Bowled Over 2

Lots of people were very nice about my bag tutorial, and about my bowls, so I'll be making some more in the future and have the memory of a goldfish, here goes another attempt at instructions:

First a bit of maths (dont panic, I've done it for you!)

5.5" bowl needs a base circle (D) of 6", and a side (C) finishing at 17.25" round (cut to 17.75")
6.5" bowl needs a base circle (D) of 7", and a side (C) finishing at 20.50" round (cut to 21.00")
7.5" bowl needs a base circle (D) of 8", and a side (C) finishing at 23.50" round (cut to 24.00")
8.5" bowl needs a base circle (D) of 9", and a side (C) finishing at 28.25" round (cut to 28.75")

(To calculare other sizes: C=π D.  This means Circumference = 22/7 x Diameter, [plus 0.5" for both measurements] - or add a comment and I'll work it out for you, LOL)

So I started with legs from a pair of jeans  I cut the hem off, leaving a C value of 20 inches, so I needed a 7inch circle for the base (*).  Alternatively I could cut a strip 7" x 20.50 and make it into a tube the same size as the jeans leg.  If so I would leave a 4" gap mid seam to make life easier later on

Once I'd cut these out I folded both the leg and the circle in half and marked the folds with pins, and then in half again matching the pins, so I could mark the 1/4s.

I then pinned the base to the sides matching first the pins and   then between them, and then stitched.

I did the same again with the other leg.  This could be a contrasting fabric instead.  the denim is quite firm -  if I were using two patchwork fabrics I would have added stabiliser

One needs to be turned right way, the other stays inside out

Put the right way one inside the other (right sides together), and pin them together,  I put a length on jumbo rikrak around between the two pieces.

The untidy ends of the rikrak need to stay visable at this point, so they will be hidden later.  Stitch all the way around the top.  (for this denim bowl I needed to leave a turning hole here at the top as I didn't want to open a leg seam)

Turn the whole lot through the hole that was left either in the side seam or the top, then I pinned and top stitched in order to close the hole.  If you left a side hole, this can be slip stitched close now.

 

Ta Da!!!!!! 

If I had used contrasting fabrics the bowl would be reversible, but on this version there isn't any point in reversing it as both look the same!!!!

(* To make yourself a template for the base:  get a piece of paper bigger than the diameter required.  Mark an X in the centre.  Position a ruler so the half way measurement is on the cross (ie for a 7" circle, put 3.5" ruler mark on the X) and mark the 0 and the 7" positions on your paper.  Move the ruler a bit clockwise and repeat.  Carry on like this until you have enough marks that you are happy to join them into a circle.  So long as you have marked both measurements, and always lined up the middle measurement with the X you will be creating a dot-to-dot circle)

Bowled Over

After making bags last week, there were pieces of the fabric left over, not big enough to make bags from, and not small enough to scrap, so I made a bowl, and another one and another one

Those first three went to good homes, but I also I made this one from a donated pair of jeans' legs.

Hope you all had a good weekend

Envy Post

I was very excited to see postie walking along my road today, as I thought, (hoped) I knew what she might have for me.

You might remember I joined a Japanese Charm Swap back in August.

The idea of Japanese charms is not that they have Japanese theme, but rather that they are made in Japan, and the Japanese fabrics generally have a similarity that the prints are all small scale.  So even with just a 5" square (a 'charm' square) the pattern is repeated enough times that you get several images.

So 56 of us bought a metre each of a different Japanese fabric, cut it into 5" squares and posted them off to the lovely Sarah.  Once she had them all, she played a kind of game of patience, and created 56 stacks of all different charms, and then on Thursday posted them all out to us.

So very excitingly this little stack came through my letter box this morning

And when it gets dealt out, it looks like this (be still my beating heart)

(My stack is still pristine - Sarah stacked them perfectly and I am happy to stroke and fondle, so I stole the photo from Sarah's own blog, hope you don't mind S!!!!)

Happy Hexies

I haven't shown these for a while: the flowers are not joined to each other, but there are 10 competed flowers - I think I've been watching too much TV, that would explain why the hand sewing shows more quantity than machine sewing, LOL

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How to Make a Bag

OK, not how to make *any* bag, but here are instructions for how to make my slouch bag or a variation of it.

I'm writing these instructions for me, to cut down on the scraps of paper floating around the sewing room, but feel free to use them if you want :-)  I apologise for the style of instructions, I find it very difficult to write coheriently but briefly!

Requirements to make reversible slouch bag (one fabric is referred to as the lining, but the bag will be reversible):

• 2 x half metre of fabric.  I use two fairly stiff fabrics and no stabiliser, if one or both fabrics are soft, then also add at least one layer of stabilising stuff
• 1m of 1.5" wide webbing (or 6 inch x width of fabric) for straps
• 2 D rings (optional)

Fold one fabric in half width ways and again in half length ways.  Cut scoop out from the selvedge edge so it looks like a folded vest top

 Repeat with the second fabric, using the first as a pattern piece so they are the same.

Do you want a pocket?  

You can use the waste from 

the scoop to add a pocket

 to the inside, or the outside,

 or both.  Add pockets now.

 

Take the two fabric pieces, and pin the lining 'necks' to the outer 'necks', right sides together. 

(Do you want a flap or some sort of tie to allow you to close the bag? Prepare them now, from scraps.  The flap or ties need to been placed between the fabric, sandwiched so you can only see the very edge, and stitched in place as the neck is stitched -add a loop of elastic or a keyring attachment to the flap and then place a suitable button so the bag can be closed?)

Stitch the necks.

Now you are going to stitch both bags closed along the sides, all apart from a 5inch gap in one side of the least favourite fabric (the lining)

Now create two straps from with the webbing or the extra length of fabric:   

Take the 6"xWOF piece-  (fold in half length ways, press.  Then open and fold the raw edges in to the fold, press and fold again.  Open up the ends, fold under the short edge, and re-fold along the long edge, pin  at regular intervals.  Now stitch along both edges to finish the strap.)

There are 2 unstitched openings at the top of the bag, sort of where the shoulders would be if it were a vest top.  Open these so there is one fabric either side of the opening.  The strap needs to be placed so it is mostly inside the bag (between the two fabrics), with just a raw edge peeping out through this opening.

The opening can be reduced if it is much bigger than the strap, or the strap can be pleated it it is bigger then the opening.

 If a boxed bottom is required, create that now. [see this link for how to create one], I used a 2 inches) repeat 4 times, once for each corner

Now turn everything through the hole you left in the lining.  Top stitch around the 'neck',  stitch down the end of one of the straps to secure the two D rings (optional), and slip stitch the opening closed.

The straps can be adjusted either by knotting, or by adjusting the strap through the D rings.

Done!

Is it A Bee? Is It A Dog?

The first Bee block has arrived today from Nicky in West Sussex: isn't he lovely!

Just to show how the stars will fit together (tesselate), here is mine and Nicky's together

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Bag Lady

I spent a lovely afternoon a few days ago making bags!
Hope you are managing some creative time too.

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A little bit of this, and a little bit of that

I wish I hadn't typed that post title, now I cant get that song out of my head - serves me right!

A few random photos for today's post.  After meeting Annabelle recently the sneaky lady posted a photo of mum and I on her blog (right at the end of a long post), so I thought I'd return the compliment - so here are Annabelle and I in her sunny conservatory - and yes we both have uncontrollable grey / white hair!

I'm now taking you from the Home Counties over the sea to Portugal.  Just two photos from my recent girly weekend to  Lisbon: I love these window decorations - buttons strung onto fishing wire

. . . and when the waiter asked if we wanted a pitcher of beer rather than 6 medium glasses we never expected to have one of these brought to the table!!!  It was fab, and the centre column of ice kept the beer ice cold even in the direct sunlight (I want one!)

And finally, two lizards for Jen from the African Bee swap.  I tried to make one out of hot dots: I cut the lizard shape out of the dots and ironed them onto the fabric, but couldn't work out how to get the foil to then stick to the dots, so I abandoned that plan, and simply bond-a-webbed another one onto fabric, and stitched around him in a green blanket stitch in Lisbon (a well travelled lizard!)  Apologies for the rubbish pic, I thought it was better, and he's been packaged up now ready to continue his travels, this time to Jen's in California, along with a budgie and a hedgehog!

However, in the mean time, Jacqui emailed me with the instructions on how to use the hot dots - doh, I had to melt them again with the foil on top!  I did a positive, and a negative, and although I have sent both, I have only taken a pic of the negative one as I think he's the better one.  I did embroider around his body as one of the Pearle cottons that Plum sent me was the perfect colour, so Sparkles is on his way with Boris!

Crafty Pressies

I am very aware there has been an appalling lack of sewing, but I do have a whole range of excuses involving additional hours at work (lots) hours at the gym (far fewer) several days of celebrating my birthday, and now packing for a girly weekend away. It's a tough life!!!

 However, my friends are helping me cope. Just look at this yummy fabric Jackie sent me (Warm Memories charm pack). Not only is it gorgeous, but it goes perfectly with the top charm squares that were left from another pack, all yummy warm colours - I can't wait to start!

Jackie also sent me these two for my kitchen, one shows how well she knows me, and the other how much she loves me, love you J x x

I also got a fab package from Plum [link to follow when work out how to link on the iPad!) at Plum Quilts. She and I are virtual twins, so hers is one of the few birthdays I manage to remember. She sent this awesome fabric (I L.O.V.E. text fabrics) some pearle quilting threads, and this fab little covered notebook, even with colouring pencils, perfect for recording quilty inspirations Next weekend Jackie will be over, and will be meeting my mum on Saturday, and hopefully Plum on Sunday at the Richmond and Kew quilt show!

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Super Saturday and Smashing Sunday

I had a really busy Saturday:  Mum and I went to Sandown, but on the way popped in to meet . . . In Real Life . . . a fellow blogger, Annabelle from Annabell Serendipity

Annabelle was exactly how I imagined her, a lovely chatty crafty lady who has a beautiful home, and makes a lovely cup of tea - what more can you ask for!  I did have a go at taking photos, but they didn't come out at all well, and as neither of like ourselves in photos anyway, we gave up after a few attempts.

We then went to Sandown which wasn't actually the patchwork show that I expected, it was a Creative crafts show, (all shopping), so we went round  a few time, bought a few bits and pieces and then set off home again

Despite the rain on Sunday we had a lovely day in Greenwich visiting Lisa at Uni.  We did the touristy thing at Cutty Sark, and had a lovely meal at the Gipsy Moth, a pub next door to the Cutty Sark.

Here's my lot in the Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark was a tea clipper for much of her working life, and my girls really liked the tea quotes stencilled on the floors of the ship:

There is no trouble to grave that it cannot be diminished with a nice cup of tea

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world

If you are cold, tea will warm you

If you are too heated, it will cool you

If you are depressed it will cheer you

If you are excited it will calm you

But they didn't have our favourite which actually came from Annabelle

Money can't buy happiness

But it can buy Tea

And that's almost the same thing

We have been to Greenwich to see Lisa this time of year  for the last three years as it's my birthday:  I thought I'd show you the lovely pressies my family got me:

Three beads for my Troll bracelet:  a budgie from Niki, a Mum heart from Lisa, and a Troll from Brian

Also from Lisa some lovely Vanilla smellies (my favourite :-)

And from my mum, these gorgeous enamel red saucepans

We also met Lisa's boyfriend while we in Greenwich: he ticked lots of boxes (no fancy hair style, no trousers hanging down to his knees, doesn't use 'like' three times in every sentence, and didn't spend the meal glued to his mobile phone)  He was lovely, but then both my girls have been brought up to have impeccable taste, so of course he would be!

He even knows how to pick a perfect birthday pressie:  He wanted to know a book that I already had and enjoyed (Lisa told him "I before E except after C") and he chose this one which I am thoroughly enjoying, thanks Liam (the combi moneybox is from Lisa, isn't it great!)

Half Day Happiness

I love half days - the kind where I get away from work actually on time, come home to a cuppa with Niki (who was on her way to first tutor a couple of children, and then go to work at the bowling alley until midnight) and then sew :-)

I nearly finished two draw string bags for a friend's twins (the older set of twins had similar bags about 5 years ago!)  Just need to get into town to get some cord

I stuffed and finished Lucia's taggie "L" - thanks for the tip Plum, I put the bell into a plastic bag before I put it into the L

And I stitched and stitched and stitched that pile of 2.5 inch strips into a quilt top about 58" x 42" (150 x 110cm)

The are at least 50% I-Spy fabrics, so they make a really busy quilt top, but I am loving these scrappy Jelly Rolls.

Of course none of these were even on the UFO list, so that hasn't improved at all, but I've had a lovely time!!!

Sewing Saturday

Apart from a few cups of tea with Brian, I have spent the whole day sewing - and what bliss it has been.

I pieced, quilted and bound an I-Spy quilt for a friend to auction next week

And I emptied the selvedge edge drawer and made 31 blocks to be trimmed to 5 inch squares

And I embroidered a blanket for a friend's 50th next week

And I joined lots of the scraps from the 2.5 inch strips draw to make one very long strip ready to make a scrappy jelly roll race quilt

I am starting to feel I can again describe myself as a patchworker

Busy Bee

I managed to do some sewing today, yippee.  I wanted to work on the Out of Africa Bee blocks for Jen's month.  She has asked for animals to make a book for her children (2, 4 and 6 I think).  To make the bocks relevant to me, I have based them on animals we have had.  

This is Twiglet, a Vanilla Tipped African Pygmy hedgehog

And here is a machine embroidery version of him

 And this is Blue Boy my budgie

. . . with a green version of him as I had no suitable blue fabric, so maybe this should be called Green Girl

And there will be a block to depict Boris the skink,

but I cant find the stuff I need, so he will be created next weekend after my lovely friend Jacqui has lend me some "stuff"

An L of an urge

 I needed to sew - it's been 5 weeks (whinged the addict).  

I managed to join some of the I-Spy squares into 4 strips of 6 fabrics (no pics, they are on the ironing board downstairs), and I pieced some of the scrappy strips into an L shaped taggie for baby Lucia:  Fleece on the back, picture fabrics on the front, and loads of bits of ribbon poking out of the side seams.

Very busy, very colourful, and lots of textures for little fingers.  

I haven't stitched the opening closed yet - if I can find some bells I might stuff it loosely and put a few inside instead of leaving it flat, who knows!

Whatever Possessed Me?

Well I cleared my email back log - got to love the [delete] button!  But I still haven't got to the sewing machine, instead I have been 'unsewing' again!


I have been sewing I-Spy hexies together for a while - it got quite big (about twice the size of this), but I wasn't happy with it.

So in a fit of madness I took it all apart

Not content with that, I then started basting some tiny triangles (1 and 1/4 inches each side).

And then started sewing it back together

 

So to summarise: I took a slow project, took two steps backwards, and am now taking one *very* small step forward.

What ever possessed me?

I think it's withdrawal symptoms - I haven't switched my sewing machine on in 5 weeks!

I-Spy Delaying Tactics

When I got back from my holiday I switched on my computer to check my emails- not the 'sewing' one that you use, dear reader, but my 'every day' one - the one that everyone else uses, including of course those people offering me jobs; degrees; an extension to a body part I don't have; a gazillion dollars to launder some money for them, etc.

Well I looked at the total number of unread messages, (not much change from 3000!) and simply closed the email programme, I was not in the mood to even see if there is anything important there!

Today I didn't even open the emails, instead I opened Audible and went back to cutting squares from picture fabrics listening to The Help (Yes, Miss Jennifer, I am certainly thinking in a Southern accent, and I am loving this book!).

However I have come to the realisation that is a delaying tactic - this revaluation came to me when I counted up and realised that in the last two evenings I have cut enough blocks to make fourteen 26 block quilt tops, in addition to a fair number of 8x4 inch blocks for the brick hand sewing top, and a good number of 5" blocks to add to the Japanese charm squares when they come.



Time to stop procrastinating, and check those emails,

sigh,

Well, maybe tomorrow?

chopping charms

Our return home from Florida was, thank goodness, uneventful, and I spent yesterday with the girls, in between yawning and doing loads of washing, and today was back to school.

This evening I had the house to myself, so I chopped the fabric for the charm square swap while I listened to "the help" on audio book.



I was having such a lovely time I then started chopping more of my new fabrics into 5" and 8" squares ready for more I-spy quilts.  A lovely evening

 

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missing my machine

After 2 weeks without access to my sewing machine I am getting serious withdrawal symptoms! Today's hand sewing has been variegated and two colour Dorset buttons, and some flying geese.  Tomorrow I leave Florida, and come home to my children, my bed and my sewing machine, oh and work!

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