Category Archives: Quilt Gifts

Quilted December Updates – Hand Warmers

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Ever since I started my “Quilt Therapy Countdown for Christmas”, my December quilt projects have to wait until after Christmas to talk about and showcase on my Quilt Therapy blog.  Sometimes, it’s REALLY, REALLY hard not to just slip in a blog post with something I have completed or something fun to read about.

But now, the wait is over!

Let me begin my December tales with the gifts I made for my girls’ teachers and for my MIL’s family Christmas.

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These are hand warmers.  I was sitting with my husband one evening, just visiting about this and that…when I asked him if it was possible to make hand warmers with fabric and filled with rice.  He found no reason why it couldn’t be done so a plot was hatched to at least make those for our daughters’ teachers as Christmas gifts…and then it morphed into making about 35 pair for the family get together, too.

When, I mentioned my idea to my quilter and she did a search engine search and found a blog where there was a tutorial to make them!  I was flabbergasted that what I felt was an original idea 🙁

But, I followed my original idea and put them together with jelly roll fabric.  For ONE (1) hand warmer, I cut a 7″ strip from a jelly roll and then folded the fabric in half and sewed (zig-zag stitch) the two sides together.  Then, I filled it with three teaspoons of rice, closing the top at the sewing machine.  These all go together VERY quickly, hence the reason I was able to make them in just over an hour from start-to-finish.

Finally, I typed up some directions (30 seconds in the microwave) and strung them through with some thin crochet thread and tied a knot to secure them to the pairs of hand warmers.

Fun and very well received, too!

iPad Tote Bag

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I was gifted with my iPad about six months ago.  The only thing I’ve done to it was to purchase a waterproof casing for it.  I think it’s time I treat myself to a bit of my own quilted fun by making an iPad tote bag for it!

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It’s been fun to re-size my ‘normal’ tote bag pattern to fit my iPad.  Sometimes, I design a quilt and just go on remote and memory to make it, sometimes following my own design pattern and sometimes enhancing it.  I really only have to use my own noggin when making a t-shirt quilt.  Hence, although it took me a while to mathematically figure out the fabric dimensions to make it perfect for my iPad size, it was a breath of fresh air to know that I am still able to do those types of things with my diminishing brain power because of my MS.

I haven’t had time to get back into my sewing room to finish the tote – but, I’m anticipating being able to do it sometime this week.  Next up will be a cover for my iPad itself.  Because the waterproof case is thicker than any iPad case on the market, will have to once again use my noggin to figure out how to put it together so it further protects my iPad.  Stay tuned to the continuing saga of the quilted iPad cover!

Friday Funday

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I will continue to post fun items to make for the holidays on Fridays, leading up to December.  I do not know about you but I have a LOT of folks who deserve gifts – teachers, friends, etc.

These flowers I made for my MIL last year are what we chose to make for the female teacher gifts this year.  The tutorial for making them can be found at:
https://knittygrittythoughts.typepad.com/knitty_gritty_thoughts/2009/11/my-entry.html

We chose some fun Christmas fabric to use.  We also have one Jewish teacher so we’ll make hers with blues and whites I already have at home.  We also purchased small dowels and will wrap them with floral tape and add a couple of leaves to the stem.  Finally, we will add a decorative bow to each flower.

Our son actually came up with an idea for the male teachers and that is mug rugs!  He constantly amazes me with his memory as I made mug rugs earlier this year when my FM was wintering with us.  It was a great suggestion and the girls agreed to it, as well.

I hope you enjoy this Friday Funday craft idea!

Another T-Shirt Quilt (continued)

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As stated in this post, the t-shirt quilt I was commissioned to make is two-sided, reversible.  This evening, I completed the back side of the quilt.  The front has all white t-shirts on it, the back has the colored t-shirts on it.  I can’t decide which one I like better – but both are super, to me!

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And I amazed myself in that I made this side knowing my final size was to match the top side.  Once the back was complete, I laid it out on my bed and put the front quilt on top of it – and was astounded that they matched up nearly perfectly!

On to my quilter so I can put a DONE stamp on this fun project!