Rainbow Ironing Board Cover Tutorial

I finished up my little Christmas present to myself . . . A new Rainbow Ironing Board Cover!!! Squeal!!!   Ohh, I can't tell you how much I love this.  It makes me want to press all day!!!  And for a little Christmas present for all of my wonderful readers, I snapped some pictures of the process and have a fun new tutorial for you ;)  Yippee :) So if your ironing board cover is in a sorry state, and you happen to love rainbows as much as I do, you just might find this very useful :)  So let's get to it :)

To start you are going to need 8 Rainbow Fat Quarters or Fat Eighths if you have them.  I mentioned on Wednesday that I was playing with my Jenean Morrison True Colors bundle for this and boy did I have a fun time choosing my 8 Fat Quarters :)   Along with the Rainbow Fat Quarters you will need some long scrap batting pieces, a measuring tape, and a pack of thin elastic. (pretty much whatever you have on hand will work :)

Lay your 8 Fat quarters out in the order you want them on your ironing board cover.  Note - The first fat quarter is not going to show up on the top of the ironing board cover, it is just for underneath.  Hence why mine is the grey one ;)

Start by cutting each of your fat quarters into Fat Eighths.  (If you are already using Fat Eighths you can just skip this step.)  You don't have to be perfectly precise, I just cut mine along the fold line so that I wouldn't need to bother pressing yet, we will get to that later :)

Take your first two Fat Eighths and place them right sides together with raw edges aligned (I didn't pin but you can if you like.)   Turn the stitch length dial down to a small stitch, like 1, so that when the cover is pulled tight over your ironing board frame you will have strong seams ;)  Stitch a 1/2" seam along the long aligned edge, backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam.

Continue adding Fat Eighth's to the strip in the same fashion, remembering to stitch a 1/2" seam and backstitching at the beginning and end.

Keep this up until you have stitched all 10 Fat Eighth's into a row.

Now, take your row over to your sad shabby ironing board and press each of the seams open (you don't want any bulk on your pressing surface) and press the Fat Eighths flat ;)

Once your pressing is complete, you can take the cover off of your ironing board.  This was quite easy for me as mine was already falling off.  Can you see how badly this is needed ;)

Place your ironing board frame onto your rainbow row centering it from side to side and having the back end 3" away from the edge of the final Fat Eighth in the row.  (Sorry, I somehow forgot this picture :)
Now using your measuring tape, measure 3" out from the frame and mark your fabric.  Do this all around the way around the frame, taking care to really mark around the curves.

Now freehanding the curves and using a ruler on the straightaways, connect the dots to draw a full ironing board frame line 3" away from your ironing board.

Now cut along the line.  Yes, you will be cutting off most of that first Fat Eighth :)  Set your beautiful rainbow aside for a minute.

Now grab your long scrap batting, you know, the pieces you cut off the end or side of a quilt ;)  I like to have double layers of batting so go ahead and spray baste or pin baste (but straight pins not safety pins) your two layers together.   Just a light spray will do, this only has to be a very temporary hold ;)

Place your ironing board frame on to your basted pieces of batting.  We are going to repeat the same process only smaller ;)  Measure the side of the ironing board frame from the top to the little lip on it.  Mine is 1".  That is your measuring guide ;)

Now, just he same as before, use your measuring tape to mark the 1" all the way around the ironing board frame.  Connect the dots and then cut along the traced lines :)

Your batting should now be just a bit larger than the size of your ironing board.

Now, grab your rainbow row again and your basted batting and head to a machine.  If you have a serger, great, if not, you can use your machine :)  Serge or zig-zag stitch all the way around your rainbow top and all the way around your basted batting.  This creates a finished edge on both and holds the batting together ;)  Set your batting aside :)

Now, to create a casing on your rainbow top.  Starting at the bottom center of your cover, fold your edge over 3/4" to 1".  Start stitching along the edge of the serger line backstitching a few stitches at the beginning.

As you come to the first edge, ease in the curve.  You can pin this in place or just ease as you go.  Remember, this is going to be under your ironing board so it doesn't have to be perfect by any means.  Just be sure to keep that 3/4" to 1" opening, otherwise threading the elastic can be a pain, doable, but a pain :)

The straight away sections are a breeze and you can tell that you are right on with the "easing" process if your seams match up when folded over :)

Continue to create the casing all the way around the cover.  When you get back to the bottom, leave a 1 1/2" gap open (to feed the elastic) and backstitch at the end.

Now, grab your elastic.  Put a safety pin (the larger the better) though the 1 1/2" gap you left in the bottom of the cover.  Feed the elastic through the casing.

If you haven't done this before, you just bunch some fabric up along the safety pin, then hold the top of the safety pin and pull the fabric back over the elastic.  Keep doing this, bit by bit.  Every once and a while you will need to hold on to the safety pin and push all of the fabric back over the elastic, it tends to bunch up ;)

Oh, and when you get to the seams, you need to be sure to go right through the center, otherwise your pin will get stuck behind your open seams.  I like to push down slightly on the seam to "open" it in the middle, this seemed to aid in getting the pin right through the center ;)

 Once you feed the elastic all the way through the cover and out the opposite end you will need to stretch out your cover.  See how it gets all bunched up.  I find the easiest way to do this is to pin the safety pin to myself, that way you don't have to worry about it sucking back into the casing.  Then just smooth the fabric over the elastic until all the bunching is out ;)

Now, pin the two ends of the elastic together and cut the extra elastic about an inch away from the pin.

And now it is time to put it all together!!!  Lay your finished batting on the ironing board.  Make sure it is centered by finger pressing the ends over the edge and ensuring that they reach the lip on the side of your frame.

Now, without shifting the batting, place the rainbow cover over the top of the batting and allowing the elastic casing to curl under the edge of the ironing board.  I found that it is much easier to start on the pointed end of the iron, it doesn't shift near as much as the other end, and if you have a second body to hold the batting and cover on that end while you move your cover over the bottom, way easier ;)

 Now all that is left is to grab that elastic under your ironing board and pull, pull, pull.  Pull on the elastic until the cover is pulled taught under your frame.  Pin the two pieces of elastic together and then allow it to ease into that gap in the casing. (sorry this picture is blurry) I just left my extra elastic hanging (just in case my pin ever pops and I need to re-thread it :)

And now your beautiful Rainbow Ironing Board Cover is finished and you are ready to get pressing!!!

I pressed for two hours last night and loved every minute of it.  You just can't help smile when looking at such a pretty rainbow ;)     I hope you enjoy this tutorial and if you make your own Rainbow Ironing Board Cover I would love to see it.  You can add it to my Flickr Group here ;)

Well, I am off to do some more pressing.  Eeekkk, I just squeal every time I walk through the sewing room now.   I love, love, love it!!!

Have a Happy Quilting  (and Happy Pressing!!!) Weekend :)

Linking up to Sarah's and Amanda's

Changes for Christa Quilts

ChristaQuilts has some bittersweet news to share. She's decided to close down her website and clear out all of her fabrics, notions, and patterns so she can have more time for designing, blogging, and quilting!

Christa is still selling precuts and thread through her Amazon store, but everything located at her ChristaQuilts.com site is up for grabs at 20% - 50% off the regular prices.

So what has she been up to lately? Getting her patterns and articles published in magazines, designing more fun quilt alongs (such as her Modern Trees quilt), and winning awards for her work. 

So let's help her out by scooping up as many goodies from her store as possible, then visiting her blog to see where her next adventures takes her.  

It's Been Awhile

Seriously, it has been a long while since I did a Work In Progress post. It's Wednesday, and I need to get everything all written down for the new year , so here it goes :)

I have two projects that I want to work on this week.  First. I have received enough of my Paper Pieced Improv Tree Blocks (tutorial found here) from the Bees Knees group to get the first four rows of the quilt put together.  I guess that means I should probably figure out the measurements of my rows and cut some backing fabric :)   Oh, I would love to have this ready in time for Christmas, we shall see if that happens or not :)

Secondly, I decided to give myself a little handmade Christmas present.  This is something I have been wanting to do for quite some time and this lovely bundle of True Colors by Jenean Morrison is just perfect!!!

Oh the fun part, picking the fabrics!!  I need 10 Fat Eighths for this little project and wanted them in a rainbow so I figured it would be best, to first lay all of the Fat Quarters out in color order and go from there.  Although, once I had them laid out, I just sat and stared because they are oh so pretty!!!

I seriously went back and forth for like a half an hour trying to pick my favorite combination.  Every print is just so perfect it was so hard to pick just 10.  In the end, these are the prints I went with.  I just love seeing a rainbow of fabrics, it just makes me smile!

And now, I can actually start my project.  Are you wondering what it is???  Don't worry, I won't make you wait long. I am hoping to have it all put together and finished by Friday, and I plan on taking some pictures along the way for another fun tutorial ;)  Yippee!!

And last but not least, It wouldn't be a Work In Progress post without the run down :) It is sad that since the last time I did this in September I have added 9 quilts in the completed category and yet the same 4 quilts still sit in the Quilting Stage category.  I think something needs to be done about that and quick!!  I see a new little goal coming up :)

Designing Stage

• DJ
• Oakshott

Piecing Stage

• Jessi and Me Quilt - Starting back up again on Wed Afternoons :)
• Block of the Month - Lucky Stars (So far behind, I don't know if I will ever get caught up)
• Improv Tree Bee Blocks

Quilting Stage

• Solids Quilt for Free Motion
• Star Value Bee Quilt 
• Star Surround Quilt-A-Long
• Starburst Quilt-A-Long 

Completed Stage  

• Steps to Tranquility
• Back to Basics
• Sister's Choice Josie
• Twists and Turns
• Lucky Stars
• Shabby Hexie Twist
• Playing the Scales
• Boxed In and Out - Alumni Edition
• In Your Neighborhood

Linking to Lee's :)

Fabric Therapy

Yesterday morning I woke up feeling down right "icky" (as my 2 year old would say).  Just as my family got over all of our sickness, I managed to pick it up for another go round.   I stayed in bed most of the morning, but by the afternoon I was feeling super down and needed a major pick me up.  And what better to pick me up then some good ol fabric therapy.   So I made my way down to the sewing room and pulled out these two lovelies.

A beautiful layer cake of  Vintage Verona by Emily Taylor Design for Riley Blake.

 And a second beautiful layer cake of  Valencia by Lisa Tueller Designs for Riley Blake

Now I don't normally open pre-cuts without a plan to use them right then, but desperate times call for desperate measures :)  So I untied the string and laid out all of these gorgeous prints!!!  Oh, how they make me smile ;)  Look at those beautiful rich Navy's, Reds, and Greens.  And oh, that plaid print, eeekkk!

I pulled out my sketch pad and started drafting some ideas.  I often find that just looking at fabrics can bring inspiration for designs.  And those dots and echoed bead prints got the creative juices flowing.  So fun!!!  And who doesn't love a great strip??  I just love sketching while ogling over gorgeous fabrics.

And after an hour of playing and petting I really did feel better.  I mean, I still felt sick, but I didn't feel down in the dumps sick.  Ahh, what a good bit of fabric therapy can't do :)

And I am happy to report that I am starting to feel better in a not so sick kind of way this morning.  I am hoping it was just one of those 24 hour things ;)  Yippee, not not only can I pet fabric, but hopefully I will have the energy to sew some ;)

Hope you are having a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

*** Giveaway is now closed - The winner is Angelia Lanouette!!

It's Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!!  I love this day!!!  Now I know you have lots of places to visit so lets get right to it :)

Up for grabs is a Fat Quarter Bundle of True Colors by Jenean Morrison which is being generously sponsored by Julie of The Intrepid Thread.  Yes, that is 20 Fat Quarters!!!  Don't you just love these prints!!!  Oh my goodness, I am just head over heals for this rainbow of goodness!!!

So what do you have to do for your chance to win???

Leave a comment here of your favorite Fat Quarter Bundle Julie carries in her shop, The Intrepid Thread

That's it.  Up to 1 entry per person.  Giveaway is open to international entries.  It will close on Friday, December 13th at 5p.m. and a winner will be selected randomly and announced shortly after.

Oh, and by the Way . . . If you are stopping by for the first time, Welcome!!   I am so glad you visited and hope you will come back often.  I have so much fun sharing my passion for quilting here.  If you would like, you can follow Happy Quilting (over there on the right) and ensure that you catch all of the Quilty Goodness :)  I promise, I will make it worth your time with tutorials, giveaways, fabric eye candy, and lots of smiles :)

Winner and Giveaway Day

It's time to choose one lucky winner for the Southern Fabric Gift Certificate.   The lucky winner is . . .

Who happens to be . . . Lori!!!!   Congrats Lori, I have sent you an email :)

And if you didn't win today, don't worry, you still have a chance to win next week because Monday is the Bi-Annual Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day.   So be sure to check back Monday, trust me, you won't want to miss this one!!!!

Finish It Up Friday - Holiday Edition

NOTE - If you are looking for the Southern Fabric Gift Certificate Giveaway you will find it here :)

Today's finish isn't a fabric one, but I am certainly excited it.  As of last night, my Holiday shopping is done, wrapped, and ready for Christmas!!!  Yippee!!!  I always do my shopping earlier, but I tend to procrastinate the whole wrapping part of it.  I am so thrilled to know it is finished.

And with the house all decorated, (and my December Bee Blocks made and mailed )  I think I can pretty much "sit back" and enjoy all of the holiday festivities at this point.  Whoo Hoo!!!  But before you start thinking "wow, that Melissa is sure on top of it this year" (tee hee hee) , I will point out 2 little things below that I conveniently nixed off this year's Christmas to do list :)

See that family picture, yes, it is missing a child and I was supposed to schedule Christmas pictures with the photographer, whoops ;) And even though I have had making Christmas Stockings on my list all year, there are still mismatched store bought ones hanging on the mantle this year, what ya gonna do :)

But, after a lot of mental debate, I have finally decided on an idea for the stockings.  (I think, well it's down to 2 ideas at least, I keep going back and forth )  So that is a step in the right direction :)  I even printed out this stocking pattern from Katie's Simply Sewing book and pinned it by my ironing board so that every time I press I will be reminded of this project that will go back on the "to do" list on January 1 ;)

Have a Happy Quilting, Happy Holiday Season Weekend!!!

Linking this finish to Sarah's and Amanda's :)

December brings Dresden's and Scrappy Strips

Well, it is December 5th and you will never guess . . . I have my December bee blocks finished!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!  I knew that this month was going to be crazy busy and so I set out to get these done the minute the fabric arrived :)  

First up, for the Bees Knees group we were asked by the amazing Lori Holt  (yes, it is a little intimidating sewing for Lori Holt) to make up two Easy Dresden Blocks.  Lori used her awesome Thimble Ruler and Circle Ruler to cut all of the pieces from her adorable Bake Sale line.  And I have to admit, it is super fun to just open the mail and go straight to sewing, completely skipping the cutting step :)  

Lori has a fantastic tutorial on how to make these Simple Dresden blocks here.  Aren't they just adorable!!!  I think I might have to make some more of these.  I love how fun and squatty the blades are :)

And for the Beejeebers group, it was on to busting some scrappy strips.  Charlotte asked us to make a super fun improv block using this tutorial from the Modern Quilt Guild.   I had so much fun putting this one together.  It was the fastest I think I have ever cut scraps because you are specifically asked to eyeball everything and not use rulers.  I love that improv piecing always allows me to step outside my little box and "break the rules".  So fun!!!!

And now I am off to make a Birthday Cake because unbeknownst to me, this little guy of mine grew up this year and turned 7!!!  Goodness, how my little boy has turned into a big boy!!!

Gift Certificate Giveaway from Southern Fabric

Today I am excited to share a fun giveaway from a great shop, Southern Fabric. The Giveaway is for a $25.00 Gift Certificate to use at Southern Fabric for your own personal shopping spree!!

Southern Fabric is currently having a HUGE SALE, marking down tons of fabulous fabric lines 40% off.  These marked down lines include some of my all time favorites (aka Heirloom) and most likely some of yours as well.  At 40% off, they won't last long!!

  

  

So, here is how the giveaway will work:

1 - Pop on over to the 40% off Sale at Southern Fabric and find your favorite fabric line that has been marked down and then leave me a comment here telling me that favorite line :)

2 - For a Bonus Entry you can Like Southern Fabric on Facebook and leave a comment here that you did so.

That's it.  Easy as pie!!!   The giveaway will remain open until Friday the 6th at Midnight and I will announce a winner Saturday morning.  All entries are welcome :)

Good Luck and have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

A Special Thank You

First off, I wanted to say Thank You So Much for all of the lovely comments that were left on my Steps To Tranquility Quilt and Tutorial.  They just gave me perma-grin all weekend long.

I designed and made Steps To Tranquility specifically for my Mother as a special Thank You for all the help she has given me this year.  And what better time to give a gift of thanks than Thanksgiving ;)  She loves lots of overhang on her quilt tops, so here is the king sized Steps To Tranquility on her queen sized guest bed.  I wish the lighting in the basement was better so I could show just how peaceful this quilt makes the whole room feel.  And yes, my Mom really, really liked it :)

And a funny note.  While I was attempting over and over to get a decent picture of the quilt on my Mom's bed, this little one wanted to be with me, but kept getting in the shot.  So after a few times of me telling her to scoot out of the way, she found a special little place in the closet just her size ;)

And one last note on Steps To Tranquility.  Today is the final day to enter the giveaway for the Legacy Fat Quarters.  So if you haven't done so yet, pop on over to Art Gallery and leave a comment for your chance to win :)  

I am off to fold some laundry from the weekend.  I love traveling for holiday's but oh the laundry when you get back ;)   Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!