Junie Moon: sewing

Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts

Friday, January 17, 2014

Holiday Trees

Yep, it’s another pillowcase blog post—one of thousands you can find online at many a seamstress’ blog. They are so much fun, though, it’s kind of hard to stop with one—just like the potato chip commercial asserts. And much like a favorite recipe you make over-and-over again, I have a favorite sewing tutorial. Michelle’s Magic Pillowcase tutorial is my go-to sewing instruction when I want to sew something fun and easy.

I made some adorable flamingo pillowcases for my sister at Christmas but completely forgot to take a picture of them. But you can see the cute pillowcases I made for my own bed using festive holiday fabric. What could be more fun than sleeping on holiday trees—and these aren’t even crunchy under my head.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

New Camera Strap Sleeve

Last year, I made another new camera strap sleeve. One of the things I like about sewing these sleeves is that they are removable for washing. This is important to me because sweaty camera straps are just plain nasty which is why I make the sleeves in the first place. While we’ve been having some cold days here in Florida, sweat is not so much the issue right now as is constant wear and tear on the strap.

The strap cover is simply a tube of fabric I sewed and placed over the original stretchy camera strap. I'm preserving the orgininal strap as it does not strain my neck--my Nikon is quite heavy. There was enough of this fabric in my stash to make two new straps over the last couple of years, but now the second one is looking the worse for wear.

I guess a new one should go on my “to-do” list. Actually, I really ought to just go ahead and make a small “wardrobe” of straps—would save time later and be fun to make seasonal or even holiday versions. BUT, there are other projects on my list, so maybe I won’t worry about it right now.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Iron Caddy Pad

The last time I went to a quilt guild workshop, I volunteered to bring an extra iron for the attendees to use. This meant I had to put a hot iron in my car after which I didn’t think about beforehand. Not a good thing to do.

When I sew, quilt, or whatever else I’m creating which features fabrics, I am a big believer in washing my fabrics first and ironing as the project progresses. So, I’ve made a portable iron caddy that also converts to an ironing mat. I love this!

The Caddy Pad pattern comes from Sisters’ Common Thread. The pattern comes with a piece of heat-resistant fabric for the lining.

The main and handles/binding fabrics depict sewing-related themes: The Dressmaking Collection—by Amy Barickman, The Vintage Workshop, a division of Indygo Junction for Red Rooster Fabrics. I used a piece of aqua elastic and two thimble buttons.

This photo shows the exterior of the unfolded caddy pad.

Here is what the lining side looks like with the heat-resistant fabric. Now I’m ready for any future sewing adventures outside my own sewing room.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Surf Shop Quilt

The third and final quilt in my grandkid series is yet another design from Crazy Old Ladies. Besides the cool name (Crazy Old Ladies) and the fact my wacky old self would probably fit right in with them, I do love the company’s quilt designs which are fun, fresh designs.

This quilt is for Camden (fondly known to us as Cam). The pattern is Surf Shop.

It was fun playing with different fabric prints to make the surfboards. A couple of the boards have Hawaiian flowers I appliquéd as indicated in the pattern instructions.

While each of the grandkids gets a quilt of a particular design I feel suits their personality, I used the same fabric as the binding for all three as well as having my friend Cathy Messner use her long-arm machine to quilt the same sailboat/wave design to give a sense of continuity to the quilts en toto.

Here are all three quilts.

These are the matching pillowcases. I completely enjoyed making these gifts for Andrew, Kayleigh, and Cam. The kids arrive this Sunday evening—I look forward to giving them their gifts and enjoying sailing and other adventures with them for the next two weeks.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Bannerama Quilt

Yesterday, I shared Andrew's quilt; today, I'm showing the second of the three grandkid quilts—this one was made for Kayleigh.

I used another quilt pattern from Crazy Old Ladies--Bannerama.

The quilt and pillowcase fabrics are varying prints from Emily Herrick’s Shore Thing for Michael Miller Fabrics.

I’m hoping you can see the quilting design in this photo—each project was quilted by my friend Cathy Messner on her long-arm machine using a sailboat and waves pattern. Tomorrow I’ll share the last of the three grandkid quilts—I’ve had a blast doing this for them.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Beachin’ Quilt

Summer means sailing for me along with outdoor movies by the water, picnics, the beach, great parties, and so on. This year I’ve invited three of our grandchildren to spend two weeks with us and have enrolled them in sailing classes. Kayleigh, Andrew, and Cam are 14, so two weeks with three teenagers ought to be a blast!

To prepare for the kids’ arrival this Sunday, I’ve made each of them a gift which works perfectly as it coincides with their birthdays. The gift includes the sailing lessons, a quilt I’ve made, matching pillowcase, and new beach towel. Today, I’ll share the first of the quilts and pillowcases.

This is Andrew’s quilt made from Crazy OldLadies pattern called Beachin’. The quilt is made pretty close to the same design as depicted on the pattern front as I loved the combination of the varying colors and prints. The fabrics are Shore Thing by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller Fabrics.

This photo shows a bit of the back.

I used Michelle’s Magic Pillowcase tutorial to match the quilt. Tomorrow I’ll share Kayleigh’s quilt gift—I hope the kids will enjoy these gifts of love from their grandparents.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Amy Butler Weekender Bag Class

A few weeks ago, I told you about the Weekender Bag class I would be teaching. The class is completed now, so I thought I’d share a few photos although I forgot to get pictures of all the bags.

The class was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on 2 Saturdays (with a lunch break). I gave out pre-class instructions so everyone had their fabric pieces cut and ready to go when class began. Here’s how I organized the class:

May 25, 2013 Class

Make large main pocket
Make handles
Attach handles to main panels
Attach large pocket and cording to main panels
Make and attach zipper to exterior top panel

June 1, 2013 Class

Make and attach end pockets to exterior top panel
Attach top and exterior panels together
Attach top and bottom panels to main panels
Make and attach lining to exterior of bag
Make false bottom

Part of the fun for me in teaching this class is seeing all the different fabric choices made for the bags. It opens my eyes to new possibilities.

Carolyn made her bag to go with another bag she created so as to have a matching set.

Ruth also teaches sewing at Lynn’s Sewing Center, so she picked up on the bag process very quickly.

This bag was made by Donna. She came from North Carolina to take the class and immediately put her bag into use on her flight home.

By demonstrating each step one at a time, we were able to finish their bags by the 3:30 deadline on the second class day. It was a fun class and the best part was seeing each of person succeed in making Amy Butler’s challenging Weekender Bag.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Under the Sea Projects To Go Tote

I told you I’d been sewing up a storm—and I have. Here’s another result of my efforts—a Projects To Go Tote with tons of pockets to hold all my stuff when I go to creative workshops.

This tote holds a lot and is very useful as it has pockets all around the outside and inside. The drawstring component is optional, but I quite like it.

I can see using this not only for sewing or quilting workshops but also for knitting projects.

My friend Carol is president of the Silver Threads Quilt Guild. We had an all-day Saturday guild workshop and the two of us helped the 25 attendees make this tote—no one used the same fabrics which made me want to make more bags as there were so many great ideas.

Resources

The pattern is from Whistlepig Creek Productions.
I used solid fabric for the bottom and outside pocket lining/trim. It was leftover fabric by Fig Tree & Co for Moda Patisserie I used to make my Paris Traveler’s Bag.
The main part of the bag was created using Hoffman California’s Avalon Stained Glass fabrics in Kelp Garden Pacific, Mermaids Pacific, and Ocean Waves Ocean. These were purchased at Lynn's Sewing Center.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Amy Butler Weekender Bag

Sewing up a storm—that’s what I’ve been doing lately. Along with a number of sewing projects and despite my thinking, “Oh no, I cannot face another Weekender Bag sewing project,” I seem to find myself making more.

A couple of months ago, I was asked by Lynn’s Sewing Center to teach a class in making these bags. I designed a 2-day workshop and everyone actually completed their Weekender. It was so much fun seeing all the different fabrics used and watching everyone’s bag come together.

Along with another class (for which I’ll share later) I will be teaching in May, I’ve been asked to teach the Weekender again the same month. If you’re in the Fort Walton Beach area and want to join the fun, give the shop a call at 850-864-4555.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Quilt Ahoy, Mateys!

One of Silver Threads Quilt Guild’s programs is making items for children in need. We have a lot of donated fabric and batting we can use, but I opted to do my own thing.

I used Michael Miller’s free Making Waves Quilt pattern and his Ahoy Matey fabrics. This pattern was straightforward and made up in no time.

The backing is the same fabric as used for the first inner border.

Our guild also participates in the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge, so I made one to match the quilt. It was simple to make using the tutorial by Michele Bilyeu of With Heart and Hands.

The result was a fun project for me and a cute set to donate to a little boy in need.

Resources

· Burrito or Magic Pillowcase Tutorial

· 1Million Pillowcase Challenge

· Making Waves Quilt free pattern

· Michael Miller’s Ahoy Matey fabrics

· Silver Threads Quilt Guild blog

· With Heart and Hands blog

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spring into Creativity

My last post began, “Summer has begun for me”. Considering it’s almost two years since that post, this one ought to begin “Spring has begun for me”—how lovely that Spring represents new beginnings. For anyone still occasionally visiting my blog, I’ll share my current adventures—but not all at once as I’ve been a very, very busy girl. Today I’ll start with a couple of projects I’ve done recently.

© 2012 June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Last fall, I joined the Silver Threads Quilt Guild—a wonderful move on my part as I’ve learned a lot already. As with most quilt guilds, you are generally tasked to make your own name tag. Since I was tasked to create a blog for the guild, I opted to use our blog theme to make my tag. It was essentially a simple job to print on fabric but not as easy in this format to read the guild’s name as it is on the blog itself—lesson learned.

© 2012 June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

The back is simply a piece of fleece as interfacing with lined with another piece of fabric. I attached a pin-back found at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics. And there we are—if I ever forget my own name, I can just wear my little homemade name tag.

© 2013 Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

At the recent Florida Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show, I signed up for a class called “Design Your Own Nature Quilt,” which was taught by Ellen Lindner of Adventurer Quilter. We were tasked to bring in one of our personal photos and create a small art piece—I chose one of my husband’s butterfly photographs. Don’t you think this is a lovely way to celebrate the beginning of Spring?

© 2012 June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Here is my interpretation of my husband’s photo. I’ve given my art quilt the title “Dub Honey’s Butterfly”. This link takes you to Ellen’s blog and story behind my effort.

Resources

Ellen Lindner’s “Adventure Quilter” web site and blog
Florida Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show
Silver Threads Quilt Guild

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sewing: Kindle Case

When my husband bought the iPad for me, I gave him my Kindle. The iPad, however, is not a good thing to take to the beach as you cannot see the screen at all out in sunlight. So, I have a new Kindle to resolve the reading-on-the-beach problem.

Naturally, my Kindle needs something lovely to protect it. I used my own pattern to sew a case.

Obviously, I’m still using pieces of that same yard of mermaid fabric from which I’ve been sewing lately. I can milk a yard of fabric to within a millimeter of its little woven life. Thanks to Heather Ross (updated 03/27/13: thank you for letting me know I accidentally said Bailey instead of Ross), my projects are looking suitably summery.