bquilting

My niece’s son Max is about to turn one year old.  My niece wanted a banner for his party that reads”King of the Wild Things,” from the book by Maurice Sendak whose character is also named Max.  I will post photos once the banner is hung at the party. In the meantime, here is a photo of it hanging on my design wall:

The jute fabric for the pennant has gold threads running through it.  The pennants are backed with white fabric.  The letters are in black fabric which was my niece’s preference.  I am extremely happy with the results as is my niece.  Happy Birthday, Max!

A promised table runner in Christmas colors for my cousin inspired the use of this pattern.  Running out of time to get it done before Christmas, I got busy looking for a suitable pattern.  Checking my Facebook page, I spied a post by Craftsy showing a pattern that caught my eye.  Luckily for me (and for you if you like it too), it is a free pattern.  Click here for the link to the pattern.

There are 11 pages of pattern but those pages make putting the runner together very easy.  The directions and diagrams are very good.

Here is the my pieced runner before quilting and finishing with binding:

These pics are of the back and the front with the binding:

Here are some photos of the process of cutting out and putting the runner together:

If you follow the pressing instructions, then your seams will nest as you sew your rows together.  See how the pressing makes these seams fall opposite one another so that when put together, they meet nicely.  When I go to the machine, I make sure that my finger presses on the seam where they butt together so that when the seam is sewn, it stays together.

You can see the importance of making the seams stay butted together.  Notice how when the next row is positioned, it is staggered on the previously sewn row to keep the pattern going in the correct direction.

This pattern is based on sewing various colors of 2 1/2″ strips of fabric together horizontantly. Then those strips are cut vertically and sewn together according to the directions given in the instructions.  It sounds difficult, but if you can sew and follow directions given with excellent drawings, you will be amazed by how quickly you can piece the runner.  It took me less than 3 hours from picking out the fabric from my stash to the final pressing.  I will post the runner once I have completed it. Hope these photos inspire you to make your own.

My niece wanted a banner saying “It’s Ok” and asked me if I could make one for her.  I told her it would be easy.  How fortunate it was to find on clearance fabric for the banner that she and I both loved.

The fabric is much richer than the photo at the top makes it appear.  Here  is a up close photo of the fabric so you can see the quality and texture of it.  Wouldn’t you agree that makes a wonderful backdrop for the saying?

Because my niece wanted light colored letters, I bought cream colored fabric that was lightweight and then backed it with Deco Bond before adhering the letters to the fabric with Steam a Seam.  The back of the banner is finished with some muslin which was hand stitched to the “V” section of the banner.

After it was completed, it got a good pressing. The dowel was slipped through the sleeve with some hemp twine secured to the ends of the dowel so the banner can be hung.

My niece is thrilled with how it looks and I can’t wait to give it to her.

A long time ago, I saw a demonstration of how to make a Quilter’s Caddy using a bucket and screening from a “do it your self” store along with some fabric from the stash of fabrics that we quilters accummulate.  After buying the buckets ( I bought two buckets to make one for me and another for a family member.) and getting the fabric and plastic screening from my stash, I searched and found the directions for making the caddy.

The project description and directions are here. The video of how to do the project was on a Fons and Porter show that aired quite a while ago. Here is the link for the show.After gathering all the materials, I then proceeded to set the project on a shelf where it remained for months, truthfully for years. Today was the day of reckoning; I decided not to procrastinate any longer and to tackle the project. (My current mode of operation is “finish my ufos” with the realization that I am not getting any younger.)

Surprisingly, the project came together easily in spite of the fact that I don’t follow written directions very well, preferring to watch someone else before beginning.  Not finding any free videos on line, I decided to move on with the printed directions. After making a few missteps in the process, but not enough to deter my enthusiasm, I finished the project.  Having taken the class on Craftsy “Sew Sturdy Travel Organizers,” I was emboldened to think through the project and figure out the steps for putting the caddy together.

This is the type of pail you will need to purchase.

When you are sewing the binding on the top of the screening, you will need to have sewn your divider strips on first, making sure to sew them on at 6.75, 6.25, and 6.25 inches from left to right.  The final space should measure 6.75 inches from the last line to end of the screening on the right side. Next,  sew the binding to the back, a quarter of an inch from the edge.  On the front, turn the binding over so that it covers the just sewn edge

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I used my open toe foot to guide the placement of the seam when sewing the binding to the front of the screening.

The next step is to sew the screening to the fabric panel.  (You will make two of these.)  Using the same measurements for placing the dividers on the fabric as you used when placing the dividers on the screening, sew over the same seam lines that were sewn to adhere the dividers to the screening so that you have the appearance of one seam.  Be sure to sew over the top binding and then back down the other side of the divider.

The next step is to step is to pleat the screening in order for it to fit the fabric strip. The clover clips are great for doing this.  Note the direction of the pleats in each section.  They are folded away from one another with two pleats in each section. The bottom binding needs to be positioned on the back after the pleats have been made with the clear portion of the clip on the front side so that it will against the the base of the sewing machine when the binding is sewn to the bottom of the panel..  (The clear side is flat and will making sewing easier.)

 After sewing the binding to the back, turn the piece over to fold the binding and sew it down as as you did for the top binding.

Now it is time to sew both finished fabric panels together, matching the bindings on the side and leaving an opening of about .5 inches just above the top binding.

I press the seam open so that I can top stitch the open seam down.

Before you place your finished cover on the bucket, you must pull the handle out of each side of  the bucket.  Place the finished cover on the bucket and then proceed to cover your handle.  Follow the directions for making handle cover.  Place cover on handle and then reapply the handle to the bucket.  You are finished and can now start using your caddy or give it as a gift as I am doing with mine.

Finished Second Caddy!

If you decide to make the caddy, I would love to see a photo of yours when you are finished. Please feel free to share any suggestions for how the caddy can be constructed.

Happy sewing and please don’t be a procrastinator like me.