Progress report - Blue checkers

Yesterday I showed my new ironing board cover in action. I'm not a big fan of ironing, I go to great length to avoid it. I make extra sure when I buy clothes that they do not require ironing and I fold or hang everything right out off the dryer when I do laundry. I really only use my iron/ironing board for sewing/quilting. Really. 

I iron the fabrics before cutting, ten again after piecing... 

So those where my blocks, pieced and ironed on Tuesday night

 After which I laid them on the floor to decide of the layout. And that's where they stayed overnight.

Last night I didn't get home until past 7:30 pm but I still managed to piece all 9 rows.

Tomorrow I should be done with the top. Or should I say this side of the quilt. 

Yeah I plan on piecing the other side too.

Crazy me. 

Little makeover

Recently, I stumbled upon an Etsy store that sells ironing board covers. Looking at those cute covers make me more painfully aware about my ironing board being in great need of a makeover.

OK ... it's eww, not from dirt but from a couple of burn marks and goop from Wonderunder, hem tape and other interfacing oopsies. That doesn't wash off. Paying $15 for an ugly new ironing board cover.... nope, paying $25 for a cute one, I don't think so. So I made one. 

I just used the ugly one as a pattern and cut 2 layers of cotton quilt batting and the top fabric to the same size.  I then stitched all 3 layers together and then used a left over 3" strip from a quilt binding to make the channel. Then I made a cord out of green bias tape stitched together lengthwise that I threaded through the channel and tada this is the new look : 

Not as fancy as those I saw on Etsy, but prettier than a store bought one and  a vast improvement over the sad look of the previous cover 

Bonus: only took an hour. Oh and it cost under $2. 

- Left over cotton batting for padding : $0.50

- Left over green stripped for channel : $1.25

- Donated pink stripped fabric - free

- Donated green bias tape - free

- Donated thread

Oh I so like friend sewer/quilters that de-stash after finishing a project. And I like my ironing board a lot more too. 

One last time side by side : 

And here it is in action with my latest project 

Yes a new quilt is brewing

120 blocks at the ready

Giveaway winners - Buttons set and sweetheart necklace

I actually have 3 winners to announce today 

First the winner of the button jewelry set made by Amie from Kittycats and Airplanes 

That is Tanya from Surviving Motherhood

Then the Sweetheart necklace, made by yours truly 

Crystal from Crystal's Craft Spot

Please email me by Thursday 5PM EST to claim your gift 

Last winner is ahem

 me... I just won 5 Amy Butler patterns at Giggle Glitz and Glam .. YAY!