Baby Girl Handmade Overload

 I've been on a kick lately of making things for my little lady Lucy.  It is so fun making things for girls!! I've made stuff for my boys, but beyond pants/shorts when they were little and bow ties there isn't much else.  I guess I just make up for it with her!

I picked up a bunch of t-shirts at Old Navy last fall for $2 each.  I chose some coordinating prints for each one planning to do a t-shirt dress and two bubble shorts.

Her "Lucy" outfit, which I adore.  I just appliqued her name using a fusible web. It takes time and patience sewing that thin but it's worth it!  Then the shorts I just used the "panties" pattern from a Simplicity dress pattern.  Instead of adding elastic at the leg I gathered it and added a cuff.

And last week I shared her t-shirt dress (as you can see I changed the fabrics I originally set aside).  The tutorial is here.

And this sweetest little dress my mom made for her.  I love that light aqua floral from Tasha Noel's Simple Life line.  I just finished the diaper cover to match...she's wearing this one on Sunday :)

Well there are some sweet little things I've been up to (and my awesome mom). It sure is fun the variety of things you can make with a sewing machine and fabric!

T-shirt Dress Tutorial!

Last week I whipped up a T-shirt dress for my little lady.  They are sooo easy and perfect to use for an old t-shirt or a plain one on clearance (like me) :)

Simple, fun little play dress!  Want to make one too?? Let's get started!

Supplies:

T-shirt

1 print 4" x WOF (width of fabric, about 42")

1 print 5" by WOF

Optional tulle 5.25" wide

**Keep in mind the longer the WOF (42") the fuller the gather with the skirt.  My t-shirt size is 18-24 months.  If you're using a larger t-shirt you may consider increasing the length.

Cut each piece as listed above in supplies.  Join ends to make a continuous circle, stitch and press.  Turn and iron the hem under once and again for a finished edge to the hem.  Stitch around.  I turned a little more than 1/4 inch each time about 5/8" total.  (For the tulle all you need to do is stitch it in a continuous circle, no need to finish the hem)

Place all three pieces inside each other (like above).  Stitch around the piece to secure them all together.  If you have a serger, awesome, if not use a zig-zag like me.  This will help with fraying as the garment is washed and worn. 

Gather.  Do the longest stitch your machine will allow.  Stitch around the top of the skirt.  Leave a lot of thread before you start to stitch and when you finish the stitch.  Taking one thread at a time slowly pull and the garment will gather.  Take your time, if you break the thread you'll have to stitch the whole thing again.  Pull from each side.  Match the gathered skirt to the size of the t-shirt.

Place the skirt inside the shirt.  Pin all around.  Sew together!

Inside.

I did cut her a coordinating headband, I could resist!!

I cut it on the bias (so it has stretch).  Finished the edges and tied it directly on her head.  Because of the stretch it stays on well and can easily be pulled off and on (keeping the knot in place).

Ta-da!! Really easy sweet little play dress for the little lady!

Have fun!! Let me know if you have any questions!

T-shirt: Old Navy

Lace and Hounds tooth prints: Michael Miller Fabric

Tulle: Hobby Lobby

A Dress for a Little Lucy Lady

 I'm sooo excited to share this sweet little dress I made!  I'm quite proud of myself...it's the most ambitious clothing pattern I've attempted without my mommy.  Although I did call her :)

She will most definitely fetch eggs in this sweet dress!  It is a little big but should be perfect size in a couple months.

I simply adore this fabric!!  It's from Pam Kitty Picnic.  I got it from a really sweet shop, Strawberry Blossom Mercantile...she's got lots of really sweet prints including Lecien and sweet florals.

Full dress.  Pleated at the top and back, peter pan collar and a double layer at the bottom.  The pattern called for ric-rac but it didn't match this sweet floral dress and luckily I found a matching periwinkle trim!

I love her.  And yes she was spinning in it!! :)  How sweet is my Lucy??  I'd also describe her as feisty, loving, playful, funny, curious.... She's almost 18 months old, I can hardly believe it.  Our family certainly wouldn't be the same without her.  And I sure love having my girl!

I used Simplicity Baby pattern 1921 (Joann's for 99 cents!).  I did the blue dress on the right.  As you can see it had a large collar.  I cut it out and I just didn't like it. It overpowered the dress maybe? Too heavy? Any way I asked some of my best sewing friends and decided on altering it to a Peter Pan collar. I'm very happy I did!

And I'm ready to make my next one.  No such things as too many dresses right?

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog!!  Have a great day!!

Meg

Linking up to Kim's Fun Sewjo Saturday Party!!

Aqua and Daisies

Day 4 of 4 sharing my finished baby quilts.  Phew!! I feel soooo accomplished!! :)  If you see the last three posts this week you'll see all my quilts.  I'm selling them all in our shop :)

Aqua and Daisies

36" x 48"

Denyse Schmidt prints (9 patch)

Michael Miller (daisies)

Yesterday and today's quilt were both made while stranded this past summer.  We moved from AZ to VA and had unexpected problems getting into our town home.  You mean massive student loans cause problems?? :)

So Katie from Swim Bike Quilt was incredibly kind and gracious and helped us find an apartment to rent for 6 weeks.  All of our stuff was in storage, I literally had 1.5 weeks worth of items since we were just planning on a road trip.  I received some fabrics while I was there and decided to use my time wisely and so at night I sewed!  Katie lent me her Bernina and I hit JoAnns for a few coordinating prints, a new mat and cutter (I can totally justify that right?).

These daisies I have always thought were just so sweet!! So I focused on them and brought in coordinating 9 patch prints.They're 12" finished blocks.  I believe the daisies are 6" squared with 3" white sashing.  The 9 patches are 4" squared.  These are all FINISHED numbers, not cut (add .5").

Bound with a coordinating green and kept the back really simple with a floral aqua.  For quilting I stitched around all of the blocks.  And I'm a big fan of hand stitching my bindings :)

It's fun to play on traditional girl colors.  My personal favorite colors are blue and green!  Trust me you'll find at least one in every room of my house :)

Thank you so much for stopping by!!  We're truly touched by those of you who stop by and read or comment...it means a lot!!

Like I said these are all in OUR SHOP.

To receive 10% off use the coupon code MEGSFRIEND,

Have a great day!!

Fabric Tuesday Y'all!

Hi friends!! Welcome to another happy Tuesday to see some wonderful fabric-y eye candy and to share your own!! Usually we feature several link-ups from the previous week....but this week I'm being selfish.  I'm this way from time to time :)

I've recently finished 4 baby quilts and I'm sharing one a day this week!

Fly Away

40" x 49"

Outfoxed by Lizzy House (mainly)

I loooove this quilt.  It is a very different color palette for me, peach, burnt orange, pink, raspberry, lilac and eggplant!  But I truly love the end result.

It is a simple Flying Geese block. I do each unit on it's own.  I've tried units with less waste/doing more than one at a time.  But for my math to be spot on AND to get my points correct I do best the simple one-at-a-time way.

  

You can see each row just alternates direction.  Simple but still eye catching.  Simple is hard for me to do sometimes!!  I straight line quilted about every 2 inches.  Bound with the sweet lavender solid.  Backing a lovely Riley Blake chevron.

Hope you enjoyed me sharing a little more this week!  This quilt and all my quilts are available in our shop.  10% off if you use the code MEGSFRIEND

Fabric Tuesday #177

Come and share your fabric projects with us!!  

Sweetie Baby Quilt

First winners announced for First Friday Giveaway here so check it out and see if you won anything! :)

I have had some finishes lately!!! I can hear the applause around the world, so thank you, thank you :)  It feels so good to FINISH some things and not just START!!  I'm really really good at starting! :)

I have finished 4 baby quilts that were all started at different times and a few weeks ago were baby quilt tops in my cupboard.  I basted 5 quilts in 1 1/2 days, that's a miracle for me as I hate hate basting.  Quilted them all that week and binding the next.  I feel quite accomplished if you can't tell :)

I'll share one quilt everyday this week!  Hope you'll join me!  First up;

Sweetie

36" x 45"

Hello Luscious

I made this sweet little quilt with a vintage look from a Hello Luscious charm pack (5" squares).  I love love the palette of this collection, I think it is so pretty and sweet.

I decided to make some traditional quilt blocks to throw in with the squares.  I wanted to give it a little more personality.

I stitched-in-the-ditch for quilting, meaning in the seams of the quilt.  I always use a thin cotton batting, this quilt will be so sweet and crinkly when it gets washed up!  I used a soft pink print for the backing.  And raspberry herringbone for binding.  I'm adding this to my mental list of prints I like on bindings!

I love this sweet little quilt!! It is very much "me" from the prints to colors.  When it comes to babies I'm traditional in wanting super sweet and simple things.

I've decided to sell all of my quilts I'll share this week in our shop.  They're all currently listed.

Quilt Story's Shop

And I've decided to offer blog readers and instagram friends a special deal

save 10% with the code MEGSFRIEND

Thanks for stopping by!! Come tomorrow, Wed and Thurs to see the rest!!!

For Baby Kate

I told you all last week about my best friend Amanda.  Her baby Kate was born seemingly healthy.  After a couple days Kate was losing weight and became jaundice.  What seemed like something a lot of newborns go through quickly turned into a very dangerous situation. 

Amanda and her husband were told that Kate was fighting a vicious virus.  In her current health condition they couldn't do any testing to determine what the virus was.  They were giving her several antibiotics to cover all possibilities.  All the knew for sure was that the virus was attacking  her liver.

They were then told that Kate was dying.  It would take a miracle.  Told to call all their family to come and say goodbye to their sweet newborn baby girl.  It was unbelievably heartbreaking.  Still grieving for my dad when I heard the news I couldn't bare it.  I was so sad and really angry.  I've been so angry feeling like we were "cheated" with my dad...and now my best friend losing her newborn baby girl??

Well they did all come to say goodbye to Kate..but there have been miracles.  A month later Kate is still fighting!!!!  She has an uphill battle but she is here and there is hope.  There is a high probability that she will need a liver transplant which comes with it's own set of health risks and problems.  But the hope (and belief) that Kate can go home and grow-up with her family is real.

The weekend Kate was born I finished her name blanket and quilt.  And a couple days later the morning Amanda told me the sad news I rushed to send her the gifts.  (Unfortunately we now live states away)  I just wanted her to have them.  If Kate only had a few days on the Earth I knew anything tangible would be precious to Amanda.

I started the star blocks this past Summer with no real plan.  When Amanda and her family came to stay with me over Thanksgiving we were talking about what type of quilt she wanted for baby girl.  I showed her the blocks and she loved them, so I took it from here.  They're 6 inch blocks, 1 inch sashing and then a couple of borders.  I just kept building this quilt each step of the way :)  We also made the name blanket with no name while she was here...and I added her name after Kate was born.

Kate is baby number 3 for Amanda and Ryker.  Their oldest daughter is the same age as my oldest son (6).  They'll probably get married one day because they love each other and fight with each other equally :)  Kalil has wanted a name blanket for ages and we've just never put one together.  Last week I sent this to Kalil, after all siblings need just as much love when all this craziness is around them.

I am so so glad that Kate is still here.  That she is fighting.  I am so happy that even though handmade things don't change the situation or lessen the pain, they can maybe bring some comfort to our hearts.  Making these things for Amanda and her family has probably done more good for me than them.  I can't wait to meet Kate and hopefully be able to hold her too!!

You can follow me on instagram (@quiltstorymeg) to stay in the loop or you can also follow Amanda (@rykerandamanda) to keep posted on sweet baby Kate.  I'll keep you all posted here as well.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read today :)

Custom Play Around Quilt

I (Meg) was commissioned to make this darling Play Around Quilt using Sarah Jane fabrics.  It was a joy!!  But really :)  We adore SJ fabrics so I was really excited about this project.

I used a lot of the same prints as in the original Play Around pattern.  The customer wanted the focus on pinks and as much green as I could include (there was only one print) to match her daughters room.

The top and bottom rows are fussy cut darling images from the prints (Children at Play line).  The middle three rows are embroideries the customer made.  She did an amazing job!!  They are made using SJ embroidery patterns.

Here are a couple of my favorites.  I wanted to show a close-up of all of them!  But I refrained...

I'm kinda bitter this isn't in my own quilt stack! I adore this line, the colors and the embroideries are over the top!!

And the super sweet quilting done by my aunt.  I love the sweet hearts on the border!

A simple polka dot on the back, it shows the quilting beautifully too!

There you have it!  So I hear the customer was quite happy and I hope that's true! :)

Our Play Around Pattern can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're all enjoying the holidays!