girl Archives - Page 7 of 9

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!!!

Baby Bunny Plushie

April 23, 2013 By Taylor 21 Comments

Last month my friend gave birth to precious little Madi Lou. Of course I had to make her something handmade, as you know I use any excuse to make something girly :) I wanted to make a little plushie and because it was around Easter, I guess I had bunnies on the brain.

I searched for the perfect pattern but didn’t find exactly what I was looking for. I did find the “Stuffed Menswear Bunny” from my friend Martha Stewart HERE. It’s a free pattern, so I printed it out then hacked it (sorry martha). I added quite a few inches to the legs and arms.

My favorite part?… the ears. I wish I would have added interfacing so they would stick up better on their own.

I also love the little felt bow. I glued it on and sewed it on too. I wanted to make sure it would stay put if little Madi tugged at it. I also added a little taylormade tag to the butt.

I threw in a few of my favorite Burp Cloths. I posted all about those HERE.

Madi Lou also got a hand-dyed TaylorMade Onesie. You can find those in the shop HERE.

All girly and all handmade. What is better than that?

Diaper Bag Tag

February 1, 2013 By Taylor 3 Comments

Welcome to the last installment of the baby shower :) You can read more about the shower HERE and about the Baby Quilt I made HERE. I just needed a little something to add to the baby’s basket. I always wanted to make one of these for my boys, but they are kind of too big now. Big boy backpacks and lunchboxes that they hold themselves…. so sad.

For the tag, I kind of added as I went but I did snap a new (night) pics. First, I used my PSA Monogram Stamps and stamped right on the solid pink fabric. I used really stiff interfacing and sandwiched each fabric with that in between.

Then I started layering by sewing directly onto the next fabric.

I traced a tag shape onto the base fabric with fabric marker. Then added a ribbon and backed it with felt. I sewed directly on that line.

Then I put it all together.

This is really cute added to the wrapping of a baby gift too!

I also made little tags for the headband bar at the shower.

Remember this.

For the “activity” all of the guests made Gabby a headband. I made 3 different sized headbands and I wanted Gabby to know who made which band. So I made these little gift tags and used my Cameo to cut uniform circles quickly.

Then I used another PSA stamp to add the cute little animals.

I added bakers twine and just hand wrote “size” and “from” on the back.

Last shot of what the new mommy got to take home :)

Whew… and there you have my (what took me two weeks) round up of the Baby Shower Events. It’s always fun to plan something crafty. I have another shower I’m co-hosting coming up in April, yay!

For more ideas on how to use these stamps visit PSA Stamp Camp blog!

Baby Blanket with Name Applique

January 28, 2013 By Taylor 4 Comments

A new mom can never have too many baby blankets, right? Especially ones with names on them. You want every excuse to see your new baby’s name in action. And a handmade baby blanket is something you keep forever. Here is Gabby’s baby blanket I made for her Shower last week. (Shower details HERE)

I started by making the ruffled edges. I found pretty pink gingham and tore it into strips.

Then I used my ruffle foot. And ruffled, and ruffled and ruffled.

I used a yard of minky for the back and a yard of the floral print cotton for the front.
I rounded the corners with a bowl. Then, put the minky aside because its time for the appliqued name :)

For the applique, I ironed wonder-under to the back of the fabric. I printed out the name and traced the letters (BACKWARDS) on the back of the wonder-under.

Then I cut out the letters (and took the back of the WO off) and placed them on the fabric. Next, Iron.

Then I used a very sloooow zig zag stitch around each letter. Voila, easy applique done.

To put the quilt together, I actually sewed my ruffle to the minky first. The minky can get slippery and I tend to get messy so this made it nice and neat.

Then, put right sides together with the ruffle in between. The line from the ruffle serves as a guide, I used a 1/4″ seam allowance from that seam. Don’t forget to leave an opening to flip.

Once you have flipped, Press the seams down and top stitch all the way around.

What baby girl doesn’t love pink minky?

Pretty pink package :)

Stay tuned later this week for more shower details, including flag bunting that I may or may not have wanted to keep, a baby bag tag and some cute stamped gift tags!