Rag Quilts

I had never been interested in making rag quilts until I

met my friend Vanda. She has made well over 100

of them for family and friends. She gave me

this fabric, so I made this rag quilt and now

I am hooked on making them.

I made this one for my new grandson that will be

here soon, November 13. It is made without

batting and I really like the softness of it.

I hope he likes it!!

My granddaughter and I are also making one
together out of scrapes form my Pillow Project,
so I will post that as soon as it is done.
That is the great thing about rag quilts, it does not
take long to make one and an 8 year old can help!!

The Brother Flair-a-matic 190

I purchased this machine six years ago for $15.00. I always brag about how good it runs, but never use it. Since it weights 35 pounds it is hard to get out from under my sewing table where I store it.

But today I drug it out to see how it would sew

on a heavy duty job. I did not want to break my Bernina trying to

sew through too many layers of heavy fabric. This Brother Flairamatic did a great job.

So I will be using this one often now!!

This Brother Flairamatic model 190, was made in the late 1950's.

One of my Singer machines

Singer 221 Featherweight

white/light green in color,

made in 1964, this was one of the last

Featherweights Singer made.

Featherweight machines were manufactured from

1933 to 1964.

Sophia loves to sew on this one too!

Recipients

This is where all the pillows go...

the City of Surprise Police Department.

Little pillow form tutorial

Recently someone ask me, how do you make the little pillow forms

for the Pillow Project?

So here it is. If you have any questions you can email me from

my website http://www.sewingisforfun.com/

Cut two pieces of fabric 11x13 for small form and 12 1/2x17

for larger form.

Turn right sides together and pin all the way around.

You can cut your fabric on the fold, as in this picture.

So no pinning on that side.

Sew with desired seam allows all the way around,

leaving an opening on one side so you can stuff the form.

I also serge around for more durability. Be careful

not to serge passed the stitched line. If you do, you will not be able to fold under the opening

seam allowance properly. If you do not have a serger you can use your

zigzag stitch or just skip that step.

Stuff through the opening. Don't stuff too full or your

pillow will not be soft.

Tuck in the seam allowance of the opening and pin.
Make a nice 1/4 inch seam on the inside so it will not pull open.
Sew close to the edge, assuring that you catch the fabric on the inside.
I also place pins horizontally an inch or so away (see picture) , this will help
hold the fabric in place as this is the hardest part of the project.
Please try to ignore my ugly cut finger!


Who made the decision that pillow forms are white!!!


I like the pillow form to match the pillow in someway.
Either in theme or color.

The Pillow Project

After starting the Pillow Project a year ago, it progressed pretty slow.

Now I have a reason to get moving!

The Pillow Project has the opportunity to make pillows for The City of Surprise.

Through their Intervention Program, the pillows will be distributed to children in need.

I am so excited for this opportunity and could not wait to share this good news.

If anyone would like to know more about my Pillow Project go to sewingisforfun.com

A little each day.

Trying to spend a little time in the sewing room each day.

I finally found more of my favorite fabric, English Tea Garden, which

I want to use in this quilt.

I have been trying to work on this for a long time. It is a

project for the Reap What You Sew group.

To find out more about RWYS go hear.

Still working on Tiler's quilt.

Getting closer to done!

These were his school colors for 2008-2009,

by now I am very tired of looking at them. I need to get this side

done and start working on the back side, which will be his new

school colors.

I need to make two more footballs.

Nearly done. (this quilt did get finished and mailed)

Still working on this baby quilt, but almost done.

Sewing the binding on.

Just spending time in the sewing room tonight.

The back.....working on it just a little today.

The baby came early!!

My niece had that little baby boy early, just a few hours ago!

All is well, but the quilt is not done, it is getting closer though.

I added this border today with the little boats,

this was so much fun.

I am getting very fond of paper piecing.

I used a boat pattern from this book.

This is a great book, it has a CD for your computer and you can print out

any pattern any size you would like, well.....up to

7 1/2 inch square on one sheet. You can print them larger but the pattern will be on two separate sheets of paper and you can tape them together.

It is my favorite book as far as paper piecing goes.

Another boy quilt.

As I have said in the pass "boy quilts are hard for me", I can never decide what to do.

So today I had to get busy because this baby boy is coming soon, if the quilt

is done or not!!

I decided to keep it simple, as you know, that is how I like things.

This will be the middle square, the boats are paper pieced.

This portion of the quilt is 20 x 24 and with borders it will be just the right size.

What to do??

I have not finished a big project in awhile.

So what to do??

I need to be working on Tiler's quilt, so today I made this heart for the border.

I think I will put it after his name. It is paper pieced.

Red Bird

.....and I did make another Red Bird pillow.

I am trying!!

I am trying to get some of this done,

but life is busy!!

I finally finished this block!!

Simple Pillowcase Tutorial

These pillowcases are designed for small children but you can

make them any size you would like.

Cut the front and back, these are

12 1/2 x 18.

Fold the shorter sides over 1/4 inch to the wrong side and press. This is the first fold for the hem in the opening. Or, sometimes I just serge this end.

Lay right sides together. This would be with the little hem to the outside and printed fabric, if it is, to the inside.

Sew at least 1/4 inch seam around remaining sides.


Opening will look like this.

Progress so far.


If you own a serger, serge around the three sides you have sewn, leaving tails at the ends. If you do not have a Serger you can zig zag all around and back stitch at the ends.

Fold back the opening one more time, I use about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch, being careful to tuck in the tails of the serging thread so they do on ravel out. It is important to make the pillowcase sturdy, since we do not know how it will be maintained.

Sew all around.

I applique my small signature heart in the corner.

FINISHED!!

If you are making these for the Pillow Project you can make them any size

and I will make the pillow form to fit. Or....you can also make the form if you would like.

The pillow project

This pillow started it all! I blogged about it earlier in May, it is made of flannel and fleece, it was so easy and fun, soft and cuddly.

I thought....it would be nice if every small child could have one.

It didn't take long to make but if I was going to make them as

a gift to small children in need, I would have to think of

a faster and more economical way of doing it.

So......I think these are just as cute and even more practical.

Each pillow case has a fleece signature heart applique on it.


The costly part of the pillow was the form, so I decide
to make my own. It turned out that this made it even
softer and more cuddly and cut the cost by so much I
could not even believe it...God is good!!!

If someone out there would like to help make these little pillow cases
I will make the forms for them.
Make them from flannel in a child's theme.
You can make them any size but these are 10 1/2 x 16.

I also made some measuring 14 x 18 for older children. the handy thing
about this larger size is that a pillow form can be purchased for these
if needed, it is a standard neck pillow size.