Kids Art Quilt: Bess Beetle

There are few things I am more passionate about than turning clothes into quilts - but making quilts from kids art work is probably up there too. This was a quilt that I took some 8 days to longarm - that is about 64 hours of non stop quilting - which for a good sized twin sized quilt is a pretty decent amount. This quilt has some fun surprises in it too. The original drawing of Bess Beetle can be seen here. 

To begin with I began Googling 'beetles' to get some ideas. Beetle tracks popped up - and I liked that idea. So there are beetle tracks all over the quilt. I made my beetle tracks with a round foam brush and black fabric paint. Once the paint was dry & heat set with a hot iron it was time to load the quilt onto Freddie and begin quilting around those beetle tracks.

Have you spotted the quilting design yet? It is a mix and match leaf pattern. All the leaves are the same shape.

I made my own template out of a cereal packet to quickly mark the outlines & then each leaf line is heavily quilted - more than a micro stipple - and each leaf has its own design.

Bess herself was made from a panel I created and ordered through Spoonflower.  (Spoonflower Tip: To create an image the same size as the width of the fabric your picture needs to measure 6300 pixels x 5400 pixels.) Here is Bess ....

Here is what the whole quilt looks like.

 And of course you need to see the back. 

 And that isn't it.

What is this? A little bag? What could be in it?

Well when Bess was with us she had some babies. (Again with the help of Spoonflower.) Fifteen babies to be exact.

And on the back of each baby is a piece of Velcro. 

And each baby attaches to various places on the quilt. (The black beetle tracks hide the Velcro spots perfectly.) I wonder if S will be able to find where they live!

I used a wool batting AND a cotton batting for this quilt so the texture is divine. 

And here is the quilt - all folded up and concealed in its matching Bess Beetle pillowcase.  Did I forget to mention I made a matching pillowcase too? I used a very old pillowcase tutorial of mine - and I was pleased that it all still made sense!

I really hope that Asia & S love their beetle quilt as much as I loved making it.

Memorial Quilt: Men's Cotton Shirt Quilt

This is a quilt made for a family whom lost their father. Their father loved to wear bright colorful shirts.

I don't often see patchwork patterns that I immediately want to make but when I saw this pattern called Simply Woven by Jessica Kelly - I knew that it would make an amazing quilt from recycled materials. I made my quilt a little larger (it is probably around a king sized quilt) - I had so many shirts I didn't want to waste them!

I also added a border to my quilt as the family have more traditional tastes and I think formal borders always make things seem a bit more traditional in style.

I used my mix and match all over technique for the filler pattern. And a simple feather border ...

... my feather corners are getting better.



The mix and match design blends really well on the front of the quilt ...

 
... it is the back clearly shows all the detail.

I tried to mimic a little bit of the woven element on the back too.

And in case you don't believe this is made from men's cotton shirts - there are little bits on the front to remind you.

Tutorial: Four Simple Hooded Capes for under $15

This Hooded Cape (and the variations you will see below) is a really really easy & quick project to make. It is a fabulous addition to your kids dress up box. You can make this cape to any size (even for adults) in under an hour.



Before you purchase your fabric measure the height of the person this cape is for.  For example:
Bunny#1 is 42" = approx 1.25 yards
Bunny #2 is 39" = approx 1.125 yards
Bunny#3 is 36" = 1 yard

You will need:

• Material the same length as the height of the person the cape is for. I trimmed all my fabrics to a standard 42" width.
• Thread
• Ribbon (I used recycled ribbon from Christmas/presents past)
• Big sharp needle for threading ribbon.
• Knitting needle - or something similar - for making holes in fabric

 Optional

• Tulle or Organza same length as the height of the person the cape is for
• Glittery beads

Basic Pattern Outline

Instructions
1. Hem your fabric on 3 edges - left edge, right edge & bottom edge. I like to use a skinny rolled hem - but you could just use a zig zag or overlocking stitch if you prefer.

TIP: When I make a rolled hem I use my embroidery foot which has a handy space in the middle - using this as a guide - it helps me keep the rolled hem consistent in size - I roll as I go - which strangely I find less problematic than pinning first.

 Optional: Add your tulle or organza at this point if you want. Tulle shouldn't fray - but organza will need a zigzag or overlocking stitch along the edges. Include the tulle or organza along the hem/edges of your capes fabric for the top 14" on the left and right sides only. This will ensure that the tulle will be neatly attached to/included the hood but free flowing on the rest of the cape.

2.  Fold your fabric in two (right side of fabric up) and mark down the folded side at the 14" point. Make an arc from the 14" point to the top right hand corner. I have drawn mine with a pen so you can see the line - but I would suggest perhaps using a removable fabric marker. (Whats the plate for? - For some reason putting the big plate in the middle of the folded fabric helps me draw an arc freehand.)

3.  Pin & sew along your marked line. 

TIP: When working with shiny, furry or silky fabrics I like to use a walking foot. This prevents the fabric from sliding around underneath the foot while you are sewing.

4. Cut the arc 1/8" away from the seam.  Turn the seam inside out - so the right sides are now together - pin and sew - this is what is called a French seam. You can find a great tutorial on french seams here on Craftsy. Don't be intimidated - a 'french seam' sounds more complicated than it is.
Optional: If the idea of a french seam fills you with dread. Fold your fabric and mark your arc on the wrong side of the fabric - make a traditional seam & use a zigzag or overlocking stitch to prevent the seam from fraying. 

5. Iron your fabric - it will be easier to do this now before the ribbon has gathered the fabric. While ironing fold the top part of the hood over and make a crease vertically along the 14" mark of the fabric.

6. Thread a ribbon along this 14" mark/fold. If your big sharp needle won't do the job - makes holes with a sharp knitting needle first. Make the holes about every 2 inches.
Optional: Add some bling/beads to your ribbon.

We got all of our materials at JoAnn's. Cost of capes are shown below.

Mermaid Cape
- 1.125 yd of Satin in Violet $3.36
- 1.125yd of Glitter wave organza in jade $5.36
- Thread - from stash
- Recycled Ribbon from stash
- Beads $3.99 (with lots left over)
TOTAL COST: $12.71

 Can you guess who is under the cape?

 

 Jewels from the bottom of the sea?

It is Ariel!!!

Little Red Riding Hood Cape
- 1.25 yds of Glitter Satin in Tango Red $7.49
- Thread - from stash
- Recycled Ribbon from stash
TOTAL COST: $2.99

 Little Red Riding Hood off into the woods - lets hope she stays safe.

Here is what she selected for her Grandmother. 

This was the most coveted out of all of the cloaks we made. How adorable does Bunny #2 look!

Batman or Pirate Cape
- 1yd of Satin in Black $2.99
- Thread - from stash
- Recycled Ribbon from stash
TOTAL COST: $2.99

Frozen or Cinderella Cape
- 1.25yd of Glitter Satin in Powder Blue $3.75
- 1.25yd of Teardrop White Tulle $6.24
- Thread - from stash
- Recycled Ribbon from stash
- Beads $3.99 (with lots left over)
TOTAL COST: $13.98

 This cape was inspired by my girls love of Elsa from Frozen. We don't have a Frozen dress in our dress up box (yet I suspect) so we used Cinderella's dress instead. 

I think the cape could work for Elsa or Cinderella.

 Some bling. 

 And some singing and dancing of 'Let it Go' .....

I really hope this tutorial helps you and your little ones make some capes to have fun in.

Labels of Love

Often I add labels to the quilts I make - often I use the tag line 'handmade with love' those who know me well know how true this tag line is. But for the Kilt & Coat Quilts - these have a different label.





The family requested these labels for their quilts ...

"Beannacht leat go bhfeicfidh mé aris thú" is Irish Gaelic for 'Until we meet again' - or a literal translation is 'Blessings until I see you again'. Which for these quilts with deep Irish roots & laden with Irish kilts - was so perfect.

I simply ADORE these photos that I took of the siblings when they picked up the quilts. The pictures - to me at least - scream what my Quilting A Memory project/charity is all about. 

I am working on more Memorial & Memory Quilts and I look forward to sharing the results with you soon.