FAL 2018 Tutorial: Mini Charm Pack Zip Pouch

Do you collect those adorable mini-charm packs because they're sweet and tiny and cheap, but then wonder what to do with them? ME TOO!

This short tutorial will show you how to use one to make a cool zippered box pouch like this:

Mini Charm Pack Zip Pouch

All seam allowances ¼" unless noted.

Materials:

1 mini charm pack (42 2½" precut squares)
1 scrap fabric for lining, 13" x 15"
1 scrap of sew-in foam stabilizer like ByAnnie's Soft & Stable*, 11 3/4" x 14½"
1 14" zipper

*this product will help your box pouch keep its shape. You can definitely use other batting or interfacing but the bag will be floppy.

Directions:

1. Arrange the 42 mini charm squares in a 6x7 layout, and sew them together to make a patchwork panel. It should measure 12½" x 14½".

2. Spray baste the lining, foam stabilizer and patchwork panel together. NOTE: the stabilizer is cut so that it fits the patchwork panel exactly in one dimension and allows for about a 3/8" overhang by the panel in the other:

3. Quilt all three layers together.
4. Trim away the lining, flush with the stabilizer. NOTE: you will have to fold back the bit of the patchwork panel that overhangs. Don't cut it off! This is the bag panel.
5. Zip the zipper together. Layer the zipper right side up and positioned so the zipper pull is at the bottom and the bag panel right side down along the side that has the overhang of patchwork fabric.  The bottom of the zipper tape should be aligned with the bottom of the panel (see diagram). Pin in place if desired.

6. With your zipper foot in place, stitch in place (see diagram). Needle should be right beside the edge of the stabilizer. You may need to stop with your needle down and move the zipper pull up to keep everything lined up.

Note in this photo the zipper is layered underneath the flap of fabric under the presser foot.

7. Fold the bag panel right sides together and repeat for the other side of the zipper, again aligning the bottom of the zipper tape and the bottom of the bag panel.
8. Squash this unit flat, with the zipper centered. Stitch the bottom end closed.

9. Unzip the zipper all the way.
10. I repeat: UNZIP THE ZIPPER ALL THE WAY.
11. Stitch the top edge closed.

12. Box the pouch corners by cutting out a square that is 1½" from the folded side and 1¾" from the stitched end of the panel:

13. Open up one corner and squeeze it together:

14. Stitch the corner closed along the edge and repeat with the other 3.
15. Turn the bag right side out, poke out the corners with your finger and enjoy.

16. Enjoy!

PS: Please note that there are raw edges/seams inside the bag - you can finish them with a zigzag stitch after you sew the seams if you want. The edge of the lining/stabilizer layer that is beside the zipper seam is also left raw.

Churn Link Block: A 2017 Q2 Finish A Long Tutorial

Welcome! For my Finish A Long 2017 tutorial, I'm sharing the process for making my Churn Link block.

It's really versatile and looks great in all kinds of settings, which we'll explore at the end of the tutorial. But for now, let's make a block!

Cutting:

For one 12.5" unfinished block, you will need three fabrics: Background, Colour A and Colour B.

From the background fabric (yellow in my image above), cut:

(4) rectangles, 1½" x 4½"
(2) squares, 3" x 3"
(2) rectangles, 2½" x 6½"
(2) rectangles, 2½" x 4½"
(2) squares, 4½" x 4½"
(2) squares, 3½" x 3½"

From EACH of Colour A (red in image) and Colour B (blue in image), cut:

(3) rectangles, 1½" x 4½"
(1) rectangle, 1½" x 3½"
(1) square, 3" x 3"
(3) squares, 2½" x 2½"

Piecing:

1 Take a 3½" x 3½" background square and sew a 1½" x 3½" A rectangle to one side. Press toward the A rectangle. Repeat with the other 3½" x 3½" square and a 1½" x 3½" B rectangle. Press toward the B rectangle.

2. Position the units from step 1 so the A and B rectangles are along the top edge. Stitch a 1½" x 4½" rectangle of the other colour to the left side of both units.

3. Take all 2½" x 2½" A and B squares (6 in total) and draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other on the wrong side of each square.

4. Take a 4½" x 4½" background square and place a 2½" x 2½" colour A square from step 3 face down on one corner as shown. Stitch along the line you drew, then cut off the corner leaving a ¼" seam allowance. Flip the triangle back and press. Repeat with the other 4½" x 4½" background square and a 2½" x 2½"colour B square.

5. Pair a 1½" x 4½" background rectangle and a 1½" x 4½" colour rectangle and stitch together along the 4½" side. Press toward the colour. Make 2 of these sets for colour A and colour B for a total of 4.

6. Take a 2½" x 6½" background rectangle and a 2½" x 4½" background rectangle and place a 2½" x 2½" colour A square from step 3 face down on one end of each background piece, making sure the drawn diagonal lines are oriented as shown. Stitch along the drawn diagonal line on both squares, then cut off the corner leaving a ¼" seam allowance. Flip the triangles back and press. Repeat using the 2½" x 2½" colour B squares with a 2½" x 6½" background rectangle and a 2½" x 4½" background rectangle, again making sure the diagonals are positioned as shown.

7. Take both 3" x 3" background squares and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on each one. Place a 3" x 3" background square right sides together with a 3" x 3" colour A square. Stitch on the drawn line, cut off one corner leaving a ¼" seam allowance, flip the top corner back and press the HST. Trim to 2½" x 2½". Repeat with the other 3" x 3" background square and  3" x 3"colour B square.

You have now made all of the components of the block!

Block Assembly

1. Assemble the block centre first by using the two units you created in Step 2 and the two you created in Step 4 like so:

2. Create two side strips using one units of each colour from Step 5 and the 4½" long Step 6 units as follows:

3. Attach to each side of the block centre:

4. Create the top and bottom border strips using the two remaining strip units from step 5, the 6½" long units from Step 6 and the HSTs:

5. Attach to the top and bottom and your block is done! Ta daaaaah!

And here is the block laid out in a quilt with some sashing:

You can put it on point:

Or change up the block background:

to create a really interesting quilt:

So many possibilities! Enjoy!

If you're interested in joining the Finish A Long for Q3, the information is in the 2017 Finish A Long tab up top.

Tutorial: Folded Fabric Star Ornaments

I learned how to make these adorable folded star ornaments at my traditional guild at least 10 years ago and haven't seen them anywhere since. I used this activity as a final assignment in an introductory Instructional Design course and boy was it ever fun to watch a 6'5" man who works as a parole officer learn how to thread a needle!

Here's a brief tutorial for making these ornaments, which can be for a Christmas tree or a Solstice celebration or even as a way to celebrate a graduation - anywhere you'd use a star. It's all about the fabric choices.

Materials:

• 3 strips of fabric 2" x 7" - can be all the same colour, all different or any combo you like.
• one or two buttons, no more than ½" wide. If choosing two buttons make sure their holes line up.
• 8" length of twine or embroidery floss

Directions:

Create Triangles:
1. Lay strip of fabric right side down, short end closest to you.

2. Fold up bottom corner to opposite side of strip and line up fabric edges, creating a right-angle triangle. Make sure the bottom corner is pointy.

3. Fold triangle up so that the side aligns with the edge of the strip.

4. Fold again, aligning side of triangle with the edge of the strip.
5. Continue folding the triangles until there's only a small flap of fabric left.

6. Tuck this rectangle into the folded triangle like a tab.

7. Press if desired.
8. Repeat steps 1-7 for two remaining strips of fabric.

Assemble Ornament:
1. Lay one triangle long side up, and the other triangles on either side, with the long sides facing out.

2. Place the middle triangle on top of the left triangle,

3. Stack the right triangle on top, aligning the triangles as shown.

4. Secure the stack with a couple of hand stitches.
5. Attach the buttons on both sides of the ornament passing the needle all the way through both buttons from one side to the other (this is why you want the holes to line up). (Alternative: no buttons or just one button sewn and another glued).

6. Make a loop with the jute and knot the end.
7. Slip the loop around the top triangle, bringing it in behind.

8. Tug the loop up to catch on the button stitches.

9. Finished! Enjoy!

A Kona Club Challenge Tutorial

Hello! I've got a tutorial posted on the Sew Sisters blog for their Kona Club Challenge. Go check it out and enter the giveaway to win the FQs I used to make my project.

I used the March 2014 Kona Solids Club selection shown here...

...to make a mini quilt that can be used as a table topper, wall hanging or sewing machine topper.

I'll be back in a day or two with some updates on what I've been working on, including a Finish Along finish to report. Yay!

{Big} City Girl QAL in Vancouver!

Welcome to the penultimate stop in the {Big} City Girl Quilt Along organized by Amy During Quiet Time and Aylin! There have been some amazing blocks so far and I'm thrilled to be adding mine to the collection, representing Canada with my Vancouver block.

It's my interpretation of some iconic Vancouver landmarks, with liberal application of artistic license to make them all fit into a 12"x12" finished block!

First, we have the three North Shore mountains: Cypress on the left, Grouse in the middle and Seymour on the right. Then there is Science World's geodesic dome on the edge of False Creek, and finally the five sails of Canada Place. We're on the west coast, right at the ocean, represented by the octopi on the brown seawall. 

Would you like to make your own Vancouver block? Read on!

Select and cut fabric as follows:

	2.5” square	3” square	3.5” square
Blue (Sky)	2	3	1
Dark Green (Cypress)	-	1	1
Medium Green (Grouse)	4	3	-
Light Green (Seymour)	4	2	-
Grey (Science World)	4	2	1
White (Sails)	-	3	-
Blue (False Creek)	1	1	1
Brown (Seawall)	6	-	-

Block Assembly:

1. Take 2 Sky 3” squares, 2 white 3” squares and draw diagonal line across backs.

2. Pair those marked 3” squares right sides together as follows:

White + False Creek

White + Grey

Sky + Grouse

Sky + Seymour

3. Stitch ¼” on either side of the drawn line. Cut apart along the drawn line. Press to the darker fabric, and trim to 2½” square.

4. Take the following 3” squares and cut in half along the diagonal:

One each of: Sky, Cypress, Seymour, Grey, White.

Two of: Grouse

And set aside the following triangles for future steps:  1 Grouse, 1 White.

5. Place the following pairs of triangles right sides together:

Sky + Cypress

Cypress + Grouse

Grouse + Seymour

Grouse + Grey

Seymour+Grey

6. Stitch together along the long side, press to darker fabric and trim to 2½”.

7. Cut the following 3½” squares along the diagonal: Sky, Cypress, False Creek, Grey and discard one of the triangles of each colour.

8. Place the following pairs of triangles right sides together:

Sky + Cypress

False Creek + Grey

9. Stitch together along the long side, press to darker fabric, and trim to 3” square.

10. Cut each of these HSTs in half through the diagonal to create two sets of quarter-square triangles (QSTs).

11. Now we're going to build the two units highlighted in this photo:

Pair a Sky/Cypress QST with a Grouse triangle from Step 4, and the False Creek/Grey QST with a White triangle from Step 4. Take care to select the correct QST so the colours will end up oriented properly.

Align these triangles carefully, right sides together. Stitch along long side. Press away from the QST, and trim to 2½” square.

Trim like so:

12. Arrange all 36 2½” squares according to the photo of the finished block.

13. Stitch together and press. Enjoy!

Be sure to add your block to the {Big} City Girl Flickr group!

Here are all of the Big City Girls sharing their blocks with you over the course of the Quilt Along:

01.09. Aylin - Nilya2011 from Germany with Berlin and Istanbul http://aylin-nilya.blogspot.de/
08.09. Alyce - SewBlossomHeart from Japan with Tokyo http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/
15.09. Julianna - Sewing under Rainbow from Poland with Warsaw http://jednoiglec.blogspot.co.uk/
22.09. Sil - silort from Brazil with Brasilia http://www.flickr.com/people/silort/
29.09. Sylvie - -Vivie- from France with Paris http://lafamillecreative.blogspot.co.uk/
06.10. Marit - Sy-elsk-lev from Norway with Aalesund http://www.sy-elsk-lev.blogspot.co.uk/
13.10. Amy- During Quiet Time from USA with Boston http://www.amyduringquiettime.com/
20.10. Jane - Quiltjane from Australia with Sydney http://quiltjane.blogspot.de/
27.10. Lotje - Lotje M from The Netherlands with Delft http://slootjesschilder.blogspot.co.uk/
03.11. Rachel - wooden spoon from New Zealand with Wellington http://www.flickr.com/photos/wooden_spoon/
10.11. Annabella - liferichpattern from Morocco with Marrakech http://kechquilts.blogspot.co.uk/
17.11. Felicity - felicity.quilts from Canada with Vancouver http://www.felicityquilts.com/ (you are here)
24.11. Karen - blueberry4park from UK with London http://blueberry-park.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!