chenille

chenille, patchwork, sewing

Lap blankets

It really does feel like a lifetime ago that I cut out a whole lot of chenille and fabric five inch square to sew lap blankets with.  I have had two sets cut out ready to sew for about ten years.  It was time to get that project done!

Chenille and fabric knee rugs finally done

Clare gave me a hand figuring out the placement of the squares. There were more chenille squares than fabric ones for this lap rug. Mixing fabric of such different thicknesses and textures meant that it was very unlikely that I could do perfect matching where seams met, but I gave it a red hot go. I chose to sew the squares together on the overlocker – gasp! – because those chenille squares drop fluff all over the place and the edges really did need to be finished.

Chenille and fabric knee rugs finally done

It was surprisingly fast to sew the squares together, and before I knew it I had two finished tops. The chenille is vintage, repurposed fabric that I believe came from bedspreads. The fabric squares are often from scraps left over from clothes that I sewed for the girls when they were little, so they contain quite a few memories.

Chenille and fabric knee rugs finally done

These colourways and fabrics really do reflect where things were in the world of craft blogs 10+ years ago! Fortunately, they still really appeal to me, and to the girls. The next thing that I needed to do was back them. I wasn’t planning on them become proper quilts with batting in the centre and stitching; just simple lap blankets. Because of the stay-at-home rules I jumped online and found some plush velour/microfleecwe backing at Spotlight. It was delivered suprisingly quickly! I then just laid the rug on top of the batting, right sides together, sewed around them leave a small opening to turn the blanket to the right side, and then topstitched around the edge.

Chenille and fabric knee rugs finally done

Chenille and fabric knee rugs finally done

They’re just the right size for draping across your knees. And I’m so glad to have them finished!

Chenille and fabric knee rugs finally done

by thornberry
chenille, sewing

chenille cushions

I tried to think up a witty phrase to title this post, but only got as far as “cushion the blow” or “cushion the impact” – and since there is no blow or impact to be cushioned, it wouldn’t have made any sense.  Hence the unremarkable, illustrative title you are no doubt used to by now.  What is this post about?  Chenille cushions!

chenille patch cushions - soft by you.

Pieced from lots of lovely vintage chenille squares that I acquired from Jodie and other places around the traps over the past few years.  I have used up most of my chenille stash (primarily on cot blankets for new bubs) and it was time to keep whittling down the pile.  Clare helped decide the colour combinations and placement.  It kept her busy for an hour or two!  There is also a bright cushion.

chenille patch cushion - brights by you.

The backing fabric included some lovely Heather Bailey Freshcut fabrics.  This is still one of my favourite fabric lines – I keep on returning to it and never get tired of the colour combinations.  I may need to track some more down since I hardly have any left.

Chenille patch cushions - backs by you.

I like cushion covers to be washable, so they all have zippered backs – I use this tutorial.  Then I use a standard insert from Lincraft or Spotlight.  I like cushions to be nice and plump so always buy an insert the same measurement (or slightly larger) than the cushion.

Now I have loads of cushions and nowhere for them to go.  I strongly suspect that Clare will snaffle them all and they’ll soon be distributed between her bed and the cubby house.

And school holidays start this afternoon!  Yay! 

Edited to add: I’ve had so many lovely comments on these cushions!  I do need to clarify that I am not a clever and dedicated chenille bedspread collector – rather, I have taken the easy route and bought a variety of fat quarters and mixed packs of squares from others people who do all the hard work of finding the bedspreads and cutting them up.  Most of my pieces came from eBay.  I do like the effect of the different squares together! 

by thornberry
chenille, craft, sewing, tutorials

Cushions for Christmas

Four done!  Two of these are Christmas presents; the bottom two are for me (yes, I know, I don’t need them, but I do love that chenille and those fabrics).

Although the recipients of the top two cushions don’t read this blog, their mother does – so I won’t show them in all their glory until after Christmas.

But here are the other two!  One side:

And the other:

Once again I used the fantastic tutorial from house on hill road for the zippers.  I prefer to have cushion covers that can be removed for washing.  The vintage chenille is from Jodie, of course, the apple fabric was from Spotlight ages ago, and I think that the fabric with the elegant ladies is by Michael Miller.  Cushion covers are so satisfying to make! 

by thornberry
baby, chenille, craft, sewing

Baby quilt

I’ve just completed this cot-sized quilt for my cousin’s baby, due next week.

Let’s hope that they don’t read my blog!  They are having a girl, which made it pretty easy for me since my stash is full of floral prints.  The chenille squares came from Jodie, as usual!

It’s backed with soft flannellette, and has pellon batting in the centre.  I have a few of these quilts, and use them mostly as floor mats.  The batting just makes them a little softer, and it washes well.

I really like the variety of textures in the chenille, and the beautiful soft colour combinations it provides.

I think that’s the last baby quilt for some time, thankfully – I’ve made about six now!

by thornberry
chenille, craft, sewing, tutorials

Cushions for the girls

Today’s project – a couple of cushions for the girls.  Each has their initial appliqued onto them.  One side is vintage chenille (thanks Jodie!) and the other a coordinating print.

If I’d been super-professional I’d have piped the edges – but alas, I currently have no piping in my stash!

The zips are inserted using this fantastic tutorial from house on hill road.  It gives such a nice finish!  I have inserted zips into cushions a few different ways in the past but I think that this is one of the best.

And TWO packages came in the mail today – they’re waiting to be opened.  Online shopping is very exciting!  Stay tuned …

by thornberry
chenille, craft, sewing

Anyone for cake?

Anyone for cake?  Chocolate cake, to be precise!

Chenille cake designed by the talented Jodie, available from Polka Dot Chenille.  This example sewn by me.  I love it!

Edited to add:  I just realised that this is my 100th post!  My subconscious must have known and made me post the celebratory cake photos.  I’ll have to think of another blog-related celebration (maybe a teeny give-away – stay tuned)!  Thanks to those of you who read it.

by thornberry
baby, chenille, craft, miscellaneous, sewing, tutorials

Baby tag blanket

Woohoo, I’ve made something!  A baby tag blanket for Stella.

I’d seen these on the web in various shops, selling for quite a significant amount of money, and thought that “I can make one of those, surely”.  It was super quick and easy!  This one measures about 33cm by 45 cm (13 x 18 inches), has chenille (from Polka Dot Chenille) on one side and printed flannelette on the other.  I used a variety of ribbons to give as much contrasting colour and texture as was available in my stash.

How to make it?  Cut out two rectangles or squares, pin the folded ribbons (mine vary in length from about 4 to 6 inches unfolded) on the right side of one piece of fabric with the cut edges of the ribbon on the edge of the fabric, then place the other piece of fabric on top, right sides together, sandwiching the ribbon inbetween, and sew around the outside.  Make sure that you leave a big enough opening to turn it!  Once turned, sew up the opening, and you’re done! 

These can be made in whatever size that you like.  This one obviously isn’t big enough to be a real “blanket” to cover a baby; it’s a size that she can cuddle up to and play with the tags (because we’ve all seen how babies tend to play with the tags on toys more than the toy itself).  This one will fold up easily to fit in the nappy bag and to be manageable for a baby.  I think that I might pop this one down my top for a couple of hours to get that “mummy smell” into it and then it may be a handy comforter for Stella.

I think that these will go onto my mental list of good quick presents to make for new babies.

Edited to add:  I later made a sensory tag blanket for a bub who is blind.

by thornberry