Sew-Ichigo Patterns for Sale!

At last, Sew-Ichigo's first pattern collection 'Kitchen Classics' is now on sale.

You can find out all the details here and purchase here.  Our pattern testers were a great help and they are sharing their blocks on Flickr and blogs-Amy's post is here, Leila's post is here and Ayumi's is here- and there are more to come and a few giveaways too.   Penny and I can't thank them enough for taking the time to try our blocks out and check through the pattern details.  So enjoy!  And this is just the first pattern set, Penny and I chatted today and we know what is coming next and then next after that!  

Threads

I am spending a lot of time  fumbling around with technology.  I just got an ipad, I don't have an iphone so this is instead I guess and sort of like a laptop.  Some of it is intuitive and some of it I spend ages trying to work out using google.   This parcel arrived today, super fast from Lecien- that alone made me squeak but the contents really did make me very happy.  This is Cosmo stranded embroidery thread/floss and it is the first time I have seen any.  It is absolutely beautiful.

Lecien are one of the sponsors for the Zakka Style Sew Along- the latest post for this is over at Amy's blog with a very cute house, or even cottage style zipper pouch.  I haven't had sponsors on the blog here, only on projects that I have been a little part of.  No one has contacted me and I haven't searched for it.  I have mixed feelings on sponsorship.  I do get sent materials and I am happy promoting what I really like to use, like Aurifil- I could endorse that all day long.   I am more than happy to mention the Cosmo embroider thread , it is of the most incredible quality- even though I have no idea where I am going to buy more in the UK, and I am definitely planning on more of this!  If you know of UK suppliers, please let me know!  My turn in the Zakka Sew-a-long is coming soon and the Cosmo will feature in my take on the project I am making. There is an Aurifil giveaway at each Zakka sew along blog post and these little trial packs are a great way to fmailiarise yourself with the different weights of thread and Lynne is hosting chance to win a lot more and indulge your creativity in creating a thread mosaic.  You really should look at these, there are some amazing images in this group.
Meanwhile, the Sew-Ichigo patterns are nearly ready, we are just at the final formating stage and I posted a new tote bag tutorial today that uses three of the blocks from the new pattern collection.

 I have also added an extra bonus quicker stage to the lasso tutorial with a great tip supplied by Alison of Little Island.  And if you have had problems leaving a comment, I have sorted a little glitch that was hiding the comment link.  I changed my blog layout recently so I could get bigger pics and that always creates some invisible hiccups!  Any other problems,  please let me know.

Best in Show

This block was for Megan in Cocorico bee. Her theme was 'Country Fair'.  I dallied with the idea of pigs but they started to look more like dogs in my sketches so I chose rabbits.  I had to do two, I think of rabbits in multiples, it must be their breeding habits!  And the "Best in Show" idea was rattling around my overcooked imagination from the start.  The sitting rabbit as from 318 Patchwork, Kumiko Fujita-(you know already that it is, of course, out of print).  I played around with that pattern for the standing rabbit and pushed myself to fit a  total of 5 inset Y seams just into that one rabbit- that was fun!  Both bunnies are freezer paper pieced and the ribbon was foundation pieced. The ribbon was adapted from  Carol Doak's free Pink Ribbon pattern.

The tails were needle turn appliqued on with the straight edge sewn into the seam.  The noses and eyes were wool felt cut with a paper hole puncher and hand stitched on.  For the stamping, I always use Versacraft ink.  I like to live life on the edge, the stamping was added at the very end of the block.
Fabrics
Green- Sweet on NYC for Timeless Treasures
Ripple Ribbon-Anna Griffin
Pink large polkas-Lecien
Pink tiny dot-my stash
Yellow prints- Picnics and Fairgrounds, Denyse Schmidt
Aurifil thread for piecing and Superior needles- my new favourite piecing needle, love them!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  As you can tell I am one class lady, no fancy eggs for me, nothing can be better than 6 creme eggs. And thank you to those who voted in Made by Rae's Spring Top Challenge, I can't quite believe it but I was judge's choice winner of week 1, I am positively beaming just thinking about it!   Now go!  Eat chocolate!

Top Tops

I have been lucky enough to make the first week final selection "Top of the Tops" at Made by Raes Spring Top Sewalong.  Last week I was wearing my voile Tova in the warm sun, this week it waits in my wardrobe for the return of spring- it is really chilly here today!  

Voting is until Friday and there a some lovely tops to see, a great variety to inspire you to make something for yourself, click on the pic below to take your to the top tops! 

 And should you want to make a Tova, all the sew-a-long posts are now available here.

Post 7 -Tova Collar, and your Tova is complete- Linky Time!

Are you still there?  Still sewing a long with your Tova?  The end is in sight and it is an easy finish.  this post is all about the collar and links in with stage 7 of Jenny Gordy's instructions.  I rounded my collar (details on how to here).  When you attach the collar, the important thing is to check that the front edge of the collar extends 3/8" beyond the front edge neck line- you can see the handy measuring gauge checking mine out.  The basting stitches below are not for the collar but for my double thickness inset section.  

(**edited to add**)You could staystitch the collar as Mel suggests here.  Stay stiching is just stitching inside the seam allowance- 1/4" from the edge would be idea around the neck line to stop it stretching.  A smaller stitch is a good idea for this.

I was incredibly lucky with the pattern matching, I centred the collar on the  fabric stripes just as I did the back section and they all matched up nicely!

When you attach the second collar piece it helps to press the 3/8" seam allowance up just at the ends of the collar before you start pinning.

With the curved end collar the only difference is that you are stitching a curve around the collar end rather than a straight line, pivot and continue round the rest of the collar.  It helps on both versions to use a really small stitch for the ends of the collar.  You can use a usual length stitch for the rest of the stitching but the collar end seams will be trimmed back and small stitches gives the seam additional security. 

You can see how the pressed lower collar edge gets sewn into the seam so that when you turn the collar through it should be just covering the seam.  For the straight edge collar you need to trim the corner but for the curve you need 'clip the seam', and because this curve will face inward when the collar is turned the right way out, you need to cut notches out of the seam.  These will close up and allow the seam to curve round smoothly.   You can reduce the seam a little too, I trimmed mine down, then cut the V shapes out.

You can hand sew the collar edge down or pin carefully and stitch close to the  edge of the fabric all around the collar.  And then your Tova is done!  

I am just starting to see sew-a-long Tovas pop up but I would love it if you could link your Tova here so I could see them all!  I would like to thank Jenny Gordy for such a great pattern, I can honestly say I have not seen a 'bad' Tova!  And thankyou for you all for sewing with me, it really does make it a lot more fun- now get your Tovas out.  I have given you a nice long 6 weeks to get your link in!

Boys' toys

It is my nephew's 7th birthday today.  He requested a sewing box for his birthday- how happy was I?

No more Ben 10 or Harry Potter lego, instead a selection to stitch on binca canvas

Lula suggested a bento box- they come in lots of designs and the layers are a great way to store little bits and pieces.  I made him a needle book using Krista's tutorial and a mini pin cushion and Lula designed and cross stitched a robot card.

I love it when a plan comes together, and now to find out if he likes it!  Tea, cake and birthday games of Cluedo are calling x

(Edited to add)- it was a massive hit, he loved it!