halloween – Page 2 – Sew Bittersweet Designs

Take That Halloween Grinch!

12 Comments / Finished Quilts, halloween / By Melissa Dunworth

This mama knows how to save Halloween for my little girl! Do you remember my post about the Halloween Grinch? Well, I am happy to report that 3 days after writing the post I finished Anne’s new quilt. There were a couple changes I had to make to the pattern/kit. They provided backing fabric but it just wasn’t enough so I had to piece the backing myself. Not hard at all, and I think it makes the quilt all the more special. This is a picture heavy post, get ready!

Here’s Anne all cuddled under it about 5 seconds after I finished sewing on the binding! Instant gratification for this mama, I didn’t even have to ask if she liked it. LOL

Here she is getting ready for bed. I really like this back. The kit said to use just the orange pumpkin fabric that is at the top and the bottom, but I think the pieced look is more fun, plus I got to use almost all of my scraps.

Here is a close up of one of the witches – for the most part I stuck to a meandering large stipple, going around the different characters on the fabric. Below is the center of the quilt, I just love the expressions on the pumpkin’s faces.

I wanted to try a different pattern for the borders – what better time to practice my FMQ skills than on a quilt for someone who will love it no matter what the quilting looks like?!?

Of course I couldn’t do a quilt this special and precious without doing a label. This quilt is from my mom and me, so I labeled it Love Nana & Mommy. Originally my mom bought the kit and gave it to me because I was bored and wanted something to sew. Then Anne fell in love with it and my mom decided that she should have it.

Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Harvest Moon – Kit by Northcott
Pieced & Quilted – By Melissa Dunworth (Me)
Thread – Rainbows #856 (it is a variegated orange and black thread perfect for Halloween) by Superior Threads
Batting – 100% Cotton Batting
Size – 38.5″ x 51″ (after washing)
Started Sept 2011, Finished October 13, 2013.

This quilt went a long way to rescue Halloween from the Halloween Grinch. A second trip to the pumpkin patch didn’t hurt either 🙂

The Halloween Grinch

13 Comments / halloween / By Melissa Dunworth

Did you know there is a Halloween Grinch? There may actually be more than one, in all likelihood there are probably multiple. The one in our neighborhood steals pumpkins from 3 year olds. Yup, that’s right, the pumpkins we picked out on Saturday were gone by Monday afternoon. Someone waltzed onto our front porch, took 3 of our 5 pumpkins and smashed the sand dollar that we were sun bleaching. I felt terrible having to tell Anne, needless to say, she cried.

I decided that I had to make it up to her so I took out a project I started 2 years ago and got back to work on it. This is a kit my mom bought eons ago, it features the line “Harvest Moon” by Northcott. There is no date on the fabrics or the pattern, so if you know how old it is I would love to hear. All that is left is the borders and quilting it. Hoping to finish it by the end of next week but we shall see…

The perfect quilt for the child who loves Halloween. As soon as she saw the top in its current state she asked if she could sleep with it. I told her she had to wait until it was at least quilted. We will hopefully go get new pumpkins this weekend and this time we will be decorating the back porch!

Design Wall Saturday

9 Comments / halloween, SSMQG / By Melissa Dunworth

I have been using fleece all week! At least that is how it feels anyways. I made 5 hats – two of which are for charity (more in the coming month). I also started working on Anne’s project. Check out the current state of my cutting table:

So if you know Anne at all, you will know that she picked this fabric out all by herself! She is going to be a Pink Tiger for Halloween. As soon as she saw this fabric there was no question in her mind that of course cats come in pink! I have a coordinating solid too. Yesterday I got the main bulk of pattern pieces pinned, today I will cut them all out (or try to anyways).

Note: I need new fabric cutting scissors. I have very nice Gingher Dress Makers Shears, but truth be told, they really hurt my hands. Being that my psoriatic arthritis is in my hands scissors are hard for me. These ones are hard for me to open and close and they are super heavy, I would love recommendations for a good replacement pair.

On my actual design wall are some awesome Riley Blake Fabrics! The South Sound Modern Quilt Guild is participating in the national Modern Quilt Guild fabric challenge this year. Pictured below are the fabrics our guild was sent:

We are allowed to add solids and any other Riley Blake fabrics that we like. I have them sitting up there in the hopes that by staring at them I will become magically inspired!

What’s everyone else working on?

Hat Happy

15 Comments / Clothes, halloween / By Melissa Dunworth

The last couple of days I have gone Hat Happy.

Let me start from the beginning. My mom is on Pinterest…a lot! She found this ADORABLE set of Halloween hat patterns. As soon as I saw them I knew I was going to start sewing hats. On Monday I made 2 – both were attempts for Anne, but they were too small for her.

With all her curly hair…they were just a touch too tight – keep in mind she is almost 4 and I assumed the child’s sizes would work. I made the Child’s Size Small and the Child’s Size Large. Neither fit. Yesterday I made her an Adult’s Size Small and that fit like a charm!

I decided that I couldn’t be left out of the fun…plus I am ALWAYS freezing, so I made myself a hat too!

I made myself the Adult’s Size Large, were I to make myself another, I would probably make a Size Medium. I did wear it the rest of the day though (wondering what hubby would have said if he had been home – guess I will find out in a couple weeks).

Each of these patterns and MANY MANY more can be found on FleeceFun.com. Not only are there tons of free patterns but also some wonderful video tutorials.

So…are you wondering what I am doing with the two hats that were too small for Anne? I’m donating them to the October Hopeful Threads project – Hats Off!

Have you been sewing this week? What are you working on? Today Anne and I are heading to JoAnns to buy the fabric for her costume, I see more fleece in my future.

A Lovely Year of Finishes – October Goal Party

10 Comments / A Lovely Year of Finishes, Fiber of All Sorts, halloween / By Melissa Dunworth

Welcome to October! Time to bust out the pumpkins and all the little ghoulies! October is a fun month for my family, two of my favorite people (my mom and Anne) are downright obsessed with Halloween, and I always try to make it special. Last year I made Anne’s Halloween outfit and I am going to do it again this year and that is my goal, very simple – make Anne’s costume.

Anne wants to be the cat. This will be quite a challenge for me as I still consider myself a beginner at clothes sewing. Tomorrow we will go shopping for our fabrics and notions and Thursday I will get started sewing! Wish me luck!

As we approach the end of the year Shanna and I would love to get some feedback from you on how this year has gone! Please take a couple minutes to fill out our brief survey so we can get ready for Another Lovely Year of Finishes.

Your turn!

What one item will you choose to do for October?

You have two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

1. Link-up {on this post} the first 7-days of the month

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month.

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Shanna and I so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Shanna, so there is no need to enter twice **

For those unsure of how to link up go check out our Q&A Page for A Lovely Year of Finishes – there are instructions on how to link up from a blog and from Flickr.

Grab a button from my sidebar and spread the LOVE!

Oh yeah and there are prizes this month (as always!), here is what our fantastic sponsors are offering:

October Prizes Include:

1. A Fat Quarter Bundle from Moda United Notions