Crib Bedding

The first project to tackle is the Crib Bedding.  I started this idea without even thinking of being thrifty.  I just wanted to make it.  So I went out searching for a gender neutral woodlands animal fabric to use.  I found one at JoAnne's and bought all the complimentary styles to create the front of the blanket.  I also wanted the middle to be applique's of the theme.

The front is done!  Now I just need to add the batting and a complimentary fabric to the back to finish it.  Next will be the sheets and crib skirt.

To make this blanket I drew up a diagram using a comforter sizing chart I found online and then fit the pattern of fabric pieces into the overall size.  I made sure to leave a larger area in the middle for the appliques of the woodland animals scene. I added 1/2" to each piece that would be used to assemble the blanket as a seem allowance.  Then I made patterns for each piece to cut them out. It's assembled like a quilt.  I worked on the center applique first since the edges of the scene would be sewn into the seams at the edges.  

To make the applique:

• Draw the tree on my diagram first and copy it to fusible iron ons.
• Cut out the tree design on the brown tree fabric and iron it onto the center piece.
• T-shirt material in two colors of green were used to make the grass along the bottom.
• Draw a grid on the diagram to determine how large to make the animal appliqué's. 
• Scan a piece of the animal fabric into the computer then crop, copy and paste each animal onto a word document.  Stretch and shrink each animal picture to the desired size of each animal.
• Print the animals document, then copy the shapes onto the fusible iron ons.  I had to use my small light table to make out the animal shapes through the papers.
• Stick the patterns onto desired colors and styles of fabric. Then cut them out.  Use felts, fleece or other fabrics for the animals to give them texture.
• Iron on the faces and other pieces that attach to the main body of each piece.  Then place and iron all animals to the applique.  Cover any acrylic or man-made fabric with cotton fabric before ironing or it will melt.  I used a cloth napkin.  Iron the front first, then carefully flip the whole center piece over and press again to adhere all pieces permanently.  
• Finally, add the leaves to the tree.  I cut mine out with my Sizzix die cutter and Leaves Die, by placing the fusible iron ons and the fabric together when cutting.  They were easily placed and ironed onto to the scene. 

Sew together the pieces for the top row, middle row, and bottom row.  Then, assemble the rows top to bottom with the strips of fabric between each row.