Pinterest-a-thon: Ruffled Pillow

Today is my second guest post this week written by Jen! Jen is a Meeting Planner and has been the primary person to train me in my new role. I shadowed her the entire week at the conference and we traveled together to Boston, Miami and Tampa for site visits. I feel so lucky to be learning from her, as she is amazing at her job. In addition to all the work and travel time we've spent together she also includes me in social activities. In short: she rocks and I'm grateful! Thank you for sharing your project, Jen!

Having totally fallen in love with the diy ruffled pillow I knew it was exactly what I wanted to create when I was challenged to actually follow up on a pin and create something myself! Since the original pin only included a series of pictures for instructions I hit the web to find some additional instructions and landed on ruffle pillow {by Jess} from Floral Showers. I combined the two with my ultimate vision and created exactly what I wanted.

The tutorial suggested using an extra large t-shirt and stuffing, instead I purchased one yard of beautiful blue/gray striped taffeta and two 16” x 16” pillow forms.

Step 1: Slice that fabric

Taffeta has a tendency to fray, and since I was concerned with the inside seams of the pillow falling apart I decided that I would sew French seams for all my interior seams. Since French seams would need more seam allowance I cut the front of my pillow at 17” x 17” and wanting the back of the pillow to be an envelope, I cut two back pieces that would overlap, 12” x 17” and 9” x 17”. My rotary cutter made it extremely easy to slice nine 1.75” x 25” strips which would become the ruffles. The ruffle strips need to be cut considerably longer than the final pillow size as they will become shorter once ruffled.

Step 2: Sew those ruffles

To create the ruffles I sewed a basting stitch (long stitch) down the center of each strip. I then laid each strip on the pillow front and tacked them down by sewing ¼” seam through the top of each strip.

Begin to ruffle!

This was the best part of the project! To create the ruffles I simply pulled the bobbin thread causing the strips to scrunch up until they were 17” long (be sure to hold the threads at the opposite end from where your pulling and don’t pull too hard). I then went back to the sewing machine and sewed each of the strips down their center onto the front of the pillow. If your original basting seam is showing you can easily pull the threads out, making the pillow top look cleaner.

To complete my ruffle pillow I laid the two back pieces of the pillow so that they overlapped (to create the envelope) and then laid the ruffled top on top of them so that the wrong sides of the fabric were against each other. I then sewed the front to the back around the perimeter using ¼” seam allowance, be sure not to sew the ruffles down (Part 1 of the French seam). I then turned the pillow inside out and again sewed around the perimeter of the pillow using ¼” seam allowance (Part 2 of the French seam). Once again I turned the pillow right side out and I had a ruffled pillow cover! To finish I just put the pillow forms into the pillow cover using the envelope opening in the back.

front - ruffles!

back - envelope

Hardest part of the entire project was dealing with my
poorly trained cat that not only continually jumped on the
table, but also attacked fabric as it came out the backside of
the sewing machine. Good thing she's cute!

Pinterest-a-thon: Braided Scarf

Today is my first guest post this week, written by Ashlan! I met Ashlan while waiting to catch the plane to Philadelphia. I saw a group of people who I thought might be from my new work. A few minutes later I heard my name, first and last, followed by "she has a blog...that I've been stalking." That's when I walked up, introduced myself and embarrassed the heck out of poor Ashlan. I've learned she's crafty, a runner and hilarious, which all make up for the fact she went to CSU ;) Thanks for sharing your project, Ashlan!

Using the braided scarf tutorial from Put Up Your Dukes, I stopped pinning and started crafting! Here's the original Pinterest post.

The tutorial advises using two 60"x15" strips of fabric and suggests  using an old t-shirt as an inexpensive and green fabric source. However, you need XXL tees and my husband doesn't really have much color variety in his collection. I purchased half a yard of each color in a knit fabric instead.

I suggest using the tutorial mentioned above because, unlike me, I bet that she didn't sew a pin into her project. If you're the adventurous type, go ahead, see if you can figure it out with my pics.
 

Step 1: Show Me Your Tubes

Sew two tubes. Mine are 7.5" wide by 58" long. Turn 'em inside out when you're done.

Step 2: Do your tubes low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie 'em in a knot? Can you tie 'em in bow?

Overlap your tubes.

Put your hand through the loop on the bottom. Grab the tails of that loop and pull 'em through.

Flip the piece over.

Put your hand through the other loop and pull it's tails through.

Step 3: Sports Bra (combine your tubes)

Sew the opposite colors of each tube together. Make sure they're not twisted and that you're sewing the insides of them together. See tutorial for more pictures.

Step 4: Wrap the One You Love in Your Tubes!

How-to: Build a Baby Quilt

  Today I have another fun guest post from my friend and soon-to-be new mom, Crystal! She was the happiest, cutest pregnant lady ever.

{Stephanie Smith Photography}

I asked her to share a clever idea she did for her baby showers. She built a baby quilt, using squares made by her friends and family!! I'll let Crystal share the rest...

It really was not too hard to make...really if my mom and I can do it....seriously anyone can do it! :)  I love the way it turned out and it is going ot be such a wonderful keepsake.  You can totally feel all of the love from all our family and friends sewn right up in one little snugly blanket!!


Here's how we did it:
1. I pre-cut 6 1/2in. fabric squares.  I cut enough for all the guests at my showers and the border of the quilt.  I chose 4 different patterned fabrics, but you could do whatever you liked.  I used a basic cotton fabric.


2. I had all of my wonderful guests create their own square while at the baby shower.  It was so much fun and people were nervous at first but then they totally got into it! In the baby shower invitation we included a little card that told people they would be making a quilt square in case there was anything special (quote, ribbon, iron on, etc.) that they wanted to bring but that all the supplies would be provided if not.  We made sure that we had tons of different iron-ons, ribbons, buttons (make sure those are all sewed on super tight so baby can't pull them off) fabric markers, letters, irons set up and ready to use, and needle and thread stations too.

  Once people were done we set them all out on a table to they could check them out throughout the rest of the shower.  The only guidelines we gave people was to please leave a 1/2in border to help with the sewing and to make sure that their name was on the square somewhere.  (If people forgot their names I just wrote them on the square so I would always remember.) For friends and family that couldn't attend the showers, I mailed them a fabric square with some directions via email and they created their square and mailed it back to me. 

3. Once the showers were over and I had all the quilt squares back, we began by laying out all the squares and deciding on a pattern and size that we liked. 

 

We then pinned and sewed the squares together to create the front side of the quilt. 

PS-Check out the sewing machine from circa 1950 we used...we are totally high tech sewers! See what I mean, if we can do it anyone can do it!

4. After the front side was completed we cut the back panel of fabric to size.  I used a cotton quilt backing fabric, but any cotton fabric would do.  We sewed the back panel to the font.  You have them both inside out and sew them like you would a pillow before it was stuffed.  Don't sew the whole thing, leave yourself about a 1-1 1/2 ft. opening. It's best to leave this opening on the bottom of the quilt.


5. When the back is sewn on, turn the quilt right side in and catch your first glimpse at how cute it's going to be.  You then need to stuff the quilt with batting.  We used a 1/2in batting, but you can choose any size depending on how fluffy you want the quilt to be.  Once we stuffed the quilt with batting, we sewed the closing shut.

6. Then the finishing touch is to use embroidery thread and sew little knots between each square.  This holds the batting in place and gives the quilt it's "quilt like" look.  That's all!  You can then admire your finished project and get excited to wrap a cute baby up in such a special quilt! :)

On Thursday morning, Crystal and her husband welcomed this bundle of joy into the world!! I cannot wait to meet him. HUGE congrats to your family. Thank you for sharing your sweet baby quilt.

This post is part of my September Creative Challenge. Follow along as Inspired Honey Bee and I do something creative Monday - Friday all this month!