Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

Bryn’s “Don’t Bug Me” Garden Apron

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Welcome everyone. I’m pleased as punch to be back here again with all of you! This time, we are making a summery, sweet and super-easy child’s gardening apron, embroidered with Designs by JuJu’s Bugalicious design set. They are just perfect for this project! This apron is made using laminate for a clean and easy “wipe down” after use, and can be made over the weekend. Why not get started? Your five-year old will love it!

In case you and your child are finished gardening for the season, you can always use this sweet little apron for your child’s crafting endeavours. It would also make a great painting apron.

Please be sure and read through all the instructions prior to commencing. (If you have never worked with laminate before, please note the special instructions at the end of the pattern).

Shopping List:

 Designs by JuJu DBJJ531 – Bugalicious Applique

White for embroidery and pocket pouch – 1/2 yard – Cut into one piece 10″x44″ for pocket pouch and two pieces 8″x10″ for upper design

Lining for pocket/pouch – teal –  8″x18½”

Laminate for apron front (18″x22″) – Fat Quarter

Lining for apron back – purple – Fat Quarter

Scraps for embroidered appliques

Strapping for waist and neck ties – 66″ – Cut 48″ for waist and 18″ for neck

Small Pink rickrack – 41″

Velcro or D-ring

Embroidery thread, embroidery bobbin thread, embroidery needles, embroidery scissors

Pencil, omnigrid ruler, rotary cutter

Spray starch and Temporary Spray Fabric Adhesive

Permanent fabric marker

*I use Brother Embroidery thread for all my projects

MACHINE EMBROIDERY

  • Download three Bugalicious designs (as per the photo of the apron front, or choose your own) all in the small, 4″x 4″ size. Beginning with the word/saying embroidery design, load it into the machine.
  • Fold 10″x44″ piece of white fabric in half to measure 10″x22″and press to mark the middle. Mark center with a pencil. Medium hoop white fabric and place the hoop onto the machine.

Note: I didn’t use stabilizer for this project, but instead used a double fold of fabric to strengthen the front pouch/pocket even more.

  • Stitch out the word/saying – Nothing Bugs Me When I’m in My Garden. Always clip jump threads as you go.

  • Remove hoop from machine and fabric from hoop. Press. Fold in right outer edge to mark center and press. Mark with a pencil. Re-hoop fabric and stitch out first snail applique design.
  • Place the hoop onto the machine and stitch out the embroidery design outline.

  • Remove hoop from machine. Cut a fabric scrap slightly larger than the outline stitch. Spray starch the right side of fabric scrap and press. Spray the wrong side of fabric scrap with temporary spray adhesive. Center and finger press fabric onto the outline stitching.

 

TIPS:  Cover ironing board when using spray starch and fabric adhesive to prevent over spray. Temporary fabric adhesive often leaves behind a residue on the needle. It may be necessary to clean your embroidery machine needle as you go. 

  • Replace the hoop onto the machine and embroider tacking stitches. Remove hoop from the machine and carefully trim around the outline. Place hoop back onto machine and finish embroidering the rest of the design.

 

 

  • Remove hoop from machine and fabric from hoop. Press. Fold in left outer edge and press to mark center. Mark with a pencil. Re-hoop fabric and stitch out the mirror image of the snail applique design, following same steps as outlined above. (See photo of apron for design placement) Trim pocket/pouch to measure 8″x18½”.
  • Hoop both pieces of white fabric measuring 8″x10″. Stitch out butterfly (upper) embroidery design in the same manner as instructions outlined above. Press. Trim butterfly block to measure 5½” (length) x 6″ (wide). Set aside.

CONSTRUCTION

  • Right sides together match pocket/pouch with teal lining. Stitch bottom and top ¼” from edges. Leave sides open. Turn pocket/pouch right side out, and pull out the corners. Press.

  • Stitch pink rickrack along bottom edge of pocket/pouch. Cut 48″ of purple strapping. Trim each end of strapping on the diagonal to prevent fraying. Center and pin purple strap to top of pocket/pouch. Stitch.

  • Stitch rickrack in place around perimeter of butterfly design.

LAMINATE – APRON FRONT

  • Press laminate fat quarter on back of fabric. Do not press on the laminate front! Your iron will stick to the fabric and it will be ruined. Lay out the fat quarter wrong side down on a flat surface.

  • Fold over fat quarter in half lengthwise.

  • Draw armholes on wrong side of laminate with permanent fabric marker. Trace using diagram #1.

 

  • Cut. Open.

  • Cut purple apron lining in same shape as apron front. Set aside.
  • Position butterfly embroidery applique design in place. Stitch.
  • Mark a straight line with a pencil 3½” from bottom edge of apron front. Position pocket/pouch on the straight line and stitch along bottom edge only. Carefully trim pocket/pouch to even on both sides of the apron. Be mindful not to cut through the purple waist strapping.
  • Mark pencil lines on pocket/pouch either side of the embroidered saying. Stitch down both pencil lines to make three pockets.

  • Fold in both ends of purple strapping and temporarily pin to the center of the apron top.
  • Right sides together, match purple apron lining with apron top. Pin to secure. Mark both the top and bottom of purple strapping on both sides of the apron top with pins. Stitch around perimeter of the apron leaving the top seam open and stopping at side pins to leave opening for purple strapping.
  • Turn apron right side out being mindful to carefully pull out bottom apron corners.
  • Remove pins holding purple straps in place.
  • Fold in fabric edges around strapping on both sides of the apron top and stitch to secure.
  • Insert neck strap into upper opening, fold under seams and pin as per photo. Stitch opening closed encasing the neck strap. *Optional – You can snip the neck strap in two and use Velcro to re-fasten or a D-ring as an adjustable option, for a tighter fit.

 

Yippee!  You are all done. Thanks so very much for following along with me on this pattern. Please email me at km.hanson@shaw.ca if you have any questions about the pattern.

Kim Hanson

CARING FOR LAMINATES:

  • There is no need to prewash laminated fabric. The polymer film does not like either your washer or your dryer.
  • Iron laminates on the back of the fabric or use a pressing cloth when ironing laminates. Be careful not to touch your hot iron to the actual plastic surface of the fabric as it will melt.
  • Stitch slowly and deliberately. If a seam has to be ripped out, the stitching holes themselves will remain in the fabric.
  • Use pins mindfully. Once the pin leaves a hole in the laminate it will remain there.
  • Although laminates are a more rigid and inflexible type of fabric than are regular cottons, it is still advisable to use a stabilizer when embroidering directly on the fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third Act

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Months ago, I came across an editorial piece in a women’s business magazine. The writer, a middle-aged female, was lamenting her reality; that she had spent so much time on building her business that she had missed out on precious time with family. Her business was very successful and over the years, she had expanded its reach.  She was rightfully proud of what she has created, yet so regretful of the day-to-day family activities she had not witnessed.

As I read her words, I realized it was exactly the opposite for me. I’ve always had such grand business ideas that have not been fulfilled. The lion’s share of my time has been devoted to family. My husband’s job has always taken precedence – I worked a part-time job away from home, took care of our three children and ran our hectic household.

Our three children grew into lovely, caring, responsible adults. When I was 46 years old, and still kinda filled with a youthful exuberance, our lives were blessed with the birth of our first grandchild. I was able to take care of our boy during weekdays for four years, while his parents were at work. I learned very quickly that I didn’t  really have youthful exuberance, he did! Jacob wore me out, but those four years were truly some of the best of my life. We went everywhere together…he has such an adventurous soul. We visited the Y, the library, the zoo – and met some of the best people ever, especially at the local Y. He’s now almost 16 years old and I pray that our time together in his youth established an unbreakable bond for life.

I’m turning 62 pretty soon and now my Dad’s health is in decline. His driver’s license was taken away by his family doctor sometime ago, so I’ve become his eyes and ears on the road. Prostate cancer, alarmingly high blood pressure, kidney issues and deteriorating vision keep us both very busy with countless doctor’s visits and scans, scans and more scans. He needed an emergency CT scan and for expediency, his doctor sent us to High River, a town 45 miles away from home. The appointment was at dawn. Neither of us will ever forget the spectacular sunrise that day, the laughs we had or the great health care professionals at the tiny High River hospital. Sometimes, when we’re at the Mall for his haircuts or having a blood draw at the clinic, we take a few minutes and walk and talk and he grabs a coffee. We sit in the food court and he tells me things I never knew. Stories I’ve never heard.

I’m beyond mid-life and approaching my third Act. In retrospect, I may have regrets in my life, but I will never regret all the time I’ve been able to spend with my family. Thanks to my husband, who has always supported me no matter what, I’ve done what I’ve really wanted to do. I’ve wanted to be there to watch our kids grow. I’ve wanted to be there to spend time with our grandchildren. I’ve wanted to be there when my parents need me in their last days. I’ve been blessed to be able to do all of that. Thank you God.

 

Kim

 

 

 

Where’s Spring?

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Here we are, sitting near the end of February. Cold and snow is all around us. I crave warmth and sunlight and quiet, especially the sunlight. I feel it in my bones, a weariness that just won’t go away, no matter how much sleep I get.

The crystal clear day helps…sun reflecting off the mounds of snow piled everywhere. It helps to see the blue sky and sense the endless possibilities of what Spring may bring.

 

 

 

Balzac Billy, the groundhog Prairie Prognosticator did not see his shadow this past February 2nd. That’s supposed to mean an early Spring, but there are no signs of it so far. I’m not sure Balzac Billy can be trusted.

So…what to do in the meantime, while we wait for warm breezy days and Robins to return and sprouts of crocus in the flower beds?

Definitely getting outside helps; bundle up as much as possible and walk (or run) as far as possible.

Act like a kid again and play in the snow.

Keep doing those things you love to do – go to yoga class, or to the gym. Sit still and embrace the quiet in meditation. But don’t forget to be creative. Don’t forget to quilt! Be creative with fabrics, love the new ones on the scene and make up your own patterns. These things will keep your mind busy, your body active and spirit intact until it’s time for a change…a time to be living more outdoors. After all, mind, body and spirit are all connected in a way that makes three components equal one.

These are some incredible fabrics I received yesterday. The collection is called Summer Garden from Benartex. I can hardly wait to get started working with them.

Be good!

Kim

Backyard Retreats

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Happy Wednesday everyone. It’s still winter here in Calgary, and we’ve got a long way to go until it’s over, until it’s spring.

But nevertheless, I can’t help myself…..thoughts of spring are still rolling through my mind. I came across this fabulous piece from Houzz, as I subscribe to their email. It’s a wonderful article about “backyard retreats” and I so wanted to share it with you. You can find it here.

I’m particularly fond of the last little retreat, #8 – the one that looks more like an English cottage than a backyard shed. Which one is your favourite? (Leave me a comment at the end of my blog about which backyard retreat is your favourite and you could win a beautiful fabric bundle, coordinated to Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2018 – Ultraviolet. More on this later.)

Who wouldn’t love one of these little “outbuildings”  in their backyard? Here in Calgary, though, because of our climate, it would likely only be warm enough to work outside from May through October ish; and even then you’d NEED a baseboard heater of some kind. I often imagine – stitching and writing and sewing in that little gem for six months of the year! Wouldn’t that be lovely?

But, besides the weather, there’s one teensy tiny other issue. Our backyard is filled with critters like him:

And mice, that I never see. I know they are there because I feed the birds and mice love freefall birdseed.

Would all these critters want to move into my little backyard retreat with me? Would I have to share it with backyard vermin? Would I find mice nestling in my bundles of fabric? Ewwwww!

THAT would definitely send me screaming and scrambling back to the safe confines of our house, never to enter my lovely shed again. In my dreams, vermin do not exist!

So, take a minute to look at the Houzz.com piece and tell me which is your favourite backyard retreaet. You could very well win a lovely bundle of fabrics, photos of which I will share with you all soon.

Take good care of yourself. Talk again soon.

Kim

 

Reading Pocket Pillow Tutorial

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Welcome to Wednesday everyone! It’s January 3rd and time to get back at it. Whether you’re headed back to work, back to school or back to your sewing room it’s the dawn of a new year. Always, always, always a wonderful time for re-creating, re-discovering and re-organizing. So, why not start off 2018 by grabbing some fabrics from your stash to make your favourite child a Reading Pocket Pillow for their bed? Here’s one and here’s how you make it:

Designs by JuJu has just introduced some wonderful embroidery designs that work oh-so-well when crafting a Reading Pocket Pillow for that special little someone in your life. Word Art embroidery and Story Time applique work hand-in-hand in creating some sweet and special designs. I’ve made this particular pillow for my granddaughter, Harlow. I gave it to her for Christmas, filled with books tailored to meet her grade two reading abilities. Her name is embroidered on this pillow, but that is optional. Let’s get started!

Please be sure and read through all the instructions prior to commencing. Fabrics shown are from Robert Kaufman’s line – Blueberry Park – Bright Spectrum by Karen Lewis

Shopping List:

 Designs by JuJu DBJJ1077 Story Time Applique

Designs by JuJu DBJJ1078, 1079 Word Art Sets 1 and/or 2

Designs by JuJu DBJJ652   Simply Sweet Applique Font (optional)

Deep Purple Fat Quarter (18″x22″) for pillow front cut to 17″x17″

Lime Green Fat Quarter for pillow pocket cut to 11″x17″, scraps for applique**

Light Purple Fat Quarter for pillow pocket lining cut to 13″x17″, scraps for applique**

Pink and Purple pieces for envelope-style pillow back, each measuring 11″x17″

Green rickrack – 90″

Medium weight tearaway stabilizer – one yard

Embroidery thread, embroidery bobbin thread,

embroidery needles, embroidery scissors, hand sewing needle (optional)

White pencil, omnigrid ruler, rotary cutter

16″ pillow form (flattened out)

Spray Starch and Temporary Spray Fabric Adhesive

3 large buttons (optional)

*I use Brother Embroidery thread for all my projects

**To avoid the pattern from these two fabrics, I used the wrong side of the fabric for applique

Machine Embroidery:

  • Download your choice of one Word Art and one Story Time applique design. Load them both into your machine. (Use the 4×4 size)
  • Using a pencil, mark the center of the lime green, pillow pocket fabric. Measure one inch above the pencil mark and mark again. Use the second mark as your center point.

  • Hoop lime green fabric with corresponding piece of stabilizer.
  • Being mindful to center the design, stitch out your choice of Word Art embroidery. Remove fabric from hoop.
  • Mark the center point to both the right and left of the Word Art design. Re-hoop the fabric, center and stitch your choice of the Story Time applique designs. Stitch the tacking stitches of the design. Remove hoop from the machine.

  • Cut a fabric scrap slightly larger than the outline of the design. Spray the scrap with spray starch and the wrong (patterned) side of the fabric with spray adhesive. Adhere scrap over the outline of the design. Return hoop to the machine and stitch outline of the design.

  • Remove hoop from machine. Using embroidery scissors, cut as close to the stitched outline as possible.

  • Place the hoop back on the machine and complete the applique embroidery design.
  • Repeat for the second embroidery applique design.

Construction:

  • Stitch the pocket lining to the pocket itself. Right sides together, pin along the top edge and stitch. (The lining will measure longer than the pocket itself.

  • Flip over the lining to the right side, leaving a 1 1/2″ border on the top of the pillow pocket. Press.
  • Pin the rickrack to the bottom of the border on the pillow pocket. Stitch.
  • Line up bottom raw edges and pin the pillow pocket to the pillow top as per the photo. Stitch.

  • Pin rickrack to the perimeter of the pillow front. Stitch in place.

Machine Embroidery – If you choose to embroider your child’s name on the pillow front

  • Download the 2″ Upper Case applique letters of your childs’ name from the Simply Sweet applique font alphabet.
  • Using your omnigrid ruler, measure 1″ from the edge of the pillow pocket border, as shown in the photo.

  • Using a white fabric pencil, mark a straight line along the straight edge. Fold the pillow front in half, marking the center. Embroider your childs’ name being mindful to center. (I stitch the middle two letters first, on either side of the center mark and then work on either side of the name.)
  • Hand stitch large buttons in place, if you wish.
  • Take both pieces for the envelope-style pillow back. Fold over top edge of each piece, ½” press. Fold an additional ½” press and stitch in place.
  • Right sides together, line up the top raw edge of one pillow back piece with the pillow front and pin. Line up the bottom raw edge of the second pillow back piece with the bottom raw edge and pin, in an overlapping style, like the photo.

  • Stitch around the perimeter of the pillow front and back unit. Flip to right side out. Pull out the pillow corners. Flatten the pillow form and insert into the pillow cover.

There you go….all done.  You will have a super cute reading pocket pillow for your favourite child. Please contact me via email at km.hanson@shaw.ca if you have any questions. Thank you so much.

Happy New Year!

Kim