Development Hearts

These are called Development Hearts and are provided to parents in hospital nic (neonatal intensive care) units.

While the mother or father is present in the nic unit to care for baby, this heart is worn on the chest like a burping cloth. When the parent is absent, this flannel heart is placed in the bed with baby for comfort.

Above, the pink heart is a finished sample. On the right is a stack of hearts we have cut. These are free to you.  If you would like to stitch and return some of these, we will make sure they are delivered. Just stop by to pick up.

Or, make from your own scraps. These are flannel, 9" wide and 7" high. Cut 2, stitch right sides together, turn inside out and top stitch near edge.

This is the poem written for this program:

Hand to hand,
Heart to heart,
Heartfelt love to share.

Place this heart against your chest,
and parent's love you'll share

Then place this heart in baby's bed,
throughout each passing day.
Another chance to show you care,
in a unique and loving way.

Your baby smells your presence,
whenever you can't be near.
It tells them that you love them,
and wish you could be here.

Your baby will always remember,
your heartfelt smell of love.
As parents you will always cherish,
this special gift of love.

POTC

Here's what I have been playing with lately.

The name of this quilt block is Patchwork of the Crosses. It's becoming so popular that it has been shortened in quilter slang to POTC.

We will learn more about this block in our July Sister's of the Cloth class (series of three classes - 3rd Saturday mornings July, September and November). Register now while there are still a few openings left.

Free Sock Knitting Class!

WHAT A DEAL!

Free Class:   Knitted Socks for Beginners

Must know knit and purl stitches.

Teacher: Julia Swallow, quilter and knitter

Where: Adel library upstairs conference room

When: 10-12 (mornings) March 10, 24, April 7 and 21 (Tuesdays)

What to bring:

1.       Sock Yarn.

My favorite is Opal. It changes color as you knit for fabulous results. Check with Yarn Junction in Valley Junction or Heartland Fiber on the square in Winterset.

2.       Knitting needles, size 1 or 1 ½ , double pointed.

·         The size depends on your gauge. If you knit a little tighter then 1 ½ is better.

·         Needle size can be affected by how the particular type of yarn knits up. Yarn store employees can help you with this.

·         The bamboo needles are very nice since they don’t slide out of your knitting as easily.

3.       A darning needle to stitch the toes together when done.

4.       Hot or cold beverage. The library allows it, I asked.

Class size is limited to 8. Call to reserve a spot.

Julia Swallow,   515-988-2906

Yoga Babies!

I spent this Sunday Sewday with these guys. Here they show me how they do the yoga position, Downward Facing Dog. They make it look so easy.

Jackson converted these building blocks into skates and the tile floor was his ice rink.

Lots of New Stuff!

Quilted Silver Thermofleck! This is great for all kinds of projects - - - iron board covers, hot iron caddies, pot holders, oven mitts, etc.

Remember this barn quilt? We were lucky to get the fabrics in one more time. We have kits, panels and everyone's favorite scattered print that we used on the back.

Love this new Zebra red/black line.

Remember these caddies? We have them in stock in red, black and green. Best little organizer to have near your sewing machine . Holds all of your basic notions and is ready to pick and go with you.

And this new panel. See the quick soft book Lonnie whipped up below. 

New magazines just in - Quilts N More and the brand new, first issue of Mod Block. Just in but won't last long.

This was part of my Sunday Sewday, a little dolly sleeping bag. It comes in several sizes, shown in size medium for a 15" doll.

February Deal of the Month!

Bags 40% off! See more on the website now.

Scrappy New Year projects

Update on our Scrappy New year projects:

If you are saving and stitching together 2 1/2" strips per our January 10 post, here's a tip:

Wait until you have a good assortment of color/prints before you start sewing together the sets of 4 strips. You can even go through your stash and cut small pieces up for more variety.  You don't have to use just width of fabric strips. Any piece that is at least 
2 1/2" x 8 1/2" will work for now.

I was recently working on a quilt using all Kansas Troubles prints. If I cut a 2 1/2" strip from each of those and sew them together, I won't get a good scrappy look. So, I am going to cut and save my strips for a bit until I have more variety.  Besides, you know the strips need to marinate for a while, right?

To be truly scrappy, once you have a nice variety of strips in your bag, reach in and pull one out. Reach in, without looking, and pull out another. No matter what they look like together, stitch them together. This is what will add the scrappy beauty to your quilt.

Be sure to check back the 15th of each month for more scrappy news.

Friend Jan shared this link with me. This is a technique for trimming half square triangle units from Little Miss Shabby. Give it a try. It looks to be brilliant. 

Note: Jan tried it and advises to be sure your can "see the stitch line" when you trim. In other words, don't set the ruler right on the stitch line or you will come up a smidgen short.

Thank you to Little Miss Shabby and thank you to Jan for sharing.