12 Days of Christmas 🎄 Day 12

 

Day 12

Welcome to the last day of my 12 Days of Christmas. Today's project is another adorable snowman!  I put mine on a Buffalo Plaid tea towel from Dunroven House. But this sweet snowman can be used for so many different projects! Make a special pillow, apron, mug rug.... so many possibilities! Some supplies I like to use and have on hand in my sewing room for this project included my applique scissors from Olfa, Flexifuse, brown and white thread, and a healthy supply of scrap fabric for the applique design. To make my Mitten Snowman you will need to download the PDF pattern. It can be found on the Quilt Doodle website and also in my Etsy shop.

So let's get started...

Trace all of the deign shapes onto the paper side of your fusible web.

Rough cut the shapes out and iron onto the wrong side of the different color fabrics.

Cut out the shapes.

Lay out the design shapes following the layout sheet in the pattern.

I like to use a buttonhole stitch along all the raw edges of the design. I used white thread to go around the snowman and brown thread around all of the rest.

I do like how the stitching finishes the edge of the design.

I used a pencil to mark where the eyes and mouth will be. It will make it so much easier to embroider.

I embroidered French knots for the eyes and mouth with #12 black pearl cotton.

~ Mitten Snowman ~

I hope that you have enjoyed the projects and recipes and have found some time to do a couple of them. It's been fun sharing with you family recipes and some new projects. I have a link below to a Pinterest board that has links to all of the projects, also included are the 12 Days of Christmas projects from a couple years ago. There's all sorts of fun items to work on for the holidays. You could even get a jump on next year! Lol...

Happy quilting,
Cindy and Belvedere

If you missed anything, I have put together a Pinterest board for the 12 Days of Christmas!

12 Days of Christmas, Day 11

Day 11

It finally snowed a little here in Minnesota, really just a dusting, but it snowed! It helped brighten my Christmas spirit as I wrapped some gifts today. Our Christmas tree isn't as bare underneath now. It's starting to feel a little bit like Christmas. Hubby and I delivered gift bags with gnomes to all our neighbors. Belvedere enjoyed the walk and made sure to bellow, 'happy holidays' in only a way that a basset hound could. I then popped into my sewing room and worked on today's project. A sweet snowman. It's appliqued using fusible web. There's still time to make some sweet tea towels to give as gifts or to decorate your kitchen with.

To begin, print off the PDF pattern and then trace the snowman shapes onto your fusible web.

Then roughly cut out the shapes and pair them up with your fabric that you are going to use. Green for the holly leaves, white for the snowman etc. Then iron the fusible web to the backside of the fabric.

Then cut all the shapes out. I was planning on using this red and black buffalo plaid towel for the design.

But, when I laid the design out on it, I decided I would use this cream and white check towel instead. Since I used red for the hat and scarf, it shows up better on this towel. Iron the shapes into place using a hot iron following the manufacturer's directions for the fusible web that you choose.

I am using white thread to sew around the snowman and on the brim of the hat. I am then using a brown thread for the rest. 

I used a pencil to lightly mark where the snowman's face and buttons are.

Using a black embroidery thread I sew the snowman's eyes and smile using French knots. I also used French knots to stitch the buttons on the snowman's body. I used a green thread. To make the snowman's stick arms, I stitched them using a back stitch and black thread.

I was going to use a carrot button for the nose instead of appliqueing it, but I didn't have the right size carrot nose! There are times there isn't time to order more noses, especially with Christmas right around the corner. I decided to play around with my sewing machine and stitch a nose using orange thread. I practiced on a piece of scrap fabric. Practicing also helped me figure out placement for when I stitched it onto my snowman's face.

I think his nose turned out quite cute!

~Holly Berry Snowman ~

I'm pretty happy with how my little snowman turned out. I used 3 red 1/4" buttons for the holly berries. You can also sew a white button or a snowflake button onto the top of the snowman's hat for the pom-pom. I left mine plain. I may add a pom-pom later. I haven't decided yet.

This sweet snowman would also be cute made into a small decorative pillow, or put on an apron. It would also be cute made into a mug rug or table runner. I hope that you enjoy today's design, it can be found on my website and also in my Etsy shop.

Hope you have a wonderful day and find some time to quilt and do some stitching,

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

12 Days of Christmas, Day 10

Day 10

For day 10, I have an adorable mini quilt! It's called Snowman Delivery and features Belvedere taking the snowmen on ride in grandpa's red truck. He's at it again sneaking off the farm with grandpa's truck. I'm sure he's just taking his friends out to see some Christmas lights. What's great about this new mini quilt is that you can leave it on display all winter long. It took me an afternoon to make. I sat and stitched listening to some Christmas music drinking my peppermint latte. It was a very relaxing afternoon. This mini quilt would also make a great gift for your snowman loving friends. Let me show you how I put it together.

Following the pattern directions I traced the applique shapes onto my fusible web and ironed it onto the backside of the fabric.

I then cut all the shapes out.

Following the placement sheet I ironed everything in to place.

Normally I sew a buttonhole stitch around all of the shapes but I tried something different this time. I sewed a straight stitch close to the edge of each shape. I used white thread around the snowmen and a brown thread for everything else.

Following the pattern directions, I added on the cream border and then the pieced border.

All ready to layer with my backing and batting!

I'm using pearl cotton to stitch the snowman smiles and eyes with French knots. I stitched the snowman arms with a backstitch.

I'm in love with the little snowman that's holding on! So cute!!

~ Snowman Delivery ~

I hope that you enjoy todays project. Snowman Delivery can be found on the website and also in the Quilt Doodle Etsy shop, as a packaged pattern or instant PDF download. There's still time to make this adorable project. It can be used as a mini quilt on display on a table or hung on a wall. It's great for gift giving too!

Happy quilting

Cindy and Belvedere

12 Days of Christmas, Day 9

Day 9

One of my favorites is meat pie that my grandma used to make around the holidays. My mom now makes them and will give each of use girls one for the holidays. My grandma and great grandma used to make meat pie for Christmas Eve for when the family came home from midnight mass. Our recipe originated from my great grandma who was French Canadian. Meat pie is also referred to as Tourtière. It was a holiday tradition from my mom's childhood. I helped mom make them a couple of times, so I wrote down the recipe as mom cooked. I don't remember grandma having an actual recipe either! This recipe will make 4 to 5 pies.... These freeze well too. 

Grandma Huard's Meat Pies

• 3 lbs. lean hamburger
• 2 lbs. pork sausage
• 2 onions diced
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 2 lbs. hash browns (mom likes to use the Obrien Potatoes)
• salt and season salt to taste
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• pie pastry for two crust pie or refrigerated pie crust for each pie. (4-5)

Brown hamburger and pork sausage, add everything else and cook thru. Put in pastry lined pie pans. Add top pie pastry and seal. Cut a couple of vent holes on top of pie. Bake at 350 until pastry is browned, about 35 minutes.

My Grandma Huard

It's fun to pull out my family traditional recipes this time of year. It's a comfort to bake or cook up something that brings back memories of holidays past! My grandma also had a full sized silver tinsel tree that she used to decorate! Well guess what I found online at Target, a silver tinsel tree! It's a small tabletop one that I have in my kitchen. I love it because it reminds me of being at grandma and grandpa's at Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cindy and Belvedere

12 Days of Christmas, Day 8

Day 8

I have another project that's sure to be comforting. It's another quick and easy project that would be a great beginner sewing project. So if you are mentoring a new stitcher, this is a fun project to introduce them to. It's an easy square scarf with a frayed edge.

This has been the year of neighborhood walks and outdoor hikes with our lockdowns here in Minnesota. I find this scarf warm and cozy. A great comfort item that would also make a wonderful gift. It's fashionable too! I wear mine around the house when it's chilly. All you need is 1 1/2 yards of a woven flannel. I used Primo Plaid Flannel from Marcus Fabrics. It's warm and cozy and perfect for this project.

How to tell if I have the right kind of flannel if not using Primo Plaids Flannel. One of the easiest ways to tell, is to cut it. Fleece is woven tighter or not woven at all and will not unravel. When you cut flannel, it will ravel. Flannel is woven to give it a twill weave or patterned weave. The threads are individually dyed and woven with flannel. Fleece has a fuzzy side and a plain side. Flannel appears the same on both sides. Hope this helps you when picking out your flannel fabric. You will need 1 1/4 yards of Primo Plaid Flannel.

I picked out this lovely plaid for my scarf.

m. Square your fabric up and cut away any extra, try to follow along the weave when you trim.

Cut off the selvage edges.

Using matching thread, sew a 1/2" seam along all four sides of the edge. Follow along the weave, try to keep it even.

Here's the fun part, put on some holiday music and start pulling threads to create a fringe on the scarves edge. I pulled threads right up to the sewn line.

You will end up with a pile of threads. I find it helpful to use a pin to work some of the threads out to pull.

I'm loving my cozy Primo Plaid flannel scarf! It's going to keep me warm when  I take Belvedere for a walk.

If you're giving you scarf away as a gift, fold it up to make a pretty presentation. I like to fold one corner down to show off the plaid design and fringe.

I do have primo plaid flannel available on my website if you're unable to find it in your local quilt shops. Hope you have a wonderful day and find some time to stitch.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere

12 Days of Christmas Day 7

Day 7

I was thinking this time of year we are all stressed and tied up in knots. Many of us are putting in long days sewing those special handmade gifts so today’s project is something that you can make for yourself, or make a bunch and give them as gifts. A heating pad that can be warmed up in the microwave is a wonderful item to have handy to sooth those sore muscles. I’ve had these on my to do list forever, I wanted to make one for myself for when my neck gets sore from stitching all day. I also have a few family members on my Christmas list that could use a microwave heating pad too! Let me show you how quick and easy these are to make. This is also a great project for a beginner. It’s a great project with all straight seams. It can be completed in an afternoon. 

You will need a bag of rice, a funnel, flannel, cotton fabric, thread, essential oil (optional).

From cotton fabric cut 1 - 8" x 18" rectangle
From flannel fabric cut 1 - 8" x 18" rectangle

Pin them right sides together and sew around three sides leaving one side open. I used a 1/4" seam.

Clip the corners and then turn right side out.

Fold and iron a 3/8" hem to the inside of the bag.

Sew an 1/8" topstitch along the three finished sides, leave the top side along (open edge).

Sew lines vertically evenly spaced thru all layers of the bag. The sew lines are approximately 2 3/4" to 3" apart. I used a small Olfa ruler as a guide to sew by. You can mark the lines with a pencil before sewing, or use pins to help guide you as your stitch.

Here you can see my evenly spaced lines. Remember the top edge is still open.

I filled each section with 3/4 cup of rice. If you want a scented heating pad this is where you would add lavender or your favorite essential oil to the rice and mix it well before stuffing your bag.

Your bag has six sections to stuff with rice. I left mine unscented.

Fill each section with rice. After I fill a section, I pin it towards the 'edge' of where the rice is and then I pin it again along the top to close it off. Then I go and fill the next section.

Sew along the open edge to close the openings. Be careful not to spill any rice.

All done! Wasn't that quick and easy?!  I fold it in thirds to put in the microwave. I heat mine up for a minute or two, every microwave is different so time may vary.

It's perfect to relieve sore neck and shoulders.

I didn't stop at making just one, I made a few for stocking stuffers.

A five pound bag of rice was enough to make three heating pads. I was able to make two from each fat quarter of cotton fabric. I used primo plaid flannel for my soft flannel side of my heating pads. The flannel I used was left over from projects that I have been working on. As you can see I made some for my boys too. I thought the fish fabric would be fun for them. I think I still have some motorcycle fabric too, that would make a nice one for my hubby. When you make these up, don't forget to make a pretty one for yourself!

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere