Tuesday, March 27, 2012

We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday!

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:
1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.

BLOG TITLE

Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Faux Chenille Bunny Tutorial

{In case you missed it over at U-Create earlier in the month...}


With a printable template, this faux chenille bunny is the perfect gift for any little girl, whether it's Easter or not! With both Easter and a baby girl coming arriving in our home next month, today's project is one that will get double the use - my favorite kind of project!

Ready to get hopping?

Materials:
8 12"x12" pre-washed flannel pieces - can be assorted colors and prints
polyfill stuffing
pins, scissors, and needle suitable for heavy fabric (size 14 works great)

Click HERE to download and print the bunny template.

Directions:
1. Print the bunny template using the link above. Ensure your printer is not set to scale before printing. Join template pieces along dotted line and cut along solid line.

2. Layer two sets of four 12"x12" flannel pieces on top of each other, matching all four sides. If you are using assorted colors or prints of flannel, alternate the colors and prints evenly as pictured.

3. Pin flannel layers together every few inches throughout each stack.

4. Using one stack of flannel, stitch from one corner to the opposite corner in a diagonal line. If you have a walking foot, use it! It will help to keep all four layers in place as they are fed through the machine. If you don't have a walking foot, you may want to reduce the presser foot tension slightly to help prevent slipping and stretching of the top flannel layers.

5. Stitch parallel to diagonal line, 1/2" apart from first diagonal line, and keep repeating until the entire 12"x12" flannel stack is stitched with diagonal lines.

6. Repeat steps 4-5 with second flannel stack.

7. With one flannel stack, cut in middle between each set of stitch lines, leaving the bottom layer uncut. If you have a slash rotary cutter, it will save a bit of time, but scissors work just as well.

Your finished stack will look like this...

8. Repeat step 7 with remaining flannel stack.

9. Trace bunny template onto uncut side of one flannel piece. Cut along traced line.

10. Flip bunny template over and trace onto uncut side of remaining flannel piece (both bunnies should be facing opposite directions). Cut along traced line.

11. Pin bunnies together with uncut sides facing outward, matching all edges. Stitch around raw edges using a 3/8" seam allowance, leaving 4" opening at bottom of bunnies.

12. Stitch again around raw edges using a 3/8" seam allowance for stability, leaving same opening. Trim seam allowance to 1/8", clipping close to any tight curves and corners.

13. Turn bunny right side out, ensuring all curves and ears are thoroughly turned. Using polyfill stuffing, fill bunny firmly through opening.

14. Turn raw edges of opening to inside of bunny and handstitch opening closed using a ladder stitch or other invisible stitch.

15. Now for the fun part - throw the bunny in the wash (with a load of towels ideally), and then into the dryer. The raw edges will fray and create the faux chenille look!

Your bunny will become softer and fluffier with each additional wash!

Add your bunny to your little princess' Easter basket, and let her enjoy her new cuddly friend all year long!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Instant Pattern Downloads Now Available



Just a quick note to let you know that our patterns are now available as instant downloads! No more waiting - you'll automatically get the link to download your pdf pattern immediately following your purchase. You can read more details on each pattern's page. Realistically, I've normally had patterns emailed out pretty quick as it was, but no wait is better than a short wait, right? I hope you like the change as much as I do!
 
Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday!

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:
1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.

BLOG TITLE

Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Lydia Typewriter Quilt



 We are officially out of boxes! That doesn't mean that we're officially organized, but I was able to find the fabric I needed to sew this little quilt last week, so I'm feeling pretty good :).

First off, although I did design the fabric on Spoonflower, I can't take credit for the actual idea for the fabric. My little sister Audy (who, like me, is due in April with a girl after having two boys), found these typewriter quilts by Petunias on Etsy, and asked me to make similar fabric for her baby's quilt. I hope she's sure on the name...

I backed the quilt with rose bud ivory minky (you can read my tips on sewing with minky here), and I have to say it looks pretty cozy!

Friday, March 16, 2012

No-Bake Energy Bites



My food board on Pinterest seems to be filling up with chocolately goodness lately, and I'm determined to actually try some of the recipes I've pinned. Knowing that I'll likely eat all of whatever it is I make, I started with one of the healthier recipes on my board, No-Bake Energy Bites from Smashed Peas and Carrots. If you want to make these yourself, make sure to go directly to her recipe, where she gives lots of ideas for substitutions.

Since I don't normally keep chocolate chips in the house (they always disappear before I get to actually bake with them), I substituted 1/4 cup cocoa for the mini chocolate chips, and they were perfectly chocolatey. I'm sure I would have also loved the chocolate chips though, especially with the bit of crunch they'd add. I also substituted the 1/2 cup flaxseed for 1/3 cup oat bran, since that's what I had on hand.

No-Bake Energy Bites (from Smashed Peas and Carrots)

1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/3 cup honey
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flaxseed (I used 1/3 cup oat bran and 1/4 cup cocoa)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I omitted)
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy! Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
 

I thought these were quite yummy and a fun little snack. I had a hard time saving the last four till the next morning for photos, and you can believe that they were gone soon after the photos were snapped!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday! I hope you are all having a great week so far!

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:
1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.

BLOG TITLE

Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Car Seat Canopy Tent

You didn't think I was done with Heirloom yet, did you? Of course I'm not :). There's still a few prints I haven't sewn with yet. At the rate I'm going, that probably won't be true for long though! That just means I'm being productive, right? Ahem.

I made this car seat canopy tent for my sister Ada who was due with a baby boy at the end of March. She had a nice surprise last week when her baby was born three weeks early while they were on a quick family trip in another city! Like me, her last baby was born just before the car seat canopy craze began, so hopefully this will come in handy this time for her!

I felt like there was almost too much green between the two fabrics, so I added some blue piping to break it up a bit and to give it just a bit of detail while still keeping it boyish.

There are more than plenty tutorials for car seat tents online that are super, but if you're looking for a girly version, you can go here for a tutorial of my gathered version :).

Thursday, March 8, 2012

U-Create Creative Guest


Today you can find me over at U-Create, where I'm sharing a free pattern for this faux chenille bunny!

Go here to check it out!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday!

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:
1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.

BLOG TITLE

Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Two More Blankets


I got a couple more simple serged receiving blankets done before we moved. At the time, I was thinking I was just about blanketed-out, but now that I haven't had access to my machine for a bit, I'm ready to tackle the rest of my projects!

Both prints are from JoAnn - I bought the polka dots years ago but they still keep it regularly in stock. It was nice to use up a couple more flannel prints from my stash - it'll soon be time to start re-stocking!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Pattern Giveaway Winners


The three winners of the pattern giveaway are...


Thanks to all who entered! If you're a winner you'll be getting an email from me soon!