CHRISTMAS BABY BIBS

What a busy time it has been here at Thecabbagepatch! Kids coming and going and mum working non stop on custom orders. I have also found time to finally put up the Christmas tree with help from my daugher and all the quilts - running out of wall space here!

SEW BUSY

It's been a busy month here at Thecabbagepatch!
Lots of people getting organised for Christmas early this year has seen me spend most of my days by the embroidery machine.
Lots of personalised bibs, burp cloths and blankets have been made and posted both here in Australia and overseas.
I also found the time to make some much needed kitchen towels which also double as hand towels. Use the cotton side for drying dishes and the thick towelling side on the reverse for drying hands.
Here's just a few I have made (some are embroidered) with many more to come would make great Christmas gifts too!

CACTII NOW FLOWERING

Here are just some pics of my lovely small cactii which are in flower now. I love them all and so glad I put them into a large plastic tub with the lid on over winter, they have just thrived!
I feel another trip to Gardenworld might be in order to buy a few more!!

HO HO HO CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!

Christmas is coming only 72 shopping days to go!


I have been working on my Christmas items and they are now finished so I can share them with you.


Firstly we have a lovely personalised baby bib available in red or green colourway and I like them both so hard to choose a favourite! Then we have a matching onesie which together with a bib would make a great gift for a newborn don't you think? Onesies are white with short sleeves and available in sizes 00, 0 and 1.


The tshirts are great for toddlers (available in sizes 1 - 10) my sample tshirt is for a friends little girl and is a size 2 (Australian sizing).

All items can be found here in my Etsy or Madeit stores.

CHRISTMAS WREATH

Well I managed during the week to make my first Christmas project for this year! A lovely rag Christmas wreath using instructions found here.
I purchased two wreaths from Spotlight one 12 inches and one 14 inches as I wanted the wreath to be nice and full. I also purchased a total of 9 Christmas themed flat fats from Spotlight, three each in colours of red, green and cream. I also purchased some red ribbon in two sizes one smaller one to hang the wreath with and a much wider one for the bow.
Bear in mind you could use grosgrain ribbon, satin ribbon or a combination of ribbon and fabrics in making a rag wreath. You could also make a themed wreath ie Halloween, Easter, Valentines day or simply use one jelly roll of fabrics the possibilites for these are endless!
To begin I firstly used some wire to join the two circles together so they would not move in 4 places. Then I cut all fabric into 1.5 inch strips - no need to prewash fabric as you will not be washing this wreath and then into 6 inch lengths (you can of course cut them longer its up to you).
Then as per the instructions simply tied these all the way around each wreath ie one red, one green and one cream. Only tying once is sufficient and then remember every now and then to push the pieces close together as you want this wreath nice and full.
Once you have finished just add some ribbon at the top to hang your wreath and a lovely bow to place on your wreath as well (mine is not cut yet).
Very happy with the end result and can't wait to hang it on the front door for all to see! Ho Ho Ho!!!

SEPTEMBER BABY BOOM

Well yes the baby boom month is officially here. I have been "sew" busy sewing orders and purchasing fabric that it has left little time for anything else.
So here's a look at some of the orders made and sold so far this month from Thecabbagepatch.

MORE AUGUST ITEMS

Here's just a few more items that were ordered and made during the month of August 2011. Some lovely bibs in different designs and the most gorgeous blanket requested for a little one turning one!

AUGUST ORDERS

Well the month of August just flew by and the baby boom is in full swing. Here's just a few pics of what I have been making - baby bibs in various designs and names and a birthday present for Janet - a lovely lingerie bag!

PEASANT DRESS FOR FAT QUARTER FRIDAY

During the week I purchased this lovely sewing pattern called The Brooke Peasant dress (all sizes from 6mths to 12 years including a bonus doll dress to match) from Little Lizard King on etsy. I have become so obsessed with machine embroidery that it was lovely to use my sewing machine and overlocker for a change.

This dress is a size 2 and I used four fat quarters for this project. Yes that's right only 4 fat quarters, one for the front, one for the back, one for both sleeves and one for the strip at the bottom (note the sleeves and strip are a different colour to the body as I like contrast you could of course use all the same fabric.

Very easy to follow pattern with clear instructions and a few variations as well. Sewing/cutting time was about 3 hours as I was constantly interrupted that day (remind me to put the answering machine on next time) and I am sure I could do it in just over an hour all up.

I choose fabrics from my stash as this was the first time making one and I have some gorgeous fabric lined up for the next one - see pic 2.

FAT QUARTER FRIDAY

How many of you have a huge stash of fat quarters just waiting to be used?
Yes I am guilty my stash well it would reach the roof and beyond so I decided it was time to start using it!

The fabric used for this project is called "Sent with Love" by Deb Strain for Moda fabrics.

So I did a google search for machine embroidery designs - coasters and was sewing away in no time. For those who do not have an embroidery machine simply google how to sew fabric coasters. I choose the stipple version for mine and it is a little hard to see on screen but it is there!

This set of four took only just over an hour to make on the embroidery machine and looks lovely. Would look great made up in Christmas fabrics and a lovely present too!

TISSUE COVER OR CASE

In need of something to give as a small present? These quilted zippered tissue cases or covers are just the thing!
The pattern is for machine embroidery only and is available to purchase from GG Designs Embroidery and all you need is one fat quarter, one 18cm minimum dress zip and either very thin wadding or a small piece of flannel/flannelette.
Just a note I also quilted the back of some of the covers so this was an additional step or hooping before actually making the tissue cover. I did this as the front is quilted and I wanted the back quilted to match, you could of course omit this step in which case the back is just plain. You could also choose to use a different fabric for the inside or back cover which I did with the pink/green spot fabric. The ribbon loop at the end is also optional. You could then make a key holder or a small cosmetic bag to match the possibilities are endless.
Above is just a few covers that I made this weekend and instead of using wadding as suggested in the instructions, I used one layer of white flannelette.
What do you think? I plan on making a heap of these to have handy when I need a little present.

DOTS AND SPOTS

I was recently sorting thru my huge fabric stash and came across a pile of fabric with lovely spots/dots.
My mind was racing with what to do as I only had small amounts, I decided to make some appliqued bibs this time with my stack of colourful bibs. So what do you think of the end result?
These bibs are available for purchase on Ebay.

HEADBANDS

Saturday found me with a little too much time on my hands so I went searching thru all my scrap projects to find something quick and easy to sew and I did! These gorgeous headbands were the result and yes I just had to personalise them as well for all the neices.

As we were having dinner with the whole family I had to get three made in just one afternoon and I did it!

Might just make a few more of these would also make a great last minute present too!

PERSONALIZED PILLOWCASE

Inbetween all my sewing orders this week I have found the time to make a pillowcase using a tutorial I found on the internet.
I managed to find two fabrics the main fabric a lovely floral was reduced at Spotlight to $6.00 (from $14.95)and a gorgeous green to match (not reduced).
Instructions were very easy to follow and as an extra step I decided to embroider her name on the side strip.
You can find the measurements and instructions here at MaryQuilts.com

Once completed I realized that the pillowcase was way too big (perhaps pillows are a different size in the US) so out came the mat and rotary cutter and several inches later viola all finished.
Will be making one for each of the nieces and nephews as birthday presents so will take note of the measurements and post when I make another one shortly.
I think these are gorgeous what do you think?

MORE ORDERS POSTED THIS WEEK

Here's just a few orders that were made and posted this week. Gorgeous designs too and in the name of "Mia". I have a niece by the same name and also a friend with a daughter of the same name. Perhaps this name is becoming popular again!