Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Build-A-Bear Pajamas


Several years ago, we took my oldest to Build-a-Bear for his birthday.  And for some reason, this week, the bears have made a comeback in popularity.  Perhaps it's a last ditch attempt at saving them from the spring cleaning donation frenzy?  And yesterday, my youngest informed me that his bear didn't like sleeping in his hockey uniform.  Could I please make him some new clothes?

A quick Google search, and I had a free pattern for pajamas.  I love it when people share (thank you, it's always autumn!)

I let both boys raid the box of old clothes we had waiting to be donated.  Evan came up with one of his Dad's flannel shirts, and Ryan found a pair of his own outgrown pajama pants.

For Ryan's, I cut the pattern on the cuff of the pants, to reuse the hem.  I wasn't as lucky with the shirt Evan chose, but the flannel didn't fray much, so I just turned them under once.

The pattern is super easy to use, one piece of paper, no taping.

I did my elastic using a trick I learned in a serger class.  You don't need a serger to do it, though.  It works especially well for tiny clothes like this, where double turning a casing and threading the elastic can be kind of tedious.

First, you mark your elastic (cut to final size) in quarters, with pins.  Then, starting at the front seam, you zig-zag (or serge) your elastic to the right side of your waistband, stretching it as you go.  Use the pins in the elastic to line it up with the four seams of your garment.

pulling as I sew...

Once you've made it all the way around, slightly overlap the two ends, and zig-zag them together.


matching plaids...total accident.
You can leave it like that, boxer-style, or you can fold the elastic to the wrong size, and zig-zag it down, enclosing the raw edge.  I folded mine.



And that's it!  Happy bears, and happy owners!

And the hole for the tail...could it be cuter?

Hope this helps someone else save ten bucks on bear pants!  :)


Friday, April 5, 2013

Virtual Quilting Bee, Block 3

We have a camellia that grows over our back deck that seems to be prime real estate for the birds.  Though why, I don't know.  Our house is loud and full of boys that slam the back door, and throw sticks in the yard.  But for years, a cardinal family had made their nest there, and this year, they got a few twigs laid down before a robin came to claim it.

She is one hard worker.


The cardinal seems very put out.

about 8 feet away from the robin's nest...he hangs here pretty much all day keeping an eye on things
She doesn't care.  You snooze, you lose (early bird gets the worm?)



Anyway, onto Block #3!


This one reminded me of one of the blocks from my Farmers Wife quilt.  I really like the traditional look of it.

After much mulling over the green/blue/green-blue in the last block, I've decided to embrace all shades together.  With sashing, I think they'll get along after all.

blocks 1-3

Hope your weekend is also filled with signs of Spring.


Join in!
Virtual Quilting Bee


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Work(s) in Progress Wednesday

I've been a busy bee, though not a busy blogger.  Been trying to do some spring cleaning, so not much to show and tell about!

But here are the few projects I've been sneaking in between dusting, washing, organizing, and tossing.  At least when quilts are done, they stay done.  Unlike my cleaning efforts.


 1.  Quilting on The Man Quilt.
first time quilting flannel front and back...it's been...educational.

quilting close-up
look!  it's spring outside!
2.  The Graduation Quilt, for a friend
first 7 of 12 blocks, fused and cut; will be adding black sashing and borders next


3.  Fussy cutting some border corners for a spring-ish Scrappy Trip quilt:

love that Amy Butler
amazing how quickly things come unpressed when thrown into a corner for a few weeks

Hope you're having a lovely April so far!