Skirts

There has been a definite drought of crafts around here. There is so much going on, that even the essentials are being left alone. However, I cut fabric for some skirts for Joy two months ago, so I finally decided to get them done. The inspiration for these came from a skirt I got for Joy at Kohl's last year that she wears all the time. It has a top of denim and then cotton skirt in rings below. So, I copied the idea. The first one I did had to be just taken out - not enough gather. But, this is the second.

These were really easy. For the top three rows were two strips of fabric 5" wide the width of the fabric (a total of 88"). The bottom row was three fabric widths (a total of 132"). I just sewed the top three rows together and then gathered at the top to go match the waist of the denim. Oh yes, I went garage sailing and found several pairs of size 6 jeans. I cut them off just below the zipper to make the top of the skirt. So, for the last row, I gathered the 132" to match the 88" strip. This gives a bit more gather on the bottom and adds a little more ruffle. Worked pretty well.

Then, I had in mind a rainbow one in mind, and I decided that downward stripes would be fun. However, what to do about the bottom row? This was the result.

Hmm, definitely one of my favorites! At some point, if I get a whole bunch of extra time, I will do a tutorial. But, let me just show you the last skirt. It is a little fuller, has strips of varying widths, and adds a couple of extra colors in the bottom ruffle. And, it is dang cute.

Want to try? So easy and fun. The color combinations are endless, and I am thinking about making them a basis for Joy's wardrobe. She loves skirts, and these are long enough to be very modest. I just need a few more garage sales.

Paul's Bento Box

Paul's 4th birthday is coming up on Sunday, so I decided a quilt was in order. As a little(r) guy, Paul like to be laid on, he liked the pressure. So I thought a heavy quilt would be best, and I have been dying to make a denim quilt. I just cut up old jeans that I have been saving for far too long, and started work. This is not all the blocks, just the finished ones. I still have two more rows to add, plus the border and back. Who knows, maybe if I get crazy I will take it to the quilt store and learn how to use their long-arm quilting machine on it!

New Quilts

This is the latest fabric I got for two new quilts. Pretty, I know.

Joy's quilt

Joy got a sewing machine for Christmas this year. However, the instructions got lost between then and now, so Joy's first experience was on my machine. Her Mema sent fabric for a quilt for Christmas. A few weeks ago, we cut out the squares and today while today while the boys we sleeping, we started the sewing. Joy arranged her fabric into a pattern and took a tour of my machine. She pinned the squares and ran the foot pedal, while I guided the fabric. You can see the strip and a start we got done before Hyrum woke up and needed my attention.
We are really excited to be starting this new project together. As you can tell, Joy is a pink girl.

Christmas Block Quilt

The first quilt I actually started when I moved to Oak Harbor was a Christmas block quilt. Our ward has a quilt group and we are learning 12 blocks and putting them into a quilt. I got here when there were only three or four blocks to go, but I decided to start at the beginning and see what I could learn. So, a block quilt (or what I call a block quilt) is one that involves actually pieceing together fabric to make individual blocks, which then are put together to make the top of the quilt. So, you start out with fabric like this. Actually, picking the fabric out is my favorite part.

These are the blocks I have finished so far.

Ohio Star.








Can't remember the name
Laurel Wreath.




Cut Glass Dish.

Quilts Quilts and more Quilts

Since I didn't already have enough hobbies, I decided to pick up quilting. Actually, it all started innocently enough. John was graduating in May 2007 with his Masters, and I wanted to give him a gift that would reflect some of what he expereinced in school. So, for a couple of years, I stole his worn-out college t-shirts to be made into a quilt. In January of 07 I started cutting them up while John was in Rochester on his internship. After a little research on how to do the thing, I got the top done and sent the quilt out to be quilted.
The quilt itself turned out alright, but the memories it held were the real treasure. John loved it.

Then, I wanted Hyrum to have a blanket made by his mother (all the other kids do) and Mom was working on some really pretty quilts, so I gave it a go. This was the result: Although you can't tell from the picture, all the fabrics are flannel, so it is really soft and snuggly. And, even though the pattern is simple (I figured it out myself), I get tons of compliments on it because the colors go together so well.

In August, we made a trip from Washington back to Minnesota to my cousin's wedding and while on the trip, we stopped by a quilting store in Rapid City, South Dakota. My sister Erin was working on a black, white and red apron while she was visiting earlier in the summer, and I decided I really liked the color combination. So, I got fat quarters in black, white and red. This is the black, white and red "Yellow Brick Road" quilt I made for Christmas for my sister Erin and her husband Brad. I really like the YBR pattern, it goes quickly and there are so many different looks that come out of the same pattern, depending on your fabric. Actually, I have made three YBR quilts in the past couple of months! On all the quilts I have finished recently I have just tied them to bind, because I just didn't have the time or finances to send them out to be quilted. However, for Christmas Janice (John's mom) sent me money that I am using to learn to use the big quilting machine at a local fabric store so I can just rent time on the machine to do my own later. I am so excited!

While I was working on the BWR quilt for Erin and Brad, I was side-tracked and picked out some fabric for Joy. She is a bright personality, and I just couldn't resist making another YBR quilt that reflected that bright personality.

Okay, now that I am thingking about it, Joy's quilt was really the last to be finished. I got the top going on that and then decided to make a quilt for John for his birthay. Since he loves Christmas and I was afraid it wouldn't be very Christmas-y in Iraq, I did a Christmas YBR quilt.

And, now that I have done all the YBR quilts, I am moving on to a traditional block quilt. It is in muted Christmas colors, and I actually have four blocks done!