Hand Cut Chenille Baby Blanket

First off- for the best tutorial you will find for this blanket, please visit AESTHETIC NEST. They really outdid themselves with the pictures and directions. I won't even waste your time by attempting to re-write their perfection.

I will however show you what I did with their amazing tutorial. My wonderful friend Karen is expecting twins so I decided to give this tutorial a try and make a blanket for Baby Boy and Baby Girl. I wanted to use the new Chevron fabric that I recently ordered, since I had a blue colorway and a purple one- perfect. Once I know my color scheme, I went to the fabric store and selected 3 cotton flannel prints for the chenille side of each blanket.

 I laid out my fabrics according to the Aesthetic Nest directions, the Chevron fabric was face down and all 3 flannels were face up. I made a line in the center on the diagonal and stitched from corner to corner. Then I moved the needle position on my machine to the very far right and used the center stitch as my guide, and continued to use the stitch on the left as the guide for each row....104 rows later the whole blanket was quilted on the bias.

image courtesy of Olfa

I did purchase the Olfa Chenille Cutter as suggested by Aesthetic Nest. I had to buy it from a "traditional" quilting store, as my local Joann fabric didn't carry it. The Olfa cutter is kinda like a letter opener and a rotary cutter in one. There's a guide along the bottom to go under the flannel layers, but ABOVE the "backing" and the rotary cutter cuts through the flannel on top. As you cut- the fabric will fray or lint, so you have to clean out the lint each time or else it will not cut. The Olfa cutter also has a turn knob to rotate the blade and give you a sharp edge. I would say the rotary blade needs to be replaced after every 2-3 blankets (as I have since made 3 and my blade is pretty dull). The Olfa cutter is a little pricey- around $29.99 but well worth the investment. It made cutting the chenille side easy-peasy.

After I cut between each row with the chenille cutter, I trimmed down the sides, used a guide for making rounded corners and then made my own double-fold bias tape with my Clover Bias Tape Maker. OH HOW I LOVE THE BIAS TAPE MAKER!!!! If you buy bias tape, or make your own by "folding in 1/2 then folding edges to the middle and ironing" - STOP. Buy a Bias Tape Maker.  I used the blue one for this project. I also use the black one for all of my aprons and handles for tote bags.

image courtesy of Clover USA

After my blanket was cut with the chenille cutter, trimmed down and finished with the bias tape- this is how it looked: Pretty eh?

Now- for the magical part. You throw it in the washer for a quick rinse and spin and then put it in the dryer, and the flannel gets all frayed and soft and snuggly. I will mention this- it's a good idea to add a towel to the load if your blanket is "smallish" (like not a full throw size, or something like that). Mine were about 36" square and the balance of the washer/dryer was off so I needed to add a towel to get it spun out well and dried quickly.

I also made a blanket in the purple Chevron colorway:

And then a week later my amazing friend Jenn (of JennySold Designs) had her baby shower. I  purchased a Jelly Roll of the Moda MoMo Wonderland a few years ago...just holding onto it...staring at it....thinking ONE DAY I'd make something with it.

And so I did- I pieced all my 2.5" strips together and made this amazing blanket for "Nubs" (Jenn's baby). I was thrilled to have enough to make a blanket, Link loop Diaper Bag, Zippered Wet Bag and a Burp Cloth. But the blanket....it is - BY FAR- the most favorite thing I have ever made. EVER. I just stared at it. It was amazing. I'm not a quilter by any means, but I can follow directions, sew a (fairly) straight line and use the washer and dryer.

I really hope that my friends enjoy their blankets. They were so fulfilling to make and I am just in love with this technique. I have a feeling this is my new "go to" baby shower gift. And for anyone interested in making their own- it's not too hard. It's a little tedious, but I was able to complete each one in a few hours. Now- I'm really fast at sewing, and could make bias tape in my sleep, so allow yourself enough time to not rush trough. And step away if you get tired or frustrated. There's a lot of possibility for error- especially when cutting the chenille side. It's very easy to "mess-up" and cut through the back side, especially if you just use scissors. But I promise- the end result is amazing.

RAWWWR Dinosaur DIY Planter

I visited Austin, TX last year and came across this awesome dinosaur planter somewhere along South Congress. It was so super cool - I just had to buy it. I decided that he needed a few friends so I made my own for under $4 each! All you need is a plastic dinosaur (found mine at wal-mart), a box cutter or x-acto, paint, sealant (like mod podge) and a plant (like a succulent or you can grow seeds).

 

Craft FAIL! Linocut Goodie Bags

Even us pros have a total craft failure.

I had grand plans to make drawstring fabric goodie bags for Lilly's birthday party. She is having a "dog" themed party so I thought some sort of custom design or applique would be cute. Then I found all my old Lino cut tools from college when I was rooting around in my studio. That inspired me to make a "birthday pug" Lino block and stamp the image on fabric. My first step was to draw out the design and transfer it onto the lino block. That is done by rubbing a pencil on the backside of the paper, laying the paper on the lino block and then tracing the design, leaving a transfer imprint on the block.

Then you carve...

One bit of advice when you are carving. Work on a non-slip surface. I made the mistake of working at our butcher block kitchen table and the cutting tool slipped and went straight into my index finger. I was terrified for a minute that I was going to have to go to the hospital and have my plastic surgeon called in (who also specializes in microvascular and hand surgery, specifically hand reconstruction and digit reattachment.) Anyway- I wrapped it up with sterile pads and tape, kept pressure on it and the bleeding eventually stopped. It's a really nasty injury, 10 days later it still hurts.

But I powered through and finished carving:

My plan was to stamp this design on fabric using textile paint. Here's how that turned out:

Yea- pretty lousy. I did about 8 of these and I couldn't get consistency in the ink and transfer. Moving on to plan B: buying paper bags and stamping the design on with traditional lino cut ink. Ummm, yea.....not working either:

The bags aren't flat, and I tried all different positions, lifting the flap, nothing worked. Accepting that lino blocks are NOT like traditional rubber stamps (there's no flexibility or "give" - you need to have even hard pressure to get a good imprint), I conceded and found some "sticker back" textured cardstock in my studio stash and stamped the design on different color squares. Now I'll have to cut out the design and stick them on the bags.

Not really what I was going for, but I think in the end it will look good. Plus the 5 and 6 year olds getting these bags aren't going to give a hoot about the design aesthetic of their goodies bags...it's the stuff inside that counts.

Fab Find - Swiffer Wet Jet Pads, DIY Cleaning Solution & How to Refill Wet Jet Bottles

Right around Christmas time my (2nd) Shark Steam Mop pooped out on me so I bought a Swiffer Wet Jet. I had grand intentions of converting my stockpile of Shark Steam Mop pads into Swiffer Wet Jet pads by cutting them down, serging the edges and adding velcro strips. But the holidays were incredibly busy and I just couldn't find the time. So I found a great Etsy shop (Detroit Knitter - http://www.etsy.com/shop/DetroitKnitter)  that sells reusable pads and I placed an order for 6 of them. I gave 3 to my friend Danielle who is a clean freak (she seriously mops her floors every day). I have been using them CONSTANTLY and am always grossed out my how dirty our floors get. I used to think it was a conspiracy- that there was some color change chemical in the cleaning solution that turned brown when you sprayed it. That was the only reason I could come up with as to why our floors were always so bad.

Here's what I got from Detroit Knitter:

Along with my order came a recipe for Wet Jet cleaning solution. This recipe is courtesy of  ehow.com

Misty's Cleaning Solution
This is my own combination of ingredients: 2 tablespoons of ammonia, ½ cup of vinegar, ½ teaspoon of Johnson baby shampoo and fill the rest of the container with water. I came up with this combination while researching the properties of the different ingredients:
1. Ammonia is an awesome cleaner and spot remover
2. Vinegar kills bacteria, mold, and germs and it's a great rinse agent
3. Johnson Baby shampoo smells good and seems to add a sparkle to the floor (don't try to use an off name brand - they streak!).

Read more: How to Make Your Own Non-Rinse Mop Solutions | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2101538_own-nonrinse-mop-solutions.html#ixzz1mBqBn7DX

I made up a batch of the solution and kept it in a container marked "WET JET" so I could refill the Swiffer bottle when I was out of "brand name" solution. That magical day came yesterday. I popped that bottle out of  the mop and went to turn the cap off. And tried, and tried and tried. But it was not budging. So I  tried a trick that my mom taught me for hard to open jars. Run it under hot water for about 60 seconds. So I turned the kitchen tap on all the way HOT and let it run for a few seconds, then took the bottle and held the cap end under the hot water. I grabbed one of those rubber grippy jar openers and gave a little twist- and POP off the cap came. It has some "teeth" that lock into place inside the bottle cap so you can't open it - to refill it. But getting the plastic slightly warm makes it that tiny bit soft and you can get the bottle open. I filled up the bottle and twisted the cap back on, plugged it back in the mop and cleaned some more.

A Diaper Bag Wrangler DIY Tutorial - Reusable Swiffer Dry Dusting Sweeper Cloths

Here's a tutorial for making your own dry dusting sweeper cloths- like the ones you would use with a Swiffer. Fleece is a great material to use because it washes easily, won't shrink in the dryer or fray and attracts dust and dirt well. Just be sure that when you wash and dry these cloths that you DO NOT use fabric softener or dryer sheets. Doing so will reduce the effectiveness of your dusting efforts. You can usually find fleece (anti-pill, polar, etc) for 50% off at the fabric store, or in the remnant fabric bins. Even if your sewing skills are basic, this is a SUPER easy tutorial. Don't worry if your sewing lines aren't perfectly straight, the fleece has some give so you can make it fit.

I have included 3 versions- Flat Cloth, Fitted Cloth and Fitted Fringe Cloth. The Flat Cloth is the base for both the Fitted and Fringe cloths. Of course, there are many variations that you could do to any of these cloths, but this will at least get you started.

Version 1: flat cloth, no sew

 Version 2 : fitted cloth (uses version 1 as your base)

Version 3 : Fitted Fringe Cloth (uses version 2 as your base)

Fab Find - Lil Blue Boo Pieced Tunic Pattern

Oh. my. word. I don't even know where to begin!!!!!

I came across this pattern from Lil Blue Boo few weeks ago and it jostled something within me. Unfortunately I did not bookmark the page and yesterday when the inspiration hit an all time high, I could not for the life of me remember where I saw the pattern. So I scoured through my internet browser history... to not avail. So then I started google-ing crazy search terms...until I found it. And when I found it- I bought it. (and it's only $12 what a steal!!!)  And after I bought it, I immediately printed it.

http://shop.lilblueboo.com/

 
Okay- so back in the day - September 1992, I saw the most amazing concert of my entire life. U2 Zoo TV. It was at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and I was a Freshman in High School. So being a young, hip "alternative" type teenager I bought my concert tee and wore it dotingly for years. And then I went away to college and packed it away, saving it for another time. And I saved it - for 19 years. (!!!) I had been thinking about what to do with these few bits and pieces of my younger years, and when  I saw this pattern from Lil Blue Boo, I KNEW this is why I had been saving this shirt for all those years.

On to the pattern.... this pattern is 1. EASY , 2. VERSATILE, 3. AWESOME! All of the directions are very clear and explained in a practical way so anyone with basic sewing skills can follow. The pattern templates are fabulous- with numbered dots to align the 8.5" x 11" printed pages to create the 3 larger pattern pieces for the tunic pattern. The sizing is very accurate, and allows for endless modifications.

I decided to go with a size medium pattern- which is for chest measurements up to 36". Its a perfect fit- snug but not tight. I may add about 1" another time to try a more roomy/"flowy" top. I decided on some coordinating tshirts from our pile of "clothes to donate", including a Tommy Bahama shirt that was my husbands. I will say this- the mens shirts worked well for the larger "bottom pieces", because I could use 1 entire piece. Once I had all the pieces cut out, it was a simple feed through my 4-thread serger. The only issue I had was the material I used for the neck and arm trim. I was SUPPOSED to use something with stretch, but I REALLY wanted to use the burnt orange color from the tee I used on the bottom back. It was just a regular cotton jersey - no stretch. So I had to MacGuyver the neck trim by ruching into a v-neck...which came out PERFECT in the end! I shortened the tank by a few inches and serged along the bottom hem.

I CAN NOT WAIT to try out some other variations. I think using some lighter weight / stretch jersey will be a better material to work with (duh- like the pattern says), but in the end there is NOTHING I would change about my re-do U2 tee. Thank you, thank you, thank you - Lil Blue Boo!!!

DIY - Sewing Machine Cone Thread Conversion

I am going to let you in one my #1 trick of the trade. I have no idea HOW IN THE WORLD I came up with this, but it works, I have been using this technique for years, and I swear by it.

One of my biggest pet peeves when sewing is thread. More speficically the a) expense and b) always running out. My dream is to invent a never ending bobbin for straight stitch machines. It seems like I am winding bobbins endlessly, and running out at the most annoying times. Sergers are great because they sew forever before having to change the thread. So I came up with this trick for machines that have a vertical thread holder (technically called a spool pin). This machine pictured has both a horizontal spool pin (on the right) and a vertical one that's actually a removable "accessory" on the left. The vertical one is technically just for bobbin winding and double needle stitching, but for me it's my primary spool pin.  So here is how I convert my straight stitch machine for cone threads:

1. spool pins, this conversion only works on vertical pins

2. place an empty 125 yd thread spool on the vertical pin

3. put the cone over the empty spool

4. optional - *see notes below

 

5. thread machine as instructed

6. ta-da! You are ready to sew!

Okay- all machines are different and I have step #4 pictured but you may or may not need/want to do it. I do this step on THIS machine because of where the vertical spool pin is (kinda in the middle of the machine). It is very close to the upper thread guide, and I have found that I need some extra tension and space so the thread doesn't get all caught up in the spool pin. So I take the thread and pull it to the far right, so it goes around the outside side of my bobbin winder guide and I pull the thread back across and then thread my machine like instructed. This makes the thread feed mimic the set up of the horizontal spool pin... you know- the one I never use! There's no guide or anything for the thread when I put it on the bobbin guide but I have found this works really great for me. I have a different machine where the vertical spool pin is on the far right side and I don't need to do anything "makeshift" when threading that particular machine. My best advice is to play around with this technique and see what works for you. The cone thread will spin around the small empty spool, which basically acts like a holder for the cone.

Tutorial - NO SEW Tutu

Here's another tutorial from the DBW archives....the video has over 46,000+ youtube views!

Every little girl loves playing dress up in a tutu- here's a super simple version that even kids can make. No sewing involved!

Materials:
1. Goody "ouchless" Adult Size Headband - they come in a multi-pack and can be bought at Target, Giant, Rite-Aid etc.

2. Tulle, ribbon or fabric - I prefer the 6" width tulle that comes in rolls from the craft store. Make sure if you buy ribbon it does NOT have wired edges! (You can make about 1 tutu with one 25 yard roll of tulle.)

3. Scissors

Directions:
1. Determine how long you want the tutu to be

2. Cut strips of tulle/ribbon/fabric 2x the desired length. About 40 cut strips of tulle are needed for a "full" tutu.

3. Tie each strip of tulle/ribbon/fabric in the middle - just by making a knot - all the way along the headband until desired fullness.

Optional Embellishments:
Glue (with Fabri-tac or craft glue) silk flowers or gems to the ends of ribbon

Tips:
These tutus can be completely and totally customized for your child. You can make them really full, or keep it simple. These make great party favors for birthdays, or a cute gift.

Tutorial - Using Applique to Embellish Clothing

Why are BRAND NEW CLOTHES such a MAGNET for spots and stains? It drives me crazy, but by using a simple applique, you can not only cover those stains, but personalize any article of clothing....AND it's easy! Today I am going to show you (in 2 parts) how to use applique to embellish really anything (stained or not!).

Materials Needed:
Clothing (shirt, dress, bag, etc)
Fabric Scrap
Steam a Seam 2 (or other applique adhesive, found at fabric shops)
Iron
Scissors

*Extras-hand sew on buttons or ribbon trims, use decorative stitches with a sewing machine!

Instructions:
1. Cut out rough shape for fabric applique
2. Peel off 1 paper backer of Steam a Seam and press fabric onto adhesive
3. Cut out desired shape (can also use a die cutter machine!)
4. Peel off 2nd paper backer and position applique onto clothing
5. Use hot iron and press for 10-15 seconds (check instructions for exact timing)

Options:
Use zig zag stitch and machine sew along edges of applique
Hand sew on buttons or ribbon bow trims.


Part 1 Video shows basic applique:




Part 2 Video shows optional embellishments (machine sewing and button details):