WIP Wednesday - Gowns Galore!

Haven't had a lot of quality quilting time this week, but I have worked on wedding gowns and prom dresses! One neat project was to add a BIG bow to the back of a wedding gown.  The fabric supplied was a camo, pink organza and ribbon in green and pink!  My friend Google found me a link to some bows I liked, so I got to work and came up with this:

Hopefully she will like what I came up with!  I think it came out really cute, and it will be a fun touch to a themed wedding!

The one quilting project I worked on was to create a journal to give as a door prize for out ladies retreat this weekend.  Of course, Google helped me out on this one, too.  I found a cute free download for an umbrella and used it as my pattern.  I used fusible web and raw edge applique to add the umbrella, then quilted in the word Blessing (I ran out of room for the s on the end....I'm sure it will still be appreciated).  I then quilted swirls in the background and finished it in the usual way.  It came out really cute!

I have three more sets of fabric pulled to make more, so those are on my list to finish up this week.  I have three memory quilts in the works, so hopefully will get to show those next week!  

To see more WIPs and Whatnots go to this weeks post on the Quiltsy Blog!

How to Slipcover Your Office Chair

Like many things we own, often our chair will start to look really bad and still be quite functional.  Most chairs are actually fairly simple to make a basic cover for - just a seat and a back.  Even if your chair has arms you will probably be able to make a seat cover with an elastic band that will keep it firmly in place.  I created my covers with selvage strips sewn on to a heavy muslin backing, but you could certainly do this with any fabric yardage you have and not have to sew strips together!

For each cover you will need fabric yardage for the top and lining large enough to cover your chair seat or back plus an additional 10 - 12 inches width and length. (I chose a white cotton denim fabric for my lining because it would be sturdy).  Thread, elastic cording, newsprint or other large paper for making a pattern.

Place a sheet of newspaper over the pad on your chair that you want to cover.  Use a pencil or pen to trace the outline of the edge of the seat.  Fold your pattern in half to make sure it is fairly symmetrical and make any corrections needed.  Next, measure the height of your seat pad and decide how far you want the cover to go under the pad.  (My seat is about 2 inches thick and I wanted my pad to come in about 1 1/2 inches)  Add these figures together and add another 1/2 inch for your seam.  (For mine - 4 inches)  Trace around your original pattern, adding this extra amount all around.  Remember to take into account that your elastic band will have to draw all of this fabric in around the bottom of your pad - that is why I only made a small overlap for my seatback, otherwise it would have been very bulky because of the denim backing.

Use the newspaper pattern to cut out your top and lining pieces.

Take these to your sewing machine and sew them right sides together with a 1/2 inch seam all the way around, leaving a 4-6 inch gap at the center of the back edge for turning.  Trim seam allowance to 1/4 inch and turn right side out.  Press edges

Sew a 1/2 inch seam allowance all the way around your cover to create a casing for your elastic band.  Stitch all but 1 inch of the opening you left for turning as well.

Now you can thread your elastic through the casing.  I like elastic cording because it tends to keep its stretch well for this type of application, plus you can use a cord lock to make it more adjustable.  I had salvaged the cording and elastic from the bottom edge of a jacket and it was perfect for this job.  To thread your elastic through the casing you can use a large safety pin, an EZ threader (this is what I used) or a bodkin.  Depending on what kind of elastic and fabric you use this might be a bit of a job, but persevere - it's worth the results!

Once you have your elastic completely through the casing pull it snugly, pin it together and try it on your seat.  Adjust to where it hold firmly, then either use a cordlock to hold the ends of the elastic in place, or sew the ends of your elastic together.  If you are sewing the elastic, do an extra good job of it because you don't want it to pull out! (Then you can sew up the remaining opening for a neat finished look)   After adding the cordlock to mine, I cut the ends of the elastic and sewed them together with a bit of leftover fabric to cover the ends so they won't fray and look shabby.  

For the seat back, I left the opening at the bottom.  

I think these slipcovers will wear quite well, and it will be nice to be able to launder them if needed.  This technique can be used on a variety of chairs and barstools - it's easy to do and can give an outdated piece of furniture a new look with a minimum of time and effort.  Best of all, I didn't have to spend any money on my chair makeover because I had all the supplies on hand!

Sensational Selvage Slip Cover for Sewing Chair!

Yes, I do have to say it - the slipcover I made for my sewing chair really is sensational!

Thanks to my friend Candy I took a day and just did some sewing for me!  (Though I think she was encouraging me to work on my Dear Jane quilt - oh, well!)  I walked into my sewing room and said to myself  "What would I like to work on today?"  My eyes landed right on my sad looking, torn rolling chair and I knew it was time to make that slipcover for it.

I upended a container of selvages looking for enough long ones and pulled out a nice selection of strips.  Then I had to dig through my closet to find the heavy weight muslin I had left from another project.  Once I found that I measured the seat and cut out a square of fabric that was about 10 inches longer and wider than the top of the seat and started covering it with selvages.  When I was finished I decided that it would be easiest to complete if I lined it with another fabric.  I had some nice white denim in my tote bag bin, so decided to use that.  First I rounded the corners of the pieced selvage section.  Then I laid this right sides together with the denim and cut it out to match.  

I sewed them together with a 1/3 inch seam allowance, leaving a gap for turning.  I turned it right side out, then sewed a seam 1/2 inch from the edge to make a casing for the elastic.  For my elastic I used a nice round elastic that I had removed from the bottom hem of one of my husbands coats (he dislikes those and I get to cut it out and use it for my creations!!)  After feeding the elastic through the casing, I used one of the cordlocks from the coat to hold the ends so I can adjust it - double bonus!  I also stitched up most of the opening from turning it, just leaving a small area for the elastic to come out and go through the cordlock.  I added a scrap of fabric to fasten the ends of the elastic together so they can't accidentally get pulled back through the casing.  I should have rounded the front corners just a bit more, they are a little bulky, but it's not a big enough problem that I'm worried about it.

I did the top section the same way, but made a pattern to cut out the cover instead of just eyeballing it.  I traced around the top cushion, then added 4 inches all the way around.  After cutting out my top and backing I put it together the same way I put the bottom together, and it fits perfectly!  I'm really glad I took the extra care and time to make a pattern for this and make it look nice - especially because the back of the seat is visible.  I'm so pleased with this project!

Hope your Saturday was good and you took a little time to do something to please yourself!

Joan's Vintage Butterfly Tutorial

I've been thinking of adding a step by step tutorial for this butterfly pattern I have on Craftsy for a while, and since they promoted it on the Free Friday feature this week, I think the time is right!

 There were a few comments about my color choices, so this time I'm going with batiks!  I always say that you can't do an ugly quilt with batiks, so I think I'm pretty safe in saying that this version should be more appreciated than the original.  (Though I like it as well - Amy Butler is a good choice, IMHO!)

The first thing I did was to choose my fabrics.

 I picked a soft blue for the background, a dark purple for the body and a gorgeous purple with a fun design for the wings.  I thought about choosing a third purple for the accent, but ended up going with a bright orange!  I think it will really pop those purples and make them glow.

Next I cut out my printed pattern pieces.  Sorry, but templates is the only way to get this block made.  I like to add an arrow to indicate the grain line so my block will be nice and straight without bias edges.

G and K are the wing sections.   Fold your fabric right sides together and you can cut two of each at the same time.  The wing accent is I, cut it the same way.  For the body, cut 1 of piece H.  For the background, fold your fabric right sides together and cut BCDJ and E.  Then from one layer of fabric cut one more E and F.

There are a few ways you can cut out the pattern pieces.

  You will definitely want to use scissors for the curved pieces, but for the straight edge pieces you can use a rotary cutter.  You will need a small ruler, and pins generally don't help because they get in the way of letting your ruler sit flat on the fabric.  The biggest problem with this method is that your pattern piece will try to slide around.  A little piece of double stick tape will solve this issue.  Just line your quarter inch mark on the seam line and cut all around each piece.

You can also just pin your pieces on and use scissors to cut around the templates.  You do have to be careful, but the pieces are small so it isn't too hard to get nice straight lines.

The third way is to trace around your templates, then cut the fabric using the lines as your guide.  If you follow this method, be sure to cut to the inside of the drawn line so you don't make your seam allowance too fat.

 If you plan to use this method, print your templates on card stock to make nice sturdy pieces that are easier to draw around. If you want to make enough blocks for a whole quilt, you will want to trace your pieces onto template plastic for the most durable pieces.

Now we are ready for sewing the block!  When I'm piecing I like to use Aurifil thread and a number 12 needle.  Time to tackle the trickiest part - that curved seam.We will get that out of the way first.

 (You may want to cut a couple practice pieces to try this out on before you work on your "real" block!)  

 I like to start with a pin in both corners 1/4 inch from the edge.

 I prefer to sew with the the wing section on the top.  Because it is an s curve there is really no better way of doing it.  Select a small stitch length and take your time.  Use one hand to bring the bottom layer where you need it and one hand to guide the top layer.  Try not to pull too hard or you will end up stretching your fabric.

 If you get to the end and one part doesn't look right, just take out your stitches and resew it with the other side on the top, it can really help. I had to resew one side, and in the end it was still a bit off, but I don't think it's going to be too bad, so am just going to keep it.

You can try clipping your seam allowances by about 1/8 inch every 1/2 inch and that can help too.  Press the seam as you please, it doesn't seem to matter in the finished block so whatever you like best on this one.

Next, add piece B to the top of the wings.  Press this seam away from the wing.

Next add peice C to the top and D to the bottom of the wing. Press both seams away from the wing.

 Add one of the E pieces to the top of one wing section (make sure you have it the right way, the three sides are not perfectly equal!)

Right way to sew the lower wing unit!

This is the wrong way:

Wrong way to sew lower wing unit!  The top should be a straight line!

Sew an I piece to the top of each G piece, making sure you sew the correct ones together!

 Then add an E piece to the bottom outside edge of each one.  Press seams away from G.  Sew one of these to each side of piece H, stopping 1/4 from the bottom end and backstitching (this is a variation of  a Y seam with 4 seams intersecting).

See the gap?  This needs to be restitched!

Your two seams should meet (or pretty close to!)

Here is how it should look on the outside.

Now add piece F to fill in that empty spot.  Stitch from the outside edge right to the end of the seam - it's easier to do if you keep the wing section on the top.

Then flip it over and stitch to the other wing section with F on the top.

Make sure the other layers are lining up like they should so you don't catch a pleat of fabric in the seam.

Stitch from the outside edge and stop at the end of the stitched seam at the corner.

It lines up nicely on the back...

And look at that nice point on the front!

Press seams toward background and wings.

 Now to sew the three pieces together!  Just add the wing section without the extra E piece first, there are two seams to match.

Peek at your seams to see if they match!

 You can pin them, or do as I do and just fold back the top and go for it!

Then the final wing section to complete the block - three seams to match on this one, but it's not hard to line them up.  Press seams, admire!

  Repeat if desired or save it for a butterfly sampler - I'll be adding some new patterns soon.  I hope this helps you sew your Joan's Vintage Butterfly Block.  If you sew one up, add it to your projects on Craftsy and link it to my pattern - I'd love to see how yours comes out!

Here are some instructions for those that are having difficulty with downloading the templates from Craftsy - From the pattern page ,click the link to add to your cart. Once it is in your cart you have to click to add it to your library. Once you have done that you click the link to go to your pattern library. When you get there you will see the pictures of the patterns you have and can click "download pdf" to get the pattern. I think a lot of people are getting confused with the process! Hope this helps!

Happy Anniversary to us!

 I can hardly believe it has been 33 years since these pictures were taken!  What a wonderful day - we look so young and happy, don't we?  The one thing we didn't get a good picture of was The Kiss - oh well.  I also  didn't find the picture of the groom singing - wonder where that went?  It was such a nice wedding - can you believe we got married in the morning?  I don't think anyone does that anymore.  I sewed my dress myself.  Quite a few of my friends also had made their dresses.  I don't think many brides do that anymore either!

During the ceremony we had a song playing and were both getting very teary, this one was a posed one after, we look a lot happier!

Reception was in the church  basement - pretty crepe paper streamers for decoration, plus the gorgeous cake.  Definitely different from how most wedding receptions are done now.   We had punch, nuts and mints with the cake.  We opened our presents right there, and had fun with our guests!  I love this picture!

This is the wedding party, including parents, pastor and ushers!

Ready to leave - we drove to California for our honeymoon.  Sweet memories of starting our married life!  I wouldn't change a thing, it was a wonderful wedding and a great beginning.  Life is always full of surprises, but together we have made it through a lot of adventures.  I'm sure we have a lot more to come!

And the Winners are....

What fun!  Thanks to everyone who participated, I really enjoyed your kind comments.  I was glad that my random numbers ended up being for 3 different people because I really hadn't thought of that issue...so it's good that it worked out!

The first winner will receive the tote bag....Char!  Congratulations!

The second winner is Pam Geisel - a selvage bin - you'll have to let me know what color you would like!

The third winner is Teachpany - your choice of luggage tag, let me know which one you would like as well!

Tomorrow is another big day - my husband and I are celebrating our 33rd anniversary!  How time flies, it certainly does not seem like we could be married for that long, but it is true.  We don't have any big plans, but will enjoy our day with each other - it doesn't take much to please us!  Maybe I'll get out the wedding album and scan a picture or two to share - I was a pretty cute bride :)

Thanks again, and congratulations to the winners (who I will e-mail shortly!)

Happy Spring Giveaway!

I can't believe that my Etsy shop turned 7 this year!  I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed selling all my creations on Etsy, it's really been a blessing to me in many ways - I have met a lot of wonderful people, and it's such a thrill to say that people own my quilts all over the world!  Plus that, I haven't been buried alive under an avalanche of my own creations :)

I wanted to celebrate with a fun giveaway, but have had so much going on  that I'm late to my own party - but, as we say, better late than never!

I am going to be giving away 3 different items, so there will be three lucky winners!  The first item I am going to give away is this gorgeous tote bag:    This is a fully reversible tote bag made out of dark blue denim and a lovely blue and cream toile.  One side of the bag is made of alternating strips of the two fabrics.  The other side is solid denim with a toile pocket.  The handles are short, but wide, making it comfortable to carry even when fully loaded!

Tote measures 16 inches wide and 14 1/2 inches tall.  The handles are 18 inches long and 2 3/4 inches wide.

The second prize will be your choice of one of the mini selvage bins from my Etsy shop!  Just tell me which color you would like - I think there are plenty of choices there, so everyone is sure to find one they would like to have.

The base is 3 inches by 5 1/2 inches, and it stands 5 inches tall. I love to keep one on my cutting table to hold the selvage strips I trim off as I cut fabric. They would look really cute grouped on a wall to organize your bits and pieces! Would also make a great thread catcher, and I just discovered they are perfect for holding CDs!

Third Prize will be a luggage tag - also your choice from my Etsy shop.  This is one of my favorites -

Since international shipping is so high these days, I have a special Giveaway item for my international guests - I will send your choice of 2 PDF patterns from my Etsy shop!

Now that you all know what the prizes are, let's get to the how-to.  I want to have LOTS of entries so, each person may enter multiple times!  For one entry, just leave a comment here.  For additional entries you can follow my facebook page and leave a comment telling me you've done that.  Follow me on Twitter, and you can have an entry for that.  Follow my Pinterest boards and you have the opportunity for a fourth entry!  Follow my blog, and that will give you another entry.   Last but not least, if you share this Giveaway on any of your social networks, leave a comment for a total of 6 opportunities to win. This Giveaway will run until 9:00 pm pacific time on Friday, March 22. Let's make it Monday, March 25 to give more people a chance to enter!  

Thanks for joining me, make sure you enter as many times as you can :)  Good Luck!