Happy Christmas Hexagon Trivet

Of all the projects in Patchwork, Please!, I thought that the Happy Hexagon Trivet would be my favorite. Originally, I had intended to make one for most every person on my Christmas list. In the end, I counted it a success that I finished one at all! While I think that it’s a very cute design, I am still not sold on paper piecing as a technique. It’s just so fiddly with all the folding back of the paper and whatnot. I made things unnecessarily difficult for myself as I misplaced my copy of the book, and so had to muddle my way through the binding without the benefit of Ayumi’s instructions. Of course, I found the book during my post-Christmas decluttering of my sewing nook. At least I know what book to reach for next time I need to bind a hexagon!

 

My hexagon trivet was made with scraps from the Christmas gift bags I made this year, so most (but not all) of the fabric is from one or another of Kate Spain’s holiday lines. This project would be a great scrap buster, for those of the paper piecing persuasion.

Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Prettified Pincushion

 

Even though the Prettified Pincushion is the last pattern in Patchwork, Please!, it was the first one that I completed. Never having attempted paper piecing before, I asked my mom for a lesson before the sew along started. I was glad to have her guidance and moral support, as the technique proved to be a tad too finicky for my improv-loving soul. During my first attempt, I used the teeny tiny fabric pieces called for in the pattern, and it was a disaster. Undaunted, I switched over to using 2.5” squares and then trimmed them down after sewing each seam, which worked much better for me. After a long afternoon of diminutive patchwork, my admiration for Ayumi’s skills only increased. At the end of the day, I was the proud owner of a cute new pin cushion, which is now put to regular use.

 

For those of you who may be nervous about trying paper piecing or another new-to-you technique, I encourage you to jump in! Even if you find out that it’s not your cup of tea, you may also find that you like the end result enough to make it worth the time and effort.

 

Note: Not having linen scraps on hand, I used cotton scraps instead. In lieu of Polyfill, I filled the pincushion with 1.5 cups of crushed walnut shells.

 

 

Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Yum-Yum Apple Bib

Patchwork, Please! is filled with the kind of super cute projects that Ayumi Takahashi is known for, and this adorable bib is no exception. For such a small object, this bib sure gave me a heap of trouble. First, I quilted the apple body without completing the intended embroidery, so I had to embroider the seeds rather awkwardly.

 

 

I very carefully cut and sewed double-fold binding tape, but could not for the life of me figure out how to neatly transition the binding into straps. Perhaps I should have used single-fold bias tape, but I’m so accustomed to using the double-fold variety that I didn’t even think twice about it. I’ll have to try that next time, as this charming bib would be perfect for gift giving.

Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Towels

Well, my linen dishtowels didn’t turn out quite like the Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Towels in Patchwork, Please!, but I’m okay with that. My towels are smaller, embroidered instead of patchwork, and more subdued. Once I got started, I didn’t stop at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also made towels for second breakfast, elevenses and afternoon tea. I did, however, follow Ayumi’s instructions for machine piecing binding, which I had never done before, and it worked like a charm. This Zakka 2.0 Sew Along is lots of fun, even if I’m not following each project to the letter.

 

 

Zakka 2.0 Sew Along: Dino-Mite Hat

Out of all the projects I’ve made so far from Patchwork, Please!, by Ayumi Takahashi, the Dino-Mite Hat is my favorite. I made my version almost entirely out of scraps, only adding a stashed fat quarter of purple Pearl Bracelet fabric for the outside of the hat. It was a very satisfying project, as I was able to complete it in less than 24 hours.

 

Quick, easy and fun, I would definitely make this little hat again. The only trouble I ran into was that I accidently started the spikes from the back instead of the front, but I’ve been told that it’s not noticeable to the average observer. Most importantly, my sweet daughter doesn’t seem to mind! At two years old, this hat just fits her. It’s the perfect addition to her dress up box.

 

 

Zakka 2.0: Polka-Dot-Café Apron

While I love the Zakka 2.0 Sew Along overall, I must admit that I wasn’t looking forward to making the Polka-Dot-Café Apron. I haven’t the slightest idea where to find twill and twill ribbon close by, and I didn’t have time to buy them online. Luckily, I remembered a long unloved one-pocket apron hanging in my pantry. I received it as a gift ages ago, but seldom used it. I enjoyed digging through my scrap bin to find fabrics that coordinated with an oven mitt and pot holder my mom had given me, and pulled together this refashioned apron in no time. Since it only has one pocket, I made one block per Ayumi’s instructions and added a border to make it big enough to cover the pocket. I traced the templates onto freezer paper and would use this technique in the future for fussy cutting. The block itself was fun to make. It warms my heart to have revamped this apron into something I will enjoy using, which I wouldn’t have thought of doing if not for this sew along.

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

Spring Sewalongs

I don’t know about you, but I am super excited about the Zakka 2.0 Sewalong led by A Quilter’s Table and LRStitched this June! I have followed Ayumi Takahashi’s blog for years, and am thrilled that she has written a book: Patchwork, Please! Her unique style always inspires me to step away from the computer and start sewing.
 

 

Also, from March 1 to April 19, Made by Rae is hosting a Spring Top Sewalong. Since I’ve been bitten by the garment sewing bug, I’m also super excited about this.

 

So much to sew, so little time!

Cheerful Zakka Potholders

Ever since I found Pink Penguin’s blog, I have been intrigued by Zakka sewing. I was thrilled when my mom gave me a copy of the book Zakka Style by Rashida Coleman-Hale just before the start of the Zakka Style Sew Along. As soon as I saw these potholders, I knew that I had to make some for my kitchen. Most of my kitchen accoutrements are blue or orange, but I wasn’t feeling inspired by the orange fabrics in my stash. The yellow Half Moon Modern dots led me to a blue and yellow palette that I find especially cheerful.

Of course, I’m not one to follow a pattern when I can find room to make it my own. Since I didn’t have any linen on hand, I used 100% quilting cottons, which I cut into 1.5” and 2.5” strips. I didn’t see the point of binding the pockets, so I just traced the pattern along the fold of the backing fabrics. After digging through my scraps, I found enough 2” double-fold binding to bind both potholders. This is the first time ever that I bound something curved! Speaking of binding, if you make these potholders, check out the corrected instructions on retro mama’s blog before you start. Incorrect instructions aside, these potholders were quick and easy, which is just what I needed.

Linking up to Tuesday at the {summer} Table and Zakka Along Week 13 :: Patchwork Potholders.