Twisty-Twirly Girly Skirt

Feb28

Twisty-twirly girly skirt

by Sheri Howard

If you need a Spring or Easter skirt for your little darling, here is an easy, fast way to have one of your very own.

1 Honey Bun– I used Happy Campers by American Jane.

I was so excited I unrolled it before I took a picture with it’s cute tag!

1/2 yard coordinating fabric for waist band and skirt band.

3/4″ elastic

1- cute model –my neighbor!

Rick-rack to go around skirt bottom if desired.

All seams are 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

MEASURING
1.) Measure the length from the waist to the middle of the knee cap of your luck little lady. This will be the length of the honey bun strips for the skirt body. For example: 10″

2.) Measure the waist of your lucky lady. You will need this measurement to know how many strips for the skirt body. Your skirt body needs to be 4 times the waist measurement. for example: waist measurement 20″ Skirt body will be 80″

3.) Determine how many strips you can get from a length of honey bun based on 42″ strips. For example: waist to knee length 10″ you can get 4 lengths per strip. This math is not too hard because the finished size of the strips are 1″ So, I need 20 full strips from the honey bun that will be cut to 10″

Good luck trying to choose just 20!

You don’t have to use just 20, mix and match any of the strips.

SEWING

1.) Sew the 42″ length of the honey bun strips into groups of 2. Press seams all one way.

2.) Cut into length measuring the waist to knee. For example: 10″ Don’t panic yet because you will still add some length with the waistband and skirt band.

3.) Sew the groups of 2 into groups of 4.

4.) Sew groups of 4 into groups of 8 then 16 etc. until you have the needed strips. For example: 80 strips. Press seams all one way. Sew ends together to form a circle.

WAIST BAND

1.) Cut 1- waist band 6″ x waist size plus 8″ For example: (6″ x 20″ + 8″) = 6″ x 28″waistband.

2.) Sew together end to end to make a circle using a 1/4″ seam.

3. Press under 1/4″ from top.

4.) Measure and turn down 1″ for elastic casing.
5.) Sew around waist band and make sure to leave an opening for elastic. Don’t insert elastic until skirt is finished.

ADDING WAIST BAND

1.) Gather skirt onto waist band using about a 1/2″- 5/8″ seam.

2.) Top stitch along gathered seam to help gathers lay flat.

BOTTOM SKIRT BAND

1.) Cut 1- bottom band 4″ x width of skirt body plus 1/2″ for seam. For example :

(4″x 80″ + 1/2″) = 4″ x 80 1/2″ bottom skirt band.

2.) Sew together end to end to make a circle using a 1/4″ seam. Press seam open.

3.) Press bottom skirt band wrong sides together length of band.

4.) Sew to bottom of skirt body. I like to zig-zag or overlock the band and skirt to eliminate strings after washing.

5.) Press band toward band and top stitch to help keep strips laying flat.

ELASTIC

1.) Measure waist and cut elastic that measurement. Thread through waistband casing over lapping 1/2″ on ends. Sew casing closed. Try it on your lucky little lady!

RICK-RACK OPTION

Add medium rick-rack over the top stitching along the bottom band. So Cute!

Jelly Towels

Aug30

Dish towels and tea towels were all the rage at Quilt Market this year in Pittsburgh. You too can have a new set of dish towels. I am always looking for a quick gift idea and a way to use up those left over Jelly roll strips.

2- 24-27″ Flour sack dish towels, hemmed
2- strips from a Jelly Roll: Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille
3 +1/8th yards rick-rack

This is how darling they are when they are finished!

First, press your towels, then cut the Jelly roll strips the width of the towel PLUS 1″
Turn both ends of the Jelly roll strip under 1/2″

Lay the Jelly roll strip 3″ from the bottom of the towel and pin into place.

Lay the rick-rack on the top of the Jelly roll strip along the long edges. Leave a small amount of rick-rack for tucking under at each end.

Sew down the long edges on the rick-rack.

Sew the sides of the Jelly roll strip as you sew around the towel.

Fold the towel into thirds, leaving 3-4″ at the top.

Fold the towel into thirds the opposite way so it is a nice square.

Now, what to do with that little left over piece of Jelly roll that you cut off? If you have a rotary cutter with a pinking blade, cut the left over strip in half length wise.

Like this.

Tie one around a jar or Jelly…or jam.

Or, sew the two together like this to make one long strip.

Fold the towels again in half and tie the strip around them to make a bow.

Keep them for yourself, or give away to your favorite friend or neighbor! I thought seven different colors would be wonderful, one for each day of the week! You could even make an apron from the same line of fabric…then the lady of the kitchen would be so ” in Vogue!”

2 very pretty dish towels.

Triple Irish Flower Quilt

May12

EDIT: September 3, 2009 Many people ask about making this quilt larger. It is based on a Triple Irish Chain quilt from the book, Time for a Chain by Nancy J. Smith & Lynda S. Milligan by POSSIBILITIES. It is available on Amazon.com and has all sizes for quilts, and strip widths…It is the best I have found for Irish Chain quilts!

This is a modified Triple Irish Chain, based on a quilt I made a few years ago. The pink Irish Chain in the next photo is a reproduction of an antique quilt. The antique quilt was made with 1930’s fabrics and rose colored flowers.

The borders were the left over strips sewn on the bias, the original was beautiful.

FOR YOUR BABY QUILT YOU WILL NEED:

~~One Honey Bun roll, I used 1930 Hello Betty by Chloe’s Closet, any line would be great!

~~1 1/3 yard Moda Snow Bella solid (white) edit: not Moda Snow, use Moda White

~~1/4 yard Moda Christmas Red Bella solid, or any solid color you would like your flowers!

~~ 1-1 1/2″ strip of solid yellow (the 1930 Hello Betty Honey Bun has one strip)

~~1/3 yard Chloe’s Closet fabric for binding

CUTTING:

Snow white fabric: Cut 6 strips 5 1/2″ width of fabric

Cut 2 strips 3 1/2″ width of fabric

Cut 3 strips 1 1/2″ width of fabric

From the 5 1/2″ strips, cut 12-5 1/2″ squares, set aside.

Yellow fabric: Cut 1 strip 1 1/2″ width of fabric, or use the one strips from the Honey Bun

Red fabric: Cut 5 strips 1 1/2″ width of fabric

Binding fabric: Cut 5 strips 2 1/2″ width of fabric, sew together end to end

Red, white and yellow strips.

White 51/2″ squares.
SEWING: All seams are 1/4″

Choose 25 colors from the Honey Bun, I didn’t use any solid colors, only the prints.

You will be sewing the strips together on the long sides the full width of the fabric. These strips sets are lettered. It may be helpful to color on graph paper the placement of the strips, then you can letter them.

1. This is set “A” It is three print strips, one white, and three prints. Make one set. Press all seams one way.

2. This is set “B” It is seven print strips. Make one set. Press all seams one way.

3. This is set “C” It is two print strips, three red strips, two print strips. Make one set. Press all seams one way.

4. This is set “D” It is one white strip, one print, one red, one yellow, one red, one print, and one white strip. Make one set. Press all seams one way.

5. This is set “E” It is one print strip, one 3 1/2″ white strip, one print strip. Make one set. Press all seams one way.

6. This is set “F” It is two print strips, one 3 1/2″ white strip, two print strips. Make one set. Press all seams one way.

Now you will cross cut these lettered sets into 1 1/2″ strips.

From set A: Cut 26-1 1/2″ strips

From set B: Cut 26- 1 1/2″ strips

From set C: Cut 26- 1 1/2″ strips

From set D: Cut 13- 1 1/2″ strips

From set E: Cut 24- 1 1/2″ strips

From set F: Cut 24- 1 1/2″ strips

Now you will sew these 1 1/2″ strips together to make two blocks: The flower block, and the white block.

1. This is the flower block. Make 13 blocks. Press all seams one way.

These are the letters of the strips for the flower block:

A–B–C–D–C–B–A

2. This is the starting of the white block. Make 12 blocks. Press all seams one way.

These are the letters of the strips for the white block:

E—3 1/2″ white strip—E

3. For the final part of the white block sew “F” strips to the sides. Continue for all 12 blocks. Press all seams all one way.

These are the letters of the strips for finishing the white block:

F—-3 1/2″ white strip—F

4. Now you will set the blocks into rows, alternating flower blocks with the white blocks as below starting with the flower block, five blocks across and five blocks down.

Every other row starts with a flower block. This is now the CENTER. Press well. I like to spray lightly with starch on the front as I press.

5. Sew remaining 5 1/2″ white strips together end to end for borders. Measure the CENTER side to side. Cut 2 strips that measurement and sew border strips to top and bottom of CENTER. Press seams toward borders.

6. Measure the CENTER length. Cut 2 white strips that measurement and sew to sides of CENTER for borders. Press seams toward borders.
7. Quilt, bind and enjoy.

I used a piece of Picket Fence from Chloe’s Closet that I had on hand for the binding. You could use a solid red, or a piece from the line of fabric.

One darling baby quilt, or Summer table topper!

Finished size 45″ x 45″

Note Cards and Note Pad

Apr21

Left over Honey Bun strips or left over Layer Cake piece

Card Stock

fusible web

For Note Pad you also need:

3″ square sticky pad, I used generic ones, you could use colored

Photo anchors from your scrapbook store

Sticky back scrapbook jewels

Do you ever wonder, “What can I make with these little left over strips?” I personally hate to throw them away.

You will need 2 pieces at least 7″ long.

Cut a piece of card stock 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ Fold in half.

Lay your strips on a piece of fusible web that is 5 1/4″ x 6 1/2″. Over lap the one edge onto the next piece a scant quarter of an inch. Press to the fusible web. Cut with a ruler and rotary cuter, one of the 6 1/2″ edge.

Peel the fusible web from the back.

Place the cut edge along the fold line of the card. Iron the fusible web to the card stock. Press hard. I let mine cool, then press again. Trim from the inside of card all the way around the edges to fit the card.

Stitch along the edges of strips 1/4″ from the edge as show.

You can leave your cute note card plain, or add embellishments like a sparkle press-on embellishments from your scrapbook store. It will mail better if you don’t use a 3D embellishment.

NOTE: You could make a set of 6-8 and give as a gift.

FOR NOTE PAD:

This next part is a little note pad to keep in your purse, or give away!

Trace this pattern on a piece of card stock and cut out along the outside lines. Make a small dot where the 4 score lines go. You will score it later.

Use a layer cake piece, or 5″ x 10″ scrap. Cut the fabric 1/2″ bigger all the way around the card stock pattern. Iron the cut fabric to fusible web. Peel off back and fuse the fabric to card stock pattern on the opposite side where you marked the scoring.

Trim all the way around the piece, and then zig-zag around the entire piece.

Turn piece over and with a ruler, score the 4 score lines.

Tear in half a regular pad of sticky notes, to about 48-50 papers.

Add a small dab of glue just to the bottom page on the sticky part along the top.

Press the sticky pad onto the piece between the score lines.

It should close like this along the score lines.

And look like this when open.

These are the what the photo anchors look like. They come in one package and have two parts.

Notice where the photo anchor is. The pad should just close naturally along the score lines, so position the anchor so the top flap will just fit under the anchor…then make a small dot with a pencil as in the next photo.

Hold the top closed where it would be naturally.

You can write sentiments inside the flap.

These are the sticky jewels I have been wanting to use, they work great for these projects.

One little note pad, or note cards.

Cherries and Blossoms Table Topper

Mar31

CHERRIES and BLOSSOMS

Table Topper by Sheri Howard

1 Charm Pack of Oh-Cherry-Oh by Me and My Sister
7/8 yard aqua floral yardage of Oh-Cherry-Oh
1/4 yard white fabric
1/4 yard fusible web
1 1/8 yard fabric for backing
38″ x 38″ batting
red thread for applique

4 1/2 yards med red ric-rack

Step 1.. Cut the 5 large cherry print (with a colored background) pieces in half.

Step2.. Cut one of the sides into half again, yielding (10) 2 1/2″squares.

DO NOT cut both sides into 2 1/2″ squares.

Step 3.. Cut 1 strip of white fabric 3 1/4″ by width of fabric

Step 4.. Cut (4) 3 1/4″ x 5″ pieces, set aside.

Step 5.. Cut that remaining strip to 2 1/2″ wide, and cut one more strip 2 1/2″ by width of fabric.
Step 6.. Cut into (12) 2 1/2″ x 5″ strips.
Step 7.. Sew (4) 2 1/2″ x 5″ white strips to the top of (4) of the solid looking 5″ x5″ pieces, and add a 2 1/2″ x 5″ white strip to the bottom of (2) solid pieces. Continue sewing blocks together until you have 2 strips as below. Press seams toward colors.
Step 8.. Sew (3) of the 2 1/2″ squares of large cherry ( from step 1.) end to end with a white 2 1/2″ x 5″ strip. Starting and ending with a color. Make (3) strips. Press seams toward colored squares. Sew picture below.
Step 9.. Sew all rows together like picture below. This makes the CENTER.
Step 10.. Draw a 5″ x 5″ square on a piece of paper, then draw a 7 petal pinwheel flower and a center circle from a large spool of thread.
Step 11.. Trace (4) flowers and (8) center circles onto fusible web. Fuse (4) flowers on the 5″ x 5″ floral pieces and (8) centers on the (mostly) solid red 5″ x 5″ piece. You will have to squish the (8) centers on the red, so lay them on before you fuse. Only (4) centers are shown, but you need (8.)
Step 12.. Find the 4 white pieces with very small print, and 2 small cherry prints with white background, save these pieces out for the corner blocks.

Step 13. . Cut the rest of the 5″ x 5″ squares in half, and adding the 2 1/2″ x 5″ left over pieces from (step 1.) These are now colored strips.
Step 14.. Lay out the CENTER and place the colored strips around CENTER until you like the color arrangement also adding the 3 1/4″ x 5″ white pieces (in the center) and corner blocks.
Step 15. . Sew (3) colored strips together with a white 3 1/4″ x 5″ white strip at the end, continue sewing (3) more colored strips to the white making a 7 piece strip. Make (4). These are now border strips. Sew (2) of these to opposite sides of the CENTER.

Step 16. . Sew (2) white corner blocks of small prints, and small cherry prints with white background from (step 12) to the ends of the last 2 border strips. Sew these to top and bottom of the CENTER.
Step 17. . Mark one of the petals on your piece of paper, and draw (8) petals onto fusible web, then fuse to left over colored strips. These will go on the 3 1/4″ x 5″ white strips. (see photo step 19.)

Step 18.. Applique flowers and red centers with red thread to the CENTER. The flowers hang over onto the seams a bit, but that is okay.
Step 19.. Applique the (8) petals and red centers with red thread to the 3 1/4″ x 5″ white strips.

Border: