Crib Quilt, Part 1

My last quilting project was also my first. I wanted to make a quilt for the full size bed in Brysen's room, but I hate how the "full/queen" size blankets are barely large enough to cover the mattress, and I had a very specific idea of what I wanted, soooo, to a crafter, that means you just picked up a new project! I used a tutorial from Moda Bake Shop called Random Reflections. It wasn't so much of a quilt pattern as a how-to as it uses the Jelly Roll strip packs (2.5" wide strips" and is sewn together randomly. My kind of quilting! Anyway, here was the finished product:

I think it turned out great. Took a bit longer than expected, but don't they all?

Anyway, for the latest project I decided to do another quilt in red & white to go in the baby's crib. Maybe I should have done the small one first? Take it easy for my first project? Oops.
Here's a quick tutorial on how I got started with this one.

First: your pattern. If you're not using one you bought or found online, draw one. Here's mine, and it's a good thing I took a picture, because in the hour since I took the picture my daughter has made it disappear.

I like to decide on my finished size (52"x36" for a crib quilt) and go from there. Don't forget to add .25" to the edge of each piece for a seam allowance! For instance, if you want a 6" finished square, you need to cut a 6.5" square - .25" on each side of said square.

Next, cut your pieces. For this one, it's composed of half squares arranged to form a chevron pattern, so I cut 6.5" squares of each.

Nerd Alert: I watch sewing shows on PBS on Wednesday afternoon. One of them is a quilting show, and I've learned a lot from that gray haired lady from Nowhere, Wisconsin.. :) One of the things I learned was how to sew half-squares quickly and easily. First, cut your squares, then draw a diagonal line like so:

Pick the two that you want, and put them right sides together. Sew 1/4" to the side of the diagonal line. It helps to put a bunch together and chain-sew them. It saves time and a lot of thread!

 When you get done with the first side, flip those suckers around and sew down the other side! I like to use the edge of my presser foot as a guide.

After you have them sewn down both sides of your line, use your scissors or your rotary cutter (it's faster) and cut down the line.

 Voila! Press your seams flat. I use my rotary cutter and ruler to square them up again and cut off the little ears that stick out from the seam allowance.

Lay your little squares out so you can see where you're going to sew them next.

I guess it's up to you if you prefer to sew in columns, then rows, or vice versa. I prefer to sew a row together, then join rows when I have several done.

So that's where I am now. It doesn't take that long using this technique, but my sewing time is limited to when both children nap at the same time, also known as NEVER, or after they go to bed. This is two nights' worth of work between the designing, cutting, and starting to sew.

Next time I'll have the top done and show how to make your little quilt sandwich, which is every bit as tasty as it sounds. Or not... Happy sewing!

Happy New Year!

January 1st - the time when all our best intentions are alive and well. Do you make resolutions? I never used to, until a couple of years ago when I resolved to stop putting on makeup while driving. I kept it up for about 5 months. And then I had children, and suddenly the time used to apply makeup at home was replaced by feeding, changing or cleaning up after said children. Now, if putting on makeup is the least distracting thing that I do while driving, we'll all be ok.

What would I like to accomplish this year?

I'd really like to lose those last 10 pounds of baby weight, but that's not really a resolution so much as a continuation of what I've attempted for the last 3 months already. I did go running today, and I remembered as I was running that it was New Year's Day, and the neighbors were probably commenting on that crazy lady and her resolution must be to lose weight/exercise more. The new blister on my foot bears witness to how much I've been running lately.

I need to read my Bible more, and more consistently. It seems like there's never enough time to do what I want to do in a day, but I fimd that I always have time for what I really prioritize. My family needs me to have that time when I can focus my mind & attitude (& attitude, & words, & temper...) on whatever is true, noble, pure, etc.

I need to be more organized. This would need to be broken down into about 47 smaller resolutions, because I need this in every area of my life. My parents and siblings can attest to the fact that I've never been too crazy about picking up clutter, but clutter is starting to make me crazy. I go throw periods where I just really need to throw things away to feel better. Then, a few days later, Matt will ask me where something is and I have to think, "did I throw that away??"

There's a lot I'd like to get done this year, but I start sounding like my own to-do list. Oh trust me, that exists too. We are so hard on ourselves, aren't we? I think I'll just ask God what He wants of me.. Oh wait, He answered that already:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly, to love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

Happy New Year!