Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Urban Windows Quilt

Sometimes it is so satisfying to dig out an old unfinished project, one that hasn't seen the light of day for months, and actually turn it into a finished project.  This is the case with my last finish.  Ever since starting WiP Wednesday, over at Freshly Pieced (go check it out!), a few weeks ago, I have felt overwhelmed with all my works in progress.  I often find myself jumping at the gate to cut into new fabric and start a new project, that I fall short somewhere shortly after.  That being said, I decided for every new project I start, I want to finish one UFO.  Ugh!  At that pace maybe sometime in 2011 I will get caught up! :)  Oh well!  Holding true to my word, that is just what I did last week.  I took some blocks I had started a while ago (I can honestly say I have no idea how long it has been) and decided to scrap the original plan and come up with something new.  


And so........with a little trim here and there, some Kona Cotton Solid (when in doubt, go with grey!), and some sashing........I ended up with this.



I actually love it!  Way more than I thought I was going to when I first pulled the blocks out of that UFO tub last week.  It has motivated me to dig out some more unfinished projects and see what else I have hiding!  




Now all this quilt needs is to be basted, quilted, and bound.  I am leaning towards straight line quilting in the gray sashing.  Any thoughts?  


And the best part, this finish means I can start a new project! :) 


I am linking this to Fabric Tuesday.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Go Green Shopping Bags { the tutorial }




Go Green Shopping Bags { the tutorial } 
by Megan from Canoe Ridge Creations



MATERIALS NEEDED
½ yard of main print
¾ yard of accent print (bag lining and straps)
1 ¼ yard of light weight fusible interfacing

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
From main fabric cut:
            2 – 18” x 20” pieces
From accent fabric cut:
            2 – 17” x 19 ½” pieces
            2 – 5” x 20” pieces
From light weight fusible interfacing cut:
            2 – 18” x 20” pieces
            2 – 2” x 20” pieces

DIRECTIONS

MAKING THE BAG
1.) Press each of the 18” x 20” fusible interfacing pieces to the wrong side of each of the 18” x 20” main fabric pieces.  Follow the manufacturer’s pressing directions of the specific interfacing you are using.

2.) Place the two main fabric pieces right sides together and pin around three edges, leaving one 20” side open.  Repeat the same process to the two accent fabric pieces, leaving one 19 ½” side open.

3.) Using a ½” seam allowance, sew around the pinned sides of both units.  Making sure to leave a 3” opening in the bottom of the accent fabric unit only (this will be used for turning the bag a little later).


4.) The next step is making the bottom of the bag.  Pin both of the corners of the main fabric unit flat, making sure to line up seams.  Measure in 3” from each of the corner points and mark.  This will be your sewing line.  Repeat the same process to the accent fabric unit, but measure in 2 ½” and mark.


Sew on the marked lines.


Trim corners off, keeping a ½” seam allowance.


MAKING THE STRAPS
1.) Center the 2” x 20” piece of light weight fusible interfacing on the wrong side of the 5” x 20” piece of accent fabric.  Press according to manufacturer's directions.  Repeat to the other strap set.


2.) A. Press ¼” fold along one of the long sides of the strap units.  


     B. Now press the other long side of the strap up, using the light weight fusible interfacing piece as a guide.


     C. Fold and press in half, matching up sides.    Repeat steps A-C to other strap unit.


3.) Sew ¼” along each side of the strap pieces.  This is where you can add your own type of top-stitching.  My examples show a double line of topstitching.  Repeat to other strap unit.


PUTTING THE BAG TOGETHER
1.) Measure 6” in from each side, and pin the straps to the right sides of the main fabric unit.  Make sure straps are laying flat and not twisted.


2.) Place the main fabric unit inside the accent fabric unit making sure right sides are facing.  Pin along the top edge and sew using a ½” seam allowance.

3.) Turn bag.  Pin and sew the opening in bottom of the accent fabric (lining).

4.) Press and top stitch along the top of the bag, using the same method as you did on the straps.


ENJOY!




Wednesday, November 24, 2010

WiP Wednesday { 2 }

It is time for another WiP Wednesday.  Hmm, my productivity?  Not at good as I had hoped for this time last week.  Some how life happened, and I hardly had time to sew.  Oh well, there is always next week, right? 

So, here is this weeks WiP stats:
(please excuse the less than perfect pictures, couldn't get outside to 
take them because of rain, sleet, and snow.  oh the midwest.)

COMPLETED PROJECTS:
Go Green Grocery Bags
I have made 6 of these this week.  They are so addicting.  



Oh and here's the best part.  I went grocery shopping last week (trying to beat the Thanksgiving crowd) and brought these bags along for a little "test run."  Not only did they hold a TON of groceries, but the high school boy that bagged and carried the groceries to my car commented on them.  He first asked if I made them, and then said they were the "coolest" reusable grocery bags he has seen.  Little did he know, he made my weekend! :)  I am still smiling about it.




Urban Windows Quilt
I forgot to show this quilt as a WiP last week. Oops!  But I did get this quilt top finished yesterday.  The fabrics are Midwest Modern by Amy Butler and Kona Cotton (sorry, I can't remember the color).




I am really excited how this quilt turned out because I designed it myself.  I would like to get it quilted this week, but not sure if that is realistic with the Thanksgiving Holiday.




NEW PROJECTS:
Monkey Business
I decided to make another one of these little wristlets with similar fabric.  Just need to find another "D" hook and clip from the thrift store.

Christmas Quilt




This quilt is sort of new, in the sense I haven't worked on it in a few years.  Ha!  Does that count?  I was digging through some of my older WiPs, otherwise known as UFOs, and I decided to pull this one out.  I can only show a "sneak peak" of this one, because I am hoping to finish it as my mom's Christmas gift this year.  All the blocks are pieced, so other than sewing the rows together along with quilting and binding, it should be an easy finish.

ON GOING PROJECTS:
Spider Web Quilt



Just a little progress here.  10 more blocks pieced, bringing the total number completed to 20.

Crazy 9-Patch
Haven't had time to even touch this quilt.  However, I really appreciate everyone's input on my white fabric "dilemma" last week!

No progress. 

QUILTS BEING QUILTED:
Brick City Blocks Quilt (previously known as Last Friday Night Sew-In Quilt) :)
No progress.

QUILTS WAITING TO BE QUILTED:
Red, White and Blue Quilt
Crazy 9-Patch Baby Quilt
Urban Windows Quilt

Yikes, another over whelming list of WiPs.  Hopefully next week there will be more "completed projects" and not so many "no progress" on my list.  I am taking a blogging vacation until next Monday to spend time with family, and maybe a little time sewing. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

FNSI {november}

Here's a quick look at my finish from last night's Friday Night Sew In.  While I was not as productive as I was hoping to be, a finish is a finish.  It's another reusable grocery bag like the ones I blogged about this week.  They are so fast and fun to make!




Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Go Green Shopping Bags

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog post, reusable shopping bags have been on my "to-do" list for a while now, I just hadn't found a pattern I really liked.  So, I decided to challenge myself and see what I could design on my own.  Once I got started, I didn't want to leave my sewing machine.  They are so much fun to make.



Here's a close up of the handles.  I am a huge fan of top-stitching.



And the best part, they can roll up and be easily stored in your purse or car.


I have a feeling I will be making a few of these for Christmas this year. 

Happy Sewing!

I am linking this to Fabric Tuesday.

UPDATED (11/27)  You can now find this pattern as a tutorial on my blog.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

WiP Wednesday #1

WORK-IN-PROGRESS WEDNESDAY STATS:
NEW PROJECTS:
Go Green Grocery Bag
This has been on my Christmas "to-do" list and I finally got started last night.  No pictures yet, but I am hoping to show it tomorrow.
Spiderweb Quilt
Here is just a sneak peak of the latest quilt I have been working on.  So far, I love it!




ONGOING PROJECTS:
Crazy 9-Patch
I started this quilt awhile back, just never blogged about it.  I really liked it in the beginning, but now I am not so sure about my sashing choice.  Instead of the white print, I am now thinking about switching to just a plain solid like Kona Cotton.  Any thoughts?




Freebird Stained Glass
Blogged about here.  Just a little progress since the last post (4 rows).




QUILTS BEING QUILTED:
Last Month's FNSI Quilt (still in need of a name)




QUILTS AWAITING TO BE QUILTED:
Red, White, and Blue Quilt
Crazy 9-Patch Baby Quilt (pictures soon)


COMPLETED PROJECTS:
Monkey Business Wristlet
Michael Miller Diaper Bag
Pink Knitting Bag


Wow, all my works-in-progress are a little overwhelming!  Looks like I will be working on finishing up some projects this Friday night, for FNSI, instead of starting a new one.


I am linking this to WiP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced


Happy Sewing!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Monkey Business

My local quilt store started the Groovy Girls Sewing Club from Terry Atkinson Designs last month (October).  Each month, they offer a pattern from the sewing club and if you bring it back completed for the next month's meeting you get a prize (usually free fabric!).  Monkey Business was October's Groovy Girls Sewing Club pattern.  I surprised myself by finishing the wristlet early, considering November's meeting is this Saturday (I tend to be the night before kind of sewer).  


It is the perfect size to carry small things like a cell phone, credit cards, cash, lip gloss, keys, etc.  


Oh, and see that clip and "D" ring the pattern called for?  Rather than pay for a new one, check out your local thrift store.  I ended up finding mine on some make-up bags (I love thrift store finds!).





Pattern: Monkey Business from the Groovy Girls Sewing Club from Terry Atkinson Designs
Fabric: Michael Miller and Freebird by MoMo for Moda


I am linking this to Fabric Tuesday.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Pink Knitting Bag

Although I love sewing and quilting, sometimes a little change....aka knitting....is just the ticket!  I tend to always have some sort of knitting project in the works.  It is nice to have a small portable project to work on, and sometimes I just need a change of pace.  So here is a knitted bag I finished this week. 



It is perfect to hold a couple balls of yarn and a pair of knitting needles!


Here's a close up of the bag.  I just love the texture of this stitch!


The bags shape come from the two bamboo knitting needles that are at the top of the bag. 




The pattern is called Knitting Needle Knitting Bag by Pam Allen from the book Bag Style. 



I am linking this to Sew and Tell Fridays


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Fabric Tuesday

I recently came across this wonderful blog Quilt Story.  This blog was created as a place where people can share the stories behind the quilts they have made.  Some of the stories are truely inspitational!  Every Tuesday they hold an event called Fabric Tuesday, where people can share their projects they have recently completed.  The only requirement is that the project be made out of fabric.  Not too difficult!  So I thought I would give it a shot this week. 




For this bag, I used Michael Miller fabric and the Professional Tote Pattern by The Creative Thimble.  It has pockets glore, which I love!  I think it took longer to cut the pattern pieces then it did to actually sew the bag together.  That being said, the end prodect was worth the hard work.  While the bag was originally intended for a fun computer bag, I am loving it as a diaper bag!  I am linking this to my first ever Fabric Tuesday (with many more to come hopefully!).  Now I can't wait to see what other people are showing today for FABRIC TUESDAY!