Quilt Market Recap

If you follow me on Instagram you know I've been back from International Quilt Market for a week already. But just in case you didn't get enough #quiltmarket browsing, here are my favorite shots from my real camera. Here's our gang! Rachel, Caroline and Me

We had a fun time browsing all of the fabulous booths, meeting people, and making new friends. There was so much sewing inspiration and of course a ton of beautiful quilts to browse. Here's one from the lovely Tula Pink

And some lovely ribbon to match her new fabric line.

A quilt made from Anna Maria Horner's stunning new fabric line.

We got to see Sara's bags in real life, from her new book Big City Bags. She is one talented lady!

We saw table after table stacked with pretty fabrics at the Sample Spree. 

I added a bunch of new projects to my MUST MAKE list. Like this cute dress from Serendipity Studio

I was able to help Bonnie from Fishstick Designs set up her cute booth a little bit and I caught a little glimpse of the amount of work that goes into setting one up.  Wow!

We met the super cute Vanessa.  I just love her new fabric line.

I fell in love with the designs from The Cottage Mama. 

 That girl knows how to use ribbons and trims! Adorable!

and here's Heather Bailey's beautiful booth. It was so beautifully lighted. I think she even won 1st place for her booth design.

 

Echino love!

Ellen Luckett Baker's cute booth. 

 And a pretty quilt featuring fabrics from Allison Glass' new Sun Print line

Phew! It was a whirlwind weekend and we hardly slept,but I came back with a ton of new ideas that I can't wait to share with you.

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

Houston Yipee!

Hi sewing friends! Greetings from Houston!! I just thought I'd pop in to tell you I'm at Quilt Market!!

Caroline and I flew in tonight and met my Sister. Yay!! Can you tell I'm excited. I hope to check in tomorrow night with a few fun pictures from School House tomorrow. I'll be posting on Instagram too @bluesusanmakes so you can follow me there if you'd like!!

 

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A Little Cinched Lace Bag

I have to admit I have been loving the "Lace" trend we are seeing this year.  I've got bags on the brain lately and I was curious about just how Lace would translate into bag format.  So I made one.  A little cinched lace bag. What do you think?

 I went with gray lace over the top of gray denim. I will probably "gray" myself out over here but right now I'm still in love with this perfect pairing color.  I regret that I didn't make this little bag bigger.  I always underestimate sizing when I'm cutting out a new bag.

 It's not as functional as I need it to be and really needs a boxed bottom to be convenient.  But I do love how cute it turned out. Mer, my fashion consultant, said I needed a little pop of color or a flower on it. So I added a gray one.  I wanted to keep it neutral. :)

I also experimented with using french seams on the sides and the bottom which made it interesting to construct. I love the construction puzzles that making bags create.

I'm linking this up to Purse Palooza, fun sewing contest going on at Sew Sweetness.
Also linking up to SewCanShe, & the Train to Crazy.

I have a few projects to share this week So hopefully I will update more than once here. :)  Also I get to go to quilt market again!! We leave Thursday and I have high hopes of sewing up a new bag design for the trip.  Stay tuned!

Project Sewn: My Little Black Dress

Have you heard of Project Sewn??  It's an online sewing competition where bloggers sew to compete.  There are 6 official contestants but readers are allowed to play along.  This weeks category was the Little Black Dress.  

I decided to play along just a little too late to enter officially, but I'm so happy I took the challenge.  Now I have a cute and comfortable new dress to wear.  My camera was having over exposure issues but I'd like to pretend I edited these shots with a beautiful filter :)  Here are a few dress details...I used the free Coffee Date Dress pattern on the Burda Style website.

It is meant to be made with a woven fabric but I took a risk and sewed it in a polyester knit and it worked!  I cut the size for my bust measurement and omitted the zipper, which meant I could cut the back skirt and bodice on the fold. I chose a medium weight plain polyester for the top and a slightly heavier weight  for the skirt.  I really like the subtle lines on the skirt fabric.

 I also added a simple sleeve to the side.  I ended up using the sleeve pattern from my purple shirt and taking out some of the"puff". I'm not sure I got the ruffle just right but oh well.

Next week's is "The Era Challenge". Hmmm still thinking on that one.

Over and out!

What's My New Favorite Sewing Tool?

Come find out at The Sewing Loft where I am sharing how to make my new favorite sewing tool in honor of National Sewing Month. Heather has been highlighting sewing tools all month long and it's been fun to hear about tools I didn't even know existed  There's a giveaway too that you won't want to miss!

Dolly Sleeping Bag and a little Tutorial too!

A little friend turned 8 this month and I got to dust of my little girl sewing skills and sew up something cute that a little girl who loves dolls would love. I made an sleeping bag and pillow to fit her American Girl Doll.

Now she has something to bring along with her doll to sleepovers. This was so much fun to make!

 After browsing the internet to see how others have pulled this off I got some great ideas I made up my own. 

I was a little nervous about how it would all come together, or IF it would all come together, I should say. I took a few quick pictures along the way just in case it turned out well and it did! I love it when an idea works out! I threw together a quick Tutorial in case you want to try one too.  I was most nervous about how the zipper would, work but it did, and yours will too, trust me.

You'll need to make these cuts from coordinating fabrics:
2 rectangles 13'' x 22'' for the back - round off one end using a plate as a guide
2 rectangles 13'' x 16'' for the front
1 rectangle 4.5'' x 16'' for the front accent panel
2 rectangles 3'' x 24'' for the ruffles
1 rectangle 4.5'' x 9'' for the pillow center
2 rectangles 2'' x 15'' for the ruffled pillow sides

You'll also need a little batting:
1 piece 13'' x 22''  (round off one end using the other cut as your guide)
1 piece 13'' x 16''

And...
2 pieces of 8'' elastic (optional)
16'' or longer zipper
stuffing for the pillow

Make the Accent panel... Fold the ruffle strips in half lengthwise and gather them to the length of the center panel. Sew them to the sides of the center panel and then press the ruffles flat. (seriously dark pictures...sorry)

Layer a piece of batting under one of the front rectangle pieces and topstitch the accent panel to the middle.

Align the zipper to one side with the teeth facing down. Lay the 2nd  rectangle on top with right sides together.  Pin it if necessary and stitch that little zipper sandwich.

Open it up and topstitch along the edge.

Now sandwich the other side of the zipper using the larger pieces.  Make sure one piece has the a piece of batting with it too.

You'll want to fold the zipper end to the side before you stitch it ( I forgot and had to unpick).  Stitch the zipper sandwich, stopping about an inche past the end of the zipper. Open it up and topstitch along the edge of the zipper just as before, stopping the topstitching at the end of the zipper.

Now open it up like this and fold that curved side down. Pin it in place so it stays out of the way.

Fold the short rectangles together matching up the top edge and stitch.

 Now you should have something that looks like this!

Now sandwich the front inside of the back pieces with right sides together.  Line up ALL raw edges and sew around the 2 straight sides that haven't been sewn and the curved side.  You will meet the previous stitching line at the end of the curve. Leave an opening in the long side for turning.

Clip that one corner and also clip along the curve then turn it all right side out.   Here is a shot of the corner where the zipper is.  The fabric will not lay together smoothly but don't worry...

When you turn it right side out it will all look just fine!

Now just press the opening that you turned it through and topstitch around the sides.  You will find that you will meet up with the topstitching on the zipper.

Now you can make the pillow. Sew a row of gathering stitches on each side of the ruffle strip and gather them to the length of the center panel. Attach one side of each ruffle to the pillow center panel the same way as before and press.  You should have something that looks like this.

Fold the panel in half and sew around the 3 side leaving an opening for turning. Turn the pillow right side out and stuff it.  Hand stitch the pillow closed.  

I also hand stitched a couple of elastic circles to the back of the pillow "tie up" the sleeping bag when it's not being used.

If you make one too, I'd love to see it!! Now go sew!

Skinny Pin Cushion

Did you know this month is National Sewing Month?  It's a great time dust off your sewing machine and stitch up something fun! Here's a quick easy project you can sew up in less than an hour. It is a cute and easy pattern from Green Bee Designs.

 I always seem to need a second pincushion when I sew.  One at the ironing board or floor where I do my pinning and one at the sewing machine where I do the unpinning.  I've been using a rolled up piece of knit for my sewing machine pincushion over the last month so I thought it was high time to make myself another pincushion.

I saw this one sewn up by Anna of Noodlehead a while ago and decided it would be the perfect fit for my little sewing area.

Speaking of my little sewing area. I moved my sewing table to my front sitting room for now. It gives me a little extra light, which I love!  And I spray painted one of our old folding chairs turquoise for a pop of color.

 Anyway, it's Labor Day and you have some free time...Go Sew!