It's that time of the year! I started sewing for Christmas! There are so many beautiful Christmas prints and so many patterns out there, isn't difficult to choose what to sew first?? I love to make these stars (pattern here) from fabric with metallic accent. The simple stars are quick and easy to sew and you can make them in any size you want. This is a great project for small … [Read more...]
How to sew zipper pockets for bags
I know that when I sew bags, I want to add nice zipper pockets inside. Sometimes (not often, fortunately) I am in such a hurry that I skip this step and instead I add simple slip pockets. I just found a way to sew some wonderful pockets and the best thing about them is that you can sew a few (2 or 10!) when you have some spare time and use them when needed. I used for these samples faux … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing with 12wt thread
12wt thread is a very thick thread. For my first experience with it I chose to free motion quilt this quilt. The thread is Aurifil. It was one of my most amazing quilting experiences. While quilting this quilt, I learned how helpful the Jeans needle is. Since then, this needle type is the only one I use for quilting and for sewing bags. For those that still need to experiment with free … [Read more...]
How to add interfacing to vinyl/ faux leather
The vinyl/ faux leather can be used without any interfacing in some bags; in this case, a heavyweight fabric for lining is desired. It depends on the look you want for your bag. You can opt to add interfacing for added body and structure but also to add a lovely texture to it. I wanted to quilt my bag panels and that's why I chose a foam interfacing. Foam comes in both fusible and non fusible … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing faux leather/vinyl bags – I
There are so many types of faux leather/vinyl on the market. This material is used for upholstery so it is widely available in big fabric stores, in the home decor department. If you want to buy it online, try on Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, Joann, Fabric.com. It comes in different thicknesses and obvious, the thicker ones produce more bulk and it is harder to sew with them- it depends on the … [Read more...]
How to finish quilted coasters without binding
I love to sew mini blocks! These ones below measures 2.75''. In case you think that you don't have patience to sew such blocks, I can tell you that the piecing is really fun, because it is actually strip piecing. For these blocks I used 1'' wide strips. The pattern for this block is here. I stitched a 16'' pillow and I thought to turn the three orphan blocks into coasters. At this … [Read more...]
Charm square (or scrap) friendly quilt pattern
I don't like to work with scraps and I don't have too many charm square packs in my drawers, but I am glad that I made a new pattern that can give them a new life. I am so excited about it that my next fabric order will include some Christmas charm square packs! What's special about this pattern? It looks complicated but in reality it is quick and easy. 41 pieces into a block that … [Read more...]