I was not planning on doing this week's Zakka Style Sew Along project. I'll have to amend my 'April To Do List' now. But I am so indecisive about my next quilt project (and I didn't want to piece a quilt back) that I just wanted something small and acheivable in half a day of sewing.
Charmed Give-Away
Just a reminder for you all to post an entry or 3 into the 'Tandem' fabric giveaway here on Finding Fifth and there on 'Quiet Play. We 2 small bloggys have 2 adorable charm packs to ship out to 2 lucky winners. And with ONLY 18 people entered into mine so far, you are in with a ripping good chance!
Here's how I put it together
1. I cleaned my iron from the carnage of the Zig Zag tote meltdown!
2. Fetch the materials. Most of these were scrap. Scrapbuster Yay!
3. Cut them all out.
4. Iron on all the interfacing. This time I used my OLD iron and a non-stick applique mat to avoid melting glue onto my iron again.
5. Pin the applique features in place. I opted for square 2" windows and a 21/2" x 4" door rather than use the template in the book. Mostly because I didn't know how to enlarge it by 200%.
6. Applique the features on using a tight zig zag stitch. I used all 3s in my settings including the thread tension.
7. Here I decided to handstitch the flower stems and buttons on whilst I was trapped in the chair at the hairdressers. Very soothing...I should try more hand stitching! My mum would have approved.
8. Now that I know how, I added zipper buffers. (However these created a bit too much bulk in the end stage though).
9. Sandwich the up-side-down zipper between the exterior piece and lining with right sides together.
10. Pin well and stitch 1/4" in.
11. Do the same for the other exterior and lining piece.
12. Then, with the zip halfway down, attach the back and the front exteriors right sides together.
13. Pin and stitch all the layers in place. Here you can see that I pinned the bottom layer diagonally and then the top straight.
14. Open out and press into place the layers.
15. I then stitched the zip down through the layers as well. (Don't my zip buffers look lovely and neat here? But DON'T put them in! Because of the nature of the lining and house assembly, in the next stage, they just got in the way and came out all scrunched up. I tried to fix them as best I could. So stick to the original, no zip buffer, pattern).
16. Pin the exterior pieces right sides together
17. and stitch 1/4" carefully.
18. Do the same for the lining pieces but leave a 3" GAP in the bottom seam for pulling the bag right sides out. You will also need to open the zip all the way down to complete this step.
19. Snip off the corners. Pull the exterior panel through the open zip and then through the opening in the binding. Push out the corners. Now that they are smiling at each other from across the zip line, sew the 3" gap in the lining closed.
20. Push the lining inside the pouch.
21. I added ribbons in pink, white and wine to the zip. These were offcuts from my t-shirt hangers, hanging around in my ribbon box waiting for a better gig in life.
22. I had some whimsical Japanese fabric that was ideal for the back of this pouch. It was a newsprint style. The writing under the piggy says..."The best time to of the flower is about one week. Have the parasol because the sunlight is strong." Priceless!
23. I had to extend the bird stand.
24. Button detail. I had seen another pouch where the buttons were stacked - clever idea. Other pouches had flower shaped buttons - even more clever. Sadly not in my stash - yet!
And that's the whole journey. So much easier than the Zig Zag tote but not without its challenges. I am enjoying learning new things with this Zakka Style Sew Along.
I am linking up with...
No it's not a stolen diamonds give-away but an amalgamation of the subtitles in this post.
Stale Stash Swap
I received some lovely fabric in the mail from my Ohio swap buddy this week. Hopefully she has got my parcel too.
Thrifted Thursday
I had 15 mins to wait for the public library to open, so I stepped into the 'Rescue Helicopter Op-Shop' and picked up...
7 zips for 20c each
and an incomplete set of Chinese crockery all for $3!
Great for the Chinese year of the Water Dragon don't you think?
Diamonds in Squares
I absolutely love the look of this block. It makes a stunning statement. And yet we are not friends at all. After a break I went back to finish another 3 blocks. We have come to an understanding but are not 'friends'.
Easter Fabric Give-Away
Sorry I couldn't post the Random Number Generator gadget but I have forgotten how to import that.
The winner of the Easter Fabric giveaway is #7 Miss Beau Jangles. I will be contacting you for your details and posting this out as soon as the Post Office reopens after the Easter break. Congratulations!
Thank you to all 10 of you who participated in the give-away. Keep your eye out for another fabric give-away soon when Finding Fifth and Quiet Play reach 50 Followers.
I am linking up with...
I have been sewing for 18 months and have not yet sewn a zipper. I have heard all sorts of comments about how difficult it is, however, my 2012 Challenge to Myself, means that I must face my fear and learn anyway.
I am a visual learner from way back. Patterns are too hard for me to conceptualise. I learn best by watching others in a workshop or tutorial context and then having a go at it myself. Youtube has been the source of many of my quilting and sewing lessons.
Cash and Carry Pouch
In January, I picked up an easy-sew 'Cash and Carry' zipper pouch pattern at a sweet Coffs Harbour quilt shop called Hunters and Collectors. The pattern is by Atkinson Designs and was only $15 but you can get it at the link above for only $8. The lady in the store assured me that it was easy to follow.
It just so happened that my mum had the same pattern, and as we were staying with my folks on Saturday night, she was able to show me how to put it together. So together we cut it out and put a prototype together. The zip was tricky but only because it got stuck under the foot and you need a third hand to lift the foot higher.
So before I forgot, I set about putting together one on my own today.
1. I used scrap batting rather than fusible batting so I needed to pin my backing fabric to the batting. 2. Centre the main strip on the opposite side facing up.
3. Choose contrasting fabric strips for either side. 4. Pin right sides together and sew through all l payers 1/4 "
5. Pin and quilt-as-you-go the other contrast strip. Press and fold back.
6. Sew these 2 strips down with a scant 1/4".
7. Trim the batting either side of the contrast strips. 8. Trim the panel into desired length. In my case the zip was 71/2" and I made my lengths 71/2 also.
8. Make the casing for the zip and trim off the ends of the zipper. It is easier to do this with a longer zip.
9. Trim the casing.
10. Centre the zip, leaving 1/2" either side of the pouch top. Pin with the zip halfway done up.
11. Sew the zip down with a walking or zipper foot. Stop before the zip, needle down.
12. Using a paper clip attached to the zip, pull the zip through to the other side of the walking foot and continue sewing the zip fabric down.
13. Repeat for the other panel. 14. Sew the zip fabric down in place.
15. Sew a quarter inch around all three sides.
16.
Snip off the corners.
.
So what was I so afraid of?
You can find a similar great 'Patchwork Pencil Pouch' tutorial at LBG Studio.
I am linking with...
Menu Plan Monday
It's Easter this weekend and that means extended holiday time for my husband from Thurs-Tues. The kids have holidays for 2 weeks, but our annual camping trip has been rescheduled for September, so we are not going away anywhere. Rather daddy is pitching the tents in the yard and the kids are sleeping out with him over the Easter break. (It always rains at Easter in Australia!)
This is what's on the menu so far...
I am linking up with...
