Happy Halloween :: Prayers for all touched by Hurricane Sandy

This little guy is about 24" tall and he is made of cheese cloth and a bit, or well, a lot of starch. Go here to find the tutorial.

Happy Halloween!

First, prayers, hugs, and thoughts of encouragement go out to all those touched by Hurricane Sandy this weekend.Our family was lucky enough to be spared and we are giving thanks. May God help the courage, strength and souls of those picking pieces of this world in these moments as I type these words. It can't be easy, but we hope that with the hope, love and compassion of all in this great Nation that we call all rebuild together.

Light is shining through the wet dark bare branches of the trees this morning. It is cold out, and a bit raw. My government working husband is tele-commuting today since we don't know that public transportation will be able to get hime to and from his office safely. I am breathing a sigh of relief that I can actually have a moment of time to breath deep and write the words that come this morning.

I found felt bags just like these in our local grocery store. The kiddos demanded we bring some home, but Mama of course said, I can make those!! A bit of felt, embroidery floss, a sewing machine and those pictures I took with my phone, these replicas past the kid-test.

I've been working on things as of late. Just as the winds and the rains swept in fear and humility to nature, they also swept in my artistic streak and so putting pencil in hand, I started preparing for the Advent season that will soon be upon us.

Just a peek...More to come and of course a little sharing. :)

Hugs and Prayers,
Abbie

Halloween Bucket Fun

This fabric + a little time + my sewing machine = this treat or treat bucket.

Small handles = very functional
Duck canvas = no need for interfacing, fusible anything...
Halloween prints = fun.

Not from a pattern. Just a little playing around. Sewing, for the sake of sewing. Put aside the camera, shun the thoughts of another blog tutorial and just stitch. It was quite wonderfully organic. And very relaxing until I had to figure out how to piece together the orange trim from not-enough-scraps from another project.

The kiddos sure were surprised. And they began right away filling their treat buckets with everything not-Halloween; aka, cars, babies, and trains.

What are you stitching for Halloween?

A Big Thanks for Your Tote Bag Sewing Help

I am so overwhelmed by the positive responses and promises of help I've gotten for the Giving Bag collection. Thank you to all who are sewing, embroidering, and collecting out there! My goal is to collect 200 tote bags for The Giving Heart charity in Richmond, Virginia and I've already received my first few in the mail! Thank you! The bags pictured above are ones I made of duck cloth canvas and are waiting for children to decorate them!

If you are interested in donating, go here to find out more. Here are a couple of the mentions I've found around town! (If you've blogged about this donation drive, send me a note at abbieipark(at)gmail(dot)com.  I'd love to hear from you!)

Simone de Klerk - Quilting and Stitchery and here too!

Mollie Johansen - Wild Olive and new patterns here too!

The Choate Family Blog posted great pictures of the girls sewing!

Leslie - Leslie's Art and Sew

Make and give to others more than you yourself would like to receive.

Him & me :: Mercy & Love ~ Free Printables

Sometimes the lightning bolt of inspiration comes crashing down in a flurry of pen to paper, thoughts scribbled and colors splashed down on the page all in a flash dash to empty the mind. 

Other times it is like waiting for it to rain. It looks like it might happen. It smells like it might start. It feels like it could begin to fall, but those darkened skies just hold out and will not shed a single drop. 

Sometimes, my inner artist is trying her hardest. Turning out ideas day and night. Most of them land on paper. Plans are made. Materials located are gathered together. Pieces printed, cut, ironed on, painted, sewn. And then the product is so ugly my inner human averts her eyes in detest. 

I used to think that was wasted failure. Now I think it is all progress. 

In the movie Finding Nemo, Dori the fish said, "Just keep swimming." I just keep going. I am learning to let go of the messy flops and move on. Remove the rubble and toss it. Purge my heart of disappointment, frustration and fear of failure. Lessons learned here people. You emerge from the dust one single step ahead. Another advancement along the path of life. The path that God meant you to follow, exactly. I am choosing to accept that "just right" path with my fabric shears in one hand, and paint brush and portfolio in the other. God is next to me, in me, and all around me. This journey is Him & me.

This can be a stencil. It can be a printable. It can be an iron on, if you want to flip it. Click here to get the PDF image. I'll be back after the long weekend with a brief print-on-fabric how-to.

I am also posting this one on the Stitch and Send Flickr Group here. If you are already sewing for the Stitch and Send, you can post your stitchery here too! If you aren't already participating, I'd so appreciate your help! I am collecting tote bags for charity and my goal is 200 by next month! Find out how you can help and more information here!

Oh, and while you are at it...here is another version...just for fun. (Note, I haven't fully refined it to be a stencil pattern...you'd have floaters...just cut out joined pieces to make this one a stencil. In the mean time, think, iron-on, or fabric printable.)

Have a wonderful Columbus Day weekend if you are here in the States! And a wonderful weekend besides if you are a bit further away!

Got a Sewing Addiction? How to Find the Cheap Fabric Fix

So, you've got a sewing addiction. That is why you popped over, no? Honesty can be the first step in recovery. *Shhhh, though* This article isn't about recovery. It's about...finding your next fix...on a budget! *ahem.*

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "addiction" as:

ad·dic·tion 
compulsive physiological need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be physically, psychologically, or socially harmful

Let's begin by talking openly about addiction and start by replacing the elicit drugs in the dictionary definition with something more soothing such as the likes of: drapey lawn linen, organic cotton voile, or a few yards of a silky charmeuse.  I am almost sure vintage Vogue patterns, antique lace, and beautiful jacquard ribbons, could sooth even the edgiest of cravings. But please do jump in if your preferred *fix* isn't just listed out right here.

Perhaps we can bend the rules a little about that harmful part. Does spending hours on those narrow rolled hems and leaving late for appointments count as disruptive? Does cutting patterns take the place of cutting carrots for dinner? Does an obsession that overtakes bathroom breaks, favorite TV shows, and vital sleep count as an...addiction?

So, you've got a sewing addiction, and one that requires cash on a regular basis. It's a habit you've have a hard time kicking. So let's start kicking it now. (I mean kick the "requires cash" part, not the sewing addiction. Does this mean I'm an enabler?)

For starters, I'm sorry; I don't have time to scour the Internet looking for the best sales at 13 on-line outlets. I don't have time to cut all the coupons for the local stores nor rack up "frequent, preferred, VIP, elite, gold-member, buyer" points, for a $5 coupon off my 300th order.

I do have time for these few tactics which are usually how I get my cheap fabric fix. Do I come away with the most gorgeous this-season print hot off the line? No, most certainly not. Are any of these easy-peasy methods? No, some take time going through the racks, weeding out the bad stuff, the ugly stuff, and the no-way-under-the-sun stuff. But some of these adventures are way more interesting than cutting coupons and I can almost always come away with some fine fabrics, ribbons and notions I feel confident will feed my need.

**These ways may not all be applicable to you. And please use these methods with caution. A sewing addiction is nothing to play around with.**

*     *     *

Community Sales

Yard sales, church sales, estate sales, rummage sales, garage sales...do you notice a trend here?

Thrift
Salvation Army, Goodwill, Unique, thrift stores...look for big yardage in the form of linens, curtains, bedding, towels, etc. Sometimes I find kits, notions, and regular yardage here too.

A Sewer You Know
Mom, your aunt, your grandmother...who ever in your family, or circle of friends, likes to sew and is willing to share. My mom first sewing teacher. 40+ years of sewing; yeah has lots to share! *Ask first!*

The Closet of Someone You Know
My husband's closet. Shirt has a hole? Pants aren't in style any more? Make corduroy pants for a toddler. Make a hoodie vest for a four year old. A hint here; it helps to have a larger husband. Also request permission before you take.

Bedding and Linens
A discount sale in the bedding/curtain/table linen aisle of Walmart, Target, Bed-Bath and Beyond, Ross, Marshalls...and any other department store with a good selection of woven cotton prints. Remember to look for quality and thread count here!

Free Cycle
Did you know you can request items in addition to offering them?

Fabric Co-ops
Wanna know how these work? This thread does a great job explaining. Some posts in the thread say that the discounts aren't all that good after shipping and cutting fees and waiting months for your order, and I agree to an extent. However, from personal experience, I've found I can get fabrics like PUL from a co-op that I can't get from my local JoAnns. Or anywhere else retail in my area for that matter.

Discount Fabric Stores
My favorite store in New Hampshire is actually called Fabric Fix. They buy wholesale, sometimes discounted, from distributors and sell it all in their bare bones store front. You may have a strictly discount store near you.

Last Resort - Retail
If you can't resist those retail fabric stores, after-the-holiday-sales are your best bet to not get into some heavy budget trouble. Remember to venture in cautiously, with a coupon.

Keep your fabric fix healthy. Wash everything right when you get home. Use the hottest water allowable, dry it, press it, fold it neatly, and stash it.

The next time the sewing monster in you gets itchy and needs to bust out, peruse your stash and make something for charity, or something to give away, or a gift that says simply, "thank you kind person!" Or yes, you can make something for yourself too!

 If you liked this article and you want to see more, subscribe to 
Abbie Living to continue getting tips, tricks and thoughts about sewing, knitting, and crafting to create a better world.

Thank you for visiting! Hugs and prayers ~ Abbie

I Love You Jesus :: Free Embroidery Pattern

Just like the Love Falling embroidery pattern, the idea for this pattern popped into my head suddenly last week. 

I get ideas like that. They kind of sneak up on me and pop out when I am in the shower, or on the toilet, or taking something out of the oven while fending off a 16 month old who is precariously leaning on my left leg. In other words, these epiphanies like to peek out and say "hello" when I simply don't have a pencil and a slip of paper on which to capture them before they disappear into the oblivion of my foggy-mom-brain. Never to be seen or heard from again. Ever. It's sad really. Sometimes I believe that some of my greatest artistic moments slip by unaccounted for and drop off the cliff into the valley of great-ideas-that-were-never-to-be-had.

But I digress lamenting about my memory that functions like a sieve. This pattern, the I Love Jesus pattern, I took the liberty of adding some color. Mollie of Wild Olive just blogged a week of fabulous embroidery tinting ideas. You should visit for just a while to look at all her colorful photography. *It makes you want a new set of crayons.* Thank you Mollie!



So, you can tint the clouds, leave them white, or fill them with another such stitch. Fill the crosses, or not. I like them looking heavy. And the red lettering, well you certainly don't have to keep it red. Do what comes to you.

If you are so inclined, please consider stitching up one of these patterns on your next tote bag and donate it to the Giving Heart. I am gathering a goal of 200 handmade tote bags for their Thanksgiving Feast event when over 500 volunteers will be preparing supper for more than 3000 guests! Seniors, homeless individuals, and poor families receive a tote bag full of living essentials like toiletries, diapers, and non-perishable food stuffs. Please lend your time and talent and make a Giving Bag to someone in need. To find out more about my work with The Giving Heart, go here. Thank you!

Can I Do It? 200 Tote Bags?

I've stepped off, and done it. I am working, in real life, with The Giving Heart of Richmond, Virginia.

My goal is to gather 200 sewn bags to donate to their Thanksgiving Feast event this year. Each year staff and over 500 community volunteers serve a truly festive Thanksgiving Feast to more than 3000 guests! At that event each guest receives a Giving Bag tote filled with toiletries, diapers, non-perishable food items, toys, hats and other living essentials. These tote bags go to seniors on limited incomes, homeless individuals and families who have come upon harder times.

Can you help me sew 200 bags?  Do you know someone else who can? I need your help! People in Richmond Virginia need your help!

You see, typically donors give grocery totes and canvas totes from professional conferences and the like. While these serve the Giving Bag purpose, I am imagining something bigger.

Imagine something better. How special would it be for an older senior to receive a beautiful, simple, tote bag made of colorful printed cotton canvas from you? 

Would you like to receive something just like that? I know I would and that is my aim: to go above and beyond and gift beauty, something genuine, and sturdy to a person who really needs a gift more than I. I want to give a gift that I'd feel honored to receive.

So how can you help? Firstly, you don't have to know how to sew...you simply need to want to give of your creativity.

For the beginner sewer, doesn't take long to make a tote bag. And it doesn't require much material either. If you are a sewer, you may even have some extra fabric already in your stash that you'd be willing to give.

For the non-sewer, grab a sturdy canvas tote and decorate it how you'd like. (Canvas totes are available at craft stores, or you may have one already.) Be creative. Adorn with passion. And remember these will be given to men, women and children.

If you are inspired and ready to take action and give, here is how you can help:
Sew a tote bag...or sew seven
Get a friend to sew a tote bag, or sew eight
Cast your net wide and pass along this post to someone who does sew
Blog it, e-mail it, Tweet it, post it on your Facebook page, and all the other social media ways you pass along the next best thing.
Pray for me. Only the Lord knows if I will succeed and what my success will be.

My goal is to gather 200 bags. If you can send me just one, we are well on our way to making that extra special gift happen for someone on Thanksgiving.

Need a tutorial? Here is a list of simple tote bag tutorials. Or visit my Pinterest page where I keep track of all the talent I am finding.

When you've got a package of totes pop it in the mail to me! (Go here for shipping information.)

200 totes by November 9! That is about 4 a day! Can I do it? Not without your help. I am talking totes for women, men and children! Make them large, make them small, make them pink make them purple, make new, or recycle...use your creativity! Your donated bags are appreciated already. Please spread the word, and don't forget to come back and check my progress! A very exciting update is to come in a couple of weeks! 

If you have other questions, comments for me, or if you would like help spread the word to your readers, friends, or group and inspire creativity e-mail me at abbieipark(at)gmail(dot)com.

Newborns In Need

*Warning: This article introduction contains a bit of baby-birth-story information though I attempted to keep it tame.*

Goodness, this picture was taken four and a half years ago. It seems so long ago, yet I remember seeing my baby in that little incubator box, with tears in my eyes, like it was just moments ago. Little Miss surprised us all by coming early. She was a robust premie if you can even put those two words side by side. 5 pounds, 5 ounces. A tad more than 35 weeks.

I started bleeding in the morning and we wound up in the hospital, checked-in, by early afternoon. Four hours into labor, as the nurses outside our door were casting lots to see if we would end up in the OR for an emergency c-section. But Little Miss made her appearance there in that delivery room.

She seemed tiny. They took her first. She was breathing okay. After a bit she went to her daddy because I kept bleeding. The placenta delivered and we realized the abruption was more grave than we had seen on the ultra sound earlier. She and I were very lucky to still be here.

We went home after a few days, only to come back to the hospital for photo-therapy. Routine. Her brother had the same thing. Then the nurses found she was cold. Very cold. Whispering they rolled her little incubator away from us and out the door. Blood tests. IV lines. Spinal taps. Twice attempted. So many wires. Tubes. Beeping. They didn't know why her body was so cold. We felt worried. We felt empty scared.

She was admitted to NICU. And we had to go home.

We traveled an hour each way to visit our tiny daughter every day. We held her, tape, tubes, lines and all. We prayed, we talked to her, we rocked her...and we cried a lot.

She didn't have anything wrong with her. Her brain had just decided to not warm her little body. She only stayed a week and came home to us in the baby seat her brother had used.

We realized she needed premie clothing. Regular newborn size fanned out on her like flippers. She needed premie diapers. Newborn diapers fell down off her bottom. She needed premie everything. And we realized we needed a premie mindset and a premie heart to get through that time and then all the ups and downs that can come from being born a bit early.

My husband and I were so very lucky. We were surrounded by so much love, support, and compassion from the nursing staff, friends, and our families. We feel lucky that God led us through. He held our hands and walked right beside us when we needed it the most. And he blessed us with the wonderful soul Little Miss is today.

As I watch my premie-girl grow, I think about the babies born to so much less. Who is watching out for their needs? Who is helping mothers struggling? Sometimes no one. I ask myself, can I help? Can I be that one to support a baby? A new mother? In my heart, I know I am being called by God to do just that, help others in need. 

*          *          *

Newborns In Need (NIN) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization with chapters across the country. NIN is dedicated to bringing love, support, and living essentials for babies born to poverty, especially the tiniest, who are born prematurely. Through NIN’s specific initiative, Sophie’s Place, special volunteers help give comfort to families grieving for their little one who did not survive. Donated clothing, formula, diapers and other essentials are distributed through local chapters to area agencies, hospitals, and shelters.

And now the bit for you the crafter...here is how you can help right now. NIN also greatly appreciates donations of fabric, thread, quilt batting, yarns and ribbons. Chapter Volunteers meet monthly to cut, sew, knit and crochet blankets for local babies who have little else. Please check their website for the specific types of materials they accept before making your donation. Send your donation to your local chapter, and sign up to be a volunteer to start making a difference.

If you feel compelled to give, visit their website to learn more about their other initiatives serving the needs of newborns across the country.

 If you liked this article and you want to see more, subscribe to 
Abbie Living to continue getting tips, tricks and thoughts about sewing, knitting, and crafting to create a better world.

Thank you for visiting! Hugs and prayers ~ Abbie

Links I'm Loving :: Sewing Knitting Embroidery Praying

It is the calm before the storm. Today is the last day my children are in summer mode. Wake up later. Play, play, play. Watch some TV. Ask Mama for snacks...that require an oven. Little do they know that their flu shot today was just the beginning of a bright and bold future...away from home and at school. (I secretly feel a little bad for the youngest. He is going to feel like an only child home all alone with Mama 5 days a week.) 

And so, I am soaking up all the joys of the last day of my summer, before my crazy carpool schedule gets going, and before I start freaking out. What do I do on the last day of summer? Go to the doctors office. Make kids snacks in the oven. And I squeeze in a bit of sewing (wash towels for my daughter's classroom,) knitting (Christmas present for mom,) and a bit of blog reading...

Here are a few of my favorites:

Gotta sew this! Iron-On Maiden  - DPN case

Gotta buy this! - Ikat Bag's Bella Bag Pattern 

Gotta try this technique! Wild Olive Embroidery Tinting with Crayons

Gotta enter this giveaway by Take the Cannoli on the blog Vintage Grey (ends 9/6/12)

Gotta read this. Discipleship in the Public Domain on The High Calling

Hot Air Balloon Pocket Pillow with Pattern and Tutorial

 

Now that was a long title! I just wanted to get all the highlights into one place. First, this is a cute pillow pattern that has a pocket. The pocket just happens to be the basket for a small friend to ride in. And, this basket is attached to a beautiful hot air balloon.

And of course since I am crazy, and like writing up tutorials, especially complex ones like this one, and posting them for free access, this project comes with a self-drafted pattern and complete instructions! Enjoy!

A couple of notes first:

* I'd say a very advanced beginner sewer should attempt this. (That being said, for ambitious beginners with a passion for learning new skills, this is a great project to explore sewing curves.) Those of you out there who have far more sewing experience than that, this should just be a fun project.

* What do I mean by advance beginner? You'll need to be able to sew curved seams that lay flat, or at least have the time to try them out, (you'll be glad you did) and you'll need to be familiar with pattern notations. There are quite a few curves in this project and some involve more easing than others. I give a number of tips about doing these curves here in this tutorial, but for more learning and a visual, Google drunkards path quilting, or sewing curved quilt seams videos.

As for pattern notations, you'll need to be able to transfer pattern notations and follow my instructions about how to use them.

*I am not a quilter. I am a garment maker. So, this patchwork-style project is just that...a "style" project. Some parts are patch-worked together because I designed a single layer of fabric for the pillow facing. Some of my methods are a little non-traditional when it comes to true quilt-patchwork, but bear with me. The project turns out lovely in the end.

* And finally, this pattern transports a small friend who is approximately 3" wide by 6" tall. Or, it could carry a gift card to your favorite baby gear store too.

* I am making this particular pocketed pillow for a friend who is having a baby, VERY soon. I guess the pillow is really for the baby, not the friend, but you get what I mean. Anyway, this little soft accessory makes a great baby shower gift and when constructed from quality cotton fabrics, is also a sweet heirloom-type gift. I hope my recipient likes it very much!

Materials:
Hot Air Balloon Pillow Pattern download here
Computer and printer
Paper scissors
Disappearing ink pen and a pencil
Use quilting cotton, or another such light fabric in a natural fiber
    1/4 yd to be the sky
    1/4 yd for the balloon
    1/4 yd for the basket
    4" X 8" scrap for the ropes
    1/2 yd for the back pillow panel
Ruler (a quilter's ruler is helpful)
Slide ruler (nice, but not necessary)
Straight pins
Fabric scissors
Matching thread
Sewing machine
16" X 16" pillow form

How To:

1. Wash, dry, and press fabrics.

2. Download and print pattern pieces. Cut them out with a paper scissors.

3. Align grain line of pattern pieces to the grain line of the fabric (they should run parallel), trace around each piece with a disappearing ink marker (or other writing implement of your choice) and transfer all pattern marks with a pencil to the right side of the fabric.

HINT: This is how I transfer pattern marks that are not along the edge of the pattern piece. I simply, fold back the paper pattern at the notation and mark with a pencil this spot on the topside of the fabric. If your paper isn't transparent, you could use a straight pin. With the pattern piece flat against the fabric, push the pin tip through the pattern paper into the fabric below. Lift the paper pattern and mark the dot where the pin is sticking into the fabric below.

Some pattern pieces are meant to be cut on the fold, so watch out for this (these pieces are noted as such on the patter pieces themselves.) Remove pattern pieces and cut the pieces out with a fabric scissors. (If you'd rather print the pieces, trace them onto pattern paper, pin the pieces to the fabric, and cut both the paper and the fabric together, by all means this works too.)

Cut list: (You should end up with...)
Balloon:
(2) pieces of  #6 Balloon Stripe (C)  (they should be mirror images of each other.)
(2) pieces of #7 Balloon Stripe (B)  (they should be mirror images of each other.)
(2) pieces of #8 Balloon Stripe (A)  (they should be mirror images of each other.)
(1) piece of  #9 Middle Balloon

Sky:
(2) pieces of #5 Sky (D)  (they should be mirror images of each other.)
(1) piece of  #4 Sky (E) (cut this piece on the fold)
(2) pieces of #2 Sky (F) (they should be mirror images of each other.)
(1) piece of Sky (G) (there is no pattern piece #1; this is number one) that measures 3 1/2" X 17"

Basket:
(3) pieces of #3 Basket (cut this piece on the fold)

Ropes:
(4) 1" X 8" rectangles

Pillow Back:
(2) 17" X 11 3/4" (I chose to use the basket fabric for this one.)

Sew the Balloon
(Use a 1/2" seam allowances through out the project.)

4. Lay the #9 Middle Balloon piece right side up. Overlay the right hand side #8 Balloon Stripe (A), wrong side up.



Align the raw edges on the right side, match center marks and pin at the center. Match each raw end and pin. **This is where things can get a little tricky sewing curves. This is my tip for pinning angled seams so that the edges match up when everything is sewn together...which is critical for this project.**



HINT: Measure and mark the 1/2" seam allowance on both pieces at the beginning and end of the seam. The picture above is the end of the seam on piece #9 and on right hand #8.



Match the marks and pin the layers in place. These marks are where the thread should sew through allowing the pieces to open in alignment.


 
This is the piece flipped over. Notice that there is that triangle that sticks out. This is good. The measured seam allowance mark tells you how large a triangle should be there. Start sewing in the crotch of the beginning "V" and finish sewing in the crotch of the other "V". 



Open the piece, make sure the top and bottom raw edges are aligned, close the piece, press the seam to one side, and trim the extra triangles flush with the rest of the piece. Presto, perfectly aligned edges, with an angled seam. 


So, back to the matched #9 Middle Balloon and right hand side #8 Balloon Stripe (A) pieces...Start sewing in the crotch of the "V" and continue through to the other "V". (You don't need to back stitch here, like in quilt patchwork, because the beginning and end of the thread will get caught up in subsequent seams.) Open the piece and make sure the top and the bottom of the piece are parallel.


Close the piece, trim the seam allowance to 1/4", snip small cuts into the seam allowance where the fabric is curved so that both pieces will lay flat when open. Open the piece and press the seam to one side with a hot iron. The fabric will probably naturally want to go toward the #9 Middle Balloon piece.

5. Repeat this process with the left side of the #9 Middle Balloon piece and the left hand side #8 Balloon Strip (A) piece.

6. Now repeat this process with the remaining balloon pieces, first #7 then #6, in order. When you have finished the Balloon portion, it should look like this...


**As the curves become sharper, that is, less like straight lines, the stitching tends to get more sensitive. If you aren't careful, puckers, folds, and miss-alignments can occur. Here are my tips for how to sew nice curved seams that stay flat.** (In all honesty, these tips are probably already out there on the Internet somewhere, but these ones are just the ones that happened to help me most.)

HINT
*Go slow. Stitch slowly. Leave your needle down through the fabric, pause, lift the presser foot and check both layers of fabric to make sure that they are flat within the seam allowance. Lower the presser foot and continue on.
*Pin the middle, the beginning, and the end. One layer is curved one way. The other layer of fabric is curved the other way. The one that looks like it has a bite taken out of it, or the one that is concave, is the one that "seems" shorter. This layer needs to stretch to "meet" the other fabric Don't put too many pins in, because you want to be able to work with this stretchy bias-cut fabric. Gently, and evenly, stretch the concave piece to meet the edge of the other curve (or the convex piece). Match the edges together with your fingers and gently guide them slowly through the machine. 
*Work to aim for those "V" crotches. This will align the edges once the pieces are opened.
*Don't bother back stitching at the beginning or the end. If you don't like the seam at the end it is easy to rip it out and start over. 
*Clip perpendicular to the seam within the seam allowance along the curves to let the seam allowances lay flat behind the piece.

Sew the Ropes

7. Fold one rectangle in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press with a hot iron. (Second mock-up from the left.) Unfold this and fold each raw edge to meet the center crease and press. (Third mock-up from the left.) Fold the piece in half again lengthwise and press. (Mock up at the far right.) Repeat with the remaining three rectangles and then set these aside.

Sew the Sky - Part 1
That sounds kind of funny. And by the way, my sky is pink.


8. Lay the #4 Sky (E) piece right side up, and overlay the right hand side #5 Sky (D) matching the dots. Sew them together with a 1/2" seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4" and press the seam toward the #5 piece. Repeat with the left hand side #5 Sky (D) piece. (Yes, you can see the seam allowance, but this will be rectified once this sky piece is stitched to the Balloon piece. Just a note, in the photo below, the seam allowance is folded the wrong way.)


9. Match one end of one rope piece with the marks at the bottom of the #4 Sky (E) piece and pin in place, making sure that the open edge is facing away from the center line. Match the top of the rope piece with the mark on the attached #5 Sky (D) piece and pin in place. Both the top and the bottom of the rope piece should extend beyond the sky pieces. Baste the rope piece in place. Repeat with the other three rope pieces, making sure that the open edges face away from the center line.

10. Edge stitch both long edges of each rope piece and remove basting stitches. Trim the rope pieces that extend beyond the sky pieces so that they are flush.

Attach the Balloon to the Ropes
11. Fold the Sky piece you just finished in half, matching left and right edges and finger press the center crease. Fold the finished Balloon piece in half, matching left and right edges and finger press this center crease. Open both pieces, overlay them with right sides together, match center creases and pin. (This is going to be just like piecing the curved balloon pieces.) Remember my "sew in the crotch of the "V" hint" and how to align the curved edges to get that "V"? Do that now, and pin matched left and right corners. Match edge markings and pin. In all, there should be five pins holding together the sky/ropes piece and the balloon piece.

Take a deep breath, and start in the center crease of the balloon and stitch out to the side each ways. Go slow. Make it even. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4" and snip the curved seam allowance of the sky piece to allow it to "stretch" and lay flat around the curve and press the seam to one side.

Stand back and admire for a moment, and congratulate yourself knowing that was the last curved seam.

Sew the Sky - Part 2
12. Lay the right hand side #2 Sky (F) piece right side up, and overlay the #3 Basket piece wrong side up. Match edges (per my hints above about the V's), pin and sew. Trim seam allowances to 1/4" and press to one side. Repeat with the left hand side #2 Sky (F) piece.


13. Lay the Balloon piece right side up and overlay the just completed Sky/Basket piece over top, matching edges and pin. (When the piece is unfolded, the most left and most right ropes should align with the edge of the basket piece. It should look like the ropes attach the basket to the balloon.) Sew, trim the seam allowance to 1/4", and press toward the basket piece.

14. Lay the Balloon piece right side up and overlay the #1 Sky(G) piece wrong side up (The sky piece for which there was no pattern piece.) (When the finished piece is opened, this last sky piece should be sewn to the bottom of the basket.) Match edges, pin and sew. Trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press toward the last Sky (G) piece.

Sew the Basket


15. Align the two remaining #3 Basket pieces together, right sides together and pin. Sew around the basket piece, leaving a 2" opening at the bottom of the basket, back stitching at the beginning and the end. Above, you can see the 2" opening I've marked and will not sew beyond.


Trim the seam allowance to 1/4", trim the corners, and turn the piece right-side out. Use a pencil or chopstick to push out the corners and press.


16. Align the basket piece atop the patchworked basket shape and pin. Edge stitch around the basket perimeter, starting 1" from the top right corner, continuing down the right side, on to the bottom, up the left side, and 1" past the top left corner. Back stitch at the beginning and the end.


Pour yourself a glass of something good to drink and say "cheers" the pillow front is finished!

Finish the Pillow Back


17. On one pillow back piece, along one 17" edge, stitch 1/4" from raw edge. Fold wrong sides together and press along this stitch line, pin and then edge stitch. Then fold the finished edge up to make a 1" hem, press, pin, and edge stitch again.

Repeat with other pillow back piece.


18. With wrong fabric sides facing up, overlap finished edges of pillow back pieces so that the total back pillow panel should measure 17" X 17". Pin, and baste each overlaped edge within the 1/2" seam allowance.


19. Lay back panel right fabric side up, and overlay the balloon patchwork panel wrong side up and pin. Stitch all the way around, back stitching at the beginning and the end. Trim corners and turn the work right side out through the opening in the back panel. Stuff the pillow case with the pillow form and insert your favorite friend into his/her new sweet hot air balloon.

 

If any of these instructions aren't clear, or if there is an error, please leave me a note! This tutorial is my first of its kind, (I have many more ideas I can't wait to share) and I've had it all running around and around in my head. I hope that everything came out correctly, but with a teething infant, and my sever lack of sleep, I can't be too sure. Thanks!