HOW TO MAKE A QUICK & EASY PRAYER SHAWL-SENDING COMFORT

Stitched prayers-that is what I consider the pieces I make to send comfort, peace, hope, healing, good wishes, etc. There have been quilts for babies and children, small blocks that can be carried in pocket or purse and prayer shawls-a little something to put around the shoulders to warm and remind that you are being thought about and prayed for.

This shawl is for my sister's sister-in-law who is in deep need of prayer. Pam has health issues including cancer and in June her only child passed away. Who could be in more need of prayer? As I was working on another project the other day, Pam came to mind and I decided to make something for her. 

The next day when the Linus Project I had been working on had been shipped, I got out the materials I thought might be of use for Pam. I had just kinda, sorta thought about what would be a good piece for her so the possible fabrics were spread out on the cutting table. In the fabrics I try to keep in stock for these projects are panels that can be enlarged by adding borders or odds and ends picked up on sale tables with prayers already printed on them. When I find things that suit my fancy I get all I can afford that day for future use. 

For Pam a shawl was decided on to be made from some pillow panels and the back would be a matching print. I had been working with polar fleece the day before and there was a good sized piece that could be used to help make the shawl quickly and easily. 

The pillow panels are pretty standard sized at 14"-16" square and could be used for pockets,
one has Psalm 23 and the other a restful mountain scene with a waterfall

the fleece was cut 16" wide by 72"  long

the coordinating print was also cut 16" wide by 72" long.

all these measurements can be adjusted to suit the fabrics and your needs

To sew:

lace was sewn across the top of the pockets [pillow panel-optional]

pin pockets to 16" edges-wrong side to right side of fleece

pin lining fabric to fleece-right sides facing

I sewed all three layers together at the same time with my serger leaving a 8-10" opening to turn right side out
a scalloped top stitching was added all around the edge after turning and
the shawl was completed by putting a book by Beth Moore and a journal in a pocket

and one more thing-the most important-at our women's Bible study we put our prayers for Pam into the shawl

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:1
Healing, hope, love, concern, peace, comfort,  well being are things hoped for that cannot be seen but these pieces are the evidence of prayer for them.

I pray that Pam receives all these and takes comfort in this shawl.

God bless you
Carolyn Wainscott

Here is my video tutorial with hints and suggestions for making the shawl:

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 @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

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THE ANGEL BABY QUILT

This quilt has been on my mind for several years and finally got around to getting it on the drawing board with two great, granddaughters on the way. For some reason two sets of wings [I just kept drawing] came into being and are included in the pattern. The pattern is available in My Pattern Store on Craftsy.com 

@ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

"Angel Baby" would be a great background for a photograph session. 

Here is great, granddaughter, Kenzley in her first photo shoot for me on the quilt. She does look like a little angel, doesn't she? 

 Here she is on the second set of wings that have been quilted but haven't been appliqued onto a background. The dark blue was used for contrast.

 The quilt

A little closer look at both sets of wings:

Clouds were quilted into the sky-that seemed like the thing to do and just lightly quilted a feeling of motion for the rest except for a couple of a hint of birds which were just a  curvy "V"-keeping it simple. 

And a look at the back, I love to look at the back of quilts.

Here is my video tutorial for "Angel Baby":

I chose flannel backed satin to make the quilt because it is rich looking, quilts nicely and is easier to work with than other satins. It is a little more economical, also, because it comes in 58" width.  My favorite pajamas are made with the flannel backed satin. It is soft, warm and washes up great but check the label on the bolt.  

The wings were appliqued on the diagonal [corner to corner] for something different. It is about 45" square but with the wider fabric could have been larger without piecing. 

The whole quilt is fairly inexpensive since it only takes 1 1/2 yards of sky blue for the background, 1 yard of white for a set of wings, 7-8 yards for binding. I used my favorite marking pen-the Mark B Gone that disappears with a damp cloth but you can use any marking pen or pencil you choose. 

"Angel Baby" is a fairly quick and easy project to do since the most intense work is the quilting that can be done by machine or hand.   

To order the pattern that includes both sets of wings and complete instructions, go to My Pattern Store on Craftsy.com @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851. 

Check out my other patterns in My Pattern Store and while you are there take a look at all that Craftsy.com has to offer-you'll find online classes by top notch instructors for sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, beadwork and just about any craft you would like to learn or finesse. 

Thank you for stopping by and God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

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CUSTOM LETTERING FOR WALL DECOR IN BABY'S ROOM

Since I couldn't find the size letters I wanted that I could cover to match a baby's room [at a price I wanted to pay-the operative word is wanted to pay], I made my own from one of my favorite crafting materials-foam core board. I didn't want to cover perfectly good wood letters and they were too pricey anyway, even at 1/2 price so out came the old, trusty pad of 1" graph paper and drafted my own. In case you don't know, graph paper not only comes in the 1/4 " but in large pads about 24" x 30" with 1" grid. I've gone through several through the years. This is the size I use for a lot of my designs. The last ones had to be ordered online because I couldn't find them locally. 

OK, letters are all cut out from the foam core board. One sheet was large enough for all the letters plus, plus.

Batting for each letter was cut next in the shape of corresponding letter. 

A 11" square of fabric cut for each letter. This may seem too much but you'll need enough to pull around the letter and batting. 

NOW

Place fabric pretty side down, 

next-batting into center

then-letter with top side down-else your letter will be backwards [ask me how I know that!] making sure fabric pattern is right side up for letter [ask me why I bring that up!]

start in center of letters with cutouts-cross mark on back of fabric and cut on  marks [see video below]

pull fabric up and around batting and letter-staple or glue

now go on to outside of letter-pull fabric up and around fairly tightly but leaving padded look-staple or glue 

clip and trim away excess as you go

trim as you wish

I had bought flowers specifically for the letters when I first started planning to make them but didn't like that idea at all when they were put on. There were some little porcelaine dolls in my treasure trove were used, though, that were enough. Think about beads, buttons or anything else you may have. I did have some 1/2"  lace for the plain fabric that I like the look of. 

Think about letting the kids design their own lettering for their rooms with decoupage, painting, stamping, wrapped with yarn or jute. The possibilities are endless.  

Because I am paranoid about my explanations not being understandable, the video tutorial below may help my sometimes clear as mud wanderings for the letters:

The 8 1/2" block alphabet is available in My Pattern Store on Craftsy.com @

http://www.craftsy.com/user/43851/pattern-store.

Thank you for stopping by and God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

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Check out my patterns for home decor, children's and doll clothes @

While you're at Craftsy, take a look at all the online classes available with top notch instructors.