The Harry Potter quilt is FINALLY finished!!

Harry Potter is in the House!!!! Finally!!!!

It has been a long, hard journey for the past 6 months, but finally... IT IS FINISHED!!!
Well, actually 3 are finished! I have 3 grand daughters that have vowed to be "Potterheads" for the rest of their lives so for Christmas this year.. they are getting an amazing Harry Potter quilt.. made by their favorite grandmother... ME!

At first, I was so excited as I was making 9 patch blocks but adding images and words, etc. I was fortunate to find several fabrics at Joann's Craft store as I hate buying fabric online. I like to see what I am getting, see the colors are right, etc, so, I only buy online when I have no other choice. But the prints I got were amazing and.. using a coupon, got them at 50% off regular price.

And I use several kinds of squares like Flying Geese etc and also did some machine embroidery with Glow in the Dark thread. Yes.. it really glows in the dark. I used it as the top thread and neutral cotton in the bobbin. Also, several, what I call, "glitter fabrics".. they really do glitter/shine, but there is nothing that flakes off like actual glitter.

2 of the girls, being sisters,  share a room so I wanted to make them like a bed spread of the same pattern, but some differences to make the quilt their own. I bought the panels for the center and kept those the same so the room doesn't look jumbled with different bedspreads. I then went back to math class and did the math to add sashings and 9-patch blocks to make the quilts twin size. They ended up being 70"x90". The older sister is rather tall so I wanted the bedspreads/quilts longer for her sake so I made them both the same size.

 The width pattern of the quilt is ... center panel, 2" sashing (black with gold dots), 4" sashing (blue with gold sparkles) 9-patch block (9"x9" finished block and each square is 3"x3" finished), blue sashing, black sashing and blue binding. The length pattern is the 9"x9" finished block and Black with gold dots sashings. I know they are going to love the golds in the fabric as they stand out very nicely!
 I was glad to have my design wall...which is a flannel blanket with a casing on top, and an expansion rod through the casing and put up over the closet sliding doors. This way, I have the wall and can still get in the closet when needed. I put each block up until I had the right amount of them, then placed them as I wanted them to be on the quilt.

MAKING THE BLOCKS 

 

 This is one block. I used Flying Geese to make the pointed squares and then cut out the faces of the characters and with double sided fusible interfacing... fused them to the block.  You can also see the black with gold dot fabric. They are raised up and you can't iron them.. they melt off! The other square I made was an "Hour Glass" and I used black and beige glitter fabric. It really does glitter/shine, but nothing comes off!

 This 9-patch I fussy cut images from the fabric  - the square of the school (top left) and the square with Harmonie and Ron (just below that and the dragon middle right) You might notice I did embroidery on some of the squares.. this is done with "glow in the dark" thread. Yes, it really does glow! I picked  15 names of characters and did machine embroidery and wrote the names... notice Hermione Granger in the lower right square and then I did a fussy cut of her face and fused it on! On the left bottom corner...another fussy cut of the Griffindorf logo fused on AFTER the 9-patch was finished.

 This one has HST's for each corner, a Flying Geese for the arrows and a fussey cut "Harry Potter" from the fabric. Also, fussy cuts are of the 4 house banners. Another thing I did that I think the kids are going to love, is this one fabric I got was like a newspaper with phrases and things. I cut them out, fused them to the finished block like in the upper right corner here. Again, some machine embroidery of names in the 2 lower corner squares.

This ne has a few of all of the above! Glow in the Dark name (top,left) Flying Geese (top right). Fussey cut from fabric (middle left and middle right and lower right. The center square and lower-middle are made into one rectangle and I used the Ravenclaw logo and banner and added a newspaper headline.

 This block had HST's on 2 of the corners with fussey cut add-ons and the glittery silver fabric. The center has Hogwarts fused to it. And as you can see, other squares are cut from the fabric as is.

 This one is one of my favorites because I made the three characters on the center of  2, flying Geese sewn together. And you can see the blue and gold sparkle fabric used for the sashing.

This one shows more of the machine embroidery with the Glow in the Dark thread of 6 names. All the squares are HST's. Amazing how many different designs you can make with HST's.







         

This is the back. I used Maurders Map fabric, the same blue as on the front and the Harry Potter with drawings of the Hogwarts school all around.  The binding is black.  This is a close up of the added headline, fused to the sashing. These 2 are quilts, cotton front, VERY THIN batting and cotton back. The point is.. they are on their beds all the time.. lot of sitting on them and being used so I wanted them a little thicker to with stand the use of being sat on etc, all the time.

AND THE THIRD ONE....

I did a third one for the other grand daughter. she is older and being in a warmer climate, she wanted less warmth so hers is more of a blanket quilt. Cotton top, NO BATTING and cotton flannel back.

 These are a few blocks from hers.  Again, HST's with the glitter fabric and some fussey cuts.

This one has a "Golden Snitch" HST. I did some with the gold glitter (beige background)with black glitter to imitate a Snitch also.

Golden Snitch (black and gold/beige)

The Golden Snitch black with gold triangles

This is the back. It is solid and I just fused a few of the fussey cuts around it. 100% cotton flannel and I fused (then machine sewed around) a few fussey cuts from the "newspaper" fabric.

This is the front. Hers is only different in that I made each block separately. I had alot of fun doing this.. just create as I go and make 16 for each quilt

I then thought to make them each a pillowcase to go with the quilts. These two are for the sisters sharing a room.. the black trim is different so they each have "their own" pillowcase!

And although I don't have a picture, I also made them each a 7"x9" zipper pouch.  I used the leftover 3,1/2x3,1/2 inch squares..sewed 6 together and that was the front.

And THAT's my World of Harry Potter for the last 6 months, which also included one month of NO sewing machine as both of mine were in the shop for maintenance and a massive struggle with FMQ'ing stitches not doing right, only to figure out.. I had my thread on the spool wrong! Now THAT was a lesson learned that with NEVER be forgotten!

I hope you have enjoyed the journey and gotten some good ideas for your own Harry Potter quilts or blankets. And with that.. I will not be saying the words "Harry Potter" again at least until Christmas when the quilts will be loved and adored by my wonderful granddaughters!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

Activity Blanket for an Infant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NVvFOQOTGA


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

TreeHouse Playground Quiet Book Page

I just finished this page...it started as a playground page, and then I put a tree house on it and it turned into a treehouse page!  The page is 11x11 inches and has fusible medium weight interfacing on the back of the fabric. All is felt except the tree which is a "wood grain" novelty cotton print. I used snaps, but am not that happy with them but that could be my fault....I will keep working with them and see how they go. Otherwise, I sew velcro on the backs.

A "jungly gym" climbing bars, a rope ladder, a teeter-totter and a tire swing are the activities and the hidden spots are behind the tree leaves and a "door" in the tree trunk. The front of the tree house pulls forward to "get into" the house and snaps to hold the images. The tire swing is on a little  bit of embroidery floss so it can be pulled up and down when ready to swing!

Here is a You Tube video of it...take a look, leave a comment, subscribe to my channel and then have fun creating your own quiet book pages!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

Blast Off! New Quiet Book Page!

Another page in my quiet book for my grand son....It is not bound in the book yet...but I couldn't wait to share it!

AND NOW FOR THE VIDEO!!!!  

For more of my quiet book You Tube videos.....

Quiet Book Page Ideas by Cheri the Crafy Nanny

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

How to Make 3-D Images for Quiet Books

Many have asked me how I make, what I call, 3-D Images for my Quiet Books. I love making these as they are so nice for using with velcro for them to stick to the page or just to have them playable on the page! So I did a video about how I do them with double sided fusible interfacing! It is a great way to create playable features for any quiet book.  Take a look!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

Dinosaur Digs Quiet Book Page

Dinosaur Digs is the opposite page to Dinosaur World  that I did previously. Kind of like a "before and after" theme?  Firs the dinosaurs are roaming the world, next, they are fossils at a Dinosaur Dig! What toddler wouldn't love to dig for dinosaur bones!  Plus.. on this page, not only does the child get to find the dinosaurs...they get to actually (well, almost actually!) dig up some bones!  Took me a while to figure how to make a page that was able to "dig" on, but I think what I have designed will make my little grand son happy for some time!
I used all fabric... browns that looked like rock! The background is a sparkle looking print..perfect for a dinosaur dig! I made the rocks go around the edges of the page, and made them into pockets so a dinosaur could "hide" under or behind the rocks to be found!


There are even some bones left in the side of the mountain...he can see, but can't dig for, but he can imagine! I thought they were just a nice little accent for the page and its theme.


The "middle" rock that is to be "dug" around.. is made out of "sloppy" cut triangles, (meaning no exact straight sides, but curvy and ....sloppy!) Then I placed some side by side around in a circle, and then some on top of those, so he digs through first row of "rock" then another "row" of rock till he
 finds.....  Dinosaur bones!!!

  

 These "bones" I found online as a coloring book page and I printed them out on fabric paper, then a tad of batting and a white back and some satin stitch and made them into 3-D, movable, playable appliques! Now, he can "build" a dinosaur out of the "fossils" he dug up!

The "rocks" around the edges of the page are made of fabric where i just sewed it in a curvy circle or rectangles and then sewed them to the page to form pockets...so other dinosaurs can hide and be found!

 These dinos are a fabric I bought, and just cut out the image and made into a 3-D, removable, playable applique piece.

If you would like to see the page in action, click on the picture below!

This is how the 2 pages will be in the book... can't get them side by side here on the post, but... you get the picture!

I have not sewed the pages together yet....that will be the last thing I do as I will be binding them as you would a quilt and also making fabric spine, holding all pages together. So...follow along and stay tuned!  And I hope you are getting the "quiet book bug" and start one for your own little one!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

Dinosaur World Quiet Book Page

What little guy isn't going to want to go on a dinosaur dig or play with dinosaurs!!!  This double page is just that.The left page wasn't so hard to organize. I made it a kind of scenery of dinosaurs as seen in movies etc.  The page is 11x11 and I have not sewed them together yet. That will be the last thing I do.  I used fabric and felt on this page.
I had some fabric of these little dinosaurs on it, so I layered some thin batting and some white back and appliqued around each dino, added a snap to the back and it worked out great! I was planning on making animals out of felt, but this way is so much easier!!
 This is the page with the dinosaurs "out and about".  Leaves and vegetation are felt and the "water hole" is fabric that is appliqued onto the page. I chose larger snaps to be easier for the little fingers to learn to work with!  Another fun thing about these kinds of animals... they can be taken/used on any page in the book!

 I made the rock just by sewing two pieces of rock looking fabric together, then turn it inside out and then sewed it to the side and bottom of the page. Makes a really nice rock to keep the dinos in when not playing... hide them behind the rock while playing!  The tree branches pull back to reveal a dinosaur hiding behind the leaves!

 If you want to see my page "in motion"...here is the You Tube video of it from my You Tube channel                            Quiet Books and Quiet Book Pages.
                                                                                                 Enjoy!

 I have the next page that goes along with this one ready to post, so follow along and you'll see it. It is called "Dinosaur Dig".. and my little grand son will be digging for dinosaur bones/fossils!! And.. he will even be able to construct a dinosaur from bones he finds!!! Stay tuned!!! 


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

Yellow Submarine Quiet Book

It is finally done!  Took a few weeks, most of that spent creating the pages in my head and coming up with fun ideas and things, but....it was all worth it! I know my little grand son will love this quiet book and have a great time playing with it!

It is 11x11 and cotton fabric and felt. Mostly machine sewing, but some gluing too.  I learned how to make little pop up places using the button hole attachment on my sewing machine, got to be all but an expert in making 3-D images, a cool way to use netting and a few other features to make the fun last a long time!

Had a hard time figuring out how to make the cover... I wanted a handle on it, but then the pages would fall forward and look all messed up...so I gave up on a handle, and just made a fabric spine for it.. and a button closure to keep it all together.'

So... take a look at the video and see what you think! This is a You Tube video of the flip through of the whole book. Let me know if you see a favorite page you'd like to create!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE
This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

My TV Blanket/quilt...Red, White & Black..& Text!

I have always wanted a red, white and black colored quilt. Well, I have finally made one! Still contemplating how to do the back.. flannel or fleece...but the top is done and I really like it!  The star is my favorite block to do.. it is made up of HSTs. You can make them with Flying Geese, but.. HST is a little easier and quicker.. at least to me!  The blocks are made with 16, 3x3 (finished) squares so they are 12 inch blocks. The text on these are silly sewing related "articles". A real life issue.. with sewing things being the "culprits" etc! Just funny stuff!

 

 This is the text print. All these things are historical events.. and many that I lived through! I didn't take picture, but the others are about presidents of the past (Truman-Ford) and the Titanic and Amelia Earhart, Vietnam surrender and a few other things. This is a 6x6" square. 

  I did something new on this one... I added triangles in the corners of a block to make the block larger to the same size as the Star ones. I only had 4 of the history squares so I also used this "seed" ad text print.. tells about planting seeds and also includes a bible verse on some of them.  I wanted to break up the large portion of red so I added black triangles to the corners of the block!

 

This block is kind of like a "snowball" block/pattern. I sewed the red and black strips to the text square.. then trimmed to a 12"x12" block.

Here is the finished quilt top... minus the 1 inch four patch corners and the outer border. I alternated the starts and the diamond blocks.

 This is each side... closer view and alot you can see the corner stones better!

 

This (left) is the finished front and (right) finished back with red binding. The back is a fleece of little dachshund dogs. No reason for the theme other than it was cute.. and the fleece was on sale!

 

Nice and comfy for in my "TV watching" chair! It measures 60x50. Bit smaller than a twin size, but perfect for my TV chair!


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE