Projects

Before Christmas I became enthralled with sewing. I stole my mother's table and I set up my sewing machine in my bedroom in a semi-permanent status. My mother would very much like to have her table back so I'm working on something else to house my machine. I have a goal to make a blanket for Gemma for her first birthday in mid-February, but time is quickly passing. It may be Easter.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you just a couple of the projects I made that I had a lot of fun doing.

For my mom and my friend, Laura, I made journal covers. I used this pattern from allpeoplequilt.com. (I've really like this website - they have a lot of easy-ish beginner patterns.)

For Carter, I made a car blanket/quilt. I used this pattern, also from allpeoplequilt.com.

I really had fun making these gifts. Carter's blanket didn't take as long as I thought. I don't have a quilting machine, so I tied it. I've been researching 'free-motion' quilting (watching YouTube videos) and I think I could do it. I need to practice and I need to figure out the settings on my machine.

I think I decided to make this one for Gemma. This one wouldn't require any 'quilting'.

It says the approximate crafting time is 8 hours. For me that might be doubled, and when you can't sit for 16 hours and do it start to finish, it's hard to tell... Hopefully, but her birthday. Now I just need to go fabric shopping. I've been hearing a lot of good things about shopping online for fabric. I may just give that whirl...

Long term goal is to make a queen sized quilt for mine & Jeremy's bed. I think I might even have a pattern picked out. Need to narrow down colors. Our walls our white(ish) and we don't have a set color scheme in our room. I figure I might want to paint a wall or two and I should do that first.

Projects and Opinions

I have really enjoyed sewing lately - it's my new favorite hobby. So much in fact, that I have been considering how (and where) to make a permanent home for my sewing machine. Currently it's sitting on a borrowed folding table in my bedroom, and I'm sure my mom will want her table back soon.

Anyway, I can't share pictures or too much detail with you as most of the projects I'm working on or have finished are Christmas presents for people I know read this. At least I think they do. They tell me they do...

I will tell you that I've been doing a lot, a LOT, of looking for sewing projects and quilt patterns. I was recently introduced to Pintrest and that has been a lot of fun. I never knew you could do so much with a t-shirt! I actually made a scarf from a t-shirt the other night, but mine didn't turn out at all like the tutorial. Whatever. It's fine.

Projects I'm looking at doing in the future:

*Quilt/Blanket for Gemma's 1st birthday in February

*Quilt for our bed

*Sewing machine cover

*Making clothes and/or accessories for the kids and myself

*Making more Christmas and other gifts for friends and family

Now for your opinions - Here are a few ideas I have for Gemma's blanket/quilt. I'd love to have your vote/comments/opinions on any or all of them.

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6.
7.

And here's one I'm thinking of doing for me & Jeremy, only bigger and in different colors:

What are your favorites and why?