The Very Hungry Caterpillar Quilt

Back in September Simon and I were invited to a first birthday party - here's our invitation.

There's No Soot In This Santa Sack!!!

When Santa got stuck up the chimney, he began to shout,

"You girls and boys won't get any toys, if you don't pull me out!

My beard is black, there's soot in my sack, my nose is tickling too."

When Santa got stuck up the chimney. Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!

When I was little I had a Santa Sack - well when I was really, really little it was a pillowcase and then Mum bought 2 heavy paper, super large Santa Sacks - one was green with red Christmas trees and the other was red with green Christmas trees,  we used those sacks year after year after year.

My children had their own Santa Sacks - fabric ones but shop bought - you might have seen them, they're pretty common.  Shop bought or not, they're full of memories for them and me and I loved seeing their faces each year when the empty sacks came out on Christmas Eve and even more the next morning when they saw them overflowing with presents from Santa. 

Last year I made my first Christmas Stocking - I absolutely love it but it's more decorative than practical.  You can read more about it here - Are You Hanging Up Your Stocking On The Wall?.

With the birth of Grandson Oliver this year seemed like time to make my first Santa Sack for him to create his own Christmas memories and what better than The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas panel part of the Eric Carle collection under license to Andover Fabrics?

For full instructions on how to make a Santa Sack click through to my Santa Sack Tute here.

Cutting the panel into two sections, I added a red top border and layered with batting.

Next I free motion quilted around the print detail changing colours along the way.
It's easiest to show you the stitching from the back...

...and then some detail sections from the front.

I added a decorative stitched row along the red border seam too.

To commerate Oliver's birth year I cut "Xmas 2014" lettering from double sided fusible and bonded each to co-ordinating Andover Christmas fabrics which I attached to the Xmas Tree panel using a raw edge applique technique (see my Raw Edge Applique Tute here).

A great wavy striped Xmas lining pattern by Kim Schaefer for Andover Fabrics and I've added my label to the lining and to the outside bottom edge of the sack and joined the outside and inside with another row of decorative stitching.  Finished size is 21" x 27".  

Finished...

...and full for now with presents from Grandma.

  

When I shared pics with my kids it sparked them all off trying to remember just what The Very Hungry Caterpillar ate, they loved the book when they were small and it was fun remembering it.  Seemed to me I needed to make a couple more of these Santa Sacks, don't tell my other two kids but I've made them one each too so they can each start their own Christmas memories.

Different linings in each, these two are holly leaves also by Kim Schaefer for Andover Fabrics.

Do you have a Christmas Stocking or a Santa Sack, what does he leave your presents in?

Featured:

Easy Bordered Pillowcases - Winter Class, Manhattan

Need a really quick and easy gift for the holidays or just want to learn how to sew French seams?

Follow my Burrito Pillowcase Tute available free here on my blog.

 Join me next month for my class in Manhattan.

Easy Bordered Pillowcases - $50

Sunday, 14 December 2014 - 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm, The City Quilter, Manhattan

Freshen up any bedroom with these easy bordered pillowcases.  Kids love them made with character fabric or make a great design statement addition to any interior.  Using a super fast 'burrito' method, you'll love these pillowcases so much you'll be making more as holiday gifts.  

Open to anyone who knows how to use a rotary cutter and sewing machine and can sew a straight seam.
Email madebyChrissieD@hotmail.com for location and registration details.

Here's pics of my class samples, currently on display in the store.

Pillowcase 1

Choose a wide cuffed style like this Cotton & Steel pillowcase.

Fabrics:

Main/Cuff - Moonlit by Rashida Coleman Hale for Cotton & Steel / Trim - Cotton & Steel Basics 5001

Pillowcase 2

Or maybe you prefer a narrow cuff shown here on this Christmas style pillowcase.

Fabrics:

Main/Cuff/Trim - Winter Enchantment by Bee Sturgis for Quilting Treasures

Pillowcase 3

How about a soft flannel pillowcase for a child - don't you just love The Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric by Eric Carle under license to Andover Fabrics?  I've fussy cut the cuff fabric so one side's blue and the other side's green - that fab wavy pattern is created Pattern 5823 by Kim Schaefer for Andover Fabrics.

Which one would you choose?

If you live in the greater New York area or are making a quick visit to the Big Apple, why not join in one of my classes?

SAVE THE DATE:
You can also find details of all classes I'm teaching via the 'My Classes' link in the sidebar or by clicking the link button below - registration isn't open yet but you might want to pencil the dates on your calendar now!!!

 

   

The Curious Case Of Unnecessary Burp Cloths

 When there's a baby on the way everyone know's you're going to need burp cloths ...

and bibs ...

 and wash cloths.

So obviously I got stuck in a made a pile of necessaries ready for my grandson Oliver's birth.

Left to right those fabrics are:

Bears in Woods - Get Together! by David Walker Studios for Free Spirit, Westminster Fibers

Giraffes Special Delivery in White/Tangerine by Quilting Treasures 

Lions - Safari Soiree in Teal by Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Flannel by Eric Carle under license to Andover Fabrics

Squirrels and Nuts - Get Together! by David Walker Studios for Free Spirit, Westminster Fibers

Quite curiously Oliver has never 'possied' as my Dad would have said.

 I wondered about this phrase as I've never heard anyone else use it and I've discovered posset is an old English word for semi digested milk brought up by babies after a feed - as well as being a medieval word for a British hot drink of spiced milk curdled with wine or ale.  These days posset usually refers to a type of milky dessert.

Before Oliver I've never known a baby not to posset, how fortunate are Jack and Ana and I'm sure Ana can find other uses for this unnecessary pile of burp cloths?!!! 

The bibs will no doubt come into their own once Oliver starts on solids

Fabrics: 

Goldfish in white by Hoodie for Timeless Treasures

Goldfish Bowls by Caleb Gray for Robert Kaufman 

Fabrics:

Foxes and Scribble from Ed Emberley's Picture Pie collection for Cloud9 Fabrics (left over from making my Foxy Circle Quilt)

  

and there's always a use for a wash cloth.

Fabric:

Find The Narwhal - Out To Sea Collection by Sarah Jane for Michael Miller Fabrics

Here we are winding after a feed - note the 'like new' burp cloth on my shoulder!

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