Pearce Sling Sewing Started

Pearce Sling front pocket
Pearce Sling front pocket

I made some good and positive progress on the Pearce Sling. Cyndi and I got together for a Sew Day at her house. It was really nice to hang out with her and I was able to focus and get quite a bit done on this piece.

Cutting it out the other day didn’t exhaust me. The pattern doesn’t have a ton of pieces, which is nice.

It takes quite a few steps to get to this point, but I didn’t feel annoyed about it. I felt like I was making good progress. Part of it was probably that I had someone with whom to consult and chat to.

I could have made more progress, but I decided to put a credit card pocket in the lining and I didn’t have a pattern piece with me. I switched to working on the Sleeping Bag Pouch, which was fun, too.

When I got home I pulled the credit card pattern piece out of the Sweetbay Crossbody project file and used it. It is a more vertical credit card pocket, so I might need to add another one, so Mom has enough for all of her cards. I was expecting the pocket to be horizontal. I am not as familiar with making these types of pockets, so I got what I got.

Awesome zipper finish - Pearce pocket
Awesome zipper finish – Pearce pocket

I will say that I LOVE the zipper end technique that Sara showed in Bag Lab at the beginning of the month. I know it is ridiculous, but I am so excited about how my zipper end looks. 

I am also excited about nailing down that skill. I had a little trouble with it on the Dogwood pouches I made, but after watching the Bag Lab tutorial, I understood the concept much better and was able to do it relatively easily. One key was to use thin pins to hold everything in place until you sew. I am not a big fan of thin pins, but they are key in this technique.

Pearce Sling front pocket
Pearce Sling front pocket

After doing all these steps, my Sling is well on its way.

Another Blast

Cosmic Crazy
Cosmic Crazy

A few weeks ago, I talked about the Diamond Test project, which I turned into a donation quilt and top. When I found that project, I also found the piece in the photo.

I sort of remember getting the pack of rectangles and sewing them together because I didn’t want to cut the pieces up. The colors are incredibly vibrant. I can’t remember anything else about it. I can only think of it as Cosmic Crazy right now.

It is about 35 in x 35 in at the moment. I have it on my design wall while I think about what to do. My current thought is that I will add a gold border then another border and call it done. It will be another donation quilt.

Sleeping Bag Pouch Started

Remember when I mentioned the sleeping bag pouch made by CraftyKristnf? Maybe I just mentioned it to you in my head? She posted some guidelines for making it and I have been mulling them over in my head. 

One thing she mentioned in the guidelines were the size of the base piece. A couple of days ago was the day I decided to start. I cut the fabric I planned to use as a base. WOW! It is large. When I think of a pouch, I think small, but this baby will be big. 

Template for a curve
Template for a curve

The top is curved so my first order of business was to figure out the curve. I decided it was more of an oval than a circle after trying different plates and templates laying around the house. I finally ended up with one of the platters from my china set.

The platter hasn’t been out of the china cabinet for a year, maybe two, so I am sure it was pleased to have an outing. 

I folded the fabric in half. In the photo above, the fold is at the top of the photo.

Sleeping Bag pouch base fabric cut
Sleeping Bag pouch base fabric cut

I lined up the ‘short’ end of the platter with the short end of the fabric. I also lined up the ‘long’ side of the platter with the open (non-fold) side of the fabric. It didn’t exactly fit, but it worked well enough. I drew a line and then cut a curve along the non-folded side of the fabric. 

I was very pleased with the way the base fabric was shaped. I plan to trace it and use it as a template for future pouches like this. I don’t want to keep running downstairs for my platter. LOL!

The example CraftyKristnf showed uses Renaissance Ribbon and is absolutely gorgeous. I’d love to make one like that. I have plenty of Renaissance Ribbons so materials are no problem. I didn’t want to use them if I was going to wreck my first effort. Selvedges occurred to me. I have a bin full of them as I haven’t cleared it out and given the most recent ones to Amy yet. 

Applying selvedges to base
Applying selvedges to base

Before I started applying selvedges, I put some SF101 on the back of the base fabric. I thought it would strengthen the fabric for the applique’. 

Next, I started arranging and pinning selvedges to the base fabric. Since the top is curved, I was able to use smaller pieces at the top. In the photo, left, you can see the arrows pointing to the curves at the top of the base fabric. 

Sleeping Bag Pouch laid out
Sleeping Bag Pouch laid out

I was working on something else at the same time, so I dipped in an out of adding selvedges when I needed a break from the other project.

By the end of my sewing session, I had all the selvedges laid out and pinned down. Some of the selvedges are from favorite or much loved fabrics, which makes me happy. 

My plan is to start sewing the selvedges on to the base and then trim the piece to size and shape of the base fabric. Then I’ll make the template, adjusting if necessary. 

I feel so happy that I am trying this and that, so far, it is working out well.

 

Started a Pearce Sling

Pearce Sling cut out
Pearce Sling cut out

Clearly I found my Sewjo again, because once again I am starting projects right and left. The latest is the Pearce Sling. I started it for my mom.

A few months ago, I made her a Day Trip Wallet. I made it so she wouldn’t carry a 40 lb. purse around after her surgery. She uses it all the time, but when she came over she had the Day Trip looped over her shoulder (cross body) and her hands full of stuff. Not great for someone with balance issues.

The Pearce sprang to mind. I bought it with the recent 4 pack release of patterns from Sew Sweetness. This isn’t one of the patterns I thought I would make from the 4 pack, but I am kind of glad I am making it. It is slightly larger than the Day Trip, so I thought it might work for my Mom to keep her more hands-free. 

I haven’t made a backpack before, but I think I can do it. Perhaps this will set me up to tackle the Pandora Charisma.

More Progress on SDT

There have been a few bumps in the road to finishing this project. Due to the thick interfacing described in the previous post, this is taking additional time. I thought I would finish over the weekend, but am still working on this. 

Sewing Date Traveler lining assembled
Sewing Date Traveler lining assembled

The lining is done and ready to be put together with the exterior.

I really should, as a rule, make bag linings smaller than exteriors. This designer didn’t note that in her directions and I didn’t do it. I’ll need to think about a measurement that would be good to use when cutting a smaller lining. For example, should I cut the pieces one half inch smaller or an inch smaller or what?

Sewing Date Traveler Lining with Leash
Sewing Date Traveler Lining with Leash

I added a leash to the inside. This isn’t part of the pattern, but they are easy enough to add. I may make a small Open Wide pouch with a lobster clip for added storage. The leash will also be useful for keys.

Putting everything together is proving to be a challenge. Despite my practice at anchoring linings to exteriors with Lynette, I can’t figure out how to do this one.

If I make this again, I will consult with Lynette about that. Neither of us could make the meeting and I need this done before the 26th.

 

Inspired by Sidewalk

Sidewalk by LauraM
Sidewalk by LauraM

I was so excited to see that Laura was inspired  to make a Sidewalk quilt when she saw one of mine in the batch of BAM quilts given to her for quilting.

Green Sidewalk by LauraM
Green Sidewalk by LauraM

At Sew Day, we talked about it and she was excited that I had made the original one (aside from the one I saw at the Fair). She showed me a picture of one with a green background. I have been thinking about making one with a color for a background. I am not done with the white background yet. I can see where white strip blocks would work well with some kind of colored background.

We talked about making it bigger and it occurred to me to make a 12″ version. I can easily adjust the pattern, but I would have to find a new ruler if I actually pieced a larger quilt!

New Pencil Roll

Is this a bag, do you think? On my computer, the folder is under ‘My Projects –> Bags”, but I wonder if it is a bag. I probably should call that folder ‘Small Projects’ instead of bags, but ‘Bags’ comes first in the alphabet, so doesn’t require as much scrolling.

Pencil roll in progress
Pencil roll in progress

I promised MaryC a pencil roll after she saw the one I brought to the organizer swap. I finally got started on it.

Yes, I am using the same fat quarter pack I used for the first one. I am using different fabrics for the pockets and flaps. In a way I am also trying to see how many projects I make with that fat quarter pack. I want to use a good portion of the FQ pack for each project, not just one piece. Obviously, I am using other fabrics, but I am still getting a lot out of the 3.25 yards.

Sidewalk #3 Finished

Sidewalk #3
Sidewalk #3

I made good progress on Sidewalk #3 and was able to get this finished quickly. Using one patch, instead of improv piecing or Half 16 patch blocks, for the 8.5 inch x 4.5 inch units helped make the piecing go very quickly.

This is already with Laura waiting to be quilted. 

I noticed after it was gone that I forgot to put a top border on. WTH? Oh well. I’ll do better next time.

I know I made a back for this quilt, but I didn’t take a picture of it. Again, WTH? Not like me at all.

EPP Ball #8 Finished

EPP Ball #8, one side
EPP Ball #8, one side

I finished the eighth EPP ball and will send it off to the owner next week.

I had hoped that this would get me back to La Pass, but so far it hasn’t.

The Beanie Baby pellets kind of gathered on one side, so it doesn’t roll very well. I have been trying to move them, but they are proving stubborn. I have to rethink how I fill these in future. I like the Beanie Baby pellets to provide some weight, but be evenly distributed. I am not sure what happened this time.

I do like these little balls and can make them very quickly for friends’ babies. 

More About the EPPic Bag

Tula Pink Owl fabric
Tula Pink Owl fabric

It’s been a good while since I cut out the EPPic Bag. I decided to go through my project bags over this weekend and this was the first one on the list. I decided to use the owl fabric from Tula Pink for the exterior. I wanted to cut it out and cross that off the cutting list. 

I know I was in an agony of indecision when I first started choosing fabric about whether to make this for myself or not. I decided it doesn’t matter and I am just going to make it the way I want. We’ll go from there. It might be a bag I can enter in the Fair.

EPPic: fussy cut owls
EPPic: fussy cut owls

Proceeding from there, I fussy cut the owls in the right size and did some interfacing of pieces. I used a lot of Decovil Heavy and hope that will be heavy enough for the ‘heavy’ interfacing indicated in the pattern. I tried to be very careful about lining up the center with the center of the owl. The owls are drawn in such a way that I was able to line up the ruler on the center line pretty easily. 

EPPic all cut out
EPPic all cut out

I haven’t actually done any sewing yet, but we’ll see if I get to it.

Four Patch Fun

I am juggling a lot right now and every time I go near my sewing machine, I just don’t feel like turning it on. Some of this has to do with finishing the Handbag Sampler and getting it ready to be quilted. That was a momentous (for quiltmaking) occasion. Part of me feels like everything is done, even though my to do list is still filled.

I know it doesn’t look like that to you as I keep posting. 

I am wandering around near my projects and have plenty on which to work; I just don’t seem to do it. Nothing is super pressing, I guess. 

Four Patch Fun blocks
Four Patch Fun blocks

Finally, I got out the directions for Bonnie Hunter’s leaders and enders challenge, Four Patch Fun, which I mentioned recently. I made some size adjustments so I could use up the leftover strips from the Half Hexie Star project and just started sewing these small blocks together. 

They are very fast to sew and look great together. I don’t know how the different sizes will look together, but we will find out at some point.

From each Half Hexie Star I get enough pieces for half of the pieces I need for two blocks. As you can see above, the blue Tula True Colors print and the pink/purple Tula True Colors print both show up twice. I am trying to make them different by shuffling the backgrounds. I want each block to look different, if I can easily manage it. 

There is something very satisfying about seeing these stack up.

Sewing Date Traveler In Progress

I found the Sewing Date Traveler pattern a few months ago. It is a free pattern on the Robert Kaufman site. It was designed by Cynthia Frenette. I looked her up on IG, but didn’t see any other bag patterns. I wasn’t sure whether I would make it or not, but saved the pattern anyway. 

Recently, I found out that my mom has to have another surgery. After looking at various examples on IG, I decided to make this to corral all the little things (phone, glasses, book, etc) that lay around a hospital room. She had a nice big ICU room before, but we hope she doesn’t get sent there and I don’t know how big the normal rooms are. 

RK Sewing Date Traveler
RK Sewing Date Traveler

The bag doesn’t have a closure, so it will be used more as an organizer than security. I keep thinking of it as a tray. The picture on the RK site is a little confusing until you read the directions (which I actually did for once). I thought this bag was more like the Sew Together Bag. I thought the green pocket on the inside back was another zipper pocket. In truth, that is a slip pocket on the back lining. The construction is a bit like the Sew Together Bag. If you have made one of those, you should be able to make this without much trouble. 

Famous last words. LOL. The construction, for me, hasn’t been the problem. It is very straightforward, if different from the other bag designers whose patterns I normally use. The problem is the interfacing. Since this will be used for who knows how much stuff, I wanted it to stand up to some heavy use. I thought foam might be ok, but wanted something stiffer if I could find it. The pattern calls for Pellon 65. It is described as “… Extra Heavyweight is a sew-in interfacing for extra firm body and stiffening. It is great for printing, visor brims, backpacks, and drapery headers.” I have a chart for interfacing equivalents, but I couldn’t find an equivalent for Pellon 65 on any of them. The description told me a little about how stiff it was and I thought I wanted it stiffer. I used Pellon Peltex 71F, which I knew was thicker than how Pellon 65 was described. It is thick! I don’t use it that often, but once I started, I couldn’t backtrack. 

Sewing Date Traveler lining assembled
Sewing Date Traveler lining assembled

At the moment, the exterior, which has the Peltex attached, is flat on my ironing board, but the lining is assembled. I thought the bag would be larger, but I think it is a good size. Also, it isn’t exactly small. 

I thought I would get the whole thing finished over the weekend, but, as you can see, that didn’t happen.

Diamond Test Blast from the Past

At a recent guild meeting, we talked about themes for the Fair challenge. One idea was an ugly fabric challenge. Been there done that. I am not a fan. 

Diamond Test Piece
Diamond Test Piece

When I was rummaging for the Handbag Sampler a few weeks ago, I found a few small pieces and some blocks about which I had forgotten. One of the pieces was a diamond test I worked one before I made the Fabric of the Year 2010 quilt and to test a border idea for one of the Bullseye quilts. I also found a post about it. I thought it was older, but I guess 15 years is old enough. This test was made with ugly fabrics. I think the outer brown might be a Civil War print. Yuck.

I didn’t remember making this when I saw it and knew I wasn’t going to make it the center of a quilt. I decided to make it into a donation quilt. My mantra is “someone will like it” whether I like it or not. 

Diamond test with borders
Diamond test with borders

The color scheme was a bit depressing to me. That is one reason why I am not excited about an ‘ugly fabric’ challenge. I decided to pull out the greens. The more subtle greens in the background of the border print are hard to see, but the odd greens I found worked very well. I used a lot of green not only to make the quilt a decent size, but also to overwhelm the brown.

Diamond test with outer borders
Diamond test with outer borders

The piece wasn’t quite big enough, so I found some browns that weren’t hideous and added some additional strips. I didn’t have enough to put on both sides. I used two different prints that are similar colors.

The brown borders are ok. And I’ll be able to say I used some brown. 😉

Diamond test back
Diamond test back

The back was with the test piece. it started as that beige with the stripes around three sides. It was small, so I made it larger as well.

Trying Out the Hera Marker

We talked about Hera markers at the guild meeting in July. I have a couple of Hera markers, but had never tried it for marking quilting lines.

Using the Hera
Using the Hera

I had the opportunity to try it out on my most recent pencil roll. WOW! It worked really well and prevented me from erasing lines for hours (well, 15 minutes, maybe. 😉

One of the Hera markers I have is on one end of the bagmaking tool (in my mind) that I got from Modern American Vintage. I found out it was a Hera “marker” when I went looking for it on the Modern American Vintage site.  It is actually called the Point Turner / Hera Marker Combo Tool. 

Hera marker lines
Hera marker lines

I didn’t know, exactly, that the rounded end was a Hera marker. I might have if I had thought about it. I used that round end to smooth out the seams of bags after I turn a bag right side out. It works really well for that, especially in corners that are slightly rounded. 

As it happens, it works really well as a Hera marker, too!

You don’t have to buy this particular tool to get the same/similar results. Modern American Vintage has beautiful dedicated Hera markers (no point turning). They are also wood, so you don’t have to worry about adding more plastic to the environment. You can get a Clover Hera marker**. They also offer a slim version**. I don’t know why you would need a slim version, but if you do they have it. Maybe for travel because it takes up less space?  I like Clover as they provide quality products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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