Category Archives: Make

fabric napkins

I started making some fabric napkins while my quilt fabric was in the wash the other week. I always think that we use too many paper towels, so I hope that having a whole bunch of fabric napkins on the table will help. Also, there is the pretty factor!

I originally wanted to do a running stitch along the edge (like these beauties), but a zig zag stitch added a nice bit of flare. I made a teeny tiny hem, so I think it will hold in place a little better this way.

So far, they are holding up well after going through the wash, and they add some pretty color to the table!

a flower afghan

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This blanket was a special present for my Ma, who likes black-eyed susans (which is a super awesome name for a flower).

I have a couple more crochet projects in mind, but I might start a little scrap granny square quilt too, to use up some of my leftover bits.

longhorn nap time

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This is a pillow for a little longhorn. One of our friend’s brought over a naked pillow. Her little guy uses it in the car, and it needed a cover. They are big Longhorn fans, so I added a big friendly face to some grey fleece, and sewed a simple pillow cover. Ready for lots of car napping, which I was excellent at when I was little.

a t-shirt quilt

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I think the key to having fun while making a tshirt quilt is to be ok that it might not be exactly perfect. They’re tshirts. You wore them and washed them. They have (most likely) never been ironed before. All the designs might be different sizes, or shirts might be different materials. Oh well, it will be absolutely perfect for a picnic outside under a tree.

These were tshirts from our time in college. I had to get a little creative to fit the shirts in the right number of squares, so a couple of the squares are combos. This one has the black fabric from our graduation gowns, that I was incredibly scared to iron because it was made from recycled bottles or something like that, and I was convinced it was going to melt. I also needed one more square, so we made a combo square with tshirts from the first places we worked after college.

I’ve been saving these shirts for forever to make this, so I’m happy its finally done, and looks good too! Now I want to make another one!

football scrapbook

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Let’s see… I graduated from UT 4 years ago, so these pictures are at least that old. And I have been hoarding a box of football/Texas scrapbooking supplies for about that long too. My new computer is much faster for sifting through photos, so I finally got to work on printing some out, and making that college football scrapbook.

While I was picking out photos, I was thinking about how college is a weird time. Some of the people are still your very best friends, and then some you never see again. Such is life. It was still fun to look through the memories.

Since there were so many photos I wanted to include, I basically grouped them into collages on the computer, printed them on photo paper, and then cut them out, keeping the collage in tact. That way I didn’t have to place every photo separately, and I could still use all the hoarded papers, and stickers, and other supplies.

If it looks like a football themed scrapbook store threw up on the pictures, good. That is exactly what I was going for. I just wanted to have fun using all the toys. Its nice to just make whatever pops into your head, and if it doesn’t turn out just right, I just tape something better over it.

preparing for summer sewing

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I had to make an emergency yarn run yesterday, so I stopped by the pattern department for a quick look. We are actually still in cold weather here in the heart of Texas, but it won’t be long before the sun is burning us alive. I started thinking that I should probably start sewing up some summer items now, so they are ready for battle when the time comes!

a new dress

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Well looky here. Just last week, this was a pile of fabric. Now it is a dress. I am sure it is very pleased with its transformation. I haven’t tried it on yet, but it looks pretty good on the hanger.

It has some elastic on the sleeves and on the back at the waist to add some shape.

I had this cool gold button picked out, but I accidentally made the button loop too small. Good thing I had a back-up button ready.

I hand stitched the hem up. It actually didn’t take as long as I thought it would, and made me feel like I was living in a little house on a prairie.

I’m already on the hunt for my next pattern, so let me know if you see anything awesome!

sewing a shirt: done!

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And we have a final product! And it actually looks like a shirt, and is completely wearable in public, so that is a huge plus.

Its not quite perfect, but I think its a pretty solid first attempt. I also feel as if I have uncovered one of the world’s great secrets. Everybody is wearing clothes, but not everybody knows how they are made. I can join that secret club now.

Its fun to look back through the pictures and remember all the “firsts.” Also, all the calls and texts to my ma asking her if it was looking right.

Sometimes I just had to remind myself to go step-by-step, and it would magically become whatever it was supposed to be.

The continuous lap part. Thank goodness for youtube.

I’ve made buttonholes before, but I’ve never sewn on a button with the machine. The button foot is a little scary looking, but we made friends.

I’m excited to make another one! Maybe some spring fabric? Of course, now that my flannel shirt is done, the weather has decided to warm up a bit here.

a home for a kindle

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My kindle has been roaming around unprotected since forever. Its survived hundreds of shoves into my backpack, luggage, purse, etc, and thankfully only has one tiny scratch. Its been so good to me, so I thought it was time for me to show my appreciation. I whipped up this little cover for it yesterday. I love that wooden button.

back to basics

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Drawing little faces is one of my favorite things to do. A couple hours spent doodling this evening made me remember why. Once you give them eyes, it’s like they come to life. Like Frosty’s magic hat.