The miracle workers have gone back home. The kids are all back in school, and I have much to blog about, and a lot of upcoming insanity.
I was so excited when I got a comment on my “Sneak Peek” post asking for more details about the solar system quilts. First, I was just excited to get a comment! (Comments make me happy!) And secondly, I was excited that she could tell what we were making:
(The quilt on the bed–this dark navy is really hard to photograph! Looks cuter in real life!)
So of course, I have to oblige and give you the scoop on the bedding. This was the inspiration:
I fell in love with this bedding from “The Land of Nod” some time back, but didn’t have the $160 to pay for each quilt (not to mention sheets, pillows, accessories, etc.). We have a bunkbed in there, so I need two quilts. So I kept looking. One day, while red-tag hunting at Target (I know I’m not the only one who does that), I found some basic navy comforters from their college line on clearance for $10/each. Now that is more like my budget! I grabbed them, hoping to be able to spruce them up, but realizing that even if I couldn’t, they would work in the space room, and I could just get some fun pillows.
Before putting the planets on the quilt, Mom sewed the orbit lines. I used a piece of sharpened chalk, tied to string, and attached to the center of the quilt with a straight pin, to draw my circles (yes, I know a lot of the planets have elliptical orbits! I invited my husband to come and draw the ellipses, when he started giving me a bad time). Mom sewed along the chalk lines. I think the Land of Nod version uses a thicker stitch, but I wanted them to be fairly subtle. My son vetoed the words and numbers that are on the Land of Nod version, and I’m sure his grandma was thrilled with that choice, although she has done a lot of machine embroidery (with out the fancy computer sewing machine) and could have pulled it off beautifully.
So as my mom was busy reupholstering my couch and mending our clothes (I know, slave labor!), I pulled out my comforters to see if she thought we could do what I wanted to do. She said she could sew through the comforters and “quilt” them the way I wanted if I could get it all laid out the way I wanted.
I will admit this process was a little more time consuming than I had imagined. But everything is time consuming and difficult for me now, because I am pregnant! I had a bunch of small pieces of fabric on hand (inherited for free from a moving friend). I looked through all of the fabric and found anything that looked “planet-like.” To get the circles, I just found different bowls and lids to trace and looked at a diagram to get an idea of the scale. Any astronomers out there will tell me that my sun is way too small in relation to the planets, Saturn has dozens of moons, etc. But whatever, he’s 5! We used a product on the back of the fabrics (before cutting out the shapes) called “wonder-under.” It is great for applique stuff because it turns your pieces into iron-on shapes. They usually still need to be sewn around to have a nice finished edge, but I have sealed the edges with puffy paint before, for a no-sew option.
Before putting the planets on the quilt, Mom sewed the orbit lines. I used a piece of sharpened chalk, tied to string, and attached to the center of the quilt with a straight pin, to draw my circles (yes, I know a lot of the planets have elliptical orbits! I invited my husband to come and draw the ellipses, when he started giving me a bad time). Mom sewed along the chalk lines. I think the Land of Nod version uses a thicker stitch, but I wanted them to be fairly subtle. My son vetoed the words and numbers that are on the Land of Nod version, and I’m sure his grandma was thrilled with that choice, although she has done a lot of machine embroidery (with out the fancy computer sewing machine) and could have pulled it off beautifully.
Trenton also wanted Pluto included. That was a tough call, but I obliged him. The other option is what they did at Land of Nod. They sell this Pluto pillow with the date of discover and the date it was “retired” as a planet.
I still intend to do some fun pillows, whether they look like rocket ships, or planets or what. I will leave you with a glimpse of the insanity that has been worked in “The Space Room” (my son’s bedroom) this week. I wish I was showing you a finished room, since I’m sure work will proceed much more slowly, now that the miracle workers have gone, but you can get an idea of where we are headed here:
Adding this to Kimba’s DIY day! And The Inspired Room’s Procrastinator Party. I have been planning this room/bedding, etc. for more than a year. About time I get moving on it!
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That's so fun! What a great solution to get a ready-made $10 comforter – very smart!! Love it!
What a great project way better then buying the original ones these are special mom and grandma made them.. They turned out fabulous hugs, Cherry
Looks great – fun idea. I found a great duvet cover for my girl's bed but didn't want to spend a lot on a duvet so I bought a $10 comforter to put inside. I need to add buttons or something inside so that it stays in place better but it works pretty good.
from one quilter to another, i must tell you your solar system creation is awesome! 🙂 thanks for posting more about it.
The quilt looks fantastic!! Way to go Grandma! 🙂 Where DOES she get her energy?
Great looking quilt! Can't wait to see the room!
pk @ Room Remix
Oh I love this! Where were you with this idea 3 years ago when I bought the quilt on my 8 year old's bed? It is in sad shape now and I paid waay more than $10 for it. He loves all things space since the age of 2. I am wanting to redo the boys room and this will be perfect. I'll be watching your blog! Great idea!!!!
Yep…I'm a red tag Target shopper too! 🙂
The comforters are looking wonderful. What a great idea!
Cute idea–must have been a lot of work to do two–you must have SOME mom!!
Kendra… First of all Congrats on the pregnancy…I am pregnant too and also know that is takes a lot out of you… Thanks for going into more detail on the Quilt… I LOVE IT…I like it better than the Land of Nod quilt. Thanks again
"sew" cute…and congrats on the pregnancy!
Wow Kendra! It turned out so well. Very clever and fun!
XOXO
jen
What a cute idea! I might just have to try that with my boys' navy comforters!
Love how it turned out… what a great way to fancify a plain comforter!!!
Very fun!!
Thanks for joining the party!!
Melissa
These are amazing! I actually like them better than the inspiration quilt. Yours are so graphic. What an insanely great idea.
Awesome! Lucky boys! My granddaughter loves the solar system too. I would show her these, but then she might expect me to make her one!
this is such a fun idea!!
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