D.O.N.E. done!

Posted in Quilts by Sew Sassy Creations

I finished the quilt! With time to spare!!!!! As you know, I started on the binding yesterday morning, but because we went to IKEA, I didn’t have the oh-sew-important nap time to work (see what I did there? haha). Last night, after Zac went to bed, I curled up on the couch with my husband, a drink, the quilt, needle & thread, and got to work. 2 and a half hours and 3 beers later, I finished. I love this quilt, and while I know that my 2-year-old has no idea the time and energy that went into it, one day he will. For now, he can look and say “tuk! car! go!!!” and I’m OK with that.

The binding, while time consuming, was not as terrible as I anticipated. I stabbed myself repeatedly with the needle, and I now know why seamstresses wear thimbles on their thumbs, because pushing that needle through three layers of flannel was painful. The finished product though was worth the extra effort.

This quilt measures 41″ by 53″. I used 6 different flannel patterns for the blocks of the quilt, grey flannel for the sashing, aqua blue flannel for the back, and the yellow polka-dot flannel for the binding. The batting is 100% cotton. I had extra car fabric because I got 1 yard instead of the 1/2 yard I ordered (yippee), and because I’m me, I used that to make a pillow case to match.

Not sure if I’ll blog again before Christmas, so I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope your holiday is filled with joy, and wish you all many blessings in the new year. 2013 was an amazing year for me and my business. I did over 200 sales on Etsy, made 15 quilts for customers (maybe more, I lost count), and purchased the embroidery machine. I am so excited about what’s in store for 2014, so stay tuned!

19Dec2013

Binding the quilt

Posted in Baby Blankets, Kids, Quilts by Sew Sassy Creations

Because of an impromptu trip to
Ikea to have lunch with my sister and parents, I didn’t finish the quilt today. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though, and hopefully I can curl up on the couch with a beer after Zac goes to bed and knock this out.

This morning, I sewed the binding onto the front of the quilt, and I’ve begun hand stitching it to the back. Definitely more tedious that is anticipated.

Here are pictures of today’s progress.

18Dec2013

The truck quilt… Almost DONE

Posted in Baby Blankets, Kids, Quilts by Sew Sassy Creations

I am amazed at how quickly this quilt came together. I am forever indebted to my friend Emily who helped coach me through text and Facebook. She sent me pictures of her work and YouTube videos explaining the quilting process. I could not have done this without her.

This morning I ran to Hobby Lobby and picked up batting for the quilt and as soon as Zac went down to nap, got to work. I laid the back of the quilt down in my entryway and taped it down. Then, I used spray adhesive to baste the batting and again for the front of the quilt. I used safety pins around the border for added security.
I was most nervous about the next step, petrified my machine would crap out or I’d get a lot of puckering. I didn’t think things through completely as to how I’d stitch the borders. I stitched down the center of the grey sashing strips as opposed to around each individual block. Oh well, I’m pleased with how it turned out.

No sooner did I finish trimming the excess fabric did Zac wake up. Not really though. His new thing is to come downstairs and snooze on me. I’ll allow it. I hope to finish this quilt tomorrow, so stay tuned!!

17Dec2013

Christmas Craziness

Posted in Baby Blankets, Kids, Quilts by Sew Sassy Creations

Since Thanksgiving, my sewing room has felt like Santa’s workshop. In the past week, I’ve sewn 5 quilts, 2 toddler pillow & blanket sets, and over 30 scarves. Many of the quilts I’ve completed are Christmas gifts, so I won’t post pictures until after the holidays, but I trust that these kids don’t have internet access, so I can post pics of their presents. Now that I’m caught up on work for others, I was able to start on Zac’s truck quilt so here are some pictures of that too.

5Dec2013

Christmas 2013

Posted in Baby Blankets, Kids, Quilts by Sew Sassy Creations

Quick post this morning, mainly to hold myself accountable. Growing up, each year my mom made one of my Christmas gifts. One year, she made the most amazing doll house ever, another year it was a ballerina wall hanging for my room. I’m not sure if I fully appreciated the gifts until starting the same tradition for my little guy.

I’m a fabric hoarder, and often buy fabrics without a planned purpose. Over the summer I purchased a flannel fabric with trucks and cars. Zac is always pulling that fabric out of my stash and carries it around, pointing and saying “tuk, car, tuk, car…” I knew months ago that it would be part of his homemade gift this year. What I didn’t know (till yesterday) was WHAT that gift would be.

After searching Pinterest for recipes, I came across this- a quilt pattern. While I make t-shirt quilts all the time, I’ve never attempted something like this before. I’m anxious, excited, and petrified I won’t finish in time, but ready or not, here I go! I purchased this pattern, and ordered my fabric last night. I will check in periodically and update as I go. (The fabric pictured top right is what I already have.)

4Dec2013

A Mother’s Quilt

Posted in Kids, Quilts by Sew Sassy Creations

This is a busy time if year for everybody, myself included. Christmas and graduation are the most popular times for t-shirt quilts. Last week, I finished 2 quilts, I have 5 to do before Christmas, and then 2 more after that. Because many of these are gifts, I won’t share them on the blog till after Christmas, but this blanket was for a friend.

Jenica and I taught at the same elementary school and have been friends ever since. She has two daughters, her youngest is just a few weeks older then my son. She asked me a long time ago about compiling her daughters’ outfits into an adult sized blanket for her. After making the December Darlings quilt over the summer, I had a pattern and was ready to create Jenica’s keepsake.

This blanket uses 32 outfits and 32 flannel squares, each cut 7″ square. I tried my best to keep the dresses intact with ruffles, and am pleased with how that turned out. The blanket has a double flannel border and is backed with anti-pill fleece. Finished, this blanket measures approximately 70″ square. What makes this blanket so sentimental is that many of the outfits were worn by both sisters, and then there are several where the girls have matching personalized shirts. I did my best to keep the coordinating shirts beside one another.

Many friends have expressed interest in the baby blankets made with newborn onesies, but their kids are older and they didn’t save enough. This blanket has 7 years worth of outfits. It’s never too late to start saving clothing, and really, a quilt is a much better way to preserve these childhood memories than storing them in the attic.

3Dec2013

Construction Birthday!

Posted in Kids by Sew Sassy Creations

It’s hard to believe, but over the weekend my little boy turned 2. It seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago that he was born. It comes as no surprise that I’m a do-it-yourselfer. My motto is why buy it when I can make it. Now that I have the embroidery machine, I decided to make his birthday shirt. My son is obsessed with trucks, and especially loves construction trucks. His favorite book is Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site. If you have a son, this book is a must have.

I was nervous making the shirt because I failed miserably while trying to embroider a baby onesie a few weeks ago. Thankfully, this project was a success and not a disaster, mainly because toddler clothes are easier to maneuver on the machine than newborn stuff. I wanted his name on the shirt, but wasn’t happy with the first attempt, so I ended up buying a second shirt and redoing it. I like the second one better, plus it’s long sleeved and he can wear it through the winter.

Prepare for a photo bomb. Included below are pictures of the shirt, but I’m also including some of the party decor and the birthday boy himself. My very talented husband made the construction barrier. Enjoy!

Sew Sassy Creations

This blog chronicles my life as a wife, mother, teacher, and small business owner

Monthly Archives: December 2013

D.O.N.E. done!

Binding the quilt

The truck quilt… Almost DONE

Christmas Craziness

Christmas 2013

A Mother’s Quilt

Construction Birthday!