Crazy Quilt Bag

 Crazy Quilt Bag

Created by: Maddie Bushman

Level: Intermediate

The Crazy Quilt Bag is perfect for those weekend getaways. It is large enough to hold all those necessary items for a wonderful three-day vacation. Yet, it is lightweight, washable and easy to store. This is a fun project for the serger enthusiast. You will be delighted at how easy this type of crazy quilting can be done on the serger.

I really thought this bag was very cute- I love Love LOVE bags, just look at my closet and you'll see.  I really liked the size and shape it is.  This is why I thought I would pass it along.  how cute would it be to "rag" this one!!  I am also going to be putting up a EASY version of a "Rag-Bag" one that you and your little sewers can sew together.  As soon as I get it "tuted"(made into a tutorial) I will link it here.


I'll be honest- I am a big Bernina fan and I highly recommend this brand- however- I am not promoting one or another brand of sewing machine.  Besides, I bet there are those of you out there that are stuck on some other brand.  I think what you learn on is what you love- So although this is a pattern from a "Janome" sight- I am not necessarily promoting the Janome brand... just saying.


Just click on the title of this posting and it will take you to the instructions.


Happy Sewing!

Wrap around Pin Cushion

Picture taken off of Martha Stewart's web site

A Martha Stewart Project...

A wraparound pincushion

This pin Cushion fastens onto your sewing machine keeps pins in place and at your finger tips. 

Pillow Cases

Pillow Cases are a great gift, they are fun to make and you can make them for yourself, a gift for a cousin, niece or nephew, or your little girls dolly.  They only limit is your imagination. 

I have just recently started teaching a young neighbor friend, and she decided to make one for her cousin's birthday.  She made a Standard Pillow case and mine is a "baby-doll" size.  I measured the doll crib to help me get my measurements.  I knew I wanted to make the finished pillow case 14" X 9" - I had to do a little math to get all the dimensions just right, but it was a fun project to do.  

What you will need is:

Fabric for the body (I like to use a cotton/polyester blend- it has minimal shrinkage and after washings it doesn't need ironing as much.)

Contrasting color of fabric for the hem

Thread

Scissors or Pinking shears or cutting blade

Straight Pins

Sewing Machine

NOTE:(*fabric usually comes approximately 42"to 45" wide when you are buy it off the bolt from the fabric store, so if the fabric measures 42-45 inches these are the right measurement to follow.  If the measurements are different you will need to make appropriate adjustments.)

The measurements for the different size pillow cases are:

Baby Doll:       Body: 10" x 11"  (cut 2)

                        Contrasting Hem: 8" x 10" (cut 2)

                        Finished: 9" x  14"

Fabric needed for 1 Pillow Case:

                        12 x 12 inches of fabric (for the body)

                        9 x12inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

Standard:        Body: 22" x 28"  (cut 2)

                        Contrasting Hem: 9" x 22" (cut 2)

                        Finished: 21" x 32"

Fabric needed for 1 Pillow Case:

                        30 inches of fabric (for the body)

                        10 inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

For A pair of Standard Cases

                        60 inches of fabric (for the body)

                        20 inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

Queen:            Body: 22" x 32" (cut 2)

                        Contrasting Hem: 9" x 22" (cut 2)

                        Finished: 21" x 36"

Fabric needed for 1 Pillow Queen Sized Case:

                        1 Yard of fabric (for the body)

                        10 inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

For A pair of Queen Sized Cases

                        2 Yards of fabric (for the body)

                        20 inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

  

King: :             Body: 22" x 38"  (cut 2)

                        Contrasting Hem: 9" x 22"  (cut 2)

                        Finished:  21" x 42" 

Fabric needed for 1 King Sized Pillow Case:

                        1 Yard of fabric (for the body)

                        10 inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

For A pair of King Sized Cases

                        2 Yards of fabric (for the body)

                        20 inches of contrasting fabric (for your hem)

After you purchase you fabric it is important to pre-wash your fabric.

Wash it on a normal setting and dry it on a medium to low setting.

Iron it gently- DO NOT STRETCH OR PULL your fabric

  

Square up you fabric and cut to the appropriate measurements.

Follow the measurements for the body and the hem.

Fold your HEM fabric in half and press. 

It now should measure 4 1/2 inches x 22 for the standard, queen, and king sizes 

 and  4 x 10" for the dolly size.

Take the ironed hem fabric and the body fabric, with right sides together line up and pin,

 (line up the raw edges of the hem to the edge of the shortest side of the body fabric).

Set your needle position to the center of the presser foot, measure 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Straight stitch - be sure to back stitch at the beginning and at the end of your seam.

After you have finished your straight stitch set your stitching  for a zig zag and place your presser foot to the edge of your fabric, zig zag along each edge of your pillow case.

Press your seem  toward the body of the pillow case.

Repet these steps with your other "body and hem" fabrics.
   

Now you should have two halves that look the same. (front and back)

Match up the two halves, place right sides together,

pin and sew a straight stitch all the way around the case

Trim corners
Turn Right sides out and press.

I like to use a double needle to "TOP stitch" around the hem,
but you can use a single needle and straight stitch over it twice.
this puts a nice finishe look on it, but also helps the hem to stay flat after washings

You are finished!  Turn it right side out and Press.
Put your pillow inside and ...

TA-DA!!! you have finished another wonderful project!

HAPPY SEWING!

No Sew fleece Pillow and Blanket

No Sew fleece Pillow and Blanket
This is shown as a baby doll size but can be adapted for other sizes of course.

Items that you will need are:  Two complimentary colors of Fleece fabric
For dolly sizes you will need: 12x12 fo a pillow and a 24x24 for the blanket
Baby size blanket - 40x40
Crib- 45x60
throw- 60x72 

Lay out your front and back fabric right sides out.  Straighten fabrics and square up corners. for doll blanket- cut out a 2 inch corner (remove) and then cut strips (2 inches long and 1 inch wide)
If you are doing a baby blanket- remove a 4 inch square and cut your strips 4 inches long x 1 inch wide
this give a 4 inch fringe on edge.
If you are doing a Crib or a Throw or Larger- you could go as far as cutting up to a 6 inch fringe.  Simply cut away your corners and again fringe your blanket.

This is what your pillow and blanket should  look like. Your pillow should have both front and back placed together and cut at the same time to ensure a straight finish.  the quilt only needs one layer of fabric.
  

begin tieing a double knot with front and back fleece fabrics, leaving one side open for inserting the batting or pillow form.  Be sure to tie it tight.  (hint: if you tie the knot just about a half inch from the body of the pillow, the pillow will lay flatter.-don't tie it so close to the body that the knots make the fabric pucker)

Insert Pillow form. I like to use batting left over from quilts I make.  It is always good to use up your scraps! 

Finish by tieing the rest of the fringe.  

For the doll Blanket, I only tied the top and bottom, you may want to do all 4 edges.  for a Top and Bottom fringe, do NOT cut and remove your corner pieces, simply fringe from edge to edge.  tie a knot for a fun and flirty look.
AND.....

Add WAH- LA, now you know what to get your little girls for Christmas, a new little crib set for their favorite dolly.  Home made with love by YOU!

"Ice Pop Cozy" - a COZY way to eat your ICY treat!

"Ice Pop Cozy"
Great for cold tiny fingers on those hot summer days!!
My children love to play all day out in the sun, and enjoy the hot season.  I love to be outside with them and listen to the giggling and squills that summer games will bring.
Ice pops are always a part of our summer day, and my kids love them all...grape, orange and lime, they are always a hit.
These fun easy "ICE POP COZIES" are a fun way to stay cool.
This is a easy project that anyone of all ages and abilities can do.  Simple for even your little ones.  Hand stitch it or whip it through the sewing machine- Simple and fast!  Here is what to do:

Items that you will need:
Fleece
Scissors
needle and thread or your sewing machine
Tape measurer

Cut your fleece to measure:
4 inches wide 

by 5 inches long

Fold in half, (hotdog style)
Sew raw edges with 1/2 inch seem
If you are hand sewing over lap seems
by doing a backstitch
and if you choose  to use your sewing machine

a simple straight stitch will do.  I, however, like to do a small zig zag

stitch with the sewing machine.  It allows for a little more stretch
and won't pop stitches- fleece is a stretchy fabric
and the zig zag stitch allows for pulling.

Turn cozy right side out.  Use fingers to flatten out seems.

Slide in your favorite ice pop treat and enjoy the great summer days!