Monday, June 20, 2011

I Made a New Bag/Purse

I've had this bag/purse pattern by Australian designer, Monica Poole, for quite a few years. I apologize for the out-of -focus photo, my camera is not working suddenly (and sadly) so my daughter took the photos with her phone.


 I've put off making it because I thought it looked quite difficult.  I used to be quite a confident dressmaker and would tackle tailored jackets without a worry but this bag was something out of my experience.
I really loved the style of bag it is and have bought fabric to make it twice.  Well this morning I just grabbed the pattern and the gorgeous French General fabric I had bought for it a couple of months ago and went for it.  You know what, it was really quite straight forward!  I am so delighted with the end result, love my new bag!


It has a pocket inside for a mobile phone and a larger pocket for keys/lipstick and such with a slot on the end for a pen!  How 'bout that!  I even managed a magnetic clasp!


To hold the shape of the opening of the bag,  the pattern called for the use of a product called Rigiline.  This was simple to use as it's made so you can stitch through it so attaching it to the top of the bag was easy.  I then did a line of stitching just below the Rigiline all the way around the top of the bag, this has made such a difference to the shape, without it the top of the bag would have been squished flat by the front flap.  



Hope you all had a weekend filled with happy stitching,

Rowena


Sunday, June 5, 2011

What's Sewing? CW Blocks and Quilting...Huge Post!

My poor old laptop is sick.  It really doesn't owe me anything.  In computer terms it's pretty old, five years +.  I've been having terrible trouble getting it started and the battery doesn't charge half of the time.  So first thing tomorrow its off to the Doctor.  I thought I'd get in a post before it goes to be diagnosed with who knows what!  Perhaps the end of the line! :(

On the sewing front, much more fun, I've caught up my CW blocks.  I really love this block 20 New England, it's so pretty.  I bought some fabrics last week at my LQS and I used one of them in this block.  The softer pink serpentine in the centre of the block.  The colours really please me.


This next block is number 21, Underground  Railroad.  It reminds me of the Jacob's Ladder block.  Both of the prints in this block are from the Collection for a Cause Hope range, gorgeous range of fabrics.


Lastly, I made block 22, Blockade.  When I saw this I thought it was going to be a real fiddle but it went together without drama.  I pinned  carefully and stitched first with a large machine stitch to check everything was where it should be, points matching etc.  Once I was satisfied, I put my machine back to the normal stitch size and sewed it together.  I was a little nervous about introducing pink into this quilt with the previous block, but once I tried it I thought it looked fine so I went for it and added some more!


See what I mean,lol.

Way back at block 13, Little Blue Basket, I didn't put a handle on.  I finally stitched a handle on my little basket block last week.  Ta, da!


Here's a photo of all my CW blocks so far, I'm really pleased with them.  I love going to the Flickr group for the CW quilt-along and seeing all the different fabric choices people make.  There are going to be some beautiful quilts once they are all finished. 



I often wonder what quilters and quilt collectors in the future will make of our quilts.  With all the fabric ranges and quilt patterns available now, it will be interesting for them to discover quilts that have used whole ranges (jelly roll or layer cake quilts for example) and quilters who have made several quilts by the same designer ( I have made a couple of Fig Tree patterns and have another in the works!)  Here's hoping ,of course, that my quilts survive!

I am finishing up the quilting on this quilt for my son, Nicolas, it's been a while coming.....I think he may be wondering if he'll ever get to sleep under it!  With the fabrics and pattern on this quilt I have just meandered all over the centre with a  variegated thread, it has greyish blues of varying depths.  I just have the border to do now but I've been procrastinating over what to do in it, I'm hopeless!!  I fully intend to bite the bullet and get it done this afternoon.




I'll shackle myself to this until it's finished!

I've nearly finished stitching the binding down on my Fig Tree, Jelly Rose quilt.  I'm quite pleased with the quilting and can't wait to have it on my bed.  Such a pretty pattern.  It was so easy to put together.  I have a Jelly Stars pattern ( Fig Tree) that I have made the four large stars for, it would only take an hour or so to finish.  I must pull it out of the cupboard!


Well I'd better get on with  it!
Hope you have all had a great weekend.
Happy stitching,
Rowena