The Katydid Bag

This is my bag review for the AWESOME Purse Palooza event going on over at Sew Sweetness!  I was supposed to have this completed October 1st...did not happen.  Did not even come close to happening.  I was planing on making the Lilium Laptop Bag but in my mind I had envisioned that the compass I made was going to fit on the flap and I was WRONG!  I looked through all the other bags and then called Sara.  This happens every time I make a bag  since I am not a bag maker and she knows everything there is to know about bags.  I knew she would walk me through finding the "right" bag for my block and not make me feel like a complete idiot.

Unfortunately for me there was no other pattern that would work...sigh...so Sara said "I have an idea..." and The Katydid Bag was what came out of my inability to conform and my having the best friend in the world!

Now, if you know Sara, you know that she has been CRAZY busy with not only her business but other stuff too.  I sent her a message telling her NOT TO design a new bag and that I would make something else and this one can wait.  I woke up to an email saying " I know you told me not too but I love you too much".  GAH!  And she named it after her mini me Katy that LIVES with me so I could not be totally pissed.

Sara sent me the pattern with all the directions I needed.  There were limited photos which made me consider biting my nails again.  I am so very visual and need lots of actual photos, with Sara's instructions, I did not need the usual picture for every step.

The only adjustments I made to the original pattern were the handle holders were bias folded and I changed it to make holders that were flat on either side. I also needed to sew with a 1/4 in seam instead of the 1/2in suggested.  I wanted for my compass points to show.

I made the front panel using the pattern on Quilting on the Square .  I want to make them all. Really great patterns.  I made the block scrappy using many different designers including Kate Spain, Heather Ross and Joel Dewberry. The lining fabric is Alexander Henry Mirabelle, one of my all time favorite prints. I would do a happy dance if they would send me 20 yds of that print!  The background fabric is from Joann's.  It is not 100 percent cotton and is more like a microfiber.  Stretched a bit more than I would have liked but the fact that it is a perfect black made up for the slight difficulty in handling. For the interfacing I used the recommended Pellon sf-101 and Annie's Soft and Stable. The thread used was my trusty Aurifil.  I used 50wt for the topstitching and quilting and the 40wt for the bag assembly.


The features of this bag are what make me want to make another.   The recessed zipper is easy and creates a finished look.

SO MUCH ROOM!!!! If you have even been with me anywhere, you know I carry a ton of crap.  Still not sure what it all is but it is ALL in my bag.  This one will meet my needs for sure!

The pattern called for two zippered pockets.  I chose to do one.  I only had this one fab vintage pink zipper from Lindsay  to use and well, it is just perfection.  Do not be afraid to do zippers.  It is easy and the method Sara uses is one of the most simple.  If you are doing it for the first time, try it out on  a scrap first.  Get comfortable with it and you will be a pro in no tome!

Inside is a fun bit of Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt.  It looks so great with the Alexander Henry Mirabelle

I am not even sure when Sara plans to release this pattern but when she does...GET IT!!!  It is easy and AMAZING!!!! If you are going to Quilt Market please look for this bag, it will be there with me :)

Linked up to 

Finish It Up Friday

Lovetag Quilt Liberty of London Stile Collection

The Quilt Alliance  ( an organization I adore) promotes telling the story of your quilts, an important part of quilt making and quilt history. This is the story of my new quilt!

It has never been a secret that I adore, love, drool over ,covet  ( add anything else that may fit here) Liberty of London fabrics!  The first time I saw them was on the internet and I was stunned at the beauty of the designs.  At that time, I was not quilting yet and could not figure out exactly what I would do with those lushious pieces of art.  That all changed quickly after making my first quilt five years ago.   The world of Liberty of London was calling to me ( not really but the voices in my head sure were loud).  I purchased my first sets of 4 in squares of Liberty and I was tickled pink! I took them out and lined them up in rows, arranged them them in color order and then randomly then I very carefully put them back... I obviously was not ready.

Fast forward a few years and a few projects later.  I learned that all those squares would look so much better if I actually used them, that they were meant to be sewn into, pincushions, Aeroplane bags, pouches and mini quilts.  Their loveliness has a synergistic effect...one is gorgeous...a bunch together and BAM!  It is a wonderful thing to experience.

A pincushion for a friend

Cathedral window Aeroplane Bag

A mini quilt

I was given the opportunity to experience it in a huge way that started this past May.  In Portland, I received an email.  I honestly thought it was not a real email because the person sending it to me has such a fun sounding name it could not be business related so I was going to skip to the next one.  I could not get  the name out of my head so I went back and opened it...OMG!!!!! Sara was there in bed and I SQUEELED with delight...SARA...OMG!!!!!! I think I may have been shaking a bit too.  It was from Michelle at Liberty of London asking if I wanted to do a guest post for their blog.  I started looking for the candid cameras and could not believe it was true...ME?  No...really...ME?

Okay, I can do this!  They will want me to make a little bag or something and it will be fun...nope...a QUILT!  A full sized honest to goodness quilt...ALL LIBERTY!  OH...Ummmmm...hmmmm. A TUTORIAL and a quilt. WOW and yes please!  The collection I am lucky enough to work with is the newest Liberty Lifestyle craft fabric Stile. The LOVEtag Tutorial can be found on the Liberty Lifestyle Blog.   The LOVEtag is a simple patchwork that any level of sewer can try.  This is the perfect beginner project!  When you are visiting the Liberty blog, check out the other great tutorials to try, like the Dresden Pouf from Holly DeGroot .

The LOVEtag is a HUGE hashtag, according to Thomas, a sexy hashtag,lol!  I love it, I love the quilting ( Lisa was AMAZINGLY kind and lightening fast).  The quilt top was made in two and a half  days, we were leaving on vacation and I was up at 4 am finishing it and piecing the back together  to have it in the mail to Lisa that Friday morning since she was moving and had an insane schedule too.

This is the first quilt I have ever handbound!  It took me forever but I did it.  I had been having issues with smaller projects with needles bending during binding.  It was not fun and ended up really hurting my fingers.  On my visit to Kelly Ann's Quilting  I asked her for recommendations and she was like an angel...the perfect hand binding needles...BOHN!  Small sturdy and perfect for the job.  I was able to do the entire 88x88 quilt with no pain or bending.  In fact, I think I could use the same needle for another quilt!

I am pretty happy with the binding and now I have the right tool I will get more practice!

When the binding was completed I needed to get photos. This was going to be a challenge, lots of rain and no tall people...time to construct!

Katy and I gathered some tools. There is a hammer and some vice grips in there too ;o)

and made a line across our play structure.  I am pretty sure our neighbors think we are crazy by now!

Too many trees and not the right lighting...sigh

Later that day I decided to try again in my favorite spot where the sun is always shining and the kids can RUN!

I still had an issue with how to hold the quilt up since the little man is no where near the right size. Lo and behold a neighbor on a golf cart came through while we were there!  I flagged her down and asked if she wouldn't mind helping a crazy quilt lady out.  I handed Adam the camera...and I am really proud his eye was on getting the quilt in the frame,lol!

So, after a bunch of words and stuff, here are the photos I was able to take.

The quilting is exquisite.  The quilt master Lisa Sipes did her magic on this one.  She used Aurifil 50 wt in white and lots of it!  I cannot even remember how many thousands of yds she told me she went through. She made the Aurifil look like it is dancing on the fabric...SO AWESOME! The batting I used was Pellon.  It was two layers of Natures Touch for a little extra pouf!

Then we had some fun!

and of course what photo session can be complete without a photo bomb!!!!!

I love this quilt more than a little :o)

Best Bib on the Block {tutorial}

I have been making this bib for years!  It has withstood the test of hundreds of babies. I still have wonderful friends tell me they have been passed on to a niece, nephew or dear friend and are being loved by all that use them. Sure does my little heart good!  This is an updated version with a link to a FREE printable pdf on Pellon Projects! 

So easy to do, you will want to make them for everyone you know that is having a baby!  Cute , easy and reversible not to mention a fun stash basher project! The choices are endless once you have the basic method in place.

Requirements:

For a basic bib you will need two pieces of fabric 15x13.   If you are doing a variation of the pattern, like the two toned bib, you will need a  7.5inx 13in top piece and a 9x13 in bottom piece.

One piece of Pellon Nature's Touch Batting

Thread, I recommend Aurifil 50wt or 40wt in many colors! They are all beautiful and so strong to hold up to thousands of washings!

Fastener, I use resin snaps on all my bibs. Velcro can also be used in place of snaps

Optional:

Pellon 830 Easy Pattern 

Print out the pattern pieces Part A and Part B.  Line them up and cut the pattern out.

I recommend tracing pattern onto Pellon 830 Easy Pattern.  It will withstand MANY uses as opposed to paper patterns.

For this bib I am using Thomas Knauer Asbury from Andover .  Super fun fabrics!  Choose two fabrics the top here is 7.5x 13 and the bottom is 9x13.  right sides facing sew together using a 1/4in seam, then press seam towards the bottom.

Place your sewn section on top of the Pellon batting

Using a 1/8in seam topstitch the fabric to the batting

lay the top piece on top of the backing fabric.  Make sure your backing fabric is wrong side up

Lay your pattern on top of the sandwich, pin and cut out.

Take the back fabric and flip it to the front so that the right sides are facing

Pin and sew around the entire bib leaving a 1 to 1.5in opening at the top for turning.  Back stitch at the start and end.

Turn the bib inside out

Pin the 1 to 1.5in opening closed

Topstitch around entire bib using a 1/8in seam.  I like using a contrasting thread for a little more fun.

Iron your cute bibs!

The only thing left to do is the closure. If you are using velcro, please follow the recommend guidelines provided on the package. If you are using snaps, there is a snap placement guide on the pattern that make this an adjustable bib or you can place them wherever it works best for your baby.

I have a standard size snap press but your local fabric store may have a hand held snap press. 

You will need two backs and one male and one female piece

Push the back into the end

this is how it will look on the opposite side

Place the male piece on top

and let the snap press to do the work!

Repeat the process for the female side and you are DONE!!!!


Once you have your closure completed, your bib is baby ready!

To download a free pdf for this bib pattern please visit: Pellon Projects Best Bibs on the Block

Blogger's Quilt Festival Baby Quilt

WOW!  Blogger's Quilt Festival time already?  I missed being able to participate last fall and am so happy that I will be able to join in the fun this time!  Thank you Amy so much for hosting this fantastic event again.  I cannot imagine how much it takes to coordinate all this twice a year.

The quilt I wanted to share last Oct and was not able to is the Pineapple Princess.  This quilt was made when my Doctor from San Diego ( he was our doc for about 12 years before we moved) posted a photo of the sweetest baby and when I asked whose baby it was he told me he and his wife had just added to the family.  I have to say, he was the best care giver to me and my family.  He was always there for questions and concerns and even though he would tell me I was crazy at times ( this may actually be a bit true) he is the bestest doc ever.  I had to do something for him since he did put up with me for so many years.  He also added bonus points when he told me her name and mentioned she was named after my girlie ( true or not he got the points).

The stars are from the fab Solstice Stars Series by Fresh Lemons Quilts.  I added the scrappy lines when I was playing with layout and they really work.  The STUNNING quilting is by the overly talented Laurie Tigner.  Laurie saw the quilt top on facebook and sent me a message asking if she could please quilt it...I have never said YES so fast IN MY LIFE!  

The stars are made with Amy Butler fabrics from different lines.  It was fun to see how they all complimented each other.  I loved the combo so much I am reusing this idea with the Lucky Stars BOM  from  Don't Call Me Betsy.  I used was two layers of Pellon batting.  Laurie suggested it and I can see how that second layer makes the gorgeous quilting POP!   I used Aurifil 50wt for all the piecing and sent my Aurifil cone to Laurie to do her magic. Laurie also used same cone for the Irish chain comfort quilt for my son's teacher and I have done numerous projects in between. This cone has been more places then I have been!

One of the most special things about this quilt is that it has been seen by and touched by each of the people that have had input into it's making. Laurie brought it to KC Market last year and I took it around to all the wonderful people that had made this quilt possible.  Amy Butler, Faith Jones, Alex Veronelli, Cris Haskell, Laurie Tigner  I do not know that all of these fine people get to see all the creations that are made with their inspirational vision and excellent products.  It was very cool to be able to share this with them and I thank them for their contribution :o)  Could not have done it without them!

This is one of my most favorite pics EVER ( Sara is so dang cute)...

I am submitting this to the Baby Quilts category.  Now I just want to sit back and drool over all the other fab entries!