Tuesday, April 2, 2013

TA DA!!


Well again I am going to have to tell on myself so I can show you what I FINALLY figured out!  I honestly amaze myself sometimes at how "thick" headed I can be.  So here is what happened....

First it is necessary to tell you that I WANT to make several receiving blankets (taking a small break from the rag quilts for now) for my youngest son's coming baby.  And of course there are a few ways to do this.  I have always just done it the simplest way of all by merely hemming up the 4 sides of the blanket.  However, truthfully, I have never really liked that way.  If the fabric is one-sided it just looks like a piece of hemmed up fabric to me.  And most of the double sided flannel fabric is plain, which does look much nicer, but I really like to use the darling little prints you can find.  But anyway, I have made many this way.  The second way would be to to create a crocheted edging to the blankets which is not only sweet and adorable, but kind of vintage looking which I really like.  HOWEVER, I don't know how to crochet!  Then, you could put two pieces of coordinating fabrics together and finish the edge with seam binding or blanket binding.  This is how I made most of Sam's.  However, they can be a little bulky, and I don't honestly like the way they wash up very well which was probably because I simply rounded the corners as I did not know how to make square mitered corners.  What I REALLY wanted to make is the receiving blankets made with a self made binding and mitered corners.  Soooo I decided I would simply look this up on-line and watch a u-tube tutorial and learn.  Well....Now it is necessary to tell you I simply don't figure things out well without a question and answer time, or better yet a one-on-one teacher, but I determined I was going to do this anyway.  So yesterday I purchased my coordinating fabrics, cut out my 2 different sized squares (another thing I hate is not having a pattern and needing to rely on my own measurements ~ but that is another story!) and began.  I got through the first steps REALLY easily and began thinking this is a snap.  But then I got to the mitered corner part and realized I wasn't sure what in the world she had been saying.  Back to the video I went.  I watched that part 3 more times!!  3!!  Again,  though unsure I thought I had figured it out and decided to give it a try.  Made my 45 degree angles (though truth be known I had NO idea what size angle I had going!) and then STUPIDLY trimmed my seam and turned the blanket inside out.  It was ALL WRONG!  If I hadn't been soo disappointed, I would have laughed it looked so ridiculous!  Now the truth is there is NO way to turn this into an acceptable blanket at this point as I had trimmed HUGE angles and it just would no longer be big enough.  I can use the fabric for burp cloths so it is not wasted or anything, but my disappointment was HUGE!  I went to bed thinking, "I am going to try again tomorrow, and I am NOT stopping until I do it right.  Sooo now today I began again.  New fabrics and fresh spirit and determination.  First try?  WRONG AGAIN!  Next try?  STILL WRONG! At least this time I was smart enough NOT to doing any trimming so I was simply ripping out my angles out! haha    Soo I decided to go back to the u-tube and find somebody else who maybe explained it better.  Found a new girl (she seemed soo young!) and she was much more thorough in her explanation and I went back to my sewing machine and whipped it up!  TA DA!!  It was finally right!  I was soo pleased with the finished look and myself for figuring it out.  Now we won't mention that most seasoned sewers probably already know how to do this, or would have never been so slow in figuring out in the first place, but will merely concentrate on the finished product.  Sooo now that you know the story behind it, I will proudly show you my latest receiving blanket.  Can't wait to make a bunch of these now. They really are a breeze.  And the possibility of fabrics and looks is endless! OH! and anothern big sale on this kind of fabric next week too!  Hope you are all having a good day!  Blessings to you all!  Debbie

DON'T KNOW IF THE COLORING IS VERY GOOD IN THIS PIC FOR SOME REASON...BUT THE INSIDE IS A SOFT TINY STRIPED YELLOW

LOOK AT THAT CORNER!!

CUTE FABRIC...

Thought you might enjoy seeing one of my daily pics of Sam today.  Actually one of Melody too.  She finally took another one of her tummy as I was begging her.  : )

RIGHT BEFORE HE LEFT TODAY FOR HIS 18 MONTH CHECK UP.  MELODY WAS GETTING READY AND TOLD SAM TO "SIT STILL" SO SHE COULD FINISH UP.  HE JUST LOOKS ADORABLE TO ME...HE IS GETTING TO BE SUCH A BIG BOY!

  SHE IS LOOKING GOOD AT 30 WEEKS.
THIS WAS YESTERDAYS..HAHA..SAM IS "PRETENDING" TO EAT LIKE THEIR DOG BUDDY.  A HUGE BLACK LAB THAT ROAMS THE DAIRY!  I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST HYSTERICAL FOR SOME REASON...


11 comments:

  1. Well, kudos to you! I probably would have never figured those corners out. Great looking blanket and Sam is just precious! Melody looks great!

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  2. Good job I am so totally impressed with your corners. I have never liked my mitered corners either. Yours are just perfect. Sam is so cute with that little bottom up in the air. Melody looks fantastic.
    I was never that tiny ever!!! She is so cute. I have to watch those videos over and over too.

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  3. you did a great job on the blanket. I have the same problem when I am trying to figure out something new
    (with me it's mostly computer related or trying to figure out how to use photoshop) i do the same thing I search utube for tutorials and watch them over and over again before I finally figure it out. I am still trying to figure out how to use all the stuff on my phone ugh!
    I love that photo of Sam in the bucket....just as cute as can be
    Blessings to you

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  4. I was certain that you couldn't have found a cuter picture than Sam on the commode until I got to the last one. That is just precious, and doesn't Mommy look beautiful?

    I love the blanket and am so impressed with your corners. I have been know to have a wee bit of trouble with my corners.

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  5. Gotta love you- tube and multiple explanations of the same thing. That blanket is terrified! Well done!

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  6. I just love the double-sided blankie ... and the mitered corners really add the finishing touch! I finally mastered mitered corners on the bindings on my quilts, but I am not pleased with how the mitered corners on the borders turned out on T#2's quilt (my first attempt at mitered borders). Love the pictures of Mel and Sam.

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  7. Sewing a straight line challenges me, corners?? Forget it! It's why I don't sew, I just look at what the rest of you sew and ket you do it for me. :)

    That daughter of yours should model 'pregnancy' clothes... she is such a beautiful mommy!

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  8. All I can say is the blanket looks beautiful. I am not a sewer or crocheter although my mom was. I guess I never inherited that gene. :)

    But I love the Sam and Melody photos. That is one cute guy!

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

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  9. Sams photo is hilarious! So cute.
    He is a big boy sitting on that stool for his Mama.
    Melody is so smallframed her tummy really shows. It won't be long now.
    Mitering does take some practice, but it did turn out so nicely.
    I like your choice of fabrics!

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  10. Sam is adorable, and Melody looks quite lovely. I loved the receiving blanket, too. My mom is an expert with those.

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!