Quilty Fun Sew Along, Week 10

Lori has the coolest method of making 4 patches!

I never could have figured it out, but her book is so clear and easy to understand.

Here are my fabric choices for this block.

It didn't take me long, and here are my 16 four patches all sewn together :)

Have you joined the Quilty Fun Sew Along yet?

It's not too late!

Lined Drawstring Bags

I love these cute lined drawstrings bag, I posted about them here

a few weeks ago.

You can find the tutorial for the bag here.

Isn't this vintage cartoon sewing fabric darling?

I tried to lay it as flat as I could so you can read it the captions.

I've been saving this fabric for a special project.

I put a bright, sunshiny yellow inside for the lining.

I think this may be my favorite bag so far!

I chose this fabric combination for another bag.

I made a wall hanging out of this Japanese fabric for my grand daughter, you can see it here.

I made this bag for myself, it will remind me of Kylie :)

I love this style of Japanese art.

So adorable!

I think these polka dots match really well too :)

Do you see what the lining is?

Japanese symbols!

I bought a fat quarter of it but wish I had more.

Here is the little bag, with the drawstrings pulled.

These bags are fun to make, they're quick and they are addicting!

Whenever I see one of these little bags on someone's blog, I pin them.

 I have a whole board on Pinterest dedicated to lined drawstring bags.

Handmade Birthday Club 2014, January

I joined the Handmade Birthday Club 2014, sponsored by 

Susannah Kate Sews.

Everyone is assigned to groups of 12.

We make the birthday girl a small handmade item and goodies are optional.

The January birthday girls have received their gifts, so I can tell you what I made them.

These are two of the lined drawstring bags I showed you last week.

Gina said she loves dark chocolate and sweetarts.

Christen likes peeps, dark chocolate and pink and red starburst.

The birthday girl receives 11 gifts, that sounds like a real treat!!!

Quilty Fun Sew Along, Week Nine

I have two things that I really look forward to on Monday morning.

First, is the email from my son in Brazil, and second is Lori's "Quilty Fun Sew Along".

This week, the block is quarter square triangles.

I chose my fabrics carefully, making sure I have some of every color with the same values.

I'm now the proud owner of this 6" X l/2" ruler.

It's so much more efficient to use this 6" ruler, just place it on the center of the square diagonally and draw a line on both sides.

I love my new sewing machine, it sews like a dream!

I never have to touch the presser foot, and the thread cuts itself automatically.  

I lay all my quarter square triangles next to each other, making sure that the same prints aren't next to each other.

There are four separate sections on the quilt where these blocks will be sewn.

My blocks are all complete!  

Stay tuned for more of my quilty fun sampler next week :)

Lined Fabric Basket Tutorial

I love scraps of fabric and I love fabric baskets.

I made a pink scrappy fabric basket, and am sharing the tutorial with you.

I used the "quilt as you go" method.

I found the tutorial for that on Pinterest, here is the link.
I'm plannig on making Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag using this method of quilting :)

Thank you "Oh, Fransson!"

I cut a piece of muslin (or any other fabric you would like for your backing - it won't show) and a piece of warm and natural batting, 13" X 17".

I added scraps of fabric, following the tutorial above, for "quilting as you go".  

Here's my completed piece of quilting.

I trimmed the above piece and subcut it into 4 rectangles, measuring 6" X 8" each.

I cut another piece of muslin and warm and natural batting, 

8 l/2" X 8 l/2".

I quilted it and trimmed it to an 8" square.

This square will be the base of the basket.

Next, sew all four rectangles together, using a l/4" seam.

You will have a square of pink quilted scraps :)

Sew the base (8" X 8") to the square.

Now cut your lining, an 8" square, and 4 rectangles, 6" X 8".  

I also cut Pellon interfacing in each of these measurements and ironed them to the wrong side of the lining.

I used this Pellon, which adds lots of body to the basket.

I sewed the rectangle lining pieces together and formed a square.

I sewed the 8" X 8" base to the square, making sure to leave a 6" opening to allow for turning.

I left the 6" opening in the middle of the seam.

Keep the lining with the right side in the middle, the wrong side out.

Place the quilted piece inside the lining piece so the right sides are together.

Line up the edges of the basket so they are even, and pin.

Sew around the top of the basket, using a l/4" seam.

Remove the pins and turn right side out through the opening in the lining.

Press the top edge, and top stitch on the outside.

Now you just have to close the opening in the lining.

You can pin it like this and slip stitch the opening closed by hand with a needle and thread.

Another option is to pull the lining away from the quilted basket and sew the opening closed by machine.

I chose this method :)

My completed basket!

I love it!

You can really make it any size you want.

This basket is square, but you could make a rectangle one too.

I added some pink fat quarters to my pink fabric basket.

I took a photo of my basket from every side so you can see the different patchwork.

You don't have to use your basket for fat quarters, you can use it for all of your pink scraps.

I have a lot of pink fabric!!!

 Could it be because I have 7, soon to be 8 grand daughters?

Maybe I just love the color pink :)

This fabric basket was inspired from the quilt book 
"Sunday Morning Quilts".

They suggest making a basket in each of the colors of your scraps.

Wouldn't that be fun?

This book would be a great addition to your library,
you can buy it here.

Lunch Bag Tutorial, from Ayumi

I have made this lunch box before, I really love it!

I had a girl's night with my daughters and we all made the bags, you can see the post here.

I think the bag is pretty and functional.

The pattern is Ayumi's tutorial from Pink Penguin, you can see it here.

I had the fabric  left over from our girl's night, one of my daughters didn't show up...

The bag is nice and stiff because I used medium weight interfacing.

 The casing is so easy to make, notice the opening for the ties.

The bag can hold a lot, it's very roomy.

Your needlework, lunch, knitting, toys for a toddler, or a small diaper bag.

It could hold a couple of diapers, a travel case of wet wipes and a little toy or extra outfit.

 I recommend that you try making this bag.

I give it an A+.

Think of the possibilities, they're endless!!!