TIP: Preparing Fabric for Prewashing

I never prewash regular fabric for quilts.  That would mean I'd have to iron it ... no thanks!  Flannel, when used as a quilt back and when the quilt top is not flannel, is the only type of fabric I prewash because it shrinks at a greater rate than regular cotton and will continue to shrink over several washings, whereas the quilt top typically will shrink only the first time it is washed.  A LQS owner shared this with me. 

Fabric for clothes, however, is another story.  I do prewash these fabrics because I want the garment to fit without worrying about shrinking later.  So here's my discovery. 

I just bought a large stack of fabric for skirts and dresses for Millie and did a little experiment.  I usually serge the raw edge before washing, but this time I serged the raw edge while it was still folded in half as it comes off the bolt rather than opening it up wide.  It was a fabulous discovery - the fabric was MUCH easier to fold after washing because the raw/serged ends were still lined up, and I didn't have to try to keep them together as I refolded the strip.  Several of the pieces were 5 yards long and were simple to fold up in preparation for ironing.  Yeah!

Here's a peek at what I'll be sewing up for Millie.

For Laura Ingalls Prairie Dresses.  Bottom check will be an apron to coordinate with the floral fabric above it.  Still looking for apron fabric for the top two fabrics.

Top fabric is for a skirt.  There is a coordinating fabric for a waist scarf which is not pictured.  The next five fabrics are for a multi-fabric skirt, likely matching skirts for her friends, too, if I can squeeze them out of the fabric.  The bottom two blue coordinating fabrics are for a dress or ? 

You can find really nice dress and skirt patterns at Marie Madeline Studio, which is also where I got these fabrics during a recent sale.  I'll be using the Kitty Mae and Emerson skirt patterns and the Torrance dress pattern.  Sew exciting!!

Pineapple Star Log Cabin Quilt

This item has sold!!  Stop by my shop to see more like it!

This Pineapple Star Log Cabin quilt is an inverse of the Pineapple Log Cabin Quilt posted yesterday.  They are "sister" quilts!

Quilt Stats:

• Quilt Top:  Pineapple Star Log Cabin blocks in Thimbleberries fabrics.
• Size: 16-3/4" square.
• Batting: 80% cotton / 20% poly.
• Backing: 100% cotton natural muslin.
• Binding:  Two black Thimbleberries fabrics, attached by machine for durability. Perfectly mitered 45-degree corners.
• Quilting:  Freehand stipple in dark-red Egyptian cotton thread.



100% made by me in the US of A in my smoke-free, pet-free, odor-free home.

Thank you for supporting our one-income homeschooling family!

For sale in my Etsy shop, Busy Hands Quilts!

Pineapple Log Cabin Quilt

Quilt Stats:

• Quilt Top:  Pineapple Log Cabin blocks in Thimbleberries fabrics.
• Size: 16-1/2" square.
• Batting: 80% cotton / 20% poly.
• Backing: 100% cotton natural muslin.
• Binding:  Dark red plaid Thimbleberries fabric, attached by machine for durability. Perfectly mitered 45-degree corners.
• Quilting:  Freehand stipple in dark-red Egyptian cotton thread.



100% made by me in the US of A in my smoke-free, pet-free, odor-free home.

Thank you for supporting our one-income homeschooling family!

For sale in my Etsy shop, Busy Hands Quilts!

This item has sold!

Country Porch Friends Blog Party

Welcome to Our Simple Country Life's Blog Party.  Click on the button above to join the fun!

About the Hearts Family: 

• Mrs.Hearts ain't my real name.
• I have been married to Mr.Hearts for a long time - and he won't know you're talking to him if you call him Mr.Hearts.
• Our oldest son is Bookworm - 16 - this is what happens when you let your kids name themselves.
• The middle boy is Eagle Eye - 13 - another example of self-naming. 
• Millie is our youngest - 10 -  she has changed her name numerous times {of course}.
• We are in our sixth year of homeschooling.  It is the best, most life-altering  choice we as parents have ever made ... after serving the Lord, of course.

About The Hearts Homestead:

• We have 14 chickens; 7 Barred Rocks and 7 Auracanas.  They are often threatened with the stew pot because we do NOT get 14 eggs a day.
• Molly, our golden lab, is 13-1/2 years old ... and acts more and more like she is 91 years old.
• Hobbes, the cat, frequently gets into scraps with other animals so he can come home and get some sympathy. 
• Lightning, the fastest hamster we have ever had, is  2 months old and is pure white and as adorable as any rodent can be.
• We live where the sky is clear 58 days of the year ... no joke.

About Mrs.Hearts' Addiction to Quilting:

• I have been playing with fabric and yarn for 3 decades ... { gulp }.
• I began to quilt about 8 years ago.
• I remember clearly when I first fell in love with quilt-shop quality fabric.  I was often seen ... fondling ... fabric ... and still am. :}
• The first fabrics I loved were Thimbleberries and 1930s reproductions, and now I am moving toward more modern, brighter designs.
• I have a dream to design my own quilt pattern(s) someday.
• I have more fabric in my closet than clothes.
• I sew nearly ... every ... day.
• I have a little bitty Etsy shop ... Busy Hands Quilts!

Why I blog:

• To let out the many things rattling around in my brain.
• To have a record of all the items I have sewn.
• To hear from others who have similar interests.
• 'Cause I enjoy being creative with my blog layout and design.

Click on my HOME button to view my entire blog.

Pineapple Log Cabin Quilt Wall Hanging or Table Topper

This item has sold, but you'll find more like it in my Busy Hands Quilts Shop!

Quilt Stats:

• Quilt Top:  Pineapple Log Cabin blocks in Thimbleberries fabrics.
• Size: 16-3/4" square.
• Batting: 100% cotton.
• Backing: 100% cotton natural muslin.
• Binding:  Dark red plaid Thimbleberries fabric, attached by machine for durability. Perfectly mitered 45-degree corners.
• Quilting:  Freehand stipple in dark-red Egyptian cotton thread.



100% made by me in the US of A.

Thank you for supporting our one-income homeschooling family!

For sale in my Etsy shop, Busy Hands Quilts!

Busy Hands Quilts is on eBay This Week!

Everything from my Etsy shop is for sale on eBay this week!  Please stop on over and find yourself a good deal!  I'm BusyHandsQuilts!

... and yes, the picture is off topic, I know ...

Danger: Smartphone pictures pose privacy risks

Pretty freaky that pictures taken on a Smartphone and posted on the web can be used to trace where the picture was taken - thus where you live, where your kids go to school, where they play and which room in the house is theirs.  There is an easy fix, however.  A Must Watch Video - and then tell everyone you know!  The You Tube link if you want to email it out is http://youtu.be/N2vARzvWxwY.