An IntuitiveMedium: I Sew 4 GKids

Rag Quilts!!! (pics to follow asap)

Yay! You cannot beat a rag quilt for ease and expediency, they are just sew easy! And the resulting quilt is a snuggly joy to all who receive them.
I make mine from flannel. I make pillow cases to match or co-ordinate. I, myself, cannot stand flannel sheets, however, my grands love them so flannel pillow cases make a great paring, especially when given with a new pillow! I make matching flannel PJ's too. Can't beat it, the kids go wild for it!
I am nothing if not thrifty so I get my flannel on sale through out the year. I thrift flannel too, I can reuse the flannel sheets people donate to thrift shops. Okay, I can hear the big EWW at the thought of used flannel against the skin, but wait, as much of a germaphobe as I can be, and with my understanding of microbiology (former nurse) let me assure you, several washing's in hot water and drying will calm you. Be smart with what you thrift too. If it looks too used and skanky, it is. But there are some really nice donations to GCF (Goodwill) and some are new. Know your GFC area and know your fabric. I have gotten new flannel sheets and cuts of fabric for pennies on the dollar. (My latest find was 12 yrds of suit flannel for $1.29. Total. Yup. Seriously).

So, back to the quilt. You are going to want to determine the size you want. For my younger kiddies I make a good sized throw. Since most my flannels is 45" wide I fold it in half again lengthwise. (It comes off the bolt already folded once lengthwise, folding it again will give you four layers). You'll need enough flannel for two layers (of quilt - one smooth side, one ragged), and I use contrasting colors/patterns/prints. 50" x 44" is a good sized quilt for the average toddler, a little smaller for a baby. I figure (and use) 1.5 yrds for EACH color/print per quilt. Makes it best to get at a bargain/sale!

Having folded your fabric in half twice lengthwise, start folding it end over end in 10" squares. You'll have a bit left over. Straighten stack of material with hands, smoothing the squares until you're sure there are no ripples. Cut on all fold lines, you'll end up with 20 squares of each material.

Pin fabric squares two by two. Then pin together in rows, 5 squares x 4 squares. Be sure to pin in one direction, making sure raw edges are all facing the same way. These raw edges will unravel (rag) to make the best visual part of the quilt. The other side will be smooth.

Sew each strip squares to the next making a strip. Then sew strips together.

Now comes the tedious (but worth it)! Along EACH "raw" edge, clip with scissors every 1/4 inch being CAREFUL to not clip seam. Sometimes spring action scissors can help alleviate hand cramping if arthritis is a problem. Do enough of them and you get tougher!

Wash quilt after cutting edges, dry, and glory in your ragged quilt!

I have to add, a pillow case can be made using squares and ragged or just using flannel as cut. Not rag quilting, the pillow case takes 10 minutes to cut and sew and PJ bottoms take all of 30 minutes to cut and sew up. sweet.

Sew, lol here's what I made for the grandies to tote in their bookbags, purses, back packs. My grands ages vary from almost born to 17 years, with an emphasis on toddlers to preteens. A couple more girls than boys, too. So, yeah, a couple of the older ones will give me the eye roll and "Naaan - Nah" but they will put their tissues in the cover and sneak it with them. The little ones will think they are just too neat!

Tissue Holders Made From Felt

Kids always have runny noses in the cooler weather months, part of their design, yes? Here's a cute felt cover for a miniature Kleenex package, so neat! Mt GKids love the "little extras" that make them feel thought about and loved! Besides, what fun!

Materials for each holder

1 piece of felt, 4.5" x 6" or 6" x 7", your choice, really either works.
Your choice of Rick Rack (op)
Felt cut in designs, ribbon (op)
embellishments of your choice (op)
Iron on fusing material (op)
sewing machine, needle and thread.

I cut my felt with Pinking Shears mostly because I sew these on machine and don't like to turn the felt outwards and the pinking looks nice as an edge.
Fold piece of felt from both sides into middle until they meet, have one edge overlap the other by 1/4 - 1/3" You want this rectangular in shape. Pin. Sew short sides.
Embellish.
(photos to follow)

Now you can embellish this anyway you want - get creative! Before sewing you can iron on shapes with fusing, or you can pin rick rack across length of folded ends before sewing so that when seams are sewn rick rack borders opening. I like to sew a bunch up and then embellish by hand, so I cut contrasting and different sized felt to layer and hand stitch on. I used pinking shears to cut "ribbon" of felt from left over and sewed ribbon on as well. Iron on fusing can be attached to felt shapes and ironed in place. Really, these can be as plain or fancy as you want. Snowmen, dinosaurs, hearts, balloons etc! Just be wise in where you attach embellishments for kiddies, as some young hands will be using these and embellishments need to be out of the way, not front and center.
Don't forget to add the mini tissue packs before giving!

Sewn Gifts in the Works

I couponed bunches of grooming things for my kids and am sewing tote bags to hold it all, for Christmas gifts...stay tuned, pics to follow

Aprons in a jar...oh yes!

Felt Coasters...

PJ's in cute funny prints for the kids and gkids...

Sachets...

Here are some pic's for this simple, quick and adorably cute gift. I cut these from scraps, I stuff with fiberfill, rice, potpourri. I put potpourri in with the fiberfill, I use whole cloves too. You can stuff with Fiberfill and attach a tiny bag made from sheer scrap material with the "smell good" in it, tied with thin thin ribbon and stitched to these (I do that a lot so the "smell Good" can be changed readily). These can be strung together or used separately in drawers. The larger ones filled with rice make excellent hand warmers after a day throwing snow balls or any other winter activity.I attach satin ribbon to these, about 10" long and my gkids use as bookmarks.

Cut a template of any size in the shape of a heart. About 3" at widest part and abt 3" long or less worked best. I use flannel for these, you'll want to use a fabric that breathes so the smell can get out.

Here are some cut and not yet sewn. After cutting pin right sides together and stitch on machine using presser foot edge as guide. Leave a 1/2 " opening on one side. Clip point on heart and top indentation, turn and press. Here's a closer pic of cut but unsewn hearts.

Stuff with Fiberfill, rice or whatnot and hand stitch opening closed. I haven't attached ribbon garnishments yet, however, I like to stitch through the center and pull thread tightly several time to make indentation, I just like that look sometimes. And...here ya go!

Since I make my kids flannel PJ bottoms, rag quilts, pillow cases, (and yes, sometimes boxers for the guys), how cute is it to include some of these? There are some cute cute flannel prints out there and you son't even have to stick to flannel. Have fun, smell great and create!

Rag quilts...yeah they all have some but who can have too many?

Make up bags...

Felt Crayon totes that roll up...

Three section pillow case sleep mats...

Felt Tissue Holders...

Sock Monkeys...

These Adorable Sweeties are starting to accumulate! Their bodies are together, the faces and vests and hair and stories come next. I can hardly wait...So cute, they each developed a personality when being sewn together, their stories will be easy to write ...