April Finishes

This month has seen me:

• learn how to sew a zipper. So pouches are in abundance at my place. 
• learn to make fabric covered buttons. Heaps of fun.
• make my first ever bag. Despite sewing the handles on upside-down the first time.
• join the Zakka Style Sew- Along. Learning the joys and pitfalls of sewing smaller items.
• skip this month's hexagon blocks with the Craftsy BOM.
• cut into 'my precious' Denyse Schmidt stash.
• realise that half square triangles are cantankerous creatures.
• meet my lovely blog buddy Kristy at a Mystery Quilt Weekend.
• make use of my collection of selvedges.

All the while listening to or watching some great series' on SBS on demand, ABC iview, dvd, or the History Channel - Coast, Who do you think you are? Australian Series 2, Is the West History?, Barbarians, Ken Burns' The Civil War, The Civil War Journal, The First World War, Gallipoli, Anzacs, Narrow Escapes of WWII, and Downton Abbey.

1. Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt - cut into 15/4, 2. Fussy Fairytales - basted 30/4, 3.  Fussy Fairytales - back 28/4 4. Mystery Quilt - top finished 27/4, 5, Diamonds in Squares QCA Bee -  5/4

6. ZSSA Zig-Zag tote - 10/4 7. ZSSA Sewing Kit - 20/4, 8. ZSSA Pin Cushion - 17/4, 9. ZSSA House Pouch - 12/4, 10. Small zipper pouch - 2/4.

11. Large zipper pouch - 6/4, 12. Pocket zipper pouch - 28/4, 13. Selvedge zip pouch swap 1 - 16/4, 14. Selvedge zip pouch 2 - 16/4, 15. Large selvedge zip pouch - 26/4

So now to plan my new 'to do first' for May. Yikes!

How did you go in April? 

I am linking up with....

Pocket Zip Tutorial

This tutorial is a visual representation of the instructions given in the Atkinson Design 'Cash and Carry' pattern. No pattern measurements are given in order that copyright is not infringed. I picked my pattern up at 'Hunters and Collectors' Coffs Harbour for only$15AUD.


1. Cut lining pieces.

 2. Fuse the batting/fleece to the back of the lining.

 3. Spray back of pocket onto the middle bottom of the batting.

4. Lay folded pocket piece on top.

5. Pin side flaps to the pocket pieces.

 6. Sew with a 1/4" seam and iron outwards.

7. Similarly sew down the contrast strip above the pocket and iron into place.

 8. Trim down the zip to fit.

 9. Create the zip buffers.

 10. Sew the buffers onto the ends of the zip and them trim down.

 11. Make sure the zip is 1/2" shorter than each end of the pouch.

 12. Attach the zip to the pouch using a zipper/walking foot. Sew the zip down from the raw edge.

 13. Sew around the three sides and trim the corners off.

 14. Turn the pouch the right side out and admire.