Happy Valentine's Day!

I do love Valentine's Day! My sweet middle daughter was born on Valentine's Day!

A special fond memory of Valentine's Day is my children passing out cute cards to all of their classmates. My kiddos are all grown, but I have an adorable preschool neighbor! So when I found out she needed a Valentine's card holder, I got out my needle and thread!

       I used Lecien Minny Muu and Radiant Girl charm packs

And a little yardage from the Minny Muu line, to make this Valentine Mail Pouch! 

She loved it!

  

Hope someone treats you extra special on the 14th!

Happy Valentine's Day!

xx mary  

Foundation Paper Piecing a Scottie Dog

I stumbled upon this Scottie Dog pattern on a website called Womenfolk.com a few years ago. I love this version of a Scottie because the proportions are nice and the fact that I can turn it on point is a fun extra!

When I posted a picture of this Scottie on Instagram the other day, I had several folks asking for a tutorial. So here you go!

The first thing to do is to print the Paper Pieced Scottie from the website. There is another set of templates for piecing with templates. For our purposes we will use the foundation paper pieced version. Foundation paper piecing is stitching right through the paper...so you will want to discard your sewing machine needle after you are finished or at least set it aside and reserve it only for stitching through paper.  

This is a 9 inch block...be sure to copy at 100%.

Now, let's gather the other supplies you will need.

   

You will need the pattern fabric scissors, paper scissors, rotary, ruler and a postcard or rewards card to use in folding.

It's also very useful to have some type of fabric glue. I will use Roxanne's Glue Baste-It.

Reduce the stitch length on your machine to about 1.5. This is necessary to perforate the paper so it is easy to tear away after the block is complete. Also the reduced stitch allows you to tear off the paper without pulling the stitches out.  

Of course, you also need fabric! Foundation paper piecing is a tad wasteful with fabric because you are over-sizing the fabric pieces and cutting back to size. As you become more proficient there is less waste. But for those of you that are using this method for the first time, I would give yourself a little more wiggle room and cut your pieces a bit larger as you go.

I cut my pieces for each section as I need them...not before sewing. 

The key point to remember when cutting your fabric for each section, is to cut it AT LEAST 1/4 INCH LARGER ON EACH SIDE THAN THE SECTION. You will be trimming back as you sew and you need that 1/4 inch for the seam allowance.  

This is an easy pattern to foundation paper piece, but in the future if you have a pattern with a sharp angle, you will need to cut your piece quite a bit larger to accommodate the angle. 

So let's begin...

Take the A section of your pattern and place a small dot of glue on the wrong side of the sub-section marked A 1.

  

A1 takes a background piece. Cut your piece at least a 1/4 inch larger on each side than the pattern. You don't need to cut it carefully, I would just try to remember to keep the straight of grain parallel with the straight edges.

The wrong side of your background fabric will be placed to the wrong side of the pattern. Notice my fabric is larger than sub-section A1. 

Flip the pattern, with the fabric glued to section A1, over and using your card, fold on the line between A1 and A2.

   

The card helps make sure you are folding on the line because you will not be able to see this line.

I am folding back on the line between A1 and A2. My fabric is completely covering section A1 and I still have at least 1/4 inch extra seam allowance on each side of section A1.

Place your ruler so that the edge of the folded paper is hitting the 1/4" mark on your ruler. You will cut along this line, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

   

Now take the fabric that will cover sub-section A2 (remember it needs to be larger than A2). Place that fabric with right sides facing on top of fabric A1. Be sure the right sides are facing!!! Also, be sure that the fabric is situated so it will completely cover A2 and leave 1/4 inch more on each side. If you can't see A2...hold the pieces up to a light or window and you will be able to see where this fabric needs to hit.

  Go to the sewing machine and stitch on the line between A1 and A2. 

Flip the pattern over and press these two pieces open. Then place your card on the line between A1, A2 and A3, again, fold. You will notice the extra fabric from A1 and A2 extending beyond that line. Place your ruler on the fold be A1, A2 and A3 and trim, leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance.

     

Once you have trimmed, cut a piece of fabric for A3 (larger than you need and to completely cover area A3). Unfold the paper pattern and stitch directly on the line between A1,A2 

and A3.

Press back the fabric, fold, again between A3 and A4, trim seam allowance. Cut fabric for A4, sew on the line between A3 and A4, press A4 back. And repeat for A5!!!

When you have finished an entire section, flip the pattern over and trim on the dotted line. This pattern has included the outer most seam allowance. If you come across a pattern that does not include the outer seam allowance you must leave a quarter inch on the outside of the pattern.

Continue in this manner for the B and C sections of the pattern.

  

When you get to the D section there is no sewing involved. But I place several dabs of glue to hold the fabric to this larger section.

Then trim around the template.

Now you are ready to sew all of the sections together. A to B, AB to C, and ABC to D.
You may want to place a little bit of glue along the seam allowance before you stitch the sections together to keep the fabric from shifting with the paper.

**As you work with this technique, it's important to remember to always leave a quarter inch seam allowance and that the fabrics should be placed right sides facing. With the reduced stitch length, it is difficult to take out stitches.**

After all sections are sewn together....give it a good press and carefully remove the paper.
It is a good idea to place your finger over the stitches in your seams as you remove the paper....just to be sure you don't rip out the stitches.

There you have it! A paper pieced Scottie!
xx mary

  

A Few Other Fun Makes!

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to stitch up a few other fun things....

There was a baby shower, so I used an older Oliver and S pattern to make an adorable and super cozy kimono outfit!

   

This fabric is Fruity Pocho brushed cotton...and I must tell you it feels amazing! And gets more amazing with each wash! I want a nightgown out of this fabric.  

I gifted a whole cloth Nani Iro baby quilt...

I used En Garden for the front and Jewel Song on the reverse side. The binding is Liberty Glenjade in teal. And between the layers I used a wool batting. Talk about scrumptious!

Again, I want one my size! The En Garden Nani Iro sold out of the shop, but the good news is, we expect a brand new bolt this week!

Lots of baby gifts at the end of the year in 2015 and I think there will be a few more in 2016!!!

xx mary 

    

Hello....is it me you're looking for???

The holiday season has come and gone with nary a word from me....

 but I did manage a quilt finish just before the clock struck midnight and we all said goodbye to 2015...

A scrappy Red and White quilt with stars and a pieced border...

I used a set of templates purchased from Amazon. The Simpli EZ Five Point Star set. Instead of squaring off the star, I chose to applique the the star 'circle' onto my background square.

Then I added sashing and corner blocks. And finished the piecing off with a pieced border.

This one is machine quilted, as well as, hand quilted with some Christmas Red Valdani Perle cotton!

It's not huge, but a good lap size for our chilly Ohio winters (if Mother Nature decides to grant us some chilly Ohio weather)

It's good to have a 2015 finish...and a new blog post for 2016!

Wishing you all a wonderfully productive New Year!

xo mary

Lunch, Anyone?

After seeing a few adorable lunch bags floating around IG...I decided to it was time to try it out!

This super cute lunch bag is a free tutorial available on Ayumi's blog, Pink Penguin. 

 

 

It was so easy to make and just perfect for the fun Japanese fabrics from the shop. 

 

The bag has a drawstring interior...

 

 

I just love it! I plan to make a few more to give as Christmas gifts with cookies or treats tucked inside!

 

happy Tuesday!

mary  



A Winner and a Winning Sewing Machine Cover

Gill Watson! You are a winner! You won the e-version of Sweet Tweets! Congratulations :) I sent you an email.

 

 

A few weeks ago, I decided to tackle a sewing machine cover for my Janome 6600. I was still using the vinyl cover that came with the machine. But when a terrific load of Yuwa fabric was dropped on our shop...I just knew it was time!

 

 

This fabric, in particular, was the one that got my wheels spinning!

 

So without a pattern...just a good foundation of bag and box making...I set forth to create....

the EPIC SEWING MACHINE COVER!!!!

 

 

  I truly cobbled this together! Honestly, it was whack and hack!

 

I added a long pocket (divided) made of Hexies! Some of my favorite pieces fussy cut and some of the sweet hexies Susi sent to me!

 

 

I added a smaller hexie pocket on the reverse side...and some pieced letters...as well as bits of some of my favorite fabrics ;)

 

 

On both ends, I added tall pockets for rulers and tall things! Notice the fussy cutting! Hahahaha!

 

It was fun putting it together and really not difficult. I do find that if I am attempting something from scratch...oversize the pieces when possible. It's like your hair, you can always cut more off...it's difficult to put it back together. 

 

happy Monday!

mary 

 



Time for Some Hand Stitching....

Life gets so busy at times and summer time always seems to be one of the busiest...

with sewing happening in just small bursts, it seems quite logical that hand stitching is my choice in busy times. 

I don't have a dedicated sewing space....still sew in the kitchen. So it is a chore to pull out or search out the fabrics I want. And now that we have a four legged eating machine....all of my fabrics are hidden in plastic containers that serve as a deterrent to jumping on the living room furniture! 

 Spring Fever by Jen Kingwell, has really tugged at my heart strings. I have completed about 4 butterfly blocks (8 more to go), but I decided to work on a couple of the flower basket blocks.

  

Nice easy shapes...

A fun busy summer time project...

The fabulous string art spool is from my dear friend Rachel at Family Ever After! The string art was made by Samantha at Strings By Samantha! Isn't is great?

I also decided to join in on the Sweetly Stitched Sew Along....It is a Sew Along organized by @ohhowsweetco and @sameliasmum on IG. The sew along is devoted to Amy Sinibaldi's book Sweetly Stitched Handmades.

     For the first round I made the Mouse House Doll Quilt...

It was a fun and fast make! I hand quilted it with Valdani Perle Cotton and used wool batting and nani Iro double gauze for the backing. Yummy!

This was gifted to the sweet little girl who lives next door to me.

 

Behind the house doors are fabrics with pictures....Amy's uses mouse fabrics. I used dogs, cats, etc.

If you haven't tried double gauze as a backing...you need to give it a shot. It is amazing and amazing to hand quilt. I love the double gauze paired with wool batting.

Now to choose a project for the next round! Yay!

Happy Thursday!

mary

Tiny Steps and Bow-tie Tutorial....

A couple of folks asked about the Improv Bow-tie quilt and my teeny tiny Courthouse Steps.  

So I finally got around to taking pictures and thought I would give you a little tutorial.

Paper Foundation Pieced Courthouse Steps

Begin with a template...I have been using computer paper, but for demonstration purposes, I used a tissue paper called Golden Threads.  It is much like tissue paper, but comes on a roll. I am using it for the tutorial because you can see through it...so easier to demonstrate than computer paper.

Courthouse Steps is a variation of a Log Cabin block. In a traditional CH Steps block the center is square and each step is the same width as the center. So my template has a 3/8 inch square center and each step is 3/8 inch wide. 

You can easily make your own template and with any size step you desire. Start with the center square...

           

Add the top and bottom square...in my template the center is 3/8 square and the top and bottom are also 3/8 inch square. Then add sides which are 3/8 inch wide but the length is equal to the center+top+bottom = 1 1/8 inches

The next steps you add will be to the top and bottom again...then the sides. Continue adding steps until you have as many or as like.

You can work this block without using a paper foundation template. I used a template because my steps are so small and I wanted it to be as accurate as possible. 

Notice there aren't any seam allowances included in my template. For paper foundation piecing we will add the seam allowances as we trim back each step after it is added. You will need to remember to leave a 1/4 inch seam allowance around the perimeter of the finished block or your last step will be super thin ;)

I cut my center square 1 inch x 1 inch...all of the strips for the steps I cut 1 inch by the width of the fabric.

Start in the center and place the center square with the wrong side of the fabric facing the wrong side of the template. You will look at and sew on the right side of the template each time you add a step.

I place a little glue-baste it to hold my center fabric in place.

Take a strip of fabric for the top step and cut it so it is as long as the step plus at least a 1/4 inch for seam allowance on both sides. You do not have to measure and cut accurately...it just needs to be at least the length of the step plus 1/2 inch (it can be longer).

It's important to reduce your stitch length to about 1.5-1.7...the purpose of a reduced stitch length is to better hold these small pieces together and to more easily perforate the paper for tearing it away.   

With right sides of the fabric facing, stitch along the first line above the center square. The right side of the template you made will be facing you. The advantage of tissue paper or velum or Golden Threads paper, is that everything is visible even though you are stitching with the paper side up.    

Fold the paper back on the stitched line, exposing the seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance leaving a 1/4 inch.

  

Finger press or heat press this first step back away from the center. The next step will be the one on the opposite side. Stitch exactly in the same manner as the first step and trim and press.

 Once you have the center and two steps on opposite sides of the center, it's time to add steps to the right and left of the center. I begin this by folding the paper back on the 3 line to be stitched and trim the seam allowance to a 1/4 inch. Now I just have to cut my 1 inch wide fabric long enough to cover that step + 1/2 inch...place the raw edge to the raw edge of the piece I just trimmed...and stitch directly on the third line. Repeat for the opposite side....

If you are familiar with paper foundation piecing this will be very easy! If you are not...it just takes a bit of practice. I still have to pull out the seam ripper once in a while.

A word of caution! This pattern requires some thought in terms of the fabrics and their placement. So the next block in my first row (to the right of the block above) will need to have on the left side of the center the same Liberty fabric. The block below the block above, will need the same Cotton and Steel fabric that I used on the bottom steps. Blocks will share fabrics with the blocks to the right and left and with the blocks above and below.

   
You can see in the picture above the shared fabrics.
It's a fabulous design and makes a big impact! It just takes a bit of work and planning.


Improv Bow-Tie Block

   
This little block is super easy! If you have any experience with the process of Improv piecing, you will get this right away. 
I begin with two squares or rectangles of my bow-tie fabric...and four rectangles of my background fabric. I don't measure these. I simply oversize all of the fabrics I use and the background pieces are larger than the bow-tie fabrics. If you dislike wasting bits of fabric....this may not be the process for you.

Take one bow-tie fabric pieces and lay a background fabric piece on top of it at an angle. Stitch using a 1/4 inch seam allowance and trim to leave 1/4 inch seam allowance from the stitch line.

   

Press open and repeat on the other side of the bow-tie fabric. Place the background fabric at an angle again, but be sure it crosses the top of the last section added. Once you have trimmed the seam allowance, you should have a piece that looks like a wedge or a wonky triangle.

I know the background pieces look very wonky at this point but it will be squared up at the end.
Repeat this whole process with the other side of the bow-tie.

Then I trim the points of both bow-tie units leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Stitch both bow-tie units together, matching the points.

Trim up all sides to make a square or rectangle.

To put my bow-ties together into a quilt, I simply filled in the spaces with background fabric. This gave my quilt a more 'random' look. Or you could square all of your blocks up to the same size to make your quilt more symmetrical.

Let me know if you make your own courthouse steps or bow-tie quilt!
happy sunday!
mary