Teaser

Its fun working on a quilt that is not mine. One of my fellow VMQG members made a knitted wrap shawl for me in exchange for quilting her sampler quilt. At first I was hesitant. I always had a hard time quilting my own things, how on earth was I going to be able to do it for someone else? I managed to procrastinate for about 3 weeks, but finally I pulled out the quilt and had a grand ol’ time quilting it. Nancy hasn’t seen it yet, so I will wait to post the finished pictures of her quilt. I think I am going to make her wait until show and tell at the next meeting to see it. 😉

I think I might need to think about a long arm……

Stacey

22Jun2013

Busy Busy Bee!

Posted in Finished Quilts, Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

Its been a busy busy month here at Stacey In Stitches. Between custom orders, bees and personal projects, I find time to go to work and clean the house somehow. I am lucky that my husband knows how to do dishes and laundry, or we would be wearing paper bags stuffed with newspaper, because it has been so cold and rainy here lately.

I ordered and received my Tula Pink City Sampler book. I ‘need’ to get some more fabric for it, and even though I haven’t started any blocks yet it is on my list. Right after the Dragon Quilt, a couple custom orders, and my Bee blocks.

For the Star Block Bee, I chose Swoon blocks. All my Hive-mates agreed to make one for me. I am very excited for this one, its going to be a large quilt. I chose a pallet based on the Broken Herringbone print from Madrona Road in Citrus. I ordered them online, and the colors coordinate really really well.

The bundle I compiled for the Swoon Quilt.

I am using a Free Spirit Designer Solid in Chona Brown for my background, it really makes the colors stand out. It is warm and the color is rich and saturated. I have never worked with a FreeSpirit solid, but so far I am very happy with it. The hand is quite soft and it irons nicely, the weight is really good, not as thick as a Kona, and a nice tight weave like an Art Gallery.

Background cut and ready to go

I have also been working my tail off with this years Hoffman Challenge Quilt. The challenge fabric is much more vibrant in person, the online swatches really do not do it justice. I decided to do another Dragon Quilt, this one on a smaller scale than before. The progress is good, everything is cut out, it just takes time to lay it all out. I will keep updating as it gets closer to the deadline.

End of Day One

End of Day 2

Tools of the trade….

I also participated in a side swap with my DQS partner on Flicker. She make me a beautiful crochet basket. Its massive and holds all my quilt books from the visit with my grandmother this weekend.

Crochet Basket from AnnaMichelleQuilts

Lovely Large Handles

I made her a scrappy pillowcase. I used the Inverted Star Tutorial by Common Threads and enlarged it to make a 14″ pillowcase. The inside is lined and the zipper tape is enclosed. I forgot to take pictures of the inside/back before I sent it off. I used a large scrap of Grunge by Basic Grey for the background. It makes a nice background for a scrappy project, with just a hint of color and some great tone on tone movement. I free motion quilted the entire pillowcase.

Scrappy Pillowcase- Inverted Star Block

Quilting Detail

I also had the great fortune to make it to the Free Motion Quilting workshop set up by the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild. I spent lots of time fiddling with my machine until the tension was just right, then away we go! I finished that project, more on it later.

I also made a Custom Toddler Backpack (back in May!) I don’t know how I forgot to write about it, but it turned out super cute and she is really happy with it. The fox applique I made myself, as well as the piping. The lining and piping is a Timeless Treasures print, and the canvas is water repellent. Very important when making things for little ones! I used the Toddler Backpack Tutorial from Crazy Little Projects and modified it slightlyby adding inside pockets, padded straps with webbing, and piping. You do have to be careful when cutting out the side panels, you want to measure the diameter of the bag before cutting to make sure they are long enough. It will vary depending on your curves.

Foxy Toddler Backpack

Phew! Nice long recap! Lots of big stuff happening around here. Hopefully I will have much more progress on the Dragon Quilt to show you, and perhaps some Tula Pink blocks as well!

Until then, Happy Stitching!

Stacey

16Feb2013

Hip Mama Diaper Bag from A Mingled Yarn

Posted in Tutorials and Patterns by StaceyinStitches

Well I Finally made it back from my parents house and had the time to sit down and write =)

The week was great. Relaxing, good food and family, who could ask for more? Well, I did do some sewing, which was great because it was *mostly* uninterrupted. I had a lovely squishy package of Tula Pink fabrics waiting for me. I LOVE Frog Prince in Indigo, its my favorite print so far, and it went so well with teh laminated cotton I ordered that I decided to make the Hip Mama Diaper Bag using Elizabeth’s tutorial from A Mingled Yarn. She has a whole bunch of great projects on there so definitely head on over there and check it out! Unfortunately she is no longer blogging, but she is leaving her tutorials and projects up for us to use. I will post her full tutorial here just in case something happens! Normally I never EVER take someones tutorial verbatim because they spent all the time on it, I always only link back.

Hip Mama Diaper Bag

I made my bag almost to the letter of how she wrote it. The only thing I changed was I fully lined the back zippered pocket, because I like to have the zipper tape hidden and finished. I also made my strap longer and then adjustable using a home made D-ring and slider, and I attached in into the seam allowance instead of on the outside, mostly for aesthetic reasons. It is a great bag, and it holds everything I need.

Lined Zipper Pocket in Frog Prince in Honey

Self Made Buckle

I used Joel Dewberry Laminated Cotton for the lining and Frog Prince in Honey for the pocket linings.

Hello Side Froggy!

I also decided to make a matching change pad and soother caddy because I like things to be all matchy-matchy. I basically traced my original gear and then used that for a pattern.

Matching Change Pad

Soother Caddy

Here is the tutorial from A Mingled Yarn.

Tutorial: Hip Mama Diaper Bag

This project was frankly inspired by Queen Bee Creations’ diaper bag line. I love the idea of a functional diaper bag that doesn’t look like a diaper bag – and that can also, of course, be used as a regular messenger-style bag if you want.

The bag has a water-resistant vinyl lining to help make cleaning easy – but you can substitute a fabric lining if you want.

This bag’s finished dimensions are: 14″ long, 12″ high, 5″ wide, with a 36″ long strap. You can customize the bag by coming up with your own measurements – just remember to add 1″ for seam allowances.

Materials

1 1/4 yards cotton (44/45″ wide) for the exterior
1 yard water-resistant vinyl (44/45″ wide) for the lining
1 1/2 yards heavy-weight interfacing (unless you are using heavy-weight fabric for the exterior; if so, skip the interfacing)
coordinating thread
12″ coordinating zipper
2 metallic snaps
1/2 yard Velcro
5/8 yard 1/4″ elastic

Pattern

1. Cut out the pieces.

A) Strap: 37″ x 5″. Cut 1 of fabric and 1 of interfacing (I recommend interfacing the strap or adding another layer even if using heavyweight fabric).
B) Front/back/flap piece: 15″ x 13″. Cut 4 of lining, cut 2 of fabric, and cut 2 of interfacing.
C) Side gusset: 6″ x 13″. Cut 2 of fabric, 2 of lining, and 2 of interfacing.
D) Bottom gusset: 6″ x 15″. Cut 1 of fabric, 1 of lining, and 1 of interfacing.
E) Back zippered pocket piece #1: 15″ x 3″. Cut 1 of fabric.
F) Back zippered pocket piece #2: 15″ x 11″. Cut 1 of fabric.
G) Front exterior pocket: 15″ x 9″. Cut 2 from fabric.
H) Side exterior pockets: 6″ x 9″. Cut 4 from fabric.
I) Interior pockets: 17″ x 9″. Cut 2 from lining.

I recommend labeling your pieces with masking tape and marking them with letters corresponding to the list above. This will help you keep track of the pieces.

Also: if you are using a uni-directional fabric (with motifs that all point the same way, as in the fabric I’ve used) take care when laying and cutting your fabric.

2. Apply interfacing (if using).

Fuse or sew interfacing to strap (A), 2 front/back/flap pieces (B), 2 side gusset pieces (C) and 1 bottom gusset piece (D). Attach interfacing to exterior fabric, not lining.

3. Make strap.

Press under 1/2″ on each long side of strap piece (A). Then press under 1/2″ on each short side. Fold strap in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, matching up all pressed edges. Press flat. Keeping all pressed edges even, topstitch a 1/4″ seam on all 4 sides of the strap. Set aside.

4. Make flap.

a) You will need 1 fabric flap piece (B) and 1 lining flap piece (B). On the lining piece, attach smaller halves of metallic snaps to each corner on one long edge. Snaps should be placed so that they are 1″ in from each side of piece.

b) Pin lining piece to fabric piece, right sides together. Sew a 1/2″ seam around three sides, leaving one long edge (the side without the snaps) open. Turn right side out, using turning tool to push out corners. Topstitch a 1/4″ seam around three finished edges. Set aside.

5. Make exterior pockets.

a) Back zippered pocket: Pin piece E to piece F along long edge, right sides together. Using a 1/2″ seam allowance, stitch a 1.5″ long seam at each end. Stitch the remainder of the seam (12″ in the middle) with a long basting stitch. This will be where you insert the zipper. Press seam open. Pin zipper to middle basted section, placing top of zipper and zipper stop close to the ends of the basted section.

Using a zipper foot, attach the zipper. Remove basting thread. Pin wrong side of zippered pocket piece to right side of a back lining piece (B). Topstitch a 1/4″ seam around all four edges. The lining piece will serve as the pocket’s interior.

b) Side pockets: Pin two side exterior pockets (H) together along shorter edge, right sides together. Stitch a 1/2″ seam; trim. Turn, press, and topstitch a 1/4″ seam along edge. Cut a 2″ piece of Velcro. Stitch the fuzzy half to the interior of the pocket, 1/4″ down from the top edge.

Place the pocket piece against one of the interfaced side gusset pieces (C), matching bottom and side edges. Mark placement for other half of Velcro on piece C, then stitch in place. Place pocket piece against gusset piece, with Velcro lined up, and stitch a 1/4″ seam around three edges. Repeat for other side pocket.

c) Front pockets: Pin the two front pocket pieces (G) together along long edge, right sides together. Stitch a 1/2″ seam; trim. Turn, press, and topstitch 1/4″ around all four edges. Attach other halves of metallic snaps to right side of pocket, through both layers. Measure up 5″ from bottom and in 1″ from each side to place snaps. Fold pocket in half width-wise and press, creating a crease down the center. Place the pocket piece against the remaining front fabric piece (B), matching bottom and side edges; pin in place. Topstitch along center crease, to create two front pocket halves. Cut two pieces of Velcro, each 4″ long. Stitch two fuzzy halves to the interior of the pocket, 1/4″ down from top edge, and centering each piece on each side of the center crease. Mark placement for other halves of Velcro on piece B, then stitch in place. Line up Velcro halves and topstitch 1/4″ seam around edges.

6. Assemble bag exterior.

a) Pin interfaced bottom gusset piece (D) to one side gusset piece (C) along short edges, encompassing bottom of side pocket, right sides together. Stitch a 1/2″ seam, beginning and ending 1/2″ from ends. Press open. Repeat for other side gusset piece.

b) Pin back zippered pocket piece to gussets along sides and bottom, through all thicknesses, right sides together, having zipper near the top. Stitch a 1/2″ seam, pinning corners like this:

Repeat for front pocket piece. Turn right side out. You should now have a bag exterior that can stand up on its own. Set exterior aside.

7. Make interior pockets.

a) Turn under 5/8″ on top edge of one interior pocket piece (I) and stitch in place using a 1/2″ seam allowance, forming a casing. Cut a piece of elastic 10″ long, insert it into the casing, and secure at both ends. Repeat for other interior pocket piece (I).

b) Pin wrong side of pocket piece against right side of one lining piece (B), matching bottom and side edges, easing in fullness at bottom by creating pleats or gathers. (It’s pretty much impossible to gather vinyl, so I used pleats across the bottom. If you’re using regular fabric for the lining, do a gathering stitch across the bottom and pull up the threads to fit). Stitch a 1/4″ seam around each side. Repeat for other pocket piece.

c) To create two interior pockets on one piece, fold the whole piece in half width-wise and mark the center line. Topstitch down that center line through all thicknesses.

d) To create three interior pockets on the other piece, measure in 5″ from each side and mark lines. Topstitch down those lines through all thicknesses.

8. Make bag interior.

Follow step 6 to attach side and bottom gussets and assemble the interior of your bag, with one exception: leave a long opening on one of the bottom seams for turning the bag. Do not turn right side out.

9. Finishing the bag.

a) Pin unfinished edge of flap to top edge of back zippered exterior piece, right sides together (lining side facing out). Stitch 1/4″ seam to attach.

b) Slip exterior of bag into lining, right sides together. Pin top edges together through all thicknesses. Stitch a 1/2″ seam. Trim seam.

c) Turn bag right side out by pulling exterior through the opening in lining. Sew up opening in lining. Push lining down into bag. Topstitch 1/4″ seam around top opening edges of bag.

d) Lap each end of strap 1.5″ over sides of bag. Topstitch strap ends to bag in an X pattern to secure.

You’re now ready to rock your new bag!

2Feb2013

Happy Goodness

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

Its been a week since the giveaway, I hope everyone had fun. I don’t know where the time went, but I am finally back with enough time to say hello.

*Ahem*

Hello!

I am super excited this week, I am picking up my mom from the airport and heading on up to their house with the little guy for some well deserved rest. There is a box of Tula Pink Birds and The Bees fabric, as well as some Frog Prince and a Valori Wells Wrenly print from waiting for me there. I ordered it on Boxing Day (Dec. 26 for my friends south of the 49th) and due to some weird cutting/shipping backlog it didn’t arrive until mid-January, long after we had left for home. So now I get to drool all over it again. Yippee!!

FYI the Wrenly collection is on sale at Fabric.com for a sinfully low price and there is a full stock of it. Just Sayin’….

I also got a new camera from my parents this last week so I have been having a lot of fun learning how to use it and loving the pictures that come out. Gotta love parents and Airmiles! Be prepared for a significant increase in picture quality here at Stacey In Stitches.

I managed to accomplish a few things this week, which has been interesting at best and terrifyingly hectic at worst. I received my first fabric bundle from the February Queen Bee in my new Star Block Bee. They had a drop out and were kind enough to let me join. Many of the bee-mates are from the UK, and one from Australia. I think I might send back a bottle of real Maple Syrup (carefully packages of course) with my returned blocks. The fabrics were a pair of gorgeous Cusco prints in the orchid colorway. I am going to fussy cut some of the pieces and paper piece others. I love Stars, don’t you!

I finally completed a baby quilt for my friend. Her little one was born in October. better late than never. She got her first baby’s quilt a month early, so the two even out *the math works in my head, just carry a two somewhere, its all good* I had picked up a really cute panel back in July with some coordinating prints and I pieced it all together, and then it sat until Sunday when I finally changed up my thread and free-motion quilted around all the little animals. I am a fan of this panel, very very cute!

D’s Baby Quilt

Gotta love the hippo

I got around to making another project for my little monkey as well. I have a number of things in mind, and all the supplies and fabric are sitting in the bin for his stuff. This time it was a set of Nesting Blocks. They came together super fast and are adorable. I chose a group of Micheal Miller prints in the Lagoon colorway and he loves them! He likes to take the smallest and place it in and out of the 3 largest bins.

Literally a little monkey. See him holding with his toes?

Now all that’s left is to work on my bee blocks for Linda, mail my DQS13 to my partner, finish my Madrona Road Challenge Quilt and wait for the clothing drop off so I can get started on a new commissioned quilt. Maybe I will work on some more checkerboard for my Listen With Your Eyes quilt. Its been a few months since I worked on that project. I think its going to be my Big Finish this year.

Just for fun here is a little preview of my Madrona Road.

Enjoy!

Stacey

8Oct2012

A Moment of Discovery

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

Do you ever have those moments where you go, know why didn’t I think of that? That’s what happened to me the other day while reading Felicity’s blog. She posted about her Craft Buds month entry, and mentioned that she got her book from the local library.

“SAY WHAT? The library has modern quilting books? Well, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before!” I said to myself.

Needless to say I promptly went online and searched around the Surrey Public Libraries website, and boy, do they ever have quilting books. Not just modern quilting, but any kind of crafting book. And new ones, modern ones! Tula Pink, Elizabeth Hartman, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, and not one but three Kaffe Fassett? My library card now holds a coveted spot in my purse, and I almost have the numbers memorized to log in online and reserve books, but because I am a new cardholder my limit is 10 books at a time. I laughed when she said that, 10 is more than enough to keep me occupied for 2 weeks. I maxed out my limit the first night (better on a library card than a credit card) and have 8 books on order. I have to bring the lot of them back this weeks and exchange them for the next batch (Quilts from the House of Tula Pink is in this batch, yippee!)

While digging through my little trove of quilty goodness, getting inspired and copying templates, I discovered something about myself. A couple of the modern quilting books were centered around minimalist quilting, or had projects that fall into that category. As much as I can appreciate the design and time that goes into them, I found myself thinking more and more that these were not things I would make for myself. Only one color and a plain white background…? I am not a minimalist!

I love to put as many colors as possible in my quilts.

Rich, vibrant prints and blenders with a tone-on-tone black background? Yes please!

Batiks? Let me at ’em!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like many of the modern quilts I see, and there are many that I would like to/will eventually make. I love anything Tula Pink, I think Pat Bravo makes some amazing fabric lines, and the use of solids is stellar, and I love the projects that come up in the blogs I follow that put a modern spin on the traditional quilts. Don’t even get me started on the amazing quilts of Kaffe Fassett! I just can’t make a quilt with only 3 fabrics in it when there are so many out there just calling my name. Use Me!!

Flights of Fancy, using Nest by Tula Pink for Moda

I am looking forward to this week’s mail, my order of Rock n Romance by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics will be arriving! Hurray! I ordered a fat quarter bundle from The Intrepid Thread. It has all the prints with an equal number of matching blenders. I am going to use these to make the Starburst Quilt.

Happy Quilting!