SewKatieDid

Because thread is the best glue

applique

::A Little Rain, A Little Shine::

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The day started with rain and ended with a little sun.

It seems fitting this summer in Seattle to be appliqueing a raindrop here and there.

My Sheets of Rain whole cloth quilt has a few now and has become my companion as I sit on the sidelines at various kid summer lessons.

I have a puddle full of raindrops made to add.

I’ve enjoyed picking the scraps from my favorite long gone fabrics for each raindrop.

You can see the process I use to applique them here.

Those appliques come in handy for covering up the free-motion-quilting mistakes.

I love the little bit of shine the yellow flannel adds.

Here’s what it looks like so far.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the rain shower grows.

Though I’m far from ever teaching free-motion quilting I see this as an addition to my whole cloth quilt class with applique potential follow up.

My students and I had a load of fun in my whole cloth quilt class last month.  I made this chevron style one right along with the students to show them the various steps.

The orange stitches sunk into the pink flannel nicely.  I can’t recall the maker of this flannel, but it is super buttery and thick.

The stripe and binding fabric are old Amy Butler’s that had lost their appeal for making their way into a pieced project, I’d just had them too long I guess, but worked perfectly in this quilt.

Now I have another to add to this one as my class examples or for that next special baby.

 

I’ve enjoyed making these so much that I created a Whole Cloth Quilt Group to showcase them.  I hope if you make one you’ll add it.

Now I have plans for one on my bed!

 

::Crib Duvet Covers::

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I get bored with the usual pillowcased receiving blanket for Baby Shower gifts.  When Roan was wee, I spotted the duvet inserts for cribs and was hooked.  They are warm and you can change them up.  Plus, the added bonus of lovely flannel, which is a fabric for anything baby.

Shopping for insert:

Ikea’s Len. Only $14.99 and soft.  100% polyester filled.  But on the smaller side.

Jo jo Designs.  (Google for stores) More costly, but larger and down filled.

Company Store for Kids.  They sell sythetic and down filled.  The size is generous and they machine wash wonderfully.

I use two flannels.

Measure your duvet insert.

Add four inches to the length and one inch to the width of each panel.

I serge the edges (or zig-zag).  Add a one inch hem at the bottom of each.

Sew some snap twill tape or velcro onto the hem on the right side of the fabric.

Now press this hem to the wrong side so that the closure will be on the inside (press to the wrong side of fabric).

Place the panels right sides together.  Using a 1/2 inch seam, sew up the length, across the top and down the last length.  Backstitch of course.

Clip corners and turn rightside out.  Insert comforter.

I like to add appliqued stars or a contrasting panel at the top or bottom sometimes.