Premie Hat for Olive

Premie Hat for Olive
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

My new niece arrived way too early. She is a little fighter and is almost 2 pounds now! She needs some goodies to warm and welcome her.

If you have a premie in your life or want ot make hats to donate, here is my roll, top pattern. Cast on 25 stitches on a size 11 circular needle. Work to four inches then begin decreases. K2tog, knit 4 to stitch marker. Knit next row. K2tog, knit 3 to stitch marker. Knit next row. K2tog, knit 2 to stitch marker. Knit next row. K2tog, knit 1 to stitch marker. K2tog, slip long tail through five remaining stitches to finish with a round top.

This works up so quickly!

Easy Runner 2

Easy Runner 2
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

This is the flip side of the Easy runner. This is a great first sewing project! Go smaller and make placemats.

Easy Runner

Easy Runner
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

Perfect for the holidays! With just two half-yard cuts of two patterns, I sewed them right sides together and used a CD to make the curved corners. Once I turned it right side out, and ironed it, I top-stitched the edge.

Use a pattern you like for the Fall and another for Winter and have a pretty table both seasons. I've made another for a hostess gift.

Boyish Shelf

Boyish Shelf
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

Mostly, I make things with fabric. However, when I was a child, my grandfather had an amazing workshop and he was patient and generous enough to let me play with saws, nails, drills, and scraps. I'm waxing sentimental because his tools and workshop were auctioned last weekend. Sweet man that he is, he saved the first hammer he used when he began his career in construction for me. I have lovely items in my home that he made--a cedar chest and a grandfather clock. That hammer will be cherished as much as those heirlooms.

This humble shelf is nod to my Grandpa Vern. I only used a hammer and nails to make it, but I summoned his words and lessons to do it. If your little person needs some wall storage, this is a super simple project.

You need: five yard sticks (or the appropriate number to cover the dimensions of the supports you choose); two pre-cut shelf supports from your favorite home improvement store (or cut them yourself if you have a jigsaw); and nail the yard sticks to the supports. For under ten dollars, you'll have a great shelf you made for your kiddo.

Thanks Grandpa Vern!

Dresden

Dresden
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

I'm still trying to summon sunshine in the Pacific Northwest. A new little pillow is in process for the livingroom. My first attempt at a dresden plate is surprisingly easy. I think I'll have to make another. You can make your own template. Simply make a circle using a plate as your pattern. Once cut out, fold the paper in halfs, quarters, eights, sixteenths. . . depending upon the size petals you desire. Add the seam allowance to your piece and you have your pattern.

Picnic Wedding Quilt

Picnic Wedding Quilt
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

My sweet niece Britta married a man named David in the Bahamas this spring. The event was full of beautiful and happy! Though we sent a gift prior to the happy day, I wanted to make something for them, too.

These colors remind me of their wedding--sunny and seaside all in one. The yellow blocks are 17" and the sashing (small blocks) are 6" (measurements prior to construction). I hope they make a home for it in the car--take it to the lake, the cabin, the concert. . . let it be the backdrop for memories while they are out and about.

Happy Wedding Dear Britta!

Twiddle Tails Giveaway

If you share my love for vintage reproduction fabrics, visit Twiddle Tails for their give away. They have 100 different prints you will love and are giving away charm packs of those lovely old prints. Here are some samples:

Imagin the fun you could have. . . tiny dresden plates, baby charm quilts, orange peel blocks. . . go visit Twiddle Tails and get in on the giveaway!

School Auction Ideas

My kiddo's school hosts an art walk each spring to showcase the work the students are doing and local artists and crafters donate to the silent auction. I'm thinking a collection of reusable market bags might be a good addition to the auction. Which pattern would you like best?

From Keyka Lou: Her market tote pattern is $5.00, has a reinforced handle, is lined and so darn cute!

From Burda Style: The Charlie bag is free, has simple construction, pocket to fold and store bag and a zig-zag finished handle.

From Earth Girl Fabrics: The Quick Carrier for free is easy to construct and has a reinforced handle.

Sunshine

Sunshine
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

In the Pacific Northwest we wait and wait for the sun to appear. I couldn't wait anymore, so I played with 2" blocks in sunshine colors. It is now by our front door so even when it is gray, we have some sunshine to greet us.

Spring Tutorials

We've been so distracted with holidays, birthdays and wonderful family weddings that I haven't done much sewing. I have a few little knit bits to share--a really adorable baby hat for a new little one due any day, but I wanted to share some things on my "to do" list. You might love them too. bookshelf mini-quilt by don't call me betsy upcycled skirt from a men's shirt from Lex paper daffodils from alpha mom post from the writer of the long thread paper dogwood flowers from Martha Stewart table setting placemat from punkin patterns I feel like these are projects (except for the mama skirt) that my kiddos can helpme create. They can choose fabrics for the books, they can draw and fold the flowers and they can choose their fabrics and colors for their placemats. I know the list seems short, but I don't want to over promise and under deliver. We made these without any pattern--just circles and free-handed petals and pinwheels. Give it a try if you like! Happy spring!

Wee Wonderfuls Elf Boy

Wee wonderful elf boy
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

Stitched, quilted and stuffed, this is the boy version of the Wee Wonderfuls Elf Stitchette. The girls are adorable, too! The kids got them early so they could be part of the holiday decorations. The photo of all three on the couch was fuzzy, but the boy alone turned out great. The one for the big girl in the house is very sweet and has her dark hair.

The one for the little girl is darling, too. It has her blonde hair. Many thanks to the designers who share their talents with us for free. I have purchased the some other embroidery patterns from Wee Wonderfuls and look forward to making those, too. Happy Holidays!

Reversible Runner

December 8 2010 170
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

I do have a thing for toille. This Santa toille really stole my heart. Right now, it is hosting our gingerbread house, snow globe and Happy Santa on our console table. I did some simple line, organic quilting and put a white, winterberry print on the other side wo it will work for the holiday and through the winter, too. I completely cheated and used bias tape to bind it, but it turned out almost as well as if I'd spent the time making the binding myself. Sometimes, it is good enough for who it is for, as my friend, Nancy says.

I hope you are enjoying decorating for the season.

Sweet Water Quilt-as-you-go

December 8 2010 169
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

So, I gave this a try. I enjoyed that I could try different patterns on small pieces--it alleviated the decision making and commitment phobia. Once I had quilted each square, I trimmed them as wonkily as I felt comfortable. I found this method easy to do and like that I learned which patterns I appreciate most. This is just a lap quilt, but I think it will make a nice gift.

Hope you are having fun trying new things!

Winter Banners

The weather people are forcasting a snowy winter in the Northwest. Who pretty snowflakes and lights that twinkle in the night? My kiddos and I made these little banners to welcome winter.

With two pieces of felt, scrap ric-rac, and felt stickers, these little banners came together easily.

The only sewing I did was to sew on the ric-rac which became the string for the lights. You could glue it on in advance and then let the kids get started. We're working on counting here, so they counted and sorted the different light stickers. We had 30 so they each got 15 (one pack from Joann's for $1.00). They divied up the colors that went best with their sensibilities and with their felt. Then they made their patterns. Once they had the designs ready, they pulled the adhesive and placed their lights along their strings.

I helped with the snowflakes because some of the felt stickers didn't cooperate with the intended die cut. Joann's has other stickers--gingerbread men and ladies, penguins, etc. You don't need kids to make this project fun. They would make great gifts for the holiday season, too!

Winter Pillow Cases

Winter pillow cases
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

What fun! Just in time for the snow in Seattle, my friend, Nancy, and I made pillow cases for our kiddos. She wanted to get it done last year, so I found a great tutorial. With my stash and what Nancy had, we made five cases while our youngest kiddos were at preshcool.

These would be great wrapping for larger gifts and were a happy surprise for the little people in our lives. Nancy is inspired to make them for other seasons, too.

Wool Fall Runner

Wool Fall Runner close-up
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

Here is a fast one! With a wool remnant and one seam, I have a fall runner. . . something that can take us from September to Thanksgiving. A pretty flannel would work, or another plaid you like. These colors just seemed perfect for our house.

It is super simple. Fold your remnant in 1/2 with the selvadges on each end. Seam it and press. Easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy.

Thanksgiving Crafting with kids

With scraps of cotton, some felt stickers, acrylic paint and a sharpie marker, we now have a banners to remind us and welcome friends as we approach Thanksgiving.

I simply hemmed the scraps and created casings for dowels. I found a font I liked, enlarged it and then traced the word "thankful" onto the scraps. The kids painted the letters. I love the spots where they are outside the lines. Once the paint was dry, they chose the pattern order of the stickers and placed them. I had fun, tracing the letters in the brown Sharpie, to make the words pop.

This will soon be fluttering on our door. Find a a scrap, a font you like and some felt stickers. Or find some leaves, make crayon rubbings through the fabric or find fall colored scraps and have the kiddos make patterns with those.

Thankful for my little helpers.

Gail Pan Had Me at It Again

Gail Pan Had Me at It Again
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

Here is a gift, basted and ready to stitch. I made one of these in red for our home and my mother loved it. This year, she will receive this one as a Thanksgiving gift. The colors are more in keeping with her delicate, victorian sensibilities. Oh, I hope she loves it. You could easily make one of these before the holidays for yourself or for someone you love. Visit Gail Pan at her blog for the "A Christmas Wish" patterns and just stitch a block each night. The panels come together so quickly. You could even do a four-block version and choose your favorite words. Use your favorite colors and keep it up all year, if you like. If you need inspiration, visit the flickr group to see what others stitchers and quilters have done.

Quilt Festival Entry

sydney's quilt
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

I made all three of our kiddos quilts last Christmas. This was for the big girl in the house. She is my step-daughter and it makes me incredibly happy to see her wrapped up in it on weekend mornings or while she does her homework. It is simple. . . but started the redecorating in her room. I just love that she uses it.

So this simple, black and white is my entry. Thank you, Amy for organizing the Quilt Festival!

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Halloween Fun

Halloween Fun
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

With summer and school, I'm just now getting back into some making. With half a fat quarter of halloween themed fabric from Joann Fabrics, I used stash to border it and make a table topper for my mother. She loves halloween. She is always a witch and can't wait to see the kiddos at her door.