My first serious quilt :)

I've joined The India Modern Quilt Guild and our first task, the January Challenge is to make a quilt with warm solid colors.  This is my first serious and full of awareness quilt, why I said so? Because I've made several patchwork quilt for my sewing machine cover, a ball or quilt bag, but so far I even didn't know that what I've made is a quilt.  So this time, I prepared and did all the details in making this table runner with full consciousness that it's a quilt :D

I talked to Phiphi and discussed about it so I won't make a mistake in understanding the definition of quilt and it ended up with her sharing a link where I found the tutorial for this table runner.  It's a Greek Square Table Runner with finished size 70-1/2"x25-1/2", too big for me as a newbie but I really enjoyed the process.  For sure, still unable to make so precise with the block, where I have to sew the triangle, but no way that I was about to give up.  I handquilted the blocks and the borders with embroidery floss.  For the backing, since I forgot to buy a plain brown color (see...a real newbie right?) and after the chit chat with Phiphi, I cut 9"x25" of each color and made the backing out of them.  I think it now looks like a reversible table runner :D well, why not?

Am I addicted to it? I guess so...Do I want more? Absolutely...see you on my next posting ;) Happy Crafting girls!

A Wall-Art to open 2012

Not to late to start blogging again right? Yes, I was out of Mumbai for 2 months, to visit my home country, Indonesia, then there were Christmas and New Year, following with another trip to my husband's hometown in Kerala.  So, it's clear enough to explain why I didn't updating my blog :(

But, I was still doing some small projects in between.  I also joined a sewing class for a month in Surabaya, where my parents are staying in Indonesia.  I was so excited but since I don't have my own sewing machine there :( I just able to learn how to make dress pattern.  I will post the snaps of what I've learned there soon.

Now, let me show you what I've made for my hubby's best friend's little daughter :)  Her name is Alexis, and they call her Lexi.  She's 6 months old, so cute, and cheerful baby.  I made a wall-art for her.  Her mother is an American and father is Indian and they are staying there in Oklahoma.  They came for a month to Kerala to visit Lexi's grandma.  So we flew from Mumbai to Thrissure to meet them.  I bought a cute purple dress for the little Lexi and as an additional gift, I made a wall-art for her.

Yes, it's an elephant, my favorite animal, I chose elephant because it might represent India, an elephant country :)   I drew the elephant which was about to be carried away by four balloons.  There are four balloons with L-E-X-I spelling on each of it.  Her parents said that the wall-art will be great on her nursery room, really hope they'll like it :)

I got a little problem with the binding, it's not so perfect,  so little time to finish the project, hope it's forgiven :(

Chef Hat Tutorial

It’s been several times I sew chef hat for my friend’s little girls.  I think it’s time for me to share the tutorial after so many trial and errors in making it, for me these steps are the easy one.  Thanks to dear crafting friend who keep on pushing me to try to make the tutorial :)

This chef hat is adjustable – it fits to head size with circumference between 18” to 22”.  Sorry for the not great photos.  I will try my best to update the tutorial and taking better pictures soon :)

Materials you need:

18” diameter circle fabric-cut 1 for the top

6” tall x 24” wide for the band (cut 1)

2.5” tall x 23” wide interface

2.5” Velcro

1 spool of coordinating thread

Embroidery floss to embroider the name

The steps:

• Preparing the band.  Take the rectangular fabric and iron/crease it along the middle by folding it in half lengthwise and unfold again.  Iron the interface at one of the wrong sides of the rectangular fabric, by putting in the middle of the fabric – at the creased line

• Now, embroider your little chef's name on the center of the right side of the fabric with the attached interface.  Once you’ve finished with the embroidery, take the Velcro and attach the Velcro hooks on the right side of the name, leaving half inch for seam (please look at the picture).  Then stitch the Velcro loops at the left side, behind the name.

• Now, get your circle fabric (sorry mine is not really circle), fold 4” out of it and stitch.  It will be look like the image below.

• Then, gather the edge of it by doing running stitch but not including the stitched part (refer to no. 4), leave enough thread to adjust the gathered fabric later on.  The result will be look like this.

• Next part is attaching the band to the top part.  Start the process by pinning the seams of the band to the sewn part of the top, leaving 2 inches gap of the top part.  Make sure the right side of the circle fabric facing the right side of the band and the name position is as shown in the picture (green arrow).

• After that, carefully adjust and pin the gathered fabric into the band.  It will look like this.

• Sew it slowly around the band and you will get this raw edges.

• You're almost there!  Now, turn the hat right side out and pin the back side of the band covering the raw edges to the front side of the band.

• And sew slowly at the outside of the band while removing the pins.  If you want a neat result, please do running stitch first instead putting pins making sure the band can cover the raw edges perfectly.

• Then fold and sew the edge the band for finishing touch.  

• The behind part of your chef hat suppose to be like this.

• Here's the hat for your little chef!

If you like this chef hat tutorial and you have time to sew it, please give me credit by putting the source link at your blog, for sure I would love to see yours :)  And if you have any question, feel free to ask me at the comment post, I will reply asap ;)  Happy Sewing!