ABC Quilt II with LOVE

The Alphabet Quilt II (posted here) is already on its way to the owner when this post is written. I'm missing it terribly and can't stop thinking about it.. My only consolation is that it is going to a good home, to people who will appreciate and love it *sob*  

Few pictures snapped indoor of the quilt. 

The view of the back - You can clearly see the outline of hand quilted alphabets *heart* 

For more pictures and details, do visit my FB page.

Read about my first ABC Quilt:
1. Alphabet Quilt
2. Sayonara Alphabet Quilt Pin It

ABC Quilt... the 2nd

Do you remember the first ABC quilt I made more than 2 years back? You can read about it here and here. 

My friend who commissioned it the first time is commissioning it again for the second time for her baby girl. It has to be said, Mabel (my old college friend) has been one of my most avid supporter from the beginning of my crafting career. 

I am truly honoured that my handmade quilt will be part of Annabel's childhood as the first quilt is with Matt's *tears* 

To date I have completed the top (minus the border), and let me tell you that second time around is a charm.. 

I was a mess during every step for the first quilt, but with the size, template and pattern all ready and figured out, I managed to get the top completed rather swiftly. 

I still did lament about the fabric combination and arrangement. This time around I have enough space to lay everything out to arrange and rearrange, I even left everything out for days and came back to view it with a fresh perspective. 

Once the placement of the square base fabrics were confirmed, I started working on the alphabets, with the first quilt, I still hadn't discovered the wonder of a rotary cutter, so everything was drawn on the fabrics and cut out with a pair of scissors.    

This time around I added a light weight interfacing behind every alphabet before sewing them onto the square base fabric. I am more confident with the applique and managed quite well around corners remembering to pivot very slowly.

Will start working on the border and the back in a week's (or two) time.. Will keep you posted on the progress..  

*Further reading:

1. Sew Mama Sew - Simple Machine Applique

2. Allpeoplequilt.com - Tips for machine applique 

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Itty Bitty for a Cute-y...

You might remember the panels I bought (here) and the sweet baby quilt I made from the panel (here). Since I couldn't get enough of the sweetness, I bought 2meters of the soft pink Itty Bitty fabric by Marcus Fabrics and it has been sitting there on my shelf looking pretty for quite sometime now, until a customer requested an all-in-one pouch using the fabric.

I was about to say NO to using my precious but decided against it and agreed to cut into the sweet fabric...

It turned out beautifully (more pictures).. and it was so fun to work with such soft fabric 

I lined it with brown polka dot fabric which I've decided long ago was the only perfect match for this sweetie. 

Then came another commission for a baby quilt using the fabric and I jumped with joy at the prospect of creating something SWEET *grin*

A simple quilting on the centre panel with name embroidery

A homemade binding using a soft pink cotton in my stash

MyBotanG baby quilt size is 110cm x 90cm

A soft pink flannel for the back 

After all these, I still have some of this lovely fabric left *HAPPY*

Do you have any precious in your stash..?

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A gift to remember

Remember the quilt top I was working on before..? 

Well it is done and has been delivered to its rightful owner.. for his 8th birthday. 

I honestly get very nervous waiting for evaluation from anyone below 10yo.. They will not lie and always tell you the truth if not with words, with their expression or their reaction towards the item..

Photo credit to Kak Marfiah

So, from the look of it, I guess he approves.. yippeeee!!!! *grin*

 

I binded the quilt using the same Ikea fabric used for the quilt top and backed the quilt with solid light blue fabric. The quilt is 140cm x 190cm. 

If you notice, I'm doing a poll for our next sew along on the top right hand corner. Do take the time to let me know what you think..

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What is brewing in my sewing studio..

I am working on another single size quilt at the moment. Instead of my conventional quilt style (centre panel with borders here), I decided to try out a different style. Mainly inspired by the many beautiful quilts produced by Anita of Handmade With Love, I decided to mix and match and play around with colours a little bit. Yet I didn't want to go overboard with the design, so I chose a simple rectangular log cabin design.    

The main fabric in the centre is the patch ready yellow fabric by KOKKA, followed by Ikea stripe fabric. The bright blue fabric actually has tiny polka dots is by Moda fabrics in the third line. The finished size would come up to 140cm width x 190cm length. 

Hope to start quilting by next week right after I embroider the recipient's name who will get this quilt for his 9th birthday from his mom..*sweet*

What do you think of the design or/and fabric choice..? Would you have done somethings differently? 


Sew along update - At what stage are you now..? 
This week 22 - 28 Feb (1 week), we are preparing the binding, button loop, self cover button and interfacing (steps 1-4 on the instruction page)  Pin It

Good things come in twos..

I have been seeing and hearing a lot of 2s in January *grin* 

First, there was the double almost alike quilting project completed earlier in January, and now a commission for another double. 

A close friend back from my primary school years requested 2 baby quilt sets for her boys for their afternoon naps at the daycare. The boys age 4 and 6 are into different things and colours *relieve* as I was not up for another mirroring project.  From our chats on Facebook (thank god for FB) I came up with a plan and after another discussion we agreed on the sets.    

Each set includes: 

1 Baby quilt with name embroidery sized 110cm x 90cm 

1 pillow sized 16" x 9"

1 pillow case

1 drawstring knapsack  

For Aiman (4yo) I used the LECEIN fabrics I've had in my stash for at least 8 months (I'm a hoarder, can't you tell *sigh*). I mixed and matched the 2 fabrics and used a chili red moda fabric for the quilt binding. 

For Iman (6yo) I used the truck fabric (it's a favourite, I know!!) and matched it with the cute shinkansen dark blue border (seen here). 

The drawstring knapsacks that could fit all the items on the list. Still got rooms for the pillows as I've outsource them to Naza of Itsy Doodles Shop to make. I've made the pillowcases following her specifications. 

Sew along update - 
Flickr group is up and running, do come and join us. Pin It

I'm seeing double..

 I'm seeing double... of quilts actually...

My friend commissioned not one but two single sized quilts for her boys. Her instruction was clear, they must be IDENTICAL in every way possible except for their names embroidery. 

This got me sweating.. for few reasons:

1. I always just work with one big quilt at a time, mainly due to SPACE problem 

2. Any attempt to reproduce will never be exactly the same as the first production simply because I detest the idea, to me every item should be unique and special (plus I get bored easily and tend to make alteration and adjustment or use different fabric, etc) *sigh*

But as you can see I did complete the project and they do look identical as far as handmade products are concerned.. 

How did I overcome my concerns..? 

1.SPACE problem, I simply put aside everything else and focussed on the quilts, plus I took over the living room as well.. *grin*

2. I decided to work on both quilt simultaneously, thus avoiding changes and alterations while working on the latter. So each step was repeated twice - cutting and sewing borders x 2, name embroidery x 2, batting, backing and basting x 2, quilting x 2 and finally binding x 2

You might remember the truck fabric from here and here.

The quilt measures about 140cm x 210cm each.

I used light-brown polka-dot fabric for the binding.

What have you been up to lately..?Pin It

The end of the road

Do I sound corny and sappy.. 

It's MONDAY and so I'm allowed to feel that way 

*sheepish grin*

The last of the LOVE U panel (turned into a baby quilt) has been completed and sent to its rightful owner. I feel relieved and at the same time sad to see it go. Relieved that now finally I can move on to working on different baby quilt designs and prints, and sad as having been working on the panels since I bought them (in bulk) earlier this year, I'm going to miss the familiarity they brought into my life *sappy sobs*

I use the same yellow twirl fabric for the border as in the wall hanging in the previous post. The label is hand stitched on the bottom-right hand corner of the quilt.

I used fabric by Moda (light yellow) for the back and added another fabric (in blue) as borders for the top and bottom.

To complete the look, I binded the quilt with similar red polka dot fabrics as the second border right after the centre panel. 

I also SOLD about 12 of this panels to my fellow bloggers.. Wonder if any of you have turned it into a quilt or a wall-hanging or maybe something else? 

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Alphabet wall hanging

The alphabets are taken from the Love You fabric by Deb Strain for Moda. You might remember the alphabet cards I made awhile back using the same fabric.

Not so long ago, a friend of mine (who also commissioned me to make the Alphabet Quilt) requested an alphabet wall hanging for her son's room. I procrastinated long enough, and finally decided it was time to get on with the project. Using the idea from my previous wall hanging, I came up with what you see above. I arranged the alphabets in rows of threes and embroidered Matthew's name. I use the same fabric (yellow twirls)  for the borders, loops and backing. It didn't take up much time as I had anticipated earlier. 

I have just one more alphabets set and I am planning to make another similar wall hanging. However, the yellow twirl fabric is out of stock, so I would have to find another fabric that would work well with the set.. 

What colour would you recommend?

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HOUSE Quilt

My House quilt is finally completed after a year *roll eyes*

I started working on it before the ABC quilt and truck quilt. It was supposed to be a practice quilt, where I test the different technique i.e. applique, free motion quilting, patchwork, basting and binding.  

However, since then, I have completed 2 big quilts and various baby quilts and wall hangings and yet the practice quilt sat there in the corner of my sewing room unfinished.. haunting me *sigh*

About a month ago, I kind of lost my MOJO.. I tossed and turned and ended up rearranging my sewing studio. I unearthed the unfinished house quilt and immediately started working on it.

The house quilt consists of 6 applique blocks each containing a house. I used fabric remnants and didn't really think about coordination and match for the quilt as a whole (I made the top a year ago, when I first started sewing seriously and didn't know about KOKKA or LECEIN) 

I didn't use batting for this quilt, but instead backed it with a towel type material (I don't know the proper term for this type of fabric). It is very warm and heavy thus making quilting difficult. I have muscled arms after I finished quilting this piece *grin*

The binding is simple and straightforward. I used green plaid fabric in my stash with one part of polka dotted fabric for the binding. 

Any UFOs in your closet..??? 

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New Look for baby quilt

I'm excited to report that all 4 baby quilts are done *grin*

(If you are lost, I made plan to focus on quilting projects in August here - 4 baby quilts and 2 single size quilts)

I made 2 baby quilts using similar panel, the only difference is the NAME EMBROIDERY.. After procastinating long enough, I'm happy to report that I'm confident enough to use the embroidery function on my Janome Super Secio PC (the page is in Japanese) machine to personalise bags and quilts *relieve*

I still have a lot to learn about the embroidery function like adjusting size, colour and the position. I worry about thread breaking mid-way the embroiderring process.. how do I go back to redo?? *aarrrggghhh*

The view of the back, I used Moda fabric in cream.

Bias binding in lime polka dot. (Make your own tape here) 

Hope you have had a productive week so far..

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Itty Bitty Bella - Baby Quilt

Do you still remember the Marcus fabrics I showcased awhile back??

No, then headover here first to refresh your memory.

Yes, then please read on *grin*

I finally turned the pink itty bitty bella into a baby quilt. It has to be one of my favourites. The colour combination is totally delicious, the cute baby prints in the centre were sweet and I 'traced' over the pattern to emphasise.

The best part has to be the squares around the centre panel.

I made the binding from a matching pink fabric which was on sale here.

I used free quilting motion for this quilt and how better to see the pattern than the back..

As you can see I rarely use patterned or coloured fabrics for the backs.  

What are you working on at the moment..?

I have to say August seems like a QUILT month for me.. I have 4 baby quilts and 2 single quilts waiting to be worked on.. (I know, I know, a bit too ambitious, but after 3 weeks of lazying around without any real sewing, I am excited to be working again) 

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Another Quilt and Free Motion Quilting

Previously, I've made a couple of similar projects (here and here) using the Love U panel by Deb Strain. However, I've always tried to make each and every quilt different and unique. After all that's what handmade is all about right?? 

I've used Happy Campers plaid brown borders for this quilt  

You might not be able to really scrutinize it from the pic above, but the pic of the back below will reveal the stitches better. Though I've done free quilting motion before (Alphabet quilt), working with this panel, I've always stick to free quilting the existing pattern on the panels.

However, I'm happy to report that this time around, I've added some flowers and clouds here and there.. My biggest problem is I'm too cautious and dare not use contrasting thread to make the stitches stand.. Any suggestions on how to overcome this..? May be I should practice more on some scrap projects?? *sigh*

I binded the quilt with my handmade tape made from scrap fabric

June is here. Are you celebrating anything this month..?
*We are looking forward to my Hubby's bday, Father's day and our 10th Wedding Anniversary.. more on that next time!!*Pin It

Baby Truck Quilt

I finished this baby truck quilt a couple of days ago and I always handwash and iron my quilts before packing and sending them to the rightful owners mainly because it allows me to detect loose threads or other things that I might have missed while sewing. Besides, the owner can start using the quilt immediately once it arrives.

If you noticed, I made similar quilt a while back - it was a single bed sized which is about 140cm x 210cm while this baby quilt is about 80cm x 120cm (read more about the quilt here).

The backing for the quilt is plain white cotton and I made the binding from my fabric scraps.

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Sisterly LOVE

Did I tell you I have a sister?? Well I do, she's 5 years younger than me and now is expecting her second baby (delivery date 2nd April 2010). I love my sister, she's a lot like me and we get along superbly.. most of the time at least..heheh

My sis and I, taken March 09

As the best big sister that I am *grin* I managed to finish the baby quilt and baby crib bumper for my sister's baby in the nick of time.. My mom made the pillow covers and bed sheet covers using the same fabric I sent her earlier.

You can read more about the fabric and projects I plan to make with the panel here.

I used plain white cotton for the back

I sewed lace all around and binded the quilt with polkadot green fabric  

As for the crib bumper, I cut the alphabets out - to be used for another project and used only the centre panel (4 panels all together). Since my quilt batting is rather thin, I double layered the batting for the crib bumper for added cushion.

How about you? Ever made anything for your family members?

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