Author: JayeL

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

Some Gifts for Me

One of my students invited me over to her house for lunch. It was a fabulous lunch! She is a great cook and I stuffed myself. Both students were there and they got together and got me a wonderful Christmas gift.

Organizer tote box - closed
Organizer tote box – closed

The wrapping was definitely professional, but the gifts were what I really enjoyed. First the whole thing was ‘wrapped’ in a organizer tote box.

It has four levels and they clip together so I can carry it somewhere. The levels can be completely taken apart or one can be taken off, leaving the other three clipped together.

Organizer tote box - top level
Organizer tote box – top level

In my lucky case, each level was filled with fun surprises. The first level held thread and some of those new(ish) zippers with the round pulls. The colors are super fun – neon green and neon orange. The other two have two colors – one color for the zipper tape and another color for the zipper. I have seen people using those zippers, but have never bought them. Now I can try them out!

Organizer tote box - level 2
Organizer tote box – level 2

The second level held items I can use for bag making plus some embroidery floss and a small bracelet made by Carrie. They also included a guide for my machine. It will be very useful when I need to sew a quarter inch seam, but also want to use a foot other than my quarter inch foot. I’ll also be able to easily measure 3/8″ when sewing bag linings. Can’t wait to try that. The two things that require no testing are the washaway tape and the machine needles. I can always use more of both of those!

Organizer tote box - 2d level
Organizer tote box – 2d level

The third level held journals! They are similar to my favorite Leuchtturm journals** but a little different. Also, they are blank. I haven’t used blank journals in years. I like the Leuchtturm gridded journals, because I can draw quilt blocks in them. Recently I have used a ruled Leuchtturm journal** and a Miquelrius gridded journals**, so I am flexible. I am almost out of Leuchtturm journals, so I will definitely use these.

Organizer tote box - bottom level
Organizer tote box – bottom level

The bottom level held a fun sewing t-shirt and a box of Wayne Thiebaud cards. OMG! The cards have some of my favorite WT images. Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of the t-shirt, but it has a rainbow colored heart monitor with a sewing machine and a pair of scissors. It is really fun.

I was so overwhelmed when I saw this gift. It is such a generous array of items. i was really grateful to them.

 

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need at quilt shops, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Gift Post #4: Project Bag for Julie

Julie's Project Bag
Julie’s Project Bag

Yes, another bag as a gift for Julie. I actually finished this in September, but couldn’t show it until now, after it was presented.

I chuckled to myself as I cut out the bag at Super Sew Day right under Julie’s nose! She may have noticed the fabric, but I just didn’t make a big deal out of it.

I didn’t have a good sense of how large these bags would be. I hope this one isn’t too small. It will work for a bag or accessory project for sure, but probably not for a large quilt project. Julie doesn’t knit or crochet, but she does have embroidery projects and this will work for one of those as well.

It is, as I may have mentioned, a fairly easy project. I think the ByAnnie patterns seem overly complicated sometimes. The directions are very complete and I have grown attached to the binding instructions, but in general I think they seem overly complicated.

Gift Post #3: Percheron Pouch

Percheron Pouch for Kim
Percheron Pouch for Kim

The Percheron Pouch ended up very well. Despite my despair when I was finishing it, it turned out fine.

Although I am not a fan of brown and beige, I think the brown and beige handbag zippers work with the Paris fabric.

Percheron Pouch: bottom has OdiCoat
Percheron Pouch: bottom has OdiCoat

There is a little bit of turquoise in the fabric to liven up the bag. I fussy cut the top so that the Paris motif shows, which means that most of the turquoise is on the bottom.

I was also able to fussy cut -sort of- the Paris motif on the back panel. The back panel makes up the hinge assembly for this bag.

As you might remember, I put Odicoat on the bottom to help keep the bag clean. You can’t really tell that there is anything on the bottom.

I chose a dusty turquoise for the inside or lining fabric. The lining is a little baggy so I need to work on that on the next one. Without putting Odicoat on the inside I am not sure how I would use one of these. I’ll have to think about it since I may want to make another for myself.

I still plan to make another since I figured out why the thing was so hard to put together – and I want to get it right. This is an interesting bag and I think it makes a great gift.

Gift Post #2: Project Bag for Mom

Mom's Project Bag
Mom’s Project Bag

I made a bunch of these project bags as Christmas gifts. Here is one I made for Mom.

Of course, I used the paint tube fabric. I still have a lot of it, so there are more bags in Mom’s future. The ByAnnie pattern** includes four sizes. This is the large size, but I don’t think it is very large. It is about half again as wide and tall as a sheet of notebook paper.

Mom's project bag back
Mom’s project bag back

I was kind of surprised at the size, actually, though I do have issues with understanding how big something is in real life when I look at an image online or check dimensions. If I had known the size, I would have made the extra large, which is also included in the pattern.

I am not sure I’ll make this pattern again. While it wasn’t difficult, once the quilting was done, I am not sure it is useful. There is no gusset, so how much stuff could actually fit? I don’t know. I haven’t tried one. Maybe for EPP pieces?

Two project bags for Mom
Two project bags for Mom

I hope these are useful despite the size. My Mom always finds good uses for the bags I make her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need at quilt shops, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

A Few More 2022 Donation Blocks

A lot of guild members are sick of these simple blocks, but I still like them. They are easy to make and work really well, as I have said a million times, for leaders and enders.

I am keeping some of these blocks to make a donation top. I haven’t made one in a long time and need to get back to it.

La Pass M16 More Pieces

Pentagons for La Pass M16
Pentagons for La Pass M16

As mentioned the other day, I had cut only enough pieces for one (of three!) Month 16 rosettes. The M16 process is taking me forever. I cut and basted at Sew Day, but I guess I didn’t make as much progress as I thought. I was cranky and irritable that day.

Or it feels like it is. The other day, I left work at 4 and started cutting and basting.

M16 Rosette #1 fussy cutting detail
M16 Rosette #1 fussy cutting detail

I used the same fussy cutting layout for the pink rosette as I did for the blue part of Rosette #1. I like how the blue one looks and hope the pink one will look similar.

I also didn’t use the snake heads for the green rosette. I used the fabric, but cut the flowers out of it and avoided the snakes. Apparently, insects are ok, but snakes are categorized with animal heads in my quiltmaking mind.

I also rearranged the colors quite a bit. One of the remaining M16 rosettes will have more spikes.

Minikins Season Three Projects

After writing about the Hackney on Sunday, I looked back at the patterns I have made from Minikins Season Three* and decided I wanted to see them all together. The Minikins patterns are bundles (12ish different patterns) of small project patterns from Sew Sweetness. So far, I have purchased all three bundles.

Here are the projects I have made from Minikins Season 3 patterns:

It’s kind of fun to see them all together, isn’t it? Not sure the designs really have a theme, but it doesn’t matter.

I haven’t made all the patterns, but I will some day. they make great gifts and I am constantly thinking of new ways to use the designs and new people to whom to gift them. People in the Sew Sweetness group complain that they don’t want all the patterns and want to buy them singly. I think they should just shutup and let Sara run her business the way she wants.

Check out the full Minikins page.

*no affiliation, just a happy customer 

Finished M16 Rosette

La Pass: M16 Rosette #1
La Pass: M16 Rosette #1

I finally finished the first rosette for Month 16. This month feels like it is taking forever and I haven’t even started writing the New Years cards, which take up a ton of after dinner time.

I am pretty pleased with the blue parts of this rosette. As I said before, the dark blue and the turquoise batik look GREAT.

I had to cut more pieces. On Sew Day, I only cut pieces for this one section and that took up some time in the evening the other night. The next rosette is in process and I will, with luck, have a progress report soon.

Another Hackney

Green Hackney parts
Green Hackney parts

I liked the first Hackney so much that I started another one. I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the first one and wanted to try again.

This is another large size.

I also plan to put a handle on the end, like someone did in the Sew Sweetness group. Right now I am trying to figure out WHEN to put it on. I have asked the question in a couple of different ways, but think I need to get all the pieces out and try out what they said. Theoretically I am not understanding.

Green Hackney gusset
Green Hackney gusset

The second one has been going faster than the first one. That is one of the reasons I made the second one right away.

The zipper on this one looks brown, but it is kind of a browny-olive. Not a very attractive color, but I didn’t have a better one.

I think the outside and lining fabrics look good.

More Advent

Advent Label Assortment
Advent Label Assortment

I have been excited to the the labels I get in my Advent Calendar. They are super fun and I am really looking forward to using them.

I think it might be easiest to use them in bags. However, one says “I keep you warm” so that will definitely have to go on a quilt.

I might have to match bag fabric to the neon yellow label with the words “mash-up” on it!

Hackney Pouch Almost Finished

Hackney Pouch in process
Hackney Pouch in process

It is so strange to think of these bags as pouches. I really think of pouches as the one zip things like the Cotton Candy Pouch pattern. Still, Sara at Sew Sweetness calls these pouches. She is way more experienced than me.

This is another one of the Minikins Season 3 patterns from Sew Sweetness, like the Percheron and the Piebald Pouch. People tell me it will fit a Switch gaming device, which is why I chose the large size. Also, for my first go round, it is easier to make.

I struggled with not having a free arm on my machine., as I did with the Moto Pouches. I need to think about that and whether it is time to upgrade my machine. I am ready for a fancy machine again, but I am not sure I want to spend the money.

I am planning to make another one of these pouches for a Christmas gift. First, I need a gift and the recipient will appreciate the complexity. Second, I want to try again.

I still need to sew up the lining and fix one problem, but I’ll be able to finish today.

More La Pass Spikes

La Pass: Month 16 Spikes in progress
La Pass: Month 16 Spikes in progress

I am working steadily on Month 16. I am in love with the changes I made to the colors. The prescribed colors were ok. Mine are fabulous. Yes, I sound prideful, but too bad. They are good.

I still tried to use as much of the fabric provided as I could. Some I just don’t like and don’t want to use fabrics I don’t like.

As mentioned before, I am adding in more turquoise to call to the large rosette from next month.

Yes, I made an error in the piecing in this rosette. I saw it when I took the photo. I’ll fix it tomorrow….or tonight.

I also have to cut the rest of the pieces for the other two rosettes. I have some of them cut, but not all.

Finished: Knitting Needles Bag

Knitting Needles Bag - closed
Knitting Needles Bag – closed

I am really pleased with the way this bag went together and moderately pleased with how it came out. I want to make another one, now that I have the basics down in my head, because there are some things that didn’t come out right….for me.

Knitting Needles bag - starting to open
Knitting Needles bag – starting to open

I was glad to have a project on which to use canvas. I bought the cream dot canvas A LONG time ago and have just never used it. This pattern specifically called for canvas and I am determined to use fabric I have as much as possible, so I pulled it out. It looks very cheerful in the picture and IRL, too.

I thought the pattern was very good, too. I know I didn’t believe what the designer wrote, but she wrote it correctly.

Knitting Needles Bag snaps
Knitting Needles Bag snaps

I know I mentioned adding snaps in the last post, but I have to say that I was pleased to do so and have some ideas for using them. Also, again kudos to the designer: the snaps all lined up properly, which was great.

I used the SnapSetter I got from Sew Sweetness. I tried to use the pliers I bought, but couldn’t figure them out. I found the SnapSetter to be really easy and straightforward to use. Sara of Sew Sweetness has a video on how to use the tool.

Knitting Needles Bag - label and binding
Knitting Needles Bag – label and binding

My striped binding wasn’t the ideal choice. If I had it to do over again, I’d choose a solid. Normally, I am a huge striped binding fan, but in this case it clashes a bit with the dots and I think a solid would work better with that non-45 degree point in the front. The stripes make that weird angle look bad. Otherwise, the binding looks fine.

The other good thing about the pattern is that the designer tells you exactly where to put a label. I am excited about that since I just bought some Wunderlabels. You can see that I added one in the location indicated. It is covered when the bag is closed.

Knitting Needles Bag - fully open
Knitting Needles Bag – fully open

The bag has three compartments. It is designed for circular and double pointed needles. There are some optional directions for modifying the compartments for other types of needles. I have a lot of circular needles so I will use it for those.

Knitting Needles Bag - starting to fill
Knitting Needles Bag – starting to fill

I haven’t completely filled it yet, but I have started to put some needles in it.

The circular needles are placed so the snap is in the middle of the needle. This is great, because it is another check to make sure the needles don’t slide out.

I really like the shape and the way the bag snaps together. I highly recommend the pattern by Tinberry/Zaudal Creates.

La Pass Spikes in Month 16

La Pass: Cutting spikes
La Pass: Cutting spikes

I am really pleased that Lindsay is doing this project with me. She inspires me and I learn a lot from her knowledge.

She showed me her spike motifs a few months ago. As soon as I saw what she had done, I wanted to try it. This month is the month!

Basically, the design requires combining the fabrics in different ways to create a different look. I combined a pentagon and one of the long skinny triangles to make the largest piece. I used the dark blue Contempo fabric to really highlight the design.

La Pass: Month 16 start
La Pass: Month 16 start

I haven’t cut out all the pieces, but I had cut enough to start trying out my fabric choices and to see how the spikes would look. I also had to change a few of the fabrics. It’s ok, because I will use some of the new fabrics I chose for the last large rosette.