Category Archives: Project Finishes

Market Bag {a project finish}

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For the longest time, I have wanted to make the market bag from Anna Graham’s book “Handmade Style“. I was at Sewtopia a couple of years ago and my room mate, Corrinna, made one for a gift (and not for me!!). It was so good, which made it a top of list item to make.

Then last year, I decide it was time to make one, as a friend’s birthday was upcoming in June. I had an idea of the outside being AGF denim with scraps for the bands that go round the bag.
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I got the scrappy bands sewn and everything cut out. The project then came to a grinding halt. I finally picked up some leather handles of Anna Graham’s shop, spurring me to getting the bag finished as a Christmas gift for the same friend.

I loved the quilted look with the scrappy bands. It was my first time using leather scraps. Another friend, gave me a lesson on attaching them. There were a couple of small issues in a couple of extra wholes in the lining that I fixed (oops).

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The inside of my bag has some precious and the last of my Anna Maria Horner Canvas butterflies with the amazing Carolyn Friedlander print. I did add lining or interfacing to the pocket (one of those was missing and I thought it needed it).

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I am so happy how this bag turned out!! I managed to meet the Christmas deadline this time and it was well received. Now, I need to make myself one and buy a rivet press.

This was an easy and quick project in the end. High recommend the pattern.

On the angle {a finish}

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Just before Christmas, I made a couple of mini quilts as gifts. I have not shared those makes with you yet. One of those quilts was a striking black and white minimal quilt.

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Idea

This quilt was inspired based on a drain cover discovered on our family walk around the neighborhood. I loved the diagonal pattern of lines.

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Design

During the design phase I used those 45 degree lines in the top part of the design. In the drain you have this bar 1/2 way across the lines, giving it a broken line feel. For me, that translated into this break a a random angle with the lines then being distorted back the opposite angle. fullsizeoutput_13c6

Create

The creation was relatively simple, using PBS White solid and black fabric at 1″ unfinished, I stitched 16 pieces together. Making sure the angles were at a 45 degrees I then cut an angle that closely matched the design above. The remaining fabric, I removed the excess lines and added a much larger white section to the stripes for the lower negative space.  I lined up and pined where the lines best connected. Once pinned, I cut the fabric at the appropriate angle and stitched the two pieces together. It was both liberating and a little scary as I did not measure or carefully planned these connections. Luckily, it turned out as expected.

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Quilting

As this was a small piece, I kept the quilting design simple. I stitched about 1/8″ from exhaustion of the stitched lines (both sides of the line). I did not bind the quilt to finish, as the final piece was framed and ready to be hung.

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I swapped this gift for 6 ginger pear galettes from a local baker, Meg. The family loved them. So amazing (including the extra banana pecan bundt cake that was added)!!

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Details

Name : On the Angle
Design: Original Design
Fabric: Black & White Painters Palette Solids, Paintbrush studios
Dimensions: 12 x 14 in.
Quilted: Straight line quilting using Aurifil #2021

Book Project: Rotating Spokes {a finish}

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I have not given up on my book “Idea. Design. Create. Quilt.” It is just taking more time than expected. I did finish another one of my book projects last year. This table runner, I am calling “Rotating Spokes”.  I love how it looks on our outside table in these pictures.

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This was inspired by an Art Deco style wrought iron balcony rail, I saw in New Orleans. I immediately a design formed, and it is repeated but rotated for each of the circle designs. The fabric choices were also an easy decision. I used:

  • Black Essex Linen (Background Fabric)
  • Recycled Clothes (T-shirts, wool trousers and Corduroy)
  • AGF Denim
  • Kona Cotton (Silver & White)
  • Various yellow prints
  • Various grey prints

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It took me a little while to decide on the quilting. In the end I decided to quilt the circles with 1/2″ straight line quilting. Where the triangles meet at a 90 degree angle, I have lines following the angle and making a crosshatch. The background is quilted in 1″ horizontal lines.IMG_7896

I realized fairly quickly that I did not want the family to spill food on it. So, I moved away from using it as a table runner and it’s found a home above our bed. It is a perfect width across our King size bed.

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This was one of my favorite finishes of the year.

Details

Name : Rotating Spokes
Design: Original Design
Fabric: Variety of Prints, Neutral solids, Recycled Clothes and Essex Linen
Binding and Backing: Carolyn Friedlander, Carkai Print
Dimensions: 15.5 x 80 in.
Quilted: Straight line quilting using Aurifil #2021