Doll Quilts

 

Blue Doll Quilt

Hello,

It's been a month since my last blog post. In the past few weeks, I've been having fun making doll quilts and even trying to make a few accessories. I always love making small quilts and wondering what else I can use them besides the usual mug rugs or coasters. I started reading blogs and watching videos on doll quilt making. And decided to try it. 

I started making mini patchwork pillows from scrap. Those are 1:12 scale pillows. So much fun to make. The best part is I can use my leftover batting for the insert. 

I looked up on YouTube for a DIY doll bed. OMG, there are just so many of them with different ideas, from using ice cream sticks to using cardboard and twigs. 

I tried making it from cardboard too but not as good as that on YouTube haha! Instead of painting or using fabric to cover the cardboard, I used leftover wallpaper. It did not stick properly tho! I hate working with glue. I try to avoid as much as I can. The bed was OK but it's not good as a photo prop I think. 

DIY Doll Bed from Cardboard

Next, I tried making the armchair following this tutorial. I used an Amazon box and cut them into round shapes. I stacked around 5 pieces of cardboard and then added batting on the top before covering it with fabric. For the sides of the chair, I use double-fold binding to cover it. For the chair back, I used cardboard from the toilet tissue roll! Glueing the fabric is a bit tricky but I managed pretty OK. For the chair legs, I used the satay sticks! I am thinking of getting a thicker stick but have not found any. For the time being, this will do! 

Pink Doll Quilt with Patchwork Pillow

Kantha Doll Quilt 

I made 2 more quilts in Blue. These are 12x12 inches and also come with 2 pillows. For the first one, I made a simple 8-patch using 2.5" squares and then added blue stripe borders. I did hand quilting here using cotton thread and it turned out very soft! 

Blue Doll Quilt with 2 Pillows 

And for the second one, it's just a very simple quilt using 2 pieces of fabric. I used 2 FQ fabrics from block print fabrics  bundle.  

For the front and batting, I cut 12" x 12" and then cut 16" x 16" for the backing fabric. The faux binding is done by machine and then I hand quilt the rest. It's great experimenting. For the faux binding, depends on the finished width you desire, and then multiply that by 4. So if the quilt size is 12x12 inches and you want 1" wide binding, it means 12" + 4" = 16". So you need to cut the backing 16" x 16". 

If you're wondering about the doll bed, I got them from Amazon India (search for Laddu Gopal bed). It's a real wood and comes intact with the mattress so it's pretty heavy. The size is just perfect. 

Block Print Doll Quilt with Pillow

1:12 Scale Doll Pillows 

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by, leave a comment or two if you happen to be here or have any questions. 

Happy Sewing, 

Elvira

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Some quilting and sewing

Mini Quilts

Hello, how are you doing? I've been busy with many random things the past few weeks. I share this scrappy mini pillow on my Instagram a few weeks ago. I made it for fun and to test hand quilting using cotton thread which I got from the local shop.  The mini pillow is for wrist pillow when I am working on my computer. And I just had fun while taking photos. Hmm, I think it can be a doll pillow too. 

I also finished a couple of wallet orders and face mask orders too. Thank you for always supporting handmade! I know there is a lot of more pretty stuff out there that is cheaper and prettier, so I am truly grateful when someone chooses to buy my handmade instead. It really means a lot. 

In the past 2 years, the e-commerce business has really boomed and the online market is flooded with all kinds of products. And of course, the competition is tougher too. It is a very challenging year but I believe that if we create with heart and sincerity, it will pay off. I always try to move forward at my own pace. Although sometimes, I got caught up in the 'rate race" of social media. I think we should not lose focus on our goals, things that make us happy. For me, to be able to create something and share my knowledge makes me happier. This reminded me of one quote from one drama I watched that goes

" you cannot just move forward and leave your heart behind".

 

This statement stuck with me for a few days, trying to make a sense of it. What do you think of the quote? 

Mini Zipper Wallet

Ikat Family Passport Holder

Singing Face Masks

I started another Kawandi pillow too and this is the current state! I am still not able to get time to continues as I am currently working on my next pattern! I hope I will be able to release the pattern by end of next week. 

There are so many things  I want to learn and experiment with.  Well, I did a couple of experiments that were halfway done and stashed in my WIP box. I think I will just make a video and show you all what's on my WIP box one day. 

Kawandi Pillow WIP

I also went with my son for his IELTS tests last week. The place was near my fave shop, so I went there (after 2 years!)  and a pick up a couple of kurtas. I can't resist Indian print tunics! 

And when you saw the window with patterns that remind you of quilting lines, you must take a photo! Yup, that was me, taking a selfie with the window :)

looking out 

The weather is pretty chilly and dry these past few days. My MIL's flowers are blooming beautifully this time. No, I can't grow plants. Somehow, they always die when I try to grow one. LOL. 

We also got a new baby calf yesterday.

Thank you for stopping by! Wherever you are, please take care and stay safe! 

Have a nice day,

Elvira

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A few more Kantha quilts

I made a few more small Kantha quilts last month but have not written about them here. I made a larger version of the moonshine and valentine, the size of placemats. I am still using shot cotton fabrics and using Anchor Pearl cotton no. 8. I got a few pearl cotton threads from my SIL and luckily I keep them. 

I still have a few placemats to quilt with more fun colors. I hope I can finish them soon. I got sew easily distracted doing other projects :D

And here are another rectangular Kantha coasters that I finished and added to the Shop. And still using handloom cotton. I really love the handloom border and since some of the handloom fabrics only have one side borders, these coasters are very limited in stock.

what is your fave tea?

Great for your mug or indoor plant mat

And here are a few in floral print and tie-dye combo. 

Teal Floral rectangular coaster set

Fuchsia Coasters Set

I had so much fun making all these mini quilts. Handloom ones are rather hard to quilt, but the floral ones are easier and I can finish it quickly while catching up on my Cdramas :)

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a lovely day!

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful blogs

 

Weekly Digest

Days go so fast when you're having fun or have deadlines, even during the Pandemic. I always want to be able to write more regularly, like a few times a week, but sometimes, words just don't come to my mind when I am sitting at my desk. 

I thought I'll do a weekly recap kind of post once in a while. 

Let's see what I've been doing in the past week(s):

1. SEWING

I made a few face masks and Doitrei Pouch orders last week and as usual, I made one or two extra for stock in the shop. I made this plaid black and white spacious face mask and it turned out really cool. I also ordered jute drawstring bags to pack the face mask orders. I am thinking, many people need reusable bags to keep their masks as they go through their daily routine. So now with every mask order, you will get this pretty jute bag. Yay!

Plaid Face Mask

Also made a few face masks from Quilts Japan book using Indian fabric bundle.

I usually use this double zipper pouch to keep an extra mask, hand sanitizer, and tissue. 

Double Zipper Pouch

A customer was asking for a bigger size triple zipper pouch and I kinda liked the size. I think I'll make a few more when I get time. 

I also made this cute card wallet. This is one of the bestsellers in my shop now! I think many people love this Wonderland Fabric :).

Mini Card Wallet

2. QUILTS & FABRICS 

I finally completed the wall hanging which I posted in my previous Post and I also prepared a few coasters set for my small quilt shop! I'm so happy to get a few of my hand quilted coasters sold out! Thank you so much for the supports!!

For these teal and floral coasters, I tried using mercerized cotton thread. The effect is softer than using the anchor pearl (Perle) cotton thread but it's easier on my fingers :D

Floral Tie Dye Coaster Set

Made a set of mug rug

Coming up next....

A few mug rugs also in the making. I used this tutorial to make the above mug rug, but instead of using fabric strips, I am using 2.5" square pieces. What do you think?

New Floral Prints!

3. READING

I love reading Kathleen Tracy's Remembering Adelia. By the way, Kathleen is having a quilt along from her new book Schoolgirl Sampler. I was thinking to join in, but I'm very bad at following any QAL or SAL.

I also got 2 new Quilts Japan books! So excited to try and learn from the book. 

4. WATCHING

I'm watching this Korean Drama True Beauty on VIKI. Finally, one drama that I can enjoy watching and maybe rewatch again later. It's about the insecurity of being a teenager, the mental struggle they have to go through for being ugly, bullied by friends, etc. The story looks good so far. The actors are doing really well, esp Moon Ga-Young. Having 2 teenagers myself, I found watching coming-of-age drama helps me to know what the millennials are going through. Grew up in an all-girls family and now raising 2 boys, sometimes I feel clueless. I guess, we as parents, never stop learning. 

That's all from the last week or so. Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing and have a lovely weekend!

Elvira

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Resources:

Patterns: 

Double/Triple Pouch - Doitrei Pouch Pattern

Face Mask - Trio Spacious Face Mask

Mug Rug - Scrappy Mug Rug

Hand quilted Trivets - Moonshine and Valentine

 Here are some 9980 hours to mastering hand quilting 😃

I'm a big fan of Suzuko Koseki and I collected a few of her books. The one I particularly love and want to learn from is the Modern Quilts book. It has an interesting quilt pattern from simple to complicated ones, or at least it looks complicated to me :D. 

In these 2 mini quilts, I am using Indian Handloom fabrics in high contrast colors. I was not sure in the beginning but once done, they turned out really pretty. Sometimes, we have to try something out of our comfort zone! 

Colorful Trivet

The book only gave dimension of the block but not really gave instructions. But I supposed it was to be pieced in half circle. So I did with this teal and orange one. 

I made another one which I cut 5" square and piece quarter circle block. I don't know if this is the correct term :D. 

I called these block my Moonshine and valentine - just because it the shape remind me of the moon and I was watching C-Drama with the same title. Johnny Huang is stunning in the drama 💙! 

Mug Rug

On the back, I used glace cotton fabric in dark teal and I love the texture of the finished quilt. They turned out very soft. The trivets finished at 8" x 8" and it's just the perfect size for anything. From mug rug, doily, trivets, or even for indoor plant mat.

I am still curious about the block and plan to make more but using poplin cotton instead of handloom fabrics. Although handloom colors are gorgeous, it's a bit too stiff for circle piecing. Maybe I can do better with cotton or Bali Batiks! 

I bought this local brand needle Jyoti Needles before I did the Kantha Workshop. I was skeptical in the beginning but the shop owner didn't have Pony Needle when I went. And guess what? It turned out really good and all the needles are sharp. I always have a problem with Pony Needle for hand sewing my wallet. But this one turned out better than Pony. I may need to stock up now.

I am still doing the quilting based on the Kawandi Quilt as I really love it. I plan to make more small kawandi quilts too, but it may take a while before I finally get down to make it. I have a few UFO quilts that I want to finish. Most of them are small quilts and a few single bed quilts. 

If you want to know how I did the quilting, I uploaded a small video on my Youtube Channel. It was recorded during my first Instagram Live. You can watch it here. 

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoy your visit!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

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Resources:

Book: Modern Quilts by Suzuko Koseki

Fabric: Handloom / Shotcotton

More mini quilts

Hello,

More mini quilts are finished. Some of them I finished a few  weeks ago but just get the time to take a blog worthy pictures!

This morning after breakfast, I set up my camera, gathering the prop and background and taking some pictures.

This pink table topper was finished a couple of weeks ago. The fabrics are all Indian fabrics. I love the multi color floral print matching the small floral pink and the ikat prints. The quilting was done in my Jack industrial machine with organic curvy lines (my new fave!!). 

I also finished another 2 mug rugs. This design is my all time fave. I used 2.5" x 2.5" for the patchwork pieces and added a blue shot cotton fabric to tone down the bright pink and orange fabric. 

I always find simple quilting lines are best! I used straight line and diagonal grid for the mug rugs. 

The green mini quilt above was an orphan block. I called it monsoon in a jar because of the umbrella print! I did the curvy quilting diagonally and I love the effect on it! 

All binding for the mini quilts were finished my hand. 

Stay tuned for more mini quilts!! 

What is your fave quilt size to make?

Thank you for stopping by!

Until then,

~  Elvira ~