Baby girl quilt

I've just posted this little beauty off to a friend in Australia who had a baby girl the other week. I find working on girly quilts so much easier than sewing boys ones. I have one more quilt I'm working on (very slowly... who knew a toddler and baby would take up so much time?!) then I think I'll have a break from baby quilts and see if I can get stuck into a few cushion covers. I'm terrified of putting zips in but need to get some practice in.

Anyway, photos of the latest quilt below.

Criss Cross Baby Quilt

I've made another baby quilt for a friend who had a baby boy last week. She knew that she was having a boy so I scoped out blue colours and non-pink squares... which was actually really hard! I had to make this one quickly but discovered quilting criss cross was really quick. I loved quilting this way and look forward to trying it again. Plenty of baby quilts to make this year so no doubt I'll get lots of practice!

And an updated picture of Logan enjoying his Vegemite sandwiches:

Nom nom nom...

Goodbye Baby Quilt #3

Today I say goodbye to my third baby quilt I made as a friend had a wee girl last week. I love the fact I'm now at a stage where I can give gifts I've made and not be ashamed of them!

I took some photos of the finished item. Goodbye Animal Quilt... you're off to a good home!

Baby quilt #3 - nearly done

In a post a few months ago I was having a 'fabric dilemma'. I was a little stuck on this project because I didn't really like the fabric combination all together (it was a Moda charm pack and my first attempt at 'Disappearing Nines') and kept putting the project off.

After much scratching of the head I decided what the vibrant patterns needed was to be broken up with plain white material, to make it a little easier on the eye. So, my third baby quilt is nearly done (need to sew the binding and I'm going to attempt to machine bind it this time, seeing as my hand sewing is crap!)

Feast your eyes on the recovered project below:

The front

Thank goodness for the white!

Oooh... look at the fancy stripe!

Wish me luck on the binding (arghhhh)

My sewing night classes are brilliant and I'm learning loads. I did my first ever 'darts' last week (pretty badly, but still!) I'll take some photos this week when it starts looking more like a dress. 

I LOVE SEWING!

Material dilemma

I thought about doing a new project and learning how to make cushion covers (my sister has put in her first request) but I found myself sucked into the world of quilting again! I quickly threw this together (doing my first 'Disappearing Nine' patchwork) thinking it would make a nice baby quilt for future gifts. However, after looking at it for a few hours I'm not sure I like all the material in it.
I need some ideas on how to make it look 'less retro' and more cute.

Failing that... a tutorial on how to make one of those plastic bag holders for the kitchen!

Not as cute as I'd like!

Lollipop Quilt - Done!

Pin It
I've done it! I've finally finished my second quilt - following this brilliant tutorial made up by this clever lady. Feast your eyes on the Lollipop quilt:

My second ever quilt. I'm chuffed with the results. 

Just don't look at the binding too close.

Moda "Lollipop" quilt (well, the bottom half anyway)

Logan gets his first peep at his new quilt

Checking Mummy's stitching up close

After all my hard work, he thinks it's fun to jump on

Lollipop loveliness

My next project is now all jig-sawed (new word) together! Hubby thinks it's "broon" (brown in a Scottish accent) but he's a boy so his opinion doesn't count.

Lollipop, lollipop ooh la-le-la-le-la

I love it! If only our house renovations didn't keep interrupting my sewing space!

- Posted from my iPhone

Nearly finished my first quilt

Hooray - I finally managed to find the camera and take some decent photos of my first ever quilt! I've done one side of the binding but am not very good at 'invisible stitches'. If anyone has a good link that could help me get to grips on this stitch I'd appreciate it. 

The binding is a bit dodgy... there must be an easier way

 I also took some piccies of the Lollipop quilt I've started.

Lollipops!

Girl or Boy?

Hmm. It seems I have a dilemma. It appears the quilt I'm hand sewing - aka "My Very First Quilt" - is a wee bit girly. Especially if my sister pops out a baby boy. I showed my Mum (via Skype) yesterday and she mentioned how pink it was. I've only sewn the top part of the quilt so the next part is to research how to put the backing material and wadding on and make it look pretty.

Girl or boy?

The thought of doing binding gives me the heebyjeebies. I'll see if I can cheat somehow! Would you give this as a gift to a baby boy or not?

TCx

**EDIT: I've just discovered this fantastic tutorial from one of my favourite bloggers on how to bind a quilt.  Seriously, what did we do before the internet?

Introducing Funky Cat

I've finished the wee gift for my friend's brand new sprog, born last week. The baby block is made up with some cuts of a 'Lollipop' charm pack, and I made up this wee Funky Cat out of felt last night. Logan saw the cat and has been wanting to get his sticky fingers on it so I'm going to make him one tonight.

I'm quite proud of my efforts!

Me-oow

I love Moda charm packs!

- Posted from my iPhone

I have blisters

Ouch.

Working on this new pillow hurts. By not having a sewing machine (yet) I've been doing it all by hand which is great practice for me. However, I have a blister on my thumb and index finger from pushing the needle through a million times and it was throbbing last night. But look at how pretty the pillow is becoming!

Beauty is pain

I've learned some lessons from stitching this together so far.
1) I forgot that the squares of the charm pack aren't equal in length - hence my squares don't all line up
2) It definitely pays to iron as you go.
3) Wear plasters!

I'm tempted to wait till I get my hands on my M-in-law's sewing machine before finishing this. I don't think my fingers have room for more blisters! Plus, I need to learn how to insert a zip which make take a few lessons.

Oh the joys of learning a new hobby!

Something for me!

Before I started on some more Christmas stockings I decided I needed a wee box to keep all my lovely Moda charm packs in. With the usual inspiration from paper-and-string's blog I attempted a felt box with a tortoise embellishment. What fun!

Hello!

It gave me a chance to practice my stitching too... which thankfully is improving (slow and steady aye tortoise!) I loved this little guy so much I'm attempting another one on a pin cushion I need.

Baby Cube Number Two - done!

I'm well chuffed with this baby cube. It's so satisfying to have something sweet to look at after hand sewing it all. Shame I have to post it to a friend overseas who has just had a wee boy.

F for Fred

Stitching not perfect but I'm getting there!

I'm wishing now I inserted a wee bell or something that makes a rattling sound. Still, next attempt huh! (I need more friends to have babies).

As well as attempting more Christmas felt decorations for our tree I'm going to have a play with some ideas from this book I borrowed from the library yesterday. It's nice to get ideas from other sources... so many clever ladies out there with wonderful creations.

Let's hope I do them justice.

TCx

Slow and steady

Side 1

In between looking after the teething monster and packing up the house for the move in two weeks I find calm in sitting down and sewing little what-nots. This week the postman bought me stuffing (hooray!) so I can finally stop using all my cotton wool balls from the bathroom to fill my decorations with. I also got two of the Moda Charm Pack - Lollipop which I've been in love with for weeks now. My plan is (once I get better and more confident) is to attempt this project: Lollipop Quilt (Although I haven't got a clue what 'fusible webbing' means!) I think it's gorgeous... every charm pack I get makes me happy!

Side 2

With stuffing in hand I managed to finish my first baby cube (see right) but the end stitching is a bit wonky. Still, practice makes perfect... and my husband's cousin was good enough to have a baby girl the other week so my first baby cube will have an owner soon (with a note for the baby not to examine the stitching too closely).

I'm also making good progress on my friend's blue baby cube... I imagine once I get set up in the new house with a sewing machine these things will be a LOT quicker to make!

I managed to photograph my favourite xmas stocking (so far) too. I thought I'd sent it off to Mum and Dad before shooting it but hadn't sealed the package so grabbed it for a photo.

Santa stop here!

The things I get excited about now!

Baby cubes

I've taken a quick break from making felt Christmas stocking decorations (I've posted my Mum the best one yet... but forgot to take a photo!) I kept looking at the gorgeous charm pack from Moda I got this week and was itching to make something pretty with it. I ended up trying to make a baby cube from London Mummy's tutorial. However, it was all to be done by hand as I've still to get a sewing machine (or borrow one from my mother-in-law).

My first attempt at a cube

Things I have since learned from my first attempt of making a cube:
- I need to get the iron out and try and make the fabric look halfway presentable!
- I really need to get my hands on some stuffing!!!

Overall, I'm pretty chuffed with it - even though it's not completed. All I need now is for a mate to have a  baby girl and I'm set.  A friend in Australia has however had a baby boy so I started on the next pack of fabric I received. Moda Punctuation is gorgeous... I'm falling in love with all these gorgeous charm packs more and more each day.

F for Fred

I attempted to add a letter onto one side. Will keep updating progress on here.
Must. Get. Stuffing!