Tag: Gifts

Finished: Hindsight Superbloom!!

Hindsight Superbloom front
Hindsight Superbloom front

After years of whining about the Hindsight Superbloom, it is finally done. Apparently, thinking up someone to whom I could give this bag was the key.

I carefully fussy cut the panels, so those pink flowers were featured. I wasn’t sure how it would look, but it looks good to me.

Hindsight Superbloom - back
Hindsight Superbloom – back

I also remembered to machine sew on my label! Yay!

I like the way the handles look. That print is fun. The handles aren’t that comfortable, though. They seem to be made from some kind of polyester. I was trying to avoid sewing strips together to make the handles and that worked. I don’t think the recipient will be able to carry a lot of heavy items in the bag comfortably.

I used some dot fabric as the lining and it looks really fun. It also achieves my goal of being light colored, so easy to see the items in the bag.

The last photo (above, right) shows the bag closed. It has a recessed zipper. In that photo, the bag has all the small gifts I got for the family who are caring for my stepdad.

I think I might add a slip pocket or two to the next one I make.

Hindsight Superbloom - side pocket
Hindsight Superbloom – side pocket

One thing I love about this bag are the sides pockets. They are super cute. I don’t know if they are useful, but I think they would be.

I am really pleased with the way this came out. It went together really well.

 

Hindsight Superbloom

Hindsight Superbloom main body - in process
Hindsight Superbloom main body – in process

I finally started the Hindsight Superbloom. This is a project that has been on my list for a long time. I was excited to make this version at the time I made the first Superbloom. Somehow I lost momentum,  but recently I was inspired to pull out the fabric and the pattern and get busy.

Yes, I remembered to put my label on the bag before I started to assemble it! I am happy about that.

Hindsight Superbloom in process with handles
Hindsight Superbloom in process with handles

I had a little trouble with the handles as I was using webbing instead of making them from fabric. I eventually got them on the bag. UGH! I know why the process had to go the way it did, but I found it difficult.

I am always surprised at the size of this bag. It is quite roomy, but I always think it is bigger than it actually is.

So far, I am l loving the process. Those side pockets are awesome.

Finished: Walker Bag

Mom's Walker Bag- finished
Mom’s Walker Bag- finished

I didn’t think I would have to make another walker bag after I made the one for Friend Julie back in 2017.

Well, I did. Mom said she wouldn’t be using the walker long enough to warrant me making a bag for it. I waited about 2 weeks before making it, but finally made one the other night. She loves it and finds it very useful. I have to keep reminding her not to fill it up too much. She is limited to carrying 5lbs per hand.

I remember thinking the directions were confusing at the time. I made the same mistake this time that I made before: I sewed the Velcro inside the pocket. DUH! I hope the photos I added will help with that.

This time, I took the time to make some edits and add in some photos for next time. I hope I won’t have to use those directions again, but I am planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

New Month New Pillowcase

Camping Pillowcase
Camping Pillowcase

This is the last pillowcase before I have to buy more fabric. I have found some great fabrics and will have to go and buy them.

I don’t really consider camping mind expanding, but I guess it is. I like nature; I just don’t like the dirt and how hard everything is (washing dishes, showering, etc) when you go camping.

Still, the goal is to encourage this nephew to explore the world and get some non-school experience.

Evaluating Gifts

BAM 2020 Retreat Mega Pinnie - finished
BAM 2020 Retreat Mega Pinnie – finished

Periodically, I revisit the gifts I make for people. I know you have seen the posts about gifts I have made for my sister, my mom, Gerre and Julie. I really do like to give gifts that people will use, though I do give gifts, like the Mega Pinnie that are just fun and unique.

My Mom is staying with me while she recovers from major surgery.

She has brought along several bags and pouches I have made for her, such as the Take a Stand, the Poolside Tote, and the Percheron.

The Take a Stand has art supplies in it. She is using the Poolside Tote like a suitcase for random stuff and the Percheron is where she keeps the complicated crochet project I gave her as a kit gift.

Mom's Persimmon Pouch
Mom’s Persimmon Pouch

Still, it is not enough. I will need to make her a pouch for her hand quilting supplies. Right now they are in a plastic zipper bag. I know I made her a Persimmon Dumpling and an Inside Outside Pouch, but she didn’t bring either with her.

A Sew Together Bag is the obvious choice. She has one and I don’t want to make another right now. I am thinking about another Cotton Candy pouch. I am also thinking about a Brumby pouch. I haven’t made one of those yet, but recently received the templates as a gift. We will see. I want to look through my various patterns and see what sticks out.

What pouch or bag do you use for hand sewing supplies and tools?

Gift Post: Tim’s Project Bag

Tim's Project Bag
Tim’s Project Bag

I know it seems like Christmas is lasting forever on the blog. I made quite a few gifts, but it is also taking some time to post about them all.

Tim admired all the project bags I made last year, so I decided to make him one from Christmas.

I don’t have a lot of dark greens and thought these bright greens would be too much, but he loved the bag and said that he loves all greens.

I am super happy with the way this came out and will make one for myself next. Well, maybe not the next project, but the next time I make a project bag. 😉

Hugs & a Kiss Quilted

Hugs & a Kiss quilted
Hugs & a Kiss quilted

I received Hugs & a Kiss back from Colleen the other day. I am now working hard on binding it.

I want to get it in the mail soon so as to relieve my house of two quilts. This one and the one for the recipient’s brother, the Green & Grey Diagonal 9 Patch.

The quilting looks really nice. The quilt is covered in different sized circles.

It is also really nice to have something to bind.

Thinking about Christmas Pillowcases Again

7 Christmas Pillowcases
7 Christmas Pillowcases

I revisited my Christmas pillowcase gifts after seeing some on SIL#4’s bed on Christmas Eve. It occurred to me that there are a few new spouses/SOs for whom I had not made pillowcases. Nobody will know that they don’t have them, but it is only fair, especially if they see their spouse has one.

My tally was in a post from 2015 and there are a lot of new additions to the family, mostly spouses, but a few kids as well. The original tally was confusing, so I have rewritten it.

  • SIL#1: Total: 4 kids, 4 spouses/SOs, 4 grandchildren
    • Oldest son (3rd oldest nephew) + SO – DONE
      • 2 kids/grandchildren – need 2
      • grandkids Mom – need 1
    • Oldest daughter (Oldest niece + SO) – DONE
        • 2 kids/grandchildren – need 2
    • 2d son (not sure where he falls in the overall family order) + spouse – DONE
    • Youngest niece + SO – 1 DONE, need 1

TOTAL needed for oldest SIL’s family: 6

  • SIL#2: 3 kids, 2 spouses/SO, 2 great niece-phews
    • Oldest son (Oldest nephew) + spouse + 2 kids – DONE
    • 2d oldest son (2d oldest nephew)- DONE
    • 3rd son (middle of the pack nephew) + SO – 1 DONE, need 1

TOTAL needed for 2d oldest SIL’s family: 1

  • BIL #1: Spouse, 1 kid
    • Oldest son (3rd youngest nephew) – DONE

TOTAL needed for oldest BIL’s family: 0

  • SIL#3: 2 kids
    • Oldest daughter (Middle niece) + spouse – 1 DONE, need 1
    • Youngest son (middle of the pack nephew) – DONE

TOTAL needed for youngest SIL’s family: 1

  • BIL #2: 2 kids
    • 2d youngest nephew – DONE
    • Youngest nephew- DONE

TOTAL needed for youngest BIL’s family: 0

Overall total needed: 8

Well, that’s at least 8 yards of fabric I can use up right away in 2025. I need to check to see what Christmas fabric I have in case I need to get some on sale. I hope I have enough.

Gift Post: Cal Atlas Zipper Case

Cal Atlas pouch - closed
Cal Atlas pouch – closed

Another project I finished for the holidays was a second Atlas Zipper Case. This one went to SIL#2. She is a Cal (UC Berkeley) alumna so the fabric was appropriate.

As mentioned, the pattern is from Center Street Quilts. The second one went more quickly and came out really well. This is a really good pattern. I want to make more of them.

I didn’t have quite enough of the Cal fabric. I bought 5 yards several years ago and I am down to scraps after this project. I found some yellows and blues that matched the Cal fabric colors perfectly. I went looking for more of this fabric, but aside from Spoonflower options, this particular print is nowhere to be found.

Cal Atlas pouch - open
Cal Atlas pouch – open

This pattern requires quilting, as do many of the Center Street Quilts bag patterns. I learned a lot by quilting the other Atlas and applied this knowledge to this bag. As you can see, I only quilted it intensely in a few places, not all over the whole piece. That technique made it a lot more doable. I like very dense quilting for bags, as you know, so I really had to restrain myself.

Cal Atlas pouch - right
Cal Atlas pouch – right

I thought about making the privacy pocket (lower right) with vinyl instead, but ended up fussy cutting some of the Cal fabric and keeping it as indicated in the pattern for private items.

The interior fabric on the top vinyl pocket is an older AGF fabric and it is just a little off of the Cal yellow. I like it as an addition so the whole bag too matchy-matchy.

Cal Atlas pouch - left
Cal Atlas pouch – left

I think the most useful pocket will be the large vinyl pocket. It has a lot of space for various items.

There are also slip pockets underneath all the pockets described, so flat items can be safely placed there.

I did shorten the tail of the zipper. I had a longer piece than required and thought it would be fine, but it was really too long.

All in all, this is a great project.

Gift Post: Paint Tube Bathrobe

Paint tube bathrobe for Mom
Paint tube bathrobe for Mom

Before Christmas, I went to Mary’s again and we worked on this bathrobe. It wasn’t a complete bathrobe Christmas, but two people got them. That is about all the garments I can manage even with Mary’s excellent assistance.

This is a different pattern than the Tarot bathrobe. It has a flat collar instead of a shawl collar.

I bought this fabric awhile ago, sort of by accident. I was trying to replenish my stock of the dark grey version of this fabric and ended up with the light grey background. I like it, but Mom has put the stop sign up for more bags. I didn’t want to start a whole new set with this fabric anyway. I decided a bathrobe would be good. It used up most of the fabric.

As you know, I often get stuck somewhere on garments and my confidence drains away. Mary has been great about helping me. This time I was able to rip out some seams for one of her projects and also cut out a Classmates Tote for her to sew later. It was a good exchange for me, at least.

YM & Mom in their bathrobes
YM & Mom in their bathrobes

I was able to take a photo of both bathrobes and their people.

Gift Post: King Sized Pillowcases

3 king sized pillowcases
3 king sized pillowcases

Lil Sissy asked me outright for king sized pillowcases. Apparently, she has giant pillows and the cases I made for her are too small. Initially, I said no, then I found a big piece of turquoise and decided to make some.

These don’t feel as exciting as the other pillowcases I have made for her, but needs must. I have more of the Paris fabric now, so I can make her some more if I find another large piece of fabric to go with it.

Revisiting Gifts for Lil Sissy

My sister is constantly messaging me on IG and FB with cool pouches and great quiltmaking techniques. I finally told her to learn to quilt. LOL!

I do like giving her gifts as she uses them all – well, I have seen her with various pouches and I know she uses the apron and the pillowcases.

Use your gifts! There is always more fabric!

When I made the Enigma Bag for Lil Sissy’s birthday, I went looking for another ‘Revisiting’ post and couldn’t find one for her. I decided to write one after all the Christmas gifts have been distributed. I went through my older posts a few times and kept adding gifts I had made for her. I kept finding various things I had forgotten about. I was really glad to be reminded.

Gift Post: Sue’s I Spy Pouch

Sue's I Spy pouch - front
Sue’s I Spy pouch – front

I had a tough time deciding what to make for Carrie and Sue for Christmas. I don’t want to just make them anything. I want what I make to be useful. Eventually, after considering several Minikins patterns I hadn’t tried, I decided on I Spy pouches.

Is this a cop out?

No.

Sue's I Spy - back
Sue’s I Spy – back

As I have said before, these pouches are like eating potato chips for me. I can make one quickly. I also really enjoy making them. Because they are fast? Maybe. Mostly because they are useful.

Sue gets a color wheel on the back to help her pick out fabric. I also remembered to put a label on the pouch.

Some time ago I made Carrie and Sue Kit Supply Totes. The Hackney pouches I made for them fit nicely into the Kit Supply Totes. I thought the I Spy would fit nicely in it as well.