More Alphabet Letters

Hi

I have more letters that I have done since my last post.   I am not going to write directions for each block since many are done the same way.   Are you two methods when I do applique.  One is needle turn and the other is using fusible web.   I covered on an earlier post how to do each of thesehttp://appliquequiltdesigns.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html.  If this link doesn't work you can find the directions in July 2012.  

Letter B- Bee

1.  Last month I covered what size my letters where.   Trace the letter on yellow fabric.

2.  Cut out leaving a 1/4 inch border

3.   To make the strips for the Bee you need to cut a strip of black fabric.  I cut my strip 12 inches by 5/8.  You make this the same way you make vines, but you don't need to cut on the bias since they are small pieces.   Fold the pieces in half and sew with a scant quarter inch.  Trim fabric close to the seam   After sewing turn it so the seam is in the middle and press.  If you have  bias bars they are good to use.  If not be very careful and you press.

 4.  Decide how many stripes you want on your Bee and where you want them.  Cut them so that they are a little longer than the letter.    Sew them down on the letter B. 

5.  Next make the wings.   For those I made 2 extra copy of my B pattern.  I cut each wing from a different copy since they over lapped.  I made them about a little longer so that they would go under the yellow letter B.  I traced them onto black fabric.  I cut them out with a 1/4 inch border.

 

6.  Pin the letter B on your back ground fabric.  Pin the wings in place making sure that they are tucked under the letter.  Using needle turn applique sew down the B.  It doesn't matter where you start.  When you get to the wings sew them first and then go back and sew down the B in that area.

7.  Next sew on the face.   I used an small X for the eyes and  a small horizontal stitch for the nose.  For the mouth and antenna I used a back stitch.

8.  The Letter B for Bee block is finished

Z for Zebra

You will make the Z -Zebra the same way you made the B.   If your stripes don't go all  the way across you need to tuck in the ends.

S for Snake

I made the snake the same way I did the other letters.   The only difference is that the eyes were so small I had trouble doing needle turn applique so I used felt instead.
Making eyes-  Cut the two eyes out of felt.   Using a permanent glue, glue them down on the letter.  With embroidery floss mark the eyes.  With threat to match the felt sew around the edge.   I use both the glue and stitches to make sure it stays on.   Below are the glues I used.

Here is the finished S for Snake

M is for Mouse

1.  Stitch down the M




2.  I used felt for the eyes, ears and nose.   I did it the same way I did for the mouse. 

3.   For the whiskers I used embroidery floss and did a back stitch.

I will be adding more letters so keep a watch out for them


Here is another quilt I just finished called Three Little Fishes.   I got the idea from a member of the Quilting Board.   http://www.quiltingboard.com/.  I don't have directions for this since I didn't remember to do pictures as I went along. 

Alphabet Quilt

Hi

A few weeks ago I saw some these letter on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/brainyjanie/alphabet-letters/.  When I saw this I thought what a great idea for a baby quilt.   Here are my the first three letters a tutorial on how I made them.   I am not making these in alphabetical order


General Directions

For all the letters I used  this site.  http://www.yourchildlearns.com/Alphabet/giant-alphabet-letters.html
I reduced the size to 85% and then printed it with two on a page to get the size I wanted.    This is just what I did, you can make the letters any size you want.  

For the background I cut them 9 inches square.   I am planning on trimming them to 8 1/2 inches unfinished after I have appliqued.   I always make my background larger when I applique.

What kind of thread.   The thread , especially if using cotton needs to match your applique piece. The best is a silk thread.   It disappears more easily into your piece.   If using silk the color you use doesn't matter as much.  

Directions for C-Caterpillar

 

!.  Cut out your C pattern.   I only used this as a guide to how many circles I would need.

2.  Draw & cut out a circle the size you want your caterpillar rings.   I used my C pattern to decide this.

I drew my face on the pattern to see if I like the size.   This is not a necessary step.

3.  Draw your pattern on fusible webbing.   Draw as many circle I use will need for your caterpillar.   I made 10 circles

4.  Sew a running stitch on the line you drew.

5.  Cut out the circle leaving about a quarter inch.  This doesn't have to be accurate.

6.  Make an opening in the fusing and turn it right size out.

7.  Do this with all ten circles.   On the one you want to be the head make a face.   I did it with a permanent Sharpe marker.  You could also stitch the face on.  

8.  Pin the face to the next circle.   I put the face circle on the top.  Stitch the two pieces together.   You want to use the same kind of a stitch that you use in needle turn applique.   That is you want to hide your stitch inside your piece.

9.   When you have all ten circle connected you will stitch them on to the background piece.   To do this I first fold my background  piece in half both vertically and horzitcally.   I then pin the caterpillar so it is centered on my background.   I then stitch it down, making sure I am hiding my stitches.   Lastly I add the antenna using either a permanent marker or embroidery stitches.


Directions for the letter I- ice cream

1.   I printed the letter "I" using the directions from above in General Directions.   I traced the I on a piece of paper using that as my cone.  I then drew the scoop of ice cream on top.

2.   I traced the I on my cone fabric and cut in out with a scant quarter inch.   I forgot to take a picture of this step, but in the picture below you can see my drawn line and my cutting.  The fusible web does not work well on letters so I did them all  needle-turn.

3.  For the ice cream I used the fusible web.  You will do this the same as the circles for the caterpillar.   I like to use this when ever possible.  This works best on pieces that are uniform, such as circles, oval, squares, rectangles.  You need to be able to turn your piece inside out.  

3.  Lay both the cone and the scoop in the center of your background fabric.   After you have them where you want them pin in place.  

4.   Last sew your pieces down.

Directions for letter J - Jaguar

1.  Print the letter J.   Cut out and draw on a piece of paper.   Add the head, limbs and tail. 

2.  Make a copy of this drawing so you can cut out the pieces.

3.  Trace the pieces on your fabric and cut them out with a scant quarter inch.  (I only have a picture of the head, but you would do the other pieces in the same way.) 

4.   Next put the face pieces on the head.   This can be done with fabric and embroidery or with permanent marker.   I chose to do it with fabric and embroidery.   For the eyes I used a piece of white felt.  I cut the eyes out and attached them with a permanent glue.  I used Aleene's Fabric Fusion.  For the pupil I used embroidery thread and made a French Knot.  I used all six strands and a large eyed needle.  I brought the needle through the background fabric and the felt eye.  Using my silk thread I tacked down the eye with small stitches.   I wanted to be sure my eyes stayed on.   For the nose I cut a piece of black fabric in a small triangle and attached it using needle turn applique.   For the mouth I used embroidery floss.  I used 3-4 strands.  I used a back stitch on the mouth.

5.  Pin the jaguar onto the back ground piece.   As in previous letters make sure it is centered.  When I did it I did did the body before the face.   Also as you can see if the picture I changed the fabric I used for the face.

6. Next you want to sew the Jaquar on.  I started with the top left of the J.  I continued until I came to the tail.  I then did the tail.  After I went back and continued where I left off of the J.   I did the same when I came to the arms & legs.   I continued on and finished up with the head.

I will be adding more letters.  Keep a watch out for them.

Janie

Sailing to Dreamland

Hi

It has been a long time since I last posted.   I have been working on finishing up my 2012 block of the month from Craftsy. 

Here is the link to craftsy.   www.craftsy.com/     This  class was free.  They are also doing a block of the month for 2013 that is also free.  

A few years back I had an internet quilting site.   The site was very similar to this blog in that I shared how to make quilts.   I thought  I would share one of these quilts now.   When I did these quilts I didn't take any pictures of the steps as I did them.  
                                              
                                            "Sailing to Dreamland

                          
      

     My "Sailing to Dreamland" baby quilt is an applique quilt.  It is a good pattern for your first quilt.  I used fusible applique for the hull and the sail, and needle-turn applique for the mast.  I hope you enjoy making this baby quilt.
      

MATERIALS FOR SAILING TO DREAMLAND:

 1/8 yard of fabric in 4 solid colors.  I used red, green, yellow, and orange, but you can use any colors you wish.

 Scraps of fabric in prints to match the solids.  I like a variety in my quilts, so I use a different fabric for each sail.

 1 to 1 1/2 yards of a boat novelty fabric.  The pattern needs to be a horizontal pattern.

 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 yards of light blue fabric for the sky

 1/2 to 3/4 yard of dark blue fabric for the water

 1/4 yard of light brown fabric to look like wood

 1/2 yard of fusible webbing

 1 1/2 to 2 yards of border fabric  I used a red polka fabric.  The length of your quilt will depend of the height of each row.  I like my border to be one solid piece, so I usually have a lot left over.   If you don't mind piecing your borders, you can use less fabric.

 2 pieces of backing fabric, 1 3/4 yards by the width of the fabric

 1 3/4 yards of cotton batting.  The batting should be wide enough, if not, you will to need to get two pieces and sew together

 1/2 yard of binding

DIRECTIONS FOR SAILING TO DREAMLAND QUILT:


 1.  Trace 12 hulls and 12 sails on the smooth side of the fusible web with either a pencil or a fine tip fabric marker.(Check your marker to make sure it doesn't run when pressed.  Leave at least 1/2 inch between each pattern piece.  Roughly cut out each pattern piece.

 2.  Pin the hulls to the solid fabrics.  Pin three hulls to each color for a total of 12 hulls.  The pieces should be pinned at least 1/2 apart.  Roughly cut apart.

 3.  Using a small running stitch, stitch along the traced line.  Cut out leaving a 1/8 inch seam allowance.

 4.  Cut a small slit in the webbing and turn right side out.  Gently poke out the points, and smooth the curves. Set the hulls aside.

 5.  Repeat steps 2-4 with the sails on the printed scraps of fabric.

 6.  Trace 12 masts patterns on the right side of light brown fabric.

 7.  Cut out leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Put all three boat pieces away until you prepare the sky and water.

 8.  Cut 3 strips of light blue (sky) fabric 40 1/2 inches long by 10 1/2 inches high.

 9.  Cut 3 strips of dark blue (water) fabric 40 1/2 inches long by 3 inches high.

10.  Fold and press approximately a 1/4 inch seam allowance along the top of your water fabric. Do this with all three strips.

11.  Place your water fabric along the bottom of the sky fabric with the fold toward the top.  Do not sew down yet, you are deciding where you want your boats.

12.  Place four boats along the blue fabrics.  I used one of each color.  Use the boat pattern to see where the pieces should be placed. Place the four boats on the strip.  When you like how the boats look remove each piece, marking lightly with a pencil.  Make sure the boats cover any pencil line. 

13.  You are now ready to start sewing.  First sew your sail using a blind stitch.  Net pin your mast, using needle-turn applique sew in place. Last sew your hull.  Repeat for the remaining 3 boats on your first strip of light blue fabric.

14.  Pin your water fabric along the bottom of your sky fabric with the fold toward the top.   Make sure your water fabric cover a small amount (about 1/8 inch) of your boats.  Stitch in place using a blind stitch.

15.  Repeat steps 11-14 for the remaining strips.

16.  Cut four strips of your focus fabric 40 1/2 inches long.  The height will depend on your focus fabric.

17.  Sew your strips together, alternating your novelty fabric strips with your boat strips, beginning and ending with the novelty fabric.  At this point I prefer to use my sewing machine.  I like the strength it gives the larger seams.  Press the seams toward the blue fabric.

18.  Press your quilt top.



ADDING BORDERS TO SAILING TO DREAMLAND

 1.  Measure the width of your quilt top.  It is good to do this 3 times, at the top, middle, and bottom of your quilt.  If they are not all the same, go with a average width. If you used the measurements I gave, it should be about 40 1/2 inches.  Cut a strip that 41 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches.  I usually add about an inch to 2 inches to my length, in case I made a mistake.

 2.  Measure the length of your quilt, adding on the top and bottom borders.  This should be 9 inches.  Again I add on a little extra to my length.  I would rather trim any excess, than have to add more.

 3.  Pin your border fabric to the top and bottom of your quilt top.  Sew together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Again I like to do this part with my sewing machine.  If you hand stitch it, use a very small running stitch.  Press seams toward the border fabric.  Trim off any excess fabric.

 4.  Pin the remaining two strips along each side of the quilt.  Sew together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Press toward the border fabric. Trim

LAYERING SAILING TO DREAMLAND:


 1.  Sew, on your sewing machine, your two pieces of backing fabric, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Press seams open.  Press fabric flat

 2.  Lay your backing fabric on a large flat surface, right side down.  Smooth and pin or tape down.

 3.  Lay your batting on top of your backing fabric.  Smooth and pin or tape down.

 4.  Lay your quilt top down, right side up on the batting.  Smooth out any wrinkles.  Starting from the center either baste or pin the three layers together.  I like using quilting safety pins.  They should be placed about 6 inches apart.  If you baste your quilt, use a thread that will stand out. This will make it easier to remove the stitches later.

 5.  There will be a lot of excess batting and backing fabric.  You can either leave it and trim it before binding your quilt or you can trim some excess now and the rest later.  It you decide to trim now, you need to leave at least two inches all the way around.

 6.  Your quilt is now ready to be quilted.



BINDING QUILT SAILING TO DREAMLAND

 1.  After your quilt is quilted trim the backing and batting evenly with the front.

 2.  Measure the top and bottom of your quilt and add 1 inch.  Cut 2 strips, 2 inches by the width of your quilt.  If your fabric is not long enough you will need to piece your strips together.  Repeat for you side bindings.  Fold the 4 strips in half and press.

 3.  Pin your binding to the top and bottom of your quilt top with the right sides together and the raw edge on the top of your quilt.  Machine stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance, press toward the quilt.  Repeat for the remaining two sides.

 4.  Fold your binding to the back of the quilt and hand stitch using a slanted hem stitch.  Press binding flat.


Here are the pattern for the boat.

 

If the pattern for the boat did not come out.   Here is the site I got it from  http://www.coloring.ws/boats.htm

This is a great site for applique patterns.










                                                

Chicken Noodle Cassarole

Hi

I thought that I would share some recipes with you.   This recipe is very easy and very popular.   All of my children (who are now adults) friends love it.

This recipe can feed 8-10 people

Ingredients

4 large boneless skinless chicken breast.
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
milk - 1 soup can
Swanson's Chicken Broth - 33% less sodium.  (Since I am using salt on my chicken  I prefer the low sodium broth)
Cheese - Cheddar - or I like Sargento 4 Mexican cheese.
Salt & Pepper - to taste (I don't measure my seasoning)
Dried or Fresh herbs.   - Any will work - I like to use dill, parsley, basil  & oregano
Egg Noodles
Potato Chips

I forgot to put the cheese, chips and noodles in the picture.

Directions
 Preheat oven to 400degrees

1.  Pound your chicken breast so they are thinner and cook faster.   This step is optional but it will help the chicken to cook more quickly.  An easy way to pound chicken is to put it in a zip lock bag with a little water. Pound the chicken in the bag.

2.  Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet

3. Season one side of the breast with salt, pepper and herbs.   I usually use dried herbs but you could you fresh.  Place season side down in frying pan.  Do not crowd the pan.  Fry the chicken in batches if needed.

4.  Season the other side.

5.  Turn chicken over when browned and then brown the second side.  

6.  When breast are browned on both sides remove and cook the other breast in the same way.

7.  Return all breast to the pan.  Add chicken broth.  You just need a little bit in the bottom of the pan.   About 1/4 of an inch.  Put a lid on the pan and cook on low until the chicken is cooked through.  This takes about 5 minutes.  I check to see if its done by making a cut in the thickest part of the largest chicken.  It the chicken is white not pink I know its down.

8.  When chicken is cooked through remove from pan

9.   Add the 2 cans of cream of chicken soup to the broth.   Stir in one can of milk.  (If you can making a smaller or larger batch the ratio is 1/2 milk to soup - e.g. 1 can of soup you would use 1/2 can of milk).

10 Heat the sauce.   Optional things I have added is a splash of wine and small amount of sour cream.  It is good with or without these.

11  Cut chicken into bite size pieces.

12.  While you are making the sauce boil egg noodles

 13.  Drain noodles and add to sauce.   I usually add the sauce to the pan I cooked the noodles in since its larger and I can mix them more easily.  Add chicken and stir.   I love cheese so I usually add some now are well as on top.

14.  Put the chicken & noodles in a casserole dish and add cheese on top.

15.  Cook for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.

16. Remove from over and add crushed potato chips.  I usually crush the chips while my dish is cooking.

17.  Return to over for 5 minutes to brown chips

I hope you enjoy this casserole.

* It is important than you saute your chicken breast and than you don't boil or buy chicken all ready cooked at the store.   It is the seasoning that is in the pan when you add your sauce that gives it so much flavor. 

Craftsy BOM & Alphabet Quilt

Hi

It has been over a month since I shared with you.   I have been working on my Block of the Month from Craftsy. (  http://www.craftsy.com/class/The-Craftsy-Block-of-the-Month).   I have my blocks all done, but I don't have them sewed together.

I have also just finished my Alphabet Baby Quilt.   Other than my Quilt as You Go I have hand quilted all my other quilts.   I usually just do outlining and stitch in the ditch.  On this project I heavily quilted each block.   This took my about 4 months.   I worked on this while doing other projects.