Chalkboard Table Runner Tutorial

Ok I’m in trouble… this project has been at the shop in a while and I hadn’t gotten the tutorial posted.  Last weekend I found out the shop has sold out of chalkboard fabric, but I’m still posting because I think this would also make up nicely with some of the laminated fabric.   (And there are some really cute designs at the shop!) Update: We've got more chalkboard fabric in.

So here’s what you’ll need:

1/2 yd chalkboard fabric

1/2 yd backing

14 x 40 strip of batting

1 fat quarter for binding (This was enough for bias 2 ¼” binding)

Place chalkboard fabric face down and iron lightly on your LOWEST setting to get out any creases. Cut 14” by 40” strip of backing, chalkboard fabric and batting.

Layer together: With the chalkboard fabric face down use an adhesive spray to attach batting and then again to attach backing.  (I used Krylon, but even a basting spray would work.)

Layer in order: Chalkboard, Batting, Backing

Cut binding and bind tablerunner using a leather or other heavy duty needle.

Make some food, invite some people over and enjoy!

Or just write messages to each other all week!

Happy Sewing!

Tamara

Easter Egg Wall Hanging Tutorial + Giveaway

I am sincerely sorry!  With real work, the warm weather and some deadline sewing (Darn those bridal showers!)  I’ve been MIA lately.  But I wanted to make sure to share this cute Easter Egg wall hanging with you before it was too late.

What You’ll Need

1/8 yard of 5 assorted prints

½ yard of batting

½ yard of fabric for backing

Ribbon

Cut a 4” inch strip from each of the 5 fabrics.  Sew strips together length wise.  Layer backing fabric, batting and pieced strips and quilt. (I love small quilting projects like this because it gives me a chance to try new free motion quilting designs or perfect ones which need a little practice.)

Next you will need to create an egg pattern out of freezer paper.  I free handed mine, but you are welcome to stop by the shop and trace mine.  My egg is about 15” high 11” at the widest point.  Remember the bottom is wider than the top of the egg.

After you’ve made your freezer paper egg pattern iron it on to your quilted fabric so the strips are running horizontally, and cut around it with pinking shears.

Yes it might have been really late at night when I finished this.

Now for the fun part! You should be able to get three to four eggs out of your quilted fabric.  I played around with a couple of different ways to attach the ribbon.

The first way I crisscrossed the ribbon at a point towards the top of the egg, placed a large green button on top and hand stitched the button and ribbon in place.

The second way I just a made a button hole at the top.  (And if you have never made a button hole on your Janome come into the shop for a demonstration.  It is soooo easy!) Then I fed the ribbon through the button hole.

One last trick, I was super excited to use.  I found this idea on Pinterest of using a 3M hook on the back of the door to hang a wreath or anything. Props to Jeralyn atLemonade for this great idea! So no nail in the door and no ugly hook on the front!

Giveaway: Well since I made three of these.  One is hanging at my house, one is at the shop and the third is just looking for a happy home!

I realize Easter is just around the corner so this will have to be a Lightning Giveaway and I will even mail it to you since I don't have time to run it down to the shop. 

Leave a comment about any Easter traditions you have by Monday night.  Tuesday I'll pick a winner and no later than Wednesday I'll have it in the mail to you!

You must be a follower to enter!

Ok so which do you like better? I think I like the button hole method the best.

Tamara

Charm Pack Happy Birthday Banner Tutorial

I see banners and garland everywhere these days.  I haven’t been too quick to jump on the bandwagon but one banner I knew I couldn’t resist was the Happy Birthday Banner. 

Growing up we always had a Happy Birthday tablecloth brought out for each special occasion and I’m hoping this fabric Happy Birthday Banner will be our little family tradition.

I’m not in love with the pennant shaped banners and I wanted something which was quick and easy but still looked finished.  So I decided to use a charm pack!  (If you don't mind cutting your own squares this also a great scrappy project.)

Linus's Happy Birthday Banner

Happy Birthday Banner Charm Pack Tutorial

1  5” charm pack (or 41 squares)

¼ yard of coordinating fabric

Heat n’bond

Note: Make sure when you are picking out fabric it is not too busy.  I dearly love this Salt Air line which I used for the tutorial but it was maybe a little busy for a banner.  If you really love a certain line but you’re worried about how busy it is throw in a few solids for the letters.

1.      Layout charm pack.  You will need 14 squares for the background (HAPPY BIRTHDAY + a space between the two words).  Pick 13 different squares for your letters.  (This is the hardest part.  Try to vary the colors and patterns and make sure the fabric used for a letter will not blend into the background square.) I like to write the order or letter on the back of each square of fabric so I can keep it straight.

Notice the two red scallop pattern pieces next to each other; this is what you want to avoid.

(Of course you could also do what I did and spend time laying it out and then sew it on backwards and make it work, because I’m too lazy to rip it out and start over.)

2.     Once you’ve chosen your layout, use the remaining squares to back the background squares.  With right sides together, sew around three sides, turn and press.  The open side will be the top of the square.

Ready to press!

3.      Cut your binding.  I use three strips the width of the fabric at 1 ¼” wide.  Once you have the three strips sewn together turn one side under ¼”.

4.      The next step is to sew the squares to the binding. Leave a 12-15” tail of binding before starting the first square. Make sure you sew them in the order you laid out.

It works best for me to have my binding on the bottom right side up and then place my squares on top of the binding (face down) as I sew.  (See the diagram above.)  If you do it this way you’ll start with the last letter “Y” and work your way through “Happy Birthday” backwards. 

5.      After you have all the squares sewn on, trim the tails on either side to same length.

6.     Press the binding away from the squares and then back down over the raw edge.  You will also have to press the remaining unfolded side and the ends of the tails under ¼".

7.      Finally topstitch binding catching it on the underneath side to finish.

Do you recognize this picture from a previous post?

8.      Next iron on Heat n’ Bond following manufacturer’s directions to letter squares.  Trace and cut or use cutting machine to cut out letters.  Your letters can be any font but it works best to keep them about 4” tall and no more than 4” wide.

9.     Iron letters to squares and viola!  Now it’s time to bake the cake!

Here's our banner in use.

Changing Pad Tutorial

When Linus was born I thought I would do all this sewing for him. The changing pad which came with the diaper bag someone gave me had no way to keep it rolled up so I dreamed up this idea with velcro using PUL and diaper fabric from the shop and a little Michael Miller dots as binding. Of course this one isn't for Linus and I never have gotten around to making one for him, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Baby Changing Pad with velcro closure

Baby Changing Pad

½ yard PUL fabric

½ yard batting

½ yard diaper fabric

¼ yard cotton for binding

1” square of velcro

Lay diaper fabric on top of batting. (Batting and diaper fabric do not have to be exactly the same size.  You will trim down to size later.)

Batting with diaper fabric layered on top

Iron and pin together layers to keep in place.  Then quilt batting and diaper fabric together.

Quilting batting and diaper fabric together

Once you have quilted the two layers together, trim down to 25 ½"  by 14".

Next cut a 25 ½” x 14” rectangle of PUL fabric. Sew the rough side of the velcro to the right side of the PUL fabric centered about 6 ½ inches from the top.

Layer the two pieces of the changing pad with the inside piece batting side up and the PUL right side up on top of the batting. (I like to baste the PUL onto the rest of the layers at this point to keep it from slipping when you attach the binding.

Next from the binding fabric, cut two 3¼” by 2” rectangles and binding.  I got by with two strips of straight double fold binding. 

Place two rectangles right sides together.  Sew ¼” seam around three sides leaving a short end open.  Turn and press.  Sew soft side of velcro to flap centered about a ¼” down from closed short side.



Sewing on binding and flap

With the PUL up, pin flap (velcro up) to the short side with velcro on it so the raw edge of the flap will catch in the binding seam.  Pin binding and sew.  Finish by turning binding and handstitching to diaper fabric.

And as Linus would say, "Ta-da!"

Stay tuned for the cute wipes case I made to go with this!

Tamara