Guesting at Quilt Story-Hexagon Handle Holder Tutorial

Today you will find me at Quilt Story,with a Holiday Tutorial starting the gift making season with an each project.  Heather and Megan have a great list of contributors- check them out here.

My tutorial is for a hexagon handle holder: a quick and easy make and perfect for scraps- especially those with a kitchen theme.  Let me know what you think over at  Quilt Story.

Center City

So many fabric lines out at the moment, sometimes it feels like some prints are everywhere.  Jay Mc Carroll's  Center City is a little different.  It isn't going to have UK distribution so it won't be widely available in the UK. Annie at Village Haberdashery has been pulling a few strings to make sure she has it, and she may end up as the only UK store to stock it.  know she was a big fan of his last line 'Habitat' and this one is a bit special.   Take a look at Jay McCarroll's video, it  gives a great idea of the concepts behind the collection, like a moving mood board...

This collection works on a number of levels for me.  The bricks are calling for paper piecing houses- such an obvious use but I can't let the opportunity pass by.  The bolder more abstract prints scream clothing, tunic dresses, Tova tops- you know the sort of thing.  I don't mind a bit of quilting weight cotton in clothing, used with the right style it can provide the right sort of structure, especially in dresses and the prints are too good to miss out on dressmaking opportunities.  Annie made a great dress with a print from his last collection.

Thankyou to Annie for letting me use her photo!

I can also imagine these prints in pillow and cushions.  The colours are punchy and the fabrics go together without being too matchy matchy.  Annie has some of the prints listed here and is just unpacking the rest so they will all be up very very soon.  She also has a great value bundle available with  a selection of Center City prints and some Free Spirit solids to co-ordinate.

You can meet the lovely Annie in person-I met her at Fat Quarterly Retreat in the summer and she is lovely, easy to chat to and very smiley- at The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace 12th-14th October.  Judging by the pictures this show looks massive!  You can find her on stall J22.  You can see all the exhibitors and find a show leaflet here.  She will have a selection of  fabric and yarn goodies with her, including the newest, just arrived collections and some London Modern Quilt Guild members helping out too.  

I wish I was there!

Busy

Autumn is turning out to be busy so it has been a little quiet here of late- bear with, bear with, bear with... projects are coming and a couple of new free tutorials/patterns will be guesting at other blogs.  In the meantime, there is a whole lot of Liberty going on.  One of my projects is for the Liberty Lifestyle Craft blog and I can't wait to show you!  A sneak peek below- making is still in progress.

Plus a project for Nova and Jo's Liberty Scrap Challenge

Jo has given me a scrap bag ( she now lives conveniently close by!) and my project is for October,

Meanwhile Katy has done a gorgeous Ruffle Front Clutch for the September project- see here for more!

Liberty Winner...

You all love your Liberty!  The lucky winner is comment 153

Congrats to Beth- she is over the moon!  Thankyou for all the entries, likes, followers and comments.  I have a few Liberty projects on the go so more pretties to see in the next few weeks too, and meantime, Ali's shop is here if you just have to have some of your own.

Elephants at Eternal Maker: Kits and Giveaway

The folks at Eternal Maker do like to make life easy for us sewers.  Firstly, they have put together a free pattern to make this lovely elephant pillow.

Secondly, they have put all the materials you need to make the outer (you will just need bondaweb and stuffing or pad) right here in the shop

And thirdly they are doing a giveaway- (you need to click that link to enter, you can't enter here!) quick, go! Not many days left on this- right now to win a bundle to make the pillow.

You can also find the other co-ordinating Birch fabrics here .  

Sunny Sidekick

Anna has just realeased her new bag pattern Sidekick Tote, and it is a beauty.  I had some daisy canvas bought for bag making a while back so I set to work.   I made the small size. Anna's instructions are always a joy to follow, clearly set out, lots of photographs and full of hints for tricky areas like zippers.  I haven't sewn an inset zipper like this before and I found this easier than putting a zip in a wallet or pouch

I haven't sewn an inset zipper like this before and I found this easier than putting a zip in a wallet or pouch.  The end extends past the opening like her  Open Wide Zipper Pouch so there are no lumpy bits to fit into the seam.    The pocket is easy to make and is the perfect size to have your phone readily to hand.  For the lining I used Essex yarn dyed linen, available at Eternal Maker  and Justine is also planning to stock it in her newly acquired shop, Simply Solids.  The tape measure print is Japanese linen from Etsy a while ago and the red polka is poplin from a local shop. I used webbing for the strap.

 I took it to the beach yesterday.  The first time I have travelled more than 2 miles in months, with the help of travel tablets and some concentrated starting at the floor rather than out of the window, we successfully managed a short train trip to our local beach for some gorgeous September sun.  When we got close enough for me to look out of the window I nearly cried.  It has been hard living so close to the sea and not seeing it all summer.

  Bag in action with feathery Tova (shamelessly inspired by Angela).

Anna's pattern is on sale here.

Very Berry I Love Liberty Giveaway!

I have a lovely giveaway treat today!  Ali from Very Berry Handmade has a bundle of 20 prints, each measuring 9x12" for one lucky winner.  You can see them in the pic below, all folded, ready and waiting!   I have known Ali a while now, she is a lovely, generous person with great integrity and she puts a lot of work into her family and her website,  so I thought I would find out a little more about her Folksy shop and why she decided to specialise in Liberty lawn.

Why did you decide to specialise in Liberty Lawn?

I started with Liberty mostly because I am addicted to it myself. I love the colours, the feel of the lawn, how wonderful it is to sew with, and that there's always such a lovely variety and imagination in the style of the prints themselves But I was also prompted by my own frustration that it is so expensive to buy in metre lengths. Quilters and accessories designers (like me!) need lots of small amounts of prints that work together, so I thought, with the aid of my trusty rotary cutter and cutting mat, that I could help a bit with that!  I also wanted to start small (and stay!) small, so working with a specific line of fabrics seemed sensible.

What are you aiming for with your shop?

I aim provide small quantities of Liberty tana lawn to make it more affordable for people who want to buy small amounts of lots of different prints. I put together my own (approx) Fat 16th bundles of prints that I think work together, but buyers also have the opportunity to put together their own bundles. I've only really been in business for a few months and am still building up my stocks, and at present I don't buy fabric in huge quantities because I want to make sure there's lots of variety for regular customers, but if someone needs a larger cut, then they should definitely get in touch to see what I can do. Although I try to ring the changes, there will always be some of my favourite prints (like Mitsi and Sophie's Blossom) and some of the classic prints that people associate with Liberty (like Pelagia and Ianthe) available.   In addition to the bundles I also sell patchwork packs of 4" and 5" squares, and try to keep a good variety there too, as well as single pieces of a print, scrap bags and colour bundles. 

Liberty has global popularity and it can be hard to find in some countries.   Do you sell internationally?

I do and I also try and ensure that all my customers pay no more than they need to in postage costs, and am happy to put together custom bundles for overseas buyers to make sure that they don't get overcharged by the slightly inflexible Folksy P&P charging system - people just need to contact me via Folksy or via email.

On your website there are lots of tutorials and project ideas.  Do you have any particularly for using  Liberty lawn?

I have collected many ideas for Liberty on a Liberty Inspiration Pinterest board as an easy place to keep them all stored and many of the tutorials on Very Berry Handmade work well with Liberty lawns.

What are you enjoying about running your Folksy Fabric Shop?

The biggest bonus is thatI get to work with loads of Liberty fabrics myself, there are always plenty to hand!

So to win this bundle of Loveliness you can:

1. Leave a comment saying what you like to make using Liberty- attach a link if you like, it can get added to Ali's Pinterest board!

2.  Have an extra entry if you 'Like' Ali's Very Berry Fabrics Facebook page

3. Have an extra entry if you follow me!

A possible 3 entries are available.  

All welcome including international.  I must be able to contact you and find your email address- if you are no-reply blogger or have no email in your profile please leave it in your comment like this:   kerrykit(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

Entries close Monday 24th September 6.00am GMT

Good luck, it is the most fabulous bundle to win!  And if you really can't wait you can buy single pieces of the prints from only £1.40 (my fav, Poppy and Daisy) in Ali's shop- cheaper than a takeout coffee and a lot longer lasting.

This giveaway is now closed.