Friday 19 June 2015

Colour, beautiful colour!

Ever since I started quilting I have been collecting fabric from one of my favourite designers - Anna Maria Horner. The way her different fabrics go together to create a beautiful bright array of overwhelming colour always grabs me, and makes me feel so so happy!

My long term aim is to use the fabric I have collected to make a quilt for myself, but I couldn't resist the AMH mini-quilt swap on Instagram, and thought it was a good way to have a taste of what sewing with this fabric will be like!

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My swap partner seemed to like a mixture of bright fabrics with low volume, and I felt like I was up for a challenge and trying something new. After flicking through my quilting books I was grabbed by 'The Night Garden' quilt by Sarah Fielke in her book 'Quilting from Little Things'. This quilt involves sewing 'notorious' Y-seams and also uses a 'Step-Down' technique for piecing, both of which I hadn't tried before.

I have to say that without this brilliant Y-seams tutorial from Fresh Lemons Quilts, and Sarah Fielke's Craftsy class which walks you through the 'Step-Down' piecing technique, I would have struggled. But after studying both of these, this mini quilt came together nicely, and I really enjoyed the Step-Down piecing especially.

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I decided to hand quilt the mini using Perle 8 cotton, and went with a Cotton and Steel sparkly binding.

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For the back I used a lovely Loulouthi print, and I love the texture that the hand quilting brings to this.

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 I hope my swap partner loves this mini quilt as much as I do! 

Linking up with Finish it Up Friday and Sew the Library.

Weekend Doings

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Sew Cute Tuesday


Sew Cute Tuesday

I am hosting over at Sew Cute Tuesday today. 

So pop on over there if you want to find out a bit more about me!


Tuesday 9 June 2015

Sewing fear number two ... conquered!

After successfully conquering my fear of sewing curves earlier this year, it was time to face the next challenge: making a structured purse/handbag. I have made a few tote bags in my time, but I wanted a bag with some more details, a different shape, and most importantly a zippered closure. 

Enter the Penelope Purse from Clover and Violet! I had seen this pattern being reviewed on Instagram recently, and I'd also read a few blog entries about other Clover and Violet bags, and how great the patterns were. Most importantly for me I could use the interfacing and fusible fleece that I had on hand (as I can't buy anything like that here and have to get it from overseas).

The final push came when a friend, who was leaving to return to America, said casually that she really needed a new purse. I knew I had to make one for her! 

I made a handbag/purse!

I just love the end result, and I was so reluctant to give this away in the end!
It wasn't a quick make, but the instructions were really clear and even the zipper came together without any trouble!

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Because I was a bit pushed for time in the end I didn't include the inside zippered pocket, but there is still a pocket which will fit a phone.

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The bag is very roomy inside, and it fits snuggly under your arm, nice and secure. 

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Now I just need to make another one for me!

Linking up with 

Sew Cute Tuesday

Thursday 4 June 2015

It's summer, and time to thank the teachers!

With only one son in Elementary school this year, we just had one teachers gift to make, and Mr. 8 knew exactly what his teacher likes - cats!

He really wanted to embroider a cat, so he drew his own drawing, I reminded him how to sew back-stitch, and off he went...

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I helped with the eyes and whiskers, but otherwise he did an amazing job by himself. The original plan was to incorporate the embroidery into a bag, but we decided that it looked so cute by itself in a hoop, and so I finished it off with felt on the back and a ribbon to hang it by.

For the tote bag we chose some cat fabric, and then Mr. 8 chose some other fabrics to match, including cute Lizzy House mice!

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I made the tote, following Svetlana's great tutorial. The only changes I made were to make my own handles, and to apply a piece of velcro on the front pocket.

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His teacher was thrilled with the presents, and it was nice to make something extra special for her as she is leaving the school and returning to the USA.

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Linking up with