Finished: Floral Reef Cosquilla

Cosquilla - finished front
Cosquilla – finished front

Hooray! I finished the newest Cosquilla.

I know I said I was sewing this pouch quickly. I really was and I actually finished it on August 13. However, I had a lot of other stuff to post. I put this pouch straight into use then I didn’t post about it.

I am pleased with the other two Cosquilla pouches, but I think this one is my best so far. I was very calm and not in a hurry when I sewed it. I took my time and I think this is the reward. 

Cosquilla Zipper Pocket
Cosquilla Zipper Pocket

I wanted to highlight the seahorse, but it’s head is hidden by the zipper placket on the pocket. 🙁 I also wanted to cut off the snake, but it’s head is still visible.  Oh well. At least it is a pink and purple snake.

Cosquilla - seahorse surprise
Cosquilla – seahorse surprise

The seahorse is a pleasing surprise when the pocket is opened.

I used two different kinds of vinyl on this pouch. As mentioned, I thought putting the Floral Reef vinyl over the busy Floral Reef print would mean that I couldn’t see either clearly.

Cosquilla #3 - top
Cosquilla #3 – top

I considered different fabrics to use for the binding. Overall, I think the Tula Pink purple (Aster??) Tiny Dots works very well. The purple doesn’t quite match the zipper. They work together well anyway.

 

 

 

 

Cosquilla -Floral Reef side
Cosquilla -Floral Reef side

I had some clear vinyl, so I used that over the pocket and the Floral Reef vinyl for the side main panel. I still think the motifs on the fabric and the motifs on the vinyl interfere a little with each other, but it isn’t too bad. I’ll have to think about that when I consider buying other printed vinyls.

Cosquilla #3 - handle
Cosquilla #3 – handle

I think I probably should have put some SF101/ProFuse on the handle, but the handle won’t get much use, so I think it is ok. 

I am so pleased with the binding. I used the HP2 foot again and sewed slowly. It was a little short, so I added a straight of grain piece, which was a little problematic when sewing. Otherwise, machine sewing the binding worked very well. I am not embarrassed with how it looks.

I think this was a good fabric combination to use for this pouch. I wasn’t sure how I would use the fabric once it arrived. Seeing it in use when I need a handbag zipper will make me smile.

 

Additional Pandora Charisma #2

The Pandora Charisma #2 has been on my mind. I worked on it a little last week and realized I was at the assembly point. Nearly all of the pieces are ready to be assembled into a bag. The sewing of this version has been a lot easier than the first time. And much less anxiety provoking. 

Sewfisticated substrates
Sewfisticated substrates

The next step was to get the zipper gusset done, but I was anxious about the layers. The outside is made with the same pleather/Diamond Vinyl as Pandora Charisma #1. I took a breath, cut the pieces I needed and made a start. I had the good sense to install a leather needle and the HP2 foot*. I don’t know what HP stands for in the Elna world, but maybe I should call it my Harry Potter foot since it is really magical. 😉

There were about 5 layers of the Diamond Vinyl through which to sew. Once I was setup, I went for it. My machine sewed through them all like a champ. Granted I sewed very slowly, but it worked!! I was thrilled.

I had to do a lot of ripping over the weekend. It was one of those “it’ll be fine” moments and I should have taken heed sooner. Live and learn!!

I was able to rivet crucial points at Sew Day, thanks to MaryC.

Now I am on to final assembly.

 

 

 

 

*N.B. “Suitable for the dual feed narrow system, the HP2 foot combines the advantages of a slim ¼” foot with dual feed capability. Providing high visibility, it is ideal for precisely sewing curves and topstitching. In addition, it guides simultaneously the top and bottom layers of fabric for perfect results when quilting and matching patterns. It must be used together with the HP needle plate.” from Elna site

La Passacaglia Again

La Pass, Sept. 2026
La Pass, Sept. 2026

In May of 2024 I said that La Pass wasn’t dead. It pretty much was, though, as I haven’t worked on it since then. Lately, it has been calling my name. 

I pulled it out the other day and decided that the border fabric was a bad choice. I have been ripping it off. You can see at the top that the border that was there is now gone. I still need to add some pieces so I can keep the gorgeous woven rosette that I designed. I am working slowly on what to do about that.

Part of that process is looking at a section very carefully and extending out parts that were cut off for some reason. There are a lot of places where this needs to be done. I thought I could just fill them in with a border, but that isn’t going to work. This isn’t a bad solution, however, as I really like English Paper Piecing. I have enough fabric, so far, and I think it will make the quilt better.

I am going to back to the idea of cutting off some of the edges. I just want to be able to choose which edges carefully.

QoV Block

Quilts of Valor block
Quilts of Valor 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

Flower #8 v.1
Flower #8 v.1

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.

Flower #8 v.2
Flower #8 v.2

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.

More Pandora Charisma #2

Pandora Charisma back panel sleeve pocket
Pandora Charisma back panel sleeve pocket

The last time I worked on the Pandora Charisma #2 was back in July. I have been itching to work on it again, but hadn’t quite gotten to it lately. That changed on Sunday. I came back from viewing the amazing dahlias in Golden Gate Park and got to work.

Having all the pieces and parts in one project bag really helped. 

First I made the tablet sleeve. I kind of wanted to make it from vinyl, so I could see the lovely Brocade Peony print I used for the main panel. I decided vinyl would look great, but not provide any protection for my  tablet. I hunted around and found some of the Tula Poms and used them for the padded sleeve. When I stick my items into the bag, I’ll be able to see the flowers.

Pandora Charisma zipper/slip pocket
Pandora Charisma zipper/slip pocket

I did use vinyl for the lining zipper pocket. I decided to put the pocket on at an angle, but it ended up just looking a little wonky. I wanted it to be more accessible and thought that putting it at angle would help. Perhaps I need to think that through a little more for next time.

Now I am ready to put the whole thing together. I think I might have skipped making the gusset, but can easily sew one. I am finding that having made the first one means making this one is more understandable.

Starting Sidewalk #7

In the category of TMI, I had some dental work done yesterday and spent some time clearing out my email inbox, but otherwise laid on the couch and was a potato. I did get some stuff done over the weekend, which made me happy.

White Color Strip / sidewalk blocks
White Color Strip / sidewalk blocks

I got some fabric as a gift a week or so ago and decided it would work really well for my next White Strip donation top.

The White strip blocks had been laying around not inspiring me. With the new fabric in hand, I cut it up at SueS’ Sew Day. With that done, I was able to sew large and small squares to the strip blocks to come up with these larger blocks on Saturday. 

Sidewalk #7: White Strips in process
Sidewalk #7: White Strips in process

Most of the blocks have been sewn so I need to start chunking. I was able to use almost all of the gift fabric, which is great. 

This is a very different look for the white strip tops I have made in the past. This top will also straddle two series of quilts, Color Strip and Sidewalk.

26 Projects August 2026 #8

Finished August 2026 Quilt Projects

None this month.

Finished August 2026 Bags and Small Projects

->Finished 2026 Quilt Projects

->Finished 2026 Bags and Small Projects

 

Projects Ready for Quilting / In the Quilting Process

Warm Four Patch Fun quilt top

All the WIPs

WIPs are projects on which I am working. This means that I am past the cutting out of pieces stage,  some sewing has taken place.

  • Country Revival – I am well into piecing. Flower #5 is done and I have started to cut out Flower #6.
  • La Passacaglia – I decided to change the border, which means moving a couple of the rosettes. Daunting so I haven’t worked on it.
  • Pantone Project – it has been more than a year (where does time go?) since I worked on this. I need to get back to it.

Cut Out & Stopped

Still UFOs

I still have UFOs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled, it hasn’t been worked on in awhile or it is waiting its turn to be worked on. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

I am annoyed that some of these are still UFOs. 

 

Thank you for reading!

August 2026 Donation Blocks & Quilts

This Month’s Blocks

I made my goal of 30 blocks this month plus some! I am not stressing myself out over the goal, but I do want to celebrate when I can.

THIS MONTH’S QUILTS

Sidewalk #7: White Strip
Sidewalk #7: White Strip

Various & Sundry 2026 #8

Admin

I updated the Glossary.

The Minikins page, which is turning into a general Sew Sweetness page, is also up to date.

I updated the tutorials page.

Projects, Classes, Patterns, Techniques & Tutorials

I saw a pattern for a rectangular bag about the size of a sideways wine bottle. It is from Ujamaa Bagettes. The pattern is called Wined Up. The shop has several other patterns as well.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions, Services & Supplies

The Quilt Index is an index of quilts, as the name says. Regular people, like YOU can add your quilts to the index. Click the link, fill out the form, upload a photo and voila!

Events, Exhibits and Organizations

The first is at the Iowa Quilt Museum in Winterset, Iowa. It’s a retrospective of 10 years of exhibits at the museum with quilts from every (or most?) show they’ve done. Judy’s Supernova quilt is one of the quilts on display until October, 18, 2026.

https://www.iowaquiltmuseum.org/current-exhibits/

All the quilts that were part of Judy Martin’s gallery walk at the recent Quilters Hall of Fame Celebration are now on display at the Marie Webster House until October 3. Additionally, they will have Playful Spirit, which was part of the Jewel Box Quilt Guild exhibit and Judy’s daughter’s Crazy Quilt, which was also part of that display.

https://quiltershalloffame.net/exhibitions/

Judy’s local Grinnell Historical Museum will have 25-30 of her quilts up from late August until sometime in March of next year.

https://www.grinnellhistoricalmuseum.org/

Media & Articles

If you don’t read Judy Martin’s occasional newsletter, do it. Totally worth your time.

Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist famous for her polka-dot-covered paintings and mirrored “Infinity Room” installations, died at 97. She was an avant-garde radical who became a pop icon. This is so sad on top of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.

Inspiration

Apparently, I am not inspired this month…or too lazy to ask for permission to post things.

NQR

Everything this month is quilt related. 

Finished: Urban Sea Backpack

Urban Sea Backpack - front
Urban Sea Backpack – front

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. 

Urban Sea backpack - interior right side out
Urban Sea backpack – interior right side out

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.

Urban Sea - front pocket
Urban Sea – front pocket

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.

Urban Sea - back with straps
Urban Sea – back with straps

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.

 

 

August UFO Challenge Update

At the guild we started our seventh month of the UFO challenge. My list is thus far:

          1. Serendipity Lady – did not finish, though I did work on it
          2. Paris Cell Phone Wallet –done
          3. EPPic Case – done
          4. Rose Petrillo Bag
          5. Megan’s Bone Enigma–done – this month’s project, but I had to finish it to send it to a friend so it has been done for awhile. 
          6. Sheffield – done
          7. Sun hat
          8. Chickadee
          9. Extra large project bag–done
          10. Joni Tote bag
          11. Catalan Storage Cube
          12. Pandora Charisma –done
Sun Hat - lining side
Sun Hat – lining side

This month #7 was pulled, which pleased me. I really needed to get that Sun Hat finished. I guess I feel that way for all of my UFOs.

I did finish my second version this month.

As I mentioned before I groan every month when the number is pulled. I actually didn’t groan this month. I was happy to work on the hat. More than just progress on my project? Progress on my attitude?

 

Urban Sea Backpack in Progress

Urban Sea Backpack cut out
Urban Sea Backpack cut out

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. 😉

Urban Sea -Side pocket in process
Urban Sea -Side pocket in process

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.

Urban Sea -front pocket in process, closed
Urban Sea -front pocket in process, closed

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.

Urban Sea -Top and front pockets
Urban Sea -Top and front pockets

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: Everything But the Machine Bag

Sew Day Finishes
Sew Day Finishes

I finished the EBTM bag on Saturday at the special Everything But the Machine Sew Day. Mine was one of the seven that were finished.

As mentioned, I wasn’t sure about this bag, but as I worked on it, it grew on me. I was glad I chose good fabric. 

Finished Everything But the Machine box
Finished Everything But the Machine box

I think I might replace my fabulous Tupperware boxes, companions since I started quiltmaking, with this bag. We’ll see. Making the switch will be hard. I am used to my various storage containers. 

The bag has a handle as well as a suitcase sleeve — called a Trolley pocket in the pattern. I know a lot of people know what trolleys are, which I do, too.  We don’t use that term in my area. We use wagon, streetcar and cable car for the various versions. 

I am pleased with the fabric I chose as well. I wasn’t sure about the grey poppies, but they tone down the pink a bit. 

Everything But the Machine bag on rolling case
Everything But the Machine bag on rolling case

Several people omitted the suitcase sleeve, but I put it on as there is a chance that I would hook it on my rolling sewing machine case. I made sure to check that the sleeve was big enough. 

Everything But the Machine bag suitcase sleeve
Everything But the Machine bag suitcase sleeve

I kind of like the pocket even if I don’t slide the bag over a suitcase handle.

The pocket has an internal zipper pocket, as you can see. The pocket used an interesting double tube construction, which I would love to play with a little more. I also like the internal zipper pocket, though it might be a pocket where items go to hide. 

Everything But the Machine bag vinyl slip pocket
Everything But the Machine bag vinyl slip pocket

Under the suitcase sleeve is another slip pocket. I used vinyl for the slip pocket. It has a bit of fabric on the top for binding. It was very easy to make. That section, however, was tricky to sew, because of the thickness. I had my travel machine, too, rather than my new machine, which probably could have handled the thickness with no problem.

Everything But the Machine bag rivets
Everything But the Machine bag rivets

I used MaryC’s method for the handles, which is to make a short handle that doesn’t move, can’t be adjusted or unclipped. I did take the opportunity to rivet the handle to the bag. Riveting is still fun!

I realized later that I forgot to sew a label on it. It isn’t too late. I can do it by hand.

I had a lot of various troubles with the pattern, so having Mary lead us in making this was great.