Category: Gifts (Page 2 of 7)

Flex Frame Christmas

This was a flex frame Christmas. Or what I mean to say is I made lots of flex frame pouches this year for Christmas gifts. It’s really kind of addicting. Once I figured out a pattern it was hard for me to leave them alone.

When I was trying to decide what to make that would be fast, easy and fun I always start with zip pouches. The friends who have known me for a long time however have zip pouches. I do like to make them. I find them useful and it helps me feel organized.

This year I remembered seeing some flex frame tutorials and thought this might be fast and easy. I read a few tutorials that I found on the internet and then searched for flex frames. My friend Amazon of course had many sources for flex frames. My confusion was that they were all given in metric measurements. I used a converter tool to see what size they really were in inches and bought a package of 30.  I knew that I would make several for Christmas and I had an event in January that I could use them for and then would still have a few left for future projects.

When I got the frames the first step was to create a pattern. The first one I decided was too deep. By the time I opened the pouch,  it was hard to reach the bottom. The second time the channels for the frame were a little bit too long and wide. Once I had a pattern I cut and sewed several at one time. They were so cute it was hard to stop. I have about 6 more to make this week and then I think I’m done for a bit and ready to get back to finishing several more baby quilts that I’ve started and put aside.

Babies Again

Offshore Baby quiltsail boat tag blanketcar burp rag

dog burp rag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cat bup rag

 

 

 

 

 

 

Babies seem to be the theme here and this was a quilt for my niece. She had the first little boy in my brother’s family. Exciting times for sure!.

The daddy is involved in crew and repairing boats etc. so I really wanted to use some water themed fabric and I loved this Offshore line of fabric by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake The colors and the variety of prints really appealed. Of course there were a few other things I included for the new baby. I made some burp rags with appliques and also a tag blanket.

 

More Zipper Pouches

I’ve probably made at least 100 zipper pouches in the past few years and they are fun to make. There are many zipper pouches in my life because I really like to have all the parts and pieces of things together. These two pouches were made specifically for a little power bank for recharging tech items like phones or tablets. It has a tiny cord for charging the device. If you have an iPhone then you may need an additional cord as well.

In my life, if they’re not both in one place I have trouble finding them and I hate to waste my time looking for those things. These were both gifts and the recipients were both pleased. Score another one for me.

zipper pouchpurple zipper pouch

More Babies

More babies are coming. I’ve made a number of baby quilts and things in 2016 and already working on the first ones for 2017. I do like making baby things because they are fast and I can try different patterns and colors. I can then pass it on but I never really know if they will be used and most often I don’t hear anything or see them being used. Occasionally, I do hear that a quilt I’ve made is an important part of the bedtime routine. Once it’s out of my hands whatever will be will be but it’s nice to know it’s appreciated.

This quilt and the tag blanket and pacifier clips were for a surprise baby. The baby is anxiously being waited for by the family.

Corrie quile

tag and pacifier clips

Too Long

I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I’ve been here. I’ll start now and add a few more posts later in the week. It’s supposed to be a very hot few days here so this should be a good time to get caught up again.

The most current project has been an apron for my son’s girlfriend.  She is a cat lover and when I saw this pattern for a cat apron I knew it was the perfect choice for her. She also cooks a lot so it should be useful as well.  As with all first time projects, this took longer than I expected and when you start at 11 at night there is bound to be some un-sewing as well.  It was fun however and I did enjoy the project.

Katie's cat apron

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Christmas Sewing is Done!

Christmas sewing is done. I guess that’s good because it’s the 2nd of January 2016! Each year the holidays feel like it’s coming more quickly.

This has been a calmer year in many ways. I got the “crud” at Thanksgiving and just wasn’t able to shake if so have spent most of the vacation sleeping and doing only what needed to be done. Nice to feel like I have the time for that but oh the plans I had. Looks like I have a new year to carry out all those unfinished projects.

Christmas sewing included some small projects. I made some doll clothes for my niece’s daughter.

12" doll dress12" doll diaper12" doll pants and shirt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also made some patchwork bibs to save those pretty dress clothes.

patchwork bibs

Sons girlfriend is a cat lover so I made her a cat pillowcase and a cat key fob. This was a fun project.

cat pillowcase

Of course there was the ever popular pajama pants for the daughters.

pj pants

And niece #2 just shared she is having a baby at the beginning of June so I tried a new receiving blanket pattern. This was fun too.

frontback

 

There were several other things that I forgot to take pictures of but it was a fun and low stress sewing season here.

My sewing machine and I will spend some quality “bonding” time together I  can spend some time making quilt blocks for a 1930’s Farmers Wife Quilt. Onward 2016..

More babies

More babies. It certainly is that time for many young families.  I had the pleasure of making one more baby gift before I start on the Christmas sewing. One of middle daughters good friends recently had a baby and she assured me that this friend would treasure a quilt for her new baby because no one in her family did those kinds of things.

I do like to make baby quilts. The are usually fun to make, I can try new things and it doesn’t need to be perfect.  This quilt fit all of those criteria. To begin with the white fabric that I planned on using needed to be replaced when I started to sew. It was so cheap looking compared to the rest of the fabrics I just couldn’t use it. Well, I suppose I could have but it didn’t look right. I was also starting to feel a bit pressured because I knew the baby was coming and would likely be early and I seemed to be quite busy with work so didn’t feel like sewing in the evening. I started to cut the strips to use in the die cutter and made several of the strips too narrow. I could have made them work but knew the fabric was more likely to stretch when I cut the shapes. I finally got everything cut, started to sew and changed my mind on the arrangement so had to recalculate and sew some more.I decided the colors of the fabric that I was going to use on the back wouldn’t look good so I went shopping again.  Yes, some of the pieces did stretch and it didn’t lay very flat when I was done piecing the top. After quilting however, and washing. It looks fine, I love the colors and I know the mom and baby will not care if all the points don’t match and it’s not perfect. It will keep the baby warm or be a good quilt to put on the floor and work fine that way too.

The bib was made to try a new quilting pattern. That worked fine too and all have been mailed and received by the new mom.

Now on to Christmas.
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Fauna quilt

Minions and pin cushions

Minions and pin cushions were next on the list. A friend saw the orange Minion pillow cases and wanted a blue one for her college age daughter.  It was fun to make and I added a little coin purse. This fabric was great quality and had a great feel to it so it was fun to sew.

Minion pillowcase

Minion coin purse

 

 

 

 

 

Next was a pin cushion for a friend. After reading about other folks using this pattern I was hesitant and I procrastinated   it took me a long time to make it. When I was done, I realized there were several things I could have done differently had I known but it turned out OK and wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. A win for sure.

Starfish Alley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And one more jar cozy.

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So Many Projects and So Little Time

So many projects and so little time. That seems to be the story of my life these days. I would love to spend my days sewing all the projects that I imagine and have fabric for but reality is not the same.  Guess that’s good for I’d hate to run out of things to do.

I have made lots of little things and couple of bigger things so I think I’ll start back with the smaller items and continue the story.

Minions have been a popular item and topic of discussion in several places. Either you love these little guys or you just can’t figure out what the charm is.

Some pillow cases.

Minion pillowcare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there was also a lunch sack, napkins utensil holder.

Gnome lunch bag

 

 

 

 

 

Some jar cozies for packing lunches. These are pint size canning jars in an insulated bag that can be packed in a lunch.

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And one more baby quilt. This was a fun one to do and came together quickly. This was made out of 61/2 inch half square triangles.

Starfish Alley

Cute little zip pouch

A cute little zip pouch was in order for a little pair of ear phones.  This was for one of my brothers.  He was going to take a long plane ride and was complaining about not being able to wear his ear buds for very long and it was going to be a 12 hour flight. I have a pair of the over the ear head phones and have been pleased with them because I too have a problem with the ear buds. They just are not comfortable for very long. One thing I have learned about this type of ear phones however is the mesh over the device that rests against your ear does get pulled off easily. When I put these in a pocket and pull them out again it doesn’t take long and they are coming apart.  This of course in my mind equates to some kind of storage device and in this instance a zip pouch is perfect. My brother is also a bit of  a neatnik so this is right up his alley. I found this “manly” fabric with arrows on it, in a lovely blue/green and knew it would be perfect.  I don’t know how much he actually used the ear phones, we haven’t had much chance to visit since he returned but it was a quick, fun and satisfying project.

Starfish Alley

 

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