Friday Favorites No. 455

We’re in the middle of birthday season in my house. My husband, daughter, son, son-in-law, and now granddaughter all fall within a few weeks of each other, while I’m floating around on my own with my May birthday. It’s a fun way to lead up to the holidays though!

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

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I like the simplicity of this quilt block from Bonjour Quilts. You do need to sign up for their newsletter to get the pattern, but there’s a lot of fun stuff there.

This felt banner from Polkadot Chair is so pretty!

This hat from Lalymom is a great start to a simple costume.

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Get your tea and snack in one bite with this recipe from A Cozy Kitchen.

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Most of my early sewing was making clothing. At some point, I got tired of hoping it would fit properly when I was finished, and I gave up. I’m feeling the urge to give it another try, but with a little more knowledge in the area of fitting, so I’m considering this class from Creativelive.

If you decide to check this out, or any class on Creativelive, be sure to sign up for Rakuten first. You can get cash back!

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Fabric Skull and Crossbones Wall Hanging

Since my kids both left home, I haven’t been very motivated to decorate for Halloween. We live out in the wild yonder, where no trick-or-treaters dare to go (except that one mini van about 15 years ago) so no one would see it anyway.

But with a new kid on the block, she’s got me thinking about jumping in again. She’s too little to care this year, but Halloween 2020 might be pretty awesome.

To get a start on my new spookiness, I decided to make this skull and crossbones wall hanging. I know it’s hard to tell from the photos, but this cream-colored fabric was perfect! It’s a little grungy, a little lacy, and it shimmers.

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here.

To make this you’ll need:

• this pattern

• cream cotton fabric

• black cotton fabric

• Craft Fuse (heavy weight fusible interfacing)

• medium weight fusible interfacing

• cotton batting

• black embroidery thread (I used a size 5 perle cotton)

Using the pattern pieces, cut the following:

from cream fabric:

• 1 skull, flip the pattern over and cut second (2 total)

• 2 bones, flip the pattern over and cut 2 more (4 total)

• 1 hanger

from black fabric:

• 1 eye, flip the pattern over and cut second (2 total)

• 1 nose

from Craft Fuse:

• 1 skull

• 2 bones

medium weight interfacing:

• 1 eye, flip the pattern over and cut second (2 total)

• 1 nose (cut from non-fusible side)

batting:

• 1 skull

• 2 bones

Fold the hanger lengthwise, with wrong sides together. Press. Fold the edges in to the center and press again.

Stitch near both long edges.

Pin the medium interfacing to both fabric eyes and the nose, with right side of fabric and fusible side of interfacing together. Stitch all the way around each piece, 1/8” from the edge. Cut a slit through the center of the interfacing only.

Carefully turn each piece right side out through the slit. Iron the Craft Fuse onto the wrong side of the skull face. Place the eyes and nose on the face with the interfacing side down, using the pattern as a guide. Press in place.

Stitch around near the edge of each piece, either by machine or using the embroidery thread. I went with a blanket stitch on mine.

Transfer the mouth from the pattern onto the face (these pens are my absolute favorite way to do that). Back stitch with embroidery thread.

Fold the hanging loop in half and pin at the center top of the head with the loop to the inside and the pin heads to the outside.

Lay out the batting skull. Add the face on top, right side up. Lay the skull back over all, right side down. Pin well.

Stitch around 1/4” from the edge, leaving 2” open on a straight edge at the jaw.

Clip the corners. Turn right side out and press, turning in the opening. Topstitch close to the edge.

Iron the Craft Fuse onto the wrong side of two bones.

Lay out the batting bones. Top with the interfaced bones, with the fabric side up. Lay the remaining fabric bones over that, with the fabric side down.

Stitch around 1/4” from the edge, leaving 2” open on one straight edge.

Clip the corners. Turn right side out and press, turning in the opening.

Topstitch close to the edges.

Lay out the two bones in a crossed pattern. Adjust and test with the skull until you’re happy with it. Stitch down the center through both bones.

Lay the skull over the top. Stitch through all layers by machine, following the topstitching on the jaw, or stitch together by hand from the back.

You know how much I love a good mug mat, so leave off the loop, add an extra layer of batting, or Insul-Bright if you’d like, and you can use this guy to hold your mug!

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Friday Favorites No. 454

Ever since I started this blog, I’ve found myself in a slight panic in mid-September. That’s the point where I realize I have more ideas than time or space for the rest of the year. I suppose it’s a better problem than worrying about trying to come up with things to make, but telling myself that never seems to solve it.

There’s also the anxiety of wondering if I’m choosing and skipping the right things. Maybe you would have liked that project I put on the back burner? Maybe the one I make it a dud? Yes folks, those are blogger problems.

Despite all of that, I do love this time of the year, and the projects that go along with it. Maybe I need to add some meditation or breathing exercises to that list!

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

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I visited my first escape room last month. It was really fun! You can DIY a kids’ version with your little ones or in a classroom with the instructions from Hands-On Teaching Ideas.

I”m pretty sure every sewing room needs one of these candy machines from Pneumatic Addict. Just mine?

These crocheted bracelets from Knit CA are so sweet. Great gift idea!

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If any of you zucchini growers need to ditch a few, my doorstep is available, then I can make these tots from Lil’ Luna.

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We’ve all seen the basic Jelly Roll Rug at this point, but this book by Billie Steward is full of lots of other things you can make using those handy strips. My favorite is the rug with tassels. Okay, it’s still a rug, but it’s different!

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Fabric Shoelaces

I have a pair of Converse high tops I’ve had for at least ten years. I don’t wear them every day, but pretty often, and I’m surprised they’ve survived this long.

The funny thing is, the laces have never been long enough. They came with the shoes, but I bought them at a factory outlet store, and I’ve always suspected that was why they were there. I can’t lace them through the top set of eyelets if I want to tie them. For ten years.

I wore them recently, and decided it was finally time to buy some laces that actually fit. I started looking around online, and it wasn’t long before I came across versions that were colorful and patterned and I couldn’t go back to plain white. Not that my decade-old laces were still that color.

I made it all the way to putting a pair in my shopping cart before I thought “Why don’t I make my own?” Close call, that one.

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

You only need a couple of things to make these, but one of them is kinda weird and specific, so I’m going to also suggest some alternatives at the end. For now, I’ll show you what I did.

You’ll need:

• cotton fabric

• 5 mm heat shrink tubing (I bought my small pack at the hardware store for under $3)

• heat tool (if you still have one of those embossing guns from rubber stamping, that works great)

• 1” safety pin

For my four-eyelet red tennis shoes, I made the laces 33” long, and for the eight-eyelet black high tops they’re 54” long.

Cut two fabric strips on the bias that are 1 1/8” wide by the length you need for your shoes. If you can’t get an entire strip from one piece, cut two and sew together with an angled seam.

Trim the seam to 1/8”, press open, then cut to length. That ensures the seam will be within the lacing section, and not closer to the end where it can interfere with tying.

You might be tempted to cut the fabric on the straight of grain, rather than the bias. I had the same thought, so I tried it both ways. You definitely want the bias. It drapes better. In the photo below the right is the bias and the left isn’t.

Fold the strip lengthwise with right sides together. Stitch the long edge with a 1/8” seam. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.

Pin the safety pin along the stitching line near one end. Don’t pin it into the seam allowance because it may rip out.

Push the top of the pin into the tube. Keep pushing through until it comes out the other end, gently sliding the fabric as you go. Pull it out until the entire tube is right side out.

Press the tube with the seam to one side, rolling it out with your fingers.

Roll the two edges in on the tip to make it skinnier. You can stitch it if necessary, but I found it was easy enough to just hold. Push the end into the shrink tube until the fabric meets the other end.

Using the heat tool, shrink the tubing. I wish I could tell you a hairdryer would do the trick, but I tried it and it doesn’t get quite hot enough.

Dab a small dot of craft glue onto the tip of the tube. That will keep the fabric tip from unraveling. Let it dry.

Repeat all steps to make the second, and your one-of-a-kind laces are ready to show off!

Now about those other options for finishing. They do sell the tips, called aglets, but I haven’t tried them myself. They look simple enough, and I do like the look.

Another way to go would be to fold the edges in at the end and zigzag over. If I went this route, I’d probably coat them with Mod Podge or glue to stiffen and protect the tips.

These fed smoothly into the large eyelets on my high tops, but I had to work a little harder on the red shoes. I just had to give the tip a little twist as it went in, but it wasn’t a big deal. It could be more of an issue for kids shoes.

Now my well-loved high tops can have a wardrobe of their own!

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Friday Favorites No. 453

I’d love to tell you I spent the week in my sewing room making beautiful things, but there is a LOT of less-than-fun computer time that goes into blogging, and that’s what has absorbed most of my time. I switched to a different newsletter provider, which is a good thing, but I’m still learning how to use it. If you are one of my newsletter readers, or you subscribe to my blog posts, I appreciate your patience while things level out. I’m hoping to get back to making later today, because I have ideas that need to get out! 😂

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

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I love how this fabric headband from Sew Crafty Me matches the collar on her little model’s dress. I need a couple of these!

Depending on your style, this deer head from Pillar Box Blue might work any time of the year, but with the holidays coming I think anyone could find a spot for this guy.

Wide legs pants are popular right now, and this version from So Sew Easy looks really comfy.

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I love Muddy Buddies and banana bread, so I don’t see how you could go wrong with this treat from Mother Thyme.

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This cross stitch pattern from Dysfunctional Threads would be great Halloween decor. Don’t we all feel like our cooking skills should come with a warning sometimes? 🤣

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Big Sky Bear Quilt

I didn’t intend to write about this guy today, but I’m still working out the kinks on the project I was going to share so he’s up!

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

A couple of years ago, Annie Brady released a line of fabric called Big Sky through Moda, and this sweet bear quilt pattern was free for a while to promote that. It’s no longer a freebie, but you can still buy the pattern through the artist’s website. She also has a coloring page to match!

I pulled the pattern out several times when I was looking for a new project, but never felt brave enough to tackle it.

As our guild’s quilt show got closer, i realized the only quilts I had to enter were minis and wall hangings. All the larger quilts have been gifts. That gave me the perfect opportunity to make that bear!

There wasn’t really enough time, but that didn’t stop me from deciding to get on that crazy train anyway. I spent a couple of hours in Craft Warehouse choosing fabrics, then headed home to start cutting. Since the pattern was originally designed with a specific fabric line in mind, I had to make myself this handy key to keep everything straight.

 There were a lot of pieces to this one, but the instructions were clear. It actually came together faster than I expected. The thing is, there were all these triangles left over.

 The colors I chose for this one are a little outside my usual palette, and there wasn’t enough of the triangles to really make anything, so I didn’t want to just stash them somewhere. I decided to sew them into squares, then the squares into a row and use it as an accent on the back of the quilt. I love how it turned out!

Because I was doing this at the last minute, there was no time to send it to a long armer. I moved my sewing machine to my large dining room table and spent a week or so plugging away at it. I know I keep saying this, but those quilting gloves made ALL the difference. Of course, I tore a hole or two in them in the process, but it was worth it.

I even got a little creative with my quilting lines. I wanted to follow the design instead of doing an all-over pattern, because why make it easy, right? I used a ruler to draw some lines and followed those. I only ended up with a couple of puckers in the flannel on the back, and with a quilt of this size, I can live with that.

It was great to see my quilt hanging in the show. (If you’d like to see photos from the entire show, they are on our guild Facebook page.)

The fact that my family loved it, and were snuggling under it the very next day was even better.

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Friday Favorites No. 452

If you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest this weekend, particularly near Gresham, Oregon, I have an event you should check out. I’m a member of the Mt. Hood Quilt Guild, and our second biennial quilt show is Friday and Saturday!

Not in Oregon? I run our guild Instagram and Facebook pages, so check us out there - I’ll try to post some pics!

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

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Sometimes a simple dress is just the thing. Make one for your favorite young lady with this pattern from Life Sew Savory.

I’m not over the moon for pumpkin spice lattes, but I am for this adorable cross stitch pattern from Ugly Duckling House.

It’s kind of inconvenient that clips don’t work with pincushions, but Easy Sewing for Beginners has solved the problem!

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This apple cider float from Jordan’s Easy Entertaining feels like the perfect drink to transition from the hot summer to the cooler fall.

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As the owner of a red barn, I found myself drawn to this cute place mat pattern from Annie’s Craft Store. Who am I kidding? I would have loved this anyway with all that red on it!

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Crib Rail Covers

First off, let me ease your minds a bit. I know this is my second baby post in a row. That’s because she’s new and I’ve been waiting until she was actually here to show you what I’ve made for her. There will be more, but it will be mixed in with all the usual sewing and crafts you see here. I’m not converting this blog into “Crafty Gigi” and going all baby, all the time. That’s only in my house. 😉

Did you notice the crib rail covers and quilt in the crib mobile post last week?

There’s a story behind this project, and it goes back 26 years (tomorrow, in fact. Happy birthday to the new mama!). When I was pregnant with our girl, my husband decided he wanted to build a crib for her. He gathered the wood and built the frame, but couldn’t find the hardware anywhere. This was back in the days before the internet, so tracking something like that down turned out to be impossible.

We’ve been storing it ever since, while our babies slept in a borrowed crib. When we found out little Charli was coming, I asked my husband if he was going to finish it, now that he should be able to find the hardware.

The irony is, crib style and safety has changed a lot in the last 26 years. The slide-down side that was popular when he originally built it is no longer recommended. With no special hardware needed, he got it finished and into the nursery before she arrived. After all that time, I’m glad she’ll get to use it.

I wanted to make her something for the crib besides the quilt (which I’ll show you at the end). Since crib bumpers have also been deemed unsafe (reasonably), crib rail covers are the thing. They’re simple fabric covers to protect the edges from tiny baby teeth gnawing on them. They’re also the perfect opportunity to bring a little color to the crib.

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

To make these, you’ll need:

• cotton fabric

• fusible fleece

• PUL (polyurethane laminate) - often used on the back of bibs

To determine the size of your pieces, you’ll need to measure the crib rails. This is the formula I used to decide what sizes to cut the pieces:

length = rail length + 3/4”

height = (rail height x 2) + (rail thickness x 2) + 1”

This is what I ended up cutting, two of each from fabric, fleece, and PUL:

sides - 51 x 5 3/4”

ends - 30 x 8”

Since those side pieces are longer than the width of the fabric, piece two strips together using an angled seam, like you would for binding, for fabric, fleece, and PUL.

You’ll also need ties. Cut seven 2” strips by the width of fabric.

We’ll start by making the ties. Trim the selvages from the strips. Pull through a bias tape maker, or fold both edges to the center and press.

Fold the strips in half with the edges to the inside and press.

Cut the strips into 6 1/2” pieces until you have 40 of them.

Unfold a strip. Fold one short end 1/4” to the inside and press. Refold the rest of the strip and stitch along the double fold edge. I actually didn’t even press during this step, I just folded them as I sewed. Repeat with the remaining ties.

Fuse the fleece to the wrong side of the corresponding fabric pieces.

Lay out one side section, right side up. Pin ties at 2 3/4”, 11”, and 19” from the right and left sides, on both the upper and lower edge, for a total of 12 ties for each side section. You can adjust the spacing as needed for your crib slats. The raw edges should be even, with the tie to the inside and the pin head to the outside.

Lay the soft side of the PUL down over the top. Use quilt clips to hold the layers, rather than pins that will leave holes in the PUL.

Stitch 1/4” from the edges, leaving 3 1/2” open on one short end. Make sure to remove the pins as you go, and keep the ties from getting caught in the seams.

Clip the corners and turn right side out. Press, turning in the opening. Topstitch close to the edge, all the way around. Do the same with the remaining side section.

Repeat with the end sections, placing the ties at 4 3/4” and 12 1/4” from the left and right sides, for a total of 8 ties for each end.

Tie them securely to the crib rails and you’re done!

The fabric for the crib rail covers is the same Rifle Paper Company print that I used to bind her quilt. I bought the Dear Stella Forest Dreaming panels months before my daughter was pregnant because I loved them so much, along with a companion print, then let her pick the fabrics to go with them.

I even used a pattern from Dear Stella to put it all together, because it was just perfect for the odd-sized panels. I’m glad I grabbed it when I did, because the panels and pattern are no where to be found now!

The quilt is about twice as big as the crib, but she’ll be able to grow into it.

There were an odd number of panels, so I also made this pillow, adding a little embroidery first. I love it so much!

All right, I’ll give you a break from Babyvision for a while now…right after this gratuitous pic of my new little love!

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Friday Favorites No. 451

As much as I could have just sat and stared at my new grandbaby all week, I had to get some sewing done. I foolishly promised I’d have a barely-started quilt finished for our guild quilt show next weekend, and there wasn’t time to send it to a long-armer. So, my dining room table was quilt central all week.

The good news is, I finished it! I’ll share it here after I get it back following the show. It’s a different color palette than what I usually choose, and I love it. And I’m keeping this one myself!

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

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This cute apple from While She Naps seems like the perfect thing to make while I wait for my trees to give theirs up.

Redfin recently asked me for my advice on sewing room organization. I just got the full article, and there’s lots of great tips in it for those looking to get their space ready for all that fall and winter crafting and sewing.

These tags for Cutie mandarin oranges from Melissa Esplin were originally meant for Valentine’s Day, but these would make great back-to-school or lunchbox treats.

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I recently experimented with quick pickled cauliflower and radishes, and it was delicious. I can’t wait to try more vegetables with this recipe from Tasty Yummies.

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My friend Holly from Marshmueller makes the cutest gifts! Of course, my favorites are the baby things (I bought my daughter one of the diaper and wipe clutches), but she also makes accessories for bigger people, and her fabric choices are always fun and quirky.

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Sunflower and Woodland Animals Crib Mobile

As you might have guessed, I write these posts the day before you’re actually reading them. As I was writing this one last week, I got a text from my daughter (who was in labor) asking if I would bring her husband some lunch. Of course, I dropped everything to go grab something for him and take the opportunity to cheer my daughter on for a few minutes.

As luck would have it, when I got there it was time for her to push. Their original plan was not to have anyone else in the delivery room, but they decided I should stay. I was NOT going to say no to that!

My sweet baby granddaughter came into the world late that afternoon, and it was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever witnessed. After a brief stay in the NICU for some breathing issues, she’s healthy and she’s home. So, now I can tell you about the cute thing I made for her!

This post contains affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy and point of view, click here. 

I don’t remember why I thought I needed to make her a crib mobile, but once that horse was out of the barn there was no stopping it. Her nursery has a forest theme, which left a lot of options.

I considered designing some felt forest animals myself, but once I found these from Little Dear I realized I would never love mine as much as hers. I bought the entire Woodland Creatures set, the Spirit Creatures, and the Yeti and Sasquatch. There’s not a single pattern in her shop that I don’t adore, and I think some Christmas ornaments will come out of this later.

I also had a great shopping experience buying the wool felt from Sweet Emma Jean. It’s so hard to match colors online, so I explained on my order what I was trying to do. She changed a couple of my colors accordingly, and they were perfect!

I let the little mama choose which animals I’d make. She went with the Sasquatch to represent her brother. The guy has some big feet, so it’s been a lifelong nickname.

She went with the owl, in white, and named it Hedwig. I read all of the Harry Potter books aloud to my kids, finishing up when they were in high school no less, so it’s kind of our thing.

The buffalo reminds her of Montana, where we will probably all move to in the coming years.

We have coyote where we live now, and we hear them howling at night once in a while, so this guy made the cut.

Last, but not least, the cute deer. They are constant visitors to our fruit trees.

After we selected animals, I realized the baby would not be able to see them from her vantage point. She’d be stuck looking at the bottom edge of the felt. Boring. That’s where the sunflowers came in. Because of the season she’ll be born into and her mother’s love for the color yellow, they seemed like an obvious choice. I thought those could point down toward her, just underneath the animals. Here’s what she’ll see.

So much better! I looked around for a tutorial on making the flowers, and found a couple on YouTube, but no where did they tell you what size to cut anything, so I’m going to tell you how I made mine.

To make one of these sunflowers you’ll need:

• 7 small petals (1 1/4 x 1”) from yellow felt - cut a piece of cardboard this size, then trim to a petal shape as seen in the photos below

• 7 large petals (1 1/2 x 1 1/4”) from yellow felt - cut a piece of cardboard this size, then trim to a petal shape as seen in the photos below

• 5 large leaves (1 1/2 x 1 1/4” - same as large petals) from green felt

• 1 circle ( 1 1/4”) from green felt

• 1 strip (1 x 14”) from medium brown felt

• 1 strip (1 x 6”) from dark brown felt

• I also cut 10 small leaves (same as small petals) from the green that I used above the animals, but they aren’t need specifically for the flower.

Using a pair of sharp scissors, cut fringe a little over 1/3 of the way down on one long edge of the medium brown strip.

Dab a little hot glue near one end and start rolling it up from one short end. Add a little more glue every inch or two. Continue rolling to the other end.

Cut fringe into the dark brown strip in the same manner. Bump the short end up next to the end of the medium brown strip and start gluing. Keep going until the entire dark brown strip is attached.

I just gotta ask, don’t these upside-down sunflower centers look like little tree trunks?

Grab all of your yellow petals, in both sizes. One at a time, dab a tiny bit of glue in the center of the bottom edge. Pinch the middle together and hold for a second to let the glue cool.

Glue one of the small petals to the flower center, about halfway down the side.

Glue on the next small petal, slightly overlapping the first.

Continue gluing petals until you’ve used all seven.

Glue the large petals with the bottom edge even with the bottom edge of the flower center.

Again, overlap and glue until you’ve used all the petals.

Glue one leaf so it overlaps the point where the petal and center meet. You didn’t pinch the leaves, so it should lay flat. You can also glue it to the bottom of the petal to make it follow the flower shape a little better.

Overlap and glue all five leaves.

Glue the green circle in the center, over the bottoms of the leaves.

Fluff the center, and you have a sunflower!

To hang the flowers, I tied a knot in some cord, dabbed on some glue, and pulled it up inside the center of the sunflower. I fed the same cord, with glue, up through the animal and tied it to the mobile arm.

You might be wondering how I got all this to come together as a crib mobile. You can buy hardware to make these, but I got a little…creative.

I found a mobile on sale on Amazon for about $7. The fabric portions were, let’s just say not usable, but the hardware was exactly what I needed. It also had a terrible music box, but I was able to buy one of those on it’s own that I loved. And with that I was still under the cost of just buying the hardware.

This is the mobile I used, and here’s the music box.

You could also repurpose a used mobile for something like this!

I couldn’t be happier with the way this whole thing turned out. I hope Charli will love it too. Come back next week and I’ll show you her quilt, and how I made the crib rail guards you can see in these pics!

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Friday Favorites No. 450

I hope you’ll all forgive me for not posting a new project last Wednesday. I had one finished, but I hadn’t written the entire post yet. I got interrupted by my GRANDDAUGHTER! She came into the world on Tuesday, and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of her since. In a last minute turn of events, I even got to be there for her birth, which was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experienced. I’m already looking forward to helping her make things!

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When my daughter was about to head to the hospital, one of the last things she grabbed was the first book in the Harry Potter series. I’m not sure if she intended to actually read it, or she just wanted it nearby. As I’ve mentioned, probably too many times, I read those to the kids and it’s still kind of a special thing between us. I think one of these clothespins from Tried and True would look good sitting on her bookshelf.

I love the size and shape of this bag from Sew4Home. With all the bags I have, there’s nothing like this, which gives me the perfect excuse to make one!

If you’re looking for a back-to-school teacher gift, I don’t think you can go wrong with this pencil holder from Jaime Costiglio.

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There’s a tiny bit of summer left, just enough to enjoy this color-changing slushie from The Flavor Bender.

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I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of meerkat sewing patterns, but how cool is this guy from Xanthe Patterns? I like his hoodie and jeans!

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Friday Favorites No. 449

Well, the bad news is that I still have no grandbaby to announce. The good news is that since my daughter’s doctor doesn’t want her to have to give birth to Babyzilla, she’ll definitely be here within the week! I’m so excited to meet her!

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Speaking of kids, we all know how fast they grow. This idea from It’s Always Autumn seems like a great way to get another season out of a top that’s getting a little short.

As you’re refreshing your fall wardrobe, maybe weeding out some old jeans, consider making denim yarn from them. Fiber Artsy shows you how.

How cute are these little coin pouches from Sew Simple Home?

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These are pancakes. Not muffins. Not cupcakes. Pancakes. Get the recipe from Kirbie’s Cravings. And may yours be every bit as fluffy.

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This entire book of quilted wall hangings from Annie’s Craft Store is cute, but I have a couple of favorites, like this farmers’ market version.

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Bracelet Bag

A couple of months ago I was going down the Pinterest rabbit hole, as I often do, and I came across a list of things that were predicted to be hot for summer. One of the items intrigued me. They were calling them bracelet bags. It was just a small bag with a loop or ring at the top that you wear as you would a bracelet. Chasing fads is hard, but this was something I could get behind!

You might remember this fabric from Colton’s quilt last week. Hopefully he won’t mind if I girly up this little bit of it!

This bag is small, but it will hold my giant phone and a few other items. I can’t wait to use it!

To make this you’ll need:

• this pattern

• three cotton fabrics for the outside, which I’ll call #1, #2, and #3 in the cutting instructions

• cotton fabric for the lining

• fusible interfacing

• a decorative button would the cute on the front, but is optional

Cut the following:

From outer fabric #1

• 4 1/2 x 7 1/2” for inside pocket

• two of Upper Bag template

From outer fabric #2

• 2 x 5” for back loop

• two of Lower Bag template

From outer fabric #3

• 2 x 15” for wrist loop

• two of Bag Side template

From lining fabric

• two Bag Lining template

• two Bag Side template

From fusible interfacing

• 2 x 5” for back loop

• two Bag Side template

• two Bag Lining template

Stitch the lower edge of the upper bag to the top edge of the lower bag with right sides together. Repeat with the other two pieces. Press the seams open.

Iron the bag lining interfacing to the wrong side of the two pieces you just assembled. Iron the bag side interfacing to the wrong side of the two outer bag sides.

Stitch one bag side to the right hand side of the outer bag front, with right sides together. Stitch the remaining bag side to the left in the same manner. Make sure the widest part of the bag side is toward the top on both. Press the seams toward the side.

Sew the remaining long edge on each side to the back outer bag with right sides together. Press the seams toward the sides.

Bring the two bottom edges together with right sides touching. Pull both bag sides to the outside with seams together, then fold the bag side over the bag toward the front, along the seam. Stitch 1/4” from the bottom edge.

Fold the 4 1/2 x 7 1/2” pocket with right sides together so the two 4 1/2” edges are touching. Stitch 1/4” from the edge, leaving 1 1/2” open for turning. Clip the corners and turn right side out. Press, turning in the opening.

Center the pocket on a bag lining piece, 1 1/2” from the top edge. Stitch close to the sides and the bottom.

Stitch the bag sides to the bag lining as we did with the outer bag earlier. This time, when you bring the bottom edges together, fold the bag sides to the inside. Stitch 1/4” from the bottom edge. Turn right side out.

Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the back loop. Fold lengthwise with right sides together and stitch 1/4” from the long edge. Turn right side out and press. Topstitch close to both long edges.

Find the center of the back lining. Pin the ends of the loop 1/2” from the center on either side with the edges even. Either baste in place or make sure the pin heads are to the outside of the bag.

Fold one short end of the wrist loop strip under 1/4”. Fold the strip lengthwise, with right sides together. Stitch 1/4” from the long edge. Turn right side out. Press. Top stitch close to both long edges.

Find the center of the front lining. Pin the raw end of the strip there, with the strip to the inside and edges even. Again, either baste or place the pins accordingly.

Stuff the lining into the bag. Pin well, matching the seams and raw edges. See those two clips near the lower right? That’s how I remind myself I need to leave an opening.

Stitch around the edge, leaving 2” open between the wrist loop and seam. Carefully turn right side out through the opening.

And what that should look like from the other side.

Push the lining into the bag. Press the seam. Top stitch around the upper edge of the bag.

Fold the wrist loop down over the front of the bag, overlapping it by at least 1 1/4”. You can go as far as 2” if you have smaller hands than I do.

Following the previous stitching, stitch down both sides, across the bottom, and across near the top of the bag on the wrist loop end.

After making sure the lining is fully inside, fold the bag sides to the inside. Press the seams and inner folds. Top stitch near the edges of the outer folds, using a denim needle and tapering off about 1/2 - 1” from the bottom corner.

Slip the wrist loop through the back loop and over your wrist to use.

I feel like I need this in a bunch of other colors. After all, it’s almost jewelry, right? 😉

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Friday Favorites No. 448

We’re still on grandbaby watch! She isn’t due for another week and a half, but my husband is hoping today is the day. His birthday falls on the 16th of another month, so he figures they can be sort-of birthday buddies. I don’t care what day it is, I just can’t wait to meet her!

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This sweatshirt from Sincerely Kinsey would be a cute way to use some coordinating fabric scraps.

Start the school year off right with this locker organizer from We All Sew.

This shirt from Where the Smiles Have Been is such a great idea! It would be so fun to see that final year.

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I still have mint growing in front of my house, and this drink from An Edible Mosaic sounds (and looks) delicious.

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This cross stitch pattern from NataliNeedlework is great for book lovers, especially those who have either switched to e-books or don’t have room for a bookshelf.

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Colton's Big Block Tumble Quilt

I haven’t actually given a lot of quilts as gifts over the years. There have been several stumbling blocks (blocks - 🤣 - see what I did there?). At times it was a general lack of confidence in my quilting ability, or the fear the recipient wouldn’t like it. More often than not, it’s an issue of time.

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The planets aligned for me on this one though. A high school graduation party was being thrown for a young man we’ve had the pleasure of watching grow up since he was born. Then the party got moved further into the summer, and I saw my opening.

In my heart I knew Colton was the kind of guy who would enjoy a handmade quilt, which made putting it together pretty motivating.

I headed to a fabric store with no idea what I was going to make. I kinda figured that when the right fabric found me, the rest would fall into place. For once, I was right.

The camping print is Adventure Awaits from Clothworks. Even the name of the fabric line was perfect. It’s a large print, so I wanted a quilt pattern that wouldn’t chop it up too much. Luckily, I remembered one I had at home that I thought would work well.

Sam Hunter, of Hunter’s Design Studio, spoke at my quilt guild a while back, and I bought a couple of her patterns while she was there. The thing I loved about Big Block Tumble was that there are no Y seams, so it’s a lot easier than it looks. And the large blocks were perfect.

The pattern does call for a specialty ruler (Creative Grids 60 degree 8” triangle), which I thought about trying to skip, but I’m glad I didn’t. And now I have it for future projects!

I picked out some coordinates, and a super-soft Cuddle backing I knew Colton would like.

I got the top put together, and my intention was to quilt this one myself. I even bought some basting spray and a pair of quilting gloves. Then the whole vaccine-pocalypse happened, and I lost a week of my life.

My luck just kept rolling though, because Marie, of Marie’s Custom Quilting, emailed me and asked if I would write the foreword for her upcoming book. Of course, I was honored! I asked if she happened to have time to long arm a quilt for me, and she agreed. She saved my bacon.

I made a coordinating pillowcase, which I plan to do every time I’m giving a quilt from now on. It’s perfect for protecting it, and kinda fun to see the puzzled look for a minute while they try to figure out what’s inside!

We gave the quilt to Colton at his party last weekend, and I was happy to see the first thing he noticed was the soft backing. It makes me warm and fuzzy to know a guy with a future as big as his is wrapped up in something I made. ❤️

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Friday Favorites No. 447

I’m so glad to be back to normal because I have too much going on right now to be sick! If you didn’t catch my book news, you can click here to see that. Yesterday I was back on Afternoon Live, and I didn’t even pass out or anything. But, biggest of all, we’re all anxiously awaiting the birth of our granddaughter, who’s due in a couple of weeks. The doctor says she’s going to be a big girl, just like her mama was!

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Sometimes little buddies, like these from Fairfield, are just the thing.

Who knew something as pretty as these orbs from Creative in Chicago could come from a cereal box?

I love the fabric tassels on this table runner from Timeless Treasures.

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Summer isn’t over yet, so there’s still time to enjoy these cocktail ice pops from The Decorated Cookie.

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This crochet pattern from CraftingHappinessUK would make a cute blanket and all, but I think it’s really cute with its legs dangling on the side of the crib.

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Quilted Wall Hangings Book

No, this isn’t a book review. I guess it could be, but there’s zero chance I could be impartial, so let’s call this more of an announcement. One I’ve been sitting on since last December!

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I’ve shared lots of my projects on FaveQuilts over the years. I love it because they feature nothing but quilt-related projects, instead of having to weed through everything else like you do on some sites. The categories make it easy to find whatever you’re looking for.

Last winter, an editor from FaveQuilts contacted me to ask if I’d be interested in submitting a quilt for a book they were publishing with Leisure Arts that focused on quilted wall hangings. While writing my own book is still part of my plan, I’m not ready to do it yet, so I was thrilled with the idea of being a part of theirs.

I sent three designs, hoping they’d find one they liked. The book would only have 11 or 12 quilts in it, so I was prepared for a thanks-but-no. To my surprise, they chose two!

They loved the colors I’d selected, which turned out to be a bit of an issue for one of the quilts, because I couldn’t actually find fabric anywhere that would work. I ended up creating my own through Spoonflower so it would look exactly like I’d envisioned. This is what my yard of fabric looked like:

Surprise number two came late last month when the book came out. They used one of my quilts for the cover! 😲

There are eleven quilted wall hangings in the book, and I like every one of them. It made me feel even more honored to be a part of the book when I saw the quality and creativity of the other projects.

The quilt on the cover is called Modern Mountain, and the other one of mine is Geometric Plaid.

If you’re interested, you can buy the book through the publisher, Leisure Arts, either as a paperback or digital download. It’s also available on Amazon, or might also find it on the shelf at your local Joann’s. I went to one near me, just to see if it was there. Seeing it sitting there between Kaffe Fassett and Pat Sloan made my heart flutter a little.

Even more exciting news - I was invited again to submit ideas for their upcoming book on mini quilts, and I just found out one of those was selected! I’m working on that design right now, and I’ll let you know in a few months when the book has been published.

Right now I have to go get my project ready for my segment on Afternoon Live tomorrow. Wish me luck, and cross your fingers I don’t glue myself to the set! 😂

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Friday Favorites No. 446

Oh my friends, last week was rough. My daughter told me that they want everyone who’s going to be near the baby to have a current Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine. Mine would be due next year, so I checked with the doctor about getting it early. I also brought up the shingles vaccine, because I just turned the big 5-0, and pneumonia, because I have a compromised immune system. She said yes to all.

What she didn’t say is that the combo platter would make me feel like I’d been run over by a truck, put through a wood chipper, and reassembled with school paste. I was SO sick, and there was no part of me that didn’t hurt for about five days. I had a fever, my arm was swollen and hot, and I was nauseated and dizzy. It was not awesome.

I just keep telling myself it would be worse to come down with any of those five things, but whew, am I glad to be almost back to normal. It was so nice getting back into my sewing room!

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We have wood and tile floors throughout our house, so my chairs could really use these socks from Knitting with Chopsticks.

I love the dark thread quilting on these mats from Therm-O-Web.

It’s Shark Week, making it the perfect time for this little guy from Craft Passion.

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Our blueberry bushes went crazy this year. Our freezer is full, and we’re still picking. This blueberry butter from Crockpot Ladies looks pretty perfect right now.

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I always look forward to the Connecting Threads catalog, and luckily one showed up while I was down. I’ve been itching to try bargello, so this kit caught my eye.

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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Santa or Gnome Hanging Kitchen Towels

Last day of Christmas in July! I couldn’t let it go by without one last holiday project. This hanging towel, like the reversible mini mat and the dress form ornament, will work year round with the right fabric and color choices. Did you notice all three were flexible like that? It wasn’t an accident. Apparently I’m only stepping into Christmas in July with one foot! 😂

I’ll show you how to make the Santa version, then explain the differences for the gnome. They’re minor.

To make this you’ll need:

• white kitchen towel

• fabric in red, white, skin tone, pink, and black (skip pink and add blue if you’re making the gnome)

• fusible interfacing

• 5/8 - 1” button

• this pattern

Before you do anything else, wash your towel! Mine started 16 3/4 x 19”, and ended up 16 x 17 1/4” after one wash. If you’re worried, you can wash it twice, but it will lose the most size in the first.

Print the pattern. Cut:

• two hats from red fabric

• one hat from interfacing

• two eyes from white fabric

• two eyes from interfacing

• two irises from black fabric

• two irises from interfacing

• one nose from pink fabric

• one nose from interfacing

• two 1 1/2 x 6 1/2” from white fabric for hat brim

• one 3 1/2 x 6 1/2” from white for back of head

• one 3 1/2 x 6 1/2” from skin tone for face

• one 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 from interfacing

Depending on the size of your towel, you may want to cut it in half horizontally, so it doesn’t hang down too far. It made mine a little on the short side, but let’s be honest, he was always going to be decorative to me!

Sew the long edge of the face to the hat brim. Press the seam toward the brim.

Apply the 4 1/2 x 6 1/2” interfacing to the wrong side. Set that aside.

Grab the eyes and irises. Pin one interfacing piece to one eye, with the fabric right side up and the fusible side of the interfacing down. Stitch around 1/4” from the edge. Trim the seam to 1/8”.

Very carefully, cut a slit in the center of the interfacing only. Messy is okay.

Turn the eye right side out through the slit. Try not to tear the interfacing. Do not press yet.

Repeat with the remaining eye and both irises.

For the nose, pin the fabric and interfacing together in the same manner, but only stitch the curved edge. Turn right side out through the straight edge.

Position the eyes on the face 1” from each side and 1/2” from the top. Press in place. Lay the irises over the eyes wherever you like them, and press those as well.

Place the nose at bottom center, 1/4” from the edge. Press.

I intended to sew these all in place on the machine, which I recommend you do if you intend to use this as a regular towel. However, my curves were extra wonky, so I decided to cover them with some blanket stitching. If you try this, just know that some areas are very thick, so it’s rough going.

On a side note, I figured out later what the problem was - I’d been sewing with a denim needle up to this point! It did NOT make for smooth curves. Ugh.

Just so this doesn’t become a “do as I say, not as I do” moment, here’s what the gnome looks like sewn on the machine.

Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the hat front. Sew the bottom edge of the hat to the top edge of the brim, right sides together. Press the seam toward the hat.

Sew the back three pieces together to match the front.

Stitch a long basting stitch 1/4” from the top (or cut) edge of the towel. Leave long tails on the thread. Stitch again 1/8” away.

Pull the two top threads gently from each side to gather the towel. Keep gathering until the towel is 1/2” narrower than the bottom of the face. Tie off the threads.

Lay the towel, right side down, over the face, with the gathered edge even with the bottom edge of the face. Pin well.

Stitch 1/2” from the edge. Press the seam toward the head.

Press the bottom edge of the back of the head under 1/2”. This needs to match the front, so measure that last seam to verify it’s 1/2”. If it’s a little over or under, adjust the amount you’re pressing to match.

Pin the back of the head over the face, right sides together, matching edges and seams. Stitch with a 1/4” seam, leaving the bottom edge open.

Clip the corner. Turn right side out and press.

Pin the opening closed and top stitch around the face and hat.

Make a horizontal buttonhole to fit your button, 3/4” from the hat tip. Move it down as needed if your buttonhole is too large to fit.

Sew the button onto the hat, about 3/4” above the brim.

To hang, just wrap Santa’s hat behind and over, then button in place!

I added a little green jingle bell to up the holidayness a bit. I’ll look forward to putting him back up in November!

So, how do you make the gnome? When you’re cutting out his nose, use the skin tone instead of pink. Gnomes are not that jolly.

Cut his hat brim from red instead of white.

Cut a strip of blue fabric 3" x the width of the towel plus 1”. Fold the long edges under 1/4”. Fold the short ends under to match the width of the towel. Stitch the strip onto the towel, on or near the bottom edge.

The rest of the assembly is just like Santa. I keep picturing this guy as a BBQ towel. Out in the wild, where he’s happy.

That wraps up Christmas in July! I hope you enjoyed it - I sure did. Let me know if this is something you’d like to see again next year!

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Friday Favorites No. 445

This ends Wednesday! -> -> ->

As part of my Christmas in July celebration, all of my sewing patterns are 25% off through the end of the month! Just use coupon code JULY2019 in my shop here or on Etsy. You can also use that code for 25% off my Christmas Sewing T-Shirt in my Etsy shop.

I was kinda wondering if I’d end up hating myself for this Christmas in July thing, but it’s been so fun! It’s a little weird making holiday stuff this time of the year, but without all of the December pressure I can actually enjoy it. I’ve got one more project coming before it’s over, so stay tuned next Wednesday for that!

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There’s always a reason to need a wet bag in July, and this fruit version from Oh Yay Studio is extra cute.

This ribbon from Simple Simon and Co. is a great Christmas in July craft, because now you know you need to save up those fabric scraps!

This picnic blanket from Cucicucicoo is a genius upcycling project.

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Everything about these watermelon fries and dip from Abbey’s Kitchen sounds delicious.

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I think it’s the red and off-white border that hooked me on this quilt pattern from MaterialGirlChic.

You can find these, and my previous Friday Favorites, on my Crafty Staci’s Friday Favorites Pinterest board!

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