About the Categories

As I'm sewing my way through blog-land, I'm rating every tutorial I use - according to skill level and three ratings. Here is the break down of those:

Jump Right In: This tutorial is well organized and easy to follow. Don't worry about it, just jump right in!

Make a Muslin: The theory is good. The design is worth making, but the instructions are out of order or difficult to understand. Don't make the first one out of your "good fabric".

Don't Cut That: I imagine there won't be many of these. However, if I do use this rating, it will be because the tutorial is fraught with mistakes and misleading directions. Honestly, it would have to be pretty bad.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sew Mama Sew Pillow Contest


During my little hiatus from Facebook, the most wonderful thing has happened...

...I have more time in my day than I ever thought possible!  What a shame that it took me so long to realize.

Among other things, I've been able to sew more than ever.  But before I jump back in, I want to take a brief detour from tutorial reviews to share the first pillow I made for the Sew Mama Sew pillow contest.  :)

There are a few things that I have to point out here.  First, I adore Sunbonnet Sue.  One day, I'll have the time to make a full quilt.  Until then, I try to find random items she seems to belong on.  This pillow was the perfect opportunity!  

It only seemed right to make the pillow form out of scraps from an old sheet, and the background for the pillow cover from a futon cover my friend gave us.  All that recycling makes us HAPPY!  But, this classic girl really needed a modern twist; so I pieced her out of fussy cut pieces of MOMO's "It's a Hoot" line.   mmmm...

My nine year old daughter decided which pieces of the fat quarter to use.  But more importantly, as her first official free motion quilting project, the squiggly lines on the right side of Sue make my heart glad!!  


Our second daughter decided that Sue needed something "golden"...so we added a few decorative stitches along the brim of her hat and at her hem.  Altogether, we think she is ADORABLE!




I am a sucker for the honeycomb stitch on my machine, so we had to add a few of those along the envelope closure on the back. 

So, that's our entry for the pillow contest.
But, no matter what, Alana has BEEN asking for a new pillow for her babies...and now she has a beautiful one!