Crazes...

Crazes sweep through online quilting and sewing every now and again and it is hard to resist being swept along wit Low Volume, Farmers Wife blocks, Washi dresses and recently Weekender bags.  I found these on Flickr, a huge variety of bags (click links below to take each bag to its maker) all using the same Amy Butler pattern.

1. Amy Butler Weekender Bag, 2. IMG_0966, 3. Quilted Weekender Bag, 4. Ta-da! Weekender done!  #sewingsummit, 5. Weekender Bag Complete!, 6. Ok I'm off....the children have turned into wild maniacs too which is making me think I will miss them a little less - ha ha!, 7. Amy Butler Weekender Bag, 8. Finished Weekender Bag!, 9. Weekender Bag Complete!

A lot of the appeal is the challenge of mastering the pattern, whether it is the piping or the zipper or the interfacing.  I am tempted, although I think it is some of the fabrics and quilt as you go effects that really pull me in. The new Echino Decoro 2012 fabric features in a couple of the mosaic bags and it is especially suited for bag making being a little heavier linen/cotton blend and the saturated colour makes the bag easy to find and hard to leave behind.

I do love the boldness of Echino prints, the deer and frames are my favourites, but whichever you choose they all seem to work together.

Eternal maker is stocking a big selection of these prints as well as essential bag hardware- bag base feet  bag handles, magnetic clips, interfacing, in fact all that you will need for a weekender or many other bags,  There is a "Great Getaway Bag' in Lisa Lam's Bag Making Bible, and I may use that to make a capacious sturdy bag- slightly bigger than a Weekender.  It also uses fusible fleece as the main stabiliser and I find that a failsafe product- unlike blogger which is playing silly bugg*rs with me at the moment.

If like Marci you have made the Weekender and have any tips, do share!

A Dog so Small

Everything I have been working on has been small recently, sometimes too small and the seam ripper and I have been keeping close company.

After years of the worst contract that I could possibly have ever negotiated it was time to ditch my old phone and enter the iphone world, and to keep it safe in my bag I needed a case.  I found some great tutorials at this blog erinerickson.com.  I used the iphone sleeve and the ear buds pouch.  They are easy, straightforward tutorials, but do check the size of your phone against the pattern.  Each model seems to change dimensions, I have 4s and I unpicked my seams for 1/4'' and squeezed it in eventually.

 I tweaked the pouch a tiny bit- rounded the top corners, a side tab and elastic/button closure with a glorious vintage button that I have been saving for the right purpose.

The fabric scrap came from a special tiny Flickr swap with a farmer in USA with vitnage scraps from me and vintage scraps from him and canine print was a treasure.  I cut a sliver off my Center City  Los Angeles Uptown, I am saving the rest for a Tova, just 2 meters will make a size small.  I also used Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen which is a very useable grey blender print and despite the name it is 100% quilter's cotton weight.  The ear buds case is Field Study Mind's Eye in Toast- just shows how those big prints also work small.  All the new fabrics are from he every helpful Annie at Village Haberdashery.

When I was 12, my favourite book was this... 

No surprises there!  You can share your favourite childhood book in the comments for a touch of nostalgia.

Stacks and stacks

I am still drowning in sewing teeny tiny things and preparing new projects.  I had to get some Centre City whilst Annie was stocking up- I think this is going to be a super hot print!- Uptown Los Angeles.  It comes in a range of colour variations but this is my favourite.  I have two metres which is enough for a small size Tova.  It is paired with grey Quilter's linen and Mind's Eye in toast from Field Study- all available at Village Haberdashery.  I am making a phone and ear buds case set from these using the vintage dogs scrap that came from a flickr swap.  And then, when the dust has settled on all the other sewing going on here, I will be making a Feather Bed quilt for the sofa.

I am starting to plan my pillow talk swap- this is my first fabric pull- I am at the pondering stage where I hum and ha and think about what goes where, no commitment just yet.

And I know what I am doing with these but I can't tell yet, Liberty scraps from Jo and light linen for my Liberty scrap tutorial.  Justine is selling the Kaufmann Essex linens  in her new Simply Solids shop if you are looking for a similar look.  

Sorry things have been a little quiet, October is a busy month, normality will resume soon.

Calling Beginners....

A call for beginner sewers, those who may only have ever sewn on a button or a name label- and the more experienced too- I am running an evening English paper piecing workshop on Thursday 25th October 7-9.30pm at the beautiful vintage shop, Arrietty, in Exeter, Devon.  No sewing machine is needed, hand sewing only and here is a little showcase of what we will be making...

A mini hexie pincushion in vintage fabrics, I selected these to form a pastel rainbow of prints

 On the reverse of the same pincushion I used rich full coloured vintage scraps for a vibrant rainbow palette...

Or if you prefer, a hexie mug mat/coaster.  I used a mix of modern fabrics for this project, I like to tell a little story with my fabric choices!

And on the reverse...

Both pretty projects are made with simple hand-sewing stitches and would make lovely gifts.  I will be providing a selection of fabric scrap bags including some wonderful vintage scraps from my stash along with the die cut hexagon paper templates, stuffing/wadding and thread.  All you will need is basic sewing supplies- sharp scissors for cutting fabric and thread, needle and pins.

For those comfortable using a sewing machine, Mary Emmens is also running a class for zip purses, 18th October.   You can contact Laurel and Dan at Arrietty to book your place on any Arrietty classes here and here or ring 01392 276215.  Can't make it?  There is always a whole extended weekend of sewing in London Fat Quarterly Retreat- tickets on sale now and I will be teaching again!  More details on that very soon but I can hint that if you have ever wanted to try clothes sewing a beginner's class will be on offer!  It will be bigger than last year with more tutors and activities- I can't wait!

Favourite things

Leila chose 'Favourite Things' for her 'Ringo Pie' queen bee month.  There was a lot of freedom in this theme, the block needed to reflect something about us.  I recently bought this inspirational book, 163 Patchwork Blocks and Quilts.  There is a Flickr group about this book and you can find out more about it there.  You just know looking at the cover that this book is fantastic- sorry to be such a temptress.  It is hard to find- The Workroom stock it when they can and are great at mail order.  Pomadour24 on ebay and etsy sometimes has copies.  Warning: it is expensive!   You need to be prepared to draft with this book, it is all in diagrams in the usual Japanese style and many of the blocks use intersecting Y seams- just saying...

 As soon as I saw this spools block I just knew this was the one.   I love spools block, conquering the Y intersection seams in my first Ringo Pie block was part of my quilting journey and my love of paper piecing.

I knew I wanted my favourite Kumiko Fujita ruler print, ( you can find some here).  I have it in 4 colour ways- one for each spool and I wanted vintage prints for the spool centres- many of these came from swaps with the lovely Chase.

Leila wanted 6" finished blocks for a sampler quilt she is planning so this block is small but it was intricate with 16 Y seams!  I drew the block on freezer paper- you can see the book diagram which gives block proportions and also a picture of the assembled block reverse side which is most helpful.

I am using the same book to inspire me for Pillow talk 9 swap.  I have an amazing partner, and I am hoping that this block will do the trick.  I plan for 9 of these and you can see, Y seams again so I need to get on with it!

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!