simple Analogy

A New Kind of Fruit Basket

Isn't it exciting to come across a tutorial that you feel you MUST make immediately?  Isn't it even better when you don't have to run to JoAnn's to get the supplies but are able to use your scrap stash?  In other words, you can make it for absolutely free! Then isn't it even better if it's something you actually need at the moment?   All of these were the case with Freshly Pickled's Baby Hats!

 I saw them on Thursday at noon.

In about 45 minutes I had an apple.

About an hour later I had a strawberry.  Could have been shorter if I would have had pinking sheers.  I had to snip my leaves by hand.  Ugh!  Can I borrow yours next time, Mom?

The next morning I had a pineapple.

To tell you the truth, the pineapple is my favorite.  I L-O-V-E the texture.  The only thing I'm not happy about with mine, is that the green at the top is a little too short and skinny.  Next time I'll use a longer strip of fabric and cut chunkier leaves.

With such a cute hat on their noggin', a mom might not even mind if someone calls her baby a "pineapple head"!  Well, maybe...

***Disclaimer:  No, I didn't make these because I have NEWS to share.  Actually the ladies at church have been sharing a lot of NEWS lately, and I'm trying to get my stash up.  Also, I think they'd be great for the littlest of warrior heads over on Craft Hope. 

Origami {Not the Paper Kind}

Several months ago while the boys were perusing the sports shelves of the library, I took some time to look through the crafting shelves.  Usually it's filled with "older" craft books.  Don't get me wrong, the older books have some great stuff, but sometimes I just want to look at modern photography and new ideas.  Well, this time I found a gem - Amy Butler's Style Stitches:  12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags.  Love Amy Butler.  Love bags.  Love modern craft books.  So what a bummer when I took it to the checkout station and discovered the shelving person had messed up.  It was being help for someone else, and I couldn't check it out.  Well!

I went directly home and requested from the library.  I was pretty far down the list and had to wait all summer, but I finally got my hands on it.  Truth be told, there are only a few of the bags that I would make.  A lot of them are gargantuan huge, and that's just not me.  However I did find one bag that I totally embraced...

The origami bag.

No, it's not a purse type bag, but rather a storage type bag.  The directions included several size variations.   You could store anything in these:  cosmetics, toys, craft stuff, school supplies, hair bows (if only any of my nieces wore them), etc.  That gave me the idea to use this as a springboard for Christmas presents for the nieces/nephews. 

I made size small which are about 12 x 4 x 3 inches.  These only take a small amount of fabric, so I didn't have to buy anything except the zippers.  Very cost effective!   The directions were easy to follow including the zipper installation which went without a hitch.

I now have six origami bags ready and waiting to be filled with goodies for the kids.  I guess you could say that the Christmas crafting is well under way seeing as half of it is done already, and it's just barely September!!! 

*****

Just a quick shout out to those of you popping in from Kojodesigns and Craft Gossip.  Glad you stopped by! 

Runaround Bag Pattern Review and Giveaway

Yeah!  Another super fun pattern to share with you - the Runaround Bag by Anna of Noodlehead!

 
"That's what I need for the summer!  A big, fun, colorful bag!"  That's what I told myself when I saw the Runaround Bag pattern.  I liked the shape, the size, the colors that could be put together, the binding around the edges... everything about this bag called to me.  And after I made it, it did not disappoint!

 
The PDF pattern was easy to follow:  lots of pictures along the way, easy to understand directions, pocket options (regular or zippered), front options (pleated or not).  Options are a good thing and one of the things I most appreciate in a pattern.

My favorite thing about this bag is the fun way to combine fabrics.  Oh the fun to be had!  Use several coordinating prints,

 
combine a solid with a print,

 
use two totally unrelated colors and tie them together with the binding.

 
Want it even more versatile?  I made mine reversible!!!!  Just leave off the magnetic snap, add interfacing to the lining strap and the bottom of the bag, and you've got two bags in one!  Also, use the zippered pocket so that when the lining side is on the outside, the pocket contents are secure.

 
 
Some of you may be asking what level of sewing experience you'd need in order to make this bag.  I'd say that it might be a little difficult for a beginner.  The gathering on the bottom and the binding are probably the trickiest parts.  But, if you've gathered and bound anything before, you'll be well on your way.

I had such a fun time making these bags, that I want you to join in the fun.  How about a Runaround Bag pattern giveaway!!!  Just leave a comment and I'll pick a winner on Monday, May 16th.  One comment per person please!

Also, if you've never checked out Noodlehead, you've got to stop by!  There's lots of good stuff going on over there!  Tutorials, more patterns...  You just have to see for yourself! 

***5/16 - Comments closed; giveaway completed.

***This giveaway is for the pattern, not a bag!

Pattern Review: Mini Flap Purse and Giveaway

image used with permission

Well, I sort of took a little blog break there.  I needed to take a step away and get some things in order.  Plus deal with some computer problems.  Let's just say that hackers are not my favorite people!  While I was on my blog break, I finally used a pattern received as part of my winnings from Purse Week - the Mini Flap Purse from Jen Giddens.  I loved it so much that a pattern review is in order.

 
image used with permission

First of all, this is a small bag (5 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches).  Small but not too small!  Perfect for throwing your wallet, phone, chapstick, and a few other necessities in.  Because it's small you don't need tons of yardage, which is good for me because it seems I never have a whole yard of anything.

The pattern calls for a medium weight fabric for the exterior.  I used a remnant of a polka dot upholstery fabric for one and a heavy weight curtain linen for another.   The lining is quilting cotton, and the interfacing calls for duck cloth.  And let me just say, the duck cloth makes the whole thing keep it's shape!  I love that feature.

The mini flap pattern is "designed for the beginning sewer" and the instructions are very straightforward and easy to follow.  Jen includes a few illustrations for those of us "gotta see it" people.  It comes together very quickly!  Perfect if you need a last minute bag for a special weekend.

 

My favorite feature of the bag is the flap.  I found it to be the perfect canvas for embellishment!  On the first bag, I attached about 15 yo-yos to the flap.  My favorite yo-yo tutorial here.  Whimsical!

 
 
On the second bag I added some ruffle stripes.  Tutorial coming soon!  This bag looks a little more classy, but in a shabby frayed edge sort of way.

Good news, too!  You have a chance to win a pattern for yourself!  I asked Jen if she be willing to offer one her patterns as a giveaway, and she said yes!  To enter the giveaway, visit Jen's Etsy shop and take a look at all her patterns.  Then leave a comment on this post telling me which one is your favorite!  Be sure to include your email address when commenting!  Yep, that's it!  I'll pick a winner on Friday, February 11th.

******This giveaway is closed!******

Straight A Skirt Pattern Review and Giveaway

 
Out of all the sewing I did for Christmas this year, this was the most fun!  The Straight A Skirt by Jessica from Happy Together.

I've been reading Jessica's blog for about a year now.  She is very creative and has lots of great ideas.  Like these for instance...

Felt Christmas Trees

Rag Quilt Letters

Quilt Square Scarf

What I've really been enjoying is what she's doing with knits.  She sews a lot for her little girl and has turned out many tutorials and patterns as a result.  Enter Straight A Skirt pattern...  

When she relased it, I immediately bought one to make for my tween nieces for Christmas.  One of the things that sold me on the pattern, besides the mere cuteness of it, was that it came with such a vast array of sizes!  Size 12 months to size 12 will go a LONG way!  And each size is color coded on the pattern piece to make cutting it out a lot easier.

Also, the versatility of the style caught my eye.  Want a plain solid that will go with everything?  Want a color blocked sassy number?  Ruffles?  Stripes?  Anyway you want it, you got it! There is a section toward the end of the pattern including different ways to alter the pattern style, add ruffles, even make it roomier "for little girls with more love on them".  Nicely put!

The directions were very straightforward and easy to follow.  Just enough instructions, without being too wordy or too bogged down with tiny details.  Knits are discussed at the beginning as well as tips for sewing with them.  Pictures are given with each step for those of us that need to read it AND see it.

Don't have a serger?  I'm in that category myself.  I did borrow my mom's serger for this, but that's only because I needed to get these done pronto.  And also because the zig zag stitch on my machine is on strike.  But you can totally make this with a regular machine and a zig zag stitch!  Even with all the pieces I used for the main skirt, it was a very quick process.  The first one took me under an hour.  The second one took more like 30 minutes. 

 

I used printed knit yardage from Hobby Lobby, but if you have a couple of t-shirts on hand, you could make a skirt for free.  Recycling knits is really in right now, and it makes the skirts one of a kind and more personalized.  I added a freezer paper stenciled shirt to complete the outfit.  You'll remember this picture.

So what did they think of their presents?  Score!  The tweens liked them.  They both told me they were going to wear them to church the next day.  I give The Straight A Skirt pattern an A+!

 

Since it's such a wonderful pattern, I'd like to give you a chance to win one of your own!  Jessica is offering one of my readers a Straight A Skirt pattern.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  One comment per person please, and make sure there is an email address where I can get in touch with you!  I'll pick a winner on Friday around noon.  Just in case you can't wait that long, you can puchase a pattern of your own at her Etsy shop! 

***Giveaway is closed!***