Archive for ‘Sewing & Fabric’

July 16th, 2013

Echino Missouri Pillow

by Julie Hirt

I’m originally from Missouri and wanted to make a pillow with the shape of the state.  Luckily it has a cool shape and isn’t just a square like Colorado or Wyoming.

echinomissouri

I’ve had my Echino by Etsuko Furuya linen for a while and haven’t really used it.  Since it has a patchwork look (and I combined two different prints) I thought it would work well.

echinomissouri3

This pillow had 2 ‘firsts’ for me. Applique using the Freezer Paper Method* and hand quilting.   This was a small quilting job and I didn’t hate either process.  Who knows, maybe I’ll try it again.

echinomissouri2
I made a zipper back because the envelope backs don’t hold up very well around here.

The front blue fabric is Kaufman Quilters Linen and the back is a Moda Bella solid. I did add a strip of a 3rd Echino fabric. Love those blue cars!

echinomissouri1

For the machine quilting on the back I used Aurifil Mako 2813, it’s a variegated thread that matches the front fabrics perfectly.

echinomissouripillow

I printed a shape of Missouri off Google image search.   This is the first time I’ve appliqued like this and I really like how the Missouri shape kind of pops out of the fabric.  It would be fun to do a pillow for a kid’s room using the letters in their name.

Labels

These are great for all sewing projects and quilts.  I purchased them at Ikaprint on Etsy.
Use coupon code 627HANDWORKS for 5% off your order.  They are made in France and shipping is really fast!

Freezer Paper Applique Method

  • Trace your shape onto the non-waxy side of the freezer paper
  • Cut the shape out of the paper (not the fabric)
  • Iron the freezer paper onto the right side of the fabric
  • Trim your fabric around the shape leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance
  • Peel off the freezer paper
  • Place the freezer paper non-waxy side down onto the back side of your fabric
  • Fold the seam allowance over to the waxy side of the freezer paper
  • Iron down the fabric seams onto the waxy side of the paper  (At this point your shape should have smooth fabric edges with the raw cut edges ironed under)
  • Heavily pin your applique shape onto your main fabric
  • Blind stitch all the way around and remove pins
  • Turn your fabric over and cut a slit in middle of where your applique piece is, careful not to cut the applique shape
  • Trim out the fabric of the main area out leaving a 1/2″ around your stitches and pull out the freezer paper

 

Thrifty Pillow Tip

Use old sheets or store bought sheets for the interior lining.  Only you will see it!  I also save scrap batting from quilt projects to use for pillows and smaller projects.  The lining on this pillow is part of a sheet set I purchased at Target on clearance.  A lot cheaper than fabric or muslin and it’s fun when you unzip it.

 

julie

July 15th, 2013

Introducing Cucire Fabric & Notions

by Julie Hirt

I would like to introduce you to a new fabric shop called Cucire.

Cucire

About the shop:

My name is Elizabeth, and I am the owner of Cucire. I have a degree in Landscape Architecture, and worked in my dream profession until 2012, when I made the difficult decision to leave my office job due to health issues. I have found the silver lining in that cloud as I now enjoy staying home with my beautiful children and watching a bit too much Netflix.

I have also been busily surrounding myself with gorgeous fabrics. I love to quilt, and over the years have accumulated a gigantic fabric stash (hoard?) via Etsy. This spring, a new dream began to bloom as I decided to open my own fabric and notions retail shop. I have a passion for gorgeous fabric, and want to provide the highest quality supplies to help ensure an enjoyable shopping and sewing experience for my customers.

What is ‘Cucire’? Cucire* is an Italian word meaning ‘to sew’. Italians are known for their fashion and commitment to high quality goods, perfect inspiration for a fabric retail shop! I intend to source the highest quality goods from trusted manufacturers for use in your garment, sewing, and quilting projects.

*If you are curious how to pronounce ‘Cucire’, I would suggest “coo-CHEER-uh“, however I will not judge you if you perfer an alternate pronunciation!

 

Elizabeth is kind enough to be sponsoring some upcoming Giveaway’s. Yay!

Cucire’s special for the month of July is $6.50 per yard Moda Grunge Basics.

Moda Basics Grunge in Aqua

Moda Basics Grunge in Winter Mint

So many colors available and the Grunge Basics would make great background options for quilt blocks.

Cucire also carries a great selection of voile in prints and solids.

Solid Voiles Fat Quarter Bundle

Tula Pinks Birds and the Bee's Voile FQ Bundle

I just purchased some of Tula Pink’s Bees Knees to make a minky voile baby quilt that I may just end up keeping for myself!  I’ve heard so many great things about quilting with voile.

Best of all… they carry Aurifil in loads of colors and great prices.

Aurifil 12 wt Cotton Mako Thread (383 yard spool)- One spool, color of your choice

Cucire is definitely worth checking out.  Hope you are all having a great start to the week!

julie

 

July 2nd, 2013

HST Quilted Throw Pillow

by Julie Hirt

The fabric to this pillow has kind of a bittersweet story behind it.

hstpillow1

My stepdaughter’s Nana passed away a few years ago.  Sadly, their grandfather passed away last summer.  They were the parents of my husband’s first wife and both died at a young age.   Tori & Liz (my stepdaughters) were close with both of them and we actually lived down the street from their grandfather.

The girls mother recently sold her parents house.  When going through her mother’s sewing supplies she gave me all of the fabrics she found.   I was sorting through some of it a few days ago and came across a group of partially finished half square triangles.

I have no idea what she was making with them, it’s not enough fabric for a quilt and the cream fabric is actually a canvas.

Most of her sewing was clothing for the girls when they were younger, so a lot of it is knits and fabrics I can’t use for quilting.  Finding these HST pieces I thought Tori & Liz would like seeing something from their Nana’s fabrics around the house.

hstpillow

It’s the same on block on both sides with the colors in reverse.   The form is a nice fluffy feather pillow.

Feather forms are SO much cheaper to buy as a finished pillow than a pillow form!  I buy pillows at Bed, Bath and Beyond or Tuesday Morning when they have them on clearance.  Just toss the ugly cover they come with!

hstpillow2

Since the dogs always make little nests of our pillows I prefer finished front and backs over envelopes.   The full zipper makes it easy to toss in the wash.

I really like the cream and black polka dots together.  Makes me wonder what the original intention for these fabrics were.

 

 

 

June 29th, 2013

Baby Gifts

by Julie Hirt

Don’t you just love making baby gifts?  A friend of mine just had a sweet little baby girl named Beatrice Birdie.  Is that not the cutest name ever?

I already knew I was going to send her the Superstar quilt with the crochet edges if she had a girl.  But that didn’t seem like enough so I added a couple of burp cloths.

beab1

Then I decided with a middle name like Birdie I just had to make an applique onesie:

beab2

beab3

THEN I decided she needed a new bib as well.  (I could seriously go crazy making baby things)

This is the smallest patchwork I’ve worked with, they are 1″ squares. Now I really appreciate all those teeny tiny patchwork pieces I see.

beab4

The backing of the bib and burp cloth are white cotton chenille. I find it washes up really nicely and actually absorbs quite a bit.

beab5

Now I’m finally happy with the gift and it’s in the mail!

What is your favorite baby item to make and give?

 

 

Linking up with Better Off Thread – Sew Cute Tuesdays!

May 20th, 2013

Ready for a Game of Bags

by Julie Hirt

The bags our game came with were total crap so I decided to make some new ones.

beancornholebags

We tailgate a lot and usually play a few rounds of bags.  Some people call it Cornhole, but that just reminds me of Beevis and Butthead (I am the great cornholio!).

MATERIALS

 

  • Two 1/4 yard cuts of Duck Canvas in different colors (60″ wide)
  • Two 1/4 yard cuts of  cotton Team or decorative fabric
  • 8 pounds of beans, feed grain corn or plastic pellets
  • Scissors
  • Coordinating thread
  • Sewing Machine

We chose to use beans because we don’t like the dust the corn makes.  This is totally a personal preference and you can use whatever you want to fill your bags.

 

  • Cut eight 7″ squares from each color of duck canvas.
  • Cut four 7″ squares from each decorative fabric.

cornholebags1

To make a bag stack 3 pieces of fabric together:  Duck canvas, decorative fabric (right side up) and another layer of  duck canvas.

cornholebags2

Pin 2″ in from each side, leaving a 3″ gap marked for turning.

cornholebags3

Set your sewing machine stitch to TRIPLE stitch for durability.

cornholebags4

Sew from pin to pin and rounding the corners as you go. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance.

cornholebags5

Trim the corners being careful not to clip into the corner.

cornholebags6

Turn your bag to the right side and fill with 1 pound of your filler.  It will all fit but you may need to shake and squeeze it a bit.

cornholebags7

Fold the sides in on the 3″ gap and pin or clip in place.

cornholebags8

Be sure you are still set to triple stitch.  Shake all the beans to the bottom and move your needle as far to the left as you can and sew across the gap.  It’s a little bit of a tight fit but you can do it.

cornholebags9

Voila!  A nice and sturdy bean bag that is customized to your color preference.

cornholebags10

These whip these up pretty quickly. They make a fun gift for a sports lover, cornhole player or even to bring along to the park or a picnic. Kids love playing too.

bags (2)

Duck cloth also comes in purple, pink and turquoise!  Not sure if my husband would appreciate pink polka dot bean bags though.

 

 

May 5th, 2013

Contact Cards

by Julie Hirt

juliehirtcard

Wheee!  I love how they turned out.

Since I’m not a business, I guess they are contact cards or calling cards.   Whatever they are, they’re kind of fun with the fabric and stitching texture.

I thought of doing this a while back but was stuck on what to call myself.  I didn’t like Quilter or Sewist, and I’m not a Seamstress.  My friend Jonelle helped me brainstorm big time!  I finally settled on Stitcher & Fabric Fanatic.  Although, Fabric Hoarder would be more accurate.

juliehirtcards

Since I save fabric scraps like crazy, this is just another way to use a few of those small pieces.  Each card turns out one of a kind.

The card design was simple enough and I just had a local printing company hook me up with a box and round the corners.  The cards aren’t much to look at without the fabric. I’m sure the printer thought I was nuts.

Soon I’ll have matching note cards.  Muahaha!  It’s the little things.

 

.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...