Simple Quilted Blanket (using vintage sheets)

 

Every time we go to California, we devote one day to the beach. There is nothing like laying in front of the ocean, hundreds of miles from the stress of work and house chores.

 

I found this double size vintage sheet a while back and knew I wanted to make a new beach/picnic blanket out of it.

 



This was a simple project, and while I don't have a step-by-step tutorial for you, I will explain it. (I constructed it in the same way I made my daughter's baby clothes quilt)

 

Materials:

 

2 double size flat sheets

 

double size piece of batting (purchased at Joann)

 

matching thread

 

STEP 1: Layer one sheet on floor (right side UP) then, the next sheet on top of that (right side DOWN) and then the piece of batting on the back side of your top piece. Trim everything to the same size if needed.

 

STEP 2: Sew all around all three layers, leaving an opening at the bottom to flip the blanket right side out.

 

STEP 3: Flip blanket right side out, fold in opening edges and stitch opening closed and also continue to top stitch around the entire blanket.

 

STEP 4: Using the darning foot (or quilting foot depending on your sewing machine), sew over the top of the blanket with decorative stitching. I loosely stitched around the flowers on my blanket instead of a traditional quilting design.

 



 

Now we have a new blanket for our time at the beach and our picnics in the park this fall.

 

Hope you are having a lovely Monday!

Baby Clothes Quilt: Part 4...Finished!!

My daughter's baby clothes quilt is finally finished! It was a lot more work than I anticipated...but also SO much fun.

Once I got all my squares sewed together and the seams ironed on the back, it was time finish it up.

I took my backing material (a twin sheet) and laid that face up on the floor, then my squares went on top of that (face down) and then finally the batting on top of it all. I used the lowest loft batting by the yard at Joanns.

I pinned all the way around and stitched all the way around as well..leaving a 12" opening so I could turn it right side out.

Once I turned it right side out, I folded in my opening and top stitched around the entire blanket with about a 1/4" seam. I did it this way because I didn't want to put binding on the ends of the blanket.

Now I had a blanket...but it needed to be secured in certain spots to keep the layers from shifting.

Instead of quilting this in the traditional sense (a lot of stitching over the entire blanket)...I opted for a less noticeable way of securing the blanket in even spots. There are some embellishments (buttons, pockets, and bows) on this blanket so I wasn't sure how quilting it all over would work or look in the end and I didn't want to distract from the clothing.

I measured out equal spots to sew and pinned those areas. Basically I pinned the meeting corners of every other square (in every other row). Then, I sewed a small straight line on that seam where the squares met. It was very simple and is not noticeable from the front.

That completed my first baby clothes quilt!

I tried to cut out as much from each piece of clothing that had the most character such as pockets, bows, or buttons.

Here is the back of the quilt. I found this flat sheet at the thrift store and it had polka dots in all colors so I thought it complemented the front of the blanket nicely without distracting from it.

Here you can see my little stitches to keep the blanket from shifting:

I'm SO happy with the way it turned out! I also can't believe I actually finished it! It was one of those things on my crafting "to do" list that I am so happy to cross off. Cutting the clothes up was by far the hardest part (emotionally)...but seeing it all put together into something that can last years and years is so worth it.

I have to admit the first night I finished it, I sat on the couch and cuddled with it:) I know my daughter is only 3 (going on 30), but as she grows older and older I am finding out that they only stay little for a short amount of time. One day I will get to make one for our little guy too:)

Price:

clothes: already had

2 yds lightweight fusible interfacing (for stabilizing knit materials): $2.50

2 yds of low loft batting: $3.99 (with 50% sale)

polka dot backing material (thrifted twin sheet): $1.50

Total: $7.99

But really...this blanket it priceless:)

I'm linked to:

Tatertots and Jello

Sugar and Dots

Baby Clothes Quilt: Part 3

Once upon a time I decided to cut up all (well most) of my daughter's clothes in order to make a baby clothes quilt. Well, lots of junk happened and all my cut out squares have been sitting in my top dresser drawer for about 4 months:)

I was feeling productive today. Well, productive in the "I wanna craft but not wash the dishes piling up in my sink" way:) So, I attacked my pile o' squares and ironed them all onto interfacing.

Yes..that is seriously my iron. It's mini and I love it:)

This was my original Photoshop design for the quilt. I had coded each pattern so that I could lay it out and see how I liked it.

Funny thing about making a code for patterns and then waiting 4 months to look at it again...I kinda forgot what codes were for what patterns! So, needless to say it took a WHILE to make my design come true in real life.

Here are all my squares laid out on our bed:

P.S. We got new bedroom furniture and I can't wait to get started on our bedroom! Our downstairs is almost done and I am trying to finish one project before I start a next:) So, for now our room is empty...except for our new furniture that makes us feel like true adults;)

So, after laying out all my squares, I put them together by horizontal rows to make it easier to sew them together.

I have 15 rows of 11 squares. Now...maybe I will get it all sewed together in another 4 months? Nah...I really got to get on this because I know once I have this baby...ain't nothin' crafty getting done for a while:)

OK, now time to go watch endless episodes of Hoarders on Netflix. It always makes me want to clean my house really well afterwards. It also works on my hubby...so I make him watch it with me sometimes;)

I'm linked to:

Tatertots and Jello

Baby Clothes Quilt: Part 2

I haven't been crafting much this week...just a lot of non-packing for our upcoming move! I realized I have two more weekends to pack...and I got nothing done so far. Just four empty boxes on my patio...

What I have been doing is a lot of time wasting in Photoshop, planning out my daughter's baby clothes quilt.

This is the design I came up with:

I tried to code each design so I could lay it out easily on the floor to see how it will really look.

I have to say this is a big reason I have been putting off her quilt...and why I don't make quilts at all. I don't care for the designing part. I went through so many different options and designs before I settled on this one. I ended up wanting the colors to blend into each other as opposed to being random.

OK...now I have to lay it all out on the floor and make sure my crappy Photoshop version looks as good in real life. Then I can iron interfacing onto all the squares and maybe start actually sewing it together in February? Seriously...why am I doing this? Oh yeah...memories and stuff.

Wish me luck!

Baby Clothes Quilt: Part 1

Today has been a doozie. Ever have one of those days when you and your toddler are fighting so much, your husband has to step in and separate you both? No? Just me I guess.

How about one of those days when you threaten to take away everything your child owns if they jump on the couch (or roll their eyes) one more time? Still just me? Now I think you're lying.

Anyways, I finished the first step of my daughter's baby clothes quilt. Behold...256 hand cut 5" squares (I'm not cool enough to own a rotary board and cutter) and 60 half squares:

I was going to use the half squares in her quilt somehow (they are the scraps and arm sleeves that were too small to make real squares)...but I have enough for her quilt. So, I decided to take the little squares and make myself a blanket that I get to keep.

I did a mock layout last night. I don't love it yet. I like the center...but not the outer edge. I can't decide if I want to have all the colors fade into one another like a rainbow...or just make it random. I thought about making my mini quilt first to see how I want her big one to look.

Oh well, I am at least proud that I got it all cut up. That was a accomplishment in itself! Halfway through I was cursing myself for not being cool enough to have a rotary blade or mat...and also no real sewing scissors...just mini dollar store ones.

My next step is ironing on interfacing to some of the knit fabrics.

Does anyone have any quilting or design suggestions? I would love to see anyone's version of a clothes quilt!