Master of Small Projects / Beauties Pageant 324

Over the past six months, I have become the master of small projects. The phenomenon started last fall with thread catchers that became so addictive that made almost two dozen of them. (I foolishly gifted the lion’s share of them at QuiltCon without taking any pictures!) It continued with the Hudson pouches I made for a family trip and then for teacher holiday gifts ...

What is it about small projects? I think it’s the nice hit of dopamine I get from finishing something. Quilts, on the other hand, seem to take forever.

At least, that was my mindset when I signed up for the Sewtopia Galentine’s Day mug-rug swap. I hadn’t participated in a swap in years, and I couldn’t resist the idea of plotting a small project to gift to another quilter.

The picture at the top of the post is what I made for my partner, Laura. It’s the Sawtooth Star with Log Cabin by Joe, June, and Mae. I originally embarked on sewing the Bear Paw Quilt Block by the same designer but quickly determined it required a bazillion pieces. The Sawtooth Star was a better option—more simple but still visually interesting. 

I was so pleased with the top that developing a quilting plan was intimidating—I didn’t want to mess up my beautiful foundation paper piecing! Some simple stitching in the ditch worked well and created the effect I was going for. Check it out on the back, which also features what’s become my finishing signature: chunky-stitch binding ...

What did I receive from the quilter who was sewing for me? Heidi sent me this gorgeous, scrappy strawberry mug rug. I didn’t have the heart to put a drippy mug of tea on this beauty, so it has joined other mini-quilts on the wall in my kitchen.

I am always looking for small projects—ones that will put the fabric and notions I have on hand to good use. (The thread catchers used up scraps of linen and batting. The Hudson pouches busted through a ton of zippers.) What are your best recommendations on that front? Let me know in the comments!

And on a completely different note, if you’re in New England and want to talk jelly rolls ...

 

 

Follow Me On ...  

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Signs of Life ... And Productivity! / Beauties Pageant 314

In the past ten-plus years of blogging, I don’t think I’ve ever gone three weeks without posting something. For those of you who showed up since October 24 wondering what the heck I was up to (because apparently it was not writing blog posts), I was having fun!

First there was a girls-only vacation to Disney World, followed by days of recovery from the girls-only vacation to Disney World, and then a guild retreat in the backwoods of New Hampshire.

The retreat was a WIP marathon for me. I found that I had multiple projects close to the finish line, and there was nothing like two days in the middle of nowhere to get me to finish them. (More on that sometime soon!) 

But even Disney required some sewing, as evidenced here by the six Hudson pouches I made in advance of the trip. (The pattern, by Sotak Handmade, is available here.) I gifted each amusement-park goer in my party—including my mother-in-law, who couldn’t make the trip—one of these beauties. 

I followed my favorite approach to small projects: I discovered that I had six nylon zippers in my stash. I purchased a pattern that would work with the sizes on hand. I dug around in my drawers for fabric options that coordinated with the zippers and might appeal to the recipients. The result? Six different and lovely pouches!

I cut into two ladybug fabrics I have been hoarding for the endeavor. For my pouch, I paired a bright-red ladybug fabric with scraps of a dark denim-linen blend on the exterior. For another pouch, I used a ladybug fabric as the lining. 

I considered venturing to a local bag-making-supply store to purchase zipper pulls for the pouches but opted to adorn just one pouch with a Sarah Hearts charm I purchased at QuiltCon last year.

I have more production lines planned—not for Hudson pouches, but for other little bags and more thread catchers. My best word of advice on that subject is to minimize thread changes. Nothing slows down production more than stopping to replace a spool or bobbin, so I stuck with cream or pale gray for all of these gifts. : )

Follow Me On ...  

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Putting a Mini Charm Pack to Good Use / Beauties Pageant 313

 

 

What is it about small projects that sucks me in? Beguiled by their size, I never make just a single pouch or pincushion. It’s always 6 ... or 16. 

Such is the story behind my latest small obsession: thread catchers. I started by cutting out enough pieces for 15 catchers. It may seem like a lot, but what can I say? I have a lot of quilty friends in need of a new thread catcher, and these little projects pack a big scrap- and stash-busting punch. I am using mine to use up:

• Batting scraps
• Canvas scraps
• Essex linen scraps
• Mini charm packs

I have all of those components in spades, but I’m especially excited to put my mini charms to good use. I’ve acquired so many of them over the years—at QuiltCon, in quilty treat bags, and as thank-you gifts in online fabric orders. With the free pattern I’m following, each pack of 42 squares 2.5" x 2.5" can make panels for 3 thread catchers.

Interested in making your own? 

1. Download the free pattern here. (The blog that originally published it is now defunct, but Quilting Digest has a free PDF download.)

2. Open up your mini-charm pack and divide it into 3 groups of 14 squares 2.5" x 2.5". Choose 1 of the 3 groups to work with; set the rest aside. 

3. Cut each of 10 squares 2.5" x 2.5" into 2 rectangles 1.25" x 2.5" (for a total of 20 rectangles 1.25" x 2.5"). Trim each of the remaining 4 squares 2.5" x 2.5" down to 1 rectangle 1.5" x 2.5", discarding the scraps (for a total of 4 squares 1.5" x 2.5").

4. Following the instructions in the pattern, layer your canvas and batting to create 2 panels. If you don’t have leftover canvas on hand, think of other more-substantial scraps you might have used for home-dec or bag-making projects. They may do the trick!

5. Start to build the quilt-as-you-go patchwork with your mini-charm pieces. Begin the patchwork on each panel with 1 rectangle 1.5" x 2.5". Then sew 10 rectangles 1.25" x 2.5". End with 1 rectangle 1.5" x 2.5".

6. Continue to follow the instructions to complete the thread catcher.  

I veered from the instructions in minor ways: Because the Essex linen I was using shifted a bit, I found that I had to trim up my panels after quilting them. Also, for my first thread catcher, I finished my binding by machine. It wasn’t neat enough for my liking, though. After that, I used a contrasting 12 weight thread to finish the remaining catchers with visible chunky stitches. (If you want to give that a try, check out the tutorial here.)

I am a big fan of making simple projects en masse to give away as gifts. These beauties could even be billed as baskets and given to nonquilty people in your life. 

Do you set up sewing production lines to make gifts, too? I’d love to hear about the small gifts you conquer in the comments!

Follow Me On ...  

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Let's Talk Table Runners / Beauties Pageant 272

In the 10-plus years I’ve been quilting, I have made a total of three table runners. On one hand, I have limited places in my house I’d display a runner. My children (and/or dogs) may do bad things to a table runner (there was an applesauce incident on the kitchen table just this past week!). And putting covers on my pretty table tops doesn’t seem really “me.”

On the other, if I made more runners, I would have more-frequent finishes, and wouldn’t that be nice?

When designing my Ornament Collection pattern (releasing next Tuesday, November 19), I added a runner option. The sample I’ve made so far is the throw, and it’s a generously sized throw at that. But I figured that some people might want a smaller, faster finish. What I didn’t consider until Anne (@batiksbythebay) mentioned it to me on Instagram is that people who live in the southern hemisphere celebrate Christmas in the summer. They have little need for a Christmas-themed throw. Of course! Why didn’t I consider that? Needless to say, all future Christmas designs from me will include the option of a smaller finish for that very reason.

Me with a freshly longarmed Ornament Collection. Picture and quilting by Ophelia Chang.

Because I am a runner newbie, however, I had to ask Anne how she would orient the ornaments in a runner.

Should they all be right side up (as I would prefer on a runner displayed on a console placed against a wall)?

Or should the baubles be upside down (as I would prefer on a runner displayed on a kitchen island)?

Anne said both, and that’s what I’ll do. : )

So, what other runners have I made up to this point?

There was the runner I made for the sideboard in my dining room (and still resides there).

There was the runner I made from Modern Plus Sign Quilts and gifted to a friend.

And then there was the runner I made from a free pattern on Moda Bake Shop and gifted to another friend.

You knew this was coming ... I am soliciting any and all thoughts on quilted runners. Do you sew them? Do you display them? What are your thoughts on the issue of orientation? Thank you in advance!

Follow Me On ...

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Beautiful Things (That I Did Not Make Myself) / Beauties Pageant 239

I’ve realized something in the past year: I cannot make all the things. I may have the fabric and crafty know-how to make all the things, but I do not have the time. So I’ve been purchasing beautiful finishes from other makers, and it brings me so much joy!

This isn’t to say that I’ve gone hog wild buying up all sorts of handmade loveliness. I am very deliberate with my choices, and I use and/or admire both of the creations that follow every day.

First up: the cheerful rainbow mini quilt, pictured above, from Amy Chappell of Ameroonie Designs. The Etsy listing billed this beauty as a mug rug, but there was no way I was going to put a drippy coffee cup on it. Instead, it’s pinned to the bulletin board above my desk, and I have that splash of color within view whenever I’m working at my computer.

I enjoy keeping tabs on Amy’s projects and new patterns. All of her projects are on the smaller side, and she incorporates a lot of applique in her work. You may remember the cutie-patootie mug rug I made back in 2022, pictured below. That’s one of Amy’s patterns.

Another item I’ve bought is this thread catcher from Cristi of Duval Quilt Co., who sells items from @cristiclothier_shop on Instagram. I used to have a brown paper bag under my sewing table for cut threads and such. This thread catcher is not only prettier, but it’s also more convenient to have right next to my machine. I adore it!

Again, could I have made this myself? Sure. But I really loved the combination of natural Maker fabric and the color gradient strip. Why try to replicate perfection when I could buy the very thread catcher I wanted?

I love having these objects in my life, and I love the idea of supporting other crafters. Do you have any recommendations on other crafters whose wares I should check out? I’m not interested in buying quilts but smaller objects, and I’m specifically in the market for a new pincushion. (Items would need to be able to be shipped to me in the US.) Thanks in advance!

Follow Me On ...

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

More Pouch Patterns for Gifting / Beauties Pageant 236

 

 

So many of you reached out to me here, on Instagram, or in person to share that last week’s post might as well have been written about you. What can I say? We like to complicate things, but our gift giving is the better for it, right? 

In my last post, I sang the praises of Jeni Baker’s Lined Drawstring Bag pattern and an accompanying sew-along that starts next week. Just to make sure you have some ideas in your back pocket, waiting for an opportunity to level up the presentation of a holiday gift (or 12), I have a few additional patterns to introduce you to. 

In true let’s-complicate-things form, you could wait until you have a gift on hand before embarking on your next pouch-making journey. There is something to be said, however, for setting up your own little production line and banging out a few at a time, so there’s always one at the ready.

Sotak Handmade’s Drawstring Bag Tutorial

I first made Sotak Handmade’s Drawstring Bag tutorial back in 2015. The casing for the drawstring is unique and is what I think makes the bag something special. The directions walk you through making a 8-inch by 9.5-inch pouch, but it’s a pattern you could easily modify for the gift on hand. I recommend using a fun contrasting fabric for the casing and finishing these beauties off with a little faux leather cording.

Tinkalong Pouch

Cheri Lehnow’s Tinkalong Pouch pattern comes in two sizes: small and large. During a past sew-along, I printed the small size at 65%, making it perfect for holding a gift card. I used OG Cotton and Steel fabric and black cotton cording in the four bags I sewed to give them a polished look.

Popcorn Pouch

I found Amista Baker’s Popcorn Pouch to be a fast and easy sew, even for zipper newbies (not that I am one, but if you wait long enough between zipper projects, it’s easy to feel as if you’re tackling zipper for the first time again). I’ve been known to make several at a time ... I’ve used my Popcorn Pouches to wrap presents. I’ve slid a card into one, presenting the pouch itself as a small token of thanks. I’ve even packed my charging cords into that blue and mustard beauty, below, as I headed out the door on a quilt retreat.

I think a call to action is in order, so go forth and sew some pouches! And when you’re done, please report back to us about your triumphs. : )

Coming Soon

I have so much to share with you before the end of the year ... my Legendary quilt (pattern by Elizabeth Hartman), my Patchwork Sky quilt (Camille Roskelley), my Sandhill Sling (Anna Graham). So. Many Projects!

I am also participating in a specially curated bundle and wanted to get that on your radar screen today. The Bountiful Bundle will be available next Wednesday, November 22, through Monday, November, 27 (that’s EST, or GMT-5). 

It includes 10 PDF patterns for $19.99 (or $2 per pattern). Each design is beginner friendly and comes from a different designer. I am sure you’ll recognize some favorites in the collection, including Laura Piland’s Exploding Heart, Emily Dennis’s Quilty Trees, and my own Irish Twist. Stop by next Wednesday (or newsletter subscribers, keep an eye on your inbox) to get your bundle!

Follow Me On ...

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Let's Complicate Simple Tasks! / Beauties Pageant 235

One of my special talents is turning a simple task into a more complicated and time-consuming one. I truly excel at this, friends.

Exhibit A

Let’s consider the case of my niece’s 14th birthday gift.

I decided to get her a Crumbl Cookies gift certificate because she’s such a fan of the store’s sugary offerings.

Most people would order the gift certificate online and call it a day. But do you know what’s better than an emailed Crumbl gift card? A physical gift card and a fancy pink Crumbl cookie cutter.

And do you know what’s better than a physical gift card and a fancy pink Crumbl cookie cutter? A physical gift card and a fancy pink Crumbl cookie cutter … in a handmade drawstring pouch! (Darn you, presentation—you get me every time!)

In other words, what I could have accomplished in two minutes at my computer (and what would have arrived on my niece’s actual birthday) ended up requiring a trek to Crumbl, a sewing session, and a trip to the post office … two days after her special day.

And that’s how I roll!

Project Specifics

If presented with a comparable wrapping conundrum, you may be tempted to draft a quick pouch pattern yourself. Do not bother: The Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern from Jeni Baker of In Color Order has all the math we need. It includes many different sizes, so it’s easy to home in on one for the gift at hand. 

I sewed the snack bag size, tweaking the measurements for boxing the bottom so that the fancy pink Crumbl cookie cutter would fit.

I wish I could give you information about the fabric, but all of it came from a collection of fat eighths I won through my guild, and there wasn’t a printed selvage among them. Perhaps the star of the project isn’t the fabric, though—it’s that awesome mint-colored flowery twill. My niece prefers black, gray, and white, so that twill tape adds a subtle and sweet bit of color to the project. 

If you find yourself in need of some mint-colored twill, it’s available for purchase through the designer’s website. Check out KP Creates for all the details. (All of my stash suggestions are just to enable your purchases. There is no affiliate anything on my site.)

The Lined Drawstring Bag is a well-loved pouch pattern. It was released a full 10 years ago, and I know that I am not the only sewist who considers it her go-to for making pretty pouches. It just so happens that Jeni announced a Lined Drawstring Bag Sew-Along on her blog recently. The fun begins on November 22. Both the original pattern and expansion pack are on sale through November 28. (Again ... just here, aiding and abetting your sewing purchases. You’re welcome!)

Follow Me On ...

 

* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter