Quilt Binding: by Hand or Machine?

Hi Stitching Friends!!!  I have been so busy with parenting, homeschooling, and homeopathy that I have completely neglected my love of all things fabric!!!   I realize I miss it terribly!!!  So I decided I will have to be more intentional about sewing, stitching, etc.

With that in mind, I was determined to start binding this quilt today.  I pieced this quilt several years ago and finished quilting it this past summer.  All it lacks is a nice binding.  Today I started working on that.  

I often have been asked if a quilt binding should be hand-stitched or machine-stitched.  So I thought I would share my thoughts on what I do with my quilts.  

This is going to be a large lap quilt.  I tend to hand-stitch the bindings if they will not be machine-washed excessively.  So for our lap quilts I usually hand-stitch the binding because I do not expect to wash them all the time.  When I hand-stitch the binding I have a bit more control and can make sure it is nice, tight, and wrapped just right around the edge of the quilt.  And I use small hand-stitches that disappear into the backing fabric.  And an extra bonus, for me, is that it is very relaxing and therapeutic to hand-stitch!!!  

Now on the other hand, if I am making a quilt for a baby or small child (like this one I made my for second child 17 years ago), I usually machine-stitch the binding because I know it is going to be machine-washed a lot and I want the binding to be as sturdy as possible.  On the front side of the quilt I "stitch in the ditch" and hope that I catch the back folded edge of the binding with the needle on the back side.  Using my edge-stitch foot on my sewing machine makes this process so much easier!!!

The drawback is that it is a bit more difficult to get a nice and even line of stitching on the back side.  It is certainly not impossible, just a bit more tricky (for me anyway).  Another tip is instead of using straight pins, I use "Wonder Clips" by Clover, and they make the whole process easier whether I hand or machine-stitch.  

The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer. Rather, it is a personal choice and I think whatever motivates you to finish the quilt is the best answer!!! I machine-stitched the binding on this quilt years ago because I never would have finished it otherwise.  A finished quilt that is not perfect is better than a perfect quilt that is not finished!!!  That is how I feel about it anyway!!!  :) And remember, sewing should be fun!!!  If it is not fun you won't do it, so make it fun!!!  

Keep Stitching!!!

Birthing A Quilt......

Wow!  Long time...no write.  Sorry about that!  We had a wonderful Christmas with our four children, plus my 18 year old niece came to spend the holidays with us.  We had fun in the new house deciding where to place the tree, how to decorate the front of the house, building our annual gingerbread house, etc.  Oh, plus we also made our new and old neighbors hand crocheted dishcloths with lotion, and a small plate of chocolate treats.  That is one of our favorite traditions each year.

With Christmas over and the New Year here....we are slowing getting back into our routines.  That was disrupted a bit as all four kids came down with the "coughing virus," as I call it.  It is taking awhile to shake it but I think they are all on the mend at this time.  They are running around the house irritating each other so I have to assume they are feeling better.  :)

As for me, I have actually worked in a bit of sewing here and there.  I was able to finish a quilt that I started awhile back.  The days, and nights, have been so chilly here and we have all been fighting over who has which quilt that I decided to finish this one so there would be another quilt in the mix.  And it's a huge lap size quilt....so it is the perfect kind for cold and lazy days!  Well, I really shouldn't say lazy....I find the kids wrapped up in quilts reading and doing school work pretty often.

Anyway, above you see all the yards and yards of binding I made.

Then I stitched it in.  I use my walking foot for just about all things quilting...but I use my edge stitch foot for the last seam when attaching binding.  It rides right in the ditch and catches the binding in the back for a perfect looking binding.

I'll be back with the finished quilt!

I hope you all have worked some stitching in too!!   Happy Stitching!!!

Halloween 2012....

Halloween has come and gone this year.  The kids gave me a few day's notice this time so I was able to finish their costumes with about 1 hour to spare.  Can you figure out who they dressed up as?

They were from The Gilligan's Island, of course, minus a few characters.  However, we did have Ginger (with long sleeves because she knew she'd be cold), Mary Ann (with a coconut cream pie, of course), Gilligan and the Skipper too!  So much fun we all had.  We visited with some of our new neighbors and also went to our old neighborhood to visit with a few of our friends there too.  Oh, how I truly miss our old neighbors!!!!  It made my night when one of our old neighbors told me she was so happy we came by because every year her whole family looked forward to see what my kids were dressing up as.  I loved that!!!!

And for those that are interested; here are the sewing details.  The Ginger dress was made from a McCall's pattern #M6098.  It only had sleeveless and short sleeve options so I just drafted it to be long sleeved.  As a side note, this dress has absolutely no shaping and I wouldn't make this as a casual dress to wear but it did work for a quick costume.

Mary Ann was made from my old favorite stand-by Miss Madeline from The Handmade Dress.  As another side note here, my dear friend Samantha just had another precious baby girl.  You can see pictures of her here.

For Gilligan, I drafted his pants and I must say he LOVES them so much he won't take them off!!!  Sometime I'll have to get closer pictures so you can see the hip pockets and the detailing I put on them.  I love them too.  I think I'm going to get some more fabric and make him some more but in navy and brown.  He even has these on as I type this.  And his hat was made from this free pattern from Oliver + S.   (Ethan asked me if people would recognize him.  I told him other kids probably wouldn't but their parents would!!!  Funny!!!)

For the Skipper, I did make him a different pair of khaki pants but since I had to wake him from his nap to leave the house he wasn't too impressed with his pants.  I also made him a "belly" pillow to give him a Skipper's belly......but again, he wasn't nearly as impressed as I was.

As for moving news, it has gone well and we are now fine tuning everything.  I'll be back soon with more updates.  I hope you all are enjoying this lovely fall!  The colors of the trees in my neck of the woods has been spectacular this year!!!!  Blessings to each of you and take some time to stitch!!!

We're Moving.....

Wow!  Two months later!!  I'm still here but even busier than I was the last time.  The last time I posted we were just busy with the normal summer stuff.  Now we are busy with moving!!!  We've randomly looked at houses off and on for a few years.  But last month we looked at a house, and looked at it again, and again.  And finally decided we should live there.  Now several weeks later and lots of craziness.....we are packing and moving!  We are only moving about 4 miles down the road....but we still have to move everything just the same.  So for the friends that have called, emailed, or otherwise....we really are fine.....just moving!  And I still won't have a dedicated sewing room....but the kids will have a bit more room and we will be on a larger piece of property on a beautiful river.  So it's all good!  Hopefully I will be back soon with something.  It may only be pictures of the new house but I really hope to get back to sewing soon.  I need some sewing therapy!!!

Summer Sewing and a Birthday Boy.....

Sewing seems to have taken a back seat to everything else this summer.  Maybe the heat is draining all of my energy so that I have none left for fun things.  Maybe the kids bickering is distracting me too much.   I don't know what the cause is....but I sure haven't been sewing much lately.  I did manage to finish this Children's Corner Lillian for Elisabeth.  I used a pretty pink floral fabric that I had in my stash, and I lined it in white. 

I think it will make a sweet little dress for this crazy summer heat we're having and Elisabeth really likes it, so that is always a plus.  And if you've ever made a Lillian before you know how fast it goes together.  I love that!!!  

And my Sweet Ean celebrated his third birthday a few weeks ago.  Such a sweet little boy.  He brings such joy into our lives.  For his special dinner I made him his favorite meal:  pinto beans, rice, steamed broccoli, avocado, and apple slices.  Then we topped that off with egg-free chocolate cake and easy banana ice cream.  Yum!!!

June......

I hope this greeting finds you all in good health and spirits!  It's been a bit busy around here the past month or so....as you can tell with my lack of updates/posting.  The girls had their piano recital and they both did fantastic.  They each had a solo and then a duet.....so fun for me to hear them practice together and then perform together.  Ethan is begging for piano lessons now too.  I love that!!  :o)

We had another trip to Tennessee to check on my dad's house.  We are trying to help him maintain it while he is mostly in Florida.  I know that may sound like drudgery....but it is such a pleasant treat for us to have a place to go and visit.  Plus since it is a home we can pick up groceries on the way and prepare most of our meals at home while there.  A nice little bonus.

While in TN this time we zipped by two different needlework shops.  I was so inspired that I purchased two cross-stitch charts/patterns while there.  Then I came home and headed to my favorite cross-stitch/quilting shop and picked up the required canvas and thread.  These patterns actually call for hand-dyed floss which I have never used before.  I have enjoyed it thus far as it really gives a sense of depth that you don't get with the regular DMC floss.  So far I've just stitched words...but I have another pattern that does have large areas filled in and I think it is going to yield awesome results.

And back at home, we've been having fun at the park with the little ones.  Ean has on a pair of shorts that I made him in the pic above.  I've actually made him quite a few pairs of shorts now....probably about 7 pairs.  They are addictive because they go together so quickly.  Love them.  I can't believe this sweet little boy has a birthday coming up soon!

The step-son of a local friend of mine was injured in Afghanistan last week.  I've been praying for him and his family.  He is being transferred to DC today from Germany and the family will finally be reunited with him while he heals.  I know it will be such an emotional time for them all!!!  They have been using Facebook to send out updates and it has been such a blessing to be able to keep up with what's going on.

Not much more to comment on.  We are already into the swing of summer it seems.  Actually about the only thing that changes is the weather.  We still take piano lessons and do a bit of learning even over the summer months.  I know.....I'm a mean mom sometimes!  :o)

I hope you all are taking a few minutes out of your busy-ness to stitch...it's great therapy!!!

Springy Skort.....and A Weekend Getaway......

(The sun was bright in her eyes)

A few weeks back I mentioned that I was making Elisabeth a new A-Line Ruffled Skort. I picked up some Sis Boom fabrics that she really liked and I must say they were very pleasant to sew. I didn't think to take a picture of the shorts but they are made out of the coordinating yellow fabric that I also used to make the turn cord bow. So sweet and fresh looking. I love it! And Elisabeth loves it too!!!

And some of you may be wondering what I dressed my little ones in for Easter. Well, interesting story, but we ended up going out of town at the last minute. I did make a simple little dress for Elisabeth that I will show you soon. And Ean's little outfit was still sitting on my sewing table all cut out and not one stitch sewn when we left on Thursday morning. But I am going to finish it and show it to you soon.

The picture above was our view all weekend long. It was such a gorgeous weekend in the Smoky Mountains!!! Although it was a bit chilly....which was interesting on Friday morning when we realized our heater wasn't working. And I hadn't packed any cool-weather clothes for anyone either, including myself. But it was worth it....such a beautiful Easter weekend with my sweet family!!!

Over the next few days I have to finish two quilt blocks for the local quilt store block of the month club I'm in. Plus our local Smocking Guild meets this coming Monday night and I have to get the entire program pulled together (i.e., make the completed sample, make the demo sample, make handouts, send out reminder emails, etc). So it's going to be a busy next few days. Enjoy your weekend and try to fit some stitching in if you can!!!

January Around My Home......

It's been busy but quiet around here lately. I've been trying to fit a bit of smocking in here and there. I am so in love with this precious little floral fabric. I bought it last year at our local heirloom shop knowing it would make an adorable bishop.

I also found a more tidy way to keep my floss while stitching. I am only using three colors for this project and a folded index card with holes punched in it is working out perfectly.

My three older children are deep in creating stop-motion movies right now. Emily and Elisabeth have been making movies with their 18" dolls and Ethan has been making some with his new Legos he got for Christmas. It's so fun to see them learning and enjoying the process. I have done nothing but encourage them and enjoy the finished movies. They have done all the rest. And Sweet Ean is just as fun as ever. Right now he is deep in his books. He loves to sit and look through books.....he is so serious about it. Sweet times!!!

Out of the Mouth of Babes....

Emily's precious writing on the white board today sums it up. My mom passed away earlier this week. She was 80 years old and had a blessed life. Emily and she had a very special bond from day one. She will definitely be missed. We are making plans and will be traveling to visit with family. Please pray for our family as we celebrate her life and move forward. Thanks friends!!!

xoxo,

Cindy

Labor Day Blessings......

I hope you are all having a wonderful day!!! It's a bit rainy here but that is quite alright. We are enjoying a slow kind of day with a late breakfast, late lunch and a bit of painting thrown in just for fun. The girls are doing extra chores to make some money, Ethan is building a wooden railroad track, and Ean is playing with crayons. Wayne is supervising all the above and I'm sipping on a yummy smoothie while thinking about what to cook for dinner. Now if only I can get dinner made and cleaned up early....maybe I can work on a quick sewing project. Hmmm....sounds like a plan!!! I hope your day has been fantastic too!!!

A Fabulous Find......

The girls and I have been waiting months for the local annual doll show. Saturday morning we woke up excited and ready to go. It was held in a new location this year and we just about walked our legs off! In the end I did not find any dolls I could not live without...but I did find this awesome book!!! I could not find a copyright on it....but the information inside is wonderful....especially for $5.

Imagine my surprise when I did a search on-line today and found this image of the front cover....copyright 1902!!!! Wow!!!!

I know I've been a bit quiet this past week. I've mostly been working on school curriculum/lesson plans for this fall.....plus we've had a few strange things pop up this week. Hopefully I'll be back to my normal stitching self soon!!! Although some of that stitching might have to take place while I'm sitting outside in the sun because I was also informed this week that my vitamin D level is WAY too low!!!! Back soon with a recently finished knitting project.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Egg-Free).....

Since we found Ean is allergic to eggs I've been trying to modify some of our favorite recipes to accommodate him. For these muffins I took our favorite chocolate chip muffin recipe, that I've tweaked over the years, and removed the egg and added in the banana for a binder. I wasn't sure how they would turn out the first time, but fortunately all of us love them.

I find I am making these muffins several times a week now. I actually have a batch in right now and I can't wait until they are finished!!!

Here's the recipe:

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Egg-Free)

1 3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup sucanat (or sugar)

2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

1 small banana, mashed

1 cup rice milk (or cow milk)

1/4 cup butter, melted (or oil)

handful of chocolate chips (you can omit for plain banana muffins)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl. Mash banana in another bowl. Add milk to banana and mix well. Stir banana/milk mixture into dry ingredients alternating with melted butter. Add chocolate chips and stir lightly. Fill muffin cups. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes. Then find someone to enjoy them with you!!! Or four little someones!!!

Random Wednesday Thoughts.....

Hi Friends! Long time, no blogging! The kids have been sick again....boo hiss! But the upside is this: Ean started poking in his ears last Friday evening. I took him to the on-call pediatrician the next morning and he said Ean had a double ear infection. But I so did not want to give him antibiotics. This is the first ear infection my littles have ever had...crazy, I know! Anyway, I did some research and decided to try a home remedy first. So I made up some garlic-mullein oil and started putting that in his ears twice daily. He immediately acted like he felt better. So I kept it up. On Monday I took Ean to see our normal pediatrician....whom I really like! He said Ean did have an ear infection but that it was getting better!!! Yeah!!! He said to keep up the oil and not to worry about any antibiotics! I love when I can find alternatives to standard medicines.

Before the kids came down with this cold, I was working on this sweet tatted edging. I taught myself to tat when I was about 11 years old. I had been wanting to pick it up again but just haven't taken the time. But when we evacuated our home because of the tornado aftermath, I went to a needlework shop in TN and picked up a new shuttle. It is so relaxing to tat and I am really enjoying it again. I have a little bag in my purse and whenever I have a few minutes I pull it out and tat a ring or two. I am hoping to put this edging on a wee care gown once it is finished.

In other thoughts, we are going to be under tornado warnings again tonight and tomorrow. Please pray for all the people that have been affected the past month, and are still being affected by these deadly tornadoes. I have read some blogs where people are almost kidding about the tornadoes. Trust me, if they could only see the destruction left behind they would not be kidding about anything tornado related. It is going to take some people, and towns years to recover. The roads in our neighborhood are still piled high with debris, and that is only from trees and fences. However, within about a 15 minute drive, some entire neighborhoods are gone. Gone. I am trying not to take anything for granted these days. And I am thankful for your time and the fact that you stopped by for a visit...thank you! I hope you have a great weekend and you are able to fit a little stitching in! I hope to get some pictures soon so I can show you several things I have finished recently!

Good Times.....

It's good to know my sewing supplies are coming in handy for the little folks around this place. The other day I found that Ethan had created this "sled" and was taking Ean for rides. It was all fun and games until Ean fell off backwards and bumped his head. Fortunately Ean wasn't too disturbed because he quickly climbed back on for another go around the living room. Never a dull moment around here!

Happy Mother's Day......

(Ethan - in his sister's boots, playing in the sunshine)

A Mother can read all the child-rearing books and can subscribe to any theory of parenting, but what gets passed along to her children is something far more intimate and mysterious than anything contained therein. What gets passed along is her character, and it enters into her children as surely and as inexorably as water flows from a fuller vessel into a less full one.

--Laurence Shames--

Isn't this the truth?! Happy Mother's Day Friends!!! I hope your day is full of love!!!

I Am Constantly In Awe.......

When I started blogging almost five years ago....yes, I said five years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. What I did know though was that I loved my family and I loved sewing. This blog was to be my way to document what we were doing as a family to share with our extended family and friends. Plus, as a mom of several young children, I always feel like I'm not getting anything done. Like I tend to forget that I actually do get some sewing projects completed here and there. But posting pictures of the item and some additional information, I thought would be proof that I did get the kids in bed early enough so I had time to work on a sewing project. And it worked.

And then guess what happened? Other people actually started visiting my blog. I was surprised and thrilled. Then some of these visitors started asking me questions about sewing. So then I kept doing what I was already and started trying to teach some in my blog posts. I tried to add in some tips, techniques, tutorials, patterns, etc. Sewing brings me so much joy that I honestly think everyone should love to sew.

So trying to teach and inspire my blog visitors has been my mission for awhile now. And you can only imagine how amazed I still am when you all come and visit, send me emails, add me to sewing lists, etc.

Most recently I was honored when Careers in Fashion listed me on their Top 50 Stylish DIY Blogs. I am so humbled!!! I have looked over the list and I am in very good company. If you have a few minutes I urge you to do the same. You may find another sewing blog you would like to visit. But I do hope you will continue to visit with me as well. Because I have come to like you and look forward to your visit. If only I could just have you all over for a little sewing bee. Wouldn't that be great. I'd love to sit and troubleshoot all your questions and praise you for your projects.

Actually through this humble little blog, God has brought me many wonderful friends. I can now send off an email or pick up the phone and call a good number of people that enjoy chatting about sewing just as much as I do. God is so good. Even though I am choosing to stay at home to raise and educate my children, God has been so kind to bring friends right into my home. Incredible, isn't it? God always meets us right were we are. I am definitely amazed and will continue to be I am sure!!!! Now let's get back to stitching, shall we? I have an Easter train waiting for a few more stitches!

Back to Business.....

Yeah, it's time to start stitching Ean's Easter outfit. I've spent the last week editing our church cookbook and not only did it consume all my time....it made my eyes sore. I'm hoping I can smock tonight once I get all the house chores completed. After I post this I am going to start on a big pot of minestrone soup for tonight and some yummy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies too. Then I'm going to do a quick clean up around the house. Then, hopefully, I'll be able to smock a bit. I find that sewing or hand stitching is so therapeutic for me. Do you find the same? I know sewing frustrates some and therefore that can't be relaxing for them. But I do love it and it relaxes me.

Today is my Emily's favorite day of the year, I think. April Fool's Day. She spends her entire year thinking about various pranks to pull on us. This morning was funny though because she had one pulled over on her. She loves the Jumble in the daily newspaper...and she has gotten really good at them too. Well today it said they were going to discontinue the Jumble effective immediately. I heard her yelp across the house. It was funny when she realized it was an April's Fool joke. She is a funny girl.

Oh, and that funny girl has been busy. I can't wait to take a picture and show you what she has been working on. She has more tenacity than some adults I know. You just wait...you won't believe it either.

Ok, must get busy chopping veggies and making cookies!! My smocking is calling me!!!!

A Bit of Smocking.....

Thank you all so much for the warm wishes for my little ones. The three older kids are feeling better....just have a lingering cough (two of them also have a sinus infection - just for fun). Saturday evening Ean started getting sick. He has been miserable. Well it's hard to feel well when you are keeping a 104.7 fever for hours and hours. We have had a few rough nights but I am hopeful he will be better soon. He still has quite a cough but he is trying so hard to maintain a good attitude. A few minutes ago a neighbor came to our door and surprised us with dinner. In the process of thanking him I noticed that Ean fell down and sunk his top tooth right through his bottom lip. Sweet baby...he is really having a rough day!!!

Before the kids got sick I was working on a gift for a precious friend of mine. I met this sweet friend last year through this humble little blog. She has offered me so much encouragement, wisdom, etc over the months. She is definitely the kind of person I would love to have live next door. But since we live a few states away from each other, I'll take her friendship via e-mail.

Anyway, this friend of mine has three beautiful grandchildren. Two of them are twin grand-daughters and they will be two this month. I so wanted to make them something special for their big day. So I dug out patterns and fabrics to decide what to make them. I won't share all the details yet...but here is a sneak peek. I only lack hemming them (yes "them", remember there are two of them!) But what a joy it has been sewing for these precious little girls!

Our Annual Valentine's Day Tea Party......

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day. We sure did. The kids and I decided to make rolled sugar cookies this year for our tea party and I am so glad we did because we had a lot of fun and they were yummy!!!

We all took turns rolling out the dough and cutting out the cookies. And of course, we all participated in the decorating too. Some were a little more heavy-handed than others.

We swapped handmade Valentine cards, ate yummy cookies and drank warm peppermint tea. And so another wonderful year with this sweet little bunch has been celebrated!!!

Here is sweet Ean during the tea party. We recently found he is violently allergic to eggs....so unfortunately he did not get to enjoy the yummy cookies. Ethan asked me last night if I could find a recipe for cookies without eggs so that Ean can have some next time. I thought that was so thoughtful of him!!! And I will definitely dig up a recipe next time for our Sweet Ean. He is such a blessing to all of us.

And if you look real close you will see he has been busy cutting his first molar this past week. He stayed up many nights working on this tooth. I remember telling my dad once that I hated when the kids were teething because they were in so much pain. His answer was short and sweet and to the point...."Well having teeth is better than the alternative." He was right as always!!!

I have actually worked in little bits sewing here and there lately. I have lots to share as soon as I get a few pictures taken.

Staying Put.......

(Ethan digging in the snow ~ Jan. 10, 2011)

I think we'll be staying put for a few days. And I'm not sure I'm thrilled about it. I had to cancel a chiropractor appt. for this morning, a dental appt. for tomorrow afternoon, and our food co-op pick-up which should have been this Wednesday has been slipped until next Wednesday. Life comes to a screeching halt when it snows in the South!!!

Overnight last night we had about 10 inches of snow settle all around us. The kids had a blast playing outside this morning. It is a wet snow though and they all came in freezing and wet. After changing clothes and warming up with some hot chocolate, I was surprised but they never asked to go out again. Emily even told me tonight that the snow was beautiful but she was ready for it to be gone. The problem is that the temps are not going to be above freezing until Thursday.

After a very lazy and unproductive day I decided to pull out the embroidery module for my sewing machine. I actually stitched out four different items....once I started I couldn't stop!!! Hopefully I really will have something to show in the next few days...if cabin fever doesn't get the better of me!!!!