It is done. Filled with imperfections and there are about 100 little things I wish I had done differently but overall I am happy.

While working on the quilt I decided a rag quilt is probably the equivalent of a scarf knitted with thick-n-thin yarn on large needles. It covers imperfections nicely but there is true beauty in a finished piece done by a skilled craftsperson.

And maybe one day I will become a skilled quilter. I do not see it taking the place of knitting or crocheting in my life by any means. The rhythm of quilting is so different. Sewing requires me to set up my machine, ironing stuff and pull out my fabric to work. The process is labor incentive but very rewarding. Knitting and crocheting is more relaxed and organic. I can sit on the sofa, watch tv and slowly feel the yarn growing into something in my hands. Both and great and appeal to different sides of my nature.

So I took some first steps to making my dream a reality. I wanted a simple quilt of a spring-summer-fall weight that would provide that touch of warmth you might need while vegging on the sofa in the early morning. One of the moms suggested a rag quilt. I liked the idea because the frayed edges would give extra thickness and weight without making it too warm.

So I cut 108 squares of quilters cotton and another 54 squares of diaper flannel in place of batting. That felt like it took forever. The quilting the squares together took a while but not near as long as the cutting.

After laying everything out sewing the blocks together is just flying along. I was able to get half the quilt together in one night. If my luck holds I will be washing it this weekend.

When asking my husband what I should name some of my toys he always gives me names in the form of Blanky McBlank. Most of the time I laugh and then tell him to come up with something better but something about Whaley McBlubber just felt right.

This white whale has been a white whale of mine for a while now. I originally wanted to make a whale that ate people after listening  to the Mariner’s Revenge one to many times. Then I realized that would require me to make a doll. I never played with dolls as a kid and I don’t feel right making them now. But I did want to make a tinny cabled sweater…

After three or four deformed whales and one grossly oversized waterspout I finally have a whale I love.

This guy will be for sale at Plush You, October 10th in Seattle.

I have been working hard the last few weeks trying to get everything ready for this year’s Plush You Show. As soon as I finish touching up the photos I will post three new toys.

Sometimes I feel truly silly with how giddy being a newish homeowner makes me. Things that seemed so silly, like placemats, now are a source of joy. I can’t help but think what my tomboy ten-year-old self would say if she saw me making placemats for my house.

MATERIALS
1. Two types of contrasting fabric. I used recycled fabric from an old pair of pants and about half a fat quarter of quilter’s cotton.
2. Sewing machine or hand sewing supplies
3. Freezer paper & pencil or erasable fabric marker
4. Loop turner and knitting needle (optional)
5. Adobe acrobat reader
6. Printer and Paper
7. Scissors
8. Iron

STEP ONE – The Pattern
Download pattern and print. Cut out pattern pieces along the outside of the thick gray line. The gray represents the seam allowance. Tape piece A & B together to form stocking shape.

STEP TWO – Cutting
Tip: Iron on freezer paper to fabric to mark your pattern. Then cut shape out. Peel off paper before sewing.
Trace the A&B shape on to fabric, then repeat making sure to flip the shape over.

In contrasting fabric, trace shape C four times and shape D once. Cut all pieces out of the fabric.

STEP TRHEE – Loop
Fold shape D in half long ways right side in. Sew along long edge. Turn inside out (with loop turner if you have it). Press flat. Fold in half horizontally and press flat again. Set aside.

Click on image to enlarge

STEP FOUR – Cuff
Take two of shapes C and pin them together, right sides in. Sew along all edges except the longest side. Make relief cuts at the points and valleys. Turn inside out. Use knitting needle to help get crisp points. Press flat. Repeat with the other two shapes C.

STEP FIVE – Attaching the cuff
Pin the long, raw edge of one cuff to the top of the wrong side of one A&B shape.

Sew along edge. Press flat making sure the edges of seam are on the side of the AB shape. Repeat with other cuff and AB shape.

STEP SIX – Sewing the Stocking
Place one stocking half down, right side up. Take loop and place in just under the cuff fold to the inside. Place other stocking half on top. Pin the layers together making sure you put one pin in loop.

Sew along the bottom part of the sticking, do not sew on cuff. Make relief cuts along the curves.

Turn inside out, and then press flat. Turn cuff over. Clean up and cut loose ends.

STEP SEVEN – Decorate

Yay!

First I had to make a toy before I went nuts and destroyed the sweater I have been working on. Still working out the pattern but these little guys are fun to make.

And Blake, the hubbie, wanted a case for his DS. So I tried my hand at case making. Took 3 tries for me to come up with something I like, above is a too tight case that is about a half inch to short. My case is coming soon, after I get new needles for my sewing machine… I kind of broke 3.

Oh and ends… lots of ends. I am almost done weaving them all end and then all that is left is sewing the arms on, 4 more ends to weave in and the sweater is done.

Why the hurry to finish everything? I have a commission for a new Kitsune. This one will be a little different than my last one. Looking forward to revisiting my old work.

I live in Georgia and I often joke with people that I have never seen a “real” snow. Only a few times in my life have I seen snow that does not melt away with a single footprint. Because of this snow has always seemed a magical thing to me. So when I saw snow come up as a topic in the Holiday Softie Awards I was immediately draw to it. If I can’t have real snow here I thought it would be fun to make a little sprite that brings snow.

This little guy was probably my most challenging piece construction wise to date. When I was drafting the pattern for him I forgot some basic math. I had in my head that the circumference of a circle was TTr² instead of dTT. Stubbornly I cut the pieces even though I knew it is not look right and I even went so far as to sew them together. Looking at that huge head and tinny legs and body I had to admit defeat. A quick glance at wikipedia and a slap on the head later and I was fixing the pattern. See kids, math is important. It helps you make softies.

After remembering middle, possibly elementary, school math. I was ready to roll. First I made the body, legs and arms, saving the head to later. I wanted the feet to be crocheted but I had to fumble how to do it. I did not want to have a sewn line running horizontally across the arms and legs because that would destroy the bell sleeve look I was going for. So I ended up having to make the crocheted sections fit under the already sewn arms. It would have been much simpler the other way around. Then a quick running stitch along the top edges before attaching the arms and legs and it was all good.

As a final touch I painted the eyes of my little guy blue. I used Testor paints, the kind you use in models. Worked great. I like how the blue eyes are much softer than the classic black safety eyes.