An update: Real Life

Real life for me (and probably you too!) means....

Family first! I am lucky to be a full-time mom to these two wild little boys. Pretty consuming, but I wouldn't change it for anything!

So after my family, home, and church commitments are tended too, I am still squeezing in a bit of creative time. Yep, I still manage to sew and give because it helps me find balance in life.

But with all that happens at home, not much is happening here on the blog.  :)

So, to follow along, find me on instagram: givinghandmade.

Happy crafting!

In Love

My greatest project....

Baby Andrew! 

Excuse me while I take a break to love on this little man. :)

Modern Chain Baby Quilt

It's been quite around here lately.....probably because we're busy prepping for baby #2! Any day now!

What I love about sewing and crafting is that it's there when I need it - a creative outlet that helps me feel well rounded - but nothing mandatory. For me, that's what works and makes me happy!

I have spent some time in the craft room lately. I can't stay away for long...

This Modern Chain baby quilt is almost complete. I purchased the pattern several months ago, interested to figure out how something with so many pieces could be pieced quickly. And I'm happy to say, yep, it was quick!

I probably spent more time digging through my scraps, choosing the fabrics, then actually piecing the quilt top. But I realized I loved this process! I think this is  my first quilt top made entirely from scraps. I'll have to do it again! 

After the quilt top was finished, it sat for weeks because I couldn't decide how it should be quilted. I'm such a novice when it comes to free motion quilting. I wanted to try something new, but was hesitant because this quilt has large open background spaces - my less than perfect quilting would be easily seen in those areas.

I decided to try some loose swirls. Since I knew this could get out of hand easily, I marked circles in an offset grid to keep me on track, not only with spacing, but approximate size of each swirl. Glad I did; this was really helpful.

I think it turned out ok for a first try. I'll have to do this again!

Almost done!

Sewing for Baby Boy: Simple Patchwork Quilt

We are counting down (about 7 weeks left, maybe less!) and it's about time I get something ready for this baby boy!

It's funny how excited I get to make a baby quilt for a friend or family member; I always have lots of ideas. But when it came to our own baby - I was drawing a blank. I thought about it for a long time and kept putting if off. All I knew was that I wanted something really simple.

Eventually, I chose the backing fabric. I really like this Michael Miller print, part of the Les Monsieurs collection. I like the grey drawings on the white background, and these little airplanes, cars, and rocket ships are pretty cute. The lime green and range of blues appealed to me too.

So, pulling colors from this print, I gathered several fabrics from my stash and ordered a few more - .....

I opted for a simple patchwork quilt with squares that finish at 4", starting as 4.5" strips to make the most of each 1/4 yard cut.

The quilting is simple, just straight lines about 3/8" on either side of each seam.

I opted for a striped binding, another Michael Miller print.

The quilt is done! Lots more to do...

Sewing for Little Girls

Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were relaxing! Ours were for sure - it was nice to slow down and spend time at home with our little family.
I didn't get into the sewing room much, but I did sneak in one project...

Yes, my craving to sew for a little girl returned! :) A few weeks ago I saw this fabric and instantly thought of my four-year-old niece. Isn't it so sweet? It's part of the Table for Two line by Moda.

So, I turned to the Hopscotch Dress, another Peek-a-Boo Pattern, because I knew it was manageable for me and a pretty quick project. (Here's my first Hopscotch Top.) I also really like the simplicity of this pattern.

Simple and sweet! I hope she loves it!

Now on to spring cleaning, my after-Christmas tradition. Not so sweet, but after that....it's time to sew for this baby! Third trimester, here we are!

Christmas Pajamas!

My little man's Christmas pajamas are finished and I have to say - what a fun sew! This may turn into a tradition; we'll see! (At least for now he loves them....as he grows he may not always appreciate handmade. For now, I'll enjoy it!)

He received them early, just in time for his class Polar Express party. And really, he picked out the snowmen fabric and wouldn't let me forget I had a project in the works, so these were no surprise! 

However, I read somewhere of a family who opens their Christmas pajamas on Thanksgiving night. Great idea, right? Then they can wear them the whole Christmas season!

I went with the Peek-A-Boo pattern, Sweet Dreams Button Up Pj Set. I liked the range of sizes included in the pattern (3 months - 12 years) plus I have used these patterns before and had good luck with them. That's saying a lot because I am a novice when it comes to sewing clothes! To me, putting together a quilt is much more simple. :)

These came together without any problems - pleasantly surprising! I wouldn't label this project as quick, however. The piping really slowed me down, but I love the detail. I bet a set of pjs without the piping would be a much faster project. 

As I mentioned before, my son was in love with these little snowmen. It's a quilting weight cotton from Joann's, which faded a bit. Bummer. It turned out fine, but a flannel would be much more cozy. Maybe next time!

The fit was perfect, and I didn't even go to the effort of measuring my little man or another pair of pajamas. I just went with the size I would have purchased. 

He loves them and it was fun for me!

Merry Christmas!

Quick Charity Quilts

A couple of years ago I picked up a few prints from the flat fold table at my local quilt shop for a really low price, knowing they would make great charity quilts.

Earlier this year I put together the pink quilt so I could practice quilting in loops...

And then when my husband bought a {new to me} sewing machine for my birthday in September, I put together this boy's quilt so I could get a feel for the Bernina walking foot. And that guide bar? Awesome! Makes grid quilting a breeze!

When I heard our church group was participating in a community charity event this weekend, I knew these quilts would be perfect! So I quickly finished the binding and they are ready to go.

They each measure 44" x 60" and though they are not fancy, these simple whole cloth quilts are warm!

Hourglass Quilt & Patchwork Pillow for Baby

We had an awesome Thanksgiving - good food and good family time - and even x2! We enjoyed two Thanksgiving dinners, one with each side of the family.

My sister came to town for the holiday, so I was able to give her the gifts for her baby boy, due to arrive in a few weeks! We're excited! And now I can share the finished set here...

This simple quilt is made of basic hourglass blocks. I used the leftover scraps to make a patchwork pillow. (Which I think I like even more than the quilt!)

Want to make one? Very simple. You will need...

6 fat quarters or 1/4 yards - assorted prints

1 1/5 yards background fabric - solid

1/2 yard binding

1 1/5 yards backing

Cut the prints into squares measuring 7.5". 

From the background fabric cut 6 strips, each 2.5" x width of fabric. These will become the border.

Also from the background fabric, cut 5 strips, each 7.5" wide x width of fabric. Then subcut into 7.5" squares.

You will use 24 print squares and 24 background squares to make the hourglass blocks.

Never made an hourglass block? 

There are many great instructions out there already on how to assemble an hourglass block. Check this out: Hourglass Block Tutorial.

Though my blocks are bigger, the construction is the same. I trimmed my blocks down to 6.5" square.

I arranged and sewed my blocks together into a 6 x 8 grid. 

After the rows are sewn together, piece two border strips together along the short ends to make a very long strip. Sew this long strip along the left side (a long side) of the quilt top, centering the seam with the center of the quilt top. Repeat this process for the right side. Trim the excess. Then sew one strip along the top and one along the bottom to complete the outer border. The quilt top is finished. :) It should measure approximately 40" x 52".

Quilt and bind! Here are some links with more detail: Quilting Basics.

For the front of the patchwork pillow, I cut the print scraps into 3 3/4" squares and sewed these squares into a 4 x 4 grid. Then I made this patchwork panel into a mini quilt. I used a batting scrap, backed it with muslin, and then quilted in straight lines, just on either side of every seem. 

When this mini quilt was complete, I cut a piece of fabric for the back of the pillow - the same size as the front. I lined this back piece with interfacing to give it a little more structure. (You could also quilt the back panel in the same manner as the front.)

Then I sewed the front (the mini quilt) to the back around the edges (right sides together), leaving an opening for turning. After clipping the corners and turning right side out, I stuffed it with fiberfill until it was firm and then hand stitched the opening closed. The pillow measures approximately 13" square.

I used a Michael Miller print - On the Go in Navy (the cute little bicycles!) as well as several Riley Blake dots and stripes.

Excited for more boys in this family!

Christmas Pajamas

It feels like the holidays are in full swing! Wherever we go, there is Christmas music playing and gifts and decorations for sale everywhere. Are we the last family in this world holding onto the day-after-Thanksgiving decorating tradition? Our tree may not be up yet, but there are plenty of preparations underway!

Christmas Pajamas - a classic tradition!
We've always given our son one gift on Christmas eve - special pajamas, of course. And up until now, I've just shopped around to find the perfect pair.
But this year, while shopping for some binding fabric for the Spinning Spectrum quilt, my son picked out a snowman print and asked if we could turn it into pajamas. How could I turn down such a cute request? He won't be little for long, and may not always appreciate handmade things.

Well, I'd already had my eye on a couple patterns, but I did a bit more browsing (I love seeing what others make!) Here are a few of my favorites.

If you are looking for a FREE pajama pattern or tutorial, one of these may help you out:

Pajama-Rama Top & Bottoms - Shwin & Shwin

Taylor's Pajama Pants PDF Pattern - Create Kids Couture 

Flannel Christmas Nightgown - Riley Blake

Simple Pajama Pants Tutorial - Simply Modern Mom

How cute are these pajamas with the bottom flap?

Faux Union Suit Tutorial - Dahlhart Lane

Or if you don't mind paying a few dollars, here are a few others:

Alex & Anna Winter PJs - Peek-a-Boo Patterns

(I have this pattern and it is great! Great directions and photos make this one easy - even if you're intimidated to sew with knits)

Sweet Dreams Button-Up Pj Set - Peek-a-Boo Patterns

Lazy Day Pajamas - Blank Slate Patterns

Wish me luck! Love handmade holidays!

Busy Bicycles

Do you remember this stack?

Well, once I delivered my Spinning Spectrum quilt to the Festival of Trees last week, it was time to pick up work on a few other little projects. First up, these bicycles! I love this print (Sarah Jane for Michael Miller - On the Go in navy) and picked a few Riley Blake dots and stripes to go with it. 

Before long I had all the hourglass blocks complete and sewn together...

and it is so busy! I should have known; these prints are very bold and a strong contrast to the white-on-white background. A little much? We'll see...

Pin basted and ready to be quilted!

A Colorful Finish

Alright, way overdue for an update, I'd say!

I'm working on another project - my biggest yet - and I'll just say, I'm a bit more tired than usual. :) Excited as can be, but just not my productive self. This project will be complete in the spring! It's been a looooong time coming, so we are very, very grateful.

So even though I have been sewing, I've haven't kept the pace up on the blog. But I'm feeling good and have a few projects I'm excited about, so we'll keep plugging along, if you care to follow.

So it's time to share my favorite quilt ever! My Spinning Spectrum quilt is finished!

This quilt was more time intensive than my usual simple baby quilts. I stretched myself on the design and piecing - a paper pieced pattern that I drafted myself, and my first paper pieced project. 

When the quilt top was complete, I was really pleased. It came together just as planned. And I just wasn't sure if I could quilt it myself. I almost sent it off to a long arm quilter!

My husband encouraged me to see this project through to the end - on my own. I really struggled coming up with a design that was relevant to the quilt top and manageable on my machine. The quilt sat for almost two weeks while I doodled and tried to make a decision. Then one night an idea popped into my head and I knew I had it!

I quilted in straight lines, originating in the center color wheel, a vertex within in each triangle, and then angling out to the edges of the quilt. The quilting lines are spaced 1" and give the finished quilt a great texture.

These stars are a fun secondary design.

The finished quilt measures 48" x 48", intended to be a wall hanging.

Though this would be fun to hang in my craft room, it's destined for Festival of Trees. Today was the first day to enter quilts, and just like last year, I took a peek behind the scenes after I dropped off my quilt. Imagine a huge room with tons of people working to receive, sort, and price lots of beautiful gifts, most handmade. It's a real life Santa's workshop! You can just feel like excitement; and I'm grateful to be one small part of it!

Read more about Festival of Trees (and a bit more info here and here), or see the quilts I donated last year.