Simple Sampler QAL: Foundation Pieced Simple Economy Square

If you are following the Sewing Directory #simplesamplerqal and you are relatively new to quilting, this week's block, a simplified Economy Square, might by your first experience of a foundation paper piecing block.  

This block can be made in the more conventional way but it's also a great way to get to grips with how foundation paper piecing works.  I've written a detailed tutorial at Sewing Directory but I thought I'd show the template here for extra clarity.  The whole block is made up of four economy square blocks so each template needs to be printed to the correct size.  The dotted line of the outer square is the seam allowance, then you can see the square outline of the finished size (6") and the inner on-point square (a scant 4 ¼").

The fabric measurements given for this block were generous so if you follow that your pieces should cover the paper including seam allowances but you do need to check your printing is accurate initially.  Usually the printing instructions say print 'to scale' or print at 100%.  There is often a margin of error between different printing systems and PDF files so check your print and you might need to make adjustments.  I find my printer tends to print very slightly small (a 6" block might be 1/16" too small) so to allow for that, I might up the print scale to 101% which would make the whole template just 1% bigger.  So, get your quilt ruler out, check your template pattern and make adjustments to print it at the correct size before sewing your block.  As this is a sampler quilt, there are techniques that are going to challenge you, be brave and give it a go!

Simple Sampler QAL- Triangles and a bonus extra

For those of you following the #simplesamplerqal,  using my tutorials on Sewing Directory, these are the three most recent blocks.   Hourglass which uses half-square triangles to make quarter square triangles- a bit of trimming involved but not real waste:

Flying Geese block.  The method for the is a traditional technique which is straightforward but it is a little wasteful.  It's one of those methods that it's good to know as it helps beginners understand how the geese shape is formed but there are alternatives once you've mastered this. There is also a bonus to this method (see below).

When you come to stitch the diagonal seam line, if you pencil in a second line half an inch away from the previous seam and sew a second seam  on the part of the square which will be trimmed off, you will end up with some extra, smaller half-square triangles that could be used on another project!  Once the second line is sewn, cut between the two lines.  To make each of the eight geese needed for this block, you could generate two half-square triangles so a bonus of sixteen at the end, maybe to use to make a pot holder or mug rug?

The Sawtooth Star uses geese made with a no-waste method.  This works well for solids or non directional prints and there's no waste and minimal trimming, one of my favourite methods- it's fast too.

I'm enjoying making these blocks for a second time!

Simple Sampler Week 2

Are you following the  Simple Sampler quilt along with Fiona and Julie using the tutorials I wrote for their Sewing Directory website?  It's week two and the blocks are log cabin and courthouse steps.  Both rotary cut, 12inch finished blocks and straightforward.  I've been raiding my scrap bags: 

  Check out #simplesamplerQAL on social media and find out more here at Sewing Directory.

Simple Sampler Quilt Along Starts Today!

Fiona and Julie at the Sewing Directory are leading a Simple Sampler quilt along using the tutorials I wrote for their website.  It's all easy, beginner friendly and a great way to learn techniques that you many not yet mastered- pinwheels, foundation paper piecing etc.  I couldn't resist joining in and using scraps for a bright mix of prints.  This is a bordered four-patch block:

And here's a scrappy nine-patch.  All the blocks are 12" finished and the aim is to make a small lap quilt (3x4 block layout) or make each blocks twice for something larger 4x6 layout.

The pace is slow and the blocks are quick.  Check out #simplesamplerQAL on social media and find out more here at Sewing Directory.

How to Make a Quilt: Recollections Quilt

This quilt came about through writing a ten-part series 'How to Make a Quilt' for Sewing Directory.  It's a simple sampler quilt and tutorials for all the blocks, covering techniques from basic nine-patch construction though to foundation paper piecing, basting, binding and a lot more in between.

The fabric was provided by Sewing Directory, it's Recollection by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics and it was a departure for me to leave my scrappy approach missing different fabric lines from my stash and instead just use one collection and I really enjoyed it.   The binding is Square Elements, also by Art Gallery.  

Art Gallery fabrics are a lighter weight than most traditional quilting cottons and have a lovely smooth handle.  Having a quilt which is all Art Gallery cotton, including the backing fabric and the binding is a total luxury.  The feel is amazing!  I used a light batting- Hobbs 80/20 so the lap size quilt is wonderfully floaty. 

The finished quilt is a lap size,  (38" x 51") the blocks are 12" and there is a skinny strip of sashing between each one.  The width means that standard quilting fabric is just large enough to be the backing fabric so you don't have to join pieces together. 

Recollections is an apt title for this quilt.  I gave it to my Granny on her recent birthday.  She is suffering with dementia which is creating some very stressful mental health episodes for her in amongst all the other challenges.



She has been away from her home and in hospital this last month.  Her next move will be into a specialist residential care home which breaks my heart but is unavoidable so having a quilt will help add a personal touch on her journey there. To have lived independently for 94 years and then in a very short space of time, lose your independence and not even be able to return to your own home is an incredibly sad state of affairs.  I printed and sewed on a name tag when I created the quilt label- it's a sobering task when it's usually associated with labelling school clothes.  

It was well received.  The colours are bright, she loves florals and it's a talking point for her visitors too.  The stamp was created with Versacraft ink.  I've used them many times for quilt labels and they last well during washes and daily wear.    You can find all ten of my Making a Quilt series here.   It's suitable for beginners and more experienced quilters may pick up a few extra tips here and there.  Each part shares techniques and a list of resources and links to explore from some of my favourite quilters.  It's Dementia Awareness Week 15th-21st May and you can find out more about dementia here.  At the moment, I feel lucky, I still have some quality conversations with my granny and she definitely knows who I am.  Other aspects of her life and mental wellbeing are a lot more challenging but I focus on where we are now, that's enough. 

New Independent Dressmaking Pattern Listing resource at Sewing Directory

Fiona and Julie have been busy at Sewing Directory compiling a huge list of independent sewing pattern designers.  It starts with The Ultimate List of Independent Dressmaking Pattern Designers and more is already being added including quilt and bag designers. 

By clicking on this resource I can find a comprehensive alphabetical list of independent pattern designers/companies along with a description, a link where to buy, what currency the pricing is in and whether patterns are available as a download or in paper form including links to UK shop stockists.  I've had a sneak peek and I've already found new-to-me designers and patterns from all round the world.  All that information and it's free too!  Thanks Fi and Julie, great stuff!

Craft a Creative Business : Book review

I've known Fiona Pullen for a while now, firstly on social media and checking into her Sewing Directory website.  Then I won a competition at Sewing Directory.  I met Fiona in person at the first Fat Quarterly retreat and then we met in person again as she has family in my area.  Now Fiona lives in Devon and she has written the book that she was born to write, Craft a Creative Business.  

Fiona is a dynamic hardworking woman with incredible business skills and a love of crafting, especially sewing.  She can problem solve all day long and is funny and positive even during hard times.  If I want anyone to tell me about business, I want it to be her!   Fiona writes with a friendly,  clear voice.  She covers a wide range of issues and topics relevant to a creative business (and many other small businesses) with no flannel, making complex subjects simple and easy to understand and absorb.  You can work your way through from beginning to end or, more likely, dip into the chapters that you either need to work on for your business or are naturally drawn to.  It's an interactive read; Fiona suggests at the beginning that you start the book with a notebook at your side and complete the activities as you go (these are the  ring bound notebook boxes on the page).  At the end of the book you will then have a notebook full of good ideas and plans for your enterprise.

This book is a joy to read and that in itself is an achievement in a book about business.  It is well laid out, with each chapter having a different background colour and information is presented in a mix of styles so you eye and brain is kept stimulated.  Its a neat size 6 ¾" x 8 ¼" too, easy to carry round and read on the go.

The coverage is vast, from tweaking your merchandise photographs to insurance, to google analytics.  

Its no surprise to me that the chapters that are particularly helpful are those on legal matters and the online themes of Social media and Online Market place; Fiona trained as a lawyer.  Legalities are not the most interesting to think about but they do have to be understood and mastering an online presence is an essential part of any business today.  Much of the success of Fiona's own business, Sewing Directory, has come from her knowledge of law and her social media skills.  Her etiquette guides to Twitter, Facebook and her Do's and Don'ts of Social Media are must read sections if you are new to any aspect of social media.

 I am self employed small business woman in my non sewing life- that sounds so fancy but really it means I run music classes for babies and toddlers as part of a supportive and friendly franchise.  Like many small businesses, I chose it because I love teaching (I used to be a primary teacher) and I wanted a job to fit round my daughter who was just starting school at the time.  Much of the online sections could be applied to this business, a non craft endeavour, and I worked my way throughout the section on Search Engine Optimisation (I think this could be Fi's specialist subject if she ever decides to go on Mastermind!).  The way Fiona explained it was easy to understand and my meta tags  descriptions, which were a bit vague and wishy washy, are now focused, up to date and ready for google searches.

 There are special guests with varying words of wisdom from all over the craft world.  Some chimed with me, others not so much but there is something for every sort of craft business.  I especially liked Kristin's (Sewmamasew) contribution, I could not agree more with her focus on community and reciprocity.  I do lots of work for free, blog hops, tutorials sharing links with projects and books that I find interesting and I hope you will too.  Most of these came about through slowly building relationships with a variety of people and businesses over the years.  Most are unpaid or without direct material benefit, occasionally I get sent a book or some thread which is always a treat- who doesn't love free stuff, but most are goodwill, support and mutual appreciation.

I should declare that I was sent this book for free as a review copy and that obviously I know Fiona.  If I had a criticism the only thing that comes to mind is the font choice in the little post-it note style squares- its a handwriting style font and just not to my taste and was probably decided by someone else.  There is nothing else to criticise!  Fiona has a dedicated website to  this book and keeping the topics up to date.  If you are having even the vaguest thoughts about starting a crafty business, this book is your new best friend.  Read it, do the activities and be prepared for what having a small business throws at you.  Its a tough world out there and everyone needs a friend!  It goes on sale mid November as is available for pre-order.

Well done Fiona, I await your next book- there is so obviously going to be another!

Exeter Spring Sewing Directory Meet Up

The Sewing Directory Exeter Meet Ups always come when I need a lift and sure enough Saturday 1st March was a day of sewing, sharing, chatting with sunlight streaming in.

This is the third, a year from the first one so now there are familiar faces and new people too.  Established attendees bring new friends or people dare to come solo- it doesn't matter, the event is so relaxed that it seems to work for everyone.  Each time Fiona has a little rethink so that the format evolves.  People brought their own projects, many brought machines, and there were 'experts' available to ask for help, trouble shooting, whatever was needed.  There were many firsts- a first skirt, a skirt made from an improvised rub off (where you take the pattern form an existing garment), an economy block and mini quilt from a first time quilter.  Other things left mid construction- a flirty apron, dresdens, an altered ready-to-wear blouse.  And there was ongoing sewing: crazy patchwork, lots of english paper piecing, cord buttons,  quilt blocks assembled-Trash's colour phase economy blocks looked ablaze in the sunny hall.

We had around 27 people I guess.  Its a good number, although I struggle to speak to everyone even though we were there 10-4.30.  We had really generous quality raffle prizes and extra goodies for everyone from Rebecca at Timber Press (part of Storey publishing, home of many crafty books, Will from Abakhan Fabrics(who returned to keep building on his sewing skills), Exeter Sewing Machine Company- Jenna gave machine advice too and more.   More meet ups are planned, the aim is for a quarterly meet up so if you are anywhere near the Southwest or prepared to travel, keep an eye out for more news.

September Meet-Up

There are still over two weeks of Summer holidays left so I am making the most of them but I also have my eye on September.  My favourite month, the weather is usually good, it is my birthday month and this year it is the release month for mine and Lynne's book which makes it extra special:

.    

We don't know exactly which date but we will have copies to sell on our blogs as soon as they arrive with us and if they come in time I'll be bringing a selection to The Sewing Directory Meet up on Saturday 14th September. All the essential details are here.  I am busy prepping applique ideas- hand and machine techniques and I will bring along a selection of books for extra ideas.

It is a longer meet up as time really did fly so we start at 11am finishing at 4.30.  There will be an informal lunch break at 1pm so bring a packed lunch or pop up to Waitrose- I am very partial to their Sushi rolls!  Once we have tidied up at the end people are welcome to eat or just chat in a pub over the road if they don't need to rush.

For those who haven't been before, we meet in a well appointed hall with kitchenette next to a large car park and 5 mins from Waitrose and Exeter Sewing Machine shop.  I am leading an appliqué activity, all materials provided, just bring the basics (needle, pins, threads, scissors and erasable markers e.g Frixion pen would all be helpful and a real bonus would be a silver gel pen) or if you would rather bring your own work in progress to sew that would be welcome too. The emphasis is on hand sewing but this time there will be a couple of machines and irons so that we have an option to use machine raw edge appliqué as well as hand turned techniques.  We will be sewing bags for  Macmillan Cancer support and I will design a range of suitable motifs and talk you through a range of appliqué methods.

 Abakahan have generously supplied fabric/bondaweb/trim and a lot more- its all waiting in my loft for me to cut up ready for you and  Will and Beth from Abakahan will be there too.  I might have to tell them my dream- that they open a branch in Exeter!  There is a raffle with a ton of prizes and The Sewing Boutique will have a stall of goodies if you want to buy anything.  It was a wonderful warm event last time, it really lifted my heart so I am hugely looking forward to it and planning to make a new dress which is pretty much how I celebrate everything!  Fi, her mum, Jenna from sew happygeek will all be there for a warm welcome.  And a ticket, only costs £20 including tea and biccies!