Sewing for #babyschep: Personalized Baseball Mat

So I really, really needed to make something for my son, who, at the time of writing this, is almost six months old. The vision for this project popped in my head while I was still on maternity leave.  My family has an obsession with baseball, so I had to make a baseball themed gift for their only grandson:

 

 

Yes, he's wearing a baseball cap!

I found a baseball themed font online and installed it on my computer.  Just do a quick Google search, and you'll find plenty of them, along with instructions on how to install them.  I used the font to type my son's name, and traced the image onto freezer paper in reverse.  After ironing the freezer paper to a piece of blue felt, I cut it out and now had an applique that won't fray:

I used an X-acto knife and scissors to cut out the "holes" inside the letters.

 

After experimenting with minky fabric for the first time on my niece's quilt, I decided to give it another go-'round on this project. 



In hindsight, I would have used ordinary plush fleece rather than the dimpled minky fleece, because it kinda looks like a golf ball, don't you think? 

Anyhow, I didn't bother using any adhesives or finishing any of the edges--I simply pinned the name and the "seams" to the fleece and topstitched them down with matching thread.



For the inside, I used 1" foam--the type you find in the upholstery section.  This is easy enough to find--I sourced mine from my local Wal-Mart.  It wasn't wide enough, so I hot glued two pieces together, then cut out my circle.  I left a large opening to slip the foam inside the "ball" and slipstitched the opening closed.  All in all, a super-fun and super-fast project.  Now for some BabySchep eye candy:

Linking up to Finish it Up Friday and TGIFF!  Until next time, God Bless!

Blocks on the Go, for Quilts on the Grow: March Blocks Complete!

I realize that it's May, but I only recently finished the quilting on my March blocks for the Blocks on the Go for Quilts on the Grow quilt along.  Ironically enough, I opted to machine quilt my quiltlets so that they'd go faster, not slower!  Without further ado:

Block 10: Kelly
MM Glitz and MM Cotton Couture

Block 12: Brandi
Stash fabrics

Block 13: Judy
Stash fabrics

Block 9: Doris
Dear Stella stripes

Block 11: Susan
stash fabrics

Now for the finished quiltlets:

Machine quilted straight lines inside, FMQ in the sashing.

FMQ throughout.

FMQ throughout.

FMQ throughout.

FMQ throughout.

All 5 of March's blocks together.

A view from the back.

That's what three months of quiltlets looks like!  (With a sneak peek of April's fabric in the background)

Hope y'all are enjoying this quilt along as much as I am!  Until next time, God Bless!

The New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt Along--Rosette 8 Complete!

I've had this guy finished for a little while now, but have just now gotten around to taking pictures:

Here's Rosette 8 on The New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt-Along:

 

 

I skipped ahead to Rosette 8 for several reasons, the main being that I wanted to be able to join my rosettes as I went along. 

 

Here are photos of the rosette in progress:

Just the center.

With Round 1 attached

Now for the "in situ" photos:

Photographing this beast requires standing on our patio sitting wall!

I'll have to find a place to hang it in order to get a straight-on shot.

Fabrics used: Color Theory by V&Co. for Moda, with matching Moda Bella solids.  At this rate, this'll be a five year project, but I guess that's okay with me!

Until next time, God Bless.

Ahoy, baby!

Well, something happens when you hit a certain age--you're suddenly surrounded by babies!  So far, babies have been the most compelling reason for me to quilt.  I can put down everything else to crank out a baby quilt. 

 

 

 

If you know me personally, then you already know that my husband and I led a young adult bible study for quite a few years.  Now, (not counting BabySchep) the first baby from that group is coming soon:

Well, of course Baby Anthony is getting a quilt!  I was short on time, so I needed something relatively easy.  I remembered how much fun I had making the Big Top quilt for a friend almost two years ago, so I pulled out my 10 degree wedge ruler again. 

 

I constructed this quilt top in the same manner as the Big Top quilt, but with navy and off-white, as Baby Anthony has a nautical theme going on in his nursery:

It's making me dizzy!

Like before, I appliqued a circle over the gap in the center.  This time, I embellished the circle with an anchor made of felt. 

 

Almost done basting!

I machine quilted the sandwich on my 9960 using a walking foot and Aurifil 50wt thread.  That, plus a brand new needle made for smooth sailing. 

 

I attached navy bias binding, and started on the label.  I tried out Sulky's Sticky FabriSolvy for the first time, and it was a hit!  I typed up the label on my computer, and printed it directly on the sheet on my laser printer.  It simply peels and sticks, and you're ready to sew!

I used three strands of embroidery floss with a simple backstitch to cover up the printed text.  Even with the white stabilizer, the white floss stood out just fine. 

When I was done, I simply submerged the label in water, and the stabilizer disappeared!  Amazing.  I will be using this stuff a lot.

 

Well, here's the finished product:

 

 

Love that Happy Home print!

Label turned out pretty nicely!

BabySchep, at 5 months old, modeling the quilt for the camera.

I think this photo belongs in a catalog!

I made a matching drawstring bag with the extra backing fabric.  Here it is amongst the other goodies at the shower:

 

So what do y'all think?  I'm pretty pleased with the outcome.  Love the fabric?  You can pick up the Happy Home collection in my shop.  (My husband and I own the company!)  Want to recreate this quilt?  Get what you need here. 

 

Until next time, God Bless!