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What's New

I've been sewing some things and working on a pattern, but have waited too long between blog posts and don't quite remember all of it!  But here are some things that are new or newish:

• One scrap bag is available here. There is also a bag of the "tiny scraps" here. That reminds me I did make some fabric beads last week, but don't have photos. Not quite sure where I'm going with these yet, so maybe it was just a sewing lark. If you are interested in making fabric beads check out this tutorial.
• Another pincushion cuff is done and available here.  If you post your cuff on IG use the hashtag #rosepincushioncuff.  I'm trying to add hashtag suggestions to the pattern descriptions, but only have a few updated so far.
• More Wonder Tape is posted here.  This blog post talks about this tape.  I also have more awls, which is another tool I've found a lot of different uses for in sewing and around the house.  For a while my cat needed extra potassium, and the pills had to be ground into powder to put in her food.  Well they are SO hard and it took forever to get one broken down.  The awl turned out to be just the trick for breaking them in half before grinding them. Anyway, it's a handy dandy tool to have around for all sorts of odd jobs, so get one when you can.

 

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Sewing Class in Loveland, CO - Improv Zip Wristlet

Class alert!  On Thursday (4/27/17) a class for the Improv Zip Wristlet is being held at Quilter's Dream in Loveland, CO. 

If you are in the area, maybe you should take the class?  If you aren't nearby, make a mental note there is a quilt shop near the Rocky Mountain National Park.  You might go there someday and after seeing all that beautiful nature, you are going to want to see some beautiful fabric. 

Just so there's no confusion, someone else is teaching this class. If you'd like to teach a class with one of my patterns, go here for more info.

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Color Block Patchwork Grocery Bag

Here is another way to make a patchwork grocery bag, and it goes a lot faster since there are only three pieces patched together for each side. 

 

On the other side the layout of the pieces is different, but the fabrics are the same.  Super easy! 

This one is made the same basic way as the other patchwork bags (i.e. pieced to a base of muslin).  Click the patchwork grocery bags image in the right column to go to the blog post. 

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Cute Kitty Fabric Alert

Here are some of the etsy shops that carry this print:

• CrosscutSewingCo
• NeedleandFoot
• ModernQuilter
• OakFabricsChicago

 

Patchwork Double Zipper Pouch

Pink and Black Double Zipper Pouch

Hello, pretty patchwork pouch in pink and black!  Since first coming up with the idea for the Improv Zip Wristlet I've wanted to make it in patchwork, but felt stuck when thinking about which fabrics to use and how to lay them out.

Then the other day it came to me that dividing the bottom center section meant I could use up some of my smaller pink and black scraps.  This classic combination of colors always works out well, and a color theme is a good way to go if you need help narrowing down which prints to use in patchwork. 

The Improv Zip Wristlet pattern includes one page at the end of the instructions about to make it in other sizes.  So you'll be seeing many, many different sizes of this bag.

This one here is 6.75" wide x 4.75" high (17cm x 12cm).  The C divisions (mark C first) are at 1.25" (32mm) and the A/B division is at 1.25" (32mm).  This one is not boxed, but the corners are rounded off.  I sewed all the way around the perimeter and then traced around a medium spool of thread (274 yards) at each corner and stitched along the marked lines. 

 

 

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Robert Kaufman Cotton Boucle

The last time I was at the fabric store, I noticed a rack of cotton boucle fabric from Robert Kaufman.  The nubby texture caught my eye and I've only ever seen boucle in wool, so I was intrigued.

If you are starting to think about spring/summer clothes to make, this fabric has potential.  The open weave, weight and drape would make it nice for quite a few things.  If I finish up a tunic started months ago and it turns out nice, I might pick up one of these fabrics for making my next one.  That's pretty ambitious though because my clothing makes are few and far between!

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