Pattern Hack

I really enjoy making a flat zipper case.  I have made a lot over the year to sell at craft fairs.

So it was one of the first patterns written for Bon Couture Designs.  At Bon Couture Designs, we have decided that we need to make some new samples for our social media platforms.

I made this smaller zipper case to keep all my drawing pens safe when I am out and about and to take away to France in the summer.  I love to do quick sketches of places, floral and beach inspirational things when I am on holiday.  It is a keepsake memory book.  

I saw something similar to this 'pattern hack' on Instagram.  It was a ten minute make.  I will be making some more as I think they would make a lovely gift combined with a note book/diary.

Block Three

I do not usually work with brown colour fabrics.  These brown tones are too 'vomit sick' colour for me.  But these brown fabrics are part of the fat quarter bundle so I feel that if I do not use I will never use them. 

I will make some more block using these brown fabric to see if I can begin to like them.  I think the brown fabrics are needed to be incorporated in the quilt to enhance the overall design.

Anyway that all folks until next time.

OPAM February

I am on a roll with the 'end of season' or gift box thingy.  See my last OPAM post. This purse key fob is ideal if only want to carry a key and a few coins on a trip to the shops, on the school run or dog walking.   

There are few pattern tutorial for these project on the internet. Another great sash busting projects.

I have started another sewing project that I have again seen on Instagram.  I am still tweaking with the measurements.  When I have finished I will post about it...

Block Two

So now have make block two of my new quilt BOM.  Again this block is six inches finished.  I love the colours of this block.

 So here are both blocks.

I am writing up the instructions for Bon Couture Designs as a quilt pattern.  I have yet to decide a name for this new quilt pattern.  Any suggestions? 

OPAM January 2020

I really enjoyed getting started on this year seasonal gift projects.  I am planning to make at least one item for the 'end of year season'.  For some crafters it is tooooooo early to mention the word Christmas.

Not me, I am getting an early start with this Santa Wine Bottle Topper.  These are very popular on Instagram.

Everyone needs a key fob.  It is a great way to using up all my scraps. I will probably make a whole bunch off these key fobs for my Etsy shop and well as for my gift box.  It is always handy to have a few items made in the gift box for unexpected birthday or celebrations.

I have already started cutting out February's seasonal gift.  See you next month....

Travel Tissue Cover

I have made hundreds of travel tissue cover over the years. They are easy and quick to make plus they sell well at craft fairs. These are what I call 'pocket change' sales.

I have been playing with a new design for the tissue cover. Again this new cover is a quick and very easy to stitch.

I am gong to tweak the measurements to decrease the aperture a bit. Other than a bit of tweaking, I am happy with the new cover.

New Year, New Quilt..

I have been designing a new quilt to teach at my classes. Jan - June all the blocks are pieced and July to Dec the blocks are appliqué.

I am using a fat quarter bundle that I have had for several year now. There are about twelve fat quarters. They are not my usual colours or tones but as I am trying to reduce my enormous stash.

The blocks are all six inches.  So I am going to have to make lots of blocks to use all the fabric. I love working on small blocks but I know it is going to be a challenge for some of the ladies.

Would you like to see some the finished blocks made by my lovely ladies...

Friendship Star Block

Friendship Star

This tutorial will make a 6" Friendship Star Block.  I used only two fabrics.  A cream tone on tone fabric for the background and a pattern blue fabric for the star block.

Background  

Cut two 3 1/2 inch squares

Cut four 2 1/2 inch squares

Star 

Cut two 3 1/2 inch squares

Cut one 2 1/2 inch square

Layer one background and one star 3 1/2 inch square right side facing and pin.  Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.  Then draw a line quarter inch either side of diagonal line.

Sew on the outer lines.  I like to use an open toe foot on my sewing machine for sewing when using this method.  I like to be able to see the line where I am sewing.  If you wish you could hand stitch the lines.

The cut on the centre line. Repeat with the other pair 3 1/2 squares.

Press towards the darkest fabric.  PRESS, please do not iron, and treat with care as this is a bias seam.    Now trim the half square triangle squares to 2 1/2 inches.  Remembering to place the 45 degree line on your ruler along the stitched seam.

Arrange your squares as shown above.  Watch out for the correct placement of your half square triangle squares.

Sew into three rows using a quarter inch seam allowance.  Press the top and bottom seams away for the centre square.  Press the middle seams towards the centre square.  This will make it easy to stitch the three rows together.  Please remember to match up all your seams.

. 

Now give your finished block a press.  The block should now measure 6 1/2 inches.  Once sewn into a project or quilt it will a 'finished' 6 inch square

Friendship Star

This tutorial will make a 6" Friendship Star Block.  I used only two fabrics.  A cream tone on tone fabric for the background and a pattern blue fabric for the star block.

Background  

Cut two 3 1/2 inch squares

Cut four 2 1/2 inch squares

Star 

Cut two 3 1/2 inch squares

Cut one 2 1/2 inch square

Layer one background and one star 3 1/2 inch square right side facing and pin.  Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.  Then draw a line quarter inch either side of diagonal line.

Sew on the outer lines.  I like to use an open toe foot on my sewing machine for sewing when using this method.  I like to be able to see the line where I am sewing.  If you wish you could hand stitch the lines.

The cut on the centre line. Repeat with the other pair 3 1/2 squares.

Press towards the darkest fabric.  PRESS, please do not iron, and treat with care as this is a bias seam.    Now trim the half square triangle squares to 2 1/2 inches.  Remembering to place the 45 degree line on your ruler along the stitched seam.

Arrange your squares as shown above.  Watch out for the correct placement of your half square triangle squares.

Sew into three rows using a quarter inch seam allowance.  Press the top and bottom seams away for the centre square.  Press the middle seams towards the centre square.  This will make it easy to stitch the three rows together.  Please remember to match up all your seams.

Now give your finished block a press.  The block should now measure 6 1/2 inches.  Once sewn into a project or quilt it will a 'finished' 6 inch square.

Christmas Gifts

 I made two table runners for Christmas gifts.

The first table runner was made with Moda fabrics, machine pieced and quilted with metallic thread.  This is the third time I have used this easy design.  It one of those designs that I use as my 'go to' patterns when I need a quick present.

The second table runner was made using the 'quilt as you go' method.  The fabrics are modern Christmas fabrics.  This runner is another very quick and easy pattern.  

This runner could be made wider by adding borders.  This could be used as a bed runner as well as a table runner by changing the fabrics.

I am planning to made more table runners this year as I really enjoyed these easy designs.

Christmas Tree Sampler Workshop

I have spent some time this autumn working on a Christmas tree sampler cushion.

I am going to do a tutorial 'Block of the Month'.  Starting in January 2018.  There are eight blocks in this sampler. 

I have used a Moda charm pack for some of pieced blocks, plus a white on white fabric for the appliqué blocks and fat quarters for the borders.

There is a Facebook group called Daisychain Quilter.  If you need any help with the blocks, why not join the group.  

Post Card Blocks

I call this my postcard block but I am sure it has another name.

Recipe

A) Two 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch White on White/Cream on Cream

B) One  4 /12 x 8 1/2 Bright/Kids print

Sew the White on White to either side of the Bright/Kids print.

It should be a 8 1/2 inch block.

Make at least twelve to give you a small size quilt.

I added a 2 1/2 border in the same colour.

Notice how if the thinner strips are a different colour it can change the appearance of the finished quilt.

Disappearing Four Patch

I first posted this on my sister blog and then again here in April 2104.  I am reposting again today to make it easier for my students to find this blog post.

Recipe 

You will need the following to make one block:

A)  One 5 x 5 inch blue plain/tone on tone.

B)  One 5 x 5 inch red plain/tone on tone.

C)  Two 5 x 5 inch white on white.

 Sew together as above to form a four patch block.  Press the seams open.

Cut 1 1/2 inches from the centre seam.  With each cut turn the board not the fabric, this will help to keep the fabric from moving.  Do not be tempted to move the pieces after each cut.  Once you have cut four times then check to make sure you have cut properly.

 Leave the four corners and centre blocks and turn the four outer middle blocks to form a new nine patch block.

 Once you are happy with the new block sew the block back together.  Pay extra attention to matching all the seams.

Next time you could vary the width of the cut from the centre seams.  It will give a different feel to the block.
Well done.

Another Workshop Sample

I made this cushion as a sample for a Redwork workshop I was asked to teach in the Plymouth recently.

I have many samples I have made for several workshops, all of which I love.  I have listed this cushion on my Etsy shop as I have several of this example.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DaisychainQuilter

My Workshop Samples

I made this cushion as a sample for a workshop some time ago. I really love this cushion.

But I made a lot of samples using this pattern.  So I am going to list this cushion for sale on my Etsy shop.

 https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DaisychainQuilter

 I used a Moda Charm pack for make this cushion and several metres of white/white tone fabric.

It is machine quilted using Rayon thread.  I loved teaching this workshop.

Secret Project

This is a small selections of the Christmas Pinwheel decorations the ladies made this week in my classes.

Now I will have to start thinking about the Easter secret project!!

These pinwheel decorations are fun to make and very quick to completed too.