And We Have a Winner!

Just a very short one from me today to announce the winner of the Tilda Spring Diaries fat quarter pack winner. 

Chosen randomly in the usual way, the winner of this lovely pack of fabrics is.....

Lucy Purvis!

Congratulations Lucy - email me at thefolkartfactory@hotmail.co.uk and let me have your address and location and I will mail your parcel out to you.

Happy sewing and thank you to everyone who entered. Your support means the world to me.

Love and hugs
Debbie
xx

The Secret Revealed!

Last time we spoke was block of the month time for April and we made a block using some antique feel Tilda fabrics (more about those in a moment). Here it is to refresh your memory....

And you can find it under this post if you scroll down. I promised that the vintage feel to the block and the fabrics was all for a reason and I promised that all would be revealed in the next post - the recipe book text print was a hint too. Here we go....

I have a really old recipe book from my Nana. It is nearly eighty years old and it is the book from which I learned to cook (last century) and I love it. The recipes are mostly written out in my Nana's handwriting and that of her Aunty and they are from friends and family.

But as you can see, it is getting old and it is very fragile. So I thought that I would make a bag for it - a cover would not have worked as its own cover is in such disrepair.

There are so many memories on these pages...

In Australia in the 1970s, there wasn't much to do when a grandchild visited country grandparents so my Nana would teach me to make things. Better than television and no mistake. Every time I go into the kitchen now, my Nana is with me. I am so proud that she chose me out of all her grandchildren to inherit this beautiful memory.

So, these fabrics from the Spring Diaries collection are perfect! This time I have teamed it with some Essex Yarn Dyed linen in a gorgeous colour called cappuccino and some black and white.

And here is the back...

Before we get on to the makings this week, you still have time to win a fat quarter bundle of these Tilda fabrics for yourself. Have a look....

NINE fat quarters! And all you need to do to enter is to leave a comment below. The giveaway will be drawn on April 30th. Good luck! 

So, lets make a quilted bag. this make is protective because of the quilting and you can put anything at all into it of course. So grab your block from last week and let's get started.

What do we need this time? And all of the stockist's info is at the end of the post.
-last week's block
-23 cm x 10 cm Essex Yarn Dyed linen: cappuccino
-Fat quarter H640 fusible fleece (Vlieseline)
-Fat quarter of your favourite fabrics from the Tilda Spring Diaries range (Groves)
- qqqcm x qqqcm piece of black and white striped fabric
- qqqcm x qqqcm qqq fabric for the tie.
your usual sewing/quilting needs.

Begin by attaching the linen to the top of the block like this...

Now fuse it to a piece of the H640 interfacing. If you are making a 'real quilt' you don't use a fusible as a rule. This is going to be a lined bag so we can get away with more. Fusible fleece means that you don't need to pin!

Cut a piece of extra fabric 23 cm x 30 cm and fuse that to a piece of fleece too. Quilt the front with a vertical, straight, lines 1 cm apart pattern.
Here is the front....

As you can see, I made an extra line across where the linen and the block meets too. Here is the back, quilted horizontally....

Trim (because even the best behaved fabrics move around) and then place the front and back sections together and sew the sides and bottom. Clip across the corners to reduce bulk and turn the right way out. Here is what you have now......

The casing comes next. As you will know by now, I don't like messy insides and unfinished edges. It is so easy and takes so little fabric and time to do the job properly. So our fabric casing will be fully lined too. Simply hemming the casing isn't good enough because with wear, the edges will become stressed and unhappy and look awful. We want this bag to last at least as long as the book!

Take your casing pieces which measure 45 cm x 12 cm and place the right sides together. Sew the ends only....

Turn the right way out and press.  Fold in half lengthways and measure down about 2 cm and sew a line across....

This will create a cute ruffle when the drawstring is tied. I like to sew a very narrow bit on the top edge which creates a nice sharp line...

Trim around 1cm from the bottom of the casing (I was generous in the beginning because with four layers, you get movement even if you use a dual feed foot). You can always take fabric away. I am yet to see a technique for putting it back again!

Pin the casing to the top of your bag leaving the gap at the front....

Sew around. Make the lining next. Cut two pieces of fabric 22 cm x 29 cm and  sew the sides and bottom but leave a small gap for turning out in the base.
Slip the lining on over the outer casing so that the right sides are together and tuck the casing down in between.....

Pin the lining on, making sure to match up side seams and so on. sew the lining in. Turn the right way out through the gap and close the gap....

Push the lining down into the bag and topstitch around the top edge, just under the casing to keep it down....

That's the bag finished! But we need a drawstring and you can use ribbon or you can make one so let's do that - ribbon isn't designed for the task and tends to get a bit thin and squashed up.

Cut a strip of fabric on the straight grain. it needs to measure 4 cm wide and about 60 cm long. It is fine to join it. Iron it flat with and joining seams open.
Fold it in half lengthways and iron a centre crease....

Now fold the two raw edges to the centre crease and iron again...

Topstitch down the length of the strip to close it....

I like to do this both sides....

Knot one end and trim....

Thread through the casing and knot the other end and trim....

You now have a stronger sort of cord and the best thing about knowing how to make one of these is that you can use this in other settings too like bag making and dressmaking. It is a handy skill to have.

Here is what it looks like with my precious book inside...

And here with Nana's old Jam spoon. It is also looking a bit worse for wear but I will never get rid of it...

Finally, and most importantly, here is the stockists information for the main things used in this pattern...

Tilda fabrics -groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk 01453 883581 

I made this on my incredible -Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8200 QCP Special edition sewing machine from www.janome.co.uk  

Those fantastic interfacings -Vlieseline from www.vlieseline.com Ph 01453883581 crafts@stockistenquiries.co.uk

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Just leave me a comment below in the usual way :-)

Happy sewing and than you so much for dropping by!

Debs

xx

BOM April 2016 - Aegean Cross

I've done it again - despite all of my best efforts, the block of the month is turning into a block of the year! Now I don't want that to happen so here I am with a new block for you.

Aegean Cross is not an official name - it is the one that I decided for this variation on a Greek Cross block. I have a nice project in mind for it next time too and of course, it uses some pretty Tilda fabrics from the Spring Diaries collection.

Speaking of...don't forget that the free giveaway is still on until the end of April. Have a look at what you can win....

That is a fat quarter pack with NINE fat quarters in it!

All you need to do to enter is to leave a comment below this post and I shall choose a winner randomly at the end of the month. The winner will be notified in a special post on the first of may 2016. It may be worth subscribing by email so that you don't miss out on hearing about your prize.

Anyway, here is what we are making this week...

It is a pretty block with an antique feel but you could easily make it more modern with some solids and brights. You will see why I have gone the antique route next week. I promise that all will be revealed!

So, what do we need? This doesn't ask for much so choose three fabrics. You will need around a fat eighth of each and that will give you plenty left over.
Begin by cutting two squares 6" x 6" from fabrics one and two...

Lay them right sides together and sew all around the perimeter leaving no gaps. 

Cut the square diagonally twice...

This will produce four HST units...

Press them and make sure that they are nice and square. Next, cut two 2" squares from your third fabric and a 2" strip from the first.

It doesn't matter how long the strip is. As long as it is 2" wide and long enough (about 10" will be plenty for what comes next and you can cut another one if your need it).

Sew a square to the end of the strip and attach the new unit, square down to one side of a HST unit...

The longer strip means that you will always be accurate with your measurement. Attach another HST unit to the other side of the strip and trim the excess away from the end...

Repeat this whole process for the other two HST units...

Note how the square/strip unit is inverted though.
Next the middle strips and centre square. Cut a 2" square from fabric one and a 2" strip from fabric three. Join the longer strip to one side of the centre square...

Join another strip to the other side 

and then attach the strip unit to the bottom of the top half of the block...

And then the bottom half...

And That's it! This block would work nicely in a quilt with the fabrics swapped around. But I have other fish to fry for you and you will find out all about it next time!

The two floral fabrics in this block are from the Tilda Spring Diaries collection and if you cannot wait for the prize, you can find out about them from:

Tilda - groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk  or by phoning 01453 883581

Of course this BOM was made on my wonderful Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8200 QCP Special edition sewing machine from www.janome.co.uk  

Don't forget about the giveaway though. leave me a comment below and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Thanks so much for stopping by. See you next time!

Debs

xx

Tilda Spring Diaries Bum Bag

Spring is well and truly here so I thought that it was time for something floral. And because you are all my very favourite people, I have a giveaway too - a bundle of NINE Tilda fat quarters from the very new Spring Diaries collection! Utter fabulousness! 

All that you need to do to enter is to leave a comment under this post in the usual way and I will pick a winner randomly on April 30th. You can enter any time up until then. Good luck!

So back to that something floral! I like practical things that are pretty too and I thought that it may be time to have another look at bum bags - what an awful name but we are stuck with it I am afraid. Fanny pack isn't much better! 

I have made this little bag with the Spring Diaries fabrics and I have put the stockist info at the bottom of the post just in case you need it.

But we will need a few other things of course and here is the list....
-fat quarter pack of Tilda Spring Diaries. You will have heaps left over too if you have the whole pack. (Groves)
-3 x 18 cm zips. Choose them to coordinate with your fabric choices.
-Kam snap
-Fat quarter H630 fusible fleece (Vlieseline)
-a medium sized scrap of Decovil I Light (Vlieseline)
-crochet flower. You can cheat and buy these online or bribe, blackmail  ask a crochety friend very nicely to make one for you.
-pretty button to put onto the flower
-some coordinating beads
-webbing 
-buckle set
-fray stopper
-thin double sided tape
Your usual sewing/bag making needs

To begin with, here is your pattern. when you print it off, it should measure 43 cm x 16.5 cm. 

It is the same one for the front, back and lining. The rest of the needs are given in the pattern as they come up.
Let's start with the back so that we can see how to put these zips in. 
Please don't be afraid of the zips. It really isn't very difficult and I will attempt to lead you gently through the procedure. Okay, are you ready? Let's get going!
To begin with, cut four things out using your template. You will need an outer, two lining pieces and a piece of H630 fusible fleece. Fuse the fleece to the wrong side of the chosen outer panel...

Put that aside for the moment and also one of the lining pieces and work on the other piece of  lining. Fold the lining in half and make a crease....

Now measure down 3.5 cm on the wrong side of the lining and draw a box which measures 1 cm wide x 18 cm long....

Draw a second line in the middle of the box with angled bits at each end. This is to be your cutting line so you can ignore it for the time being but here is what it looks like...

And the angles...

Those angles are important because they help the fabric to lay flat and stop puckering in the corners when you turn everything the right way out.

Place the outer and the lining right sides together, line everything up and pin. Sew around the outer box only...

Cut along the middle cutting line including the angled bits being very careful not to cut your stitching....

Now 'post' the lining through the box...

Smooth everything flat and press. This is what you have now....

And the front...

Baste or use thin double sided tape (my personal favourite) to put the zipper into the lining side making sure that the opening is the right way (usually to the left)....

Swap to a zipper foot and sew the zip in by top stitching around it....

That's it! You have just put in a zipper - nothing to fear at all!

To make this into an actual pocket, take the other piece of lining and place it right side up onto the back of your zipper panel and baste all around the edge. Trim the layers to the same size.

Hand basting is really useful, you will have a fair few layers to this bag and they will shift. basting as you go along helps everything to behave. 
To finish off, I made a label from the ribbon that was tying up the fat quarter bundle and attached it under the zipper...

If you do this, attach it before you baste the pocket lining in. I treated the ends of the ribbon with some fray stopper and then placed it with double sided tape to ensure that it was perfect before sewing. This is optional though and you can also choose to put it inside the bag.

Make the front next. Choose a fabric and cut the front panel. This one will also need an outer panel, two lining pieces and a piece of fusible fleece. Fuse the fleece to the wrong side of what will become the outer panel.
Make the front panel exactly as you have the back one. I have put a little patch pocket on the front too. Choose a fabric and cut two rectangles  10 cm x 7 cm. Place them right sides together and sew around the outside leaving a gap...

Clip across the corners to reduce bulk...

Turn out through the gap and then press carefully to keep a perfect shape. Push the corners out carefully to keep them sharp.

Top stitch along the top edge...

I keep the gap to the bottom at this point - when you sew the pocket into place in the next step, the stitching will close the gap as you go....

Use double sided tape to site the pocket 4 cm below the zip and slightly to the right of centre. Sew on with a double row of stitching...

You may wonder why the pocket is not central? It will become apparent when we add the flower charm. I didn't want the pocket to be cluttered by the charm hanging over it and getting in the way. Slightly offsetting the pocket does the trick!

Make a flap measuring 10 cm x 4 cm and sew it the same way. Attach this over the top of the pocket and keep it all closed with a Kam snap.

The top zip is a slightly different kettle of fish to the other two that we have installed but it is still easy. To begin with, cut two more pieces of fabric for the main bag lining using your template (I did say that there would be a few layers!).

Fold them in half and mark the centre of the lining with a crease, mark the centre of the front outer and fold the zipper in half and mark the centre of that too...

Line all of these markings up with the zip facing the right way (opening to the left) and the outer and lining right sides together and the zip sandwiched in the middle...

Pin and then baste (I always baste if I cannot use double sided tape to ensure that no pins are in the way when I put the zip in).
Sew along the seam to the end of the zip only...

Open out and top stitch along the zip...

This keeps the lining down. As you can see, The top stitching for the top zip is exactly on top of the top stitching for the front and back zips. Go slowly and keep it neat because your stitches are on show.

Repeat all of this for the back panels and the other piece of lining. And before we go any further, I have added a little patch pocket (without the flap and snap) on the lining too. You can omit this but if you do it, this has to be done before you put the top zip in...

You now have a sort of a bag taking shape - who know that there were so many steps! Never fear, the worst is over. 

Baste all around the bag. There is a bit of weirdness at the ends of the zip too but this will be taken care of in a minute. 

Just manipulate the fabric gently to get it as flat as possible and baste.

The next step is to bind those raw edges. I have used one of the fabrics in the FQ pack to make bias binding but if you don't want to do this, you can use shop bought too. Either one will work. 
Start at one end of a zip and bind all the way around the bag, enclosing any weirdness....

Finish at the other end of the zip. The photo shows as short piece of binding - this is to show you the overlapped beginning end. Your binding will need to be large enough to go all the way around the bag.

And here is the back view.

Okay, Strap time! I have some webbing strap which is 2.5 cm wide and the perfect pink for the fabrics. You will need your buckle too. If your strap is extra long, it is a good idea to have a tri-slider too to carry the excess. Mine isn't so I am not using one. You can buy these where you buy the buckles (online and at good craft stores - they even come in other colours!).

Start by treating the cut ends of the strapping with Fray Stopper BEFORE you cut. This means that you won't lose any of your strap.

To anchor the strap to the front of the bag, a couple of small tabs are needed. Choose your fabric and cut two squares 6 cm x 6 cm. This is slightly larger than needed and gives us something to play with. cut two pieces of Decovil I Light from your scraps 4 cm x 4 cm. Lay a Decovil square onto the centre of the wrong side of the fabric with the glue side down and fuse.... 

Repeat for the other one. Fold the edges in and make them as perfect as possible. Use double sided tape to stick the end of the webbing strap to the corner of the bag....

Sew the tab over the top on one side, trapping the strap inside. Sew around twice for strength.

The other side is a little different. You will need this half  of your buckle...

Cut a piece of strap about 15 cm long and fold it in half with the buckle inside. sew both ends under the tab....

Sew doubly as you did on the other end. Weave the other end of the strap through the other half of the buckle...

Job's done! Only thing left now is the bag jewellery...I like to choose a few pretty and coordinating beads to give my crochet flower a bit of extra oomph.

Then secure it to the front pocket zipper pull, weaving through the beads a few times for extra security.

And it's a wrap! Here is the stockist info so that you can get going on your own masterpiece:

Tilda fabrics -groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk 01453 883581 

I made this on my incredible -Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8200 QCP Special edition sewing machine from www.janome.co.uk  

Those fantastic interfacings -Vlieseline from www.vlieseline.com Ph 01453883581 crafts@stockistenquiries.co.uk

But most importantly of all, don't forget to enter the free giveaway. Remember, simply leave a comment below and I will use a random number generator (you know the usual deal) and I will choose a lucky winner from the comments list. Here is that prize again....

There are NINE fat quarters in that pack! 

Thank you so much for stopping by and staying with me on this incredibly long post! This very practical little bag is worth the work though and it will earn its keep time and time again.
See you next time!
Love and hugs
Debs
xxx