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

  

Let the Christmas Making Begin!

Are you gearing up for some holiday sewing? Or maybe you have already been a busy little elf, sewing away before all the hustle and bustle begins.

 

Well, I have been doing a little holiday and 'special' day sewing

I would love to share with you. Because if you are like me, you can always use some good ideas for holiday gifting!

 

 

I made another lunch bag from Ayumi's great tutorial! This one is, obviously, a robot bag for a robot lovin' little guy! The robot was not a simple make...I used a paper foundation template from the Electric Quilt Program. Tiiiiiny pieces!

I thought this would be cute to carry his lego's, crayons or matchbox cars. But then I thought how special this bag would be filled with cookies or a candle and yummy lotions to give as a hostess gift or for a friend! If you have a sewing friend you could trade the robot panel for something sewing related and fill it with great notions! So there you go, its all sorted out! 

You can find the tutorial on Ayumi's Pink Penguin blog.

 

Next, I would like to share with you a quick, but sweet project. I made a little EPP pouch for a sewing friend. 

 

    

Simply cover a wallet style pouch with yo-yo's! What could be more sweet! And add a couple of pockets to hold hexie papers, wonder clips, a glue pen and some scissors! Perfect for small on-the-go projects!

 

    

 

I love this retro Yuwa fabric we have in the shop! It's great for fussy cutting too!

 

And last, but not least, you may want to pop over to the Sunny Day Supply blog and follow along as we make the Sunny Day Stocking! I am pretty smitten with this stocking...and so happy to be able to share it with everyone!

 

   

 

 Just head over to www.sunnydayfabric.com and click on the 'blog' tab! And if you haven't visited the shop yet, you might like to look around at all the fabulous fabrics and notions we have! So many great things for your stitchy friends!

 

happy Tuesday!

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  



Mollie Makes!!!

I was beyond giddy to be asked by Mollie Makes to contribute instructions for my clammy pouch. I am sure you have seen this zippy case in many of my pictures here and on IG. This little pouch is very near and dear to my heart because it includes bits of my very favorite fabrics!

 

 

You will find the instructions in Mollie Makes Issue 57 which went on sale in the UK this week! I suspect it will be in the US in a few weeks.

 

You can bet I will be hunting down a few copies! 

 

 

I love working with hand applique projects and the clamshell shape is one of my favorites. Plus the extra-special wonderful thing is...the size of your pouch can be easily adjusted...make it larger or make it smaller!

 

I made another using many of the fabrics from our Sunny Day Supply shop and a wee bit of fabric from my sweet friend Janelle! She knows me so well :)

 

 

     And Tiger Lily (which we have in the shop at a GREAT price!) is perfect for this little project!

 

 

Have a lovely Monday! I will be back soon to share with you my progress on the Spring Fever blocks!

 

xo mary   

Time for an Ark?

I feel for all the folks in California suffering from lack of rain...if there was a way for me to send you a bit of our weather, I would! We have had soooo much rain! Hardly a dry day and many days with drenching, soaking rains! 

You would think all this rain means lots of sewing time. But for me it just means I have to find creative ways to keep a dog busy! But I have had time to do a bit of sewing...

 

I have been working on a little fun swap....

And I have been playing with a few of the new fabrics we received in the shop....

 

 I love this Yuwa 50's Tape Measure print. Not only is the print fun with great pops of color, but the hand of this fabric is yummy! 

Also, we got a few of the new Suzy Ultman Message In A Bottle prints. Suzy is a local designer and I adore her whimsical designs.

Again...I felt the need to just stitch...no pattern just a little improvisational stitching!

    

Plus,  how fun are these Jelly Clips!

It seems so appropriate to be working with nautical prints given our wet weather! 

Have a great weekend!

mary

What Have I done????

Some time after I lost my pup, Flanders, I started thinking about having another dog. I missed the companionship and the joy a dog brings to the house. My daughters wanted a dog as well and scoured the shelters looking for the right dog.

Then we found him...OY! His name is Finley or Fin or, sometimes, What-the-heck-dog! 

He was so calm in the shelter....while all of the other dogs went bizerk as a visitor passed, he sat quietly....with those big brown eyes. 

It was all a ruse...he knew when he saw me coming down the hall, there is an easy target. It was just a matter of reeling me in and life would be golden!

Finley is a 2 year old Treeing Walker Coonhound. And full of energy! I would say a less than perfect match for a mid-fifties gal who likes to sit and stare at fabric and sew.

The good news is, I am walking at least an hour a day with him and my daughter is running with him everyday. He is charming. Really...he is so stinking cute at times. And he sleeps like a champ and no accidents in the house. It is just the boundless amount of energy he has. I am hoping a lot of this has to do with his age. So if any of you have experience with TWC or hounds in general I would love to hear positive suggestions. The vet already put the fear of God into me, which didn't make me very happy. I need positive suggestions...not scare tactics. He is a rescue...had a bad life before and is now having to learn rules. We are in this for the duration! LOL!

Also, that is why the blog has been so quiet...it takes tons of work to get this boy to act like a domesticated animal...hehe...and after that I am pooped. So please forgive me for being absent.

I have managed to get a few things sewn....

A cute basket block for Carla - she had May in our Mid Century Modern Bee.

         

I have done a few baskets before and I love Gwen Marstons technique for making Improv Baskets! Full of whimsy!

May brought Spring Quilt Market! Quilt Market is a trade show and my sister and I attend to choose fabulous fabrics for Sunny Day Supply.

This year, I tried to be a bit more bold and meet a few folks behind the names I recognize.

I was thrilled....totally thrilled to meet Carolyn Forster! 

       

A while ago, I did a book review for Carolyn! I admire her work and I can tell she must be a wonderful teacher. Best of all, she is just super nice! A warm delightful person! I knew she would be after all the terrific things I heard about her from Nicky at Mrs. Sew and Sow.

  

Quilt Market was good and we will have some great new fabrics arriving this summer.

I also began working on a Jen Kingwell quilt from her new book Quilt Lovely. It is the Spring Fever quilt. I saw it in her booth at market. Loved it, of course! But then, I loved everything about her booth!

I purchased a bundle, the last bundle, of Tiger Lily at the Sample Spree (we have this collection coming to our shop). I thought so many of these prints are perfect for the butterflies and background sections of Spring Fever! And I love how beautifully it coordinates with the Lighthearted fabric from Ayumi! And, yes, we did get a restock of the Lighthearted fabric in the shop! Yay!

 For the top right block, I used nani Iro double gauze for the background.

     

I love that I can do a little machine piecing for this block and then finish up with some hand applique. It works well with my current schedule.

I have also been playing around with some hexies for a fun little swap! 

Thanks for hanging in there with me through transitions...whew! I know it will get better...the only way to go is up from here! LOL!

Have a great weekend!

mary

Update on Hexies....

Last week I blogged about my foray into glue basting hexies. Sorry purists....I think I am a convert.  I do find stitch basting hexies relaxing...in a mindless repetitive way.

  

But the speed and convenience of glue basting is winning out at the moment! 

I am working with 1 inch hexies....

and my goal is to grow this to a piece large enough to provide me with a front and back exterior for a tablet cover.  

 My only real concern with the glue basting was having to tug at the papers to remove them.

But I have gotten some great tips so far...

such as:

press the piece before you attempt to remove the papers and some of you suggest starching and pressing before removing...

use a paper punch and punch a hole in the middle of the paper so you can 'fish' out the paper with a blunt object like a chop stick...

or using a sharp object, like a stiletto, to loosen up the edges...

and also, one I am terribly guilty of violating, use only a dab of the glue to baste! 

All great tips! Please keep them coming!

 happy tuesday!

mary