Too Sweet For Words

This afternoon my girls' friend A___-across-the-street (yes, that's what we call her) came over with a present for my girls.  Three little rag quilts!  My girls were tickled pink to have their own special quilt made by their favorite A___-across-the-street and  I was beyond touched.  I think only a quilter really understands the effort goes into making a quilt.

So I decided to interview seven year-old A____-across-the-street about her quilts.  (Pictures and interview posted with permission from her mom.)  I love kid interviews.  :)

Me - Why did you decided to make these quilts?

A - My mom had the idea because she wanted to make quilts and she promised me we could make them.

Me - So you made them together?

A - We made them nights we had free when I wasn't doing stuff.

Me - How did you decide on the colors?

A - My mom bought some gingerbread men fabric because we are going to make some for Christmas presents and she thought it would be nice to make some for the neighbors too.

Me - What was the funnest part?

A - Clipping the edges.

Me - Did you get to use the sewing machine?

A - Yes.

Me - Is there anything else you want to tell me about the quilts?

A - No.

A quilter in the making!  (and a new quilting friend across the street?)  I can't wait to get the quilts in the wash and all frayed up and fuzzy.

Thank you!!

Sewn with Kids

A. was invited to a birthday party and wanted to make something as a present.  We made a matching skirt for the Birthday Girl and her doll.  A. sewed the hem, side seams and zig-zagged the raw edges and I cut, sewed on the 2nd tier and the "thingy" where the elastic goes.  (Technical, I know.)

They turned out well, but I must admit that the sewing process was not my best "mom moment" and I lost my temper several times (I am going to blame it on other children coming in and out and being annoying, but it wasn't pretty).  What is it that makes sewing with kids so hard?  For me I think it was the fact that A. wanted to do it all by herself, but I really needed to be there at every moment overseeing the process.  At this age you can't just give general directions and walk away for a few minutes.  I know we will get there and it is important to me that my children learn to sew, but man...it is an intense process.

Thankfully, I was given a chance to redeem myself.  A. is totally obsessed with the idea of making doll clothes for her babies and not a day has gone by without her asking if we can start making them "right now!".  Yesterday evening we cut out the pieces for a doll dress.  I explained how the pattern worked, we found the pattern pieces, I pinned them on the fabric and she cut.  She only had to recut one piece.  Thankfully doll clothes are small, so it wasn't a big deal.

  

This afternoon, we sewed it all together.  I did the pinning again and would mark sewing lines with pen for her to follow.  Tricky seams like the neck and armholes I sewed, but she did a great deal of the sewing, zig-zagging and taking out of pins.  I would help guide the fabric regularly, but she was in charge of the pedal.  (I am doing this full disclosure, because my husband hates parents who do projects for their kids and I want to document/disclose the real division of labor for him - he was traumatized by pinewood derby races.)  A. also did some pressing, but by the time we decided that the skirt was too short and to add another layer to it, I was getting tired of the process and sewed on the last layer by myself.  BUT...I did not get frustrated or lose my temper this time, so I will count it as a success.  :)

Here is the happy girl with her doll.  

She has big plans for making all of the clothes featured in the pattern (help!).

I really am proud of her and her desire to learn how to sew and make things!

Good Job!

Keeping the Sabbath Day Quilty: or I think I am now an over the top Mom

Friday, Aleah our Kindergartener came home with a note saying their class was going to celebrate the 100th day of school and asking that each child bring a collection/display of 100 things (100 Cherrios, marbles, pennies, whatever). I was working on a quilt at the table when Aleah came home and she grabbed some of my scraps and said, "100 little pieces of fabric!" How could I say no?

Over at the Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Along group they are making ticker-tape quilts. Basically, you glue your scraps of fabric onto your top piece of fabric, layer and sew around each piece about 1/4 inch in from the edge. The perfect project for Aleah's 100 pieces of fabric.

Friday night and Saturday morning, using the scraps from my hexagon quilt, we counted out 10 sets of 10 (you would think this would be easy, but it was the most painful part of the process). Life happened and we didn't work on it any more on Saturday.

Sunday morning our 10 year old asked if the quilt was going to be ready for school on Monday. I said the party wasn't on Monday (who would give parents only a few days warning?). I checked the note. They were suppose to bring them in on Monday. Augh!!

Now, I know this might seem silly, but we try to keep Sundays low key around here - a day for Church and family. As part of that I made the decision long ago that I wouldn't sew on Sunday (except for handwork, a girl has to have something!). But yesterday I broke down.

The morning was spent gluing. My husband worried that this was going to turn into "my" project, but Aleah glued over half of the fabric pieces and I only moved ones that strayed too close to the edge or where there were three of the same fabric really close together.

After dinner Aleah sat on my lap and we free motion quilted around each piece.

(I love that little face in the corner!)

Even Dad took a turn.

After the kids were in bed I bound the edge. It is sooo cute. I was going to take a picture of Aleah and her quilt this morning, but someone decided she was going to have a meltdown because her black sweater wasn't clean and it wasn't a photo shoot moment. You'll have to take my word for now, because it is still at school.

I was so proud of Aleah - for making the quilt, Not for screaming about her sweater for a half hour - and am glad she is taking an interest in sewing.

Stocking

Traditionally, the baby doesn't get a real stocking it's first Christmas at our house. Why? Because I just had a baby (!) and I have other things to stress about. :)

So, I finally made Kate her stocking this year. I crazy quilt pieced it on a green foundation and it went together really fast. I have an older Bernina 801 (love it!) that has seven different stitches. I haven't missed having more stitches until this project, but I used what stitches I did have to stitch over a few of the seams.

Everyone loves it - and following tradition, one of the girls decided that she "hates" her stocking and wants this one instead. I think we need some new Christmas traditions. :)