Christmas Gifts 2013

Now that Christmas is over and gifts have been received by the desired recipients, I can now safely post them on my blog.  The goal was to have this post done before I went back to work after the New Year, but obviously that did not happen.

Last year I made a baby toy for my master teacher as a baby shower gift.  My mom always made blankets for friends and family who had kids.  While my knitting is improving with each project, I am nowhere near as fast as my mother was, nor do I have as much free time as she did.  I wanted to make something for my MT, but I didn't have 6 months to make a blanket.  Searching through Raverly.com I found this adorable pattern. Made it up in about a day!  Find a board book version of the story and TADA! perfect baby shower gift!

MT's baby shower gift

Another friend saw the picture and working on another project.  She would often mutter how much she wished she had an older sister to make stuff of her and her daughter.  Since she was moving soon, I had to be quick anyways.  Plus, with some help from my dad, I managed to make it a baby safe rattle too!  ^.^

After I wrapped it up, naturally I discovered I technically did the eyes backwards.  Oh well, it makes it unique!  I'm not sure who will it enjoy it more, mom or baby.  :D

Also for Christmas I attempted some photo transfer techniques I saw all over Pintrest...was never very satisfied with the results.

The project I had the hardest time keeping quiet was the quilts for my nephews.  I was organizing the uniform room at WSU over the summer and found a ton of old band shirts.  With permission, I took home 24.  I was initially planning on 4x3 square design, but while I was laying it out, I felt it looked too big, so I cut it back to a 3x3.  I also tried two different battings.  I definitely like the low loft better, at least when it comes to the quilting.  But, the nephew with the thicker quilt lives in colder place, so it all works out.

Someone likes to play peek-a-boo with his new quilt.

The best part of all this, is my brother is a die-hard UW Husky fan.  I think the main reason my nephew seems to like it so much is he knows that it's his.  Hey, maybe if I had access to Husky band shirts I may have made a Husky one...maybe.  Not really.

A map and the TARDIS

Every once in a blue moon I get the chance to work on a project for me.  I love making stuff for people, but it's nice to treat yourself.

Awhile ago, I found a world map panel at JoAnn's and just couldn't pass it up.  I mean, I'm an elementary teacher, hello!!  I was also still a real noob at quilting, and figured it would be a nice follow-up to my t-shirt quilt.  Naturally it was pushed off to the back burner so I could finish up baby blankets.  But here it is.  I can either use it as a wall hanging, or for "carpet time", depending on what classroom I end up in.

Starry patterns have been really big this year, I've noticed.  So I figured that would be the perfect backing material...till last week when I found solar system fabric.  Still, I like how this one turned out.

I debating between quilting around the countries and the continents before deciding to use the longitude/latitude lines.  Less distracting and more even quilting.

Also, a few weeks ago, I went to the local ceramic shop with a friend.  It was place where you can pick a ceramic piece and paint it however you like and they'll do the final steps of glazing and firing.  There's always so many choices, but I eventually decided to make another hot pad to go with the Superman one I did about 8 years ago.

It's just a simple 8 x 8 tile.  After firing I realized I should have painted the S shield first, then the blue, but it still looks pretty cool.  In fact, the lady at the store had a hard time giving it up.  The store in Moscow puts selected pieces up for display until the owner comes to pick it up and they got a lot of compliments.  And it makes a great hot pad for the dinner table!

In honor of a very special anniversary, I appropriately made a TARDIS hot pad.  While the Doctor may not be able to take me on his adventures through time and space, he can at least save my dinner table from hot dishes.  :D

I would hoping the "glitter" paint would have a bit more glitter, but at least the shading turned out.

Now, if I were to make a third....what should it be??

Finished Quilts

I actually finished these almost a month ago, but then all my school projects became due and life just took over.

Anywho...t-shirt quilt #2 is finished.  This is for my best friend and got it finished by his birthday!!  Yay for making goals!  Again, here is where I learned how to make my t-shirt (or memory) quilts.  I have two more planned.  One is for another totally awesome friend and the second is all my WSU shirts.  That one will be interested because I plan on using my spare set of WSU bed sheets for sashing, binding and backing material.

Also finished is the first of two blankets for my nephew.  My sister found the material kit for this one while we were going through my late mother's sewing room.  Since I know how to quilt, she handed it to me and asked me to make it for her.  It's minky fabric, which sped up the purchase of a walking foot (best investment so far!) and while the new foot has made quilting much more enjoyable, if I ever work with minky again, it will be too soon!  It sheds like no one's business when cut, it was EVERYWHERE when I took it out of the bag.  The nice thing is that it's fluffy enough that I didn't need to be too conservative with my whip stitching on the binding, just needed to make sure it was secure. It's super soft and super warm, I have a feeling mom will be using it more than baby...

Now switching gears to crochet and knitting.  At least I can work on those projects during class.  :D

Quilt Labeling

In my searches to do various quilting techniques, I kept coming across mentions of putting a label on the quilt when you were finished.  Finding how to do it was another story.  Most were telling me to add it when I did the quilting.  Well, that did me no good as I often already had the quilting part already done.  I found several different methods and finally gave in and found a way that worked best for me.

You'll need the following:

* fabric swatch (pre-washed, it can be from the fabric used in the quilt or some other scrap fabric you have laying around)

* freezer paper

* rotary cutter

* ruler

* cutting mat

* iron

* ironing board (I used my cut 'n press)

* permanent  fabric marking pen (permanent markers, such as Sharpie, will bleed and discolor over time, make sure it is a FABRIC pen.)

First cut your swatch to your desired size.  I cut mine to 4" x 5".  I have two quilts that need labels, hence the two different swatches.

After you have cut your fabric.  Cut a piece of freezer that is just a bit larger than the fabric.  You'll want at least a half inch all around.  The freezer paper helps stabilize the fabric while you write on it.  You can also use it the make fabric stiff enough to go through your printer and make your label that way.  Then mark lines on the dull side of the freezer paper about a half inch apart.  This provides a guide to help keep your writing straight, if you desire.

Take the shiny side (the side with the wax) and the place the fabric on top, right side up.  Then turn the whole thing over and iron gently.  You only want to help the fabric stick, you're not wanting a permanent bond.

Once it's all ironed, add the writing.  You can include anything you want.  The basics would be the date, who it's for (if anyone), who worked on the quilt, any special occasion, etc.

For the pens I have, it took two applications to make sure it's dark enough and heat setting was not required.  Check the instructions that came with your pen(s) to see if you need to heat set.  Gently peel the freezer paper off and discard.  Then fold the edges over a quarter-inch and press.  Next sew the label onto your quilt using a blind whip stitch.  The bottom right corner of the black is the traditional place, but you can put your label wherever you desire.

Then you're done!  Ta-dah!  Make sure the label gets a chance to lay flat overnight before you wash it.

See how pretty!!  Enjoy marking your place in history.

Quilting

Last year I made a t-shirt quilt with my college band shirts using this awesome tutorial.

While I was working on it, my friend wanted me to make one for him.  Over Christmas break he gathered all the shirts he wanted to use.  I had to get creative with some of the squares because he's so broad-shouldered that some of the designs barely fit within my 12.5" quilting square.  However with a little ingenuity, I was able to use every shirt he gave me.  I finished the top today.

Next week JoAnn's is having a good deal on the backing fabric I want to use.  So, that's on the agenda for next weekend.  The walking foot for my sewing machine came in a few weeks ago, so I'm excited to try it out.  Machine quilting my quilt was a pain in the butt, so I'm hoping that it will make things easier.