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Fabric Fabrics: Mix and Match

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Putting together fabric combinations appeals to the artist in me and is also excellent practice for patchwork.  Even though I have a number of strategies for combining prints, I still second guess myself from time to time. 

But practice really does make perfect, or at least leads to less questioning of myself.  So I'd better keep on practicing!

If you want to practice too, start by combining three prints (see this blog post if you need help).  Anyone can match up two fabrics, but add in one more and things suddenly get way more interesting--both visually interesting and also much more challenging. 

The trio of fabrics shown above are:

• Floral - Gorgeous Main from Hello Gorgeous by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake
• Stripe - Tent Stripe from Tabby Road by Tula Pink for Freespirit
• Butterflies: Butterflies from Wing & Leaf by Gina Martin for Moda

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Two New Patchwork Bags

These bags are both sold, but watch this section for new ones.

Two new patchwork bags are all done and ready to find their new homes!  Above and below are the two sides of this one.

Each one has bees, flowers, cherries, stripes, and dots, but in two different layouts and with some variance in fabrics.

Above and below are the two sides of this one.  Super cute, bright, and sew very fun! 

See the sidebar for a link to a post with info about making these bags in patchwork.  Both of these shown here are the medium size in the Grocery Bag pattern. 

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Grocery Bag Pattern Mod

Here's a little something I stitched up back in December, promptly put to work holding the blue scraps, and then pretty much forgot about until I went to add another bag of blue scraps to my etsy shop.  The ones in the post for the patchwork crescent moon sold, but there's one more bag here. 

So let's chat about this bag now.

This is the small size from the Grocery Bag sewing pattern (also available on etsy here), but with the handles centered at the front and back, the main pieces divided into two fabrics, and the bottom boxed (4"). In the pattern the handles span the side seams and the bottom is NOT a box bottom. 

The type of bottom in the pattern is something different, but I'm not sure it has an official name. I think of this technique as "kitchen corners" because if you look around your kitchen, you'll see them everywhere! 

Often they are going the other way--meaning the gusset is along the bottom and not the sides.  Here are just a few things in my kitchen with this type of bottom (though the raw sugar is slightly different):

I always knew it was faster to sew the bottom the way it is in the pattern, and making this bag confirmed that yes, it really is so much faster!  The box bottom also means it doesn't fold up as neatly or easily as the finished version of the bag using the pattern instructions, so it's not as convenient for folding up to carry  inside another bag. 

This bag did turn out lovely and I recommend giving this mod a try at some point.  I plan to make a few more this way and will try it out with the other sizes when I get some time. 

P.S. The floral fabric is this print and the blue fabric is this woven cotton/linen. 

 

 

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New Pattern - Keychain Clutch Mini Wallet

It's new pattern time!  Come take a look at it here on michellepatterns.com or here on etsy.

Some of you might find the name of this pattern somewhat familiar, and yes, this is the same basic idea as one of my older patterns--the Keychain Clutch (retired).  If you have that pattern, this new one is different in the following ways:

• larger - this one will hold cards
• flat back - this one has darts on the front only
• magnetic snaps - the older one had VELCRO
• the footing is also slightly different shape and it's more narrow than the one in the older pattern

The pattern includes one size, but I made sure to leave you room to print it larger and you can go up to 140%. The footing piece will be cut off, but that's not a piece I'd personally enlarge.  It's a rectangle though, so if you want it bigger, draw a rectangle 4x as wide as you'd like the finished footing x 2x + SA for the length. 

Most sizes of key rings will be fine for this project.  I used these black plated ones.  You can also find all sorts of fancy key rings on etsy in the supplies category. 

 

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Etsy Shop Update

Fat Eighth Kokka Trefle Cats

This post contains etsy affiliate links.

I've been busy sewing and have also been adding new items to my etsy shop! 

First up is this Kokka fabric with loads of cute kitties.  I think the tiny cat at the top center is my favorite.  So adorable!  I also have kitty fever pretty bad right now.  In 2017 both my dog and cat passed and I'm starting to feel ready to welcome some new pet family members. 

Farmdale Blossom Rose Pincushion Cuff

This Rose Pincushion Cuff is made from Alexander Henry's Farmdale Blossom print and the cuff is Essex Linen from Robert Kaufman.

There's one new bag of quilting cotton scraps.  These scraps bags have 30+ different prints, so they are lots of fun!

This medium size Grocery Bag was sewn a few (or more...) months back, but it's listed now and looking for its new home. 

The fabric for the exterior of this bag is from Cosmo's Scandinavian Woods IV collection.  This cream version seems to be sold out, but this etsy shop has it in brown.

 

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