Something for the kids...

Edited to add: I posted Will's birth story over on my personal blog - I know a few of you have been asking, so click on over if you want all the gory details. :)

I've been trying to include Madeline in my crafty endeavors whenever I can. Usually this involves setting her up with paint and paper while the baby sleeps so I can sew or giving her some crazy scissors and paper and letting her go to town. When I saw this cute project over at Cluck Cluck Sew, I knew I had to make one of these with my girl.

I cut a "M" out of an empty cereal box, cut up some scraps from my scrap box, handed her a bottle of glue and let her have at it. She had so much fun!

When we were finished, I punched two holes through the top and hung it on some pink ribbon and she put it on her doorknob. I intended to hang it on her door, but she was very unhappy that she couldn't reach it "all the way up there", so the doorknob it is.

Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I do NOT set her up with a project everytime I sew. Like...right now she's watching Max & Ruby while I blog about keeping her occupied with cool craft projects. Ironic?

Molly

Rise and Shine mini-quilt

This was my first stab at a miniature quilt. I've found that I really enjoy the process of quilting, but I have a short attention span so full size (and even baby size!) quilts can feel a little monotonous to me by the time I'm nearing the end. That's not the case with a mini quilt! This one measures 13x16 and every part of it was so much fun to make! If you're new to quilting, this is a great way to get your feet wet without the commitment (and expense!) of a big quilt. I tried a little embroidery on this one too.







Mini quilts are generally used as a wall hanging, but they work as a unique table topper or placemat too!



I see many more mini-quilts in my future! This one is in the shop.

Molly

More Marissa...

I really love this pattern.



A couple of my friends asked me to make dresses for their daughters after seeing pictures of my Maddie in her Easter dress. Here's one of them in my beloved hunky dory fabric. Some day I'll get sick of it...but not today!





I don't buy a lot of patterns. I'm a big fan of figuring stuff out myself or finding a free tutorial online. But I don't mind spending money on one of Carla's patterns. I always learn so much from her instructions! (The way she installs the zipper in this dress is genius!) She makes intermediate projects into beginner projects with her fabulous pictures and instructions. This is not a paid advertisement, I just really love her patterns. :)

Molly

Just so you know...

So, just so you know...here's the deal. If I disappear from blogging for a week or two...you don't have to wonder where I am or what I'm up to.

You can just assume I'm loving on these two little munchkins:







Yes, I have the cutest kids in the world. Yes, I know I'm totally biased, but I still think it's true. :)

Molly

Sunday Bonnet Tutorial

Every little girl needs a bonnet - even if it's just to play dress up with!

I made this bonnet for Madeline for Plow Days, but then tweaked the pattern and added some ruffles and piping for these babies:



These are really super easy and I'm even going to show you how to shir with elastic thread and make your own piping! As always, I probably included more pictures and instructions than necessary - I know from experience that there is nothing more frustrating than following a tutorial and thinking "I wish they had a picture of that! I have no idea what that means!". As always, feel free to leave questions in the comments, I'll answer them there.

This bonnet will fit most little girls from 2-5 years old.

Ready, set - let's go!

Materials

1/2 yard main fabric
1/4 yard (or less - you may be able to get away with using scraps if you piece strips together, I actually used jelly roll strips I had on hand) trim fabric
elastic thread
thread to match fabric
light to medium weight iron on interfacing
chunky yarn or petite piping

Cut:

From Main fabric:
15 x 15 - cut one
3.5 x 14 - cut two for brim
3.5 x 20 - cut two for ties (alternately, you could use the trim fabric for the ties)

From trim fabric
2.5 x 30 (ish) - cut one for brim ruffle (it's not super crucial to have a particular length here - just as long as it's double your brim length)
1 x 15 - cut one for piping

From interfacing
3.5 x 14 - cut two for brim



1. Fuse your interfacing pieces to the wrong side of the two brim pieces. This will make your bring a little stiffer and not quite so floppy.



2. Using a bowl or other round object - cut a curve into the short end of your brim pieces. (tip: fold the fabric in half length-wise for matching curves.)


3. Repeat with your main bonnet piece.


4. Fold your ruffle piece in half, wrong sides together and iron.



5. Fold your tie pieces in half - right sides together - and iron in half. Fold one short end down at a 45 degree angle (is that right?) and iron. Cut the end of the tie off on the line you just made with your iron, creating a pointed end.





6. Sew your ties together, leaving the short, non pointed end open for turning. Clip corners, turn and iron flat.



7. Grab your ruffle strip and topstitch along the folded edge.



8. Set your stitch length as long as it will go and sew a basting stitch 1/4 inch from the raw edge. Do not backstitch.



9. Pull the bottom bobbin thread to gather your ruffle. You want to gather it as long as the rounded edge of your brim.



10. Line up the raw edge of the ruffle with the rounded raw edge of one of your brim pieces. Sew onto brim piece using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.





11. Place second brim piece over the first brim piece, sandwiching the ruffle piece inbetween them. Pin. Use the stitches from the first brim piece as a guide, sew pieces together.



12. Turn and press.



Piping mini-tutorial

You can skip this step, but the piping really does turn a plain jane bonnet into something a little more special. You could also pre-made piping. Here's how to easily make your own.

I just wanted very small piping, so I used some 8 ply yarn I had on hand.

Iron your 1 inch strip in half



Place your piping (or yarn!) inside the strip in the fold you just created with your iron.



You can use a zipper foot for this step (and you would certainly want to if you ever make larger piping), but I find that using my regular presser foot is fine for small piping like this. Sew as close to the piping as possible, sandwiching the piping in the strip of fabric.



Viola! Piping!

14. Pin your piping on the brim piece, raw edges together. Turn your piping under when you get to where the brim meets the ruffle, as shown in the pictures below and sew onto brim, using the original stitches in piping as a guide.





15. Take your main bonnet piece and iron the bottom straight edge under 1/4 inch and then again another 1/4 inch. Stitch.



16. Iron the sides of the main piece (just up to the curve) under 1/4 inch and then again another 1/4 inch. Stitch.



17. Set your stitch length to the longest it will go and sew around the entire curved edge (3 sides). Sew the stitches on the inside of the finished edges you just sewed - otherwise you won't be able to gather the stiches.



18. Gather the stitches.



19. Pin the bonnet piece to the brim piece, right sides together (piping is sewn on the right side) and raw edges alined. Leave 1 1/2 inches of the main bonnet piece on each end of the brim, as shown in the pictures below.





20. Using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, sew brim and main piece together, using the stitch line from piping on the wrong side of brim piece as a guide.



21. Trim away excess fabric and use a zig zag sitch to reinforce the seam.





Mini shirring tutorial

By using elastic thread in your bobbin, you can create a stretchy stitch that creates a faux smocked look. It's super easy and a great way to create shape.

Thread your thread through the hole in the top of your bobbin and carefully wind the thread around the bobbin by hand.





You don't want to wind it too tight or too loose. When you are finished, it should look something like this:



Load your bobbin as you normally would.



22. With your elastic thread loaded on your bobbin, set your stitch length to it's longest setting and sew three lines into the neck of the bonnet - each 1/4 inch apart, backstitching at the beginning and end of each row. You may need to stretch your fabric out flat when you are sewing your 2nd and 3rd row.



23. Attach your ties by folding the raw end under and stitching to the inside of the neck of the bonnet, right over the shirring rows.



24. Take your bonnet to the iron and steam the shirred rows. The steam shrinks the elastic thread and gives you a nice tightly shirred look. Here's a before and after picture - cool, huh?





Now stick your adorable new bonnet on your favorite little person and admire your handiwork!

I'd love to see a picture if anyone attempts a bonnet from this tutorial!

Molly