Sleepsack for Andrea

Greta told me that the only sleepsack Andrea has is the one that Rakel sent her. She said that Andrea used it all the time.  Well, one sleepsack doesn't seem enough so I set out to test my new sewing machine.  The material was purchased from Jo-Ann's, chosen because it was amazingly soft.  I washed the material after I zigzagged all around it.  Afterwards working on it, it was hard to work with.  My clothes were full of lint and a layer on the floor.  After cutting the pattern and zigzagging the seams it improved some.  It is so fluffy that it was giving my machine fits.  I'd take a little brush and keep cleaning it.  Then the half-finished project sat and cured.  Weather got colder and once again, I was back to it.  This time, I found it more tolerable to work with.
The bias tape, after I sewed it on was not quite to my liking so I stitch little curly things half on the bias and half on the material to secure it.  It's a size nine months and it's huge.  Also, the two front pieces don't line up and getting a nice straight seam when I put in a zipper was impossible for me. 

But, after I finished it, even though I wasn't 100% satisfied with all aspects, I was charmed by it.  Told Tim that I was putting it through a cycle on the washer and dryer and if it started shedding or any other thing, it would end up in the garbage.  It held up beautifully.

Latch Rug Made from T-Shirts

Saturday night, armed with all material on hand and one granddaughter, Moira, I set out to make this cute, green, rug.  Moira and I were excited.  It didn't take me long to see that it would take super-human effort.  A terrible attempt with a granddaughter who seldom spends the night with me.  "This is impossible," I announced after latching a few.  "No, it's not that bad," Moira tried her best to encourage me to continue.  She tried and tried.  At 9:30 pm I told her we were going to the store and I got her a latch hook kit.  She latched away and we tossed out the rest of the project.
What good came out of this? 
1. Don't do a project with your granddaughters unless you have done it before.
2. The cutting wheel, 45, is wonderful.  I used it to cut my next project and for me, it was so much better and a cleaner cut than scissors.  You need a cutting board though.  Jo-Ann's has a 40% coupon online so my Fiskar was only seven dollars.  That was worth all the effort.

A Present for Edie

I made this skirt for Edie. I apologize, Rakel, for sending a summer skirt...that part was not well thought out. I think it turned out really cute and I am pretty happy with it. The inside of my sewing projects are looking increasingly cleaner which is very exciting.

Throw Pillows

Since we got a new couch, I wanted new throw pillows. I am not going to say Quay said no but the word "divorce" did come up so I just decided to make my own. With Rachael's help with color schemes, here is what I created. They are actually slip covers so I can wash them or make new ones at anytime and I won't have to worry about getting new pillows.

Fall Swing Coat for Edie

 

This sweater is knitted with super soft yarn and should be handwashed for it to keep the feel.  It's wonderful to knit with.  Since this is for a child, I'm questioning myself and the use of fine yarn.  It's more enjoyable to knit with but I'm going to check out the washable yarns.  That's more practical for moms.  However, for tiny ones, feel is so important that I will stay with Debbie's yarn.
This swing coat turned out perfect.  It is light with warmth.  The button has blue in it to match the color of the "sweater" and large so little fingers can try to push it in the hole.

Sensory Mat for Andrea

I finally finished the sensory mat for Andrea to hopefully make tummy time more interesting. Each pattern has a different texture. She is sitting so well these days that we just let her sit on it and she sat there rubbing the different squares. I filled the inside with quilting matting so I can put it on the wood floor and it's still soft for her. The back is a fleece material which was probably not that well thought out since it attracts dirt and dog hair :(

Reversible pants

My first sewing project with the new machine - which I LOVE! I can't believe how much different it is than my first machine. Smoother, quieter, and far less fussy. The pants I made - for Edie, of course - are fully reversible, which made for substantial pants with absolutely no seams. It is a great project for using up little scraps, too. Here are many pictures, since there are so many angles of these rather eccentric duds. I am very happy with the fit and feel of them. The pattern came from the Anna Maria Horner book: Handmade Beginnings. The pattern was pretty easy to use, but annoying to trace. I am glad I'd done a few simpler things, but over all I did these in one day during baby sleep times.

Crayon melting in the name of art

This project has been all over the internet craft world lately. So Edie may be one of many of her peers with the likes of it on her wall. But, nevertheless, I like it! And it was fun and simple to make - so simple I made the whole thing while she was awake. No small feat. All you need is canvas, crayons, a hot glue gun, and a hair dryer. And *voila*! You've got a fun piece that is engaging, abstract, and full of texture. It will go above what is now a changing table but will soon hopefully be a blank space since obviously Edie will potty train herself before she's two. Right?!

A link to another example.

Potato print art

Our new house has high ceilings and that demands big art! Especially in Edie's room where the furniture is low to accommodate her toddler stature and where, more than any room, we want it bright and happy. I saw this project online and loved it. The original maker didn't use it as kid-room art, but I think it suits it perfectly. It is colorful and happy, but still interesting and modern enough to grow with her and her room. And using potato printing gives it an organic quality that is more appealing that if it were perfect (at least that's what I tell myself when I notice all the poor alignment!). It was fun to work with acrylics. I read somewhere that the colors you mix are much better and more vibrant than those you buy. It's true and I wish I'd believed them sooner into the project. The printing took awhile, but it was a peaceful activity that you can do while listening to podcasts and whatnot.

Here's the original link.