Levi's toddler play quilt and big sibling presents.

 Levi's veggie tale quilt finished February 2016.

 This quilt was designed using Electric Quilt 7 software. 

All the fabric and the batting are 100% cotton.  The attached ribbons for Levi to play with are 100% polyester.  The ribbons were basted unto the outside edge of the sashing, then outside border was pieced with a 1/4" seam allowance.  That seam allowance was serged, then the seam allowance was sewn flat to outside border using a zig zag stitch.  The only way those ribbons will come out is if they are cut off.

The veggie tale blocks were free motion quilted with jesters' hats and light blue sashing with heart-shaped leaves. Outside border matches the quilt back, the free motion quilting design is spirals.

 Levi's quilt was gift-wrapped in a matching toy/book bag.

Levi is my great nephew and the youngest of three.  I made his big sister Gillian a strawberry shortcake tutu cute quilt, reversible toddler cape and a tutu.

 And his big brother Seth (3.5 years) a zoo animal quilt and a magician's cape! 

The cape pattern (unlined) is Simplicity 2571.  To line the cape, cut two (outside & lining fabric) front sides and back.  Eliminate facing, make, then attach collar & ties, then pin cape with right sides together and stitch leaving an opening at the bottom for turning.  Clip all the curves and corners.  Turn cape right side out and top stitch very close to the edge around entire cap which closes the opening.

Earlier this week I received a lovely thank you from my niece: "Oh my goodness Tammy we got your package in the mail and the kids are beside themselves!! Thank you so much!! I missed my chance to take a picture of Levi for you because I opened up his blanket and it was still folded in half and the little dickens sat right down in the middle of it and wouldn't budge to let me open it all the way!! It was like he knew it was for him!!! He had the most smug look on his face and I just laughed and tried to figure out how I could run and get my camera without him moving!! (which did not work... poo!) Seth is in love with the magicians cape and cried when Joel made him put it away at clean up time before dinner. And of course Gillian loves the princess tutu... because it is a princess tutu!!! Joel's parents were here for a visit this week and I had to brag a bit about my amazingly talented auntie and her beautiful sewing works and show off the new treasures that you had sent (the other quilts are easy to show off because they are on the kids beds!!) Thank you so much for your gorgeous presents for each child!! I feel so blessed because all of the kids quilts are so beautifully done and they are perfect for kids because they are bigger than the baby size (which they outgrow so fast!!) and yet still not so huge that they can't be easily dragged around and made into tents and "picnic blankets" and other props for make-believe!! (Which my kids seriously do ALL THE TIME with them!!) And thank you for the super cool cape and tutu... they are really impressive and the colours are gorgeous!! (The cape LOOKS like it is magic!!!) Thank you so so so so so much!!! I will try to send you some pictures of Tammy-gifts being loved!!"

And true to her word the photos:

Their mother writes: "Gillian in her princess tutu. Seth is a magician with a cowboy hat and princess high heels... Not the combo I would have thought of myself!! (And I thought you'd enjoy what they did to their little brother!! Poor Levi!! Lol"

 He makes a fine princess.

 The chidren's photos were published here with mom's permission.

Reusable nylon shopping bags with matching carrying case.

Nylon zippered carrying case with climber clip.  No pattern for the case, I used a scrap from the grocery bags, the strap is PUL (diaper covers), zipper and clip from cell phone case tutorial. 

 The owl strap has snaps to attach to a shopping cart or purse.

There are seven bags inside with extra room for keys, wallet and/or more bags.

In April 2012, I made shopping bags for an earth day giveaway.

A Christmas gift to my dear friend Evelyn.

This pattern circa 1990s is out of print.  Fortunately, for home sewers the internet is loaded with tons of free tutorials and bag patterns. 

My 2016 sewing plans include three baby quilts, one toddler cape, a tutu for a five year old, two twin size bed quilts and knit tops for me.

Dear Readers, what are you sewing?

Tee shirt quilt for Lindsay - queen size

Lindsay, a young lady who played volleyball in high school and university faithfully saved all her tournament tee shirts for a quilt. She had a total of 29 shirts. Her mother-in-law Mary Ellen hired me to make it for Christmas 2015. Mary Ellen contributed 15 hours of labour on Lindsay's quilt, she helped with cutting, ironing and some piecing. Her work was a labour of love as she does not quilt or sew.

Lindsay's quilt was designed with Electric Quilt 7. 

Of the 29 tee shirts there were four red, ten white, seven black, three grey, one green, brown, yellow, pink, and maroon.  The blue square represents the embroidery block.

There are 30 -12.5 inch blocks.  

 Finished quilt displayed on my king size bed.

The maroon sashing and outside grey border were free motion quilted with heart shaped leaves. Blank spaces on the tee shirt blocks were free motion quilted with a volleyball.

I used polyester embroidery thread because it shines, giving the quilt a rich look.

 

 The quilt batting is warm and natural cotton.

The back side is a 100% cotton flannel queen size sheet.

The grey outside border and binding are polyester.  

To make the volley ball I traced a volley ball onto toile in an embroidery hoop, the same stuff used in tutus and brides' veils. I positioned the patten on the tee shirt block and drew it on threw the toile.  I used a purple fade away marker on the light tee shirts and a white chalk pen on the dark blocks.  This stencil technique was curtesy of Don Linn in the 2012 free motion quilting challenge.

After the quilt was finished there was a small surprise for Mary Ellen.

 Gift wrapping!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Lindsay, Mary Ellen and family.

Child's Fedora Hat - recycled blue jeans

I used this free fedora pattern from Melly sews.  The tutorial, pattern and sewing instructions are well-written, complete with photos on her blog, so I will not be reposting them here.  I have made hats with polar fleece and cotton bonnets in the past, but this fedora with buckram in the brim was new for me.

The hat is made from old denim blue-jeans.

This one is lined with left over quilting cotton.  The seam where the brim is attached is covered with matching grosgrain ribbon.  The only notion I needed to buy was the buckram.

Too small for me, I made it for Liam our 21 month old grandson.

Here is Liam and his daddy modelling their hats.  Liam took the plastic funnel from my kitchen utensil drawer, it is now his trumpet toy.  I had so much fun making this fedora hat that I bought the fedora hat pattern from E & E Patterns yesterday to make more.
Happy stitching.

Bernina 930 Record sewing machine - sewing cabinet instead of extension table.

My Bernina does not have an extension table.  I tried without success to find a used one.  The custom built cabinet has a spot for the serger as well.

The machine inserts come out easily by lifting the front panel using the little finger hole on the right side.

This is very functional.

Hope this helps.

Ruffled Bonnet for baby girl.

The fabric is 100% quilting cotton.  It is reversible.

 The tutorial is from the Cottage Mama's blog. 

 

 Happy stitching.

Peasant Blouses - for Shannon

My daughter asked me to make her these blouses as the elastic neckline is ideal for nursing her baby girl.  I sent her photos of fabric and she picked these three.  She wanted them longer in the body than the pattern.  I didn't buy fabric for her blouses, these fabrics were in my stash, some were used in previous projects and some were an excellent price so I bought the fabric with no idea what they would turn into.  All three fabrics are 100% cotton.

Dorothy Dressform is the model. She looks smashing in these vivid colours.  There wasn't enough fabric to add the length in the body, so I added strip of fabric at the bottom.

 The orange one has an elastic waist to give the shirt more shape. 

The tie-dyed batik was too small for longer sleeves.  I toyed with the idea of making the sleeves from another fabric but decided it would look weird.

 Back view.

The purple and green fabric in the background on the washer and dryer is 100% chenille
I plan to make small blankets with lots of ribbons for babies to fondle.
Happy stitching!