Mommy Monday with MoMomma

Here are two of my favorite link ups from last week.
(Both are re-purposed furniture creations.... I think I'm feeling crafty!)


The Turquoise Piano- Craigslist  Chair makeover 


Vintage Shabby Chicks - Goodwill Hunting

Sewing: DIY Car Seat Cover Canopy Tutorial

Today's Sewing Tutorial is for this adorable

DIY Car Seat Canopy Cover

You may have noticed I am the ONLY girl in this household.

When a close friend of mine found out she was expecting a girl I jumped at the chance to make this adorable PINK Car Seat Cover for her!  :)

I found inspiration by these blogs:

Oopsie Daisy Carseat Cover Tutorial

Saw Dust & Paper Scraps- Gift for New Baby

Make it Do - Baby Car Seat Cover

Please visit these blogs as they have amazing tutorials also!

 First: Start with some adorable fabric.

I scored this fabric below from one of my favorite places:

Hobby Lobby!

Click HERE for this week's Hobby Lobby sales.

Step 2: Cut to Size: 35 x 42

I followed THREE main Car Seat Tutorials and took the best from all of them. 

The final size I ended up with was 35 wide by 42 inches long.

Step 3: Round Corners

I loved the car seat covers with rounded corners. The process for each was a little different. I decided to go with a wide sweeping corner.  I marked in 10 inches from the corner on the narrow side (front of the cover) and on the widest part of the cover 14 inches from the corner (the side of the cover).

Like this:

Then I drew a line between these marks (making a triangle) and free hand drew a curvy line within the triangle that looked nice.

If this step makes you uneasy you can just grab a bowl from the kitchen and use the rounded edge as your guide.

Step 4: Pin edges together and cut your First corner

Step 5: Trace & Cut all Corners

In this step I simply flipped over my fabric rectangle, matched up the edges and traced this corner curve onto the other corner.  I did this three times and got the same pretty curved edge in each corner. Easy!

*Tip:  Remember put your fabric right sides together at this phase prior to cutting so that your edges are all pinned and ready for sewing in the next phase :)

Step 6:  Sew 1/4 Around the edge

The important thing to remember for this step is that your fabrics must be facing wrong sides OUT.  We will be leaving a small 4 inch area not sewn closed so that we can turn the fabric right side out.

Step 7: Clip Corners

Clipping the corners will help make the fabric lay nicer once flipped the correct way.

Step 8: Time to FLIP!

Now it's time to flip inside out, or in this case, RIGHT side out.  

If you have trouble with the corners, grab a pencil or chopstick to really push the corners and edges out nicely.

* TIP: Remember to Press with an iron once you have your car seat cover right side out to get a nice crisp edge.

Step 9: Edging

Sew 1/4 inch around the entire length of the car seat cover.

This will make a super finished edge that looks very professional. It also seals up the small area that we left un-sewn.  I'm using white thread on top and brown in the bobbin below.

Here is a close up of the edge.... doesn't it look pretty?!

Step 10: Create Straps

There were so many different ways to make handles for the car seat cover that it was hard to choose. I didn't have enough fabric to get too creative so I sewed what I had leftover into small strips.  My plan was to create a brown contrasting stripe down the center.  

If you like my straps here is how to make them

I took 4 pieces of fabric that were 2 x 9.5 and sewed them together

Cut the edges with a rotary cutter to make sure they are all even.

Here is what they look like after sewing each strip together:

* Tip: Be sure to Iron before sewing together in step 11


Step 11: Make a tube!

Now you will need to sew the edges of your 4 strips together to make a tube of fabric.

Below you can see on the left what the finished tube will look like once you have turned it right side out. 

The one on the right shows what it looks like after sewing.

Step 12: Iron & Close Tube

The next step requires you to iron your tube flat.

Be sure to position your stripes of fabric just how you will want them in this phase.

I wanted a Brown stripe in the middle with Pink on each side. Before Ironing I made sure it looked good and ironed into place

Then, gently tuck under the top and bottom about 1/2 inch and sew closed.  

I sewed all along the edge of the entire strap to again make a finished edge.

Step 13: Get ready for Velcro

The step below shows my finished Velcro ready straps!

I put two rectangles of the soft "loop" side on the top of the strap and two rectangles of the "hook" on the bottom part of the strap.

*TIP- Be sure to position these correctly so that the strap will close. This means that your "hook" Velcro will actually be on the opposite side of the strap than the "loop".  

See below how it is turned to show both sides?

Step 14: Attach the Straps

This step had me totally nervous.

I'm not going to lie.

Here is a close up of the strap: 

It turned out Great!! 

First, I folded the fabric in half the wide way (or "Hamburger style" as Oopsie Daisy says in her tutorial)

I measured 9 1/2 inches from each side of the car seat cover.

Then, I sewed on each strap with a small rectangle.

I used a zig-zag stitch on mine.

Please leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!

And, if you like this tutorial, please follow my blog :)

Thank you

This project was featured on:

Linking up to these great sites: Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, While He Was Napping, Just a Girl, Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous, Home Sweet Farm, Tidy Mom, 504 Main, Truly Lovely, Paisley Passions, Making the World Cuter, Six Sisters Stuff, I Heart Naptime, Making The World Cuter, Craft O Maniac, Embelishing Life, Skip to My Lou, Sew Chatty, Keeping it Simple, Sew Can Do, Ninth Street Notions, C.R.A.F.T., Polish The STars, Chocolate Drool and Kisses, Canoe Ridge Creations, 11th Heaven's Homemaking, Ladybug Blessings, Sugar Bee Crafts,  Vintage Wanna Be,  Running with Glitter, Skip the Housework, Today's Creative Craft,Tootsie Wootsie, Sew Woodsy, Tip Junkie, Sew Much Ado, Six Sisters Stuff, Tip Junkie, Girl Creative, Not JUST a Housewife, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Fabric Bows and More,Good Bye City Hello Suburbs, Funky Junk, My Repurposed Life

Sewing: Baby Boy Denim Rag Quilt

A few weeks ago I embarked on a baby boy quilt for a dear friend of mine.

I've known her for over 15 years. We worked together at the Mall when we were 18/19 yrs old.  She became a close friend and was even a part of my baptism back in 1996. 

We've been married, started families and have moved all around the US.

And, when I moved back to Sunny Arizona - I learned that she lived one mile away! How cool!

She and her hubby have been blessed with three adorable girls. 
They are now expecting their first BOY! And they are excited.

I decided to whip up a quick Denim Rag Quilt for the baby shower.

(I have a HUGE stash of old denim jeans that I can tap into at any time.  My whole family knows not to throw out any denim and to save them for me!)

First, cut 35 squares of Denim and 35 squares of your choice of fabric.

Then, play with the squares until you have a design that you like.

Sew together each row of fabric leaving the seams on the top side of the quilt.

 Snip the edges of the seems and then wash 1-2 times to make the edges super fuzzy and soft.
Be sure to check the lint compartment on the dryer multiple times!!

 Here is a quick shot of the backside of the quilt.

 He's MashMo the kitty enjoying the quilt prior to delivering it to the Mommy-to-be.

(why do kitties think every quilt is for them?)

I finished the quilt the morning of the baby shower! My sewing machine decided to stop working just as I was finishing up. This caused a minor heart attack but I was finally able to finish the quilt.

And now...I'm looking into a NEW sewing machine! :)

Linking up here:
Yesterday on Tuesday
Somewhat Simple 
Fingerprints on the Fridge 

Sewing: Window Pane Quilt!

Are you ready to see my latest project?

How about this adorable Window Pane Quilt?  Isn't it SO cute?

I found this fantastic ETSY store called Sweet Jane.

Susan is the owner of this Etsy store. 

She offers easy to follow quilt patterns for easy enough for even beginners like me.

 Visit her Etsy store HERE and purchase a quilt pattern by March 16th -  Sue will be offering all of her patterns at a special SALE price of only $7.00!!

WOohOOhhoo!  Thanks Sue!

Just contact her through her Etsy store for the special SALE price.

Here are some photos of the quilting process... Follow along!

 The first step, whenever you have your camera out is to snap a quick photo of any kids in the area.  Here's one of KidMo.  He was more than happy to pose for a quick photo.

 

 Next... follow Sue's easy instructions and cut the strips of fabric as directed.

Here is a photo of all of my nicely cut squares of fabric... fun colors, right?

Following Sue's directions, sew your squares to the rectangles of neutral fabric.  Be sure to arrange the squares in a pattern that you like at this point in time.

  

 Quilt two rows together and so on...

 

Beware of kitties who may jump on your quilt at any point in time.  MashMo the kitty thinks this quilt is for him.

 Once all of your rows are sewn together, press flat and break out the batting.

I decided to try this batting below that is a fusible batting.  It worked really well! 

 

Find a large open area to lay your backing down flat on the floor.  This is my kitchen... yes inspiring isn't it?

 And, just in case you think I'm a total neat freak - here's a shot of my kitchen on an average day.  Hey, don't judge.  Remember, I'm a working mom of 2 who's trying to make a quilt in under a week.  Cut me a little slack. hahaha

 Okay, back to the task at hand.  Make a sandwich of the backing, batting and top layer of your quilt. 

You will then want to break out the iron and fuse the "sandwich" together.  Cut off any excess batting- leaving about a 3 inch border.

 

Here is a close up of the "sandwich"...

 Here is a photo of BabyMo swinging away in my office/craft room.  He's content for the moment so I'm able to get a little more quilting done.

 Next up, quilt the quilt in whatever style you like.  I don't have a fancy sewing machine so my 'machine quilting' skills are limited.  I went with a wavy pattern in between rows and around the edge of the quilt also.

 Here is another shot of my totally awesome beginner quilting skills (note the sarcasm).

 Okay, onto binding.

Typically I'm one to purchase my binding and attempt to sew it on in one piece. I got a bit ambitious and decided to learn a new technique using the scraps of fabric I had left.  I had to say... it was TOTALLY easy! And, it looked great.

Here is a link to the fantastic tutorial on YouTube that explains the binding technique I used.  Click HERE for part one and HERE for part two of the video.

And, here's a few shots of me sewing on the binding....

 Then fold over....

 .... And sew with a zig zag stitch on the back side of the quilt.

And...viola!  You have completed a piecework quilt!
Here is a photo of the entire quilt completed.
 
 And a few detail shots of the quilt for your admiration....

... the edging... doncha love it?

 ...again, another shot of my totally awesome (sarcastic) quilting...

... here is a shot of the corners...

 

 Another shot of the corners....

 Awe ... here's BabyMo enjoying the quilt.  Isn't he a happy baby?

 BabyMo says... "Please leave a comment for my Mommy... she loves comments!"

 And, the final step... pack that quilt up in a USPS box with some other goodies and mail it to a good friend. :)

Surprise!

 Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about my first attempt at a piecework quilt!

Here are the sites I'll be participating in Linky Parties..