Sewing for Birch Organic Fabrics

Wow, this last week was probably one of the busiest I have had in a long time with all sorts of things going on..........whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. One of the projects on my to-do list was to finish some garments I designed for the Birch Organic Fabrics booth for International Quilt Market (which takes place in Houston at the end of the month).

Cynthia, the owner of Birch, sent me four different prints to work with and I honestly had no idea which fabrics she would be sending. It made it kind of fun......I'm so used to picking my own fabrics for specific designs, but this time it was the other way around.

I love working with the Birch Fabrics, they are absolutely lovely. Here are some of the pieces I created for them......

Isn't this fabric the cutest? I couldn't get enough of this one when it arrived in the mail. I have a few scrap pieces left of this print and I definitely think it will be added onto some of Mr. Caspian's clothing. This line called 'Camp Sur' and has a bunch of really great prints!

The shorts romper in the picture is my Run Around Romper pattern for boys and girls. 

This is my Janey Jumper pattern with a ruffle down the front. I have had this vintage trim in my stash for a long time and I was so excited when I saw how perfectly it went with this fabric. In case you can't tell from the pictures, the blue fabric has little fish on it.....too cute!

I wanted to use the camper fabric on a girls dress because I think the logical choice would be for a boy, but I actually love the way this works for a girl. It's kind of a boutique, boho vibe (or at least that's what I was going for).

And then again, I decided to use this otherwise 'boy' fabric for a girl twirl dress. This is my Charlotte Apron Dress pattern without the apron. The skirt was shortened and I added a ruffle around the bottom. The light blue and cream fabric looks like tree bark......it's really neat. I also embellished the bodice with some vintage crochet trim, lace and buttons. This fabric line is called 'Camp Modern'.

I can't wait to visit the Birch Fabrics booth at Quilt Market in Houston, TX. It will never get old seeing my pieces on display. It is such a honor to work with some of these great fabric manufacturers and I still can't believe they ask 'little ole me' to create pieces for them.

By the way........is anyone else planning on attending International Quilt Market at the end of the month? 

It is a trade show and not open to the general public, but if you plan to be there, let me know. And if you see a mom (Grandma Jane) and daughter (me) duo walking around the convention center with their 'The Cottage Mama' bags, stop us and say hello......we would love to meet you!

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Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirt Tutorial

This was a guest post that I did some time ago over at Simple Simon for the "Skirting the Issue" series. Consider using this tutorial and making these skirts out of corduroy for fall or use your favorite designer quilting cotton in fun prints for a more bold statement. No matter what fabric you choose, your own little lady or the little foster care girl you are sewing for will LOVE to twirl in these skirts. 

My name is Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama and I'm so excited to be here as part of the 'Skirting the Issue' series.  What an amazing cause and I'm thrilled to be able to provide some handmade skirts for some very special little ladies.  I make clothing for my children all the time and the idea of a child never having something special made just for them, breaks my heart.  Every little one deserves to feel special, pretty, girly and loved and it is the least I can do to provide some skirts to hopefully bring those feelings into some little girls hearts.

In thinking about what kind of skirt I wanted to make, I was considering several things.  I definitely wanted these skirts to wash well........meaning no need to press.  I wanted them to be light and summery with a bit of twirl factor, so I decided on making some Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirts.  Want to make some yourself?  Here's the how-to........

Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirt

SIZE 12 MONTH - 10 YEARS
by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama for Skirting the Issue

Materials:

Two coordinating fabrics (I chose seersucker)

1/2" or 3/4" elastic for waistband

Trim (optional)

Basic Sewing Supplies

I am providing you with all the measurements you need in order to make a double layer twirl skirt.  These measurements are assuming you are NOT using a serged hem, they are for a regular, traditional 1" hem.  If you would like to do a rolled hem with your serger (as I did), then please subtract 1" from the length of each measurement.

Double Layer Twirl Skirt Cutting Instructions:

**All skirt measurements are meant to be cut on the fold**

12 Month 
Top Layer – 10” x 18” 
Bottom Layer - 12” x 18”
Elastic – 18” 

18 Month 
Top Layer - 10.5” x 19” 
Bottom Layer – 12.5” x 19” 
Elastic – 18” 

Size 2T 
Top Layer – 11.5” x 20” 
Bottom Layer – 13.5” x 20” 
Elastic – 19” 

Size 3T 
Top Layer – 12.5” x 20” 
Bottom Layer – 14.5” x 20” 
Elastic – 19” 

Size 4T 
Top Layer – 13.5” x 21” 
Bottom Layer – 15.5” x 21” 
Elastic – 20” 

Size 5 
Top Layer – 14.5” x 21” 
Bottom Layer – 16.5” x 21” 
Elastic – 21” 

Size 6 
Top Layer – 15.5” x 21” 
Bottom Layer – 17.5” x 21” 
Elastic – 21” 

Size 7/8 
Top Layer – 16.5” x 22” 
Bottom Layer – 18.5” x 22” 
Elastic – 22” 

Size 9/10 
Top Layer – 17.5” x 22” 
Bottom Layer – 19.5” x 22” 
Elastic – 23”

Instructions:

Cut your two layers (following cutting dimensions above).

Sew each of the layers together at the side seam (wrong sides together), meaning sew together on the short sides.  This will form each skirt layer.  Hem the bottom of each layer by folding the bottom raw edge up towards the wrong side of the fabric a 1/2" and then another 1/2" and sew in place.

Place the longer skirt inside the shorter skirt and baste stitch or serge the top of the skirts together.  You can skip this step but it makes then next step easier.

Fold over the top of the skirt 1" towards the wrong side of the fabric.  Sew in place, leaving a 2" opening.

Cut your elastic.  If you don't have a bodkin, I highly recommend one.......they make threading elastic so much easier.  But if you don't have one, just attach a safety pin to the end and that will work just fine.

Thread the elastic through the top of the waistband.

Overlap the elastic by 1" and sew in place with a zig-zag stitch to secure.

Close the opening in the top of the skirt.

I chose to do a rolled hem using my serger because I like the way it looks on seersucker.  I know most home sewers do not have a serger, so the instructions above are for a NON-serged hem.  If you would like to do a serged hem, then reduce the length in the cutting instructions by 1" for each layer.

Add any trim you would like around the bottom edge of the skirt.  I used some of my favorites and this bumble bee one always makes me happy.

Make sure each one of your skirts is clearly labeled with the size.  You don't need to use woven labels like I have here, but just a note attached to the skirt will do just fine.

I also hand sewed a little bow at the tops of some of the skirts for an added special touch.

Here are some of my skirts ready to be sent off to some very special little girls.  I had such a fun time sewing these this past weekend.  The whole time I was just imagining these little girls receiving one of these skirts and knowing that someone had care enough about them to take the time to make them something.  I cannot even imagine being a foster care child, but I hope that this little gesture will at least brighten their day to know that someone out there is thinking of them, praying for them and wishing they could send each one of them a big giant hug.

Sometimes it's important to take time out of our busy lives and do something for others.  This project was a true blessing for me and I thank you for causing me to take a little time to stop and smell the roses.

I encourage you to whip up several of these twirl skirts.  I promise they don't take much time at all and not only will it bring joy into the lives of some little girls, it will bring joy into your heart as well!

Here are some examples of these skirts made from designer quilting cotton:

Have a great week!

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Baby Lock and The Cottage Mama

I've been wanting to share my new machines with you for several months and now it's finally time!

Meet the two newest members of The Cottage Mama team.......

 The Baby Lock Ellegante 3 Sewing and Embroidery Machine 

The Baby Lock Evolution 8-Thread Serger & Cover Stitch Machine

I was recently sent these amazing new machines from the folks over at Baby Lock and let me tell you that they are truly "dream machines". I was content sewing on my Brother Sewing Machine (CS6000i) and Serger (1034d), but these Baby Lock machines take things to a whole new level. I kind of feel like talking to them and saying "Where have you been my whole life?" But the truth of the matter is that I just didn't even know some of these fantastic features existed on the higher end sewing machines.

I am thrilled to be working with Baby Lock and to have them here as a sponsor. I will be doing some new tutorials and sewing projects for them over on the official Baby Lock blog, Totally Stitchin' coming up soon. You will be able to find a link to their blog under the sponsors heading in the right side-bar of The Cottage Home.

So let me tell you a little bit more about my new machines.......

First up is the new Ellegante 3 Sewing and Embroidery Machine. I guess you could say Miss Ellegante and I had sort of a 'Love at first stitch' experience when she first arrived. She is so quiet and just purrs along as I sew.....music to my ears.

Here are some of the features on this fabulous machine that I really enjoy:

•  Automatic Needle Threading. Just push the button and in 4 seconds the machine is ready to go.

• Automatic Thread Cutting. Again, just push the button.

• Two Thread Spool Holders

• Drop-In Bobbin

• Low bobbin thread indicator

• Stitch memory library - Great for stitches that you use a lot such as gathering and machine applique. It saves the stitch width, length and tension for easy recall.

• LCD Touch Screen that shows you your actual designs and stitch settings and also has a informational guide included so you never have to pull out the manual!

• On Screen Embroidery Design Editing for combining words, pictures, frames and more.

• 531 Built-In Stitches - Everything from a wide scallop stitch, heirloom stitches to borders and decorative characters.

• 492 Built-In Embroidery Designs - Including 14 different font libraries for personalizing and monogramming, applique embroidery, gorgeous floral and seasonal motifs. I love that you can view the designs in the different size hoops before you actually embroider.

• Gorgeous fonts, including a floral alphabet.

• Direct connectivity to your PC and can be used with external drives (floppy, flash, CD)

• Circular Sewing Attachment to make perfect circles with straight or decorative utility stitches.

More specific details on the Ellegante 3:

So not only did they send me the Ellegante 3, but I also received the Baby Lock Evolution 8-Thread Serger:

This serger is so easy to use. If you're not familiar with Baby Lock, their sergers essentially thread for you and they don't have tension dials to fuss with when you switch stitches.

You see those little holes in the picture above (the ones labeled U, L and C). Well, you put your threads in those holes and the machine sucks them in and threads it for you. It is incredibly cool!

Also, one of the biggest challenges with my other serger was that if I wanted to change out one of the threads or if one of them broke, I had to re-thread the whole thing from start to finish in the appropriate order. Well, not with the Evolution. If I want to just change out the upper-looper, I simply remove it, put the new thread in the hole, push the button and I'm ready to go!

I absolutely love not having to worry about the tension on this machine. I just pick my stitch and the machine knows how to adjust the tension for perfect serging every time.

Here are some more specifics about the features of the Evolution:

To say that I was excited when these machines arrived a few months ago is probably an understatement, I was ecstatic! I can't wait to incorporate more machine embroidery, monogramming, serging and more into my designs. Like I said, these machines are truly a dream to sew on and I am so excited about my partnership / sponsorship with Baby Lock.

Look for upcoming projects and guests post over on the Totally Stitchin' blog (the official blog of Baby Lock Sewing Machines and Sergers). Also if you have any questions about my experience with these machines, feel free to email or leave me a comment.

To keep updated with Baby Lock feel free to visit their website, blog and facebook page.

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Charm Jelly Roll Friendship Quilt Tutorial & Simply Color Giveaway

My mom, Grandma Jane, is back with another one of her wonderful quilting tutorials and a fabulous giveaway of V & Co's new line for Moda 'Simply Color'. Take it away Mom.....

 

I don’t like goodbyes and I had a tough one a few weeks ago when I had to say goodbye to a dear friend and co-worker who moved. Lori and I had worked side by side for almost 12 years and she was a part of my day to day work life in a big way! We worked so closely together on projects through the years that we were almost like an old married couple who begins to finish each other’s thoughts and sentences. Crazy, I know but it was a comforting feeling to work with someone who I knew so well!

Besides being incredibly smart and talented in the work setting, Lori is a woman of great personal strength, faith and integrity. She always made me laugh, (many times to the point of tears), with her stories about her family and kids. We shared lots of sad tears too, as we both have lost our precious mothers in recent years. She knew immediately what I was feeling when I said I missed my mother and she could say just what I needed to hear at that moment. I knew I wanted to make her a quilt as a goodbye gift—what better way to surround a good friend with a warm hug even when she is far away!

The cheery, happy colors of the new line, Simply Color by V and Co, were perfect! I chose the green, blues and greens for Lori’s quilt. I am going to save the orange, pink, gold and purple for another project.

Precuts of a charm pack and jelly roll come together so easily for this quilt. This finished throw size quilt measures 50 inches by 60 inches.

Choose 20 charms you want to use and pair up with 20 of the jelly roll strips, making sure you have good contrast between the charm and the jelly roll strip.

Cut off selvages for each strip. Stack two strips to speed up cutting.

Cut each folded jelly roll strip into a 5 inch strip and a 9 inch strip. Each strip gives you two 5 inch and two 9 inch pieces. Set aside the remainder 15 inch piece to use for a piano key pieced wide border.

Sew the 5 inch strips to the bottom and top of the charm. Press. Sew the 9 inch pieces to the sides. Press.

Trim each block to 9 inches. Arrange blocks in rows of 4 blocks x 5 blocks.

I don’t have pictures of the sashing steps but it is easy….First, cut (49) 2” x 9” sashing strips.

Sew vertical sashing strips to the sides of the blocks in each row of 4 blocks. (5 sashing strips in each row).

Cut (30) 2” x 2” cornerstones and sew to horizontal sashing strips. Start and end with the small cornerstones. (4 sashing strips in each row).

Sew the long horizontal cornerstone/sashing strips to the vertically sashed rows, matching seams carefully. Sew rows together.

Sew narrow border strips (1 ½ inch wide) to bottom, top and sides.

Arrange the extra 15”strip pieces together in a pleasing color combo, and sew strips together in sections. I used some extra jelly roll strips and added in some strips of the same white that I used for the sashing to get the length I needed. You will need 21 piano keys on the bottom and top borders and 26 piano key pieces on the sides. You may need to play around with this to get the color arrangement and length you want.

Sub cut the sewn strips into 5 inch wide sections. You can cut the piano key border in more narrow sections if needed.

Use 5 x 5 inch squares as cornerstones for the border. If you cut the piano key border less than 5 inches, adjust the size of the squares. IE… if you are using a 4 ½ inch wide border, cut your border cornerstone squares 4 ½ x 4 ½ inches instead of 5 inches.

Sandwich, baste, quilt and bind. I quilted using straight lines both vertically and horizontally. (The binding fabric is from Amy Butler’s Lark and the backing is a JoAnn’s fabric). To view more of Grandma Jane's tutorials, including sandwiching, basting, quilting and binding, click HERE.

 Wash and dry so your quilt is all warm and snuggly and ready to be mailed off! 

How would you like to have some of the “Simply Color” fabric to make a special friend a simply wonderful quilt to show them how much you love and adore them?

Enter to win TWO CHARM PACKS AND A JELLY ROLL of "Simply Color" with a comment (or two, three or four).

To enter the giveaway, do one or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell us about that special friend or person in your life who helps you get through your day with lots of smiles and laughter.
2. Become an official follower of The Cottage Home Blog (Google Friend Connect, Email or RSS Feed).
3. Become a fan of The Cottage Mama on Facebook (click here).
4. Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook or on your own blog.

Giveaway open to US Residents only.
Giveaway open until Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Midnight (CST).

So there you have it! There are four chances to enter to win and make your very own Jelly Roll Friendship Quilt.

What a blessing those friends are in our lives. Thank you, Lori, for all the laughter and even the tears we shared! Miss you lots!

Thanks for guest blogging, Mom ~ you are simply the best!

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