Succulent Garden, my way!

If you haven't checked out Crimson Tate, it's time you gave her site a look - I did! She's pretty adorable!  And this is one of her quilt patterns.

I dug really deep into my fabric stash for this one, and when I came back up for air, I found some fabrics from 10 years ago...I'm not sure how that's even possible.  Time passes fast while we're busy quilting away!  :)

I wanted to use a variety of color what would play nicely together for this quilt. While you search your stash for this project, keep in mind the pattern calls for WOF cuts, but I was able to use some fat quarters on the end pieces. 

I randomly found this beautiful Victoria Findlay Wolfe fabric at a quilt store three weeks ago that I was able to pull into this quilt.  I loved it and didn't know what I was going to do with the fabric at the time, but I quickly sourced it!  It's really one of those great whites that you need to snag when you can find it and you'll figure out a use later.  I found Victoria on Instagram and I'm so pleased to support her!  Check her out if you haven't already.

And ask your local quilt store if they're caring her line, Meadow Storm.  You'll be happy you did!

This pattern is quite fun and fast.   I made the lap size so I made three strip sets of three, you get a choice of eight. These are really large blocks ,so it came together in a weekend for me. Have you're ol' trusted  24" ruler, cutting mat and rotary cutter in hand and you're in business!  This would be great for candy corn colors...or is that just me? I love candy corn! Tis the season! :)

You slice these up into triangles flipping the pattern back and forth over the strip sets and then sew three matching sets together to make your hexagon.  Be very careful to make sure your strips are the right size and all your tips are there.  Guess why I'm pointing this out...yup. :)  And you know me, I chain piece together whenever I can.  Be sure to be very careful to match up all your seams - you'll really notice if they're off.

 

So here's my stack to make my hexagons.  I find I sew much faster this way.  Try it, you might like it as well.  There's a lot less getting up and down, waisting thread, etc.  I just start with the block on top and go through the blocks one after the other.  Once I'm done I cut them apart and iron, iron, iron!

This is my lay out.  Do you like it?  It's a little different than the way the pattern has you lay it out, but I'm okay with that.  I think this made sense with the colors I'm using.  You chose what makes you happy.

I added my little rectangles on the ends.  Again I used bright different fabric fat quarters, the pattern shows more of a muted background color, another dealer's choice here.  You pick what you like.

I had to sit and look at the layout for a while on this...like two cups of coffee "a while".  I couldn't figure out how I wanted to sew this together.  I decided to look online to see what info I could find.  Other then finding the cute Crimson Tate site, I really didn't find much out there.  So...this is what I did.  Let me know how you did it.

I worked from the right side left and I stacked the pieces one on top of the other so 1 is on top of 2, which is ontop of 3, ontop of 4.  I chain stitch through the pile, cut them apart, iron and move to the left.  It's like a dance...okay maybe I don't get out enough.

In this picture the first right seams are sewn together which means all the rectangles are now sewn to the half hexagons. Right now I'm only focusing on the seams running vertically.  After all the vertical seams are sewn up I'll sew the horizontal seams.

I'm sewing half hexagons together that are going in opposite directions, but it's the same process. Stack, sew, iron lay them back in place and move to the left.

For the last row, I opt to go far left and sew the rectangles in place first. Stack, sew, iron and back in place.  I then sew the right half with the left hand marring the two sides together.

Then I start the horizontal seams which is the easiest now because it's just 3 straight seams.

Fold the top down over row two.  

I opt to sew row three to four and then marry the top and bottom together and then viola, you're done!  You always have an option to add a border, but I don't think mine needs it.

I'll be pulling all the left over fabric to the back for some back art.  I love using up my scraps this way and I like the story to continue on the flip side.

My little Succulent Garden...

x

Child's Tote Bag

Sew, I'm at it again :) As I mentioned my nieces birthday is upon us.  I made her the Coral, Queen of the Sea doll but she also "needs" a camping bag like her Mom and Nana.  I made this bag about 10 years ago and loved it.  I used a canvas owl print fabric, and it was larger but basically the same.  This adorable fabric is made by Timeless Treasures and it's the perfect fabric for a camping tote bag.  The inside fabric is sleeping bags, using my stash.  I love using what I have on hand #usingmystashup! :)
In looking for a quick pattern I went to Pinterest, I ended up using The Reusable Market Bag posted by maricucu.blogspot.co.uk.
I cut the outside and inside fabric together at once so that all the edges would line up perfectly.

 I decided to use make the smaller option.  I didn't want the bag to swallow up my niece.  She's only 6...but in hindsight I wish I had made the larger one.  I think she would have been alright.  Really the small bag can hold a cartoon of eggs and one head of Romaine lettuce and you're done.  Luckily she'd never want to carry these items so we're good!  :)

 This bag starts off pretty straight forward, sewing around the handles, cut slits in seam around the curves for ease in the fabric so everything will lay nice and flat when you turn the bag right side out.  Always iron and set your seam.  Trim the seam allowances and clip corners to also help with the final look of the bag.  These steps will give the bag a more finished look, which I really like.

Now follow the pattern very closely for sewing the handles together, it gets a little tricky!  You stack the outside bag ontop of the inside bag, both right sides out.  You stick your hand up inside the first layer grabbing the other layers and flip them inside out.  Sew your seam and pull right sides out and magically the seams are all hidden inside, and the handles are made!

Doesn't that look nice?

 We sew a 1/4 around the neck of the bag, again this is all to make the bag nice and polished off.  These little steps really dial in your projects.

With the sides of the bag, you carefully sew them up without catching the handles.  I'm a pinner.  Are you a pinner?  And I never sew over my pins, I hear some do but I was always told that was a no no..and contrary to belief I am not a law breaker!  ;)

 We'll fold the handle in half towards the center of the bag and stitch in the ditch (sew in the seam).

Closing the bottom of the bag, fold the sides in at a natural fold line following the handle fold.  Sew the seam on the right side of fabric (I know, I too thought,whatttt) but it works! Then flip the inside out

sew another seam on the bottom of the bag. This is a French seam, it hides the seams on the outside and inside..sew smart and clean! 

Here's a peak at the inside bag.  See how all the seams are encased?  I love that!  I like to hide all of my seams. Nothing is better than when you give a gift and they question if it's handmade or not.  That makes it all worth it for me!















There are a ton of similar bags available on Pintrest.  Let me know your favorites!

One thank you from this lovely girl makes all the time you put into making a handmade gift completely worth it!  All my heart strings are strung all at once! :)