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Essex Canvas Fabric Scarf

Right now it is snowing here in Portland and extra cold so a scarf is pretty much a necessity when venturing outside.  After posting about the patchwork scarf I made last year, I've been in the mood to make another scarf so off to my stash I went...

What I found was this Essex linen/cotton canvas fabric that I really haven't had too many chances to use yet.  

This is fabric where I purchased full bolts because I knew it would be awesome fabric and other people would want some too.  It's available in two colors--the denim blue used for the scarf and black. 

The color names are from Robert Kaufman and I'd describe the blue as a medium chambray blue and the black as dark grey.  

Essex Canvas in Denim

If you are familiar with Essex linen fabrics this canvas version is just slightly heavier version of this fabric.  Regular Essex is 5.5 ounces per square yard and the canvas version is 6.5 ounces per square yard. 

This scarf is amazing made in this fabric.  It turned out really soft and flowing with a bit of weight. 

Since there isn't really a wrong side, folding the raw edges under and mitering the corners is all that is needed to finish the edges. It's basically a large rectangular cloth napkin. 

If you would like to make a scarf like this one (finished measurements are 22" x 70"), there are tons and tons of tutorials for making cloth napkins with mitered corners.  Just find one that makes sense to you.  Because this fabric frays, turn the folds under at least 3/8", and 1/2" is better.

Essex Canvas in Black

As far as care for this fabric, the bolt says dry clean or machine wash cold on delicate and hang dry. I didn't look at the care before washing mine, and washed it on warm/hot on delicate settings and machine dried it on high. That worked fine.

The fabric is beautiful washed and it will just get softer and more cuddly over time. It's somewhat absorbent, and will probably become more so over time.  

The bottom line is this is beautiful fabric and I hope you enjoy sewing with it as much as I did!

You can find this fabric on my website or in my etsy shop at these links:

• demim is here, or here on etsy
• black is here, or here on etsy

Countdown to Christmas - Not Many Days Left to Sew!

Grocery Bag PDF Sewing Pattern

I lost track of the countdown!  Whoops...

At this point time is almost out, so let me just list the patterns and an estimate of the time it takes for someone with sewing experience to make them:

1. Cord Keepers: 20-30 minutes
2. Keychain Clutch: 1-2 hours
3. Idea Pouch: 2-3 hours
4. Card Wallets: 1 hour
5. Rose Pincushion Cuff: 1-2 hours
6. Basket Bags: 1-2 hours
7. Just a Pinch Potholder: 1 hour
8. Business Card Wallets: 1 hour
9. Grocery Bags: 1-2 hours
10. Two Pocket Wallet: 1-2 hours

Merry Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas - 6 Days Left to Sew Gifts

Including today, there are just 7-days left to make Christmas gifts!  

If you need some ideas for quick to sew gifts, a number of my sewing patterns are for 1-2 hour projects. In the final days before the holiday, I'm highlighting one of my quick to make patterns each day.    

Today the featured pattern is the Basket Bags. These are perfect for knitters, crocheters, and other people working with yarn, but they also make nice storage bags for all sorts of other things! I have one or two of these bags tucked away somewhere in almost every room of my house. 

Here is what I use them for: In the sewing room there are five of them being used to hold fabric scraps sorted into specific categories. There are two of these bags under the bathroom sink holding random toiletries. In my bedroom I use one to hold my winter socks and need another because it is stuffed all the way to the top right now. In the kitchen there are four of them--one for my plastic jar lids, one holds bags of coffee, another has packets of tea, and the fourth holds some old cleaning towels. In the laundry room there is one sitting on top the dryer holding washing machine cleaner, dryer balls, and a few other random laundry room things. There is also one by the front door with masks and gloves.  

This pattern is another 1-2 hour project and if you'd like to read the details, the pattern is available on my website here, or in my etsy shop here.  

Countdown to Christmas - 7 Days Left to Sew Gifts

Including today, there are just 7-days left to make Christmas gifts!  

If you need some ideas for quick to sew gifts, a number of my sewing patterns are for 1-2 hour projects. In the final days before the holiday, I'm highlighting one of my quick to make patterns each day.    

Today the featured pattern is the Just a Pinch Potholder.  These are one of my favorite things to make because they are so useful!  I use one of these almost every day and sometimes more than once and it's always fun to see some of my favorite fabrics being put to good use.

These take less than an hour to make and combined with their usefulness, they are perfect for gifting.

This pattern is available on my website here or in my etsy shop here.

Countdown to Christmas - 8 Days Left to Sew Gifts

Including today, there are just 8-days left to make Christmas gifts!  

If you need some ideas for quick to sew gifts, a number of my sewing patterns are for 1-2 hour projects and in the final days before the holiday, I'm highlighting one of my quick to make patterns each day.    

Today's project is Business Card Wallets.  These two pocket wallets can obviously be gifted to anyone who carries cards, but they're also great for adding a handmade personal touch to the convenient but not super personal gift of a gift card. 

 

Make the wallet, write a brief note to tuck in one side, stash the card on the other side, and the gift is ready to be given.  Even better, make it in Christmas fabric and you can skip the wrapping!  

The Business Card Wallet is available on my website here, or in my etsy shop here.

To see the other patterns featured in this series so far, check out these blog posts:

• 10-days left
• 9-days left

P.S. Don't forget to check out the sale!  There are graduated discounts by quantity and the % off will apply automatically:

• 2 items = 10% off
• 3 items = 15% off
• 4+ items = 20% off

Countdown to Christmas - 9 Days Left to Sew Gifts

Including today, there are 9-days left to make Christmas gifts. Which is actually plenty of time...as long as you pick something quick to make!

And quick to make is kind of my specialty in the pattern world, so join me while I count down to Christmas by highlighting the patterns in my shop that take close to no time at all to complete.

Yesterday's post was for the Two Pocket Wallet and today it's all about the Grocery Bags.

Lots of you already have this pattern--it is my best selling pattern, after all!  If you don't already have this pattern, you should get a copy and then get busy whipping out your own unique, quirky, cute, beautiful, or wildly wonderful versions of these bags. The pattern is available on my website or in my etsy shop.

One of the reasons people love making these bags is they take only 1-2 hours.  Yes, they are that simple.  They are also endlessly useful and everyone could use one, two, or even three of these bags. 

 

P.S. There is one more set of the acrylic templates for the handles for these bags in stock in my etsy shop here.  More sets will be available after the first of the year.