Stampin’ and Stitchin’: Handmade Baby Gift

May 5, 2015 ~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment

#handmadeisthebest

Here’s a sweet baby gift for a special couple who recently added a baby boy to their family.

The diaper carrier is based on the tried and true pattern that I’ve sewn up a number of times.

This go ’round, I added some little machine embroidered bees to the front.

If you look closely at the fabric, you’ll see the fabric is printed with bees as well.

I hand stitched an oversized snap in place for the closure on this one.

The self-made binding on the pocket opening edges

was attached using the Bernina binder attachment #88.

#stampinupdemonstrator #stampinup #berrybasket

The Stampin’ Up Berry Basket (Bigz L Die, item #137366)

is the perfect size to hold baby wash cloths and travel size toiletries.

To make a fabric covered berry basket of your own:

– cut the base from vanilla coaster board (Stampin’ Up item #129392)

– choose a Stampin’ Up cardstock color of your choice for the inside

– and finally, use some iron on stabilizer or interfacing on the wrong side of your fabric

and run it through your Big Shot (item #113439) one last time with the Berry Basket die

When you have those three sets of components cut,

spread a thin coating of Tombo Multi (item #110755) onto the coaster board

and adhere your cardstock to one side and your fabric to the opposite side.

I also adhered some ribbon to the trim piece.

Then assemble your Berry Basket and fill it up with gifty goodness.

I used a storage bag (not the kind with the zipper) to enclose my basket for gift giving.

#stampinupdemonstrator #handpickedframelits #stampinup

The top of the storage bag is kept closed with a tab which I cut using

Stampin’ Up’s Handpicked Framelits Die set (item #137361).

The “sweet as can be” phrase is part of the From the Garden stamp set (item #137139).

Once again, cut this one first from coaster board, then cover it

with a piece of card stock stamped with your sentiment.

The final element of this sweet baby gift is a handmade garland for baby’s room.

Using the Woodland Creatures Clip Art set from Amy J. Delightful’s Etsy shop

I printed the images on card stock, carefully cut them out,

and then stitched them together using my sewing machine.

#amyjdelightful

Here they are all packaged up in a cello envelope and sealed with washi tape.

Gift giving is so much fun!

Have a great week, my friends.

Frozen Falls Crochet Throw

April 25, 2015 ~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment

No doubt about it, quilts make a house a home.

But when quilts and crochet throws intermingle,

homey is elevated to cozy.

#loveofcrochet

This one is from the Winter 2013 issue of Love of Crochet.

It’s called Frozen Falls and I thought the

Martha Stewart Extra Soft Wool Blend yarn

in Igloo was the perfect frozen color to pair with the pattern.

It is such a soft yarn and when combined with this stitch pattern,

makes for a beautifully, soft, drapey throw.

One feature that I’ve never stitched before is the reverse crochet around the edge.

The pattern instructs to work a reverse single crochet around the throw.

In my excitement to finish up this project, I wasn’t paying close attention,

and I ended up crocheting a reverse double crochet.

Of course, it was more time consuming than a reverse single crochet would have been,

but I am pleased with the end result.

My daughter commented that the edging finishes it off like binding on a quilt.

Some You Tube videos proved to be helpful in learning this new technique.

I love how it completes the throw.

Have you ever done reverse crochet?

I had never even heard of it until I stitched this pattern.

Happy crocheting, my friends!

It’s a Wrap!

April 12, 2015 ~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment

Not sure what the ‘scrunchy’ face is for!

The Colette Patterns Osaka skirt from the March issue of

Seamwork is a quick and simple reversible wrap skirt

that takes only a couple hours to sew.

Definitely use light to mid weight fabrics for this one

as there is a lot of bulk where the seams join.

I clipped the seams and pressed them in opposing directions where they all intersect.

That helped reduce the bulk.

The lightweight denim print by Gretchen Hirsch

and the lightweight wool suiting from my friend, Linda,

paired nicely for this year-round skirt.

I can wear it with tights (as shown here) in cool weather or

with strappy sandals or flats when the weather is warmer.

There is a button closure at the top of the skirt,

and a snap midway down, where the different fabrics meet.

Those two closures are enough to keep the opening secure.

From this side angle, you get an idea of how the wrap stays closed.

Skirt: Osaka by Colette Patterns – Jacket: Simplicity 2728

For the reverse side of the skirt, I used another denim print by Gretchen Hirsch

and another wool suiting from my friend Linda, this time in fuchsia pink.

If you are not familiar with Seamwork, I recommend it as a terrific

source of monthly sewing instruction and inspiration.

Check it out on the Colette Patterns website.