Thursday, June 27, 2013

Citrus Snack Bags

 
Remember the gift bags I made for Mother’s Day? There was quite a bit of fabric left over, so I made two more bags with the same pattern, just in the smaller snack bag size.
 

 


Monday, June 17, 2013

Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Teabag Pouch


Here we are already at the third week of the Zakka 2.0 Sew Along. Since my version of last week’s Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Towels is still a Work In Progress, why don’t I share with you what I have finished?
 


This week’s assignment from Patchwork, Please! is the Lettered Tea Cozy and Teabag Pouch. I can’t remember ever seeing a tea cozy used by anyone of my acquaintance, so I made only the Teabag Pouch. (We seldom make whole pots of tea, here in the hometown of Starbucks.) I limited the palette to red and white and sewed up this little cutie in no time flat. I think it took me longer to read the directions than it did to actually sew it! I could see making a bunch of these as gifts or favors at a tea party.
 
Sew Along button
 

Monday, June 3, 2013

Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Bell Pepper Coasters

It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here: the Zakka 2.0 Sew Along has started! I have been looking forward to Patchwork, Please! by Ayumi Takahashi ever since I first heard about it. Sewing through this book is sure to stretch me as a sewist, and I am very much looking forward to it.

 
As a food, I’m not overly fond of bell peppers. Never have been. Leave it to Ayumi to take something I don’t like and make it irresistibly cute. I happened to have some green bell pepper fabric left over from some bags I made a while ago, so I used it as the backing on two coasters. I grabbed a handful of green scraps, a couple batting scraps and seam ripper, and in no time flat, I had them whipped up. Topstitching the curves was a challenge for me, as I was forced to slow down. (I tend to be a speed-sewer, which is probably why I prefer sewing in a straight line.) Even so, I’m pleased with the results and would make these again, if I ever needed a gift for someone who loves bell peppers.
 
 
Sew Along button

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Fresh Sewing Day: May 2013

Where did May go? I swear I just saw it around here a moment ago…
 

So I didn’t finish much in May: just a shirt and a few gift bags. Since I don’t have many finishes to share, I thought this would be a good time to take stock of my unfinished and not-yet-started items, if only for my own benefit.
 
Current WIPs
  • Valentine’s Half-Square Triangles: This is the quilt that never ends. I just keep buying and adding more fabric for it. I’d like to finish this by July 2013, since I started it in July 2011.
  • 2012 Memory Quilt: I have a few block made and many more to go. Very low priority.
  • Low-Volume Hexies: Since I only pick these up when I have a craving for hand work, progress has been slow. Not sure what these are going to turn into, but I’m in no hurry to find out.
  • Halloween Quilt: Love the progress on this so far, but ran out of steam once the Christmas season hit last year. I’ll probably restart this in September or October, when I’m in the mood for fall again.
  • Cuzco Improv: The problem with improv is that sometimes you don’t like what you’ve done, and it’s unclear how to fix it. This one is waiting for inspiration to strike.
  • Emerald Bracelet: The top is pieced! Next step is basting so that I can get this baby quilted. I’d like to gift this in June, so it’s at the top of my list of things to finish.
  • Spring Snack Bags: Just making some smaller bags from the fabric left over from the Mother’s Day Gift Bags. I love giving gifts in handmade bags, but hate scrambling to sew them at the last minute, so I’d like to build up a stash of fabric gift bags in various sizes.
  • Father’s Day Gift Bags: Fabric is picked out and ready to be cut. Must get these done before we celebrate Father’s day.
  • Patchwork, Please! Tea Bag Pouch: Fabric is picked out and ready to be cut. With the Zakka 2.0 Sewalong starting on Monday, this is also on the top of my list to finish.
 
Not Yet Started
  • Most of the projects for the Zakka 2.0 Sewalong. Must get cracking!
  • Flurry Quilt: I have fabric set aside for this, but have not chosen a pattern yet.
  • Terrain Quilt: I have a jelly roll, backing fabric and binding fabric set aside to make a sixteen-patch quilt, inspired by Blue Elephant Stitches.
  • Good Fortune Quilt: Again, I have fabric for the top, backing and binding set aside, as well as a pattern.
  • Starry Baby Quilt: I have fabric set aside for a baby quilt like the one that Modern Balabusta made.
  • Scrappy Tripalong: I’m still editing my fabric choices for this one, but can’t wait to start!
  • Laurel Shirt: I bought fabric to make another Laurel shirt, but need to make a muslin in a bigger size first.
  • Taffy Blouse: I bought some voile to make a Taffy Blouse, but also want to make a muslin first.
Lily's Quilts