The last week I've made some slow, but steady progress on a few projects. Two of them are gifts, and well, I'm not very good at surprises. Are you?
Truly, I am doing to try my best to keep them under wraps. Just ask my sister, I am horrible at keeping gifts a secret. I'm typically so excited about the gift that I just can't help but share / give the gift early. Any one else struggle with this?
However I have a small project that I can share today: my quilted name tag.
For the past year or so, I've debated joining my local Modern Quilt Guild. It's always been appealing, but there's always an excuse or two that's kept me from joining. However, last week I took the plunge!
In my excitement, and to help calm some nerves, I made myself a simple quilted name tag for my first meeting.
It features a few of my favorites things: 1. Blue 2. Bonnie & Camille Fabric 3. Blue 4. Simple quilting 5. Hand-sewn binding
I even tried embroidery, which is a new technique for me.
I met Shannon while attending Sewing Summit last year. She's a wonderful, genuine person with a great eye for color and style. I feel pretty lucky that I get to participate in this series. So jump on over and learn a little bit more about me! You can follow the link HERE.
For those who are stopping by for the first time, I hope you enjoy your time and find some inspiration! There's a tab at the top that feature's Tried and True Tutorials, where I've linked tutorials that I've used and loved, giving credit to the authors.
There are times when an idea strikes and then things just slide into place. This was one of those projects.
Like some of you, I sometimes struggle with making "boy" quilts. I've had some success with Jeni Baker's Modern Plus Quilt tutorial (see mine here), but wanted to try a new pattern. I jumped over to my Pinterest page and remembered the Samurai Star tutorial from Amanda of A Crafty Fox (and Westwood Acres fabric shop). As I went through my fabric stash, I remembered a bundle of fabric I bought from Jack and Lulu's London Calling line. For me, the pattern and fabric were a great combination, though a bit busier than my usual taste.
The back of the quilt features some scraps of the front fabrics. I think this is one of my favorite details to add to a quilt. The quilting was kept simple with some hand-quilting around each of the stars. I used the turn over edge of the backing for the binding which was hand-sewn.
I finished the quilt while vacationing in Utah and loved getting some pictures with greenery in the background. Special thanks goes to the husband for helping me take pictures!
The quilt made it's way home to one of my nephews and I know it will be well loved! Isn't that the point?
Plus, it's also very flattering to have the designer comment on your finished project.
Last year I picked up the pattern for Noodlehead's Supertote and finally made one a few weeks ago. It's a very popular pattern because frankly, it lives up to its name. It truly is super! Let me explain:
1. Directions are amazing. Once you've picked out your fabric, it's a fairly quick sew. There are great illustrations and clearly written instructions. If you've never sewn a zipper before, don't sweat it, you can do it.
2. The tote can hold a large amount for its size. During a recent vacation we went vinyl record hunting on our way to the airport to catch our return flight. The tote already contained my hexagon travel kit, bottle of water, iPad, electronic chargers, fabric, large wallet and a few other miscellaneous items. Yet I was able to fit records and still zip the bag closed.
3. The possibilities of color combinations are endless and the tote looks wonderful either with a few fabric selections, or tons of patchwork.
Now that I've sung its praises here are a few lessons learned from my Supertote experience:
1. Use all the interfacing that you can. Ok, well maybe not ALL the interfacing that you can, but when in doubt, use the interfacing. With mine I did quilted exterior panels but did not add interfacing and wish I had. I used denim for the gusset and handles, but wish I had added an additional layer of interfacing or used a heavier weight of interfacing. I love my bag, but it doesn't have the structure that I want. There are great instructions in the pattern regarding the interfacing.
2. Don't be afraid to do it. Seriously, the hardest part was picking the fabric and figuring out where each which piece went where on the bag. I've never sewn a bag this complicated and have to admit I had to look up the word "gusset." It is a great bag with clear instructions.
3.Do a "noodlehead supertote" search on the internet (or check out the Flickr group) to get tips and ideas. There is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration available.
All in all, it truly is a super tote and lives up to its name. I recommend you try it for yourself! You can buy the pattern here.
What are your favorite bag patterns? Or do you make your own patterns?
(Please note that I am not affiliated with Noodlehead and did not receive any compensation for this post. The ideas and thoughts are my own).
