New Cushion and Tutorial

I bought myself a new Papasan chair a couple of weeks ago.  I found great deals on everything.  I went ahead and bought the stool, however the cushion was $20 and was a boring solid grey color.  I knew I had material leftover from when I recovered my bench.

Sorry about the awful photo

It was super easy to make.  First I traced around the stool using newspaper.  I put my finger between the sharpie to make the circle bigger since I wanted a 1/2 inch seam.

I pinned the newspaper to the fabric and cut two pieces at the same time.

I sewed a half inch seam around the fabric that is right sides together.

Be sure to leave a gap so that you can turn the fabric right side out and stuff it.

Clip the seams, be sure not to clip the thread.  This helps the seams to lay flat when turned.

I had to pull stuffing out of every box of fabric I could find.  I found stuffing everywhere!  After you stuff it, be sure to sew up the opening.  It's not a perfect circle and the button is not centered, but I still like it.  

Cupcake loves it!  It took her about five minutes to claim it.

Muffin is in the chair, Cupcake on the stool, Custard in the red chair.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a devotional journal.  You can enter here.

Missy

How to Backstitch on a Treadle Sewing Machine

I have often been asked how to backstitch on a machine that does not have reverse.  It is actually pretty easy when you think about it.  Of course there are many different ways to do it.

Scented with essential oils, cinnamon, clove, and orange.  

I was making gingerbread men on my hand crank sewing machine and needed to lock my stitch, so I made a video for you!

I hope this helps anyone who has had a question about it!

Missy

Binding Tip

Everybody has their own way of making binding.  I am going to share with you my way, and if you want to share any tips, please do!
I start off with a 2 1/2 inch strip.  The first thing I do is fold it in half length wise and iron it to give me a fold down the center.

Then next thing I do is fold each side to meet in the center and iron again.

Then I fold it together again and iron once more to put the crease back.

I use the creases as my guides when I sew my binding on.

I'm still learning new techniques for sewing on my binding and hope to one day buy one of those binding makers and see how they work.  Have you ever used one?

I have to leave you with a cute cat picture laying on the quilt with the binding from above.

Pippi and Muffin

I am linking up to a new linky party at Podunk Pretties, Friday will be a linky party at Quilt Shop Gal.
                                                 
Don't forget to vote for my entry into the Pets on Quilts Show, voting begins on August 27!

Have a great day ya'll!

Missy

Sunny Lanes Block and a tip!

I made another block for the Sew Sweet Bee!  This one is for Pam Kitty Morning, she designs the sweetest fabric!  You can see her blog here. It is called a Sunny Lanes block.

I have a little tip to share with you.  I read it someplace else but cannot remember where.  (one of my bloggy friends, if it was you please let me know and I will give you your credit!) 

Do you ever take a lot of time arranging your blocks the way you want them, only to mess them up when you chain stitch?  Here is my tip, when I sewed my twosies from my 4 patch, I cut the string AFTER the four blocks, can you see in the picture below?  I have two sets of twosies still connected by a thread.  This way the four blocks I chose for that four patch stay together!

 The picture below is before I ironed them right after I sewed them.

 Here are a whole bunch of soon to be four patches.

 Can you see my little loop of thread by the pin as I sew the twosies into my four patch?

 Here is my chain stitch of four patches and half square triangles.  Which brings me to the other present I got from husband.

 An antique hall tree!  You have no idea how long I have wanted one of these!  I love it!  You can also see my camera in the mirror, LOL!

Happy Fall Ya'll!
Missy

New Prayer Quilt Needed and a Tutorial

Hello my friends!  I need help with another prayer quilt.  Since I have moved to MO I do not have a quilting group now to help me make prayer quilts (I'm still looking!) so I really appreciate any help I get from ya'll!  This quilt is for my Uncle Johnny Hobgood.  Over the past few weeks he was diagnosed with throat cancer (they think it may be from the inhalers he has used for the past 50 years).  He does not smoke or drink.  After his pet scan, the doctors realized it has gone into his bones and it is already stage 4!  My mom says that it is going to take a miracle for him to go into remission.  He is only 55 years old, very young for this to happen.  They started chemo and radiation this week which will go for six weeks.  I would like for him to have this quilt as he starts feeling worse during these procedures.  If you can help me make some blocks for his quilt I would appreciate it.  Leave me a message and I will email you my address.  I know it is short notice but I would like the blocks around June18th, this will give me time to make any additional blocks that is needed to balance out the quilt and get it quilted.

The quilt is going to be blue and cream 12 inch finished nine patch, 12 1/2 inch unfinished.  I know most of you know how to make them, but here is a tutorial on how to make it and which way to press your seams.

Start with 4 1/2 inch blocks.  Lay them out alternating cream and blue.  I am counting the blue on cream as a cream since it is a light colored block.

 As you can see here, I sewed the first two blocks in each row together.

 Always press towards the dark color or blue in this case.

 Finish sewing your rows together.

 Then sew the three rows together and press towards the row with two blues.  This will help all of the blocks to nestle together.

 Watch out for your cat's fuzzy tail!  He somehow got it caught in one of the straight pins.

 Brother and sister (Oreo and Cupcake) have to be close to me while I am sewing!

 I am using my hand crank since I can't use my treadle until my knee heals more.

 I am making the blocks in alternating colors so that when I sew them together they will still match up blue and cream.  That is why I have to wait to make all of my blocks until I see which color variance is needed the most.

This block will have my signature penguin material in it!

 It is a scrappy nine patch and I am using solids and prints mixed together.  I really like that effect.  I am using some calicoes, I just ask that there is nothing too girly please.  I have some gorgeous blue fabric with roses on it but it was not appropriate for this quilt.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help!

Remember, June 18 and leave me a comment if you can help.  I've had some people reply lately that are no reply bloggers and I have no way of contacting them, so if in doubt - leave your email address.

If you cannot help with a block please pray for Uncle Johnny because that is what he really needs right now - a miracle.  If something was to happen and he does not make it, I want this quilt to be a blessing to my Aunt Debbie.  Please also be in prayer for her.

I am on a hunt for a hat this weekend to send him for when he starts losing his hair.

Missy

Ruffle Demo

I forgot to tell ya'll about the demo I did at the North East TX T.O.G.A. a month ago.
I had written a blog post about the different ruffle feet I have here.  One of the ladies was kind enough to video parts of the demo for me.  There are six videos, but they are all short.  Maybe one day I will learn how to edit and put together videos.  I like to refer to the ruffle feet as dinosaurs, LOL

On a side note.  For some reason I'm having trouble with sound on youtube.  My server of choice is Google Chrome, my husband told me to try Internet Explorer and youtube worked there.  So if the sound is not working for you , you might have to switch servers.

This next video is the first part of how to use a ruffle foot.



Second part of using a ruffle foot.




The third video of using a ruffle foot.




How to make a ruffle part one.





How to make a ruffle part two and talking about parts of the ruffle foot, I think.




There are two ways to make a ruffle.
Here is the first one, where you just put a hem on your strip of fabric.
http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-make-ruffle.html

Here is the other, which I showed in the videos.  You fold the fabric in half, both are the same concept.
http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2014/03/ruffle-blog-hop.html

If you have any questions or any hints, just let me know!

Missy

How to spray baste a quilt

As you know, this is my newest hand quilting project.  Hopefully my stitches will be better by the time I finish!  I've had several people ask me how I spray baste my quilts.  There are some great tutorials out there, but this is how I do it.  First thing, if you have bad knees like me, or just want to be more comfortable, get some knee pads.  Mine are covered with glue and cat hair!  LOL

This is what I use to baste my quilt with.  Make sure you do not spray too much glue, you want a nice even coat.  Yes it does wash out and the best thing is that you can re-position as you go along if you miss a wrinkle.

Lay your backing on the floor, right side down.  Then move the cat off it (I usually try to make sure I do this during nap time.)

Then use painter's tape to tape down a taught backing, do not stretch the backing though.  The tape works better on floors then carpet.

Then lay your backing down on top and move the cat again.

Once you get your backing in the right spot and make sure a cat will not get in the way, fold up half of the backing and then spray that half.  Smooth down and repeat on the other side.  The same will be done to the top.

You are finished with your backing so get your top positioned in the middle and fold in half.

 Evenly spray the batting.

Slowly smooth down the fabric starting in the middle and moving out.

My husband was kind enough to take m pictures for me!

I finished off putting some safety pins around the edges in case I missed any spots there withe the glue.

Make sure to check the back and make sure you did not mess it up while basting the top, you might have to fix a wrinkle or two!

I also made a video showing you how I do it.

If you have any hints or tips, please share!

Missy