Triangle Practice: Chevron Baby Blanket

The first design I drew up involved small triangles—but it was going to take me forever to make, so I decided to go with big and bold chevrons. I wanted to use several different patterns for the yellow, grey, and pink with a solid white chevron.

Coasters: Mini Jellyroll Race

  I chose these pieces because the matched her colors (as close as I could find). I bought these when I was in high school and still working at JoAnn’s Fabric and Crafts. It seemed fitting that I use material that I bought when we were first friends. When I bought the green material with words on it, I had no idea I’d be using it in a wedding gift about six years later.

Simple (Christmas) Throw Pillows

The advantage of giving your parents your “first” projects is that they don’t mind so much if they’re a little goofy. Mom was the recipient of my first knitting project in college—it was a pitiful scarf that was altogether too long and the second end was double the width of how it started. Even though it was the worst scarf, she still loved it and wore it.

DIY: Stocking Revamp

The finished product is something I’m excited about. Even though I just made some modifications to a bought stocking, those changes helped make it my own. It’s not the same as the stocking my mom made for me, but it’s a nice substitute.

20th and 25th Anniversary Quilt

Yes, I said version. Because after the rush of trying to get it done (and failing) was in the past, I put the project away. Senior year got the better of me and I don’t think I ever looked at that quilt again until after I graduated with my Bachelor’s in English. The summer of 2012, and my sewing game had greatly increased.

Triangle Practice: Potholders

Now, when I’m trying out something new, I don’t like to practice on big quilts. In big quilts there is a certain level of commitment, and if I decide that triangles are the worst in the middle of the project then I’m stuck working on something I hate until it’s done.

Raggy T-Shirt Quilts

Before I start cutting anything I get the pattern approved by whoever is buying the quilt. The idea of possibly ruining someone’s keepsakes really stresses me out. I keep the owner in the loop during the whole planning period.

Security Blankets

When I turned the pouch inside out, it was like watching a brightly colored alien coming out of a kangaroo’s pouch. The ribbon loops did make it easy to get the seams flat.