Butterflies

As soon as I received a Moda jelly roll of Honey, Honey by Kate Spain I knew it would be perfect for the Butterflies quilt in my book. I am not really a very girly girl, but I loved the colours and patterns in this line of fabric and it makes a really sweet quilt. 

 Most of the sewing for my book was done in a bit of a whirlwind so when I have a little bit of time I am enjoying choosing a pattern and some different fabric and spending a little bit of time sewing a few blocks without the pressure of a deadline.

 I really love Sketch by Timeless Treasures as a background. I think using this green and some mist, cream and pink as the background would make a beautiful butterfly quilt.

This Week on Instagram

A few snippets of my week on Instagram.
I have been playing around with some blocks from my book and thinking about what I will be doing and saying at Quilt Market in Pittsburgh!

Some good mail from Bendigo this week. I may have ordered just a little bit of Rustic when I heard it had been discontinued.

I cast on a Tiny Tea Leaves for Olive in Madelinetosh Pashmina. So so nice to knit.

The Jet Pack Bag



I am a big fan of messenger style bags, All the bags I use have a strap that goes across the body. I usually make all the bags I use and I love to have a new one a couple of times a year. When I saw the new Jet Pack Bag pattern from Betz White I knew I had to make one to take to Quilt Market with me in May.

I used fabric by Ellen Luckett Baker from Kokka for the first one. I was a bit unsure about interfacing as I didn't think I had any fusible fleece so I used some very heavy interfacing I had hoping it would make a sturdy bag. It certainly did that! This bag holds it shape and stands up by itself. It was quite difficult to sew the gusset, especially around the corners, but I do love the finished bag. I didn't bother with any of the extra straps as I knew it would just be worn around the body and I used some black webbing I already had.

This pattern makes a very decent size bag and I think it will be great when I am out with Olive over winter as there is plenty of space for nappies, food and extra clothes.

 I normally don't carry huge amounts in my bag when I am not too far from home so I thought I would print the pattern at 85% and see what happens. Then I found some fusible fleece when I was looking for something else so I used that for the interfacing. It gives a completely different feel. It is not as sturdy, but it is nice and soft, I think I do prefer this, especially in this size bag.

I bought this fantastic red fabric a few years ago and have made a few bags and other things out of it, I only have a few scraps left now. I am so glad there was enough for the front pocket, it goes so well with the grey fabric that is also from Ellen Luckett Baker.

 

 

 I couldn't be happier with these bags. The Jet Pack pattern was great, the instructions were clear and I can imagine I will be making more of them. Now to decide which one is coming to Quilt Market with me!



Little Snail Quilt

Another quilt from Dare to be Square. Just like the Dachshund pattern this is easy to put together and makes such a cute baby quilt. I don't think I am finished sewing from this book. I'd really love to make the deer quilt next.

Kwik Sew 2704

Now for something a little bit different.

I am not sure I ever thought I would be buying zebra print polar fleece in Spotlight, but Amelia and Grace had onesies at the top of their birthday wish list and when I saw it I knew they would love it. I actually bought a few metres of an owl print too thinking they might like different ones, but of course they saw it in my sewing room and both wanted the zebra pint. I didn't quite have enough for two so found some green from the stash for the arms.

I used Kwik Sew 2704 which like most Kwik Sew patterns has great instructions. I made size 10 for my now 9 year olds and they are a little big, but not huge so there is room for growing. I really wasn't looking forward to putting the zips into polar fleece, but they went in perfectly the first time. I used the overlocker for most the sewing so it really didn't take long. I did use the sewing machine to do the neck binding in case I messed it up, but the instructions are really clear and it wasn't a problem.

I can't say I loved sewing these up, but I knew the girls would love them and they did, they have been worn a lot this week.

If you are looking for a onesie pattern I can't recommend this one enough.

Quynn

Sometimes at night all I want is a really simple easy knit so I don't have to think too much while I watch TV, especially if there is subtitles (lots of Borgen watching here at the moment). I knew I had to make a Quynn for Olive when I saw the pattern and who doesn't need an excuse to buy a ball of Noro. I really did try hard to only buy one colour, but I just couldn't, I thought I was pretty good really to just choose three.

I made the green one first in the largest size and it only just fits. I had a good amount of yarn left, so I made the next two with 5mm needles and made them a bit longer.

 

 I managed a few good photos on Olive.

 It only had to take about 57 photos and quite a bit of fairy bread.

More details on ravely here, here and here.

Scrappy Crosses

I had such a hard time choosing which fabrics and colours to use for the quilts in my book. I sketched them out and tried different combinations in Electric Quilt. I had a few ideas for different backrounds for the Scrappy Crosses quilt. I ended up using a few different colours of Sketch by Timeless Treasures (I love this fabric, you could never go wrong choosing it as a background).

 Another option was to use low volume fabrics for the background and bright scraps for the crosses. I had an hour to myself this morning so I thought I would try it out. I think I might love this combination almost as much.

If you want to win a copy of my book The Handmaker's Factory are currently holding a giveaway.

Dress Ideas

I have been on the look out for a copy of Simplicity 2591 for a while with no luck, but I recently found Simplicity 1800 so I think I can use it to create something similar. I have made Butterick 4443 before and love how the top fits so I might use it for the bodice. I could also try Simplicity 1652, or I might just make it as it love the pockets in the bottom of it too. You definitely  can't go wrong with pockets in a dress.

Dachshund Baby Quilt

I'm on a roll with the baby quilts this week. I had a few finished tops which I really didn't want to end up on the big pile of unfinished things in my sewing room. So before I allow myself to start anything else I am basting, quilting and binding them.

This is the Dachshund quilt from Dare to Be Square. I love this quilt , such a clever clever design and really quite easy to put together.

Now to finish the binding on the little snail quilt from the same book.

Triangles

Something different to use up my scraps. I love triangles and once you get the hang of sewing them together a little quilt like this comes together very quickly.

The background has been in my stash for a while, I think it came from Spotlight. The triangles are mostly scraps from my Open Sesame quilt from my book and I quilted it with kind of wonky lines using my walking foot.

 I may not have a cat to photo bomb my quilt pictures, but I do have Olive.

Simplicity 2689 #2

I'm pretty sure everyone on Pinterest who sews children's clothes has pinned this tunic. I have the beautiful Japanese book the pattern came from. I even traced out the pattern last year, but I wasn't loving how the yoke had so many pieces.

After making Simplicity 2689 last year I realized there was a much better way to make a similar tunic. 

I used some soft denim for the tunic and before I sewed the side seams I sewed some vintage ribbon I found on Etsy to the yoke. So I didn't have to cut the ribbon (in case I ever want to remove and reuse it) I mitred the corners.

 Evie loves it and I think it will be great though winter with a shirt underneath and leggings.

Dare to be Square

Making the dachshund and snail from Dare to be Square by Boo Davis has been on my to do list for a couple of years. Actually every pattern in that book is on my to do list (the deer is next!). With a friend having twins this week I had a good reason to make them. They went together really easily once all the pieces were cut out (sometimes I wish there was a cutting fairy who would do it for me). Hopefully today I can find time to baste and quilt them.

Triangles and Liberty

The loveliest fabric arrived from Shaukat yesterday. Some Liberty and a piece of Italian lawn. All destined to be shirts for the husband.

I think triangles are my new favourite shape. Straight after finishing this I cut some more out.

Maggie May #2

Another Maggie May tunic. This one is for Evie. I used some cotton print and some soft denim from the stash. I really wish I had of bought a roll of the denim when I saw it, I find it impossible to find good basic fabrics.

I had one win yesterday when I found some stripey stretch fabric on special. I was told stripes don't sell and they won't be getting in more stripes. I bought all I could.