The Neverending T-Shirt Quilt

So I started this T-shirt quilt with such good intentions. I started pinning everything together when I realized....how the hell am I gonna sew this monstrosity?

So an fyi before you start yours that NOBODY tells you:
DO THEM IN ROWS!

Lay everything out on the floor that you want to use and arrange it accordingly then go in rows.

Let's say that these squares are all the different pieces of t-shirt that you've laid out exactly how you want. I know it's not even, neither is my blanket.

Next you need to make a general schematic of how you want your "rows" to be. Mine are still not 100% even, but they are in manageable rows!

Now only pin things together that are in the same "row". Then sew row by row.

When you're done you can then lay it back down, pin the sewed rows together, and sew again.

Nobody tells you to break that up when you're looking at doing one of these!

But if you don't you just end up with a lot of bulk to try and sew at one time and a plethora of straight pins sticking you in the thighs. It's not pretty. 

This is what it looks like thus far. It's still a work in progress. Only part of it is sewed. The other is just pinned:

It's gonna be freaking huge.

But yeah...rows...they're your friends. Take my word for it.

More soon!

Watermelon Pin Cushion

No catchy titles today, ladies and gents just pure crafty fun.

So this is a DIY project that I just created myself. So, it goes on my DIY I Have to try! board:
http://pinterest.com/marlipaige/diy-i-have-to-try/


First, I didn't have a pin cushion anymore so I thought "self, what do I have to make a pin cushion out of? And what would be cute?"

Things I found:
polyfil
red felt
green silk
pipe cleaners
watermelon gingham ribbon
Needle, Thread, Scissors

Now feel free to make your own version with different things you just have around. But, I decided to make a cute little watermelon pin cushion.


All in all, working at a leisurely pace and watching Downton Abby as I went, this took me about 2.5 hours. I could've done it MUCH quicker. But I was just enjoying it.

STEP ONE

Cut shape in felt

Easiest thing to do is double it over and keep the bottom part connected so you don't have to sew needlessly.

See? If you opened it back up it would look like a butterfly

STEP TWO

Sew everything together except the top.

STEP THREE

Polyfil!

STEP FOUR

Sew top together

STEP FIVE

If you're using ribbon for one decorative side like I did, add that.

I added a second layer,

So I had one ribbon side, and one red side

STEP SIX

Get out your pipe cleaners (I used 3)

STEP SEVEN

Braid those jokers!

STEP EIGHT

Sew one edge of the green fabric you have onto the pipe cleaners

STEP NINE

Wrap it up tight and sew the rest of it on, securing all the fabric curled around the pipe cleaner.

Look, it's a caterpillar! 

No, really, it's your rhine.

STEP TEN

Sew the rhine onto the watermelon

TADA!