Calorie-FREE Birthday Cake with Yo-Yos (and Video)!
Last year, Cleo and I made a promise to the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative to make creative art quilts called Priority Quilts. They are called Priority Quilts because they must be no larger than 9” x 12” and fit in a US Priority Mail envelope. They are available for sale in an on-line auction format. The proceeds are donated to help Alzheimer’s research.
My latest Priority Quilt was inspired by Lynn Schiefelbein’s “Stacked Cakes” of Oak Street Quilts of Sioux Falls. I decided to make my own “layered cake” in miniature. When thinking of the cake’s decorations, I had also recently worked with the new Extra Small Yo-Yo Maker from Clover. I discovered making mini yo-yo’s were not as crazy as it looked. These yo-yos finish at approximately 3/4” in diameter…a perfect size for my layered cake decorations.
With graph paper and pencil, I quickly sketched out a layered cake, adjusted it for the right proportions, and added seam allowances to the strips. After the strips where sewn together, I layered the quilt top with batting and a back, and simply quilted with stitch-in-the-ditch machine quilting. I then turned to my new favorite Yo-Yo maker, whipped up the mini yo-yos, and hand sewed them to add the perfect calorie-free “icing” decorations.
Click on the picture below to see how to create mini yo-yo’s using the Clover Extra Small Yo-Yo Maker and how I stitched them to the layered cake.
With the following instructions make your basic cake, and then try your hand at some of the many creative sewing techniques to decorate your cake.
Layered Cake Cutting Instructions:
Top Row # 1 and Bottom Row # 7
Cut 2 – 8 1/2” x 2” of background
Row # 2
Cut 2 – 3 3/4” x 2” strips of background
Cut 1 – 2 1/2” x 2” cake # 1
Row # 3
Cut 2 – 3 1/4” x 2” stripes of background
Cut 1 – 3 3/4” x 2” cake # 2
Row # 4
Cut 2 – 2 3/4” x 2” strips of background
Cut 1 – 5” x 2” cake # 3
Row # 5
Cut 2 – 2” x 2” strips of background
Cut 1 – 6 1/8” x 2 cake # 4
Row # 6
Cut 2 – 1 1/2” x 2” strips of background
Cut 1 – 7 3/8” x 2” cake # 5
Binding – Cut 2 – 2 1/4” x 44” strips
Use 1/4” seam allowance. Once cake rows are sewed together, use a rotary cutter to even up the right and left sides of the quilt. Quilt and bind, and decorate as desired.
Sew a birthday cake for a friend instead of buying one, or customize a cake for any occasion. It will cost less and they won’t feel guilty about eating any extra calories. For other special gift giving ideas, buy a Priority Quilt to give, and help with the Alzheimer’s research fund.
© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
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My First Dust Ruffle (With Video)!
With guests arriving this summer, I decided to remake the guest bedroom. It started when Steve wanted to change rooms for his office. He originally picked the room that was planked with knotty pine from floor to ceiling. It has a very woods-y, cabin-like feel on the basement level with garden windows. He used it for his office for the first year but decided the pine was not for him. He chose another area for his office. The cabin room was now empty and I knew I had the perfect quilt for it!
The new guest room-to-be was like having a clean slate! Only the essentials would go in the room, and everything else would go other places. (BTW – This is also a great way to clean a sewing or craft room – take everything out and start fresh!)
This is when I realized I really needed to attempt my very first dust ruffle. I knew I could do it, I could picture the process in my mind from start to finish, but I had never actually completed one. I have always loved the ruffler and I knew it would make short work of the gathering process…no pulling gathering threads for this project. That would be a nightmare for something the size of a dust ruffle.
Click here or on the picture below to watch the short video, and then follow the step by step directions:
1. Start by measuring the box springs width _____ x the length _____. Cut a sheet or sew a piece of fabric the same size as the box springs top. For the queen size bed, I used a 60” wide home dec fabric and it fit perfectly.
2. For the dust ruffle height, measure from the top of the box springs to the floor. Add 1” to the total height.
3. To get the length of the ruffle use the box springs length times two, plus one box springs width. (There is no need for a ruffle around the head of the bed). The total length around three sides of the bed edge is ______.
4. For a gathered dust ruffle, double the total length of the bed edge measurement in step 3. Cut enough widths of fabric (height + 1”) so that when sewed together end to end equal the doubled length of the of the bed edge (step three _____ X 2).
5. The number of pieces to cut will depend on whether you use 45” wide fabric or 54/60” wide. (Use the doubled bed edge measurement in step four divided by 45 or 54 = the number of pieces. To figure the yardage needed for the ruffle multiply the number of pieces times the height + 1”.)
6. Sew or serge those pieces together. It will be very long. To finish the hem of the dust ruffle, use either a hemmer foot on the sewing machine, or serge along one long edge with a 4-thread overlock stitch, turn up ½ inch and topstitch.
7. Attach the ruffler to the sewing machine, and set it to pleat every 6th stitch. Test the stitch length and settings with your fabric so it is not gathering more than a 2 to 1 ratio. A little less is OK.
8. Sew the ruffle right sides together to the three sides of the base fabric that covers the box springs. Serge the top edge seam of the ruffle and box springs cover for a clean finish.
9. Test the fit on the bed.
As you can tell in the video, I was very excited to see it fit the first time! That is always the best feeling when a project turns out just the way you imagined it. And my guests this summer…they loved the room!
This is the second video made for YouTube. And with my new Mac it was really easy using the included iMovie program. I am also in love with modern technology!
After making the Dust Ruffle video I went on to make a Quilts & Vines 2008 movie. Check it out by clicking here or on the picture below.
© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
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Survey Says…
Have you noticed how easy sewing machines are to use compared to the models of 20 years ago? Since the introduction of computerized sewing and embroidery machines, the engineers have kept their ears open to what sewers want, and an eye on the future of technology. Their active roll in both arenas has produced some of the most advanced, yet simplified, sewing machines to date.
Sewers were the ones to suggest more sewing light and full color touch screens. Now we want it all – automatic thread cutters, longer throat space between the machine and needle, needle threaders, easy-load bobbins, customizable settings, ability to attach other peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard or iPod…. the list goes on, the engineers are listening, and our machines are more amazing than ever!
This coming week Husqvarna Viking authorized Heirloom Creations to host our second comprehensive consumer sewing survey to submit anonymous suggestions to the Research and Development Department at the Swedish factory. The event will be one of the first to test the newly introduced Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond.
They will guide us through the entire machine’s very powerful options, the sewing features, on-screen help, stitch variety, and easy embroidery. It will be fun to hear from the presenters which features on the new Designer Diamond machine came about from consumer’s suggestions.
Now is your chance to sew on one of these incredible new state-of-the-art sewing and embroidery machines. Don’t miss this opportunity to be heard. Each session is limited to 10 people and participants will receive a $20 gift card upon completion of the survey! Click here to read more…
Session #1 – Wednesday, September 24 – 9 – 1pm
Session #2 – Wednesday, September 24 – 2:30 – 6:30pm
Session #3 – Thursday, September 25 – 9 – 1pm
Event Location:
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
4304 West Empire Place (next to the Empire Mall)
Sioux Falls SD 57106
Call NOW to reserve your space.
605-332-4435
Holiday 2008 Sneak Peak
It’s barely September and here in South Dakota it seems that Fall has already arrived with cooler days, and even cooler nights. Maybe it is something about the weather that makes the store more alive and buzzing with people looking for fabric for their upcoming projects. The new fabrics are in and everyone is excited to see the latest.
Heirloom Creations‘ class schedule is brimming with great classes, and starting Friday, September 26, the “12 Weeks of Giving” classes are back offering quick and easy holiday gift ideas that can be finished, or mostly finished, in class. Find the perfect project and make one for everyone on your holiday gift list.
I have been a bit into the holiday spirit myself this past week getting ready for Sewtopia Sewing Club “Holiday Show”, Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 10am, 2pm or 6:30pm. It looks like Santa’s workshop in my sewing room as I write. Come and be inspired by a host of holiday ideas! It is open to all sewers and features sewing projects, quilting techniques, a serger segment, and embroidery projects.
Here is a sneak peek…
First, I am thinking of decorating in red and white for the holidays this year. Do you know when you are looking to buy a new car, and you seem to see that car you are considering everywhere you go because it is on your mind? That is how it has been looking for red and white items for my holiday decorating. So when I opened the new “Christmas 10th Anniversary” book from Gooseberry Patch, I zeroed in on these ornaments.
From the authors, “This year’s Gooseberry Patch Christmas is better than ever, as we celebrate 10 years of cookbook collaboration with Leisure Arts! Packed with full-color photographs, 100 recipes and over 80 fun holiday projects, this book will keep you celebrating all season long. With creative ideas for decorating, gift-giving, wrapping, entertaining & more, it’s a merrymaking must-have.”
Cleo has been looking through the book also, figuring out what to bake for Tuesday’s Sewtopia to add to the holiday festivities. If you have ever sampled Cleo’s banking, you know you will not want to miss attending this special holiday Sewtopia Club!
What could be better for your holiday sewing plan than FREE* Oklahoma Embroidery Holiday Designs. If you love to embroider, then don’t miss OESD’s special holiday CD’s FREE with a $60 purchase of Isacord thread, stabilizers, 505 spray, glitz or Organ needles. There will be a total of three collections available between September and November. Collect all three and redeem the included vouchers for a special occasion greeting card CD collection with matching magnetic book marks.
Remember these dates for the embroidery designs:
Collection #1 – September 8 – 20 – AVAILABLE NOW! – See designs below…
Collection #2 – October 16 – 25
Collection #3 – November 13 – 22
Collect all three OESD Holiday collections and redeem included vouchers for the bonus special occasion embroidered greeting cards and matching magnetic book marks FREE December 15 – 20.
I want to thank the ever-growing SewSara.com fan club that religiously reads these tips every week. As I attempt to inspire you, I am inspired by you, sewers who visit Heirloom Creations with their show-n-tell, who send me e-mails, who take our classes and attend Sewtopia Sewing Club.
Thank You.