Darison's Tag Baby Blankies {a tutorial}

This adorable neighbor girl of mine is so sweet. 

(Some of you might recognize her as a long-time model for marie-madeline studio patterns...)

When Darison found out that her cousin and his wife were going to be having their first baby, she quickly and thoughtfully set out to make them something special for their precious little one. 

She found a tutorial on how to make these super adorable blankies and went out and found the softest, cutest fabrics and ribbons. 

I was so happy that Darison wanted to spend one of our Fridays together sewing up these sweet baby gifts. (She decided to make two blankets - one for the cousin coming and the other for a little cousin who's already here....) So between homework and cookie dough and then baked cookies, she made these blankets. 

Yes. She. Because all I did was help her out sometimes. 

Darison did a fantastic job and I'm so proud of her! 

She also graciously allowed me to take pictures of her while she worked, so we could share a little bit of our fun day and a new tutorial with you all. 

Darison's Tag Baby Blankies 

-2 squares 13 1/2" x 13 1/2" of soft fabrics (minky, fleece, flannel)

-Ribbon (silky is especially fun)  

 1. cut ribbon 5" long.

 2. fold ribbon in half and pin around the edges of your square. raw edges of ribbon even with raw edge of fabric.

 3. sew ribbon tails down at 1/4".

 4. right sides together, place squares together, with ribbons sandwiched in between.

 5. sew squares together at 1/4". make sure your second stitch is right inside your first stitch. leave 3" gap in the middle of one side.

 6. clip corners and cut off excess around edges.

 7. turn right side out through 3" gap.

 8. carefully push out corners and topstitch around edges at 1/4".

 And..... you're finished! 

Thanks, Darison!

Way to go, Dare!  So proud of you. I know your little cousins will love them!

xo Abi

It's a tutorial for C&T Publishing's National Sewing Month!

I designed this little pouch for C&T Publishing's Happy National Sewing month! 

If you'd like to make your own Happy Pouch, hop over to the C&T blog 

and simply follow the tutorial there!

But what makes this occasion super fun, is that C&T is GIVING AWAY 

a copy of my book, Modern Prairie Sewing: 20 Handmade Projects for You & Your Friends.

Don't forget to throw your name in the hat so you can win your own copy!

                                            
                            Grab a cup of coffee or a coke (I'll bring the brownies) and let's sew!

XO  Abi

Nanny's Perfect Pillowslip {a tutorial}

 When Nanny came for a visit in March, we decided to make new pillows for our living room. 

While Nan measured the pillow forms and cut the correct pillowslip dimensions, I whipped them out on the sewing machine. After making a couple, I was completely smitten!! Nan's pillowslips are beyond easy to make and take less fabric than the normal envelope style pillowcases. 

What you'll need: 

-pillow form... go straight to PillowCubes to find great, high quality pillow forms! 

Use the coupon code MarieMadeline10 to receive 10% off your order too. You're welcome!

-sew on velcro

-2 pieces of fabric

matching thread, sewing machine, scissors

 1. Measure your pillow form and add 1/4" seam allowance to 3 sides. Add 3/4" to one side.

 2. Pin your fabric right sides together, leaving a long opening on the edge that you 

added 3/4" seam allowance to.

 3. Sew around your pillowslip, using the proper seam allowance. Cut your strips of velcro a littler longer than your opening. Pin and sew down both sides, so your velcro is secure.

                                   repeat on opposite side of opening with opposite velcro type

 Nanny's Perfect Pillowslip is complete and ready for the next nap,

the next pillow fight, or just to sit there and look beautiful!

 See how green it is outside our windows?! I love it!!!

Happy sewing!

xo Abi

A Favorite Belt (+ how-to!)

I don't wear belts that often, but when I do I'm always excited to pull this fun one out

that my Paps got me on one of our super special granddaughters & Paps outings!

The only problem was that the belt was still too loose on the tightest notch. 

I'd still wear it with a loose cardigan thrown over the top of my outfit 

to hide the fact that it was loose in the back. 

I decided that it needed to be fixed. So I found matching thread and got to playing around!  

The how-to pictures are pretty self explanatory, but I went ahead and left notes 

that might help you out.

Here's what I did to shrink my belt down to the perfect size, 

while still keeping it's store bought finished look.

I hope that it'll get your wheels to turning for any elastic 

backed belts that you need personally fitted!

 carefully rip the store stitches out. I only ripped out the ones that were sewn into the elastic.

 this part's up to you. figure out how much needs to be cut off and do it!

 tuck your elastic back into the belt front.

 find the stitch width that best matches the store stitches (mine was 3.5). 

try to cover the holes made by the manufacturer.

 sweet! it's done!

xo Abi

Away For the Summer Coat Covers {a tutorial}

Spring is officially here in Missouri! The grass is a gorgeous green and needing to be cut. 

The short sleeve t-shirts are out and the coats are getting put away in the back of the closets. 

Not a bad thing! But sometimes our coats need more covering 

than what the plastic shoulder covers can provide.

So I wrote a very quick tutorial that involves very little fabric. 

But best of all: very little time! 

What you'll need:

-1 yard home decor fabric (as long as it's durable and 54" wide, you're good!)

-thread

-scissors

-sewing machine

 1. If you have a plastic coat cover, place it on your fabric and use it as your pattern for your fabric coat cover. If you don't have a plastic cover, carefully use the coat that 

you're going to cover and trace around it with a washable marker - very, very carefully!!!!

 2. Use the fabric fold to your advantage! (See above picture and yellow marker tracing...)

Draw a straight line from the top of your shoulder cover to the end of your 1 yard.

Make sure and cut your notch at the top middle.

 Coat covers cut out.

 3. Right sides together, pin around the edges of your cover.

 4. Start sewing on the fold edge. Sew around your cover using a 1/4" seam allowance.

 When you start sewing on the fold, start near the edge and work your way up to the 1/4" seam allowance, so you have a smooth finished seam.

 5. Back stitch at the beginning and ending of your notch, leaving your notch open.

 6. Fold the raw edges of your notch over and pin in place!

 8. Being careful not to catch any excess coat cover, sew both notches in place.

 9. Finish with a simple hem.

 That was fun! I'm excited to finally have my coats - from shoulder to hem - covered for all

the months I won't need them! 

Happy sewing! xo Abi

A Finished Afghan + How-To Fringe/Tassels

 I finished my afghan and love it!  The only problem now is that I don't want to stop! 

I am already thinking about what I want to crochet next....

I finished off my afghan with super easy and fun fringe. Or tassels. Whichever you prefer! 

I thought I'd share with you today how I made them.

 1. 4 strands of yarn approximately 15" long. Or however long you want it to be. Keep in mind that your cut measurement will be divided in half.

 2. Fold your four strands of yarn in half. Pull through two loops 

(in this case, at the top and bottom of each ripple).

 3. Tuck your yarn "tails" through your loops.

 4. Pull at your "tails" evenly until it's nice and tight up against your afghan.

There you have it!  xox Abi