Quilt Weekend

As you know I am an avid crafter. Usually I am the type that starts a project and finishes it right away as to move onto another project and this past weekend was no exception. This has been the year of babies as can be seen here, and in the month of February and March I will be attending baby showers, one of which I am helping to throw. At the end of February my good friend is having hers and I had to get busy. I thought that I would just cross stitch a bib and probably buy some cute things to go with it, then I went into the Joann's fabrics in Simi and found a really cute kit and pattern for a diaper bag. It seemed simple enough so I bought it, took it home and started cutting out all the pieces. Then I knew I needed my moms super sewing machine so I set up a time for me to visit and be able to finish the bag. While most of the pieces were sewn together, there was some patchwork details that we decided to include. My mom whipped out her needle and floss and outlined the patched to create a nice 3-D effect. Then we got heavy into assembly. This was the easy part until we started to sew the sides together and whoops we broke the needle on the sewing machine. We finally got everything fixed and even had to hand-stitch the sides so that they will stay in place. Those seams aren't going anywhere!

Bag Pieces cut out

Inside fabric with pocket

Outside with pocket

Completed Bag

Another view with patch

Well I decided not to stop there. I rummaged through my moms pattern books and all my scrap fabrics and came across two more projects that seemed super simple and quick. Or so we thought. At least one project was. The changing pad was super simple and relatively easy to put together. When we got involved in the diaper and wipe bags, that's where things got a little harried! After cutting out all the material we turned to the pattern. A poorly written sad excuse of a pattern. It made zero sense! (Granted we had been sewing since 9am and it was pushing 8pm. Poor Darin and Shelby were so bored) After sewing and un-sewing a couple of times my mom and I finally decided to throw in the towel for the evening and pick the project back up on Sunday.

Finished Changing Pad (Front)

Finished Changing Pad (Back)

Finished Changing Pad (Folded and Velcro closed)

On Sunday morning, with a good nights rest under our belts mom and I made breakfast for the boys and then headed back into the sewing room for round #2. The clarity of the morning had helped and we were able to figure out how to put the diaper and wipe bags together. Yay for my mom! She was the brains of this operation! We finished the assembly and looked down. Something was missing. We needed labels! My mom has this other wonderful machine.....it is an embroidery machine. We pulled it out and started going to town. In about 20 minutes we had labels on everything and all my projects were done! Or so I thought!

Diaper and Wipe Bags Closed (Unlabeled)

Labeled

Everything completed! Including ABC Bib

My family has started a tradition, where every member of the "sewing team" takes a block and assembles it. Then all the blocks get shipped off to my Great Aunt Theresa in Minnesota or my grandma and they are assembled and quilted. Then that quilt is given to a family member. Each block has the person who sewed is name embroidered on it so for the new generations to know who created each quilt. Its a wonderful tradition and the receiver can pick the colors and/or pattern that they want made. The receiver also makes a block as well. (if they so choose)  Well at this time we are in the midst of two quilts. Both of them are for my Grandmothers sisters Josie and Rita. So after all my baby shower projects were completed I needed to assemble my blocks so then can be returned for quilt assembly.

Block for Aunt Rita's Quilt

Block for Aunt Josie's Quilt

Block for Aunt Josie's Quilt

All in all it was a very productive weekend. My mom and I termed the gift as "What goes in, and what comes out" so there are some other things that I need to get to complete it, but I have time for that. All I know is that I can't wait for the shower so I can see her opening my hard work! I hope she likes it! Feel free to leave me any opinions on my work! Its greatly appreciated! <3