Wooly Goodness!

So my surgery is looming over me for this Friday and since I will be non weight bearing on my right foot for months I decided to take on a project....In a facebook group a member posted a photo of a beautiful shaker throw and I fell in love....The project is from The Art of Knitting Magazine but unfortunately it is not available in the US. But since this gal is so very awesome she is helping me with the instructions. The wool was made just for this project though. So I went to Haus Of Yarn today and picked up a different brand wool (Plymouth) in similar colors as the original project so I will keep you all updated on my journey!

Fat Quarter friendly bag!

So this a fat quarter friendly project. You really only need 3 Fat Quarters but I opted to line mine with muslin instead of printed cotton....

So let's get going...

Supply List

------------

Fat Quarters x 3

Coordinating or contrasting thread

Sewing Machine

Ruler/Mat Rotary Cutter

Ok here is what you need to cut and you can coordinate this any way you want but I'll tell you what I did for mine....

From the first two fat quarters cut 2 rectangles from each measuring 5 1/2 x 9 inches-these will be the pockets..4 pieces total

Then from the same 2 fat quarters cut 2 squares 10 3/4 x 12 inches from each one...if you want to line it with muslin you will replace 2 of these fat quarter squares for the lining...4 pieces total

From the 3rd fat quarter that you have not used yet cut 4 strips 3 1/2 x 22 inches....

Start by taking your strap pieces and fold them in half and press. Unfold and fold those pieces so they meet in the middle (the lien you created by pressing) then fold back over again and edge stitch....

I did a decorative leaf vine stitch....

Next you take your rectangle pieces and seam them together on the 5 1/2 inch side then flip over so right sides are facing out and press

Next sew your square piece to the liner piece along the 10 3/4 inch side as follows

Next with the piece open and right side facing up take the pocket and center it on the bottom and stitch 

1 1/4 inch from the bottom repeat for your other bag piece...

Next you need to line up your handle along the bottom of the bag right side still facing up and sew it along the pocket edges to the top of the bag and go back down the other side making sure your handle is not twisted at the top! Do this for both pieces. Notice I put the contrasting fabric on the outside of the pocket and when you look into that pocket the fabric matches the main bag color on that side!

Next you need to

layer the bag pieces so your liner matches up and make sure the right sides are facing together....

Pin in place and stitch all around the bag leaving about a 4 inch opening in the liner to turn the bag right side out.....

You can make Milk carton corners if you wish or leave it alone....

turn the bag right side out and stitch the liner closed....

See my bag is the opposite on each side!

Here is the inside

Happy Sewing!

G45 Tags.....for a swap!

Hi everyone!
I have been getting into a lot of swaps lately and thought I would share my latest that I will mail out today!
The swap was tag madness. You had 2 partners to whom you had to send 2 tags that use some Graphic 45 stuff. My favorite company! So I will admit I was having major creative block but here are the tage I hope my swap partners enjoy them!
Sorry my photos are not great today...lol
The first one I used the "Curtain Call" collection and lots of glitter goodness!....No it does not fall off!

The next one I used the "A Proper Gentleman" collection and kept it quite simple....The vellum newspaper is by industrial chic and the pocket watch moves around on that swivel chain.

The next one I used the "Steampunk Debutante" collection....this is my favorite collection ever by G45...

And this one I used the "Olde Curiosity Shoppe"

So those are my tags....Hope my recipients enjoy them!

Here is a youtube video of my cards...

http://youtu.be/v03jWoQsaIM

Rag quilt!

Hey sorry I have not updated in a bit....that is my new goal...to be more active with my blog. I do post more on youtube but it usually more scrap related.
My latest project was a rag quilt. I have this crazy desire to quilt and I figured this was a good forgiving way to start a quilt....not so precise and very forgiving. So here goes
I just picked out some flannel fabric because it frays better with each wash but you can use sheets old clothes and denim...your choice. DO NOT PREWASH NEW FABRIC!!
I picked 4 coordinating designs and decided I wanted to make the squares on the back all the same. So here is the fun part...the math...
You need to decide how big you want your quilt to be.  There are plenty of good sites with converters out there if you are not mathematically inclined....but just remember 36 inches per yard so if you were making say 9 inch squares you could get approx 20 squares per yard if the bolt is 45"
I just picked up a few yards of each fabric for the front and 3 yards for the back and 2 yards of batting and I ended up with extra but I am sure I can put it to good use somehow....
I decided on 9x9 squares for the quilt and 7x7 for my batting squares...So you take all your fabric and cut it into squares...if you don't have a rotary cutter, invest in one :)
You need a square for the top, a square for the bottom, and a square of batting in between.

Then comes the fun part lay out your design on the floor and tweak it however you like I went with a kind of patchwork design with an alternating stripe through the middle. Then I took my ruler and drew diagonal lines with my chalk that met in the middle if you like you can "eye" it....

Then you go to the machine and sew on those lines, you can do a straight stitch like me...a curve...a design, whatever you and your machine can do....

After you have decided on your design and laid them out accordingly I pinned each row together so I would not get my pattern mixed up. Then start sewing your seams together so top row then next row so you will have long rows sewn across not columns yet....Make sure the seams face up toward you...I know it defies sewing laws!

after you have all the rows done start sewing them together as well....

Front:

Once it is all sewn together the back should look like this...

Then you want to take your scissors and snip into each edge about every inch or so but be careful to not cut the sewn seams and don't forget the ones between the blocks

Then you want to wash and dry your quilt...the more you wash and dry the fluffier the rag edges will become....

See! Very easy and forgiving!