The Plethora Continues - Project 2

I finally finished this chenille blanket that I started, um... well, lets just say it has been a while, and I'm glad to be able to cross it off the WIP's list. And I'm also glad to finally have had the opportunity to take some photos of it since it has been waiting and waiting for it's turn in the spot light. 

I was inspired by this chenille blanket found here. These blankets look simple enough, and in fact they are, but all those straight lines of quilting gets really old, and really fast.  Which is probably why I finished half of the quilting and then set it aside for several months before picking it back up again. The end results are just so adorable though, it almost makes it all worth it.

I used five layers for this blanket, all flannel fabrics. I layered the owl print on the bottom, a layer of pink then three additional layers - red, pink and yellow.  I didn't pre-wash anything and I was really worried the red would bleed.  I used a trick I found at Crazy Mom Quilts, which is to add 1 cup of table salt to the wash to keep it from bleeding.  Works like a charm!  I will definitely be using this trick in the future.

I quilted the lines 1/2 inch a part. After finishing all the quilting and all the cutting, the blanket squared up to measure 40 X 40, a nice crib size blanket. And with all those layers, it is super warm. 

For the binding I used a red and white polka dot cotton print that I've used before (like here and here).  I just love this fabric, it is one of my favorites. Plus it ties in really nicely with the owl print.

Just looking at all of those lines makes my eyes go wonky, but truly the end result is so worth it.  This is probably one of my favorite baby blankets that I have made (which is why this one will be sticking with me).  Maybe after a few months of forgetting about all those straight lines, I might even be tempted to make a second one. 

There is a really simple tutorial on how to make one of these, if you are interested - but don't say I didn't warn you about all those straight lines - you can find it here.

A Plethora of Finished Projects

I have a plethora of finished projects to share, but I'll just start with one today. A receiving blanket that has been patiently waiting to be finished.  Why is it that the simplest projects often take the longest to finish? Seriously, this should not have taken me as long as it has, but... I'm just glad that it is done.

Same as always. Two flannel prints (the backing is an adorable purple gingham) with my favorite cross over stitch around the edge.  Sweet and simple!

No plans for this one, so I guess it will just be "added to the pile", as my husband says.

Cross Over Stitch Crochet Edging Tutorial

Remember way back when I showed you a receiving blanket with a new edging? Well, I'm finally getting around to posted a tutorial on this edging. Better late than never, I guess. I like to call this stitch the CW stitch, since I learned it from my Aunt Carolyn. But I guess you could call it the cross over stitch, since it looks like little "x's" crossing over each other.

I really love this stitch, probably it is my new favorite! It is super simple and extremely fast! One single round and your done!I learned this pattern by watching, without a pattern to read, so I'm going to do my best to make one to share with you all. I hope it make sense. If not, you can always email or leave a comment and I'll do my best to explain. You can visit my previous crochet edging tutorial here for instructions on how I make my receiving blankets and what type of yarn, needles, etc. are necessary to make one. Now for the pattern~

First - SC in any stitch to get started. Next - Chain 3 (or chain 4 if you'd like a picot edge to be a little more distinct. Or if you would like to just have the cross stitch with out the picot edging, skip this step. You can always add a second round with a shell stitch, puff stitch, or any other edging that you wish).SC in the previous stitch.Next - skip the next stitch and SC in the next stitch. Chain 3. SC in the previously skipped stitch.Continue doing this until you have gone all the way around. SC, chain 3, SC in previous stitch, skip next stitch, SC in next stitch, chain 3.... you get the idea.

It should look something like this.A view of the back.That's it! Easy peasy! Super simple, super fast, and super cute! Happy crocheting!

2009 Finished Projects

I can't believe that it is already 2010! It seems like just yesterday I was counting my finished projects for the year. I definitely do not have as many finished projects that were completed in 2009 as were completed in 2008, but I am pretty proud of the ones that I did get finished. It was a crazy year. Lots of things happened (several good things and several bad things), and I must admit that I am excited for a new year! I hope this year will be fantastic! One for the books!

And hopefully filled with lots of completed projects! Happy New Year!

Check Two More Off the List

I know I'm cutting it close, but I'm just proud that I got them done in 2009. I finished 6 of the 9 projects I had on my list to get completed by the end of the year. Quite an accomplishment for me, so I'm kinda proud.

I can't show you one of these yet, since it is a gift that hasn't been delivered yet. But I promise all will be revealed soon enough. Here is a sneak peak just to prove that it did in fact get finished.The second finished project for the Joy in the New Year Challenge, is a receiving blanket that I started back in...umm...May. Yes, this has been sitting around collecting dust for too long. It was about time that it got finished. I used a new edging for this one that is super simple and looks really pretty. Another bonus to this edging... you only have to do one round of it. I suppose you could do two rounds if you'd like and just leave the picot off, but I kinda like it the way it is. Fast, simple, and really pretty.
It feels great to get all these UFO's completed and out of the way. Now I don't have to feel guilty about starting another project. Thank you to Jacquie for all the inspiration and motivation to get these projects finished.

PS. Happy New Year! 2009 was kinda a hard year, but it did have its positive moments. I'm looking forward to a new year filled with new adventures. Thank you to all of you who actually read this, and for all your lovely comments. I enjoy each and every one of them.

Dimitri’s Blanket

My sweet kitty turned 5 yesterday!  We totally celebrated his birthday, because we are slowly turning into the crazy cat people of the neighborhood, and it was fun!  Anyway, for his birthday I made him a new blanket.  He absolutely loves blankets, all kinds of blankets, but really the flannel ones are his favorites.

It was a family effort to make this for him.  Dustin picked out the fabric and I did the sewing.  Then Sophie kept it warm for him (or in other words, kicked him off of it so she could lay on it.  Looks like I need to make a second one). 

I figured Dimitri wouldn't care if it had a crochet edging or a decorative stitch so I went with the fastest one.  I tried out a few new stitches (and even one that I might try for quilting next time) and finally settled on this one. 

He really likes it and I think Sophie is jealous.  I really think I will be making a second one of these in the near future for her.

PS- Double yay to the Jazz for beating the Lakers last night!   Even with all the injured players, they still were able to win!  What a game!

Satin Binding and Me are NOT Friends

I decided to try something different for the edging on a receiving blanket.  When I saw this satin binding, I thought that it would be perfect.   Little did I know that satin was not a friend of mine.  Boy is that stuff slippery.  Way to much pinning for my taste.

I used a pre-made satin binding and attached it to two pieces of flannel.  It turned out super cute and it is oh so soft, but this will most likely be the one and only time that I attempt this.  I just might have to keep this one since I will not be making another like this.

After I finished the satin edging, I decided that crochet edges really were more my style.  So I started a new one with a lovely crochet edging.  Oh, this made me so happy! 

One side is a flower print and the reverse side is a polka dot print that I just adore.

The edging is just the simple shell stitch that I have been using to make dish cloths and the placemats.  I really enjoy this stitch and think maybe next time I will do two rounds of it.

 

I’m off to put together a few more because we all know that I love them!

Another Receiving Blanket

Well, I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have finished yet another receiving blanket. I think I have a slight addiction. Okay, maybe a big time addiction. The sad part is that I don't even have a need for them. It is almost as if I am collecting them! I know, it is a sickness.

This one I have been working on for awhile now. I just couldn't figure out what to do for the edging. I kept starting a pattern getting almost half way done and ripping it out because I didn't like it. I finally settled on my favorite stitch, the puff stitch around a HDC. Only this time, I did three rounds. First, the round of SC. Second, a round of DC. Third, the puff stitch round. I'm actually quite pleased with it, considering I tried four different edgings before finally deciding on this one. What can I say, I like this stitch and the way it looks.

Weekend Finished Projects

The weekend went by super fast, but somehow I managed to squeeze in some time for crafting. I think mostly it has to do with Sunday Football. I don't really enjoy football but I love all the time that I get to myself to do some crafting while Dustin is watching football.

I am having a hard time believing that it is already the end of September. Which means, Christmas is coming up way faster than I would like. So, when I saw this tutorial by Crazy Mom Quilts, I thought it would be an excellent present for the in-laws. Dustin wasn't so sure about it, so I told him that I'd make some for us and see how they worked out. If he liked them, then I would make them for his family. If not, at least we would have some more dishcloths. I guess I went a little crazy, because I made four dish cloths and one hand towel for us and nothing for his parents, even though he said that he liked them and I should make some for them. I guess I'll get to that later. Amanda Jean does warn you in her tutorial that this project is not ideal for those people who do not like binding. I guess, I didn't realize how much I hate binding. I think I need to learn how to stitch it down by hand, and then I'd be more happy about it. Maybe this would be a good idea for craft night.

I also had time to start and finish a new receiving blanket. I'm really trying to stock up on my baby stuff to give away since so many people I know are expecting. This one was super simple. I just stitched it together and did a decorative stitch around the edging. I used the leaf stitch that is on my new sewing machine and went around twice: once in purple and once in green. I'm actually really pleased with the way that it turned out. Hopefully, I will be able to part with this one. And, I also started a new embroidery project. I know, just what I need. I swear this new hobby might be the death of me. But I counted up all the projects that I have finished this year, have started but not finished, and have waiting to be started. My list of finished projects is ahead of the other two categories (although, not by much), so I figured it was okay to start a new project. I'll post more on it when it is done.

Winner! & Finally A Tutorial

Okay, We have a winner! Yes this really is Dustin's hand. I made him pick a name out of a bowl of everyones names. Thanks to all who commented.

Yippee for Christina. Congrats! I hope you enjoy this blanket and will be able to find something to do with it. Send me and email with your address so I can get it in the mail to you!
Also, many of you have asked how it is that I make these receiving blankets. They are so super simple. If fact it was actually harder to make a video of me actually doing it, than it is to make one. Hopefully I will be able to describe to you how to make these. If you have any questions, just ask because this is my first time and I'm a little nervous about how it will go.

First, I buy two yards of fabric (one yard of each) of flannel. I usually do two different prints that match but you could easily just do one print for both the front and the back. What ever you like best. Iron them out flat so there are not wrinkles. The I lay them out on a hard surface with the wrong sides together (right sides facing out). Smooth out the fabric from the center working out towards the edges until it is all even. Then square up the fabric using a rotary cutter and mat. Then take a kitchen plate (yes, I know this is very precise), and place it on one corner of your now square pieces of flannel. Place it just so that it makes a nice rounded edge and mark along the outside of the plate with a pen. Do this on all four corners. Then take your sewing scissors and cut along the mark you just made so as to make rounded edges. Does this make sense? You can easily just leave them so they are square corners if you want, I just find that it goes a lot smoother when crocheting around the edges if they are round. I hope this is all making sense because it is actually harder to explain that I thought it would be.

Then, with a wing tip needle (you can get these in most craft stores or in any quilting store) in your sewing machine, sew a 1/4 seam around the edges. I usually use a larger stitch length (on my machine it is set at 3.5, but I don't know if all machines are the same) but do what ever looks good to you. Just know that you will be crocheting in the holes that the wing tip needle makes so space out the stitches so that it will look nice and covered when you crochet around the edges.

Note- You can buy receiving blankets with hem stitching that are ready to go. If you do this, then you don't have to worry about the first few steps, just move right on to the crochet part. I usually like to buy my own flannel and make them this way, but that is only because I can do it for less. The pre-made ones are usually around $25 per set and I can make one for around $10. Plus you get to choose the fabrics you want. Both look good.

Now you are ready to begin crocheting. Yeah for crochet! This is the thread that I use to do the edges on my blankets. You can use any crochet thread that you like. Personally I like this brand best because the weight of the thread is a little heavier and I think it is just easier to work with then the really thin stuff. Again, it is whatever you prefer.

On my receiving blankets, I usually do two rounds. You can do more, but I find that usually one skein of thread is enough to go around twice (unless of course you use my favorite puff stitch, shown later, then you will need two skeins). The first round is simple. Just a single crochet. The second round it the fun part where you add the fancy stitches to make great designs. Note, you can do more than two rounds if you want. It is all up to you. On this red blanket that I am currently working on, I am actually doing three rounds because I wanted it to be a bit more fancy than usual. For the first round I use a size 1.90 mm crochet hook (sorry, I don't know if it has a letter associated with it). I like the Susan Bates brand of hook because I think they glide more smoothly, but any brand will work just fine. It is a smaller hook which I find is easier to punch through the fabric. The second hook that i use is a 2.75 mm hook, Susan Bates brand. I use this for the fancy edging because it is bigger and makes my stitches look more even and it is faster for me to work with. So, on to the first round. Super easy. Make a slip knot in your thread and loop over your hook. With the front of the receiving blanket (what ever print you want to be the front side, it doesn't really matter but sometimes I do a print with a plain fabric for the backside. In this case, the print is my front side) facing you, do a single crochet stitch in each hole that was made by the wing tip needle (one single crochet on each stitch). Here is a little video. Apologies for the crumminess of this. I had to have Dustin help, and he was not too excited. So it really isn't the best, and it is kind of hard to see, but this was the best that I could get. Just try to make your stitches as even as possible. I kind of rock the fabric back and forth to help punch through the holes a little easier.

Now for the really fun part. The fancy edging! There are many different edges that you can do. Some of my favorites are the shell stitch, v-stitch, and the puff stitch over a half double crochet. I find most of my edgings in books or online. But since the puff stitch over a half double is my favorite and the one I use the most, I'll try my best to show you how to do it.

Once you have finished the first round of single crochet, join the last stitch to the very first stitch you made with a slip stitch. Chain two to get to the second row. These first chain two's will act like the first half double crochet. Then do a puff stitch in the stitch before the two chain just made (if you are a righty then this is the stitch to the right of the first chain twos. If you are a lefty, then.....I'll have to ask my mom on this one but I think it will be the stitch to the left. Mom is that right?) A puff stitch is done like this.

Yarn over, go into the stitch and yarn over again, pull up a loop, yarn over, go into the same stitch again, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, go into the same stitch again, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through all the loops on your hook. (Now do you see why this pattern takes two skeins of thread? That's a lot of yarning over. If you want to you can do it twice instead of three times, it just makes the puff stitch a little less, well.... puffy!)

Next, skip two stitches, and do a half double crochet in the third stitch. Note I skip two stitches from the half dc that I made. Does that make sense? A half double crochet is made by doing this. Yarn over, go into the stitch, yarn over, pull through all three loops.

Then do a puff stitch to the right of the hdc just made. Technically it is doing a puff stitch in the second skipped stitch. Here is another crummy video to try and show you what I mean. I'm really sorry I am not better at describing this. Keep repeating this pattern until you have gone all the way around the blanket. End by joining the stitches with a slip stitch. Make a knot to end and then weave in the ends. I usually iron my blankets again once I am all done to help make the edges lay flat (I crochet really tight) and then wrap them up and send them off to the new owners.

This is what it should look like.

I really hope this tutorial helps. I am definitely not the best at describing stuff. I hope that it wasn't too confusing. If you do make any receiving blanket, please send pictures. I'd love to see them. If you have any questions, just let me know. I'll try my best to answer them.

*Answers to a few Questions*

I've had a few questions on this tutorial. So I'll just clarify a few things.

After I put the flannel together and square it up, I sew around the edges with the wing tip needle. You can serge around the edges if you prefer, it works either way. I just prefer to sew around the edges because I don't have a serger and then I don't have to borrow my moms just to do it. I have done it both ways, and they both look great.

When I do the sewing with the wing tip needle to punch the holes, I do have the machine threaded when I sew. I've never tried it without the thread, but I'm sure that it would work if you serged the edges first and then sewed around it with a wing tip needle and no thread.

100th Post + Giveaway!

I can't believe that this is my 100th post! Crazy how fast time flies.

I originally started this blog just for me. I didn't plan on telling anyone that I knew that I had it. I guess you could say that I felt really sheepish about the whole thing. Seriously, I already make everyone tell me how fantastic my projects are in person (yes, even my boss but mostly just because he doesn't quite know what to say when I show him stuff), and now I was doing it on a blog. I was really quite nervous to start one and wasn't sure anyone would even read it. After a few weeks of posting, I started to get a few comments and I was so excited! So I kept going. A few more posts and more comments. Then, a slip of the mouth to someone I knew (you know who you are, no worries I still love you), and everyone I knew was reading My Blog. Now I really felt weird... but I secretly loved it. (Who wouldn't love praise over their silly projects.) It really has been a nice way for me to keep up on my projects and even finish a few once in a while. If only I could get past the "oh, I could make this... and this... and this..." I'm sure I'd finish a lot more things. After a few more posts and projects, I was asked to be interviewed by Carina of Craft Blog. What an honor! Now you could say my confidence was really blooming.

I guess what I am trying to say is Thanks to all you out there who do read this blog and comment. It makes my day and inspires me to keep making stuff to show off. I appreciate it... very much!

So to show my appreciation I have decided to do a giveaway for my 100th post! And not only that, but I have decided to part with something that I love to keep in piles and piles. Yep, you guessed it... A Receiving Blanket! When I was thinking of what I could possibly give away that some one would like, I went through many ideas. Dish cloths, an afghan (sorry not enough time or energy), homemade cards, a quilt.... I thought of many things. Then I thought of my favorite thing to make and decided that for this to be my first giveaway I wanted to give away something that would remind people of me. And what do I love to make more then anything else, what do I fall back on time and time again?

Receiving blankets!

And I'm sure you are all thinking "what am I going to do with a receiving blanket?" Honestly, I don't know. But you will think of me when you see it. Maybe you could give it away to someone having a baby, or your daughter, or grandchild, the stray cat, or the local hospital. What ever you feel is best.
It is a lovely lavender color with stars on the front and stripes on the back. I used a simple shell stitch around the edges, nothing too fancy but yet very girly!

Also included in this package is a burp cloth and a homemade card (just in case you want to give this away at like a baby shower). Now, the rules for entering. All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post by Thursday the 31st at 5:00 pm mountain time. Then I will choose a random winner using a random number generator or maybe I'll just make Dustin pull one at random out of a hat, and announce the winner on Friday. Easy right! Just leave me a comment. Oh, and if you really don't want this give away at all, just comment on a different post if you feel the urge.

Thanks again for all the comments, it really makes my day! Good luck!

New Baby Blanket

Our friends just had a baby so I had to hurry and whip a blanket up for them. For some reason I stock pile the girl blankets and ever have any boy blankets. I am kinda sad to see this one go because I love this fabric so much. I had picked this one out with the specific purpose that I would keep it for me (I do hope that one day I will have children and I'd like to be prepared). I still might, because I really am having a hard time parting with it. I used a green pokadot for the back side.
Since I needed this done in such a hurry, I just edged it with a simple v-stitch. It only took me about an hour to go around. Super fast, that is my kind of stitch. I am headed home for the fourth of July. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Hello!~

Hello! I'm back. I've been busy.


First - Hope everyone had a wonderful memorial day. Me and DH took his sister who just recently graduated from college out for a nice dinner. Apparently all of the good restaurants were closed on this holiday so we had trouble finding a place. We remembered this place in Salt Lake called Oilo that is really good so I called to make a reservation. They told me it was a holiday so no reservations were necessary since they were super slow. Well, sure enough. We were the only people in the restaurant. We should have let his sister believe that we rented it all out for her, but I don't think she would have bought it. The dessert was to die for! Tiramsu (I don't know how you spell it), and chocolate molten cake. YUM-O! We even had the hostess take our picture so she would think we were tourists! Seriously, don't people go out to eat and shop on holidays? Why are retail establishments closed? I don't get it.

Second- I finally decided what I wanted to do with the free fabric that I won at SewMamaSew. I made curtains for our bedroom. The colors work great with the quilt that I made DH for Christmas. And they are fantastic at keeping out the light.

Third- I finished another receiving blanket. I just love making these things. And this is my new favorite border to do. I also bought fabric to make three more. I think I am addicted!

Well, that is my quick catchup post. I am going to a quilt retreat with my family (we call it a quilt retreat but really it is just my family at my Aunt Catherine's House, sitting around sewing, and having fun) this weekend, so I'll be sure to have lots of fun pictures to show of everyone's projects. We are learning how to applique!