Pillow Shams Inspired By A Table Runner

About 10 years ago, I made pillow shams for our bed out of some floral fabric that pretty much coordinated with all of the quilts I've made for the bed.  But after 10 years of washing and sun exposure, they were worn out.  The fabric had weakened in some areas so much that it was torn and disintegrating.  So new shams were in order. 

I set about making them, with my design inspired by this table runner pattern by "Quilted Cuties" called Hopscotch. The table runner is 16" by 36" and made out of mini charm squares and some background fabric.  I made some modifications to get pillow shams that measure 20" by 26" and used fabric from stash, cut into 2.5" squares.

Here's the end result...

...and the pair of shams on the bed with the quilt I was trying to coordinate with.  I made this quilt about 15 years ago and it's the post-Christmas quilt in the rotation so usually in use roughly January-March. 

This quilt is a "blended" design that used a lot of different fabrics, all in shades of muted pink, rose, green, and pale yellow.  I found two of the prints (the green floral in the center and pink next to it) still in my stash (I must have purchased them at least 15 years ago!) and added a couple of yellow florals that are newer but mix with those in the original quilt very well.  The background is a tiny yellow floral on ivory.

I did the quilting myself, on my domestic machine with the walking foot, quilting in the ditch for a  cross-hatch effect.  It was not difficult as there wasn't the bulk of a regular quilt to wrestle with, and I am pleased with the result.  If you look closely, you can see where my stitching leaped out of the ditch in a few places but I think it turned out quite well. 

These shams don't coordinate well with the other quilts I use on this bed so I will have to come up with at least one more set.  I have some ideas but nothing that has "jelled" yet.  While I mull that over, I'm turning to another small project. 

Quilts And More, Fall 2014

I picked up the latest issue of Quilts and More in Barnes & Noble on Saturday.  I've been trying to resist buying more quilting books and magazines because I have enough projects already to last a long time.  But Quilts and More focuses on smaller projects and this issue has a few that I can really see myself making. 

 

The magazine has a regular feature called ScrapLab where three designers are challenged to each make a project from an identical set of fabric pieces.  The fabric for the Fall projects was set of 20 6" by WOF strips of batik fabric. 

Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. made these framed pieces.  I think this is such a good idea for gifts or your own home.  Each of the three here are sized to fit standard size frames which can be purchased fairly inexpensively in many chain stores. 

 

 

These decorative pillows were designed by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co and use covered button accents.  I can see these in some Christmas fabrics for the holiday season. 

 

 

 

Zig Zag and Chevron quilt designs have been very popular lately and I like this unusual take on the look.  This design is called Good Vibrations and is by Kari Vojtechovsky.  While this design uses 2.5" strips, it requires more of each print than is in a jelly roll.  Too bad, I still have the jelly rolls I bought in Hawaii (though I do have a plan for them).

 

There are more projects in this issue but the other thing that caught my eye was an ad for a sew-a-thon that American Patchwork & Quilting is holding Sept. 19-20 as part of their 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge.  If you live near Des Moines, you can go to the live event at the Meredith Corporation.  Those further away can join virtually.

Long Weekend Spent Sewing

I spent quite some time in my sewing room over the long weekend.  I made some pillowcases, using fabric from the recent Christmas line from Me And My Sister.  The line includes a turquoise-blue color that is perfect in Miss Main Street's bedroom. 

Reggie, our Pembroke Welsh Corgi, approves.  (Please disregard the demonic looking eyes.)

I also made another pair of boxers for Miss Main Street, using fabric printed with the Eiffel Tower. When I finished the sewing, I went to Target to get a white cami or tank top to go with them, figuring I would not be able to match the turquoise or red color.  Happily, I found this exact match red cami on sale for only $4 - what a bargain.   (So I got a white one too!)  This will be a little Christmas present for Miss, to go with the big present she already knows about (going on her school's trip to India).   

I cleaned and re-organized the sewing space and figured out some upcoming projects.  More real quilting later this week.

Making Pillowcases

Touched by Carol of Brown Quilts account of her friend who has been making and delivering quilts and pillowcases to soldiers in the hospital and rehab centers, I offered to make some pillowcases.  Well, I don't like to procrastinate so Friday evening after dinner I got started.  I sifted through my stash for patriot prints, found some things that were perfect (and in just the right amounts - it was meant to be!) and whipped up two pillowcases in no time. 

And I really mean no time.  We're late diners but I had these two made and was reading in bed by 10 pm.  I'll mail them to Carol later this week.  If you'd like to help, read her story here and let her know by leaving a comment.  She'll get back to you with her mailing address.  There are many tutorials for pillowcases out in blogland, so if you're not sure how to make one, Google pillowcase tutorial and take your pick.

Pillowcases are so quick and easy, I really should make more to match my quilts.

Pillowcases - Finished

I've been participating in On The Edge Pillowcase Crochet Along.  Cassie of You Go Girl organized this and put the instructions on her blog.  I finished mine on Sunday.

They are actually pretty easy. The hardest part, well, really the most frustrating part, was the blanket stitch that forms the foundation for the crocheted edge.  You have to use such a long piece of yarn in the needle that it becomes twisted and tangled very easily, so this step does require some patience.  Cassie advises having some chocolate on hand as a coping mechanism.

I think that another time, I might weave 1/4" ribbon in the spaces between the blanket stitches.  I'd also like to see how it turns out made with much finer yarn or crochet thread.