Rag Quilt

Of course I didn't finish my baby gift until the day I left for Scotland!

I guess it's just my style.

 

I was inspired by one of my contacts on Flickr (Nesha's Vintage Niche)

and decided to try a rag quilt of vintage chenille.

 

 You know the old saying, "Measure twice, cut once."

Well, laying it out helps me visualize before I start cutting.

And a lot of cutting there was!

I cut my squares 5" to get finished squares of 4".

In retrospect, I should have made them more like 6" or 8".

Smaller squares = more work!

 

My backing was a soft flannel.

Put the squares back-to-back and sewed my X.

Even inserted strips along the border to give my edges

similar thickness to the rest of the seams.

 

Once all the Xs were sewn

(and don't underestimate how long that wee little step takes 99 times),

I laid them out to make sure the pattern was what I wanted.

 

Finally, assembling the squares!

And breaking needles on those thicknesses!

Better have sharp scissors to snip these seams!

  

 Before washing. 

Especially if you make this out of chenille, be ready for FLUFF EVERYWHERE! 

 

Then you wash/dry, wash/dry, wash/dry!

I did this one three times and I'm sure it will continue

to lose threads when washing and drying in the future!

Clean the fluff from your washer, your sink, and your lint trap!

 

But it does turn out to be a soft, sweet fluffy blanky.

For a soft, sweet bunny baby.

Miss her sooo much!

Ho Ho Ho - Christmas Elves

Oh yes, it's that time of year again.  Christmas is sneaking in all around us.  The commercials on TV start off with a subtle bell and then maybe somebody's wearing a red hat and before you know it, there's Santa riding the Norelco shaver down the hill!  Sorry to everyone too young to remember that.

An article in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living caught my eye on pp. 114, "Small Wonders." It's an article about vintage Christmas elves - those papery, weightless, chenille, cotton figures that look like they were homemade half a century ago.  Well, now that Martha has spotlighted them, I'll bet I won't still be able to snap one up at the local antique mall for $2 or $3 a pop.  I've always liked these goofy little guys and every year, I decorate a white feather tree with them.

This is the tree from last year when I left half my decorations in the box.  We were just minimalists last year.  I mean, should anyone have 32 plastic tubs of Christmas decorations?  No, I think not.  Sorry, I digress.  So, I'll share a few of my favorite fellows - of those who made it out of the box last year, anyway.

 I love the guys made out of pine cones playing musical instruments.

  

 Do you think that pipe cleaner ascot keeps Frosty warm?

 

 Christmas tree toting elf.

This elf dude is kind of flat - I'll call him Flat Stanley.

Last elf for today is this wizard-like fellow with his red glittery robe and pointed hat.  Reminds me of the vintage cone angels (future post).  But he's definitely a he... or else she needs to wax that chin.