{DIY}The Fat Quarter Infinity Scarf

**I've recently started blogging again! Come see what I've been up to: click here**

Meet my newest cold weather accessory - the fat quarter infinity scarf.

  

I really really love infinity scarves.  

You know why?  

They're easy.  

Easy to make, easy to wear.  What more could you ask for?  I recently made one for a friend, and decided I needed one too.  The scarf comes together in about 30 minutes, but the handwork took several hours.  I used two fat quarters(which makes this scarf inexpensive too!), and since fat quarters are usually used in quilting, I decided to make my scarf like a mini-quilt.  It has batting inside for added warmth, and then I hand quilted it (but you could machine quilt it if you're in a hurry).

Here's the tutorial if you'd like to make your own!

SUPPLIES:

2 Fat quarters (fat quarters are 18"x22")

a piece of batting 63"x 5"

Sewing machine/thread

Perle Cotton Thread (if you want to quilt it)

Quilting Needle

Step 1:

Cut both fat quarters into 3 pieces 6"x22"

Step 2:

Choose one fabric and sew the three pieces end to end, right sides together, to create a long strip 6"x64"(this number may be a little different depending on the seam allowance size you use).  

Repeat with the other fabric.

Step 3:

Choose one of the long strips and lay the batting on the wrong side.  Use a basting stitch (the largest stitch on your machine) and sew down the center of the batting - this will hold it in place until you quilt it.  Lay the fabric strips right sides together.  

It should look like this:

Step 4:

Pin along the two long edges, making sure to mark a space to leave open near one of the ends.  Your opening should be about 8".

Sew along the two long edges, except for the opening.  Leave the ends open.  Turn right sides out.

Step 5:

  Take the end with the opening near it, and pull it inside out until one end lines up with the other end.  You must be able to see the 8" opening.

Line up the ends and pin.

Step 6:

Sew, right sides together, all the way around.  

Now reach through the opening and pull the scarf right sides out.

Step 7:

Hand whip the opening closed.

Now you are ready to quilt your scarf, either by hand or with your machine!

Once you've quilted it, you can remove the basting stitch, and it's ready to wear!

Hope you're staying warm this winter!

love from Japan,

jessica

Linked to this party today! :)

Made with love...

Well about two months ago I turned 30.  

Even though I had to celebrate it on the other side of the world, I felt so much love from my family and friends that it was as if they were all here with me.  My sister created a "box of 30" with something for me to open each day the entire month.  Some days I opened little gifts such as C.D.'s or Starbucks Via. Some days I opened a note from a friend - wishing me well as I turned 30.  I also wanted to showcase the quilt my Momma made me - it's really beautiful and so thoughtfully designed.  

The girl is hand-embroidered, and rising from her coffee cup are 30 appliqued hearts.

  

Isn't that lovely?
The back is pretty too!

Thanks to everyone who has made my life so beautiful, including those of you who read Sew Homegrown.  Turning 30 has been wonderful.  

During the past 10 years I have been challenged, stretched, and grown more than I ever thought I would, but as a result I feel comfortable in my own skin - something I thought I may never achieve.  My twenties held some really wonderful times and some really dark times, but the love I am surrounded by has carried me through all of it, and I am so grateful.  I truly hope you too can become comfortable with who you are - we each have so many unique things to offer and we can learn so much from one another.  Thanks for your support and I know we're going to have a great year ahead!

xoxo

jessica

Been doing a little Studying...

Field Studying that is!  Anna Maria Horner's new line Field Study came out a few weeks ago.  I've been wanting to revamp the futon that's in my living room and this collection was just begging for the job.  I promptly ordered two FQ bundles from Hawthorne Threads (Gypsy and Patina palettes) and then tried to wait patiently for them to come in the mail.  When they got here, last Wednesday, I immediately flew into a cutting and piecing frenzy (take out dinners anyone?) and completed this futon cover in two days :)  

I'm really loving the way it turned out.  It kind of feels like a party in my living room all the time now - which I'm thinking is going to be perfect for these fast-approaching dreary winter days (that's when I miss Florida the most...)  So here's a question - pillows or no pillows?  and should I stick with the yellow pillows or choose another color?  

Thoughts please.  

Have you made anything with Field Study yet?

xoxo

jessica

Colorful, Whimsical Nursery

Both times I've decorated our nursery I've avoided the typical pink.  Nothing wrong with that, but I'm of the persuasion that the nursery should really be more for Mommy than for baby.  After all, you're the one who is stumbling in with one eye open at 2am - might as well make it a happy place to stumble into right?  Charlotte's nursery was green and cantaloupe - don't laugh at my old photography skills..... 

but be thankful I've improved ;)

 

So this time I chose yellow and berry as the main colors, but more and more colors kept adding themselves...and I kind of love it.  It's really cheerful and baby appropriate, but also Guest-Bedroom-worthy.  Here's the tour - enjoy!

My sister created this artwork based on a print we had seen in Urban Outfitters.  She made sure Japan is in the picture, but Florida is so far away it didn't make it :(

 

She certainly is the center of our little world right now!  I'll be going on blogger maternity leave now, not sure how long I'll be gone but be sure to enjoy my archives - look at the top of the site for the categories.  Happy homemaking!

xoxo

jessica

{DIY} The Letter Pillow

Today's post is brought to you by...

the letter L!

I mentioned it in my last post - our baby girl's name is going to be Lila.  

Lila Marian to be exact (Marian is my grandmothers name).

Do you remember on the TV show Friends, when Rachel has her baby Emma, they have a large letter E hanging on the wall?  

I've always loved that - so I decided to make my own!

Thankfully the letter L wasn't too tricky - if you have a name that begins with S or R...I'm not sure this is the project for you, but you could always give it a try!

This project was fairly simple - it took me about 2 hours, and I was stopping to take pictures.  If you're game to make your own, here's the stuff you'll need:

My finished dimensions are for a letter L - 21"x17" (those are the long sides of the L).  

Your trim should be only about 3/8" - 1/2" wide.

Step 1: 

Go ahead and heat up your glue gun now - then, with your fabric folded in half, selvage to selvage, begin to take measurements.  From the top left corner measure 8 1/2" and put a mark.  From the center of the bottom edge, measure up 8 1/2" and put a mark.  From the bottom right corner measure up 8 1/2" and put a mark.  Connect the dots by drawing lines to complete the L.  Cut along those lines.  

The top edge of the L will still be a fold - cut along the fold so that you have a front L and a back L.

Step 2:  

Lay the front and back pieces right sides together and pin along the edges.  When you sew, you are going to leave 2 openings.  One at the top of the L and one at the bottom right edge of the L.

Sew along the edge using 1/2" seam.

Step 3:  

Cut every corner diagonally about 1/8" from the seam.  This will make the corners pretty when you flip it right sides out.

Also clip the inside corner of the L to within 1/8" of the seam.

(If you are doing a different letter with more corners or curves be sure to clip all of them)

Step 4:  

Flip the letter right sides out and press it well.  You may need to use a ripper to gently pull the corners right sides out.  

Be sure along the openings to press the fabric in 1/2" to prepare it for closing.

Step 5:  

Stuff the letter with polyfil.  You want to give it some shape, but not make it too poofy.  Another option would be to use batting in the shape of an L - but you would have to insert it back in step 3.

Step 6:  

Pin the openings closed.

Starting at the top corner, sew the opening closed - using 3/8" seam.  Continue sewing around the entire letter.  This little flange or ledge is what you will glue your trim onto.

 This is a little bit tricky.  

The key is to go slowly and really guide the letter through the machine - kind of squeezing the stuffing out of the way as you go.

It should look like this when you're finished.

Step 7:  

Starting at one corner, glue the trim onto the little flange you made.  Go slowly and just use a small amount of glue

 

Step 8:   

Lastly, hot glue little pieces of ribbon or rick rack to the back to use when hanging.  I put one in the center of the top edge, and one in the top corner of the far left edge.

That's it!!  A sweet little letter to hang on the wall or put on a shelf or toss on a bed!!

Happy sewing everyone!!

xoxo

jessica