Chevron

Over the last month or so I have been working on items to reopen my ETSY shop.  I have almost completed the personal projects I had piling up, totes, place mats, shower gifts for family members and a king size quilt for myself. Several of these I have already posted on a previous blog. I still have one more project started but it's a secret shhhhhh, it is a holiday gift for a family member. 

My King Size Quilt

The chevron is my go to quilt for baby's as of late. Using a minimum of 8 different printed fabrics and one solid I am creating beautiful quilts.  Using this old pattern with a more modern top stitching the double folded binding is turned all to the back side.  What this does is give the front a cleaner modern look and doesn't cut off the ends of the chevron blocks. I have a confession- am crazy fanatical about 2 things in the quilting process 1) pressing every seam after every stitch and 2) squaring my blocks. I have reviewed several ways to do my blocks, after many different methods I now make 8 chevron squares at a time.  

Placing two 9 x 9" squares right sides together place an X with erasable marker corner to corner.

Erasable Marker Lines

Start stitching from one corner using this line as if it is the edge of the fabric, stitch 1/4" away.  When you get to the end turn it around and do the other side of this same line.  Repeat in the other corner.

1/4" Stitching on each side of the line

After completing the stitching, cut 4 lines to create 8 blocks.  Cut down the middle top to bottom then across the middle from side to side.  Then cut on the erasable lines and you will have 8 doubled triangles. 

Cut into 8 at the dotted line 

Press each triangle open and square to 4" x 4"

Open block and press seam to the darker fabric
Square block to 4" x 4"

If you square every block before putting it together everything lines up perfectly.  It's such a great pleasure and feeling to create a beautiful baby quilt that will be used, washed, played with and still be around for many years after they've grown.  

Vacation time

Whenever I go on vacation I like to make something new. For this vacation I wanted a new cover-up to walk to the pool from the cottage (approximately 20 steps).  Since the air is usually cooler than the solar covered pool, having a cover helps.

I always bring the beach towel, but it tends to come untucked as I walk.  At the same time I wanted a cover up and not just a new towel.  I didn't see anything like I wanted so I purchased a velour type beach towel on sale at Joanne Fabrics 70% off and got out the scissors.

With the towel out flat, I cut off 6 1/2" from the short side (lime section on the doodle bug diagram),

then cut this piece in half creating 2 rectangles.  These two pieces become shoulder straps.  place a 2" wide piece of batting x the length of the strap in the middle of each and fold the raw edge in first then the finished edge creating a trifold.  

Sew down the edge and then add additional stitching going the same way for decoration and to secure the batting.  One end is zigzaged and attached to the back.  the other gets a button hole and will be finished using the binding method. ( 2 1/2" strip folded in half lenght wise, sew the raw edge to the front using a 1/4" seam. press and fold to the back, hand stitch) I set the straps up as optional by adding buttons to attach and remove them. The large remaining (pink section) turn under the raw edge on the large piece (pink section) where you cut for the strap twice to finish the end

The large part of the remaining towel I turned under 1 inch along what would become the top edge to form a pocket for elastic.  

Secure the ends after gathering the appropriate amount for you.  I overlapped the opening in front by crossing the ends over about 8 inches and only secured with enough stitches to attach the buttons.  DO NOT SEW THE FRONT CLOSED, you want the front open just like you tuck a towel so you can walk in it.

Having a large flap opening makes it easy to get into/out of and walk :)

Button holes on the strap front make them optional to use.   

The best vacations for me include warm weather, water and great company.  

FooFoo's Summer edition

I started making what I call FooFoo's others call them bandanas or scarves for my puppies with our second dog Zoe.

She had to go into the vet for her surgery at 4 months and came home wearing one.  It was simple, brightly colored and cut from a single layer of fabric with pinking shears.  When it became dirty I took it off and tossed it into the laundry basket.  She then proceeded to go into the dirty laundry, sorting it with her nose and coming up with this now dirty triangle fabric she knew was hers.  I had plenty of scrap in storage even then so I cut her another so I could wash this one, she was happy.  

Over the years I started turning the edge under and adding a hem to keep them in shape but eventually they became two layers with top stitching.  Adding the two layers made them last much longer and she did love them.

As she got bigger I needed to create new ones due to her neck size and started creating them for seasons, making Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines  St. Patrick's day, Easter and July 4th.

Each year I added new ones to the collection, some just because I liked the fabric and some because the colors needed brightening.  She never tired of wearing her FooFoo's and never wanted to be naked (no FooFoo).

When we brought home the girls Bella and Izzie I decided to more or less color code them.  For me it was easy to tell them apart looking them in the face as Izzie was much redder and Bella had such a sweet expression at all times.

Telling them apart as they ran around the back yard at full speed was another story.  

Bella Rose's signature color became pink and Isabel Zoe (Izzie) became purple, to match their collars.  Pink is easy in most prints but getting the same print in purple isn't always possible.  In this case Izzie has some green (my favorite color).

I think the FooFoo's have developed into my standard pattern now after several adjustments.  If I like the print and it has both pink and purple in it I make them each one and add a ribbon.

I had a few from Zoe that were purchased at a craft show.  These were exact triangles, which is not practical.  This makes them too long at the middle to the point that Izzie can get it in her mouth - and does.  She looks like a bandit doing this and eventually chews off the point.

Before vacation I made the seasons new collection, some include embroidery.  This is new with the purchase of my embroidery machine last year. Just a little something when the pattern isn't busy.

We need one for each day because they are very active with boat rides, watching squirrels, chipmunks and this year 3 chickens.  They also go for several long walks and the daily swim in the lake, we are very busy puppies and also enjoy lounging on the porch.

At Christmas time I have made and purchased hats but that's another story

Want to make them for your dog? I use muslin for most backs ( purchased at the fabric store half price).  I buy it a bolt at a time. 1/4 yard of fabric will create the front for most mid size dogs.  I measure the collar and add 3 inches so they can be tied.  The center for the tip of the triangle is no longer than 10" (8 for Izzie) 

It ends up looking like this!