Wedding Pillow Cover Tutorial

I came up with this pillow cover last year when I needed to make a wedding gift for my husband's co-worker. Recently I had a request to make another one to give as a gift to an upcoming wedding. I didn't write down my math the first time so I had to figure it out all over again. So I decided this time to write a blog post on how to make it so I could refer back to it later and also share with others in case they want to make a unique wedding gift. The embroidery design can also be changed to make a pillow for any occasion.

Materials needed: Makes a cover for a 16" pillow form

~ 1/2 yard of a non-directional print or 3/4 yard of a directional print. I used Black Damask from Riley Blake in the pillow cover shown

~ White or other solid color fabric for the middle panel at least 10.5" x 8.5"

~ Embroidery or applique design of your choice. The embroidery designs I used was from Embroitique. I used the Ryan font frame and the font is the Jacob font.  I used the font frame with the finished size of  8.49" x 5.61".  I did have to add the period with my embird software because this font does not come with one.   I used the 1" size and slightly shrank the est. 2014

Step 1: Embroider your design on the solid fabric. Your finished size will be 10.5" wide by 8.5" tall. You can either cut it to size before you embroider or after. I like to hoop a larger piece so that I can hoop the fabric instead of floating it on the top of the hoop and cut it to size when I am done.

Step 2: Cut your pieces. You will need the following:

~ (1) 10.5" wide by 8.5" tall of the solid color fabric you embroidered on

~ (2) 11.5" wide by 17" tall pieces of your patterned fabric for the back of the pillow

~ (2) 4.25" wide by 8.5" tall pieces of your patterned fabric

~ (2) 17" wide by 5.25" tall pieces of your patterned fabric

If you want to change the size of the piece in the middle you just have to redo the math so that your final size will end up to be 17" x 17".  Don't forget to account for seam allowances.  I am using 1/2" seam allowances.

Step 3: USE 1/2" SEAM ALLOWANCES

With right sides together sew the 4.25" x 8.5" pieces to each side of your embroidered piece. Finish your seam (serge or zig zig)and press the seam away from the center towards your patterned fabric.

Step 4: With right sides together sew the 17" x 5.25" pieces to the top and the bottom of your embroidered piece now with sides. Finish your seam and press away from the center.

Step 5: Take your back pieces and fold in and press one long side of each back piece to the wrong side 1/2", then 1/2" again. (If you’re using a directional fabric, fold and press the left side of one back piece and the right side of the other.) Hem.

Step 6: With right sides together pin your back pieces onto your front piece, overlapping them in the middle. Sew with 1/2" seam allowance all around the square. Finish your seam, turn right side out and you are done!

Fall and Christmas Photos

A few weeks ago I got my kids pictures taken by a professional photographer in my area (Fitz Photography). I decided to make all of their outfits of course. First we did a more casual look and they all wore their cowboy/cowgirl boots. For the girls tops I used the Brownie Goose Hattie pattern and Art Gallery fabrics from the reminisce line. Art gallery fabrics are located here. My son's shirt was made with the Fishsticks camp shirt and Joel Dewberry Herringbone in Lake (now sold out)

Next I got my son's 2nd birthday photos taken. I appliqued him this Mickey Mouse shirt because I took him to Disneyland on his birthday. Isn't he just the cutest thing?

Finally, we did more formal outfits. These are actually their Christmas outfits. For the girls I used Sewing Mama Reanna's bumblebee dress pattern. This dress is this designers first pattern for sale and let me tell you it is fantastic. The directions were easy to follow and the fit was spot on. I used Riley Blake's Andrea Victoria Black Damask for the fabric. The fabric can be found here. I embroidered their monograms with a deep red thread so it would be sort of Christmasy. I also made my son a tie using this free tutorial I found through pinterest. I also embroidered his monogram in red.

Celebrating 5000 Etsy sales

Back in 2010 when I started this business with just a handful of Michael Miller fabric to sell I never dreamed that I would be where I am today. Today (October 26th) I have just hit 5000 sales on Etsy. I now also sell on my own website and carry fabrics from 10 different companies. To celebrate this milestone I am hosting a giveaway and SALE! From now until next Saturday (November 2nd) at midnight enjoy 10% off on BOTH Etsy and the website! Just simply use the coupon code Etsy5000 at checkout. And now for the giveaway. Enter below to win one of 2 prizes. The first is a $25 gift certificate to the website. The second is a 1/2 yard bundle of Riley Blake's Andrea Victoria fabric as seen in the photo.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

500 Facebook Fans Giveaway

I woke up this morning and saw that I now have 500 fans on my facebook page! To celebrate, enter the giveaway to win a blanket kit of your choice! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Minky Burp Cloth Tutorial

Today I am going to share with you how I make minky backed burp cloths. When I use one of my blanket kits (non patchwork) I always have a little bit of leftover cotton fabric. I have just enough fabric to make a burp cloth and infant bib using my bib pattern. Extra minky and a scrap piece of warm and natural batting is all I need to make a cute gift set to go with the blanket.

Step 1: Cut out a rectangle from your cotton fabric in the measurement that you want the finished burp cloth to be plus 1/2". I cut mine 17 1/2" long by 9 1/2" wide. Place the cotton fabric on a scrap of warm and natural batting (or other similar cotton batting) with the right side facing up and pin all around.

Step 2: With a long machine stitch and using 1/8" seam allowance baste all the way around removing pins as you go. Trim the batting even with the cotton fabric. It is easiest to use a rotary cutter/ruler.

Step 3: Place a piece of minky right side up on a flat surface. Place your fabric/batting down on the minky with the right sides together. Pin all the way around leaving a gap on one side for turning about 5" long.

Step 4: Switch back to a regular machine stitch and sew all the way around using a 1/4" seam allowance. Make sure that you leave a gap on one side for turning. Trim the minky even with the cotton fabric/batting EXCEPT where the gap is.

Step 5: Trim corners and turn right side out. Using a pointy object (I use a plastic chopstick) poke out the corners carefully.

Step 6: Tuck in the minky at the gap and iron all the way around on the cotton side ONLY. Do not iron on the minky side. Pin the opening closed and topstitch all the way around.

Congrats! You are done

I used Safari Soiree Cheater fabric from Birch Organics and Charcoal minky from Shannon Fabrics to make the burp cloth shown in this tutorial.

Happy Ever After Apron Dress

I have finally decided to do another blog post. I just had to share this cute dress I just finished. It is going to be a birthday gift for my friend's daughter next weekend for her 5th birthday. I used 4 prints from the new Happy Ever After line from Riley Blake. I used Main for the skirt, Dresses for the bodice, Gingham for the straps and apron ruffle, and Carriage for the apron detail. The fabrics can be found here. The pattern I used is the Charlotte Apron Dress from The Cottage Mama. It comes in sizes 6 months-8. The apron is the perfect backdrop for applique. The cute Sleeping Beauty applique is from Lynnie Pinnie. She has many more princesses in this same style and go really well with this fabric line.

Too Cute Ruched Shorts

Last week I tested a new sewing pattern from Cole's Corner and Creations. They are girls shorts that cinch up on the sides which give them a cute and feminine detail. The pattern includes sizes 2-8. I made the size 5 for my daughter and the fit was perfect! I used Dress Up Days fabric from Riley Blake in Blue Floral. I thought this fabric has patriotic colors but at the same time not too Fourth of July-ish. I appliqued a kite from Planet Applique and sewed down the red rick rack for the kite tail.

Usually I cannot get her to smile or pose for pictures. But, as you can see, she loves her new outfit. In fact, she wanted to wear it again the next day. It was too dirty from her wiping chocolate milkshake all over the shirt so of course I didn't let her.