Crocheted baby blanket

I began this baby blanket when I was first pregnant.  I was put on modified bed rest and so I found myself often sitting around with nothing to do.  I like to do things with my hands while I am either watching TV or when I am outside watching my kids.  So began this project.  I hoped that I would get it done before the baby was born and last Friday I finished it.  It was a very simple pattern.  That is one of the qualifiers for crocheting for me.  I need a simple pattern that doesn't require me to count, keep track of where I am or have any major things that will be all mixed up when a child decides to distract me or I put it down for "just a minute" and return 3 weeks later. 

I found this wonderful website Lion Brand Yarn and used a pattern similar to this one.  It used only one Pound of Love Yarn ball.  It was an easy pattern and I loved the simplicity of the v-stitch.  I love this website because you can find all kinds of patterns that any skill level can do.  You just look for your skill level, crochet or knit and what you want to make.  They have tons of patterns.

Here are some close ups of the edges.

 I need a baby to show you the size.  Mine ended up being about 42 by 50 inches but I never pay attention to how many rows I am supposed to make.  I actually  ended up using a different yarn to finish the edge because of it.  It isn't noticeable but I guess it would help if I didn't try and just finish the ball of yarn I had and pay attention to how many rows I needed.

AND the winner is.....

The Morris Family....WAHOOO!!!!
{beware Amber and Karri are going to be mad at you!}

Make sure you email me with your current address!!! {I don't know if I have the right one!}

Wood Family Blocks Tutorial

What you will need:

• 
  
  4x4 fence post cut in 3 1/2 inch lengths (or to make them like a cube)
• 
  
  8 different pictures
• 
  
  8-16 papers cut to3 1/2 x 3 1/2
• 
  
  mod podge
• 
  
  sand paper
• 
  
  vinyl letters or stickers or something to make the words with.

I have had these block finished for months.  I just kept forgetting to post about them.  Last fall we did a project using fence post blocks (4x4).  At that time I thought it might be fun to make the blocks as decoration for my home.  Then life happened and I got the blocks cut.

Then they sat in my craft room for awhile and I didn't get back to them.  Then I decided I wanted to work on them and so I had to figure out what pictures I was going to use.  I decided to go with Sepia tones.  I used Photoshop to make them into 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 size pictures and so they would have a similar look to them.

I sent them to Sam's club to be printed.  I left some extra parts of the pictures on the ones I wasn't absolutely sure where I would crop them.  Then I cropped them down to the 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch size with my paper trimmer.

Next I cut paper down to the same size.  For this project I needed 8 pictures and 16 cut pieces of paper.  I did duplicate quite a few but you have to make sure they don't end up on the same side when you glue it all together.

I rounded the corners on the pictures and the papers, then set aside what was going to go on each block.

I then just mod podged the papers on the sides of each block.  Remembering to put the pictures on opposite sides of each other and then making sure that the vinyl lettering I needed would show up on the papers.  Then sand the edges to the desired look.

I added the vinyl letters to the side to say HOME and LOVE.  My daughter loves to play with them and was more then willing to demonstrate the four sides that we did.

It does take a little thought process to make sure you end up with the pictures and papers on the right sides.  I did have to sand one of the pictures and a couple of the pages off since I spaced it and made it so there where two Kirsten's on the same side.  After I was finished I did another layer of mod podge to protect everything and here they are.

I did it....and a giveaway!!!

As I've said before, I just started sewing a little over a year ago....and I haven't been brave enough to make anything I can wear....BUT I got this baby for my birthday......and wanted to try a skirt. {I know it's not hard}.



I used this pattern....




...and in less than an hour....I had this CUTE skirt. {really, it was SO fast}. I did a rolled hem at the bottom and let it ruffle, it's so light. I love it!!!



so then I decided to make a pair of pants...I used an old table cloth I got at Salvation Army for $1 and cut it all up. They turned out ok....not as great as the skirt. Next time I will adjust the pattern a little bit, but that is why I was practicing on an old table cloth!!!! {don't you just love that hot pink?} I also did a rolled hem on the bottom and let them ruffle a little.



And because I was having SO much fun....I made this cute apron from a $2 panel I got at Hobby Lobby. It was so fast and easy and I am LOVING my new serger! I can't wait to come up with more projects to use it on!!!



AND....the GIVEAWAY.....

Like this cute apron? Leave us a comment and it could be yours. YEP, that's all you have to do, just leave a comment. I'll pick a random winner on Tuesday August 10th!

Happy Sewing!

Another bag? ! ? . . . . let's call it a purse

I finally made my own purse.  I bought the fabric months ago . . . I think I bought it back in February.  It is the same fabric I used on my Spring Wall Hanging .  I fell in love with it and decided I was going to make a bag for myself.  Then life happened . . . 1st trimester sluggishness . . . birthday presents to make . . . other projects to make . . . LIFE.   I also wanted to wait until Liberty had figured out all the bugs in the pattern we had been using.  The bag turned out marvelous.  I used Liberty's hand bag tutorial as the basis for what I made.  I made the bag 20 inches wide (it is huge - but I'm going to need it with a baby on the way) and each of the pieces to make the front of the bag is 8 inches tall.  I decided also to conquer my fear of zippers and try a zipper pocket. 

I looked online and found a bunch of different tutorials.  But this is the one I found to be the easiest at Sew Mama Sew.  I took the old zipper out of my purse that was dying and put it in here (that is why it is pink).  I was quite impressed with how easy it was and quickly it came together.  I LOVE having it in my purse.  I always hate not having a zippered pocket for those things we like to hide.  Of course I made a million other pockets for things I don't really want to have floating around the bottom of my purse.

After I got done making this I decided to make a gathered clutch.  I used the tutorial on Noodlehead to make a matching clutch.  I made it really simple and instead of making the cardholder and divider I just added a simple one card pocket.  I'm not going to use it for a wallet, just to hold items that I don't want wandering around the bottom of my bag.  Like JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby and Kohl's coupons.

I still have some left over fabric . . . ummmm . . . what can I make????  A key fob, a matching diaper holder, a cover for my calendar. . . . the possibilities are endless.  But is that a bit to much matchy-matchy???

Summer dress fix

So I bought these two dresses at Kohl's on their clearance rack for $10 each.  I knew they might be a little short once I washed them.  They are cotton knit and I loved the style.  I actually bought another shirt that has the same elastic gathering in the middle.  One washing and they started running a little short.  I saw on Make it and Love it where she added on a ruffle and I thought.  I can do that.  So went to the store and bought material to add to both.  So far I have only got the green one done but I have the material to make the other.

I added a 6 inch ruffle on the bottom.

And a little piece at the top to keep things from showing on the top. 

I love this dress.  It is my best GO TO dress for summer.  It is so comfy and anything that doesn't bind around my ever growing tummy is wonderful.  I think I spent maybe $2 or 3 on the additional fabric and with my serger I added this really quick.  I just need to switch the thread on my serger to white and then I can finish the orange one before the summer is over.

Before (pretend it is green)

After

Neck Coolers

I found this idea on "Little Birdie Secrets" {follow the link for all the instructions!} and thought....since I am leaving for girls camp on Monday morning...and our heat index yesterday was 105 degrees....maybe I should make some for me and my other leader friends. {because you know, I have nothing else on my list to do}.

I have a tenancy to continue thinking of people who I could make them for...and instead of making 2...I have to make 12. They were super easy...and I was able to get them all done in just a couple hours. I also found the ice crystals at Michael's Crafts.

They are just sitting in the fridge...waiting to go to camp. Now if I can just get everything else ready!

Tiny Tie Onesie

I've seen these ALL over crafting cyberspace and I didn't really do anything different! They are super cute and EASY. I follow THIS tutorial from Crap I've Made! {and she even includes the pattern}. I did reduce the pattern about 60% and made them on 3-6 month onesies. They are soooo cute when they are that little.

If you're having a boy {and that's about 1/2 of my friends right now} you are probably gonna get some of these cute onesies {so pretend you're surprised when you open them!}.

More Activity Bags...and Pattern information

I made a few more of these fun activity bags and thought I would included the pattern pieces for your information. The bags go together very similar to this tote bag tutorial, except the pockets are on the outside {instead of inside} of the bag. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, I know Amy is making one so I will have her take pictures as she goes and we will add them later. Please contact one of us is you are confused.

MAIN BAG FABRIC: {half of the outside will be covered with the pockets}

CUT 2 - 13"x14" for main bag
CUT 2 - 13"x14" for inside lining
CUT 2 - 13x14" Fleece to line bag

CUT 4 - 14"x4" - for sides {2 are lining}
CUT 2 - 13"x4" - for bottom {1 is lining}

OUTSIDE POCKETS

CUT 4 - 13"x7" for pockets {2 of these can be lining fabric}
CUT 2 - 13"x2" for top of pockets
CUT 4 - 4"x7" for side pockets (two of these can be lining fabric}
CUT 2 - 4"x2" for top of side pockets
OPTIONAL: Line outside pockets with thin flannel for more stability, if desired cut 2-13"x7" and 2-4"x7" of flannel.

HANDLES

CUT 2 - 24" x 6" for handles
CUT 2 - 24"x 2" FLEECE to line handles

OPTIONAL: I included a pocket inside from scraps that were left over. Mine was about 6"x5".

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of the process....I was trying to hurry so fast, I forgot to take any. We will add them as soon as possible, but here are a couple of finished bags.

Pretty Pillowcase Dresses....

I've seen several ideas and patterns out there for "pillowcase" dresses and I thought it was something I could use to venture into sewing actual clothing {instead of just crafts}. I used this pattern I found online and mostly followed the original pattern. The only exception is that I didn't make a piece of bias fabric for the top, I added 2" to the top of the dress when I was cutting it out and just folded it over into a casing. It worked great.

They were super easy and fun to make.

A Shrug for Me

I have decided that as much as I would love to be able to design and create things without a pattern, that I cannot make clothing without a pattern.  I just feel like I am more comfortable making clothing straight from a pattern rather then trying to figure it out from another article of clothing or just straight from my head.  I read other blogs and think - oh, I can do that - and then I look at the material and think - NO YOU CAN'T.  (If you show me a craft project I would be able to figure it out, but not clothes - I think it is a mind block.)

I normally don't sew for myself because I just don't feel like I make things and that they fit right.  I always think they look homemade and I guess after years of hiding behind my fear I have begun to venture out into that realm of the "making" your own clothes.  I will confess it comes from the fact that for years I think it wasn't cool to make your own clothes or to sew.   Now it is the COOL thing to do and I have been sewing things for years and now it is soooo cool to do.  I am glad it is that way and hope it stays that way.  I think there is a quote "Necessity is the mother of invention".  (I am always quoting things wrong, but I think that is what the quote says.)  So of necessity I have created something.

I bought an outfit from the thrift store a couple of months ago.  I was looking for maternity wear and found a shirt and skirt combination that I loved.  Only problem is that the shirt is a tank.  Because I HATE what my upper arms look like and other reasons I don't need to go into here, I needed a way to adapt the top.  I have looked at many things online and wondered about how to make the top work.  Finally the other day at JoAnn's I was looking through patterns {McCalls were 99 cents}, I found this shrug pattern.

It was perfect.  I loved the view with the tie in the front.  It was perfect and would cover up the ugly upper arms and not be too hot.  So I bought some knit fabric that was similar in feel and look to the top and went home hoping that I could make this.  The fabric ended up only being about $2 after I got 40% off of it.  I thought - I can try it and if it works then wal-la I will have a fix for my outfit, and if it doesn't work - I can just throw it out.

After two days of off and on again sewing, and fighting with my new serger.  I was about ready to throw the serger out the 2nd story window.  But alas - my serger and I have reconciled and we are now on speaking terms again after it made the marvelous hem with the coverstitch.  It looks just like the inside of your t-shirt hem and it stretches just right.  Here is an example of what it looks like on white fabric {so you can see what it looks like.}

(don't mind the top stitching on the first picture - that was before I figured out where I forgot to thread my serger.)

I finished the edges with this stitch and I am sooo happy with the results.  I really love how it looks and think it will become one of my favorites.  Now I just need to figure out what to use the pattern for next.

Here is the finished product.

A sneak peak

I have started working on making a blessing dress for my baby that is due the end of November.  I saw this cute idea on homemade by jill and kept it in the back of my mind that if I were to have a girl, I would make a blessing dress with this cute pintuck design.  So I bought a remnant to try it out on and now I am excited to make the cute dress for my baby girl.  I will post pictures when I finish.  (I have to wait to use my 50% off coupon to buy the fabric since it isn't cheap, so it might be awhile.)