Author

Michelle

Book Review Embroidery Hobbies Patchwork Quilting Sewing

Quilt Petite Blog Hop

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be a part of the Quilt Petite blog hop! I just love this book by Sedef , from Down Grapevine Lane! I want to make everything in it! I knew I would love all the projects – I’ve been following Sedef on Instagram for a long while now, and I love everything she makes. They are soft and pretty, florally and sweet! She uses lots of florals, and gingham, and polka dots, and pink, and aqua, and… Well, I’d best stop there, or we won’t get to MY project!

As soon as I saw that little girl on the cushion on the front, I just knew that would be my project. I have this thing for Mary Jane shoes, and florally fabric, so I didn’t really have a choice, did I?

My favourite of all fabrics is a tiny navy floral, so I decided to use the navy floral from Vintage Picnic for my little girl’s dress. Then I gave her aqua socks and navy Mary Jane’s. Perfect!!

I decided quite late into it, that I wasn’t going to this into a cushion. In my home, pretty cushions invariably get sat on by the dog, or thrown on the floor by teenage boys.

So I was going to make it into a mini, when the thought came to me that if she became a tote bag, I could carry all that prettiness around with me. That’s why I decided to machine quilt the border around my little girl, and sew on flowers instead of embroidering them – a little bit more robust for a bag, I think!

Not so long ago, I finished a hexi panel using fussy cut hexies from an IG swap, and wanted to use this in a tote.

So, I decided last week, why not put them both in the same bag! And voila!! How happy am I with the result?!?!

I used a mash up of two tote bag patterns from two different books – the Craft on the Go Tote Bag from Scrap Happy Sewing by Retro Mama, and the Airmail Simple Tote from Sweetly Stitched Handmades by Amy Sinibaldi.

I really like the linen background – it doesn’t take away from all those pretty fabrics! I also added a band of linen to the top of the lining which I think makes it look very professional! I even remembered to sew on one of my tags! And how sweet are those buttons on the web handles?!

I used the sweetest bunny print from Somer by Sarah Jane – a lovely low volume print which makes it easier to see inside the bag when I’m searching for something!

If you haven’t already bought this book, you should go and buy it right now! There is not one dud pattern in there – and Sedef’s instructions are so clear, and the photos are pure eye candy.

Here is the schedule for the blog hop – there have been so many pretty things made already, I can’t wait to see what everyone else makes!

November 6: Sedef at Down Grapevine Lane (intro + giveaway)
November 7: Wynn at Zakka Art
November 8: Sarah at A Little Happy Place
November 9: Bridgette at The Family Hearth
November 10: Heidi at Fabric Mutt
November 11: Minki at Minki’s Work Table
November 12: Ange at A Little Patchwork
November 13: Lauren at Molly and Mama
November 14: Michelle at Cole & Taffy (this is me!)
November 15: Nadra at Ellis & Higgs
November 16: Amy at Nana Company
November 17: Faith at Sarana Ave
November 18: Debbie at Happy Little Cottage
November 19: Erin at Why Not Sew
November 20: Amanda at Jedi Craft Girl
November 21: Melissa at Oh How Sweet
November 22: Stacy at Stacy Olson Design
November 23: Ayda at Cafe Nohut
November 24: Peta at She Quilts A Lot
November 25: Amanda at A Crafty Fox
November 26: Keera at Live Love Sew
November 27: Sharon at Lilabelle Lane
November 28: Kate at The Homemakery
November 29: Jemima at Tied With A Ribbon
November 30: Jodie at Ric Rac
December 1: Anorina at Samelia’s Mum
December 2: Alisha at Ministry of Fabric
December 3: Xanthe at Wife-made
December 4: Cheri at Tinker With This
December 5: Kristyne at Pretty By Hand
December 6: Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop
December 7: Veronica at Vivid Felicity
December 8: Shari at Doohikey Designs
December 9: Jina at Jina Barney Designz
December 10: Emma at Emma Jean Jansen
December 11: Sedef at Down Grapevine Lane (wrap up + giveaway winner)

And don’t forget to pop over to visit Sedef’s blog, where she has a giveaway (a copy of the book + fabric + lots of Zakka goodies). She’s going to keep the giveaway open on her blog until the end of the tour – the winner will be announced on the final day.

Thanks for joining me today,

Till next time,

November 14, 2016 12 comments

Knitting

Sock Knitting Newbie

written by Michelle

I’d always been terrified of knitting socks! I’ve knitted jumpers, and cardigans, and toys, and shawls, but the sock – no way!!

But if you’re on Instagram, you may have noticed all the pretty socks that are being knitted out there IRL!

So, I gave it a go! I used the Basic Socks pattern by Winwick Mum.

There was a sockalong and the website has heaps of information for sock knitting newbies – go here to check it all out!

Here are the socks I made using this pattern:

My socks

Cait’s socks

My daughter and I are wearing ours as house socks as I didn’t use the correct sized needles and they came out a little too big!

Then my sister gave me this gorgeous yarn for my birthday and I decided to give this sock knitting caper another go – using the correct needles this time!

Peach Melba yarn

I came across the After Thought Heel Socks pattern via IG and it looked like it was a little easier. There is also a tutorial here to help.

After Thought Heel pattern

Well, this is a great pattern – very easy and straightforward!

Here is where the heel will be added after the rest of the sock is finished.

Heel hole

And here are the finished socks!

Heel closeup

Finished socks

Since I finished these, I found this pattern by Susan B Anthony – the Smooth Operator Socks pattern which has a number of different options available. I think I’ll try this one next!

What’s your favourite sock pattern? Leave a comment and share!

Till next time,

November 4, 2016 2 comments

"Free Pattern" Review Patchwork Quilting

Free Pattern Review: Double Square Star Quilt

written by Michelle

It was my dear friend’s 50th birthday in October, so in July I showed her three piles of fabric and asked her to pick her favourite. She chose a fat quarter bundle of Celebration by Brenda Riddle – a line full of soft pastelly prints and a couple of darker maroon ones! It was gorgeous. I chose the Double Square Star quilt pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Company.

The blocks are very easy to cut out and sew. A quick make if you need one!

I did sew a couple of the corner squares on the wrong end, but once I got that sorted, it went together beautifully!

Instead of buying one fabric for the border, I decided to do a scrappy one – there was lots of fabric left after cutting, and I really like the scrappy look. I did the same for my Grow Where You’re Planted quilt.

This photo is after it’s been washed and put in the dryer. It came out so creased! It looked better after it had been folded up for a while!! But then I forgot to get a photo 🙁

I usually back my quilts with a vintage sheet but I just didn’t have one that matched, so I decided to go with a pretty aqua homespun for the backing and I love it.

I quilted a diagonal straight line pattern, marking a couple of rows at a time with my Hera marker – way quicker and easier than tape.

I chose the pretty soft pink floral to bind, and it looks perfect!

The pattern is on a video, not written out, but it is very simple and easy to follow. I’m contemplating making another!

I gave the finished quilt to my friend yesterday – and she loved it! This is the first quilt I’ve gifted – I think I’ll be doing more of this! It gives you a lovely, warm, fuzzy feeling!

Till next time,

October 9, 2016 0 comment

Book Review Craft Quilting Sewing

Book Review: Patchwork, Please

written by Michelle

I really appreciate reviews of books so that I know whether it’s worth my while to buy the book or not. So I thought I would write up a review of one of my favourite craft books, Patchwork, Please by Ayumi Takahashi. Her blog is Pink Penguin, and she is @ayumills on Instagram.

I’ve used four of the patterns in this book, and except for one, have been very happy with the instructions and how they were written. There are lots of photos, and the instructions are clear and well-written. There is an especially good section devoted to paper foundation piecing.

First up, is the Teabag Pouch. This is a quick make, and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow. This makes a great little gift for those tea drinkers in your life.

Then there is the Happy Hexagon Trivet. I’ve made maybe four of these – great for using scraps, and another fairly quick make. You can fussy cut the centre, and these also make great gifts. Can you ever have too many heat pads?

The Prettified Pincushion uses smaller pieces of fabric and so great for using up your scraps. And doesn’t any fabric look good with linen?

Lastly, I made the My Scrappy Box. This is the only pattern that I had problems with – their seemed to be an error in the cutting dimensions – I think the dimensions for the bottom lining piece should have been 9″ x 6 1/2″. I want to make another one so I’ll update this when I get a chance to check it.

There are a number of other projects that are are on my to-do list – the Handy Market Tote and the Books-for-Baby quilt are lovely! So I would highly recommend this book if you are shopping for a craft book!

I’d love to hear if you have a favourite craft book – just pop it in a comment!

Till next time,

September 26, 2016 1 comment

Patchwork Quilting

Raindrops Quilt

written by Michelle

I had the most gorgeous bundle of Tilda fabric (Cabbage Rose and Memory Lane) that I had been given by the lovely Fiona at 2 Green Zebras (an Australian fabric wholesale distributor) , and now I had to find the perfect quilt pattern for it.

I searched the Quilt Pattern folder on my computer, looked through a number of quilty books, and then I found it – the Raindrops quilt in the new book, By the Bundle, by the very talented fellow Aussie, Emma Jean Jansen.

This was the perfect pattern – there was no background fabric so the whole quilt would be Tilda! I’d never tried curves, so this pattern would stretch my skills and I would learn something new. It was also quite a modern pattern for me.

I couldn’t wait to get started! Instagram tells me I chose the pattern on the 6th August and I finished it on the 15th September! That’s the fastest I’ve ever made a quilt!!

I made my own templates, and started cutting. I didn’t follow the pattern exactly for cutting out the curved parts. I just traced around the templates on the fabric, placing them as closely as I could. This way I saved on fabric so I had some left for other things! Also, I fussy cut the sweet bunnies, which took a wee bit more time and used up most of the fat quarter.

Sewing these blocks together was quite fast, and the whole thing came together very quickly!

The colours in these fabrics are so gorgeous – it was always going to be one pretty quilt!

I usually back my quilts in vintage sheets, but this fabric was so beautiful, and the fact that it had been gifted to me, made me want to go the extra mile and use Tilda for the backing. So I searched the internet and found an Australian Etsy shop (Stitch Fabric and Design) that sells older Tilda at a good price and got me some!!

Emma Jean quilted the quilt in the book with straight line quilting, 1/2″ apart. I started with the lines 1″ apart and decided that I really liked it (and the thought of going back and redoing the whole thing for 1/2″ lines was all too much!)

I chose my favourite fabric from these bundles, the Flowercloud in navy, for the binding, and it’s just perfect! I made straight binding (as opposed to mitred corner binding) for the first time. The instructions in the book are very clear and I really like how it turned out.

I took the quilt with me to Gosford when my sister and I went to have a girly weekend with my mum – and then put them to work holding up the quilt in various locations. So here are lots of photos of my beautiful quilt all around the central coast! Thanks sweeties!

I would highly encourage anyone who’s thinking of making this quilt to just do it! It is one gorgeous quilt!

Linking this blog post up to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival here and Keep Calm Craft On linkup here!

Till next time,

September 19, 2016 20 comments

100 Days 100 Blocks Organization Patchwork Quilting

How I organize my 100 days 100 blocks project

written by Michelle

I have been enjoying seeing all the different blocks being made for the 100 Days 100 Blocks sewalong (see here for more info). I’ve worked out a plan to keep me organized so that I don’t get behind – I’m trying to have between 10-15 blocks sewn ahead of time. Here’s how I do it:

Step 1: Gather fabric and book, ziplock bags and Sharpie

Step 2: Open book to correct block, number bag, then choose fabrics and put in bag. Put bag aside and choose fabric for next block. I usually do about 10 blocks at a time.

Step 3: Go to cutting mat, and cut out each piece for each block, putting cut pieces into correct bag. Once I’ve finished cutting a fabric, I put it into a separate pile, and only pick new fabrics (except solids) for the next lot of blocks, till all my Flower Sugar has been used at least once, then they all get put back together so I can start again.

Step 4: I usually place the pieces for each block on a design board, which makes chain piecing easier. Chain piece as much as you can, and don’t forget your leaders and enders project (see here).

Step 5: Once sewn and pressed, place each block back into correct numbered bag.

Step 6: Tick off these blocks to show that they are sewn together.

Step 7: Take photos. I have added a column to indicate which blocks I’ve photographed.

Step 8: Place all numbered blocks in their bags into the large ziplock bag to await the end of the 100 days when they can all be sewn together.

And there you have it! I’m sure there are lots of different ways to keep track of all this, but I thought this might be helpful to someone. If you have a tip, please leave it in a comment!

Till next time,

September 11, 2016 4 comments

100 Days 100 Blocks Patchwork Quilting

100 Days 100 Blocks Sewalong

written by Michelle

It was all over Instagram – a sewalong using Tula Pink’s book City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks – making 100 blocks in 100 days! Organized by Angie @gnomeangel, Lisa @sweetlittlepretties, and Raylee @sunflowerquilting.

I wasn’t going to do it! I did NOT need another project! 100 blocks in 100 days is just crazy! I don’t really do modern and have no Tula fabric!

But then I got to thinking: I can make it using any fabric I like – I could make it “me” by using pretty floral fabrics!

So off to my stash I went, and found a fat quarter bundle of last year’s Flower Sugar by Lecien, and a layer cake of a different Flower Sugar collection that I won on IG. A quick peek through my solids, and I thought – that’s it! A Flower Sugar version of Tula Pink’s City Sampler quilt it is!!

The idea is to post (on IG) a photo of the block you made – block 1 on day 1, block 2 on day 2, etc. There are prizes and giveaways, and at the end you have a gorgeous quilt! And so many pretty quilts there will be – check out the #100days100blocks and see all the different blocks people are making. It’s amazing!!

Here are the first eighteen blocks I made:

Then I was ~~gobsmacked~~ pleasantly surprised when the lovely Yoko from Lecien Fabrics contacted me to ask if I would mind if they send me some of the new Flower Sugar collections to add into my quilt! Of course, I said YES!! And these lovelies arrived.

That’s Paisley Wind on the left (I can’t wait to add some of those pretty greys) and Sweet Carnival on the right!

Go to the following links if you’d like to know more about the sewalong and the prizes:

Gnome Angel

Sweet Little Pretties

Sunflower Stitcheries

Next week I’ll show you how I’ve organized my work flow for this project!

Till next time,

September 4, 2016 6 comments

Craft Patchwork Quilting Sewing Tips and Tricks

Weekender Bag Roundup

written by Michelle

Well, I’m pretty excited that I finished my weekender bag and still have a smile on my face.

I took part in the Weekender Bag Sewalong held by Sew Lux and Happy Little Cottage. Unfortunately, the sewalong didn’t finish, but I did! And I was happy to realise that it wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be – probably due to all the research I did before I started. I’ve listed a heap of links below to help you out!

I stayed pretty close to the pattern except that I lengthened the straps to 55″ as I wanted wear it over my shoulder, but not have it drag on the ground. I added some wadding into the handles to make them a little comfier on the shoulder, too.

I also added a double pull zipper – Tara @tarasews on IG suggested it, and I used this tutorial by Two Little Poppets.

Inside, I added a zippered compartment using this tutorial on the U-Handbag blog, and a simple pocket with two sections on the other side (sorry – bad photo!)

I added a pieced M to one end, and a bow block to the other end.

I added some feet to the bottom of my bag to protect it! When I sewed the sides to the base, I had an excess of fabric so I had to sew a little seam along the bottom.

The pattern is by Amy Butler and the fabrics are the prettiest navy floral from April Showers by Bonnie and Camille, Essex linen in denim, and a small red gingham from Spotlight. The lining is a pretty aqua homespun.

Here are a heap of links to blog posts with tips and tricks for making the weekender bag:

Start here: A very detailed 3 part series by Three Owls Handmade – excellent with lots of photos, and a post about the first bag she made here which is just so pretty and has lots of info too.

Mommy by Day Crafter by Night

For quilt-as-you-go bag panels, check out this tutorial:

Oh Fransson

So, there it is! I’ve made a weekender bag, and I wouldn’t mind making another, with hexie panels, maybe?

Till next time,

August 28, 2016 6 comments

Craft Embroidery Patchwork Quilting Sewing

A Spoonful of Sugar Sew Along

written by Michelle

In June, Lisa of A Spoonful of Sugar blog, started a sewalong on Instagram. The idea was to make a project from her book, A Spoonful of Sugar – Sew 20 Simple Projects to Sweeten Your Surroundings Zakka Style. There would be five rounds (each round running for 2 weeks) and there would be prizes and a grand prize winner. There were so many amazing projects made – go check out the hashtag #aspoonfulofsugarsal on Instagram to take a peek.

Anyhoo, I thought I would give a quick run down on the five projects I made.

Round 1: Fabric Gift Basket

I used some some gorgeous Emma Jean Jansen fabrics and my logo for a label. It’s such a cute size – it now sits on my desk holding my fabric labels.

Round 2: Zakka Dilly Bag

I asked my teenage daughter if there was anything in the book she’d like me to make for her. She picked the dilly bag. I bought the cool pen fabric by Cotton and Steel especially for my writer daughter – I just knew she’d love those pens.

Round 3: Gorgeous Gingham Pot Holder

I’d never tried chicken scratch embroidery before, and wanted to use this sewalong to try some new things. So I chose some favourites from my stash, and went to work. I still haven’t used this as a pot holder yet – it’s just a bit too pretty!

Round 4: Grandmother’s Flower Garden Dust Cover

I already had some sweet 1/2″ hexie flowers sitting on my desk, so I thought this would be a good project to use them for. I really loved how this turned out – too pretty to hide away in the wardrobe, so I sewed the hanger hole closed and I’m using it as a chair cover for my sewing chair. I get to look at it every day!!

Round 5: Sashiko Placemat (adapted)

I’d tried sashiko once before, and I love the look of it, so I chose this as my last project. I was blessed to be given a fat quarter bundle of the new Tilda line, and once I saw those aqua bunnies, I just knew I had to use them. I decided to turn the sashiko placemat into a sashiko sign for my sewing room. I did some sewing illustration (that was fun), and added a little bit of pink lace. It’s hanging above the doorway into my special crafty space.

All in all, I had lots of fun, learnt some new techniques, and have some new pretty useful things around my home!

I must admit I was disappointed I didn’t win any of the prizes for this sewalong. Just being real. However, I must also admit I’m glad I didn’t have to judge the competition, as there were SO many great projects made throughout the sewalong. I decided to use this as a learning experience, and the two areas I think I could improve in are my photography and attention to the little details that really make a project. So all is not lost!! Bring on the next sewalong, I say!

Till next time,

August 20, 2016 4 comments

Organization Patchwork Quilting Sewing

How to Make a Bonus Quilt

written by Michelle

I’ve been posting some photos on IG of my leaders/enders project and had some questions, so here is how I organize things so that I can make a bonus quilt without too much trouble while making other quilts.

None of this is new! You can read all about leaders and enders here on Bonnie Hunter’s website, Quiltville.

I follow Lori Holt’s scrap regime (found here), and you can read all about her leaders and enders procedure here. When I saw Lori’s scrappy crossroads tutorial I knew I wanted to make one just like it!

So I gathered all my 2 1/2″ scrap squares, cut some background fabric to the size required and placed it all in a small plastic tub to the right of my sewing machine.

Every now and then, while I’m watching TV, I’ll grab the tub of squares and start putting two of them together (right sides facing) and layer them, ready for me to grab and sew.

I put 16 pairs together, and then I take 8 of the background squares and place 2 of the smaller squares on top of each background square. I draw the sewing lines (I like to have the offcuts already sewn together so that I can make something with these later on ) on the back of these squares before put them back into the tub, and put it beside my machine ready to go.

Then, as I’m sewing another project, when I run out of that project’s pieces and need to do some pressing and/or trimming, I grab a couple of these 2 1/2″ squares and sew them together. I leave this in the machine with the needle down, and then continue with the main project. Every time I have to remove a project piece from the sewing machine, I sew another couple of squares together, leave them in the machine, and then continue on with my main project.

I use my large design board to sit my squares on once I’ve started sewing. This sits to the left of my machine.

Here is the area to the right of my sewing machine. The squares of fabric for my leaders and enders quilt are within easy reach of my machine. I can also trim right there, and throw the off cut half square triangles into that box in the bottom right corner, where they’ll stay until I get a chance to make something with them.

Here is the finished block – I love how scrappy these blocks are and they’re big so I think I’ll make 16 of them for my quilt.

And here are a few blocks together – don’t they look great! I’m going to love this quilt when it’s done.

Do you have a leaders and enders project? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

Till next time,

August 14, 2016 7 comments

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