Testing Patterns

When someone creates a new pattern they like to have people test that pattern before it goes public. The testers look for not only errors in the pattern itself but things like grammar errors, measurement errors and everything else that could trip someone up making the pattern. 

I was simply elated to be chosen to test out a pattern for the Tiny Zippy Box by Michael Ann. This isn't her first pattern and she has some really cute baby stuff on her website too MichaelAnnMade. 

I was sent the pattern and was given a week to complete the Tiny Zippy Box and then send in my results as well as any recommendations.

I chose to use a line of fabric by Art Gallery called Maker. Since this is a little box that would be great for toting around your hand sewing items, I felt that this fabric choice was perfect for this project. 

I have to say the project was an overall success. I had a few issues here and there, but most of that is because I'm a beginner sewer and I'm still learning how to read patterns and learn the lingo. 

While my first run is by no means perfect, it photographs really well- which is what is important :). I learned a few new tricks for sewing around corners and using various types of interfacing. I put in the binding by hand which I think saved me a lot of grief trying to get the bulk to go through my sewing machine. I was quite happy with the way the fussy cutting turned out. It was really my first time trying to line up fabric and make it directional and intentionally placed. 

Michael Ann is planning to release the pattern for sale later this week. So check her website michaelannmade.com to purchase. If you're an instagrammer check out #tinyzippybox to see how the other test pattern people completed theirs. 

Sewing Level: Intermediate

Cost: $12

Time: 6 hours

My First Quilt

It's definitely going to be a WORK IN PROGRESS! I thought I'd start blogging about the process and just update as I get more done :)

Here's my inspiration: 

My goal is for it to be throw size for our living room. I've calculated I'll need about 72 blocks... so far I've completed 20 and then ran out of fabric. 

Step 1: The fabric pull

I choose Cotton and Steel's August Line by Sarah Watts

The dark blue fabric in the middle is from the same line but I'm going to use it consistently throughout my quilt. It will be the green from my inspiration quilt above. 

Here's a few tutorials I'm using: 

String Quilt Block Tutorial

Strip Quilt Blocks Tutorial

Both offer just about the same methods but include different photos.

Step Two: Size of Blocks

To make this quilt you will need some form of paper backing. I've chosen to use notebook paper and recycled computer paper. It really doesn't matter what you use, just don't use anything think like card stock. Trim your paper to the size block you want to make. My block was determined by my fabric. I am using a 10" charm pack and when I cut my fabric into strips the largest block I could use and still get the fabric to cover was a 6 1/2" block. Trim your paper to determined square size. I will need 72 blocks for my throw size quilt 54"x 72" or there about.

Step 3: Cutting your fabric

For my main piece I decided to make strips 1" wide. All of the other fabrics I've made in 1.5" and 2"  and 2.5". 

Step 4: Glue... yes glue. 

You'll need a basic glue stick or two. If you want to copy my quilt and have a consistent color running though your quilt (mine's blue) then you will want to glue all of the same color and size fabric at this point. If you want the quilt to be more random then just glue any piece and any size.  

Glue your pieces of fabric directly to the middle of the paper on the diagonal. 

Step 5: Sew

This is where you'll need to refer to one of those tutorials I mentioned above. I didn't take any photos of this part. But basically you will alternate sewing right sides together, press, repeat, until your paper is covered. There isn't really a wrong way to do this. 

You'll end up with something like this: 

 

Step 6: Trim

Using your rotary cutter flip you fabric over so you can see the paper. Trim off the excess... you can save these scraps to use on your next piece- especially as you get to the corners and you only need a little piece. 

There will be more steps on assembling the quilt. Like I said I'm still making my blocks, and I hope you will join me too! 

Here's my WIP (Work in Progress) laid out. 

I also joined a quilt block swap and used the same style to make this 12" quilt block. It's all sewn together. 

I finished the quilt top in December 2015. I hemmed and hawed about the lay out for quite a while. In the end I went with the one Marvin liked best as it will likely be a quilt that staying in our living room. 

I went with layout #4. It is all sew together now and I'm going to try spray basting it. The spray baste I got was from JoAnn Fabric. 

The backing fabric is a double gauze from Cotton & Steel. It is mustard color. Gauze is a sheer light wait fabric but when it's double (hence double gauze) it is not transparent and is incredibly soft. I'm hoping it will give my quilt a cuddly feel. Here is what one blogger says about Double Gauze. 

My binding will be the same blue speckle that is creating the diamond style in the quilt. 

Sewing Level: Beginner

Cost to make: WIP... so far about $60

Time: 6 hours

Hexagon Table Runner

So I've been talking about HEXIES in a lot of other posts. Finally, I'll let you onto what I've been doing with them! 

FIRST- What is a hexie? It's a mini-hexagon. I made 1" hexies for my project but you can make them in a bunch of different sizes. 

There are a few hexie-bucket-list-projects I'd like to accomplish. 

• The quilt to the left has 5" hexies. I'm thinking it'd be lovely in our master bedroom. 
• The mini-hexi quilt to the right is made up entirely of 1" hexies all sew together by hand. This might be a project I finish when I'm 70! It'll take that long to get all the hexies made! 
• The pin cushion is something I'm currently working on for a swap I just joined. I think it'll be pretty fast and I hope to make a few of these. If you're into sewing, let me know and I'll send you a hexie pin cushion :)

My friend Sarah has a great tutorial on how to make them. Here's another too. They are sewn by hand. Once you get the hang of it, making them goes pretty fast. I love the fact that they are done by hand because I can do them on the couch when we are watching TV or in the basement when I'm watching Moses play. 

For the 1" hexies you'll want to start with scraps of fabric that are approximately 2 1/2" x 2 1/2". That's why I love the mini-charm packs. They are the exact right size. You can most definitely use your scrapes too. Because I just started sewing I didn't have any scraps when I started so I bought mini charm packs for about $4 each. Etsy sells then as do some more modern quilt shops. 

You'll next need a paper template to fold your fabric around. I initially just googled it and ended up with hexies that were 7/8" and not 1". Not too big of a deal for some projects but for my table runner the layout was a killer because they were not exactly 1". So go to Sew Quickly and use this template as it's exactly 1"- tried and true. 

Here is a finished example of 1" hexie. 

If you want to see the professional photo for my inspiration click HERE. I didn't want to put their photo directly next to mine because theirs is undoubtable better and more professional but I think mine turned out just great! 

So here's my WIP (Work in Progress). The quilting process was surprisingly easy. It was laying out the hexies that took me FOREVER! Remember I said mine were only 7/8" and not a full 1"... it would've been easier with 1"

My finish table runner! I'm so happy with it.

It took almost 70 hexies. It's about 36" long and 12" wide. Most of the fabric was from charm packs- Cotton and Steel fabric line. 

Just so you don't think hexie making is new.... below is a quilt my great-grandma made and is now on my guest bed.  It's called Grandmother's Flower Garden and the pattern has been around for ages. This should be added to my bucket list too. 

Sewing Level: Beginner- except the laying the pieces out - you basically need to be a rocket scientist or use 1" hexies! 

Cost: $12

Time Commitment: 10 hours

Let's Sew Together!

If you Instagram #sewtogetherbag you will find about a bazillion posts about these cute little bags that you can take with you when you are sewing at a friends house. Again, my desire to have a sew together bag came because of my need to store my new littlehexies (more later). 

These bags are a little tricky for the beginner sewer so I'm glad I had a friend that did a sew along with me on this project. 

We found this great Sew Together Sew Along at The Quilt Barn.  She has a 5 day tutorial with GOBS of pictures. I found it pretty easy to follow along with her. 

FIRST you must purchase the pattern. I found one on Etsy (search: sew together bag) or you can go to the source and order a digital copy Sew Demented. The pattern will cost you $12. 

Gathering your materials is the fun part. I ordered most of my fabric via etsy- thanks to my dad for the gift card for my birthday! I used all fat quarters and piece my pockets together. You could use all one fabric but piecing the fabric makes the bag really unique! 

Understanding the Fat Quarter has been tricky for me for some reason. So here's a picture to help cement it in your head. If you get into quilting FQ's will become your friend! 

I also ordered my zippers from etsy. Zipit Zippers  has a great deal for zippers. You'll need a whopping 4 for this project. Zipit even has a set up order for the sew together bag. Get all 4 zippers for $2.30 +SH. I went with plastic zippers for this project. They are easier to install than metal. 

So here's my WIP (work in progress). 3 of the 4 zippers installed. 

I really didn't run into too much trouble until I had to put on my zipper tabs. It was basically the 2nd to last step to finishing the bag. Quilary  had a tutorial that at least gave me a different view of putting the tabs on. I should have taken some photos of my process. If I make another I'll update this post. 

Here's the final turn out. It's  10" x5" x5". It has 3 zippered pockets and 5 sections. It'll hold a pair of scissors and TONS of other items. There is also an optional pin cushion and needle landing  that you can install. 

Sewing Level: Intermediate, installation of zippers is nice to know but they do a good job of walking you through the process

Cost: $22 + pattern cost ($12)

Time Commitment: 15 hours, It took about 4-5 nights of 3-4 hours each

Moda Scattered Square Pillow

I got on a kick of buying MINI CHARM PACKS. They are awesome in so many ways. You get to see a large portion of a pattern line and they usually cost under $4. It's a cheap thrill. 

So after buying the mini-charm packs I started to make hexies (more on that later) but I wanted to complete something sooner than the hexies would allow.  I searched Pinterest for "what to do with mini-charm packs". That's when I found this tutorial for the scattered square pillow. 

My inspiration

I used mostly Vanessa Christensen's Color Me Happy fabric line. The basic white was purchased from JoAnn Fabrics and the backing and binding was picked up at a quilt shop in Indian River. 

The tutorial I used above was very helpful but when I got to the "put the binding on" part. I had to google some more. I found this helpful you-tube video that talked about machine binding.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWh90tXr7g4&index=2&list=WL

Overall I liked machine binding but in a few places I either had to go back and sew over again to catch the back binding or I hand stitched it. I thought it was MUCH faster than hand quilting and it looked pretty good too! 

Materials: 
The pillow took just under 1 charm pack- but I mixed a few packs together. The binding and border were each 1 fat quarter and the back was a 20"x20" piece. You'll also need batting and another layer under the batting to make the pillow top. A full material list is in the tutorial. 

So here's my finished pillow: 

It's holds a pillow that is 20"x 20". It may be a little over stuffed but I like how it makes the stitching of the quilt layer POP. Quilting the top was my favorite part. I love how it adds texture. I also got used to using a walking foot on this pillow. It is a necessity when trying to quilt the top and feeding multiple layers through your machine at one time. It was VERY easy to use. 

  

The back I wanted to be a solid pattern in case I needed to make my couch a little more neutral. I added the trim piece where the pillow comes together. 

The pattern does have the colored squares off centered and I achieved that! However my white boarders are supposed to all be the same size and straight- I failed at that. The good news though is that I failed all over so it looks like it's supposed to be that way. I attribute this fail to not sewing on a scant 1/4" accurately. Accuracy isn't my strength right now but it will come with time. 

Sewing Level: Beginner just measure accurately and go slowly
Cost: $20
Time: 5 hours
Special materials: Walking foot