes in the crockpot but left off the pecans as some in the family have nut allergies.  I also made spaghetti squash because I was telling the grandkids how the squash looks like spaghetti and they were fascinated by the idea.  I also tried a punch

this year and people could add ginger ale or liquor to it.  I did mine with Fireball and it was quite yummy.  I also made a cranberry dip that everyone likes.  The other guests brought salad, rolls, desserts and other appetizers.

Cranberry dip

Thanksgiving cocktail

Spaghetti squash

Sweet potatoes

     My daughter and granddaughter made a wonderful cornucopia of desserts.  It was so festive. 

Cornucopia of desserts

     Despite the somewhat sad undertone to the day, everyone had a good time.  I was glad I chose to go ahead with it.

Fun time with grandpa

Zippy Bag for my Daughter

 

Front of the purse

     My daughter works as a kindergarten teacher.  She likes to keep her phone on her plus a couple of other things but doesn't always have pockets.  I have made her a couple of small purses in the past to carry these items but the last one just wore out again.

Back of the purse

     I decided to make something a little more substantial this time.  While going to my retreat in October, I stopped in at Blue Bar Quilts.  My first time there.  I found a pattern for a zippered crossbody bag with multiple pockets.  I bought some fun bright pencils fabric.  They also had all the hardware and zippers that were needed to make the bag.  

Pattern

     The directions were very good.  I cut and labeled the pieces as they suggested and then just followed the steps one by one.  The only thing I did wrong was not having the zippers opening in the same direction.  If I make this bag again I will have to watch that more closely.  

Purse hardware

     It might be fun to add some batting and embroidery to the outside pieces.  I think I will make another one just to play around with it some.

Strap slide

Miss M's Halloween Costume, A Pretty Witch

 

Miss M as a pretty witch

     When my daughter asked if I would make a witch costume for my granddaughter I said yes.  I thought a black dress and maybe a cape.  Instead she dropped off black velour fabric with silver moons all over it and some purply mesh fabric with sparkly spiderwebs.

Pattern

     I measured my granddaughter and figured out what size to make.  Then I started with the cutting.

Cutting the mesh fabric

     Cutting the mesh fabric left sparkles all over the table and me.  Cutting the velour left black fuzzies everywhere.  I cleaned the table and me multiple times.  The mesh fabric and the velour didn't like to play well, I had to use LOTS of pins.  The mesh was also difficult to hem.  I probably could have just left a raw edge as it was not going to fray.

Finished costume

     The construction took a bit of time as I had to pin everything to keep it together.  The first sleeve I had to redo because the mesh kept moving.  I basted the two parts of the sleeve together twice to make sure it didn't move.  

Sleeve detail

     The belt of the costume had an attached skirt of mesh.  My daughter didn't buy boning for it and I didn't have any in my stash.  I knew it needed something otherwise the belt would collapse.  I cut short pieces of shade rib and sewed them in in place of the boning.  I did find silver eyelets in my stash so I was able to use those instead of having to make a bunch of buttonholes.  I did smash one because I forgot to use the second part of the tool to hammer it in place.

Belt detail

     When I cut the belt pieces I did make sure to center a row of the moons.  This was a challenging costume only because of the fabric.  At least I had a pattern and didn't have to make it up like some of the costumes in the past.

Jack o Lantern Mug Rugs

 

Mug rugs for my friends

     At our quilt retreats my friends have been making or buying small gifts for each other.   This year I decided to make a mug rug for everyone.  I got the pattern from Designs by JuJu.

Pieced pumpkin mug rug

     I had a lot of fun going thru my orange scraps for the background of the mug rug.  In my brown and orange scraps I found enough for the back and frame.  The black was last over from making one on my grandkids' Halloween costumes.

Detail of the frame

     The batting was pieces left from having quilts quilted.  The cost was minimal but there was a bit of time involved.  After getting the pieces cut, the construction with the embroidery machine went pretty quick, just a bit of time trimming around the black pieces.  

Backs of the mug rugs

     I had a lot of fun making these and plan on making more mug rugs in the future.