Doggie Trouble - again!

I just don't have the words!

Travel Sewing Pouch

I remembered a pattern I'd been given at 'Quilting college', for a travel sewing case, that I'd never got around to making.

Using some free curtain fabric swatches, and half an hour later, I had this to show:

The 3 pockets in this case could easily be re-sized for specific items, and it could even be used for holding other things e.g. notebook & pencils.

Another very handy pouch!

Quilt Tops!

I'm heading to the coast with my family today.  A few days of R&R, walks along the beach (if the weather holds!), up into the Mountains, no computers, and of course time to sew non-work related projects.

You remember back at Easter time, I took away with me the Dresden Wallhanging (part of Lily's Quilts QAL), my Crazy Daughter Quilt Blocks (which were in their infancy then) and some crocheting.

This time I hope to get some quilt tops finished and some started.

1. A Jelly Roll Quilt top (ok, so this one is a class project, but it's the only piece of work, honest!):

2. Another Jelly Roll Quilt top with the leftovers from the same Central Park Jelly Roll.

This is the one where I had to unpick 100 wrong-sized hsts!

3. A small quilt from my winnings from Pickle Dish earlier this year - been having some thoughts on what I can do with these yummy charm squares.

4. And finally, the Kaliedoscope quilt, which was a QAL hosted by Don't Call Me Betsy finished long ago, but as usual I'm playing catch up!

All 30 blocks made.  They now need to be trimmed and pieced together.

I'm not planning on doing any quilting this week.  If I get all these quilt tops made you'll know the weather was pants & I was indoors A LOT!

I have a few blogs saved for publishing this week, but I won't be able to respond immediately to comments.  I'll enjoy reading them all when I return.

Hope you all have a great week, wherever you are.

Practise Pouches

I've been experimenting with gift ideas that my classes can make in the run up to Christmas.

Pouches make great gifts, and can be made in various sizes and styles.

So far I've made 2 sizes, thinking that the smaller one would house a packet of tissues to keep in a handbag.  However, it's still a bit on the big side. I'm after a really snug fit so I will adjust the measurements and have another go.

My daughter has her eye on the larger one for her DS!  I thought it would make a great Kindle case or travel sewing pouch.

These pouches don't have zips, which makes them manageable for all ability levels.  

They can be decorated in a variety of ways (I sketched applique the hearts on, but they could easily be hand sewn on) and are multi-functional, which means you can tailor them to suit a particular use/person.

I also ran up a trivet with the off-cut ends from a Central Park (Kate Spain) Jelly Roll.

This trivet has heat resistant wadding inside (Insul Brite), which makes it perfect for taking a hot pan/dish on the table.  

I machine sewed the binding on, instead of hand sewing it over, which made it much quicker, but you definitely need accuracy and patience for this method to still look good from the back.

I've more ideas for dressing a table, but haven't had the time to develop them (I suppose if I just didn't sleep then I'd have another 8 hours to play with!).

Before I go, if any of you reading this are bloggers from Ireland (North or South) then you are most welcome to join this flickr group, share ideas and maybe even get involved in a quilting retreat next year! 

Hope you are having a great week, whatever you're up to!

New Autumn '11 Programme of Classes

My new programme of classes is now available to view here.

To book a place, please drop me an email to ragstobags@hotmail.co.uk.

Remember, you could also buy a voucher as a gift for a friend or relative to attend one of the projects.  More info on vouchers here.

Wonky Corners Block Tutorial

As promised, here is a tute on how to make this block, which I made for Sarah in the monthly Brit Bee.

I've called it 'Wonky Corners' because I couldn't think of anything else!  But if this block has a 'proper' name, please let me know!

The effect of this block is achieved by alternating coloured strips with a dark solid (black in Sarah's block, and navy in this tutorial example).  It works up to 12.5" finished.

1. Gather together scraps of fabrics.  Varying lengths are good, and you could also use jelly roll strips.

2. Start with a 2.5" coloured square.  Try to keep this in the same position - I keep mine to the top left hand corner of the block, and add strips to the right & bottom edges.

3. Angle the side of the starting square by approx. 0.5".

4. Pin a strip of dark fabric to this wonky edge.  Flip it over to make sure that it will pass the top edge of the starting square.

5. Once in position, sew a 1/4" seam along the edge and press the seam away from the starting square.

6. Position the piece back on the cutting mat, making sure the starting square is lying square on the mat.  Angle the side of the first dark strip & also the bottom edge.

7. Now pin, position & sew the 2nd dark strip along the bottom edge.  Remember to overhang the dark strip slightly beyond the outer edge of the starting square.

Again, iron the seams away from the starting square.

8. Angle the side of the 2nd dark strip and square off the opposite 2 edges - these are the edges which include the remaining raw edges of the starting square.  They are the measuring point for keeping these outer edges square.  I like to put a sticker in the left hand corner of my starting square to remind me to keep these 2 edges square.

9. Now add 2 more coloured strips in the same way as before. 

10. Angle them, square off the outer edges, before adding another row of dark solid.

11.  Continue adding alternate rows of coloured & dark solid fabrics, increasing in width as the block gets bigger.

12.   I stopped adding strips when I got to 12.5" and then squared off the entire block.  However you could stop or continue to whatever size you choose.

Variations to this block could be ..

* using white or pale grey solids with darker patterns 

* keeping the fabrics the same in each row (I used different patterns in my coloured sections)

* using light shades on the top row and dark shades on the bottom row

* using thin strips of solid with wide strips of pattern, or vice versa

* increase the 'wonkiness' by increasing/varying the angles

* not having contrasting solids at all!

I would love to see your version of this block, should you decide to have a go.  

Please send me a pic of your finished block, and I'll put up a mosaic of all of them on my blog to inspire others to have a go!

Happy sewing!

Bee Blessed

Exciting News!

My friend Sarah & I are setting up a new quilting venture called Bee Blessed.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/beeblessed/

This is a charity quilting bee, where folks can either come along to a group that meets in a home, or participate via Flickr.

The purpose of this group is to make quilts and other projects that we can gift to needy families/people/groups in our local area.

Starting in September, we aim to meet once every 3 weeks, and we will kick off in my house on Saturday 10th September, 2pm - 5pm.  Anyone is welcome to come along for a bit of chat, tea & scones, and of course some purposeful sewing!  

I know that there is always a great response to charity bees out there in blogland, and so we would love for fellow bloggers to be involved too.

I am starting up a flickr group called Bee Blessed.  If you would like to support us by making the required blocks or donating fabric, please feel free to grab our button and post what you make on Flickr.  We will aim to post pics of all our finished projects on Flickr.

Our first project will be cot quilts made from wonky star blocks.  I will soon be posting the block requirements, but I want to show you the most gorgeous wonky star block quilt made by my friend Susan.  What an inspiration!  AND she hand quilted it!

Another friend of mine knows the head Social Worker in Belfast, who has details of the most needy mums in our area & who will most benefit from a cot quilt for baby.

I realise that the needs of some folks out there is massive, especially during these hard financial times.  A small quilt or similar gift may be a drop in the ocean of what is needed, but we hope that our Bee Blessed gifts will bring some light and hope into otherwise dark and sad places. 

So watch this space for more information on our first project (& please be patient with me as I try to figure out how to set up & administer a flickr group!!! Helpful suggestions from those of you in the know always gratefully received!).