Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Simplicity 2493 Turtle

Simplicity Sewing Pattern 2493 Crafts, One Size


Here is another rag quilt I made for Gage for Christmas.  I did the turtle which is supremely easy and totally adorable!  I'm going to include here some of the advice I gave on the butterfly rag quilt with one added piece of information I forgot on the other one.

The added piece of information is that some marking tools will be difficult to use (not work very well) on the flannel.  Test out out how easily it marks on a scrap of flannel.  I found my pencils were terrible but my marking pen worked wonders!

First:    If you don't have a heavy duty sewing machine I don't recommend getting the fleece padding that is completely optional to put between the flannel layers.  This will make sewing the pieces together difficult work for your sewing machine!  I didn't use it!

Second:    Before you pick out fabric, go over the pattern so that you know which fabrics will be used for what parts of the butterfly.  The easiest way to do this is to use a pencil/pen and write the number of the fabric in each section of the picture and then shop for it.  

Third:  Don't cut the fabric out with right sides together since you're going to be flipping them around to having wrong sides together anyway.  Also the markings will be going on the right side so it's a waste of time to cut it out the way they say.  

Fourth:  They suggest putting the eyes on last which ABSOLUTELY stinks because of the bulk of the quilt and trying to sew in tight circles.  It's not worth doing those last.  Put them on before you sew the rest of the pieces together and you're life will be much easier.  

Last:  Back stitch all ends when you are sewing pieces together as this is a heavy blanket and just because it's a rag quilt doesn't mean you really want it falling apart =D

Here is my finished product that I had trouble tacking up straight....:



This is definitely a 2!


10 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for these great tips! Mom and I just cut this out and are ready to sew. We are definitely starting with the eyes! Your turtle turned out so cute. Love the blue!

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  2. I am about to attempt the dinosaur on this pattern. I've made the regular square rag quilts in the past and never pre-washed the fabric so that it gets that "rag" look after snipping the edges. This pattern says to pre-wash all fabric. I'm just wondering if that's what you did or if you did not pre-wash. Thanks!

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    1. can you give me the number of the pattern pieces needed for the dinosaur....I have misplaced my directions....I made the turtle one for my grand niece and it turned out so cute...I'm so mad at myself for misplacing my directions!!

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  3. I don't remember if I washed the fabric or not, but I'm leaning towards yes. I'm not sure that it makes much of a difference either way because even if it shrinks, it will all shrink together and just make the stitching a little more defined.

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    1. I don't usually wash my fabric for rag quilts....

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  4. I want to go a head and order my fabric before my pattern comes that I am ordering from Ebay. Can you tell me the #'s on your quilt? Thanks, Ginger

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  5. Could you please tell me how to get the center piece in the turtle I have basted it in place but am struggling manipulating all the cloth under the sewing foot any suggestions would be appreciated

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  6. Could you please tell me how to get the center piece in the turtle I have basted it in place but am struggling manipulating all the cloth under the sewing foot any suggestions would be appreciated

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    1. I'm sorry this is so late so it probably won't be useful, but sometimes pushing/pulling the fabric with the presser foot up helps as well as increasing speed when going over the fatter parts.

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