Made Fabric Project

Miki Willa of Miki's Fabric Creations does some pretty cool stuff!  One of the things she does is to make fabric where she sews scraps together and then makes blocks and appliques from the made fabric.

Made fabric by Miki Willa

While clearing my cutting table of all the fabric scraps yesterday afternoon, I had an IDEA!  Of course, the IDEA had nothing to do with what I had planned to do... but you all are familiar with my quilter's ADHD, yes?

I pulled out fabric scraps from Grandbaby Quilt #5 to make fabric...  and started sewing the scraps together...

...trimming selvedges as I went.

Then, I pulled out some batting remnants and zigzagged them together...

Next, I did a little simple quilting to hold the two layers together...

...then trimmed the quilted made fabric to be appx 1/4" larger than the composition notebook on all four sides when opened out flat.

I found a letter "C" online and printed out a copy to trace.  I did not have any "Love U" fabric large enough to use so pulled an orange print from the scrap bin.  I cut the letter out using my pinking shears and, and after ironing the letter onto the cover, I top-stitched the "C" down.

Using more of the scrap fabrics, I made two panels to make inside pockets in which to put the cardboard covers of the composition book.

I pinned these pockets to the cover and then added two small strips of fabric on the top and bottom in the middle to create a lining so the raw edge would not show once the cover was on the composition book.

After everything was pinned down, I sewed around the outer edges appx 1/4" from the edge.

I sewed at an angle on the corners and, once finished sewing, clipped the corners.

Turned everything inside out...

...stuffed the cardboard leaves of the composition book into the pockets...

...and pulled the pockets all the way onto the composition book.

The fit is snug but not tight.

The open section is covered but, if you prefer, you could just stitch this down so that the raw edges won't work themselves out.

Of course, I had to make a composition book cover for C's sister...

...using an orphan block from E's Grandbaby Quilt #4... the largest pieces of fabric I used was for the initials on the cover, the rest were scraps.

School starts later in the coming week so these will go in the mail on Monday.

One good thing about these covers is that they are, of course, machine washable.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Made fabric BOM at 15 minutes play!

 Photo from 15 Minutes Play - BumbleBeans Inc.

Yesterday was a good day...

...made better because, when I got home, there were TWO packages with fabric waiting for me!  The first was the fabric to finish the Lilac Hill quilt... the dark lilac purple for the inner border (then the pieced border) and the lovely green print for the outer border.  Sorry for the poor color in the photo... the fabrics are much lovelier in real life.

...and the fabric for the backing.  Deciding on the backing took much longer than the borders... but I think this one will work best.

The second package was from a new blogging friend Chris of Weekend Wisdom who was kind enough to share some of her scappy strips.   All the fabrics are gorgeous but look at these black ones... the tree fabric has SILVER on it!

There are fabrics I know will make it into one or other of the Bottled Rainbow blocks....

 

...and others that will turn into mug rugs or a string quilt.

Yup, I'm a scrappy kinda girl... so many possibilities!   Thanks, Chris!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next Friday Night Sew In (FNSI) is scheduled for March 18th.  I plan to put the borders on the Lilac Hill quilt top (started at the January FNSI.)  It's fun to sew when you know a lot of others are sewing at the same time... but the best part is blog hopping the next day to see what everyone worked on!

Quick Birthday Gift

My niece, who works for Urban Promise in Wilmington DE and was the recipient of my first quilt, has a birthday coming up this week.  In addition to a bit of loose pocket change as a donation to the ministry, I’m sending her a mug rug of her very own!   I know y’all are SO surprised!   *wink*

I’m telling you… these mug rugs are addictive!    I may need an intervention here...

A quick and easy project using all those scraps of fabric I’ve been saving for who knows what… well… now I know for WHAT I was saving them!

A Scrappy Kinda Day

After sewing together the previously cut jelly roll strips together and slicing-and-dicing them into sections for a pieced inner border for the FNSI blocks, I was in a scrappy mood and decided that I needed to make a mug rug.  

Dug into my scrap bins and ended up with five… count ‘em… FIVE mug rugs.   I wasn’t sure what size to make them so I tried several to see how they turned out.  I figure… like WHO cares what size you make ‘em.  Started out with 4”x6” and ended up with 5”x7”… should work don’t you think?

I wish I did better top stitching… nothing like a photo to point out skill deficits.  But again… it’s gonna be used and tossed in the wash so I’m not going to worry about it!

Baby Quilt Challenge

Last fall, I had been reading on quilting blogs about “shopping your stash” instead of running out to buy more fabric for a new project. So, when my daughter’s best friend had a little boy in mid-November 2010, I challenged myself to dig into my stash and scrap bins and make a quilt for baby Alex!

A recent fascination with Irish Chain made the pattern choice easy. But, as fast as my scrap bins are filling, they are still limited… so selecting coordinating colors was difficult, especially since I wanted to stay with bright, crayon colors. It was an interesting process of trying out different scraps together.

I’m pleased that I was able to make this baby quilt with no purchases whatsoever… I even used two pieces of batting that I zigzagged together.  Because I was using scraps, some of the animal faces, tractors, fire engines, etc. got cut off but I think they're cute... I especially like the monkey tail on one of the squares... and the giraffe, peeking through the "window" square.   

I worried about what to use for the back until I remembered remnants of a duvet cover I had made for one of my grandsons. I did the quilting myself since it was a small quilt… it’s not perfect but then, neither am I.

I got to hold baby Alex yesterday afternoon at my granddaughter’s birthday party… he is so sweet! Love the chubby little cheeks….

Fine-motor Block

I share my office-cubicle with a lovely young woman named Chrissy, who has the most adorable little boy named Alex. 

Knowing that I was kinda handy around a sewing machine, one Friday afternoon in the office Chrissy asked if I could make a fine-motor block for her son.  She’d had one as a little girl and loved it… and wanted Alex to have one too; however, she had not be able to find one anywhere.   She did a very good job explaining exactly what was on her “fine motor block” was so I knew what she wanted.  Chrissy gave me carte blanche as to fabrics, etc… so off I went to raid my fabric remnants.  This is what I came up with….

“A” is for Alex

“C” is for Chrissy

Lace up and tie

Button

Zip

Velcro pocket

…with a goldfish!

No, I won’t be going into production with these… but I’m glad to know that the fine motor block was played with and enjoyed by Master Alex and his mom!