Before You Get Too Zealous--

I don't do all nine rows at one time.

 I work in thirds to make it easier

to get the quilt into the arm of the machine.

Then you can attach the thirds together with two seams--

and only need to deal with the entire quilt for one last seam. 

Much easier to handle this way.

 

Now that really is enough for one or two--or even three days!

Next Step

Okay, so like me you enjoy sewing all day on a wintry day and want to know how to connect those rows before you mix them all up and lose your pattern.

How to connect rows:

With back sides together, pin two rows together

matching the horizontal seams at the openings

and the marks at the top and bottom.

 

 

Sew down the whole vertical row.

I reinforce each horizontal seam/opening with some reverse stitching.

 

Two rows sewn together and opened up.

 

Flatten the vertical flaps.

 

Sew in a figure 8 pattern up and then down the vertical row, securing the flaps to the front side.

You will cross over at each opening/flap.

 

 

The last stitch holds down all the flaps at a point on the scalloped corner.

 

On the back, there are no exposed seams and the pattern of stitching begins to show.

 

If you are a perfectionist, all the stitching should cross the seams at the same point.

The best thing about a rag quilt is that you don't need to be perfect!

Mine is off a little, but the reverse stitching at each seam should keep the seam tight.

I'd love for these quilts to be dragged around a lot by their baby owners!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Started on a Circular Rag Quilt

A snowy day with a wintry mix expected later is a good day to start a sewing project.  In case you want to make a rag quilt, here is how make a circular quilt step-by-step.

How to make a row:

 

Sew around a circle with front and back together

 

Sew another circle, front and back together.

 

With two sewn circle sets together back to back,

use the square template to mark the four corners and the sewing lines.

 

Sew from one marked corner to another along the line to connect the circles.

 

Open the flaps (front side up) made by the seam. 

Topstitch along the flaps following the stitching already in place

to attach the flaps to the interconnected circles.

 

Sew a whole row of circles together following the directions given.

That should take you less than an hour.

You could make more rows if you have time. 

Be sure to label them "Row 1", "Row 2", etc.

Enough for one lesson!

Next lesson: how to connect rows.

 

 

.

 

 

 

Another Baby Due Soon

A friend from high school also has a granddaughter soon to appear. I started another round rag quilt for her DIL and baby with scraps from previous projects and a little help from my neighbor's stash.

My folder for round rag quilts includes directions and fabric choices from previous quilts I've made. The book and author from which I copied the pattern are noted somewhere on this blog in an earlier posting.

My friend, Irena, who gave me some flannel fabrics to complete my new quilt pattern also set me up with a nice, large cutting board and a handy little gadget that cuts the circles.  I couldn't do it without these tools.  Irena cut her first granddaughter's quilt (and Irena's first quilt) circles after tracing each circle and cutting all edges with scissors.  Then she got online and found these tools. She ordered one of each for her and one of each for me.  Thank goodness!

 

After cutting out all circles, I put together a pattern for front and back. It's easiest to work on a flat surface so that you can view front and back with a flip. You also want to see the outside and middle border and the center. I pin after I'm sure of the pattern. Then flip and check a few more times to make sure I'm ready to sew.

 

New Year--and All Gifts Delivered?

I was so busy making gifts for my daughter's baby shower and Christmas that I didn't want to reveal on this blog, that you must think I've been doing nothing. Far from it!  I'll show you a project I started in the fall with my daughter for her baby due February 3rd.  We had so much going on with the holidays that we just got back to it last weekend.  She snipped and I sewed.  Then into the washer to fluff it up.

Here is Lily's rag quilt made with flannel circles:

 

The fabrics include Sara's baby shower color themes of grey, pink and green and her favorite animal--an elephant.  She feels like an elephant right now waiting out these last few weeks.

 

 

But any day now, just like the elephant's eye and tail in the quilt, Lily will pop out!

 

It can't be soon enough!

 

Here is Lily's smooth quilt back flipped over the front with the rag ruffles.

 

Entire back of the quilt reveals birds in the outer border, grey polka dots and white elephants in the middle border and pink paisleys in the center.  Come on, Lily. We want to see you front and back, totally revealed now.  We're waiting for that last gift from 2012!

 

 

 



September Birthdays Card Designs

A masculine card for my brother-in-law and my brother who both have birthdays in September.  Stampin' Up wood grain stamp inked in  Papertrey Ink's (PTI) Chocolate Chip dye ink on PTI Kraft paper was the base of the front of the card. The striped paper was from American Crafts Night Fall / Night Watch, a double-sided patterned paper I found at a shop called Beautiful Impressions in Westbrook.  I wrapped some brown grosgrain around the striped panel (Best Occasions self-adhesive 1/2 inch ribbon) and topped it with PTI Fine Linen Twill tape. I made a simple bow with the twill tape and added some hemp twine, attaching it all with a brown brad (JoAnn Craft Essentials neutral round brads).  I added a small metal charm to the bow with some hemp.  The charms read "Time, Time, Time" and "Time Is Measured in Moments".  Unknown source--from my stash!  I punched a real estate sign with an EK punch and distressed it with Chocolate Chip dye ink on a dauber and added the sentiment "Birthday Wishes" from Stampin' Up's Sincere Salutations set.  A corner rounder on the outside edges finished the card.

Inspiration card from Pinterest.  I like the changes I made. I thought I had some stitched ribbon but couldn't find it.

My sister and sister-in-law have September birthdays also.  I made this card for them.

The base of the card is PTI Fine Linen cardstock.  The frame mats are green on green gingham, and a  rust colored floral with some sparkle and shine from my stash (no known source).  These layers are wrapped with eyelet lace and jute string wrapped several times and tied with a simple bow. A Martha Steward satin photo corner anchors the top inside corner.  The inset background for the posie is cut with pinking shears from a brown on brown damask patterned paper.  The inner frame is Fine Linen. The flower is punched from a 1 1/2 inch circle and a 3/4 inch circle that were distressed on the edge.  The middle layer of the posie is stamped from a 5 petal Stampin' Up flower punch.  All layers of the posie were cut from a yellow and white polka dot paper with honeybees randomly printed on it.  The center of the flower is a button with jute knot.  The flower layers are dotted with a brown marker to simulate stitching.  The leaves are cut from a Stampin' Up die cut in the green on green gingham pattern.  The sentiment flys on a banner cut from yellow harlequin paper.  It has a vintage look with gingham and lace and a button.

Here's the inspiration card from Pinterest:

I liked the color combination in this card, but couldn't find the right colors and patterns in my stash. I didn't have the scalloped rectangle die cut and stamp or the small heart punch to make a border. I also don't have a 1 inch circle punch for the middle layer of the posie.  I like the banner on the longer stem.  It's great to have a starting place and then problem solve materials and techniques to accomplish something similar--but your own!

They were well received at any early celebration of three of the birthdays.

Card for a Special Girl's Baptism

These cards from Pinterest inspired a card I made for Samantha's baptism last weekend on Nantucket.

I made my own pattern and used a 1 1/2 inch circle punch to cut the neck and Stampin' Up eyelet border punch to create the trim on the hem and sleeves.  I used a Swiss Dots embossing folder to add texture to the the striped vellum overskirt. With a organza ribbon and a paper rose at the Empire waist, it was almost complete. The small pearls on the neckline reminded me of my Add-a-Pearl necklace from childhood.  And Samantha's paternal grandmother actually gave her one for her baptism!

I think she loved it!