Meet Molly

Molly, Molly... so sweet and lovely, t'was bittersweet to see you go. Stitched up out of love and a little vintage fabric... some modern trims, she really got my heart.

I stitched up this pattern: Black Apple Doll

to make this doll for my sister-in-law to give to her niece (thanks Kate for supporting handmade!).

I think she probably made a little girl very happy!

An Emily Martin original, the Black Apple Doll.

Thanks Emily, I've used this pattern to spread joy several times now.

I hope you do too!

C is for Chenille - Roundup and Tutorials

Making Your Own Chenille

This is a great tutorial on making your own chenille fabric from freshvintage.typepad.com.

She does a wonderful job of explaining exactly how to create the traditional chenille fabric.  I actually thought that the piece of fabric she created and then used to make the doll body would have made a beautiful chenille baby blanket.  Click here for her full free tutorial on chenille.

Over at the Happy Things blog, she has a wonderful tutorial on making simple baby bibs backed with commercial chenille. 

Click here for her free chenille tutorial and to take a look at her beautiful blog.  

I have long loved vintage chenille and I always see vintage chenille bedspreads at really affordable prices at flea markets, garage sales, and antique stores. 

Here are some of my ideas to making things out of old chenille:

Bibs

Diaper Bag

Pajamas

Pillow cases

Baby/Toddler Jacket

Baby toys

Dolls

Monsters

Slippers

Nursing Pillow Cover

Window Valance

Bunting for baby room

You could cover those huge cardboard letter in chenille. 

You could also use chenille to upholster a chair for a child's room or to create a sweet cushion cover for a rocking chair.

Basically, you can look at a vintage chenille bedspread as a huge piece of fabric.  I know some people don't like the idea of cutting up vintage linens, but what good is it just sitting in a closet somewhere.

I would love to see a vintage chenille bedspread made into a whole gift set for a baby shower: burp cloths, bibs, a small crib blanket, baby booties, diaper bag, diaper organizers, mommy journal or photo album cover.  How sweet would that be to present at a shower?

  HAPPY CRAFTING!