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Matchy Matchy Heart Dresses

Posted by Carolyn on February 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

I still have so much fabric left over from the weekly photos I took of the girls during their first year.  Alma and Harriet are outgrowing the dresses I made them last Winter.  Valentine’s Day is coming up.  So… I made some new dresses for the girls.

I have to admit that I never thought I would be the kind of mom who would dress her daughters in matching dresses.  Turns out I am that kind of mom.  I am totally that kind of mom.  I’ve done it more than I expected, and I love it every single time.  So be it.  Can you blame me?

I mean, seriously.  They are just the two cutest sisters that ever were.  Especially when they make the same absurd random expression.  Don’t even ask, I have no idea.

Gotta love ’em!

This pattern is my take on Shwin and Shwin’s amazing dress pattern.

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Posted in: CaroMade, created., sewing, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: creating, hearts, love, sewing, sewing for my daughters, valentines day

Christmas Dresses

Posted by Carolyn on January 12, 2015 1 Comment

For the girls’ Christmas dresses, I used Oliver + S’s Fairy Tale pattern (the same one I used for Harriet’s baptism dress) and solid fabrics from Piece By Piece.  bIMG_5705Alma got to wear her dress to the Nutcracker, and Harriet got to wear her dress to my dad’s Rotary meeting, but unfortunately, Alma was really sick on Christmas, so we skipped church, and didn’t have the kids wear their fancy Christmas dresses to Christmas Eve dinner at my dad’s.bIMG_5710

Luckily, we’re really lazy and still have our Christmas decorations up, so before we went to Alma’s birthday party, we had a quick photo-shoot with Jesse’s old sled, decorated with some Christmas boughs.

It was Jesse’s idea to make Alma’s dress look like a Christmas tree.  I thought it could be awesome or ridiculous, but I decided to go for it anyway!bIMG_5703I raised the waistline and lengthened the skirt, and added a few extra layers.  I think the tiers of green look really sweet, and I love the petal sleeves in this pattern.  bIMG_5698

bIMG_5702For Harriet, the initial idea was to make it like a poinsettia, but in the end, I decided making petals would be too much, so I just lengthened it, and added the dark red lining, longer than the dress.bIMG_5706I love how the Christmas dresses look Christmas-y, but are plain enough that they can wear them all year long.  I also love how Harriet was totally mugging for the camera.  She seriously cracks us up, all day long.

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Posted in: created., sewing, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: Christmas, create, creating, dresses, fairy tale, oliver + s, Parenting, photography, sewing, sewing for my daughters

Quilted Infinity Scarf Tutorial

Posted by Carolyn on October 16, 2014 1 Comment

I’m starting a new series of projects that have been on my Pinterest boards for far too long.  I’m going to actually start creating the things I pin, and posting them on here.  I know, it’s crazy.  Without further ado, I give you the quilted infinity scarf tutorial!

Quilted Infinity Scarf Tutorial - AndthentheyInfinity scarves seem to be all the rage these days.  I didn’t have an infinity scarf, so I thought I’d try making one.  I like to wear scarves because, as a teacher, I have to be pretty modest.  A scarf is a great way to cover up when a shirt is just a little bit too low-cut.

mThis is a great project, because all you need is two fat quarters, some leftover batting, and some embroidery floss.  I’ve seen some tutorials around the web – here’s my take on it.  It took me about an hour to complete, so it’s pretty simple!


Start with two fat quarters, cut them into 6 inch strips.  Mine ended up being about 6 x 21 inches.

I used two fabrics from Joel Dewberry’s Birch Farm line – “Barn Owl” and “Horse Blanket.”  I bought my fabric at Piece by Piece, but if you don’t live locally, I think you can get it at Southernfabric. I wanted  mostly neutrals, and the pop of light blue is perfect for my capsule wardrobe.

aSew the short ends of each fabric together to create two long, skinny strips.

Cut your batting to be 5 inches wide by the length of your strips.  I made mine a little longer than the strips, just to make sure I had enough.  Mine was 5 x 63 inches.  Now you have three long strips to work with.

bPut the batting on the wrong side of one of your strips, as sew together using a basting stitch (which you will later remove, it will just hold everything in place until you quilt it).

cPut the other piece of fabric so the two fabrics are facing, and the batting is on top.

dSew along the long edges, leaving about 9 inches open on one side.  Leave the ends open, but trim them so all three layers are the same length, and line up.  Turn right side out.

eThis is where I got stuck.  This next step totally baffled me.  What you need to do is stick one end through the tube of fabric and pop it out the other end.  I’ll try to explain this so it makes sense.  Reach in the opening on the side and grab one of the open ends.  Pull it through to the other end, and pull it all the way through so both ends are lined up.  I hope the next three photos help make this more clear.

fghThe last photo above shows one of the ends inside the other.  Go ahead and sew this closed.

iWhen you turn it back right side out, you’ll have a full circle – infinity!

jTo close up the hole, you can either just hand stitch it closed, or edge stitch the entire scarf.  I like the look of edge stitching, so I did that with white thread.

k1To quilt the infinity scarf, you have more options!  You can machine quilt it, or hand quilt.  I’ve been liking quilts with big stitches, so I went that route.  I just took some embroidery floss and quilted an easy line right down the middle.  I used all 6 strands of the floss because I wanted it to look thick.  I didn’t pay much attention to keeping my stitches even, but I did try to keep it in a straight line.

kThere you have it! A quilted infinity scarf!  Let me know if you make one – I would love to see photos!  I think I’ll be raiding my fabric stash to make more of these!

nl

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Posted in: created., DIY, sewing, sewing | Tagged: DIY, fashion, sewing, tutorial

Busy Sewing

Posted by Carolyn on June 18, 2014 1 Comment

Right now I’m working on making a quilt for Alma’s new twin sized bed (!).  She’s still choosing to sleep in her ‘baby bed,’ and we’re not pushing the issue.  Since we got mini cribs for our kids, I was worried that they would outgrow them quickly.  Alma totally fills up her crib, and so I thought she might be uncomfortable.  Apparently she is not, since she keeps choosing to sleep in it.

Anyhow, I’m making her a full twin sized quilt.  I’ve never made a quilt using any sort of sizing guide.  I usually just make a quilt using triangles, squares, strips, or some other shape and sew them together until it’s about the ‘right’ size for a baby quilt.  This time I’m using a real pattern.

I’m using the same blues and pinks and corals that are in Alma’s room and doing a sort of transitional ombre.

Since I’ve been working on the quilt so much, I haven’t had much time to create much else.  Also, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things now that I’m totally not working at all anymore for a few months.  Yay summer vacation!

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the fabrics that are going into the quilt:

IMG_1521

 

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Posted in: created., sewing, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: alma, quilt, quilting, sewing

A New Quilt For A New Cousin

Posted by Carolyn on June 5, 2014 2 Comments

Alma and Harriet are getting a new cousin very, very soon, so that meant it was time for a new quilt!  I love this one.  It is so cheerful.  I’m also really happy with it because it uses only fabrics that I already owned.  That means that there are already memories, love, and other babies connected to this quilt.  I can see pieces from sheets I made for my friend’s baby, parts of quilts for two of my nephews, Alma’s Halloween costume/apron, Alma’s and Harriet’s weekly photo projects, Harriet’s baby quilt.  You see, lots of love.

Our new family member is being born far away in Minnesota, to my step-brother and his wife.  They chose to wait until birth to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl.  We did this with Alma, and really loved the experience.  I think this quilt will be perfect no matter who they have.

The quilting got a little wonky, but hey.  Whatever.  Gives it that homemade-with-love character.  You can’t buy that in a store!

We are all so excited to meet you, little baby. You are already so, so loved.  Even though I know it will be quite a while before I get to meet you, I’m glad your parents will be able to wrap you up in this quilt that I made for you, with love.

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Posted in: created., sewing, sewing | Tagged: aunt, baby, baby quilt, cousin, love, quilt
If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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