littlemushroomcap@gmail.com

About A Quilt Sampler 2013 QAL : A sampler quilt with custom quilting

December 12, 2012 34 Comments

This is my first post on introducing you to a “About A Quilt Sampler” Quilt Along (QAL) which I wish to do beginning early next year (2013)

I do wish you join along if you are interested in learning and practicing free motion quilting on your domestic machine, or if you would simply want to make a sampler quilt. A sampler quilt is great as it provides quick exposure to learning lots of different techniques and different kind of blocks. So, I think this sampler quilt it would be perfect for beginners and intermediate quilters.

The idea to this QAL is to keep a good journal of myself making a sampler quilt and to share with all of you tips along the way as well!

So! What is so special about this Sampler quillt?? Well, I have decided to pick just 9 block, all simple and easy, because I rather focus on how to quilt them. So this will be a quilt along where I will not only share with you tutorial of how to make the blocks but also a guidance on how to do free-motion quilting on them! Wait …. before you think that it sounds too challenging… read on.

In Quilt

Oven Mitt – Zakka Style

December 6, 2012 4 Comments

Hi!

Firstly thank you to all who joined over my Giveaway Day hosted by Sew Mama Sew.. It was so much fun wasn’t? It was so fun to find new blogs and meeting new followers.. I’ll definitely take a visit of my follower’s blog if they have..but I have been quite busy lately.. hope I’ll be free in a week or two for more updates..

Anyway…I bought a kindle version of Zakka Style. I know it is not new in the market and yes, there is even Zakka sew along a while back, but I have just bought the book.. (how late am I?? LOL..) I just have to give it a little review anyway..

The book is filled with crafty handmade tutorials and are great for making quick gifts. It is a fun book with great crafty contributors. So it is worth a buy. Worth visiting some of the contributor’s blog too. And it is so much fun using linen!

Zakka Style: 24 Projects Stitched with Ease to Give, Use & Enjoy

I have never bought any craft kindle book or e-book so I thought I’d give it a try.. But I must say, I am pretty much not liking the electronic version. I miss flipping the pages, I miss the shiny paper. And its hard reading instruction while sewing. Unless of course you print it out. which is not as nice as the real book too.

The only good thing is that it arrives quickly to have a read at it. Other than that, I very much prefer the real printed book, no matter how long it takes to arrive here in Australia, no matter how much it cost more to post as well..

So I guess this would probably be the last crafty e-book I’ll buy. How about you? do you prefer E-book or the real book?

I made an oven mitt from this book as a gift to my friend.
It turns out quite pretty. I should make one or two for myself.. my oven mitt definitely need replacement.

I am joining the bloghop party on the 9th hosted by Quilting Gallery. Do drop by and join in..

Till then,

xoxo

In English Paper Piecing

Penrose Tile Quilt

December 2, 2012 16 Comments

I made the Penrose Tile English paper Piecing Quilt Block for the Travellin Pic Stitch Blog Hop!

(Update: Travellin Pic stitch was a bloghop held by Laura in 2012, where I won the prize of a box of Aurifil thread for my entry. It was a challenge to create english paper piecing projects using an inspired photo taken from a recent travel)

So, it all began with a photo :

The photo was taken at one of the famous spring carnivals in Australia, Floriade.

Then, a few pulls from my stash.. Tula Pink – Birds and the Bees lines were among them. I didn’t use them all in the end though..

Picking up a pattern to do. I was inspired to create a Penrose Tile Inspired block.

Penrose Tile Inspired English Paper Piecing Quilt Block

So I started with the diamonds for the center pentagons. These are 72-degree diamonds.

Basting it to the tiny paper pieces..

Then the black stripy filler diamonds which is the 36-degree diamonds.

Here’s the middle part of my block is done. Not pretty happy with it, but I embrace the imperfection and move on to finish it off as planned anyway. I still have a lot to learn on how to really hide those whip stitches from being visible too much at the front.

I tried using a thimble as my fingertips were getting sore. But I think I am not used to it yet. It makes things go slower and a bit weird – I ended up pushing the needles with the finger with no thimble on.

By the end of this block, I did finally learned how to minimize the visible stitch.. maybe next time I’ll have a go again and leave a better tip to share.. as for now, I do think that I still need to practice more.. it is kind of addictive once you have a clear objective for the pieces…Sometimes I didn’t even realize the time when I start stitching – but I’d better be careful next time as it may cause injury for being too long in the same position.

For the penrose tile, you can actually just let it keep growing larger and larger by the round.

But I decided to keep it small as I wanted to make a mini quilt to hang.

Anyway, this block is going to be appliquéd to a hand-quilted mini quilt soon. I have been meaning to try hand quilting too. Wish me luck.

but before that, how about a messy back photo of it…

Time to remove those papers…

Here is another photo at Floriade from the top of the ferris wheel

Thank you for your visit here. Thank you Laura from Quokka Quilts for organizing this bloghop. Sure was a fun one. A great motivation to definitely start EPP too. Now hop on to Laura’s blog to see more fantastic EPPs with fun travelling Pic!

Some related EPP tutorials:

In Bag Sewing

Drawstring Lunch Bag with Handle – TUTORIAL

November 24, 2012 19 Comments

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.

In this post, I am sharing with you the tutorial for drawstring bag with handle. Like these ones I made :

These are perfect for lunch bags, I have made many to gift friends and for myself. They are the perfect size (I have here a tutorial for 2 sizes). They are easy to grab, use and wash. Believe me, my friends love theirs!

In Quilt

W.I.P Wednesday

November 21, 2012 16 Comments

Hi.

I am happy to find this free quilt is coming along so well in between projects. I say free as it does not require time for its own and it’s made of scraps which some are from swap I join not long ago. I only sew them in between project to save threads. (See here for more info.)

They are looking fun! I am going to love this quilt for sure.

I even sew them in between my bag project! ~lalala… I love it!

I am also working on a tutorial of the drawstring bag to share. Will be posting it this weekend. It still needs editing.

And I am addicted to making this bag. So I’ll be making more.. with these fabrics!

Well, till then, I hope you have a great time with your W.I.P..I know I am. ~Linking up with W.I.P Wednesday over at Freshly Piece~

XOXO

In Quilt

Make your own Gift Wrapper – TUTORIAL

November 20, 2012 9 Comments

Hi!

I am not the kind of person who has gift wrappers in stock – They often got crinkled up if I kept them too long..LOL..

I have found love with scrappy quilt, scrappy patches.. so today I am going to share you a tutorial for making your own gift wrap out of magazines pages… “the scrappy style”.

DIY gift wrap, recycle magazine, handmade gift wrap

Requirements:

You’ll need transparent tape, Scissors and magazine pages. Choose those ones that have lots of colours, or even themed like Christmas or Fall whatever the season may be.

1. Cut the first piece according to your preference, possibly remove some texts.

2. Piece two pieces together at one side using the transparent tape. Don’t overlap too much.

3. Trim away the excess. You want new smooth sides.

4. Do a couple of pieces like this. Piecing two pieces together and trimming.

DIY Handamade gift wrapper recycle magazine

5. Then you’ll want to tape together the pieced segments together, making a larger patched piece.

6. Again, trim every time you piece them together, making sure you have all smooth straight sides.

7. Repeat until your wrapper is large enough. You may need to piece three pieces together at one point, just so that it is large enough to cover the sides of the enlarged piece.

8. Trim the final piece and

9. Use it!

I really do love the merry look of the wrapper. You can even customize it to have images that suits the person who’ll receive it.

Most magazines have pretty decent paper-weight and shine, making it the perfect medium to work with when wrapping too!

Have fun trying it!

In Quilt

100 Day Hustle Review + Drawstring Bag + W.I.P

November 17, 2012 5 Comments

Hi!

I often wonder what to work on next, after a big finish. Of course there are many on the list. I looked back at my “100 days Hustle List” and wonder whether I’ll be able to achieve all the work to do that I’ve listed there. Today I thought I shall get myself some instant gratification – sewing something small.. like drawstring bags..this was on the list..

I didn’t get to link up the half way 100 day hustle over at Kelsey Sew, but I I think I still need to review it. So here is my review of my list…

But I am linking this to Sew Darn Crafty and Saturday Seven. Here is my updated list…

1) Jack Attack quilt – finish quilt top, quilt and bind (ON ITS WAY – NEED TO FINISH THE BACKING -MAYBE DONE BY THE END OF YEAR)

Piecing the backing of my Jack Attack Quilt:

2) Vintage Modern Heart Quilt : Quilt and bound (NOPE – NOT GOING THERE YET)

3) Emmaline Bag (DONE HERE)

4) Tote bag + Lunch Bag ( MADE TWO DRAWSTRING LUNCH BAGS TODAY)

Drawstring Bag With Single Handle - inner

Drawstring Bag With Single Handle - scrappy

5) Piece Happy Go Lucky Quilt (ON ITS WAY)

6) Start on Gingko Blues Wall Hanging – raw applique quilt (PROBABLY START BEFORE END OF YEAR)

7) Flower Power Pillow + Tutorial (NOT YET)

8) Mini Quilts : one or two (NOT YET EITHER)

9) Throw a Linky Party or Become a Swap Host (NOT YET TOO)

Well, I better get sewing!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

In Completed Quilts

The Irish Chain Quilt

November 14, 2012 16 Comments

Hi,

Sharing with you today the finished Irish Chain.

Quilt Stats :

Fabrics : Hoffman Bali Handpaints Blue Bundle + White on White from Spotlight

Size : 52″ x 52″

Pattern : Classic Irish Chain

Quilting : Free-motion quilted using Domestic sewing machine with Superior Monofilament Thread

Hanging..

Organic leaves border (I say organic as they are not drawn, it was totally free motion and if you look closely, they are so many wonky leaves around too.. LOL)

The quilt is a bit wavy on the border – I should have spent a bit more time on the measurement of the border..O well, I am pleased with it anyway, besides, this is still my third quilt finished. It’s a good lesson to learn.

The backing was pieced. With the extra blocks I made. I love how the quilting turns out on the backing too..
The curves around the squares at the front turns out to be a circle line at the back..

It was a bit challenging to take good photo of this quilt.. I am not fully satisfied with the whole quilt photo.. I am still practising to take a good photo. Lighting is definitely essential. Too much exposure wouldn’t help either.. So, I better find a bit of shade next time rather in an open field..

I learned a lot through this quilt..a lot of satisfaction too. By the way, if you want to read on tips of using monofilament thread for quilting. I found this useful. Till then, have a great day!

In Quilt

Talk about Sewing Machine + Irish Chain DONE!

November 13, 2012 6 Comments

I’d like to share with you today my new “baby”.
Yes. I bought a “new” machine.
Why do I put an inverted coma around the “new”?
Because it is not brand new “new”, it is new to me, yet is older than myself.
Yup, I bought a second-hand machine which I can say now, worth every penny.

But before I show you “her”,
I’d like to take a detour and a little flashback to why I decided to go for it and get a new machine and how did I made the decision..

In Quilt

Happy Mail + Pretty Lucky + A bit of Frustration

November 10, 2012 8 Comments

Hi!

Today I am going to share with you my happy mails that I received when I was on holiday. Imagine having to open a lot of happy mail when you came back to the house.. They just make your week..or your months..
I always tell my husband that fabrics and books – they give you endless enjoyment. (P.S : you can use the same reason if your partner start questioning about your stashes..LOL) I mean, with fabrics – you enjoy when you shop for it, when you fold them, organize them, when you sew with them and when you use the things you make from them.. isn’t that endless??? It is sooo worth it..don’t you agree?? LOL

Anyway, here is my happy mail :
First the scrap vomit swaps.. I have received all of my scrap vomit swap from all six of my swap partners..
They are so yummy that I just couldn’t wait to sew it up! I sew some of them already! O i love scrappy! I am going to enjoy sewing this quilt!!

Second, the book I ordered from fishpond.com arrived just in time. These two books are a great deal! I love the content of quilting modern and regretted that I have just bought it.. should have bought long ago when I started quilting..There is so much to learn here..

Third, my orders from Fat Quarter Shop arrived too! I won a voucher from a giveaway hosted by Kristy @ Quiet Play. This was my first win ever from a blog giveaway.. I was excited! I ordered two fat quarter bundle and use the voucher as a discount. Such a saver.. I am planning to make a throw for my mother with the Blush Anna Belle line..O thank you Kristy and Fat Quarter Shop! BTW :I love Fat Quarter Shops’ packaging.. aren’t they cute?

Speaking of lucky.. I got lucky again with the competition Squeeze Your Own Bundle hosted by Alyce @ blossomheart! I can’t believe Randi from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics picked me as the winner of the Fat quarter bundle! I won this bundle I made for the competition! I love Fresh Squeezed Fabrics as they have great choice of fabrics and it was fun making this bundle with their vast selection of fabrics! Thank you Alyce and Randi.. By the way, Kristy @ Quite Play also won her bundle! Congrats Kristy!

I named this bundle Fresh’Zest – comes from the freshest fabrics selections, Fresh Squeezed Fabrics

The frustration :

Well, it is not always a fun story and feeling when you get back to a sewing machine that didn’t get fixed even after service! Yes, my machine is still not behaving as it should.. I was frustrated as I paid well for the service only to find the same problem again. I sent it to the shop again. This is the third time for the same problem.. After a lot of thinking, research and rethinking, I got myself a “new” machine.. I’ll tell you all about it in my next post tomorrow~

Well, till then,

Have a great weekend!

littlemushroomcap@gmail.com

Penrose Tile Inspired English Paper Piecing Quilt Block

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