Others have made blocks for my stepdad for the Quilts of Valor quilt.
I think they have done a great job making the blocks look lively (not boring). The placement of the colors in a limited palette is really good.
Other QoV Blocks
Tag: Gifts
QoV Block
My stepdad is ill and I wanted to get him a Quilt of Valor quilt.
I tried back in 2016 and never heard back. I reached back to the woman I had spoken to and her email address no longer worked. I left a request with the situation on their website and haven’t heard anything.
At SueS’ Sew Day I asked if anyone had a contact. Suddenly, a quilt was being designed and everyone there was picking out blocks to make for a quilt. The block above is a 26″ block that I made.
I am so grateful to the guild members. The quilt won’t be a ‘real’ QoV quilt, but I think the sentiment will be just as meaningful.
Flower #8
I finished Flower #7 a few days ago. I wanted to keep up the momentum, so I started cutting out#8 when I had a few extra minutes over the weekend.
I went to City Made Quilts the other day to check out their solids. They carry a brand other than Kona, which is a relief, Michael Miller, I think. I bought a couple to mix with my Tilda fabrics so I could use the lavender and peach Tilda on Flower #8.
I cut the lavender and peach solids and the print then went from there. I had some other pieces cut, so I tried those. Some of the pinks don’t work for me, so I tried again.
The version, right, is what I have at the moment. It is sitting on my design. I want greens in the corners, but am not sure this combination is working.
Finished: Urban Sea Backpack
I finished the Urban Sea Backpack. As mentioned, it is for my Mom. It isn’t perfect, but, in general I am pleased with how it came out.
As is usual, I want to start another one right away. I am slightly daunted by the amount of cutting, which may drive me to figure out the Scan ‘n Cut.
The more I look at this project, the happier I am. There are some parts I would like to do better, but I was pleased to look at them with curiosity and an eye towards figuring how how I could do better. I didn’t look at them with shame or the need to explain.
Before I turned the piece right side out to finish it, I took a photo of the interior.I wanted to get a better view than the one I usually get by photographing down into the bag. This view gives me a better view of the details of the interior.
I am super pleased with the interior. I think it is the fabric. Disco Poms is a GREAT fabric. I may need to get more. I am glad I used it as it is super cheerful.
The front pocket was a bit of a Hail Mary. I am not super fond of the ByAnnie mesh. It is fine and a high quality product. My stuff just gets stuck in the mesh. I really want to find a mesh that has smaller holes like some lingerie bags. I am thinking of buying a lingerie bag, disassembling it and trying the fabric in a bag. The colors are fairly limited, so, for the moment, I am either substituting vinyl like in the Everything But the Machine bag or sticking to mesh and hoping for the best. One good thing about mesh is that you can see what is in your pocket.
People in the Sew Sweetness FB group commented on the straps. I am not sure they are anything special. I did follow the directions and think I would like to add more padding in the future.
My new machine, especially the HP foot really helped me make this bag. I am a lot more relaxed making bags-few tense shoulders and only a little yanking with tweezers, which is better for my body overall. I am much less worried about whether my machine can handle what I want to make.
Urban Sea Backpack in Progress
I finally was able to finish cutting out the Urban Sea Backpack. Whew! That was a lot of cutting.
You might notice that none of the pieces are square. I had to cut them all out with scissors except for the couple of pieces that shared a shape with the Chickadee backpack. Other than that the cutting process just took a long time. I had time to make sure the fabrics were oriented in the same direction across pieces and all the interfacings were correct.
If this cutting experience doesn’t drive me to continue learning to use the Scan ‘n Cut, I don’t know what will. 😉
Once all the pieces were cut, it took a few days for me to get to the project again. As is usual, I started sewing smaller pieces into larger. Once of the first sections was the side pocket and I was pretty excited about how it looked. I was amazed at how clever the pieces were. There is one small triangular piece used in this pocket. As I was cutting, I couldn’t figure out where it would go. It fits in this pocket to extend the curved zipper tab. Genius!
It is not a flat pocket, it has some dimension, which will make it more useful.
Once a number of those sections were complete, I could start focusing on combining the smaller pieces into sections of the backpack. First, I made the front pocket, which required zipper tabs, a zipper and other bits and pieces.
I am pleased with my fussy cutting, too.
The sideways capital I piece at the top was another piece I couldn’t imagine using, but it was amazingly perfect. I really can’t imagine how Sara figures these bags out.
I thought it would be hard to add the inside of this pocket to the piece, but, essentially, I sewed the front pocket on top of the inside. Don’t try this at home without the pattern! Again, it worked perfectly.
At the moment, I am adding the top pocket/flap to the piece above.
It’s a new adventure! It’s also an adventure that I am enjoying. I sometimes feel frustrated when making bags, but so far I haven’t felt like that with this bag.
Finished: Flower #7
I finished Flower #7! I finished the block faster than I thought I would. It only took me almost all day rather than all day. 😉
I am pleased with how it came out. I think my fabric choices are good.
So far, my group of blocks looks good. The blocks are very different from each other, but the fabrics tie them together.
On to Flower #8.
New Backpack Challenge
After writing yesterday, I talked to my mom who was on her way to the ER again (she’s fine!) with a plastic bag to carry her stuff!!! I was horrified, but before I could speak, she said she was going to get a backpack for her stuff. Before I could think, I said I would make her a backpack.
I am not sure if I mentioned when writing about the Chickadee that I have never made a backpack before, at least one with real straps and buckles. The closest is the Flagler Backpack and the Scrap Lab Backpack. Neither of these are as structured or as complicated as the Chickadee.
I knew the Chickadee was in progress, obviously. That is for the Pink Project and I don’t know when it will be finished, so I decided to make the new backpack pattern from Sew Sweetness called the Urban Sea Backpack. I showed my mom and told her the size (finished Size: 12 inches long x 15 inches tall x 7 inches deep (30.5cm x 38cm x 18cm)) and she said that the Urban Sea would be perfect. So, now I am making another backpack. 😉
The next surprise was the fabric. I have used paint tube fabric for my mom for a long time. She really admired the bubble fabric in blues and pinks that Sara used on her test version. I showed her a picture of the Philip Jacobs Voluptuous fabric as a joke and she loved it! I might as well use it. I don’t have anything else slated for that fabric. I am going to pair it with the Disco Poms from Tula Pink. Same thing. I might as well use it.
The first step was to tape all of the pattern pieces together. I haven’t found any that are rectangular!!! I love the look of this backpack, so I don’t mind.
I was thrilled to find that the acrylic template for the Chickadee Backpack strap is the same exact piece as the straps in the the Urban Sea Backpack. Sara doesn’t sell acrylic templates any more, so this was awesome! I can use that template to cut out the several pieces (exterior, lining, foam, etc) I need for this backpack.
I spent about 4 hours on Sunday cutting out pieces for this project. I almost finished all the cutting, but that much standing was tiring after also standing a lot on Saturday. Even though I want to get to sewing, I am trying to be very Zen about the cutting as I found that each part of the process has its benefits.
More Chickadee Work
The Chickadee Backpack still has not been chosen as part of the UFO challenge, but I decided to work on it again. I worked on it a little last month so I could get a head start. I kind of wanted it to be chosen for the UFO challenge for August, but no dice. Maybe next month?
All the pieces are cut out and I ready to sew. I haven’t decided if I will start sewing yet. I would like to stick with the letter of the ‘law’ in the UFO project. I could cut out some of the other projects or continuing cutting them out as the case may be.
Another Metro Double Zip
I had it in mind to make another Metro Double Zip as a gift. I did it, but I didn’t give the gift as I wasn’t happy with how it came out.
It is perfectly serviceable, but I wanted it to look good if I was going to give it as a gift.
I was in a little bit of a rush and did things a little differently than I did on the second Metro Double Zip. That was a mistake, but I didn’t write down the parts that I made larger on the second one. Thus, I didn’t remember I kept some parts the same, which was part of the problem with the first one.
I love the strap technique!!!
As you can see, the back is quite boring without the waves. I could have fussy cut something, but was at Tim’s and didn’t have a lot of fabric choices. I really want to get this pattern to be more stuck in my brain. I have to make a few more and think of some different embellishments for the front.
While I was looking for something I found a similar pouch I received as a gift from BAM. I thought it might be an Aneela Hoey pattern, but I didn’t see it on her website or in her book. There are a million pouch patterns out there and it could be modified from a completely different pattern or made up.
Another Hippie Specs
I made another Hippie Specs case the correct way this time. My mistake on the previous one still makes a cool pouch. However, I still wanted to make it as intended.
I did not add a clip this time as I hadn’t quite worked through the steps when using vinyl.
I used the same flowery vinyl as I used on the previous one. Now my niece has three small items using this flowery vinyl. I guess it is her fabric.
I didn’t use a lining for this one, but I did cover the seam at the bottom with foldover elastic. The cut out piece sat around for awhile, but it was very quick to make once I got started.
Finished: Fish Hackney
I was pleased to finish the Fish Hackney in time for DH’s birthday. It has been awhile since I started this project. I am not sure when, but I bought this fabric in October of 2024. I didn’t make a note of cutting out the pieces, but it was sometime after that. I am glad to cross it off the list as it has been on my mind. I am also happy that DH seemed pleased with it. He was planning how he would use it, however, and thinking it would be good for storing reels, because the thickness of the pouch would protect them.
He did notice the issues that I had such as the weird handle placement.
I also had some trouble with the placement of the turning hole. I had forgotten that I needed to turn the lid as well as the bottom separately.
I went with the standard mesh pocket this time as I wanted to just get it done and not think about different options.
I made a note on the pattern to match the zipper tabs to the zipper and the foldover elastic/binding rather than the lining fabric. I think my zipper tabs look fine. They would have been less noticeable if I had used grey fabric.
I didn’t have quite enough of the lining fabric for the lining gusset. The stripe looks cheerful.
This is the one pattern I can think of that includes information about anchoring the lining. I did that on the front and back. The lining is still a little saggy baggy, but ok.
I also used the Frankenfoam I made at Sew Day a few weeks ago. I covered it with ProFuse and I couldn’t see the seams in the foam.
Of course, now I have used up some big pieces of the Frankenfoam, I am going to have to sew more small pieces together again.
I like this pattern a lot and am sad it has been such a long time since I made one. So many patterns! So little time!
Flower #6
I visited Cyndi for another Sew Day on Tuesday. Beforehand I prepped Flower #6 to work on there.
Having done all the cutting, etc. I was able to finish the block while I was there.
This is a good project for me to work on when I go sew with Cyndi. I can still talk and chat while I pay attention to piecing. The block takes a long time to piece which means that I don’t have to bring 12 projects to make sure I have enough to do.
Six blocks down, six to go. Progress!!!
More Metro Double Zip Fun and Games
After my adventures with waves the other day, I tried again and this version is great. I still wouldn’t put a driver’s license or credit card in the wave pockets, but some receipts or a photo would be ok.
I think the non-pocket side of this pouch is a little boring, though I guess it wouldn’t be if I fussy cut some cool fabric for that side. I think extra pockets is better, though.
I made the vertical measurement of the pouch a half inch taller as well, because I thought everything at the top was a little squished. I am pleased with the way this version came out. I plan to make a few more of these. I had one special request for it, so I’ll see what I can do.
BTW, the way Sara told me to make the strap is genius! I didn’t understand the directions at first, but when I got it, it was one of those AHA moments I wish I had known years ago.
Chickadee Started
I posted about my progress on the guild UFO challenge. What I forgot to mention is that I started cutting out the Chickadee Backpack as well. I didn’t cut it all out, but I did start cutting from the large piece of quilted foam I had Colleen longarm for me months (years?) ago.
This month’s UFO project hasn’t been chosen yet, but making a little progress will be helpful when the Chickadee is chosen.
I was also inspired by MaryC churning one out for a baby gift. She is amazing.
I was also pleased that she tried out a Sew Sweetness pattern! Many of my bag making friends don’t try Sew Sweetness patterns, despite my best efforts. Maybe she will try some of the others.
Metro Double Zip Fun and Games
I saw a picture of a pattern on IG. I couldn’t get the wave design out of my head. I didn’t want to buy the pattern as I don’t need a coin purse, or a pattern in Chinese. Also, I wanted to try it larger and thought I probably had several patterns I could use. I decided to play around with the Metro Double Zip pouch. This is a Sew Sweetness pattern from Minikins Season 2 that I thought would work in this context.
Minikins Season 2 is the one season from which I haven’t made many of the patterns. I am not a wallet or a clutch person. I mean I use a wallet and clutches occasionally, but not made from quiltmaking cotton. I also have grocery bags and am not into Essential Oils. As I have said before, I bought this season for the Day Trip Wallet. This also means that I am very excited when I have a reason to make one of the bags or pouches from this season.
The Metro Double Zip pouch is an unanticipated gem. I made two of them, each of which took me about 2 hours, aside from figuring out the wave. It was fun to figure out the wave pockets.
I have seen a number of curved pockets lately and I want to learn more about them so I can add them to bags as I want. My experience with the EPPic has made me positively bold!
The first one is totally usable, but MVP and not quite as usable as the second. I didn’t get the wave pockets right. They are a little small and floppy.
Still, I was fairly excited about actually making a change to a bag that wasn’t terrible. All of the stitching and turning of the pockets made them a bit thick, so I’ll change that along with making them taller.
I decided to try again. Stay tuned.