Taylor, Author at TaylorMade

Briar Rose Strip Quilt

May 26, 2014 By Taylor 18 Comments

9 times out of 10 I don’t buy fabric with a project in mind. I see fabric I really like, I buy it and I take it home. Then months later when I want to make something I “shop” in my own craft room and find the perfect fabric for the job. This quilt was no exception. Last year when I spotted the Heather Ross Briar Rose line I knew I had to have it, and I had to have all of it :) I bought the fat quarter pack and there it sat on my shelf for almost a year. Then in February I found out I was having a girl (yay) and I started putting her room together knowing she would have a mama-made quilt.

At first I had these same strips in mind but I was thinking solid colors… black, white and coral. Then it seemed too matchy-matchy with the room and I wanted a pattern. Here is a baby name secret… we have been calling her Baby Bee for months because her name starts with a “B” so I really wanted to add some bees somewhere. Then I remembered this Briar Rose fat quarter pack!! Bright colors, fun patterns, and bees… too good to be true right? That’s why I buy fabric I like right when I see it :)

I didn’t follow a pattern I just googled the standard size for a baby quilt and did the math. I started by cutting 2-3 strips of each pattern that were 4″ by the width of the fat quarter.

When I had enough I scrambled them up to “randomize”. Then I sewed them into one big continuous strip.

After I pressed all my seams down, I cut the big strip into smaller strips that were all the same width and started laying them out. I’m so thankful to have this big work table with my pregnant belly:)

I worked really hard at making sure none of the same patterns or colors were touching… see the two pink strawberry fabrics touching, I don’t like that haha #fabricgirlprobs.

After I got it how I liked it, I went row by row… pinning then sewing. I used a 1/2′ seam allowance for everything.

Here I am pressing my seams like a good tailor.

I added a border that was also 4″ wide all the way around but then when I opened my batting it was shorter than what was listed on the package. So, I had to shorten the top and bottom of the border. I found this grey floral fabric at Joann’s. I obviously like to do my basting late at night when the lighting is bad :) Then, I quilted above and below the seam of each strip.

I made some binding out of this cute green Christmas striped fabric I found. Quilting confession, I am a cheater when it comes to binding… I have never tried it by hand, machine binding works for me! I still use clover clips however.

For the back I used a black polka dot print and the little black dots are flocked… so cute!

I love how it turned out! I hope Baby Bee loves it too!

Speaking of that girl…. 35 days to go!!!

How to do a Patterned Dot Wall

April 22, 2014 By Taylor 99 Comments

When I found out I was pregnant last year I was of course thrilled for a new little bundle to join our family. Soon after it sunk in, I got super excited to do another nursery! We didn’t find out the gender with either of our boys and they were so close in age that I just used the same nursery for both of them. It was gender neutral and of the “pre-pinterest era” so I have had years to collect ideas and get inspired :) I already knew what I wanted long before I even knew the gender so when I found out this girl was a girl… I knew a dot wall was happening.

I know I’m a little late to the gold-vinyl-dot-wall-party but I still love it, so I thought it would be perfect for the wall behind the crib. I have seen the gold dots randomly placed on walls and while I do love random I wanted a pattern this time. I searched and searched for a tutorial on how to get THIS LOOK in my inspiration photo but I wasn’t able to find much. I called for backup, my mom and sister. I’m sure there are many ways to achieve this look but this is what we did.

I bought gold sticky vinyl online and used my cameo to cut 1.5″ dots. I have the silhouette file saved, if anyone wants it let me know.

Other than my dots, I used these supplies: a ruler, tape measure, piece of cardstock, scissors, some very sticky double sided foam tape and a pencil. The other must have tool is a laser level. I found this one at Home Depot for around $8.

After measuring my wall, my mom (the math star of the team) figured out how far apart my dots could be based on how many dots we had. I bought 8 feet of vinyl (8’x12″) and the dots were 1.5″ in diameter so she figured each dot needed to be 6.5″ apart. The very first two rows are the hardest because you have to get everything set from those, so we started at the top of the wall. Thank goodness for my mom and sister! My sister climbed the ladder for all of the tall dots, I didn’t take over until we were about halfway done. (grainy iphone pic)

The whole trick to getting the pattern to look like a pattern is getting straight lines on your wall, enter the laser level. I’m sure you could also use other methods like an overhead projector, use a regular level with a tape measure and pencil, pop a chalk line, etc. But I really liked this little tool. We used the double sided foam tape on the back which needed to be changed every few rows. Once you get it taped it up it rotates 360 degrees so you can get it lined up correctly after mounting it to the wall.

There is a level on the back but it wasn’t super accurate because of you move it just a hair the line at the end of the wall moves inches up or down! For the first row we started measuring from the ceiling and made a pencil line 6.5″ down on both sides of the wall. For the other rows we measured from the previous dot line. Then we just played with the laser until the line was touching both pencil marks on both sides of the wall.

This is a very hard picture to see but the laser line on the left is below the pencil marks so you have to play with the laser until the the line is perfectly on the marks like the picture on the right.

As far as the spacing on each row we also spaced the dots 6.5″ apart. Instead of holding a ruler or tape measure between every dot we measured a piece of cardstock and used that as the ruler. We measured 6.5″ from outer edge of each dot and made sure the top of the dots lined up with the red laser line.

After you get your first two rows up, its pretty easy. A few other tips… every other dot on our left side had to be cut in half. And I did have one dot that I had to put under the power outlet plate.

I really love how it turned out and I can’t thank my mom and sister enough! We worked one night from about 2-3 hours then I finished it up the next afternoon so it was a pretty quick project. The most time consuming part is getting the level lined up but I love the patterned look so it was worth it!

Here is a little peek at the crib. I will have the details on the bedding and quilt next week.

So does anyone else have a dot wall at their house? Let me know if I left any info out… I am suffering from pregnancy brain lately :)

DIY Leather Tote

March 31, 2014 By Taylor 19 Comments

If you are anything like me at the beginning of this project then you are scared of sewing with leather, am I right? Cause I was… I didn’t even know if my sewing machine could handle it. The Leather Hide Store asked me if I wanted to try out some leather sewing. They are a small family owned store that sells wholesale leather hides and remnants… they also work closely with the craft community! I was up for a challenge so I chose a color called “Peanut Brittle” from their remnant section. The piece received a few days later was HUGE!!

I decided on a lined tote. Here are some “sewing with leather tips” I learned along the way:

I started with my pattern. This is a very rough and not to scale picture of what I measured out on the wrong side of the leather. I just used a ball point pen to measure out my pattern.

After tracing the pattern, I cut it all out. For the straps I cut out two pieces at 2.5″ x 32″. I like REALLY long straps so most peolple might want to shorten this.

Remember not to use pins on leather. This was the hardest part for me, the leather needle actually cuts a little dot so once you make those sew lines you can’t really do it over. I used my clover clips to keep it all together. Place right sides together and sew up the sides and the bottom of the bag leaving the corners alone.

I also read not to back stitch and to tie up the ends of the thread. However I back stitched in a few places and I think it did fine.

Next, I closed up the corners. Do this by “smooshing” the sides together and matching the seams.

This was the hardest part for my machine, I had to sew to the seam then use my wheel to manually go through all the layers.

At this point it should look like this… kind of bag-ish :)

Now on to the lining. This part could be skipped all together because leather won’t fray. I wanted a pop of color and I needed a pocket so I decided on it. I cut two pieces at the exact same measurements as the outer bag pieces.

I also made a pocket by cutting two pieces at 11″x 7″. Place pocket pieces right sides together and sew all around leaving an opening for flipping. Flip and and press so you have a double sided rectangle. Top stitch the top of the pocket. Place on your lining where ever you want. Pin and top stitch around the two sides and the bottom.

Then I measured my phone to make a perfect little pouch for her. I just sewed up the center of the pocket making two.

I also added a little taylormade tag for fun. I used my burning tool then cut some leather into an oval and sewed it to the other side of the lining.

With the two lining pieces cut, do the exact same thing as you did with the leather. With right sides together, sew up sides and bottom then sew the corner.

You should have two bag pieces now. With right sides together place the lining part over the leather part.

Match the seams and use clips or clothespins and sew all the way around the top edge leaving an opening for flipping.

Flip the bag right side out and push the lining into place. I usually would sew the lining down so it doesn’t show from the outside but I liked the little pop of color so I sewed it with a little lip showing. Either way top stitch all the way around.

Lastly we have to make the straps, remember that my measurements are extra long so feel free to shorten them. I just pinched the wrong sides together and sewed leaving a few inches at the end. I marked where to stop sewing.

Next, I measured 4″ from the seam of the bag and placed the straps. Then I just used a box stitch to make sure they are good and sturdy!

Voila.. I sewed with leather!

Thanks so much to Leather Hide Store for providing the leather and helping me overcome my fear :) Have I inspired you to make your own tote? Its your lucky day! Leather Hide Store is giving one lucky reader a $50 gift card to their online store! Enter by the Rafflecopter below. Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scarlett, Searsucker Shorts and a Sweetheart

February 12, 2014 By Taylor 4 Comments

I am so excited to be a part of the sewing series “Sew All 26” going on over at No Big Dill. The amazing Katy Dill is sewing outfits for her kids for each letter of the alphabet, so fun! She has been a sewing idol of mine for years so when I got an email about joining her series I ran to sign up. She is pretty much one of the coolest moms with the best style and the most original kids! Basically I want to be her when I grow up :) The “S” day fell right before Valentine’s Day so I knew I wanted to make my boy something sweet.

Meet his Valentine outfit… harder for a boy than I imagined. I came up with Scarlett, Seersucker Shorts and Sweetheart.

I used a Scarlett Knit for his shirt and the Vintage V-Neck Pattern by Melly Sews. For the Sweetheart part, I just freehanded two heart arrows on to some white iron-on vinyl. I thought and thought about how to make a heart manly and this is what I came up with. I ironed them to the pocket piece before sewing them on.

Next, I made some Seersucker Shorts, and let me say I’m a big sucker for Seersucker. I have always been a big fan and it’s also my subtle way to will the Springtime weather to show up. I used Dana’s Kid Shorts Pattern with the front pocket option. My son wears a 5T right now so I made both the shirt and shorts in a 6T so he can grow in to them a little.

My favorite part of the shorts is the Scarlett Stitching. Fun, but still boyish.

Halfway through our photoshoot he looked down and realized his arrows needed a bow. Out came the props.

And lastly, S is for Silly.

Thanks Katy for having me! I love a good excuse for some boy sewing. Check out all the other letters and their corresponding creations at No Big Dill.