I promised my girls quilts to go with their doll beds they got for Christmas and I got one of them done this weekend. 

As you can see, this one matches the quilt I made my daughter about three Christmases ago.   She loves that her little doll has a matching blanket.  

These are super easy to do and a great project if you're just getting into quilting.   It takes very little fabric and just a couple hours of time.    The finished quilt measures 18x24.  Each block is 2x2 inches and the sashing around the edge is 2 inches wide.  

To make it cut 70 blocks 2.5"x2.5"  and four sashing strips.  Two sashing strips measure 2.5"x18.5 and two measure 2.5"x24.5".   The quilt is 7 blocks across and 10 blocks down.  I did a mitered corner on the sashes and used a super simple binding technique.  I just put the right side of the front together with the right side of the back, laid the batting over it (my batting was a piece of flannel) and sewed around the edges with the standard 1/4" seam leaving 4" on one end open.  I then turned it right side out, pressed it and hand sewed it closed.   So far I've only quilted around the sashing seam.  With the size of the quilt and the fact that the batting is really fabric, I'm pretty sure that will be enough.

Now my girls are asking for pillows to match.  Good thing I have more fabric.

Ah Tuesday

Tuesday is my light day in the blogging world.  I intend to use it to link up cool blogs I've seen and great projects that other people are doing.  Also if I've done a project that someone else came up with, I'll most likely post it on a Tuesday and link you to their blog. 

Today, however, I'm going to talk about that annoying widget I've added to the right.  You can completely ignore it, but I thought I would explain what it is.   Basically Swagbucks is an advertising venue.  They make their money finding ways to put a little bit of content around the advertising.   Since such places seldom get the viewers all by themselves, they pay people to interact and see their advertising.  This company awards "swagbucks" for using their (paid advertising weighted) search engine and watching their "Swagbucks TV" among other things.   It's not all that annoying actually.  I can leave the "tv" window running while I clean house and do other things getting me lots of points.  I can choose not to do the annoying surveys that never let me finish them anyway.  And there's several more options for getting the swagbucks.  I know people who have earned several hundreds of dollars in Amazon gift cards in a year through this company.  

Anyway, that's what the widget is about.   My husband got a Kindle from his bosses this year for Christmas, simultaneously showing up both the gift he got for me and the gift I got for him.  Like anything he could get me would be as cool as a Kindle.   So I just "borrow" it a lot.  What does this have to do with whoring myself out to advertising companies?   I need Amazon Gift Cards to buy books.   If you don't mind playing their game to get some book money (or kitchen toy money, or clothes money, or food money, or . . . . Amazon sells everything these days)  there's a little "sign up" button on the widget.   Yes, I will get referral points when others sign up under me and earn points through using the search engine.   Which is totally the point of the widget.  I need books.   Lots and lots of books! 

Ignore the widget if you don't want to join.  If it bugs too many people I will take it down.  Let me know.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

 Have you ever made this before?  It's amazing stuff.  It's like a chocolate cobbler with a brownie like cake and fabulous chocolate sauce to serve with it.  It should always be served warm with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream.

 In honor of my new January diet, this is a recipe I have made before so I didn't get step by step photos of the process.  I'm thinking you'll all be fine though.  It's super easy to make and unlike a lot of the recipes I've posted before does not require fancy kitchen equipment. 

Chocolate Pudding Cake
For the cake, in a medium bowl mix together:
2 cups Flour
1-½ cup Sugar
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
½ teaspoons Salt
¼ cups Cocoa Powder
1 cup Milk
¼ cups Vegetable Oil
2 cups Nuts, Your Choice (optional)

Pour the cake batter into a 9x13 pan and spread it evenly over the bottom.

For the sauce, in a small bowl mix together:
¼ cups Cocoa Powder
2 cups Brown Sugar

Spread evenly over the cake batter and then pour 3-½ cups Hot Water over the whole thing.   Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40-45 minutes.  When it's done the cake will have risen to the top with a dry surface and a fully cooked but moist interior and the sauce will be bubbling at the edges.   This dish does have a sometimes boil over the edge of the pan.  It's a good idea to place the 9x13 pan on a rimmed cookie sheet to bake so it doesn't make too big of a mess in your oven.

Enjoy!

Collapsible Chessboard

 It's a bag.  You can put your chess pieces in it.

 Why would you want to put chess pieces in a bag like this?

Because it's really a chessboard.

We invented this because my oldest daughters thought her buddies at school needed a new chess board.  The one they were using is currently being held together with a bungee cord.    She thought they needed a board that would fit easily in a backpack and be portable for a bunch of teenage boys. 
It doesn't quite collapse quite as much as I had hoped, but it's still fun.   It opens back up again quite well and it's great for playing on potentially uneven surfaces.  Each square may not line up perfectly, but they will be more stable than a plain fabric board.   And it's cooler than a plain fabric board.  

To make your own you need 64 little blocks all exactly the same size.  We used half inch plywood cut 1.5"x1.5".   We found that thinner wood did collapse together better.  My husband set up a jig on his miter saw to make it go a little faster when cutting the blocks.   Next you need to stain half of them dark and half of them light.    Fit them together, and depending on how well you cut the blocks this may take some time to get them lined up well.   Then you get to flip it over (unless you are a much more graceful person than I, you may want to flip these over one piece at a time in order to avoid sending chessboard squares flying around your living room.  We did find the one that went under the couch eventually.)  Let it sit while you prepare the bag.

Cut a 24" circle out of heavyweight fabric, of course, if you do smaller blocks you may want a smaller bag.  Bigger blocks will need a bigger bag.   Find the exact center and make a grid identical to your blocks on the backside centered over the center of the board.   You might want to use a quilting marker that fades over time.   I also used my quilting ruler to draw the lines.  It made it very easy to draw perfectly parallel lines 1.5" away from each other.    Make a drawstring pocket around the edge.   I put in button holes to draw the cord through.

Now go back to your blocks.  They should all be upside down and pushed together tightly.   Put a drop of E6000 glue on the back of each and every block.    Gently set your fabric down over the blocks, lining up the grid with the edge of each block.   Make sure that's as perfect as you can make it, because it's your guide for the next step.   Now you need to put one 1/2" screw through the center of each and every grid square.  If you lined that up correctly you will have the screw in the center of each block. 

That's it.  A bit time consuming and fiddly when cutting and staining the blocks, but overall a pretty easy project.  It's also something that no one else will have, which should totally give you an extra pawn that acts like queen just because your board is cooler than theirs.

Think Bigger--Project Linus and other Blankets

It's really easy to get caught up in our own little world, our own needs, our own wants.  I find however, that my life is so much better and I am happier when I am helping those outside my immediate circle.  So with that in mind, I will be focusing every Thursday on one charity that requests or accepts crafted items for those in need.  I'm calling it Think Bigger.

Making blankets is one of those really satisfying crafty things.  They go together quickly and they are almost always loved.   I have always loved blankets myself, maybe it's because I was a blanket baby and dragged my blanket around with me everywhere.  There's just something about snuggling down under one that makes me feel loved and comfy. 

So I have a special affinity for groups like Project Linus.   Who hasn't heard of them?  With a special mission like theirs, I'm glad they are a well known group.  If you haven't heard of Project Linus, then you might not know that they give new, handmade blankets to children who are "ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need" of the love and comfort that only a blanket can give.  If you intend to give to Project Linus, please check their website first.  They do have size requirements and restrictions along with free patterns for blankets.  

Some other places to give in your community:  

Check with your local long term care center.  The residents are often in need of lap blankets.  Full sized throws are too large to use comfortably with a wheelchair so small sized lap quilts are perfect for them.  Most LTCs love to get donations.  Call first so you know what size and colors to make the blanket.  Who knows, you might make a new friend when you take your blanket to someone in need.  

If you have a blanket or quilt too large for Project Linus you might give your local battered women's shelter a call.  These women are in desperate need of a little love and comfort themselves.  They will often be scared and lonely with scared and lonely children.  A new quilt might just bring a little healing to a family in need. 

Good luck with your quilting and blanket making.  I've got some Project Linus blankets to finish up and get out and next week when my kids are in school I'll be sewing a couple pair of shorts and a couple of pillowcase dresses for Little Dresses for Africa.   I'd love to hear what projects you are working on and to whom they are going!

Gathered skirt with a deep yoke and skirt band

 My oldest daughter adores wild prints so I just could not pass this fabric up.  I knew it was exactly her.   We discussed it and decided that she would get this skirt for her Christmas dress.   She loves the skirt and it was super simple to make.

I will now confess to pulling apart patterns and only using the pieces I need for something.  If I have a sewing project in mind, why come up with an entirely new pattern when I have the parts already?  Why reinvent the wheel?  But also, I hate going the fabric store with a garment idea in my head and never finding the pattern I need to make what I'm planning to make.  So that's when I started mixing things up.

For this skirt I used a pencil skirt pattern I had on hand for the yoke and went patternless for the skirt.  Who needs a pattern for a gathered skirt anyway?  It's just one big rectangle.

To make this you will need one pencil skirt pattern that does not have a waistband, aprox. 1 1/4 yard main fabric (unless you are taller than about 5'4".  add fabric in that case based on how long you need your skirt to be),  1/2 yard accent fabric, enough trim to wrap around your hip with 4 or so inches left over, and a 9" zipper.   You will also need to use a good measuring tape and your quilt cutting tools.

To start, decide how long you want the skirt yoke to be. ( Our pattern is from the '90s and so goes all the way to the natural waist.  You may want a shorter or longer yoke.  And don't laugh at my pattern.  I know you've seen the Hollywood starlets in their natural waist pencil skirts lately.  It's totally cool again.) We finally decided that 6" of finished yoke would be perfect on my daughter.   Add 1 1/4 inches to that measurement.  Lay out the skirt front pattern and mark that measurement on the pattern.

  Fold the pattern up at the mark making sure you line up the inside edge of the pattern (that "place on fold" line)  to be sure you get a straight fold. 



Finished yoke length+1 1/4 inches=length of pattern piece

Pin the pattern piece down to the fabric leaving the rest of the skirt free from pins.  You do not have to cut apart your pattern.  Just cut around it so you can use it again.  Because I know you are dying to be like a Hollywood starlet and have a natural waist pencil skirt you can tuck your crisp, white oxford top into. 

 Now do the same measure, mark, and fold with the skirt back.   This time when you fold, line up the grain line arrow.  Pin the back in place.   Pin down your skirt facings.  Cut everything out.

Now lay out the rest of the fabric on your quilting mat.   Fold the folded edge to meet the selvage edge so you fabric is folded in fourths lengthwise.   Do this very carefully.  If this isn't straight or if the fabric has small folds in it along the length then your skirt will not be straight.

To figure the length of the skirt piece you need to cut, do this calculation:

Finished skirt length-finished yoke length-4 inches+1 1/8 inches=Skirt length

Basically, you need to subtract the yoke and the band lengths from your finished skirt measurement and then add back in your seam allowances.  (This will only be 1 1/8 inches instead of 1 1/4 because you're going to do a 1/2 seam to attach the band.)

Lay out the folded fabric on your quilting mat. Make sure it is lined up perfectly straight and then square the ends.  Cut two skirt lengths. No matter what size you wear your skirt will be two pieces the full width of the fabric.  On me, that would give me much less of a gather than it did on my daughter (over a triple gather.  Girl is skinny.)   If you are doing this for a little girl, you may be able to work with one width of fabric for the skirt rather than two.   All my measurements and fabric recommendations are for an adult size.

 Now use your cutting mat again to square the ends of the accent fabric and cut it in half so you have two pieces aprox. 9"x45".   

 Sew the yoke and facing exactly like the pattern recommends.  Do your darts and if you have a back seam sew that as well.  You need to leave the left side open for a zipper with this skirt.    Pin the yoke around the person you are sewing for or a dress form and be sure your yoke is straight.   Line up the waist and the yoke.  Trim as necessary to create a level edge around the bottom of the yoke.  This is also a good time to check your darts and seams to be sure it fits properly.

 Sew side seams on the band to create one long loop. Press open the seams. Fold the loop in half lengthwise so you have a 4 1/2" wide band. 

 Sew your skirt sides seams together and press.   Leave 3 inches unsewn at the top edge of the left side.  This is for your zipper.   Now sew the band to the bottom of the skirt using a 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure to match the seams.   Press the seam down toward the hem.   (Yes, there is a way to do this so it looks more finished from the inside.  I am somewhat lazy though and I don't think anyone is going to notice anyway.  If it will bother you, feel free to take the time to do it the other way.)

 Now sew your gathering stitches.  Divide the skirt into eighths and mark with pins by folding the skirt in half and then marking those ends with pins.  Fold again matching the pins in the center and marking the ends again.  Do this until you have divided the skirt into eighths.   Do the same for the yoke.  Match your seams and pins as you gather the skirt. 

 Sew the skirt to the yoke.  Press the seam. Carefully line up the trim along the seam line and sew down.

 Install your zipper according the package directions.   I will not be giving you zipper installation tips because I'm worthless at zippers.  They hate me.  Do not inspect my zipper in the next photo, please.  Thank you. 

Have fun sewing!

My favorite new recipe book

A little over a year ago I stumbled upon several really amazing deals for magazine subscriptions.  I ended up with subscriptions to three magazines that had heavy recipe content.  I loved the mags (personally I can't get enough of magazines.  I adore them.) but I didn't love the clutter.  There were recipes in them that I didn't want to get rid of but I didn't have a good way of storing them.

Enter my new recipe book.   I bought a three ring binder and several packages of page protectors.  Then I went through every saved magazine and tore out the pages for the recipes that I thought I would use.  Anything that looked good or feasible for me to make got torn out.   Then I sorted the recipes by food catagories and stuffed them into the page protectors and into the binder they went.   I also have page dividers in there so I can quickly get from salad to main dish.   You could come up with any system you wanted for categorizing the recipes, from course to ingredients to cost, whatever works best for you.

I love it first of all because I was finally able to completely toss my stash of back magazines.  One less stack of clutter in my life!  Second of all, when I plan a menu from the recipe notebook, I can pull it out of it's place and move it to the front of the book so it's easy to find on the day I make that dish.  And when I actually cook from it and inevitably get food on the page I'm cooking from . . . it just wipes off. 

If you've got a stack of recipes sitting around, including those you've printed off websites, you need to put together a recipe notebook.  Have fun with it!