Odif Just My Type Challenge

I'm still not ready to let the haunting holiday go. When Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis sent me four fat quarters of her upcoming Just My Type collection for Island Batik, I saw 👀 in the Keys Small Hay print. What fun it would be to make eyes peek from the windows of a haunted house, right? 

So I pulled out the Haunted House Block designed by Sylvia Schaefer of Flying Parrot Quilts, which had gained my notice during the Epic Halloween Quilt Along. I used Odif 808 on the wrong side of my first piece to adhere it to the paper, and avoid lumpy pins or difficult-to-remove glue. Make sure to protect your iron and work surfaces with parchment paper when using 808.

The fabrics provided included Wow Mystic (!), Keys Large Marble (@), and Steam Med Lagoon (?), in addition to the aforementioned Keys Small Hay (o).

The pattern has a special window unit that is constructed, then used as a singular piece within another unit. This is similar to how I created the eye units. I cut 1/4" around two eyes, and then improvisationally pieced these into a unit small enough for the eyes to fit within the window, but large enough to cover the space.

ODIF: Christmas in July

Welcome to a new installment of Odif Ambassador projects. Today's theme is Christmas in July, and I picked an advent calendar, inspired by some advent stickers that have been hanging around without a purpose, and the unavailability of time to make a full Christmas quilt at the moment with four munchkins afoot non-stop. (Sing to the tune of Oh, Christmas Tree) Oh, quarantine! Oh, quarantine, how lovely are your mask-iz. Ok, I'll stop, as song lyrics are apparently not my strong suit. Even the captive children are not amused. Where were we? Oh, yes---a project. 

I cut rectangles 16" x 7", and folded these over, wrong sides together for the pockets. I marked 1/2" from the edge of each end for the seam allowance and divided the remaining space into 3" sections. I centered a sticker in each of these sections excluding seam allowance on the bottom raw edge. I applied Odicoat over the front of each pocket as shown in the video, and let that dry.

Then I cut (5) rectangles from the background fabric 16" x 4 1/2". I sewed the top together by laying a background rectangle face up, layering the pocket face down (still folded with right sides outward) with the raw edges matched, then, layered another background piece face down. I stitched the raw edge and then pressed open with the pocket showing. I repeated the process until all sections were added.

I cut a 16" x 6" rectangle for a sleeve. I pressed each short end over 1/2" twice using a Clover Hot Ruler. (You should totally get yourself one for Christmas....in July.) I opened this up, blocked off all but the final 1 1/2" with a Dollar Tree chopping mat (for cutting vegetables in other peoples' households), and sprayed with 606. I folded it back over and pressed. Do both sides. Press in half the long-and-skinny way with wrong sides together and pretty sides outward. Center on the front of the top with raw edges matched up and attach using a 1/4" seam. While you're at it, go all the way around the perimeter to secure the pockets in the upright position.

Measure the front and cut a piece of backing fabric the same size. You may want to coat this in Odicoat for protection too. Cut a rectangle of batting 1" shorter in width and height. Use 505 to adhere the batting onto the backing, centered. Lay the top face-up. Place the back, face-down on top of the top. Pin in place, making sure the sleeve IS NOT  sticking out. Sew around the edge, leaving a gap for turning. 

Stitch the corners (forward, backward, forward) like so, and then cut off the little triangle just a hair to the outside of the stitching. Turn the whole thing right-side-out. Add a Clover Turner to your Christmas stocking for this effort. Topstitch around the top 1/4" from the edge top which will secure that gaping hole in the side.

To complete the pockets, use and erasable marking pen to mark the pockets into (5) 3" sections. Stitch lines the entire length of the calendar (not the sleeve) along these divisions. Make sure the sleeve isn't getting stitched.

And there you have it!

Shannon Fabrics and Odif Ambassador Challenge: The Crocodile

Welcome to a fun collaboration between Shannon Fabrics and Odif.

Here's what the Cuddle Kit (and raw inspiration for the challenge) looked like, fresh-in-the-box. Everything was pre-cut and instructions for a simple row quilt were included. But, as per usual, I had a crazy idea. I decided to make the Friendly Stuffed Crocodile from Sew 4 Home. 

Because Cuddle fabrics have the potential to shed, I pre-treated the back of each piece with Fabric Booster according to the instructions. It's very important to shake the Fabric Booster first, as it differs from starch, and will shoot white gluey globs if you completely disregard the printed specifications (you know, in case anybody was ever silly enough to do that). It also critical that you protect your iron with parchment paper, or it will make for a very sticky situation (in case anybody was ever silly enough...). And if you're going to use DK5 to deal with that. make sure you cool your iron first. Ok folks, I admit it. I'm a hot mess! But if you don't follow in my footsteps, you'll be 👌. 

In any event, fluff distribution was nearly eliminated.

I sprayed the back of my pieces with 808 Reactivating Adhesive. It affixes with heat, and pieces with it applied can be removed from fabric without leaving residue.

I used Sewing Edge Stops to align my raw edge when sewing the pieces. Even if you are tempted, don't over-stuff the feet. The tutorial knows what it's talking about in this regard, and you'll want to not have them slipping around when you stitch together the body. (I may have learned this the hard way too.)

For the felt eyes, I sprayed the back with 606 Iron On Adhesive to hold them in place for appliqué.

Anyhow, the fabrics are so precious and soft. 

And of course, the kids love this stuffy!

Thanks for joining me!