Sunday, August 30, 2009

Week 35

Fabric In This Week: 2.5 yards
Fabric In This Year: 55.791 yards

Fabric Busted This Week: 5.416
Fabric Busted This Year: 131.487

Total Busted: 75.696

I know I wasn't planning on buying fabric this week BUT my quilt guild had their Yard Sale at this months meeting. I purchased a 1 yard piece of Joel Dewberry's Woodgrain in Lime for only $4! I was also able to get a 6 fat quarter bundle of Heather Baily's Pop Garden for only $10! I couldn't pass up the deals. I also purchase a vintage chenille queen size bedspread for $4. I am thinking of making the girls coats.

I did make Nu Bebe a Duvet cover this week, which helped use up some yardage. I also made another Christmas gift and 12 more Halloween 9-patches for Jane's Halloween Swap. I am filling a last minute spot and will have more yardage busted this week with my themed blocks.

My Goal this week is busting 4 yards.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Sewing For Baby- Duvet Tutorial

Supplies
1 3/8yds backing
3/8yds top (Buttonhole Piece)
1 1/4 yds top (Button Piece)
*If using the same 2 pieces on top you need 1 5/8 yds
3 buttons approx 1 inch
coordinating thread
Marking pen or pencil

The measurements are based on a Toddler Comforter approx 36x50.
I pre-wash all my fabrics how they will be cared for. I for this I use hot water and Tide Free detergent since that will be the long term care.
These directions are for making a general Duvet. The pieced blocks on mine quilt are from my pattern Hole In My Roll which is for sale on my Etsy Site. If you have purchased the pattern and would like exact measurements for this Duvet Cover please leave me a comment.

Cutting:
I cut my length then my width.
Backing 49" x 37"
Top Buttonhole Piece 12" x 37"
Top Button Piece 44" x 37"


1. Starting with the top Buttonhole Piece fold bottom up 2 inches and press. You will then fold that again 2 inches and press. Raw edge should be on the inside. With wrong side of fabric facing up sew 1/4" away from top folded edge. This will hold the facing in place.


2. Fold fabric in half to find the center of the facing. You will need to mark this, I finger press and insert a straight pin. Fold each side to the center and mark those too. You should now have have markings 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of the way across the facing. You now need to center your buttonhole at those points 1 inch up from the edge. Follow machine directions for making button holes.


3. I place a straight pin just to the inside of the bar tack on each end of the buttonhole, I carefully insert my seam ripper into the center of the buttonhole and cut to the pin. The pin stops me from ripping open the bar tack and running my buttonhole. I always slid my button through the buttonhole at this point to make sure it is big enough.




4. You will now repeat step 1 with the Top Button Piece. Fold the top edge down 2 inches and press. You will then fold that down another 2 inches and press in place. Raw edge should now be on the inside. With wrong side facing up sew 1/4" away from bottom folded edge. this will hold facing in place.

5. Wrong Sides together pin Duvet Back and Top Button piece together along the bottom. Sew 1/4" seam allowance. Once this is done pin Left side and sew 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat on the Right side, pin and sew 1/4" seam allowance. NO the unfinished edge is not going to be on the outside, we are making French Seams! No raw edges for baby.


6. Again with Wrong Sides together pin Duvet Back and Top Buttonhole piece together along the top. Sew 1/4" seam allowance. Pin the Left side and sew 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat on the Right side, pin and sew 1/4" same allowance. At this point the Buttonhole facing on top should overlap the Button facing by about 2 inches.

7. Trim your corners slightly to reduce bulk. Flip Duvet inside out. Press all seams straight and flat. *Some prefer to press seam open before flipping Duvet to making this easier.* If you choose at this time also pin edges, to make sewing easier on you.

8. ALL SEAMS WILL NOW BE 3/8" SEAM ALLOWANCE. I again sew Bottom seam at 3/8". Then the Top seam. Next is down the Left side. Last is the Right side. I DO NOT turn and make continuous stitching. The reason is if something has shifted it all adds up and the bubble gets pushed to one spot of the Duvet. By sewing one side at a time I can ease in a spot if needed.


9. Flip back to right side. Lay the top edge of the Duvet flat on a table. Pin facings together. Insert your marking pen into your buttonhole and mark the center of the buttonhole on the facing of the Top Button piece. Repeat until you have marked all 3 buttonholes.


10. Unpin the facings and sew a button onto each of the 3 markings. Once this is done you are ready to insert your comforter.

*** If you decide to piece a section of your Duvet make sure your pieced section measures out to the cutting size you need. If you have pieced blocks you may want to add a top and bottom border in order to make up for the facings and the french seams.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Week 34

Fabric in this week: .25 yards
Fabric in this year: 53.291 yards

Fabric busted this week: 1 yard
Fabric busted this year: 126.071 yards

Total Busted: 72.880 yards

Not much sewing got done here this week. I did cut squares to make yo-yos for a baby mobile, 50-ish, from my scraps. I also made a sewing Travel Case that I will be listing in my Etsy store next week. I finished machine appliqueing ghost for a Halloween swap, I already counted that fabric. That's it.

I know I said I would post a picture of my new To Go Sewing Kit. I am putting Photos on hold until tomorrow. I have something on my design wall so I will post everything together on Monday.

My goal for next week is 5 yards busted. I have stuff for Nu Bebe's room to make, so I should be able to use some yardage. Sitting here today, I think I have all the fabric I need/want for those projects so my in number should be low.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Week 33

Fabric in this week: 5 yards
Fabric in this year: 53.041 yards

Fabric Busted this week: 10.75 yards
Fabric Busted this year: 125.071 yards

Total Busted: 72.030 yards

The 5 yards of purchase fabric was also busted this week. I purchased 5 yards of flame flannel to back a rag quilt. It is finish, clipped, washed and being used! I call it Liar, Liar Pants On Fire.


The .75 yard is scraps from my Bordello Quilt that are being used to make a purse, trying out a pattern. Yes I know it is Bargello Quilt, go read the story.

My goal for this next week is to finish some stuff. I don't think I will have any huge busted numbers but I am hoping for 3 yards anyways. Come back next week to see if it happens.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Week 32

Fabric in this week: 2.25yards
Fabric in this year: 48.041 yards

Fabric Busted this week: 7.125 yards
Fabric Busted this year: 114.321 yards

Total Busted: 66.280 yards

Not bad if I do say so myself. First I am a little ahead of my goal schedule. I am hoping to get even further. I have a feeling I might not make my 2 yards a week goal when I have the baby. I am currently 2.28 yards ahead of my weekly goal of 2 yards a week.

This week I was able to use up some stash making Christmas Gifts and I started piecing a back of a quilt. I think that is what my biggest yardage busted was.

This next week I am hoping to finish my quilt back, make a few more Christmas gifts, and get the borders on the Stars and Stripes quilt. With all of this I am hoping to but another 7 or 8 yards.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Week 31

Fabric in this week: 0 yards
Fabric in this year: 45.791 yards

Fabric Busted this week: .125 yards
Fabric Busted this year: 107.196 yards

Total Busted: 61.405 yards

Really should I even post that I used and eighth of a yard?

Next week I am hoping for more impressive numbers. Delaney will be gone for 5 days and I get to go to a free sew for my guild on Saturday. I am actually hoping to quilt 3 quilts this week. I still need to piece 2 backs and get borders on another one. That should give me some yardage busted!

My goal is no more than 5 yards in and 8 yards busted.