Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Frosty

WOW! I guess you all liked my little Santa project! 31 comments and I wasn't even giving anything away--that has to be a record! I feel the way I imagine the most popular girl in the 6th grade felt! Thanks so much for leaving me your comments.

Tonight I made another little project that used a similar method. Probably not quite as cute as Santa, but I'm pleased with it, so I thought I'd share again.


I started with two quilted placemats I found at Goodwill awhile back.


Using the snowman block pattern from the Christmas List quilt, I cut all the pieces from wool to build a snowman and pinned them into place on one of the placemats.


I sewed the wool along the edges, just like I did with Santa, and then I added a little quilted detail.


When that was done, I called in my quality control assistant to check to make sure everything was correct. She paid particularly close attention to the quilting--of course! Everyone's a critic!


Using a blanket stitch with some black perle cotton, I sewed the front (snowman) placemat to the plain placemat back and stuffed it. Voila! A Christmas snowman pillow!

A couple drawbacks I wanted to mention. These pre-quilted placemats are seriously difficult to needle. The Juki didn't like sewing through the layers at all, but the Bernina came through for me just fine. Then later, trying to get the needle through the two placemats to blanket stitch them together was a bear! I suspect my fingers are going to feel a little bruised tomorrow, but I'm pleased with the result, and that's all that matters right?! All in all, this project took probably around four hours or so and would have gone much faster if the placemats had been easier to sew.

I hope these two projects--the Santa wallhanging and the Snowman pillow--give you a few ideas for some quick Christmas gifts!

47 comments:

Three Birds Inspired said...

Another cute project!

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!

Leyla Ferrari said...

Dear kim,
I love your work, and I follow every day your blog, that I found very funny, so I learn new quilt ideas and I improve my (bad) english.
Greetings from Switzerland
Leyla

Unknown said...

Another cute project.I'm surprised the Juki wouldn't sew through all those layers. Yes, sore fingers I'm sure. Won't be able to type today.

What's next?

Robin said...

OMG. You. Are. Killing. Me. ANOTHER adorable project and how creative was THAT?! Seriously, you should be teaching a 'see things a different way' type of creativity class. I would enroll!

ranette said...

I agree with ratherbquilting's comment. I like that you "see things a different way". I wish that I could do that more often.
The snowman is just darling!

Unknown said...

Geez, I can't keep up with you! That is adorable. I love snowmen. I wish I had started earlier in all my projects. May be I will have to make all of them now and enjoy them into January before they get packet away for next year. Or I could hold onto them until next year for a big surprise!!!! UGH!
Christy

Vicki W said...

That is so cute and clever!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

What a clever idea! And very "green"; using the quilted placemats. I'm impressed and loving Frosty!

Jen :)

Sara said...

You are so clever. Those projects are adorable.
I received my patterns that I won in your drawing last Friday. Thanks a bunch.
Have a blessed Christmas.

Pat said...

Now why didn't I think of that. Love that idea. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Kim,

You are so creative. Bravo for using treasures from the thrift store in such a cool way. The pillow is very cute!

Lizzie

Sherri said...

Frosty is so cute! Thanks for sharing such fun & easy projects!

Sandy said...

Now who would of thought of turning placemats into a pillow....not me, but I may now. Kim, you are just too clever, talented, creative, etc etc.
Your blog is the first one I check on every morning and you never fail to enlighten me. Thank you for sharing your adventures.

Busy Little Quilter said...

I think I have those distowels!

What a cute idea! I'm going to put your blog in my sidebar under Tutorials so other people can see.

So, you button hole stitch by hand. Do you also hand applique? I remember you saying you don't do fusibles. I was thinking about that late last night while I was making tiny Christmas trees.

Busy Little Quilter said...

Placemats! Not dishtowels!!! lol

Paula said...

Brilliant idea...and so pretty!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your wonderful projects! Like Leyla from Switzerland said, I also read your blog every day and I find it very funny. It is also my way of trying to improve my (bad) english too!!!
Greetings from white Finland
Jana

Yvonne said...

Oh Kimmy....as much as I like Santas, I really love snowmen. Thank you so much....I'll let you know when it arrives. :)

Sinta Renee said...

You are just so darn clever! I loved your project yesterday and today's project is even more brilliant! You are getting to be my "quilting guru". I did the peperment candy pattern a couple years ago but I still need to get the pattern for the Tree project from Sandy G. That one turned out sooo cute!

Shirley--Knot-y Embroidery Lady said...

Outstanding! Whodathought! YOU!!

Anonymous said...

Cute Kim! What a great idea!

Anonymous said...

Such cute ideas!

Anonymous said...

You have the neatest blog, and I love both of your ideas.

Anonymous said...

What a darned clever idea! Very cute! And I can tell your assistant agrees!

Judy said...

Now I would never buy thrift placemats but see they can become something totally different!

antique quilter said...

so adorable!
I LOVE this, I happen to love snowmen but on that red background (ok placemat) it is just perfect.
The colors are awesome
What a great idea, your just so creative :)
Kathie

floribunda said...

too cute! by the way, I think you blogged about a new favority quilt shop in Sacramento... which one is it? I need to go up for a meeting on Friday morning and it would be fun to take a detour to something fun before driving back south...

Marylin's Quilt Basket said...

Kim,
You are sure the clever one. Love both of your projects. Thanks Marylin

Latane Barton said...

Just adorable. You come up with the neatest things.

MichelleB said...

What a great idea - it is adorable! Gotta love those Berninas.

Lorraine said...

Wow....too cool projects.....like them both and will be trying to get to one or the other of them before Christmas.....LOL...who am I kidding......! Love your work!!

Anne said...

And another adorable project. YOu need to start making patterns and selling them! I'd be first in line to buy them. Wish I lived closer to take your classes. You're gonna do great!

Anonymous said...

Ok, that pillow is downright cute. I totally impressed that you thought of that!

Tina C.

jenifer said...

too cute! I love the swirl quilting!

Greenmare said...

that is totally cute! without making my teeth hurt!

Rhonda said...

In a few words......me like!
You are so creative.....Take care.

Candace said...

Kim - you could have won Martha Stewart's recent holiday craft contest with that one! Way to go!
Cheers!

Chocolate Cat said...

Even more comments today!!!! I love these projects, can't decide which is cuter 'Santa' or the 'Snowman'!! Thanks for sharing.

Theresa said...

I just knew there was a way to use those beautiful placemats! You QC specialist did a great job!

Theresa said...

I just knew there was a way to use those beautiful placemats! You QC specialist did a great job!

QuiltNut Creations said...

*shriek*! i absolutely love it! he is soooo cute. love the quilting detail on him

Penni Domikis said...

They were right to comment. You're awesome. This gives me a bit of an idea for Christmas that I think I actually might be able to manage. One of my online purchases sent an email that said it wouldn't arrive until Jan 3rd. Gotta come up with something in the meantime to give to my sister-in-law. I love the details on the body of the snowman.

Penni Domikis said...

They were right to comment. You're awesome. This gives me a bit of an idea for Christmas that I think I actually might be able to manage. One of my online purchases sent an email that said it wouldn't arrive until Jan 3rd. Gotta come up with something in the meantime to give to my sister-in-law. I love the details on the body of the snowman.

Laurie said...

What a great pillow! I love the quilting you did on the snowman...

KimP said...

See? Because you had excellent quality control, you have gotten over 45 comments! Call in the cat controller more often! REALLY cute project.

Sherry said...

Hi Kim. Your Frosty is too cute. I love the quilting you did on him. What a wonderful idea using the placemats.