Felt State Ornaments

I was whipping up another Geography Love Pillow and started thinking about making an easier version for us. We don't have our own pillow. You know what they say about the cobbler's kids never having shoes? Cue the violins.

I do want one for myself, but haven't really set aside time to make one. And Jeremy and I are both from the same hometown, met in the 7th grade. No long-distance love story for us.

So I came up with a quick and simple alternative.

I pulled out my felt stash-- it almost needs an entire closet-- and my ever-growing collection of cut-out geographical locations from pillow-making (so ironic for a girl who made her first C in geography and was in BIG trouble for a few weeks).

I used two circles of felt for the ornament and blanket stitched them together, leaving an opening for stuffing and a ribbon to hang.

The Texas, heart and ribbon were hot-glued on. Hot-gluing felt is like welding metal. That stuff is there forever.

The project took me about 15 minutes and I loved it so much that I'm planning to make a few more.

One of these days, I'm going to post about all the pillow covers I've been blessed to make. The stories that go along with the orders have made my heart swell. Who knew that a simple little wedding present would turn into an opportunity for me to learn about so many amazing people? I'm thankful for that.



Share with: Fingerprints on the Fridge

Embroidered Geography Love Pillow

Here's a sweet love story...

Boy meets girl (who lives in China and is secretly practicing Christianity under strict communist laws against it).

Boy likes girl (even though he lives and preaches in Texas and they can't see each other face to face).

Boy falls in love with girl (through emails and phone calls).

Boy proposes to girl (and spends many, many months trying to work through the Chinese government to bring her to the United States so they can begin a life together).

Boy marries girl (finally!) and they live happily ever after.

True story! We know "Boy" through our church and were so thrilled to finally meet his lovely bride a few weeks ago. Doesn't that story just make your heart swell?



To honor their unique history, I made them this geography pillow as a wedding gift.



That's China on the left.



And Texas on the right. In real-life, Texas is no where close to being as big as China. Creative license.

It was a really fun little project! Want to make one for yourself or a gift (maybe with states or one state/country with a heart at the location of each city, connected by a dotted line)?


I love the idea of making one for long-distance grandparents, too!

1. Print a map of your location and cut it out.

2. In pencil, trace your design on your pillowcase or fabric (if you're sewing it together later). I used a zippered pillow cover that I had on hand.

3. Using two or three strands of embroidery floss, hand stitch over the penciled design. I used a simple back stitch (click here for a tutorial).

That's it! Isn't it sweet and personal?



Linked to: Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a Housewife, Tales of a Trophy Wife, Blue Cricket Design, Lil' Luna, Chef n Training, Southern Lovely, Carolyn's Homework, Somewhat Simple, Tatertots and Jello, Be Different Act Normal

Summer Skirt Tutorial (sewing without a pattern)

Mimi and Paw Paw took our four-year old to see the Winnie the Pooh movie on Thursday, then to lunch and a little playtime at their house.

It was wonderful for all of us!

I was able to put the baby in bed for a long nap and check a project off my list.

Understand that I am a completely self-taught, short-cut-taking novice when it comes to my sewing machine. But even I was able to finish this puppy in under two hours (with plenty of interruptions and overlock stitching all the edges).

This skirt would probably take a more advanced seamstress less than an hour. You know, it would probably even take me less than an hour the next time around.

I love it! I even wore it to see Harry Potter with my mom and mother-in-law (who saw two movies that day) the same night.

Okay, so here's how I did it.

Materials:

2 yards of fabric
a skirt that fit me perfectly (more on that later)
thread to match fabric
fabric scissors
straight pins
pencil for marking fabric
zipper

1. Wash and dry your fabric, then iron it out. Lay it flat, right side up. Place a skirt (inside out) on top. If you don't have a skirt to use, measure your waist and divide that number in half), then take the measurement from waist to knee, or however long you want it to be. Using the picture above as a guide, sketch a skirt shape that is slightly bowed at both the waist and hem with an A-line shape. It might help to do this on newspaper first, to give yourself a pattern.

2. Pin the skirt (or paper pattern) in place. Before cutting the fabric, measure and mark an extra 1" allowance for the waist, 2" for the hem and 1/2" for the sides.

3. Fold the fabric so you can cut both pieces at once and cut it out. You can cut them out separately if you prefer. That would probably be best for patterns and stripes so everything will line up from back to front (I didn't and mine somehow worked out. Shortcut-taker right here.)

4. Now would be the best time to use an overlock stitch for those raw edges to prevent fraying.

5. Right sides together, place both pieces on top of each other and pin in place. Leave an opening for the zipper.

5. Stitch up the sides with 1/2" seams (except where the zipper will need to go).

6. Pin the zipper in place and use your zipper foot to sew it in.

7. Iron the waist down by 1/2". Fold it once more, iron and pin it in place.

8. Stitch the waist in place.

9. Iron the bottom hem up by 2". Pin it in place.

10. Use a blind stitch to sew it in place, close to the open edge. You're done!

If you want to create a tie like I did, cut another piece of fabric that is 4-1/2" x 8-1/2 feet (you can make it however long and wide you like). I pieced mine together using what I had left over from the skirt. Iron it in half, width-wise, right sides together and stitch it along the long open edge and one short end. Turn it inside out, press it flat, fold the open edges under on the short end and stitch them down.



Shared with: I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming, Sew Chatty, Today's Creative Blog, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello

Library Book Tote

This summer has been stuffed full with swimming lessons, road trips, standing in front of box fans, microwaving as much as possible to keep the kitchen cool and library time.

It's hot. And dry. And hot.

A nearby town has the best air-conditioned library anyone could ever ask for (do I sound menopausal or circa 1946?) and we make at least two trips a week for story time and to stock up on new books.



I made my little bookworm a fun tote bag to lug around all those hardbacks (and crayons and McDonald's toys and used Kleenexes). There's enough room for everything!

Please just ignore that binding job. I do.



I found my tote bag tutorial from JCaroline Creative here.

Here is a great tutorial for machine binding from Red Pepper Quilts. I obviously had not found this great tutorial when I made this bag.



I have used this same tote bag pattern to make several more bags; they are great gifts for anyone, not just kids.



Shared with: I Heart Naptime

Tons, I mean TONS, of Free Sewing Patterns

Liz at ThinkLiz.com has compiled an AMAZING list of free sewing patterns. My sisters, mom and I are doing a homemade Christmas between the girls this year so I'm super excited to start thumbing through these patterns.

Here are just a couple that I like so far. Click here or the lizard button at the bottom to be directed to her list.

101 Sewing Tutorials

I stumbled upon this little jewel and wanted to share...

Which project sounds coolest to you?

Cuddly Easter Bunny Softies

My boys will each get a little baby bunny 

in their Easter baskets on Sunday morning.

No, not real, live rabbits! Are you crazy, girl?!

I have enough mouths to feed and bottoms to clean around here.

But I couldn't resist these simple little bunnies. I found the free pattern here at Wee Wonderfuls.

I used soft flannels and miniature buttons for eyes.

The cutting took only a couple of minutes and the stitching took a couple of minutes more. 

You still have time-- whip some up for Easter morning and your kids will have a keepsake to cherish.

Linked to: Tatertots and Jello, The Creative Crate

Tutorial: Pretty Pocket Tissue Holders

I created this pattern, thinking that I'd make one 

pretty pocket tissue holder to give to my mom on her birthday.

**a little something extra to go along with our pedicures and lunch out**

--And here we are, three pretty pocket tissue holders later.--

They're just so fun to make.

my little heart pitter- patter

Make a stack and give them out for Easter or just because. 

Materials:
2 pieces of felt

sewing machine

miscellaneous scraps of fabric and buttons for embellishing
scissors (pinking shears optional)
needle and thread for hand-sewing embellishments

1. Cut each piece of felt into a rectangle 6-1/4" x 7-1/4".

2. Optional: Trim your edges with pinking shears by cutting right along the edge. I trimmed mine slightly shorter on the top piece.

3. Lay your felt rectangles on top of each other and place a travel pack of tissues (with plastic removed) in the center.

4. Fold the left side on top, then the right side. Hold in place with your finger.

5. Pin the top layers together on both sides. You don't need to pin to the bottom layers.

6. Remove your tissues and sew the sides together (top and bottom layers) with 1/2" seams.

7. Embellish however you like. You might want to embellish the top layer before sewing the sides together. I did both ways-- it's a personal-preference thing.

For personal use only, please.

If you liked this tutorial, it would make my day if you'd become a follower or subscriber.

{Hugs to you!}

Linked to: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Tatertots and Jello, The Creative Crate, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime

Guest Blogger: Wardrobe Update with "Sew Chatty"

Meet Elizabeth from Sew Chatty! She has a cute, cute blog and Etsy shop, and I am drooling over her spring/summer wardrobe that she's making for herself-- see her post below. I'm much too slow to make one new item a week, but she's definitely motivated me to start sewing some clothing for myself again. 

Hi there! My name is Elizabeth and I blog over at Sew Chatty.

I am thrilled to be visiting you all at In Between Laundry today!

A few weeks back I decided to challenge myself to create an item of clothing {for me} every week until I have a closet full of pretties for spring and summer!

It’s been such a blast to make basic, simple clothing items for a very low price tag! Here is a recap of what I’ve made so far…

Item #1…a “Farmers Market Skirt”

 

My first project was a skirt made with Simplicity Pattern 2609. I’ve had this pretty vintage sheet looking fabric in my stash for a while. Just needed it to tell me what it wanted to be. It wanted to be this pretty skirt. I made view D.

Here’s how I wore it on Sunday to church and Disneyland. Funky belt {to conceal the glorious elastic waist}, tshirt, cropped cardi, and cute flats.

Item #2…a simple spring top.

This was my second attempt at this top and I have to say things went much smoother this time!

Here is how I wore it…Brown Cardi-Target. Mustard Flower Pin-Made by Me and available in the shop. Rust Tank under top-Target. Skinny Jeans-Target. Flats-Target…I like Target :)

Item #3…Anthro Skirt Knock Off!

I like to browse Anthropologie’s website for inspiration and came across this cute little skirt and I thought to myself…pretty sure I could make that and avoid spending $88! I spent about $6.

How I wore it…Cardi…Forever 21. Mushroom Tank…Old Navy. Belt…Forever 21. Skirt…Made by me :) Tights…Vera Wang at Kohl’s. Boots…Christmas gift from the Hubbs. Necklace and bracelet…Forever 21.

Thanks for letting me pop in and share about my Wardrobe Challenge! Feel free to stop by Sew Chatty today to see the reveal of Project #4…another springy top!

Have a happy day!