Klimaka Pillow

Finished pillow

      When I was at the Custom Workroom Conference (CWC) last fall, Jeanelle Dech from Adaptive Textiles was there.  At the end of the vendor day, she gave away the samples she had brought.  I took two that coordinated and then made a pillow out of them.

Getting started

     The samples were from her Klimaka Studios line.  As a workroom you have access to engineered designs.  For example if I wanted to make two 18" pillows with covered cord, I could choose the design, colorway and fabric substrate and I could get it all printed on one piece of fabric.  I would then just cut on the lines and sew it up.  Almost no fabric waste involved.

Serged pieces with dog ears removed

Going around the corner

      I cut the pieces for the front and back using my pillow template to prevent dog ears. I cut lining fabric the same and serged the pieces together.  When applying the trim to the front piece, I cut the stitches holding the loops together (on the inside edge) so I could get a smooth corner.

Back piece

     I placed a zipper in the back piece.  My go to standard is to place one about a half inch above the bottom seam.  For the most part when the pillow is on the furniture you can't see it even when the back is facing forward.

Back

Back corner detail

     After I sewed the front and back together, I then removed the chain stitch holding the loops together at the outer edge.  I fluffed it up and it filled in the corners nicely.

Pulling the chain stitch

Corner detail

Pastel Striped Chirripo Top

 

Finished top

     When I went to the ASG Conference in San Francisco in July 2024 I signed up for the fabric shopping trip on the day after the conference.  We went to three stores and I was prepared to shop.  Before leaving home, I printed out the cover of different patterns I wanted to make and then added a post-it note with the type of fabric and required yardage.  

At the store

     Our first stop was Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics.  Oh so many luscious fabrics!  I made sure to stick with my shopping list as I have bought fabrics before that caught my eye but then when I went to make something, I never had the right amount.  I didn't want to waste my money that way again.  To be sure I wouldn't forget what fabric went with which pattern, I took a quick photo with my phone after they cut the fabric.  This was especially helpful as it was going to be shipped to my house and I wouldn't see it again for about a week.

Side panel detail

     This pattern has an interesting side panel under the arm.  It was a little tricky putting it together but her directions are excellent.  When I did go to wear it, I found the armhole a bit snug.  If I make this again I will scoop it out a bit.  Lots of hand sewing of all the facings but it does look nice inside and out.  Might try the flutter sleeve next time also.

Front Detail

Easter Sweatshirt

 

An Easter sweatshirt

    Finally finished writing up all my Christmas 2025 sewing projects.  Now on to other things I have been working on.  I had bought this sweatshirt many years ago, I think with the idea I would make it into a cardigan.  That never happened as you can see.  Instead I decided I needed something for either spring or Easter.  It can still be awfully cold here in Chicago at those times.  I had bought this design from Embroidery Library a few years ago because I liked the simplicity of it.  

Trimming the first bunny

     I was able to use my magnetic hoop so it was easier to hoop.  I did use a fusible web on the back of the fabric appliqués.  I don't normally do that but I felt with the large size of these pieces and no embroidery except for the satin stitch edges, that the pieces would not lay flat against the sweatshirt after washing.  

     This was an easy project.  The design stitched the placement for the fabric, I laid down the backed fabric, it stitched the tack down line, I trimmed the fabric and then it stitched the satin stitch.   I hand sewed on the pom pom tails.

Embroidery detail

     Lent starts tomorrow so I will be wearing this in a few weeks.  This could be really cute on a tote.

Snowman Snowglobe Ornaments - Christmas Sewing Part 7

Finished ornament

      I decided this year to make ornaments from old jeans for the adults.  I had these cute snow globe ornament designs from Designs by JuJu.  The designs were not meant to be freestanding ornament, but appliqué designs.  In my software, I eliminated the bow on the base of the snow globe and added the year instead. I also put in  color stop, so I could change the hat to black, instead of red like the scarf.  I also did the same for the buttons, I wanted them black not brown like the arms.  After stitching a sample, I removed the snowflakes, I felt they were too busy.

Oops, gap in the design

Oops 2, stitches coming apart

     I originally did a stitch out with just tearaway stabilizer.   The first problem I had was the gap between the red of the snow globe and the green of the base.  I remedied that by extending the denim piece further down as seen in the next photos. As you can see in the second photo, the stitches were starting to come apart at the edges.  I eliminated that white base in my next test stitch out.  

Original trim of denim

Extended 'tail' of denim

Base fabric placement line stitched

Base fabric added

     I left a long 'tail' at the bottom and then stitched the placemat line for the base fabric.  I trimmed off the denim inside the line and then added the base fabric.  I applied the fabric for the snowman appliqué and then stitched the rest.  It was better but I didn't like the edges and I was concerned about adding a backing fabric.

Snowman applique cut

Better but still not great

     I decided to add a base fabric behind the stabilizer of white felt.  This now gave me a border.

Adding the felt back

Adding the ribbon

    After I removed the ornament from the hoop, I put a small piece of Jewel's Tape just below the outline and added a ribbon.  I then placed a piece of Christmas fabric on the back and stitched close to the edge on my sewing machine.  I then used my pinking shears to trim off the excess.

Back of ornament

Holiday Baking Aprons - Christmas Gifts Part 6

 

Decorating the cookies

     For the past several years, we have been having the four oldest grandkids come for an overnighter between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  In the past they have helped pick out and cut down a Christmas tree but lately we have switched over to an artificial tree.  We start with pizza and a movie sometimes with a night hike before dinner depending on the weather.  Then the next day it is decorating the tree, decorating gingerbread houses and cookies.  If you want a sugar rush, just have one of the cookies they have decorated :-).  For this year I decided to make them aprons to wear.  I also got them for the two younger ones that live in Iowa.

Ready for stitching

     I bought the aprons online and used a design from Designs by JuJu on the aprons.  I thought about doing different designs from the pack but didn't want to hear, "I wanted that one".  I hooped sticky stabilizer and then laid the apron down.  Because the aprons had a plastic backing, I also added some pins so the top layer wouldn't move around.

Finished

     This was a fun design that didn't take too long, only two appliqué pieces to cut.  The two oldest grandkids are really almost too big for the aprons but they had fun wearing them anyway.

Embroidery detail

Nativity Stix Set - Christmas Gifts Part 5

Baby Jesus

     Last Christmas when my grandkids were at our house, they were fascinated by my different nativity sets.  I decided that for this Christmas they needed their own set to play with.  Because they also like playing with magnets on their refrigerator I decided to combine the two.  This set from Designs by JuJu was perfect.  

Stitching

What the screen looked like

     I hooped large pieces of felt with my magnetic hoops and then on the screen of my machine I placed several designs.  I made sure there was plenty of space in between them so I would have a nice border around them when sewing on the backs.  

Oops, outline off

   

       I did have some oops moments with the stitching, like the outline being off.  I tried not sewing the sheep's body as I was stitching unto white felt but I didn't like how it looked. 

Jewel's Tape

Ready for the magnet

Magnet taped in place

     I bought some small magnets from Amazon to use on the figures.  I used a small square of Jewel's Tape on the back and then adhered the magnet.  This was to ensure that they didn't move around.

Stitching on the back

     I placed another piece of felt on the back and then stitched close to the edge of the design.  This sandwiched the magnet in place to keep it safe from the little ones.  I then trimmed close to the stitching.

All finished

Having fun

     I did make multiple sheep including doing a mirror image for one of them.  I placed them in the circle basket I had made earlier and then shipped them off to the grandkids.  My daughter-in-law sent me this cute photo of them playing with them.  What a fun project.

Birthday Placemats - Christmas Gifts Part 4

Birthday placemat

      To go along with the table runners and napkins I made for my three adult children, I made placemats for the grandkids.  Another fun design from Designs by JuJu.

Birthday placemat

Birthday placemat

Birthday placemat

Birthday placemat

Birthday placemat

     Used fabrics from the table runners but this time I also bought a couple of fat quarter bundles to supplement my stash.  I didn't have too many brights in my scraps so this was necessary.  

Balloon block

Birthday block

Cake blocks

Cupcake blocks

Gifts block

Birthday hat block

   

       On the hat block, I deleted the gift box stitching in my software and added the grandkids' names in MasterWorks.  On the cake blocks and cupcake blocks, I switched up the colors for the boys and girls.

Choosing fabrics for gifts block

Center gift trimmed

Gifts block ready for the satin stitching

     For the gifts blocks I chose a solid background fabric so the gifts would stand out.  I chose not to cut out the fabric in the middle of the center present.   The ribbon fabric was dark enough to hide it and it saved me a bit of time.  

Ready for assembly

On the backing

Back of the placemat

Back corner detail

     I found a fun cupcake fabric for the backing that had all those bright colors.  When I make my placemats, I do a different method for the edge.  I opt to bind them like I would a quilt.  I cut a 3/8" seam allowance on the outside edge.  I made my binding from 2 1/2" strips, that I fold in half. I sew this to the back and then bring it to the front and stitch close to the edge.  The directions included with this design are excellent, lots of photos to help you.