Tammis Keefe Quilted Christmas Wall Hangings

A few weeks ago I asked you what I should do with these lovely panels of Tammis Keefe Christmas fabric. You had amazing ideas from advent calendars to pillows to artwork. In the end, I made these quick little quilts for the mantle.

I'm pretty nostalgic when it comes to Christmas decorations. I put everything out and don't really have a color theme. I just love seeing all those memorable items year after year. I do appreciate how these panels coordinate with the colors in my living room. That Tammis had great taste!

Here's what I did...
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Patchwork Baby Onesie Christmas Stocking

Do you have trouble parting with those adorable tiny clothes? Turn some into a keepsake Christmas stocking for baby! Inspired the gorgeous new Martha Stewart Craft Paint that I was invited to try out, I stenciled, patchworked and stitched up a stocking that will always remind me of when he was a sweet lil' dumpling. Want to make one? Here's what I did...


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The Easiest Cheat for Binding a Quilt

This Fall has been filled with quilt making projects and outings for us. We started off with the super easy and adorable cheater quilt, made quilt binding, and took a trip to the Quilt Market. Today we have a quilt project brought to you by Rae from Made by Rae.

Rae is always sewing up new projects like the cutest baby tights, the dapper dillingers, and the prettiest chevron purse. She is here to show all of you the Cheater Quilt Bind-Off. Intrigued? I thought so. Rae will take you through the step-by-step tutorial for using the back of your quilt for an easy binding after the jump.

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To Quilt Market We Go!

Last weekend I road-tripped to Houston to see all the news in quilting and also fabric, sewing patterns, trim and craft books. As you might imagine, I took hundreds of photos so I'll be sharing more throughout the week. Here are some gorgeous highlights of all the delish eye candy that I spotted like the circa 52 by monaluna for birch fabrics organic (available in november) pictured above. The new Ruby Star Shining by Melody Miller for Kokka featured on a vintage suitcase (below) was one of the show darlings.

Sarai Mitnick was there signing her new sewing book, The Colette Sewing Handbook: Inspired Styles and Classic Techniques for the New Seamstress, and showcasing her collection of beautiful sewing patterns. Here are her frocks...

Natalie Lymer was there with her sweet Woodland collection. The embroidery patterns were pure sweetness.

Of course, you already know how we feel about Anna Maria. Here is the bag that I stole off of the wall in her booth. Just kidding. However, if you felt the stunning velveteen, I doubt you would have blamed me. Yes, there is much much more from Anna Maria's booth to come. Want to see more...


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Machine Quilt Binding 101 + Quilt Binding DIY

A few weeks ago we showed you how to take advantage of 'the lovely cheater quilt' and promised to return with instructions for how to bind that bad boy. Since it was a cheater quilt, we know you are down with a good short-cut so let's start with the fastest way to bind a quilt, by machine of course! But first, here are some simple instructions for making your own quilt binding.


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Introduction to Cheater Quilts

Cheater is such an ugly word for such a beautiful thing. Cheater quilts are a perfect project for new sewists or folks with little time for craftiness. Featuring fabric designed and printed to look like patchwork or applique, a cheater quilt allows you to skip the huge task of doing piecework on a quilt. All you have to do is quilt and bind. I quilted this lovely baby quilt in about 30 minutes. All that's left to do is bind it, which can be done quickly on the machine or heirloom quality by hand. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on the different ways to bind a quilt.

But I know the big question, right? What is that gorgeous fabric? It's Jay-Cyn Designs Storyboek for Birch Fabrics - Field Stroll Cheater and the back (which I think would be so cute for Christmas) is Field Friends Coral. Both are on sale right now at Fabricworm.

And the baby... is Gordon, who is totally man enough to pose with a pink quilt. Thanks buddy, I owe you the boy version.

Read on to learn more about how to make a cheater quilt.
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Floriani Heat N Shrink and Free-Motion Quilting

I've told you how much I love hanging out like a shameless groupie in my local sewing shop, Arlington Sewing Machine Supply Company, so when my friend Emily asked me to tag along while she bought her first sewing machine, I jumped. It seems I can't walk into that place without getting schooled. And I mean that in the best possible way.

While Shannon helped Emily load up on supplies, Carla pulled me aside to show me the cutest lil' girl nightgown that a customer had made. The nightgown featured a yoke with sweet puckered fabric. It looked a little smocked, a little quilted and all the way adorable. Then they showed me how she did it with Floriani Heat N Shrink. Have you seen this stuff? Take a look at the process and tell me what to do with my flowers...

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Nap Mat/Bed Roll: Part 3.5

It's nap mat season again! Can you believe it?
Since Quinn is joining big sister at school this Fall, she needs a bed roll of her own.

I followed the original nap mat tutorial with the addition of Ouinn's embroidered name. If you would like instructions for a removable pillow, follow Jaime's tutorial. If your daughter loves her mat so much that she wants one for her doll, check this out.

25 FREE Baby Blanket Tutorials {A Slideshow}

Looking to craft the perfect baby blanket? Try one of these 25 FREE baby blanket tutorials from talented folks around the web. Whether you sew, knit, crochet or quilt there is something here for you. There are a few here that I’m itching to make too! See the slideshow and links to all 25 FREE projects on Babble!

The Lazy Quilter: Easy Half Square Triangle Trick

I do so love the idea of quilting. But in actuality, the precision is not something I naturally excel at. I'm all about pretty fabrics and quick projects. Therefore I deem myself the lazy quilter.

I whipped up this pieced pillow for the Craft Room Redesign Project in about an hour and a half, and I want to share with you the secret for making half square triangles in a jiff. I don't even have a 1/4" presser foot or any fancy quilting paraphernalia. You can use half square triangle units to make pinwheels, which are adorbs and very trendy right now. You can also make sailboats and lots of other cuteness with them. Give it a shot, it's a good first-quilting-step.

Get the Easy Half Square Triangle Trick after the jump. And tell us, are you a lazy quilter? Do you have any lazy quilting tips for us? Your comment could win you a gorg Belle & Blue Chair.
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Free Motion Quilting Tutorial & VIDEO!

Ever since my Mother-in-law gifted Quinn a beautiful baby blanket featuring Free Motion Quilting, I have been obsessed with learning how to do it and then showing you Prudent Mamas. Imagine my delight when I found that Vanessa from Lella Boutique and Heidi from HoneyBear Lane had already done the work for us. Thanks ladies! Don't forget, any comment you leave this week could win you some Sparkly Kreinik Thread.

Learn all about Free Motion Quilting after the jump.
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Scrappy Potholder

So, looking for some potholder inspiration for your entry into THE SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN contest?  Here's another take on our Pretty Potholder.

For this one, I delved into the scrap bucket to bust through some itty bitty pretties I'd been hanging onto.  Get the full Scrappy Potholder tute after the jump...

And remember, your comments could win you some pom pom trim. Hmm, pom poms on a potholder could be pretty cute, no?
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Pretty Potholder: Part 2

A potholder! What a satisfying little project. When I saw Jaime's Pretty Potholders Tutorial last week, I knew I had to try it. Oddly, we are very particular about our potholders here, but with a few tweaks I was able to recreate our favorite style... and with a ruffle of beautiful fabric!

Check out this version of Jaime's Pretty Potholder after the jump.
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DIY Nap Mat / Bed Roll Part 2

Ever since Jacinda posted her DIY Nap Mat Tutorial I've been sooo excited to make one for little Scarlet. So when my mom took her for the day, I got to work.

The only change I made was to make the pillow insert removable by creating an envelope flap. This is by far and away Scarlet's most favorite thing I have ever made for her.

I'll give you the measurements and details on the envelope flap and more pics of my DIY Nap Mat Part 2 after the jump...

And remember this week's favorite commenter gets to pick some pom pom trim from Jacinda's holiday stash!
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The Quilting Bug

My sister-in-law made super-sweet quilts for Clare and her cousin Manning for Christmas. This was her first attempt at quilting and they are gorgeous! She bought a "layer cake" (a stack of 10"x10" pieces of fabric) for each and followed this simple yet stunning pattern that she found on the Moda Bakeshop website. This has totally inspired me to make my first quilt this year. How about you? Will you be quilting in 2011? Don't you love these beauties? I adore the way she wrapped the backing, a luxurious minkee, up and around the front to act as her binding. It makes it THAT much more cozy.


The new Denyse Schmidt from Fabricworm would work for a boy or a girl. Love the fresh geometric patterns.

Pretty Potholders

Potholders are superfun scrap busting projects, so customizable and great for a bit of fabric you want to see every day but don't want to like, wear.

I made this one with a little pocket for your hand, just because I prefer being able to grab a hot pan handle that way. Umm, I have old lady hands. Don't look.

I said don't look!

Sigh. Learn How to Make A Potholder after the jump...

Make one yourself and enter it into the SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN CONTEST for your chance to win a new Brother Sewing Machine!
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Manly Laptop Sleeve Part 2: All Girl

When I saw Jacinda's Manly Laptop Sleeve Tutorial in the queue I was beyond excited! Umm, maybe I should have made one for Carleton Curtis first?  Alas, I did not. This Anna Maria Horner fabric was calling out to be by my side every day!

I used a snap instead of velcro because I'm obsessed with snaps (and I didn't have any velcro) and some fun gold bias tape.  Does it look too old-fashioned?  I hope not, because I kind of love it.

I even did a little piecing and some diagonal quilting using fancy metallic sparkly gold Kreinik thread. Since I know you'll ask, the gold fabric is Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush Quilt Cotton Loves Me Loves Me Not in Golden, and the flowers are Anthology Fabrics High Society Silo Dahlias in Gold, both from Fabricworm.

Ok, your turn: Get the Laptop Sleeve Tutorial here.