Apparently 2 is under the limit...

so here's a couple of pictures I can share while I wait for my photo storage account to be expanded (which should happen within the next 24hours).

 Okay, back to my project... I designed a new cover for my serger using those patchwork crosses I shared with you last week.  It is such an improvement over the thin, plain white, soft plastic, completely worn out cover which originally came with my (20 year old) Janome serger.

I'm really happy with the details on this new cover - like the cheery red piping I made for the end panels and that yummy cherry print binding along the bottom edge.  I won't even go into just how giddy the dotty aqua fabric I used for the side panels makes me. Oh, I heart dotty fabric. lol  So fresh and pretty!

Funny, how much that new cover is brightening up my sewing space.  It's definitely inspiring me to come up with other projects to refresh my creative space - perhaps this is the start of a Spring- Makeover for my sewing room.

Uh-oh...I've reached the limit

I was all excited about sharing photos of my completed project using those patchwork crosses... only to be thwarted by the news that I'd reached my limit  for free photo storage for my blog.  How nice to not have any warning on this!  Funny thing is that I remember checking my account not that long ago and as far as I could tell, I was nowhere near the limit.  I just tried to buy some storage space, but that went sideways (not sure why it wouldn't accept my payment) and now I have to wait 24hours before it will allow me to try again.  sigh.

Anyone else have this happen?

Not only no photos for this post -  apparently, I can't even link to a prior post now.  I learn something new about blogging all the time. ;o)   I will be posting those finished project photos as soon as I can sort this photo storage business all out.

Patchwork + Vintage = sitting pretty sewing

It's hard not to smile over the results of a recent makeover for the padded sewing bench that is original to my 1948 Singer 15-91 (lovingly known as Belle).

Fashioned from fabric from my scrap basket, the new cover is a far cry from the original dark green vinyl.

 Piecing all those fabric bits to a foundation fabric gave me the first project to make using Belle.  It was a great way to get to know my "new" machine. And. I fell in love with my vintage machine.

 She's not just a pretty face, she's straightforward and easy to operate.  Tensions are easy to set, she can use the same Schmetz needles I use on my modern machine, her bobbins hold more thread than my Janome and she sews lovely, balanced stitches, consistently.  She's just perfect for piecing! 

It seemed only right to thank my vintage beauty with a bit of modern patchwork.  Now my favourite spot to sit has a fresh and pretty new look.

It's not just my fingers that are crossed,

so are the blocks I've been stitching up for a new project to be used in my sewing space. 

 It all started with a white linen skirt I scooped from a thrift sale for $2.   Here's  the one half that remains of the lovely skirt. ;o)

Next, I went searching through my bins of left over strips and came up with a colour scheme (it's still looks like winter outside my window, with all the snow we keep getting, so I found myself thirsting for something lively in terms of colours).

Oh, how I love seeing the blocks come together! Trying to come up with a final layout involves lots of dreamy time arranging and rearranging those blocks.  Oh, how I enjoy playing with fabric.

Whew, I've just finished machine quilting, but don't be fooled.  This isn't going to be a quilt or a pillow or a bag or a table runner....

So just what am I making with all these crosses?

Button Giveaway!

A sweet giveaway that runs until March 28th.  Click here to find out more.

How do I know

 when it's time to clean my floors?

When I need a clean floor to layout a new quilt top! ;o)

Making it Girly

Yesterday, I gave a sneak peek at what I have been working on showing you the different tools I was using.  Today, I'm going to show what the tools helped me make!

The transfer pencil and tracing paper were used to make this cut-away rose.  Setting my machine up to applique, I stitched over all the lines of the transferred design using some variegated pink thread. Once I had completed the stitching, I cut away the light pink fabric (very, very carefully), to reveal the darker pink fabric I had placed beneath the main fabric.

My bias tape maker was used to make the binding I used to accent and finish the zippered top of the bag as well as the side seams (on the inside of the bag).

My serger was used to finish the edges of the strips (which became ruffles) with a narrow hem in woolly nylon.  My ruffle foot was then used to turn those strips into all these flirty ruffles!

Here's a glimpse of the elastic topped pocket I included inside the bag.

Want to see those ruffles again? A bit of vintage ric rac seemed the right touch to finish off the row of ruffles.

This bag is just about as girly as it gets!  It's also the first project I've made with my ruffle foot.  Years ago, I used a ruffle foot quite frequently when I worked as a drapery seamstress, but I never had that specialty foot for my own machine.  I wanted one, but kept thinking it was not so necessary, since I'm not a ruffle wearing kind of girl and being a mama to two boys, I couldn't justify it.  I just relegated the ruffle foot to a "someday" wish list.

My "someday" arrived when I bought Belle last month and I found a ruffle foot included amongst the original attachments.  Wahoo! (and a little happy dance....) Just because I don't wear ruffles, doesn't mean I can't add ruffles to projects I don't wear, right?  Ahem.  Consider yourself warned. ;o)   I suspect this  Can-Can Kit bag is only the start of me making a few frilly projects.

*Oh, by the way, this is my second variation on this bag.  My first variation can be found here.

What can you make

with a transfer pencil, tracing paper,

a bias tape maker,

a serger,

and a ruffler foot?

Something pink,

 girly

and a whole lot of fun!

I'm in the midst of trying out a new design idea I hope to share with you soon (maybe as early as tomorrow...).  Hope your week is off to a great start!

Make a Mini Back Pack Coin Purse and Key Chain

 Supplies needed:

• one 1/2" swivel snap *I found these at Tandy leather*
• one 24mm split ring
• 1/2" twill tape or ribbon... Cut two lengths at 4" and one at 2" (used for straps and securing hardware)
• 6" zipper
• 3.5" of 1/4" bias binding


• 12.5" x 5" piece of laminated cotton
• Marking pen, as pins are not recommended because of the permanent holes that they leave in the laminated cotton.
• zipper foot for your machine

*Trace pattern pieces for back pack onto the wrong side of the laminated cotton (a ballpoint pen works well for this).  You should have a FRONT piece, a BACK piece, a POCKET, a BOTTOM BAND and a ZIPPER BAND.
 All seam allowances are 1/4" and are included.
 Transfer markings for the strap placement on the wrong side of the BACK piece for the back pack.

1. Stitch binding to the top edge of the POCKET.  Trim away excess binding from each end.

 2.  Baste the POCKET to the FRONT piece of the back pack.

 3. Mark center for the top and bottom of both the back pack FRONT and BACK piece. (Note that strap placement marks are already on the wrong side of the BACK piece - only one mark is shown for each strap in following photo).

4. Using the 2" length of ribbon, thread the split ring and the swivel hook onto it and then baste the ribbon to form a loop.

 5.  Take the two 4" lengths of ribbon, baste the ribbon to bottom edge of the back pack BACK piece using the placement marks. These will be the straps on the back pack.

 6.  Stack the ribbon straps free ends to the center mark on the top edge of the BACK piece and baste to secure.  The loop with the swivel hook and keyring will then be basted on top of the ribbon straps at the center top of the BACK.

 7.  Using the zipper foot, stitch the ZIPPER BAND right side to right side of the zipper with a 1/4" seam. (The zipper will be trimmed down to the length of the band in a future step).

 8. Topstitch along the edge of the ZIPPER BAND...

 to have it look like this....

 9.  Making sure that the zipper pull is located within the length of the ZIPPER BAND, first trim the zipper tape to the length of the ZIPPER BAND and then stitch the short ends of the ZIPPER BAND and the BOTTOM BAND together, securing the 1/4" seam with reverse stitching at each end.  Repeat to stitch the other short ends together.

 Here are the bands sewn together.

 10.  Right sides up and with the seam allowances folded away from the ZIPPER BAND, topstitch across each end of the joined bands.

 The topstitched bands will look like this:

 11. Mark centers on the  joined bands... here:

 and here (Note that the pin is used for marking center through the zipper tape only and NOT through the laminated cotton.  Use your marking pen on the laminated cotton's wrong side).

Here are the FRONT, BACK and BAND pieces with centers marked and ready to be stitched together.

 12. Take the BACK and the BAND pieces, right sides together, making sure that laminated cotton section of the ZIPPER BAND is lined up with the top edge and center (the point where all the ribbon was previously basted to form the straps) of the BACK piece.  The BOTTOM BAND section will have its center aligned with the center mark on the uncurved section of BACK.  Stitch, starting at bottom center. 

 

 13.  As you near the first corner, snip within the seam allowance, the BOTTOM BAND, right at the point where you will pivot, to make the sewing easier and the seam smooth.  

14. Continue sewing around, making sure that the center marks match at the top edge (be sure that keychain and swivel hook are out of the path of the needle) and complete the second corner in the same method as the first.  

To finish: keep the zipper open and match up centers, top and bottom before sewing the FRONT to the BAND in the same manner as for attaching the BACK.

Turn right side out and add a short piece of ribbon to the zipper pull for an extra finishing touch.  Now load up that back pack with some coins and keys and clip it someplace handy!

*This is my first try at linking a PDF file to my blog.  Please let me know if you have any troubles with it or anything else in my tutorial.  Thanks!

The temptation was too strong

so I grabbed my rotary cutter and found myself playing with pretty fabrics

rather than grabbing my seam ripper to to de-construct this quilt top (which in honesty I've decided that I just don't like - so why would I go ahead a make it into a quilt?).

The inspiration for my latest obsession is the "Salad" pattern found in this book that I showed in an earlier post.

Looking at the top above that I decided that I don't want to make into a quilt, the glaring truth for me is that I just didn't love that fabric.  It was made using fabric that I had thrifted and was coming from a limited quilting fabric stash at the time.  I was using what I had on hand, which is good, but also can be limiting.  At this point in time I have a larger inventory of fabrics to choose from and I have been adding fabrics that I love to that stash.    It's a simple truth I've learned - you just have to follow your heart and use fabrics that you love  - which sometimes is something I find challenging because I tend to hoard or "save" my most favourite fabrics.  So, I decided enough is enough.  Grab those "special to me" fabrics and get busy.

My trusty Belle was up for the challenge and after a couple of afternoons of piecing,

 I've managed to cover my "design wall" with this.

 The original pattern makes a lap quilt, but I'm so in love with these fabrics and this fun design that I've decided to make a quilt to fit my bed.  I'm having a blast working with fabrics I love and  can imagine the joy I will feel seeing them on my bed.  So I have no regrets giving into the temptation. ;o)