Boys will be boys

Shipped today to my new nephew.  Adapted from Reveille, of "another Bite of Schnibbles", Carrie Nelson's newest book.  This is only my second pattern of Carrie's to attempt.  My first was Sunkissed Sally.   

 This darling fabric is from the Boys Will Be Boys collection designed by David Walker.  You can still find some on etsy.

UPDATE (5/3/12):  Last week I saw some of this fabric in Corn Wagon Quilt Shop, Springville Utah, if any of you happened to be headed there soon.

I used my new circle rulers for quilting.  They took some getting used to.  The pressure point of your machine against the ruler is constantly changing as you go around the circle.   I found that I preferred the 5" and smaller circles, more crinkle after washing.

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Christmas give-away . . .

*** Give-away Closed ***  Danny, I've sent you an email.



Here's a little gift from the last of my Houston Quilt Market finds:

A set of 4 Christmas Cards from Sweetwater.  They still have some in their etsy shop.

To enter, share your favorite gift that you're making for Christmas.

I love give-aways, it reminds me that I'm not just talking to myself.   You have till Tuesday morning.

Have you put your favorite Christmas ingredients in a pot on the stove yet to simmer?

Ruffled Kitchen Towel tutorial

I love this kitchen/guest bathroom towel made with the Sweetwater Hometown line.  They have a great tutorial for it on their blog, Make Life Sweet.  The instructions are in their post, The Fair, at the very bottom, scroll all the way to the end.    

When I finished the towel according to their measurements, it kept falling off the chair.  The weight of the ruffles were pulling it down.   I decided to make an adjustment to accommodate for the heaviness of the ruffles.   I lengthened the main piece from 22 inches long to 30 inches inches long. (pictured above)

My adjustments in the size of the towel:

Cut main piece:  18 in. x 30 in.

Finished product:  16 1/2" x 28 1/2".

Creates towel to be folded in 1/2,  pictured above.

Next time, I want to try making it 2 inches wider, so main piece cut would be: 20 in. x 30 in.

The following is the tutorial from Sweetwater's post, but I've made the adjustments to make the size towel highlighted above.  

RUFFLE KITCHEN TOWEL tutorial 

What You Need:
Canvas Twill Fabric - 18" x 30"   
Ruffle - 3 Prints 2 1/2" x 36" each
3/8" wide cotton twill tape - 1 1/2 yard ( Joann Fabrics)

1.  Cut Canvas Twill fabric 18" x 30"  (I prefer the heaviness of the canvas for a towel)
 

Ruffles - 2 1/2" x 36"
 

2.  On one long side of each ruffle turn under 1/4" and press.
3.  Turn again 1/4" and press.
4.  Machine topstitch the hem in place.
 

5.  On the other long side sew a gathering stitch close to the raw edge.
(set your stitch length to the longest stitch)
6.  Sew another gathering stitch close to the first row of stitches.

 
7.  Pull up the threads to gather the raw edge.
8.  Your ruffle will need to measure 18" across.

**Skip steps 5 - 8 and use THE FISHING LINE METHOD for a faster, easier way to make ruffles.** 

Ruffle Placement
9.  Pin the bottom hemmed edge of the bottom ruffle to the towel positioned 1" from the raw edge of the towel.
 

10.  Place the twill tape over the raw edges of the ruffle and topstitch close to each side of the twill tape.  The raw edges of the ruffle will be under the twill tape and will not show.

 


11.  Position the hemmed edge of the middle ruffle 1" from the bottom ruffle.
12.  Sew the twill tape over the raw edges of the ruffle.
13.  Position the hemmed edge of the top ruffle 1" from the middle ruffle.
14.  Sew the twill tape over the raw edge of the ruffle.  
 

Side&Bottom Hems
15.  Turn under the sides and bottom edges of the towel 1/4" and press.
16.  Turn under again and press.
17.  Miter the corners.
18.  Topstitch close to the turned under edges.