my urban bag - pattern hack

When I have bought patterns, I like to be able to use them more than once... And I like to be able to do the same thing with my own designs. So with my urban bag pattern I would like to show you some of the pattern hacks I have done.

The original urban bag pattern is a cute little purse that I use all the time as my everyday purse. I have made multiple versions of this pattern. The finished size is 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" without the strap. I have also just added this pattern to my website as a PDF download... so you can print at home... Yay!

My current urban bag I am using, made out of beautiful Amy Butler Fabric.

But my mum asked me to make her a little change purse... I have made her change purses for a very long time! he he... So I took my Urban Bag main fabric template and went to the photocopier and recopied the template to 85% of the original size. (decreasing the size of the bag) I then used my quilting ruler and marked a half inch line inside the main fabric template to make the template for the Peltex 71F interfacing. I then made followed  the steps of the pattern, omitting the strap. This includes Step 12, for the corners, they will remain at 3/4" from each corner. Finish pattern as described.

The end result? A cute little purse 5 1/2" x 2 3/4" and 1 3/4" wide.

Little change purses.... mmm... love the Cotton & Steel Fabric.

My second pattern hack was a request from my 15 year old daughter, she asked if I could make her a pencil case for school! Okay I was a bit excited for her to ask me to make her something for school, you know what teenagers are like! So this time, I took my Urban Bag main fabric template and went to the photocopier and recopied the template to 160% of the original size. (increasing the size of the bag)  I then used my quilting ruler and marked a half inch line inside the main fabric template to make the template for the Peltex 71F interfacing.

I made a couple of small additions for the bigger size. The main one was that I made zipper tabs on each end of the zipper. This makes the zipper sit really nice, especially for the bigger size, this is important.

So at Step One when cutting out the fabric, also cut out 2 x 2 inch square pieces of your main fabric, these are your zipper tabs. Take one of these pieces and with wrong sides together, fold in half and iron. Open out and fold the raw edges towards the center crease. Repeat with the other zipper tab. For this pattern hack, you will need at least a 12 inch (25cm) zipper, I used a chunky zip.

Take your zipper and trim the end, where the zipper pull ends close to the metal zipper stops. Then measure from those stops, 10" and mark. Trim this end. You will now have a ten inch zip.

Place one end of the zipper inside one of the pressed zipper tabs and pin. The zipper tabs will be wider than than the zipper but it will be trimmed. Using your sewing machine, top stitch the zipper tab closed. Repeat for the other end. Trim edges of the zipper tabs even with the zip.

Zipper with zipper tabs done! Going back to the Urban Bag pattern, Step Three, When placing the zipper you will centre the zipper along the top edge as described. You should have at least 1/2" on either side of the zipper.

Continue on with pattern until Step 12, making the corners, I used 2" for my measurement from the corner instead of 3/4". Finish pattern as described.

This makes a great size pencil case... Finished size, 10 1/2" x 5 1/2" and 4" wide, and yes my daughter loves it!

Have fun with these pattern hacks. I would love to see what your making.

Happy Creating!

One of my favourite quilts - My Flower Bloom Quilt

I absolutely love this quilt when I finished it... Is it the texture of the background or the pop of  colour of the flower blooms? I do not know ..... I think it just works!


The background is made of large 60 degree triangles, in white, cream, grey and silver. And grey is not a colour I would normally pick, but I do love a bit of sparkle... I do not match whites and cream and I do not think about a warm or cool grey. I just do not match....

I often get asked how do I pick my background fabrics... The trick for me is to lay your fabrics out and squint your eyes, if one pops out, then it doesn't work... take it out. The background needs to be full of texture, you could even use linens and thicker weight fabric, it is about the texture of the background.

For the flower bloom fabrics, I used one of my favourite designers, the Kaffe Collective... But I did not pick the super brights, I picked the medium ones... Here they are...

The flower blooms have been raw edge appliqued and faux trapuntoed. Have you ever done this technique? It is one of my favourites. You could use this technique on all your applique pieces like this quilt or use small parts of your quilt trapuntoed. The trapunto gives your applique pieces a little bit of "puff', but more subtle than traditional trapunto and there is no cutting or stuffing.

Here is what the trapunto looks like... This technique makes the flower blooms pop off the quilt!

The Flower Bloom Quilt patterns for this is is full colour instructions and goes step by step on how to complete the quilt including the trapunto.

The templates for the flower  bloom are also full sized, so there is no need for enlarging.



If you wish to purchase a flower bloom quilt pattern click here... or if you just wish to learn some of my machine applique techniques, including the trapunto then I have a great little booklet of tips and techniques called... my machine applique..

I hope you love this quilt as much as I do..

Happy Creating

Sew a love heart cushion for your Valentine.... oh and FREE postage

In our family we call Valentines Day... Love Day... its about our family... we don't do cards or bought gifts but we might make a special gift or even a yummy Chocolate cake for all to share!

Do you want to make something special for your Valentine? Here are some great options.... I have designed some beautiful applique cushions that symbolise love! Head over to my passionately sewn website and enjoy free postage on all patterns until Valentines Day!

PS008 my love heart cushion

PS009 my lovebirds cushion

PS045 my singing love bird

Its been a very busy year - review of 2015

Well its been a very busy year of creation for my business as well as having some of the happiest family times. I am truly very lucky.

I started the year with creating two quilts for the kids issue of Quiltmania.. These were commissioned when I attended the 2014 Houston Fall Quilt Market. Let me tell you to create two quilts that have a specific request really tested by creative brain. This is not how I usually create.. But anywho I was very happy with the result... and yes one of them was on the front cover. Woo Hoo.

Part of my creative life includes working with Valerie Gautier from My Patch Fabrics. Val is not only is a great friend, I also help her out at various craft shows and of course she stocks my patterns.... so its always a great place if you want to see my quilts in the flesh ! 

So from these shows and talking to lots of wonderful sewers and quilters I published a little mini book... called My Machine Applique..It has lots of tips and tricks to get your machine applique to sing! I go through how to use zigzag, blanket stitch, decorative stitch and raw edge free motion applique. I have included some little sewing cards for showing needle pivoting placement which really helps if you are struggling with your machine applique. It also includes a free cushion pattern to practice your machine applique. 

In between all these things I also did a little bit of graphic design work for Paulines Quilters World and of My Patch Fabrics....... Whilst I love sewing, for me I love all things creative and this includes using the computer. Its a new skill I am learning and I love it. 

September was lucky me time and we all went on a family cruise with some great friends. It was time to relax and focus just on the family. There is nothing like having your passion being your business but you must remember your family. 

There is nothing like finishing your year off with going to Houston USA to attend the Fall International Quilt Market and the International Quilt Festival. And ... of course I put the pressure on by finishing five brand new quilts, 2 new bags and ..... tadah... 3 new clothes patterns. This was my second year at Quilt market and I really wanted to show that I wasn't a one show wonder. So lucky me .... mmmm apart from not having my patterns turn up until 2 hours before Quilt Festival.... I had two great shows with loads of wonderful opportunities. I met some wonderful people and lookout 2016! who knows what Ill be doing!

To finish off the year I have started to learn to ride a horse... properly! he he. I grew up riding a horse on our farm but didn't realise the techniques required to ride well. My daughter has been learning to ride for a number of years and I decided I also wanted to learn. From this I purchased my new horse Jordie to do this... I had my first lesson just before Christmas and let me tell you I used muscles in my legs I didn't think existed.. he he.. 

So this year will see both my daughter and I compete in our first dressage competition. 

Finally a wonderful Christmas with all our family... we only have a small one but we don't get together too often. We had a wonderful day with everyone at home.. And of course we had a magic moment of seeing a rainbow around the sun! Have you ever see one? 

What a great way to end 2015.... 

Lookout 2016 here I come!

PS020 my kimono girls quilt

At the Melbourne AQM I showcased 3 new quilt patterns that I had been working hard on. I wanted to share one of them with you..... PS020 my kimono girls quilt.
I love oriental fabrics and over the years have made a number of quilts and projects using them. I love the colours and vibrancy of the fabric. So of course it was a no brainer to make a quilt using oriental fabrics. Although the pattern does lend itself to any fabrics you wish to substitute.

There are three panels to my kimono girls the first panel is the appliqued kimono girls, with different kimonos and hair. The girls are large so it makes them easy to put together ie.. no fiddly pieces. It also allows you to see your beautiful fabric. I do think they a very cute, I hope you like them too. They are appliqued using fast to fuse techniques and machine blanket stitched but you could zigzag on your sewing machine or if you like you could hand blanket stitch. I have included how to do this in the pattern for this quilt.

The top panel is a pieced panel using gold oriental fabric in different tones from light to dark. I have then appliqued a cherry blossom branch and flowers in this pieced section. The branch is machine appliqued and very easy to do.

The bottom panel is a pieced panel, again using different oriental fabrics and with the flower blossoms floating through the panel.

Finally a put a gold border around the outside to frame the quilt. I really enjoyed designing and making this quilt I hope you do too.

cheers
Janeene

 

PS010 - My Owl Quilt

My owl quilt, is the first quilt I have designed and marketed, as part of my designing enterprise of "Passionately Sewn". I just wanted to tell you a little bit about it.

My Owl Quilt

Val, from My Patch version

 My owl quilt, features a large panel of an owl family and an applique tree. This delightful single bed sized quilt, will delight anyone small or tall who loves owls, by changing the colours you can make this quilt for a bor or girl. Or you could make your family of owls into a wonderful wall hanging. It is a great project for the beginner crafter, or one that is be perfect for those with more experience too. The pieces are large and easy to piece together using fast to fuse applique methods.

I quilted allover the background with a swirl pattern

I quilted down the border in a easy feather.

The pattern is in full colour and provides step by step instructions. A technique section is also included to provide further advice if needed. The templates in the pattern are full sized and already reveresed for ease of tracing. Instructions are provided for fusible web app;lique stitched by machine, but the design also lends itself to a variety of applique techniques. Adapt the instructions to suit the method of your choice.

To purchase the pattern: Click here



A red and white Wall hanging