Jan 13, 2014

Lined Fabric Basket Tutorial


I love scraps of fabric and I love fabric baskets.
I made a pink scrappy fabric basket, and am sharing the tutorial with you.
I used the "quilt as you go" method.
I found the tutorial for that on Pinterest, here is the link.
I'm plannig on making Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag using this method of quilting :)
Thank you "Oh, Fransson!"

I cut a piece of muslin (or any other fabric you would like for your backing - it won't show) and a piece of warm and natural batting, 13" X 17".
I added scraps of fabric, following the tutorial above, for "quilting as you go".  
Here's my completed piece of quilting.


I trimmed the above piece and subcut it into 4 rectangles, measuring 6" X 8" each.


I cut another piece of muslin and warm and natural batting, 
8 l/2" X 8 l/2".
I quilted it and trimmed it to an 8" square.
This square will be the base of the basket.


Next, sew all four rectangles together, using a l/4" seam.
You will have a square of pink quilted scraps :)


Sew the base (8" X 8") to the square.


Now cut your lining, an 8" square, and 4 rectangles, 6" X 8".  
I also cut Pellon interfacing in each of these measurements and ironed them to the wrong side of the lining.


I used this Pellon, which adds lots of body to the basket.


I sewed the rectangle lining pieces together and formed a square.


I sewed the 8" X 8" base to the square, making sure to leave a 6" opening to allow for turning.


I left the 6" opening in the middle of the seam.


Keep the lining with the right side in the middle, the wrong side out.
Place the quilted piece inside the lining piece so the right sides are together.
Line up the edges of the basket so they are even, and pin.
Sew around the top of the basket, using a l/4" seam.


Remove the pins and turn right side out through the opening in the lining.
Press the top edge, and top stitch on the outside.


Now you just have to close the opening in the lining.
You can pin it like this and slip stitch the opening closed by hand with a needle and thread.


Another option is to pull the lining away from the quilted basket and sew the opening closed by machine.
I chose this method :)


My completed basket!
I love it!
You can really make it any size you want.
This basket is square, but you could make a rectangle one too.
I added some pink fat quarters to my pink fabric basket.


I took a photo of my basket from every side so you can see the different patchwork.


You don't have to use your basket for fat quarters, you can use it for all of your pink scraps.


I have a lot of pink fabric!!!
 Could it be because I have 7, soon to be 8 grand daughters?
Maybe I just love the color pink :)


This fabric basket was inspired from the quilt book 
"Sunday Morning Quilts".
They suggest making a basket in each of the colors of your scraps.
Wouldn't that be fun?
This book would be a great addition to your library,
you can buy it here.

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Jan 10, 2014

Lunch Bag Tutorial, from Ayumi


I have made this lunch box before, I really love it!
I had a girl's night with my daughters and we all made the bags, you can see the post here.
I think the bag is pretty and functional.
The pattern is Ayumi's tutorial from Pink Penguin, you can see it here.
I had the fabric  left over from our girl's night, one of my daughters didn't show up...


The bag is nice and stiff because I used medium weight interfacing.


 The casing is so easy to make, notice the opening for the ties.


The bag can hold a lot, it's very roomy.
Your needlework, lunch, knitting, toys for a toddler, or a small diaper bag.
It could hold a couple of diapers, a travel case of wet wipes and a little toy or extra outfit.




 I recommend that you try making this bag.
I give it an A+.
Think of the possibilities, they're endless!!!



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Jan 8, 2014

Quilty Fun Sew Along, Week Eight



I have been trying to wait patiently for 3 weeks for this new tutorial, the tree block.
It's so much fun to see what fabrics everyone uses.
I love the green fabric with the apples, because an apple tree makes sense!
I love the dotted Pam Kitty Morning fabric and Heather Bailey's green.


Here are all of my white squares sewn onto the trees.


I chose the brown for the trunks because I thought it was interesting with the swirls.


 Ta da!  My finished trees!
Only three of them, they sewed up really quick!
I think the tree in the middle could be a magnolia tree and the tree on the left could be a pear tree :)


If you would like to see the tutorial, go to Messy Jesse's blog, here.
Lori always posts about her weekly block for the Quilty Fun Sew Along on her blog too, and so does the Fat Quarter Shop.
I have a Pinterest Board on Pinterest where I have pinned all the tutorials for the Quilty Fun Sew Along.

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Jan 6, 2014

Needlebook and Tutorial and a Winner!


I made a little needlebook, and by little, I mean little!
It only measures 3"X4" which makes it even cuter!
I used some Japanese fabric for the cover and fussy cut a little piece of Japanese fabric for an accent on the cover.  
I ironed some interfacing on the back and just top stitched it on.
I sewed a little daisy trim on the bottom of the accent and a little cupcake ribbon tab at the top.


There is a tutorial for this needlebook at Nana Company.
You can find it on my Random Tutorials Board on Pinterest, here.
I love the inside!
I sewed on some little embellishments to make it look "fancy".
There are two pages of felt, the other pages can be used for pins or needles.


The back is adorable!
Little 1" patchwork squares that are stitched by hand.
I'm going to give this needlebook to someone special :)



The winner of this lined drawstring bag is.......
DRUMROLL  PLEASE!


Carol O.  
I don't have your email, so leave me a comment with your email address and I will contact you.


Congratulations, I hope you enjoy the bag :)

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Jan 3, 2014

A Giveaway and a Tutorial!



I have been wanting to make one of these "Lined Drawstring Bags" for a long time, I think they are so cute!
I have a board dedicated to them on Pinterest, here.
Jeni Baker, author of the blog, In Color Order designed the pattern, and you can find it on her blog.  
The bag pattern can be made in many sizes, but the smallest size is written as a tutorial and can be found here.

I decided to try out my new sewing machine, and I made 4 Lined Drawstring Bags :)
This is the fabric I chose for the first bag, it's from a Mary Engelbreit line.


I love it, and it was fun and easy to make!


One of the things I love about this bag, is that it's completely lined.


I liked the bag so much, that I made another one in blue.


Oh, how sweet!


Now there are two :)


I looked through my stash and found this combination.
Riley Blake chevron, Anna Maria Horner and Sandy Gervais.
Instead of using fabric for the drawstrings, I used some twill tape.


 There is too much light in this photo, sorry.
This bag pattern can be addicting...



Doesn't the green chevron pair well with the bright pink?


There's that pretty lining, it's almost a shame to hid it!


I had time to make one more, Little Apples by Aneela Hooey.


I have a thing for red and aqua together, and children themes.


Each side is different from the other.


I like the lining, it's from the "Red Riding Hood line".


I made 4 lined drawstring bags in two evenings.



I'm offering this bag in the giveaway!!!
I hope you love it as much as I do :)


You have 3 chances to win this bag.

1.  Become a follower on my blog (Join this site to the right of the    blog).  If you already have, just tell me that you already follow.
2.  Leave me a comment.
3.  Like my Facebook page here.

The Giveaway ends on Sunday,  Jan 5 @ 11:00 pm Pacific time.
I'll post the name of the winner on Monday, Jan 6.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing from all of you :)

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