Gab with Gaby

An engineer's creative corner studio.

Blankets

Making Robot Baby Quilts is a Great Way to Spend a Weekend

Blankets, Crafts, Diy, How to, QuiltingGabriela SimsComment

Hi everyone! Gabriela here with my latest project, an easy baby quilt that you can complete on a Saturday morning/afternoon. I bought this fantastic robot fabric from Hobby Lobby and the binding as well.  I decided to use minky for the backing in a baby blue color as this quilt is for a friend having a baby boy.  First I cut a panel of the robot fabric to 36" x 36", I used some Warm & Natural batting cut slightly larger.

Fabric sandwich.

Fabric sandwich.

I tried to keep the edges as straight as possible and then I spray basted the layers.  I wanted to do some simple, clean quilting, so I used some masking tape as a guide and taped it corner to corner and then quilted along each side.

To keep the quilting even, I used my walking foot to measure the spacing.

Once the quilting was finished, I trimmed up and squared the layers.

Time to square up.

Time to square up.

I prepared my binding and attached it to the top.

So I just discovered the joy of Wonder Clips from Clover!  These cut my binding time by at least 1/3, they are handy little clips with an excellent grip.  No more using a bunch of pins and poking myself or watching my pins slip and shift.  I cannot believe I just found out about these!

Binding

Now stitch in the ditch for finishing the binding.

That's it, now you're done!

Front.

Front.

Baby Quilt with Minky

I decided to make this quilt out of one big panel because I really loved this fabric.  You could do this with any fabric that you like and you could even add an appliqué.   I hope you make a ton of quilts like this and please let me know if you have any questions.

As a bonus, I also made this little mug rug for my hubby.

Happy crafting! I'll be posting some new lettering soon too. 

When Sewing Takes Over

Graphic design, Scrapbooking, Blankets, Diy, Graphic, How to, Crafts, Drawing, Sewing, Color, QuiltingGabriela SimsComment

I have been busy making things like there is no tomorrow! I just realized I haven't posted anything in over a week, so today, here is a crafty, sewing showcase.

Let's start with the baby quilt that is a companion to the "Amelia" quilt I made. 

 

Just like the other one, but different colors.

Just like the other one, but different colors.

I also decided to try working on my own fabric by putting my drawings on mug rugs and I started with one of the Jelly Friends, Tamber Melon and my resident Meowfox Mr. Snugglekins.

Hi guys! 

Hi guys! 

Then I coordinated background fabric and attached them to the centers. 

 

image.jpg

Finally I applied backing and binding. 

 

All done!  

All done!  

Posing as a mini rug! 

Posing as a mini rug! 

I cannot stress enough how happy it makes me to create things and I am so happy to have a new way to create by being able sew things and quilt.  I wish I'd been doing it forever, but I'm happy I started at all. I encourage you to start doing whatever it is you would like to do, today!!! I have learned to knit, crochet, paper craft, and sew...in the last 5 years! I keep telling anyone who will listen that I am so happy I started seeing because there's this whole world of fabric and patterns that I have access to now! I am really enjoying sewing and I look forward to improving as I keep working! Tomorrow I will be posting a video about making inked backgrounds for your layouts, happy crafting!

Flannel Blankets in Record Time

Diy, Blankets, Crafts, SewingGabriela SimsComment

Hi there! I am on a craftastic voyage and I wanted to try making some swaddling blankets and I found this really cool tutorial that walks you through a self binding flannel blanket. I finished this one in a few nights and I took several breaks.

I started with my front and back. 

 

I spy elephants! 

I spy elephants! 

Next I lined up my layers.

 

Lining up my layers. 

Lining up my layers. 

Then I did my stitching on the wrong side. 

 

Leave open a 5-6" length. 

Leave open a 5-6" length. 

Finally ready to turn it inside out. 

 

Here's the blanket turned right side out. 

Here's the blanket turned right side out. 

Finally, after some top stitching, this flannel blanket is done!

Nothing left but a wash and press. 

Nothing left but a wash and press. 

Try this out if you need a quick baby shower gift or some more blankets around the house, or to donate. Happy crafting!