DIY Project: Bunting Garland Photo Prop

I made these bunting garlands to use as photo props for an upcoming photo shoot with my baby niece, but of course, it could just as well be used as decor for a nursery, as a party prop, or whatever else that could benefit from the addition of a charming little banner.

via my Instagram

This is a very simple project, similar to my Retail Knockoff version of Kata Golda's Winter Holiday Banner, but this time in cotton fabric instead of Felt. I made a few different versions.

DIY Project: Bunting Garland Photo Prop

For one banner, personalization optional.

What you need:

Cotton fabric in coordinating colors for 15 bunting flags
3 yards twill tape, binding, twine, or ribbon

optional: contrasting fabric for letters

What to do:

1. Cut 15-ish bunting flags of desired shape and size.

from my project sketch  

2. Serge or zig-zag around the raw edges of each flag, to prevent unraveling, or leave them raw, depending on the look you want. Alternatively, cut twice as many flag as needed, and place them in pairs, right side facing, and sew around the hanging sides (not the one that will be attached to the twill tape), then turn right side out and press.

3. Optional: spell a name or greeting by cutting letters of contrasting fabric and sew onto banners. If spelling several words on one banner, leave blank banner as divider between words. IF using a two layer method, add letters BEFORE pairing to hide the seams.

Two double cloth banners, one with closed seams, one with edges left raw.

4. IF using twill tape, space your flags onto your twill tape, either by overlapping, edge to edge, or spaced a couple of inches apart. Fold pennants over the top of the twill tape and sew across to secure.
IF using biascut binding (which is great for banners), just stick your flags inside the fold at desired distance apart, and sew across to secure. Remember to leave approximately 10 inches spare length of tape at each side of the flags for hanging.

Bias-cut binding is perfect for bunting garlands! Stick the flags inside, and secure across the top.

5. Your banner is done!

3 different size & shape bunting garlands, to be used as a photo backdrop.

DIY Project: Safari Cheater Quilt

Cheater quilts. Sounds awful, huh? But these cheaters actually pretty awesome. Covered in neatly printed patch work of all of the prints offered in the collection, ready for you to just quilt, and pretend you pieced the whole thing. Cheater. Cheater! CHEATER!

Crib-sized Cheater quilt

This makes cheater prints the perfect first quilting project, as they allow you to try your hand at making a quilted blanket, without having to invest the time piecing the quilt top. Paired with fusible batting, which eliminates the need for using a time consuming basting stitch, spray or pins on your quilt sandwich, this project literary consists of alining and ironing your layers together, followed by quilting, and lastly, adding the binding. Easy as pie! So, if you've been thinking of trying your hand at quilting, get some cheater print and give it a go (why yes, Cate, I'm talking to you)!!!

Close up of quilted cheater quilt top

So, when it all comes down to it, a Cheater Quilt really is just another variation of my panel quilted blanket, and that was the look I was expecting. I didn't think it would end up actually looking so quilt-y. But see for yourself. It actually looks really good. And what's even better? This crib sized, 2 yard, cheater quilt took me about 4 hours to make start to finish (including making the binding). Not bad.

 Coordinating print for the quilt backing

I quilted the blanket in a grid pattern that followed the patchwork of the cheater panel, but instead of one line on each side of a patch seam, as I would normally do using this quilt pattern, I made 3 lines this time. One on each side, and one in the middle, simulating the seams of a real patchwork quilt top. Of course, this added some time to the process. A simple grid would have been a lot quicker, but I like the look of this, especially on the cheater panel.

I used a coordinating print from the same collection for the backing, and a matching white solid for the homemade binding.  I added one of my labels, and done!

Fabric:

Quilt top:
Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics Organic, Safari Soiree, Cheater

Backing:
Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics Organic, Safari Soiree, Polka Dance

Binding:
Birch Fabrics Organic, Solid, Cream

DIY Project: Elephants & Dots Baby Quilt

In early 2012, I decided to finally tackle something that had been on my Bucket List for years, and throughout this past year, using pure improvisation and stubbornness, I've slowly taught myself to make quilts. It seems fitting that I finished one of my favorite quilts I've made so far, on the last day of this year.

I started with this absolutely adorable, organic fabric line from Birch Fabrics, in a coordinating mix of gray, white, teal and soft aqua.

I really love the mix of colors and prints in this line! It's so gorgeous! 

After waffling back and forth for a couple of days over the quilt top design, I eventually decided to go with a simple wide stripe design, very similar to my last quilt, in a reverse ascending/descending pattern. I started this cute little quilt last night, cut, pieced, and quilted it, and then made and finished the binding this morning. 

I used the gray solid from the quilt top for the backing, adding a simple initial in the bottom, right corner for a little pop of color and personalization (this quilt is another gift). 

This time, instead of regular appliqué for the personalization, I opted to sew the H from two layers of solid teal, right sides in, then turning it right side out, pressing, and attaching it with a simple top stitch around the edge, before I added the quilting. I do hope it will be durable enough this way, as I really like this look. 

For the binding, I first folded the overhanging backing fabric over the edge, then added a homemade double binding on top of that. I made the binding using left over aqua solid from the quilt top.

I love the thin edge of gray peeking out from under the aqua binding! In fact, I absolutely LOVE this little quilt! It's been so fun figuring out how to do this this past year, and I love seeing improvements in my technique with each completed project.

I really hope cute little H gets a lot of use out of this cuddly little quilt!

*All photos are taken pre-wash, and the quilt is a lot more crinkly and puffy post-wash, but I forgot to retake them after it came out of the dryer, and now I've already packed it to ship.

Fabric:

Quilt top:
Jay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabric Organic, Mod Basics, Ellie Fam in Shroom, Teal and Pool
Jay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabric Organic, Mod Solids in Teal, Pool, Shroom, and White

Quilt back:
Yay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabric Organic, Mod Solids in Shroom and Teal

Binding:
Jay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabric Organic, Mod Solids in Pool

DIY Project: Striped Baby Quilt

I started another quick little baby quilt last night, cut, pieces, and quilted it in one sitting, then finished the binding this morning.

For the top I used the same print as in my 1 Day Baby Quilt, Michael Miller's Wood Horses print, but in pink instead of the coral, and this time paired with 8 different shades of solid pink cotton.

I used half a yard of the Wood Horses print (same amount as last time), and a fat quarter of each of the other colors. I used 2 yard of a solid gray cotton for the backing. I made the binding from left over pink strips from the quilt top, and thus using up all 8 fat quarters. 

This time I did have enough backing material left to do a double layer binding, first folding the gray backing over the raw edge, and then adding my homemade double binding on top.

Although I mainly make it this way for added durability, I really love the look of the gray peeking out under the top layer, pink binding.

For batting I used a low loft organic bamboo batting, which makes for very thin, light, fluffy quilts. It came out of the dryer all crinkly soft, and I hope that my friend, Kristina, and her little baby girl, will get a lot of use out of it.

Fabrics:

Quilt top:
Michael Miller 'Wooden Horses' in pink and gray
8 fat quarters of Robert Kaufmann Kona Cotton, in 8 different shades of solid pink

Backing:
2 yards solid gray Kona Cotton

Binding:
Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton, in 8 different shades of solid pink

DIY Project in Action: 1 Day Baby Quilt

I made this 1 Day Baby quilt for my friend Annika's baby girl back in October, and on a recent visit to Sweden, as I walked into Annika's house, I spotted the quilt laying on the floor witch a bunch of toys scattered around it.

Annika told me how Melia plays on that quilt every single day. (Their cat also loves it, as you can see above.) It made me really happy to see that this gift that I spent my time making just for her, is actually being used, and it's part of their lives. And years from now, when my friend thinks back on this baby time, or looks at their baby photos, this little quilt is going to be there in the background.

This is one of my favorite reasons for gifting my little quilts. 

DIY Project in Action: Felt Christmas Tree

My friend's toddler, Molly, decorating the felt Christmas tree I made her.

DIY Project in action: Bonnie's Quilt

My friend shared this photo today, of her baby girl cuddling up in the quilt I made her back in October.  It's always so fun to see one of my handmade gifts, that I've put a lot of time, energy & creativity into making, being put to use by the gift-recipient. Warms my heart.

Image source: Sara Andersson's Instagram (with permission)

DIY Project: 1 Day Baby Quilt

I made this little baby quilt today, all the way from start to finish in one sitting! It is a gift for one of my Swedish friend's baby, and I really hope they both will like it. I used thicker batting this time, compared to my last quilt, as this is for a younger baby, I was thinking it could be used both as a crib-sized quilt and as a baby play mat. I was a bit worried that the thicker batting might make it turn out heavy, like some thicker quilts can get, but luckily it isn't heavy at all. Instead it has a light fluffiness that is very cuddly. 

I wanted a simple design to showcase this horse pattern print, which reminded me of a Swedish Dala horse, a very traditional, Swedish symbol. The horses were pretty large, so I kept the blocks large as well, in order to display the pattern in full. I added in two coordinating solids, and two coordinating prints.

Light aqua backing fabric, and simple, square quilting pattern.

I actually wish I could have gotten my hands on more of the "Dala horse" print, 'Wooden Horses' from Michael Miller, because I really like it, and I would have preferred to use it for the backing as well. Instead I went with the same minty aqua solid cotton as I mixed into the quilt top. In the early evening light of the time when I took these photos, the color look almost white.

Quilt, pre laundry. Here you can also see that the backing fabric is light aqua, not white, as it looks like in the photo below. 

I used a simple grid pattern for the quilting. Initially I had wanted to go with something more similar to my last quilting pattern, but as neither of the fabric in this quilt had a print with a suitable patterns, so I decided not to. The fluffier batting really goes well with this simple, square quilt pattern, as each square is slightly puffed up.

Quilt, post laundry. You can see the slight puffiness of each square, compare to above.

For the binding, I used a homemade coral dot binding, the same one I used on the Elephant blanket. Between the large blocks and the simple grid quilting, this entire project, from cutting to binding, took around 4 hours. It is crib sized.

Fabrics:

Quilt top:
Jay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabrics, Mod Basics, Abacus Coral
Jay-Cyn Designs for Birth Fabrics, Mod Basics, Solid Coral
Michael Miller, Wooded Horses, Charcoal
Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton, Coral
Dots on white, I don't know the name, or the make

Backing:
Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton, Light Aqua

Binding:
Cay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabrics, Mod Basics, Dottie Cream Coral

DIY Project in action: Yard Panel Baby Blanket & Month to Month Onesies

My friend sent me this picture yesterday, showing her baby with the gifts I send them a couple of weeks ago. SO fun to see that they are getting use out of the things I've made for them. 

My friends baby, wearing onesie I've made, on the quilt I made.

Image via my friend, edited via my Instagram.

Here are the links to both the projects:
Quicky Yard Panel Baby Blanket
Month to Month Onesies

I just had to share the cuteness.

Redux: "Quicky" Yard Panel Baby Blanket

I made another baby blanket yesterday, using the same yard panel as my first Quicky Baby Blanket tutorial, but in pink this time.

Pink Yard Panel Baby Blanket

I did change a few things, compared to last time:
           1. moved the location of my label, from the binding, to the body of the quilt.
           2. quilted the background in diagonal stripes

Image source: my Instagram

           3. this time I tried rounded corners, and used a very skinny binding, a left-over from another project

Rounded corners, skinny binding

         
              4. a different, but still coordinating, backing print

 Quicky Yard Panel Baby Blanket backing

Overall, I'm pretty happy with this blanket. It is very light, but still cuddly. It took a little over 2 hours to make from start to finish, and only that long because of the added trickiness of working with such a slim binding. While I might try the rounded corners again, I'll definitely stay away from super skinny binding in the future. So not worth the effort, but it worked well on this light little blanket. I sent it off with a set of my Month-to-Month Onesies, and together they will hopefully make a great, useful gift.

Fabrics:

Top:

1 yard (Yard Panel) Sheri McCulley Studio, Woodland Tails, Panel Pink

Backing:

1 yard Sheri McCulley Studio, Woodland Tails, Friends, Green

Binding:

pink bias cut binding - left over from another project

DIY Project: Iron-On Month-to-Month Onesies

It seems every single person I know have been pregnant this year, and now all those babies are starting to arrive in droves. Another birth announcement seem to show up every week, and this week there were two!

Now, what to give a baby that it wasn't already given at the baby shower? Instead of adding another beeping plastic toy to the inevitable collection, I really wanted to give a gift that would create something memorable for the parents. I first saw these Month-to-Month onesies online a while ago, and thought it was such a great way to document a baby's first year. Initially, I ordered some here, and when I received my order and realized how simple these are to make, I made a bunch of my own versions for gifts, using transfer paper and my printer. Easy as pie!

Welcome Baby Gift: Iron-On Month-to-Month Onesies 

What You'll Need:
Iron-on numbers, 1-12 - make your own (cheap, and very easy but you need transfer paper and a printer), or purchase ready-made
2 x onesies Size 0-3 Months (1, 2)
3 x onesies Size 3-6 Months (3, 4, 5)
3 x onesies Size 6-9 Months (6, 7, 8)
2 x onesies Size 12 Months (9, 10)
2 x onesies Size 18 Months (11, 12)

I added a gift card to a photo book printing company, to make a "Baby's 1st Year" photo book with the monthly pictures.

Directions:
1. Make iron-on number designs, using editing program of choice, then size and print. Make sure you print on the correct side of the transfer!
2. Cut around each design, removing any extra transfer material.
3. Arrange each number with the appropriately sized onesie, and make sure they are centered. Check & double check that you have them arranged and paired up correctly, because you can't undo them once they are ironed on.
4. Iron numbers onto onesies, making sure that the garment is completely flat and to put some thick paper in-between fabric layers to prevent transfer through the garment. Follow the directions on your iron-on transfer for appropriate ironing time and temperature.
5. Wash and dry onesies inside out, and fold so that the numbers can still be seen.
6. Add onesies to a gift box, in numerical order, making sure the numbers are visible form the top.
7. Add a card (and the gift card), and close lid. Tie box with ribbon.
8. The gift is ready to be gifted!

Iron-on number designs - 

I made a few different ones in several color codes, 

both very simple ones like these, some patterned, and a few themed sets.

These Month-to-Month Onesies gifts sets were VERY quick and easy to make, took less than 30 minutes start to finish, at a total cost of approximately $40 per set, most of which is the cost of the onesies, as iron-on supplies are very cheap if you make them yourself. I find the Etsy versions, of both the iron-on transfers as well as the completed sets (which are listed for more than $70), to be really over-priced for what you get, but maybe that's just because I've made my own and know just how easy & cheap they are to make...?

Month to Month Onesies, set of 12

Overall, I'm happy with these gifts, and hopefully they will give these busy new parents a chance to document the first year of their baby's life in a fun, memorable way.