Wreath for the Duck Hunter

Since my MOG duties included the rehearsal dinner, I wanted to incorporate my son's love (and yes, obsession) with duck hunting.  Yes, he gets his obsessive qualities from his mother's gene pool honestly.  His is hunting and mine is all things sewing....why not combine the two???

He sent me a picture of two "love" ducks so I added a little to the newly digitized design to include the date and their names.  I purchased the 12" wide burlap ribbon that is so readily available at Hobby Lobby ( use the coupon and you'll save bundles!).  This was to be the nucleus of my duck wreath theme.  I used my 6 needle Brother 600II to embroider the duck design on this burlap using heavy weight stabilizer that I cut away from the back side and Press and Seal (yes from the kitchen) on top to keep any needles from getting caught on the wide weave. (sorry I didn't take pics of the process, check out the blog post Machine Embroidered Dog Collar).  The rest is history!  A few cat tails, a resin duck and some greenery!  Oh, and let's not forget the big "G" I got off the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby a couple of months back!

I threw together another arrangement for the head table while I was decorating the tables....

Susan Spann did our cake.  Check out her FB page  Susan's Sweets.  

Could you tell we used the "duck hunting" theme???

All in a day's work!

So happy when I'm stitching,

Renee

PS.  Please be mindful of the use of any content.  It is the property of Renee Galloway.  Feel free to share but give credit where it is due.  Thanks!

Machine Embroidered Dog Collar

This post is all about Nelli and her participation in my son's wedding as ringbearer!

Since she is his baby, he and the bride wanted her to be in the wedding.  Naturally grandmom (or Ney-Ney) needed to make wedding attire!

I started with scrap white broadcloth that I had cut off the flower girl dress prior to hemming and used the same mini blue rick rack I had put on the flower girl's angel wings. (see previous post Wedding Sewing)  It was easy to make a casing and straight stitch the rick rack on each edge, but how did I want to embellish a dog collar to make her look like a girl but not make the son say "no way Mom!" ?

Why not use the same machine embroidery design I used on a burlap ribbon for other wedding decor?

Egad! I love working under pressure (yes, it was the night before we were supposed to head to the out of town wedding and the day after I had spent the whole day in bed with strep throat)!!!

I pulled a piece of burlap out of the trash can and readied it for embroidery by using spray adhesive onto Wet and Gone stabilizer.  After hooping and pulling up my saved design, I threaded the proper thread and began my "in the hoop" dog tag.

A satin bow the same color as the flower girl's and blue satin ribbon with love knots to hold the bow together were added to make the perfect wedding collar for our Nelli!

In Stitches,

Renee

PS.  All content is the property of Renee Galloway.  Please feel free to pin on Pinterest or share but remember to give credit where credit is due!  Thanks!

Loving the Lexi Alpha

A couple of months ago I purchased the "Stripe Lexi" Font in 4,5,6 and 7" sizes from Embroidery Boutique and have fallen in love....

Several sweatshirts later.....

My daughter loves hers (she always gets the "trial" of the first stitch-out, thus the knowledge of not using the neck hole first :))

It stitches out beautifully regardless of the color combo.  Just remember to turn the design upside down and put on the machine through the bottom of the sweatshirt, NOT the neck!!!  Yes, I learned the hard way that the machine doesn't like that small opening and needs more space to move around in....

Happy stitches!

Renee

Tree of Life-An Anita Good Design Quilt Project

My last post I shared pictures and commentary from my parent's 50th anniversary.  The gift that my

siblings and I gave them was the "Tree of LIfe" machine embroidered quilt by Anita Good Design.

Leaves can be added after completion that have been embroidered with names of the members in the family making a very personalized quilt.

This was my first attempt at a quilt done on the embroidery machine.  I fell in love with the process so I thought I'd share it with you.  

Of course proper prepping is key to success although it can be quite boring.  I use my rotary cutter to cut muslin to a size that will fit into my embroidery hoop then cut Floriani's No Show Mesh to a size that is 1" larger than my planned block size. (The program comes with 4 sizes and your machine will dictate which size you can use)  My Brother PR600II will only support the 7x7 block using the largest hoop.

Next I cut my background fabric for the quilt into 8x8 squares. (this is 1" larger than the proposed block size to provide seam allowances)  Then I cut stabilizer for these blocks.  I first used Dream Weave but ran out before finishing all 70 blocks.  I found a pellon stabilizer at a local craft store that was much cheaper and gave the body I needed for all the stitching plus it was much cheaper!!  I also cut batting to an 8x8 square.

Now...to stitch ALL those blocks! 

 Some required more time than others depending on the stitch count.  I numbered my template (provided in the tutorial) and wrote the corresponding number on a piece of painter's tape with a sharpie and stuck that on the edge of the hoop until embroidery was completed.  This helped me keep from turning the hoop upside down after trimming the applique.  Once the embroidery was completed, I moved the tape to the center of the block and trimmed it to the required 1/2" seam allowance.

As you can see from the picture, this process puts all the quilt layers together with the applique.  A muslin and stabilizer layer(here I used the stabilizer in a larger piece but learned that it was wasteful and could make it an inch larger than the proposed block), batting, background fabric with stabilizer and then the actual applique and stitching.  After getting all 70 blocks done, I laid them in the floor in their proper positions. (This is where the taped numbers are really handy-you know the position in the quilt as well as which direction it goes).

Next I stitch each block into rows by following the stitching lines done while in the hoop.  (Do you see the block I goofed on by actually cutting on the stitching line rather than giving a seam allowance?  Mistakes happen but things still come together...I'm not perfect)

Then I stitch the rows together!

Now to add the backing!  I chose to use yardage that matched my appliqued flowers.  Since it was only 45 " wide, I had to piece it to be wide enough to cover the quilt.  I also planned on using it as a foldover binding so made sure there was enough fabric around the edges to do this technique.  I laid the backing fabric WRONG SIDE UP on the floor and taped it down.  I used adhesive spray lightly and I added an extra layer of batting here to give more body to the quilt since I knew it was going to be a wall hanging.  Slowly roll the batting over the area you just sprayed.  Spray the batting layer and repeat with the rolled up quilt.  I also pinned my quilt (didn't want any slipping) on each block.

The hardest part was handling the quilt while "stitching in the ditch".  It was REALLY heavy!!  I think I want a legit sewing table that allows my machine throat plate to be level with the table or purchase a plexiglass table to fit around it.  I used a monofilament thread to do the stitch in the ditch.  Starting on one end of the quilt, with the ends rolled (as in the pic) I did all the vertical stitches.  Rerolled and then did all the horizontal.  Start in the center of the quilt and work your way to the right then from the center to the left to help keep the backing fabric smooth.  Your left shoulder can be a great prop as the quilt moves forward!!!!

After finishing the stitch-in-the-ditch, trim the backing to the required width for a double foldover, and trim the batting flush with the quilt blocks.  I also added a label to the back as well as loops for hanging.

The quilt was a hit!  Even got a few tears of joy and appreciation!

Looking great in my parent's house!

Happy stitching!

Renee

Reversible Playsuits for Boys

I discovered a great pattern for making playsuits this week.  The pattern I used is a Bonnie Blue Designs named Hunter and Holly.  It was relatively easy to cut and construct AND I made it reversible !!! Much more bang for your buck!!



It really started because I didn't want to cut my 60" white broadcloth that I use for inserts for lining and I was out of any other width white fabric.  So... I thought why not use something colorful?  So I selected a coordinating fabric that actually cost less than my heirloom quality broadcloth and look how cute it turned out!

I machine appliqued two different dinosaur patterns I downloaded from  Just Peachy Applique and Planet Applique.

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

In hindsight the only thing I'd investigate the with the next project is putting grippers on the infant sizes.  Whoops!  This was given as a baby and big brother gift for a friend at church.  Sorry for the total undressing of the babe to change a diaper......it's been 20+ years since I had to worry about that and totally forgot!  I was so involved in correctly pulling the lining through to stitch that it slipped my mind completely until I went to the ironing board to press and by that time my thought was I'm NOT ripping it all out!



I do like the way it turned out and love the way the contrasting cuff looks when you roll it up!  Another plus since all babies and toddlers vary in height!  This suit is a 6 month size but with the roll up cuffs can be worn for a long time.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Big Brother's playsuit in a 24 mos.is coordinating but not too "matchy-matchy" (as my daughter disdains).  After all the baby will eventually wear it as well so something a little different for later wear.  The patterns are generous in size.

 

 

 

If Mom so desires them to be "match-matchy" she can because they are reversible!



 

 

 

 

 

I also used several buttons at varying lengths on both sides of the straps for growth adjustment!



 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking of doing a tutorial on buttonholes and button application.  Would that be useful?

Let me know what you think of my "Dino" Project!  I'm already sewing several more....Collegiate, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.....just can't stop thinking about all the potential projects!

Happy stitching,

Renee