A Persons's a person

“A person's a person, no matter how small." - Dr. Seuss

Last year for my baby cousin's first birthday I made him a really cool blanket (have to find pictures of it for you all to see.) He loves it, his parents love it, everyone that sees it loves it and a lot of people that found out that I made it didn't even know that I knew how to sew. I like surprising my family like that.

I started on another quilt for him a couple months back but then it got packed up one night and I never pulled it back out. Maybe it will be his Christmas present, a little boy can never have to many blankets right?

Well I really wanted to make him another cool quilt and when I went to Joann's to get fabric for another little one that will be turning one in a few weeks, I found something perfect for her but couldn't find anything that I loved for him. I went to one of the smaller fabrics stores and found some cool fabrics that I liked but they had a 1 yard minimum...and since both of the fabrics were $14/yard each and then I would have to find something to go with it I decided to pass. I then drove across down and went to another small fabric store. I walked around and there it was Dr. Seuss fabric, I loved Dr. Seuss growing up I had all of his books (until my mom gave them away...sad face).

They had a black circle pattern that looks just like the yellow one that I might go back and get for the back. I might also go get him a couple Dr. Seuss books as well.

Did I fail to mention that his birthday in on Tuesday...nothing like leaving a project till the last minutes...opps! 

Over and out,

A Engineer in the Kitchen

Christmas Stockings!

I have spent the last week making Christmas stockings for my parents, siblings, friends, cousins, and the important puppies in my life. After the first couple they became pretty easy and got done quickly. Only had a million and half things to do during the last week (including finals) so they took me a little longer than what I wanted to get them done.

I got the pattern for these stocking at Prudent Baby (I googled free stocking patterns and this was the first one that I found that seemed easiest). I also liked that I could use a little less then a half yard of fabric and I have a lot of scrap fabric so I really liked that as well.

First I layered the outside fabric (the fancy fabric), a layer of bating, and then the liner (coordinating color) and cut along the pattern. Then I flipped the pattern over and repeated the process.

Next I sewed along the edges on both the "front" and "back".

I used some scrap fabric and created a cuff (I made two of them) and cut a strip to sew on the bottom edge.

I attached the cuffs to the "front" and "back".

Then I folded the cuffs over and pined it down. Next pined the "front" and "back" together and sewed along the edge. Used a piece of ribbon (or scrap fabric) to create a hoop so the stocking can be hung.

Look at how cute...The purple one is for my sister Renee and the black and red one her husband (my favorite brother in-law) Justin. I bought those sparkly initials at Target for a buck. Unfortunately I couldn't find a L, a second M, and P so I found a fancier ones at Kohls.

I think I made a total of fifteen stockings for various different people. Even made one for myself but didn't  hang it up since I won't have anything to put in it. Don't they look so nice up on the mantle and around the fireplace. And look at the lovely decorated Christmas tree.

Didn't forget the puppy dogs stockings; just didn't have room around the "fire".

Close up on the Christmas tree. FYI- I'm in the process of moving and didn't feel like unpacking Christmas stuff just to repack it up (two days before Christmas). However, I did still want to be some what Christmas around the apartment so I drew this beautiful picture to put my presents around.

Now only if it can snow a little bit on Thursday night so we can have a white Christmas and not snow again until the next Christmas Eve.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Update on Doggie Hoodie

I have been working on the hooded sweatshirt for my friend's dog, Remmy. I have actually got quite a bit done and it doesn't seem like it has been taking that much time at all to do it. Seems like thing that took the longest was the actually cutting out of the fabrics.

I made a slight adaptation to the pattern that I bought, by adding a fleece lining. I couldn't find a camouflage sweatshirt material, all I could find was t-shirt material and I then I thought this way it could be reversible.

I first sewed the lining and the outer fabrics together (with the right surfaces on the outside).

After I sewed all the lining to the outer fabric it was finally time to work on the pattern. First thing they had me do was sew the front to the back.

Close up on the seams, then I cut a small slit at the V.  (This makes it much easier when attaching the hood to the rest of the hoodie.)

Next on to the hood; very simple to make just sewed the edges to gather.

Cousin Zack so happy that I made him try on the hood. He was so happy when I told him this was going online and that he had the Michigan State University blanket when he is a University of Michigan fan.

Next I sewed the bottom of the hood together; it looks like a hood now.

Then it was time to attach the hood to the front and back. After poking myself a million times in the fingers with the needles, it started to actually look like a sweatshirt.

Close up on the hood attachment.

Hopefully at this rate I will be able to get this finish by tomorrow morning; hasn't taken as long as I thought it would.

Over and out!
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Hoodies for Dogs!

I have a slight addiction to two stores...Barnes & Noble and Joanne Fabrics. I can spend countless of hours at both stores and not even buy anything. Big D hates going to these two stores with me mainly because he knows that he'll have to sit around waiting for me.

Anyways, on Friday I went to Joanne Fabrics to start on a little something something that I am making for a friend's son (will post on that later once I start it). But when I was looking through the pattern books I found the cutest thing I have ever seen for a dog.

Hoodies for dogs!!! Now I looked at the pattern and it said for extra small to medium sized dogs...I don't think my dogs classify as extra small to medium size being that they both are black labs. Sam weighs in at approximately 120 pounds and Dakota is approximately 60lbs.

I really liked these and really wanted to make one so I thought of a surrogate dog that I could make one for...in comes Remmy (short for Remington), this is my best friend's Lindsay's dog (yes my best friend has the same name as me.)

When I showed her which one I wanted to make for Remmy, she thought it was the coolest thing as well (great minds think a like right). However, Matt (Lindsay's boyfriend) said that I could only make one for her if it was Realtree camouflage. So I am making a hooded sweatshirt for a dog that is reversible (little adaptation to the pattern); with camouflage on one side and green fleece on the other.

I will periodically update on this project. Hopefully it won't take to long to make but with my busy schedule you never really know when I will have that much time to work on it.