Around the World Blog hop

Thank-you so much to Soma Acharya (Whims and Fancies) who invited me to this little blog hop around the world.  She was my partner in crime for the Doctor.Who.Along and is a fantastic quilter, artist, photographer, pattern designer and all-around sweetie-pie.  

So here are some answers to questions that I rarely ever get to chat about on this blog (well all except that first one).
 

1.       What am I working on?

Currently too many things.  I have Halloween quilt in progress as part of the #mybooqal going on on Instagram.  I have another modern quilt I’ve designed for Quiltcon that needs to have the quilting finished.  About 3 different swaps I need to make items for and probably about  a dozen other things that I’ve forgotten about.  Oh and there is always a knitting project on the needles.  I don't talk about that hobby much on here, but I love to knit! That hobby is even older than my sewing one. Never a dull moment around here.

2.  How does my work differ from others of its genre?  

I’ll let you decide this for the most part.  I think I'm kind of still developing my 'style'. I think my work is creative and  I try to think outside the box when I’m designing something.  I usually start every project design by asking myself, “what haven’t I seen yet?” and go from there.  I think this makes my work more unique but I'm all over the place in terms of what I'll tackle which is pretty much anything.  I do like a fairly modern aesthetic though in anything I make for myself or our family's home.

3.  Why do I write/create what I do?

Sewing keeps me sane.  I love the creative process of coming up with a new design idea and making it from start to finish.  I love pairing colors and envisioning what I think will work best. I need a small amount of creative time every day just to keep on functioning normally.  My day-job is entirely left-brain activity, so I need some balance to keep me on an even-keel.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

Usually I see something out there in the world that sparks an idea.  It can be anything from the way the light hits the glass to looking at a building from a unique angle and it can happen at any moment.  Really, anything can spark an idea and from there I usually jot it down on paper to revisit when I have time. I have a whole folder of ‘ideas’ like this in my studio.  Sometimes they make it into a finished sewn object and sometimes they don’t.  

But enough about me.  Here are some other creative women that inspire me and will share their perspectives with you next.

Becky of SolarThreads ~ I've never met Becky in person but we share the same home state.  She's a fantastic and productive quilter. Always quilting up a storm with a cool twist and sewing all kind of unique things, like her fabric postcards and her Growler bags made with Pendleton wool.  She'll be my roommate next month at Sewtopia and I'm looking forward to meeting her in person.  Plus we have kids the same age and she's a scientist like me. No wonder she's my friend.

Jennifer of SunnyinCal ~ I can't wait to see her again at Sewtopia.  Jenn is a powerhouse sewer and quilter.  She churns out a new quilt every other day or so it seems.  She is super creative and all her stuff is really gorgeous!  Plus she's a super nice person as well. 

Lisa of Lisa Lisa and the quilt jam
 ~ Lisa is the Vice Prez of the Corvallis Modern Quilt Guild, my local guild and a sewing buddy of mine.  She is super bubbly and fun and can quilt up a storm.  She always has many irons in the fire.

Go check out these lovely ladies.

Until next time, Happy sewing!
xoxo Caroline

College Blog Hop ~ 50 yard line

It's time for the last pattern of the College Blog Hop organized by Soma of Whims and Fancies blog.  Soma is a star for organizing all these fantastic foundation piecing pattern QALs.  This time around the theme is College and everything that reminds you of  college.  For me, that's football! (USA style).  I do love going to watch a college football game in the crisp cool air of fall. 

So here is my 50 yard line block.  The finished block is 10" square.

You can download the pattern and instructions here or on Craftsy. 

Would also work for any football related quilts or projects you might be wanting to make.  Use it as a center block, add your favorite college licensed fabric around the border and make yourself a cute tote bag to carry the blanket, snacks and water bottle to the game or for tailgating.

Go Team!  Happy Sewing!

Itty Bitty basket tutorial

Many of you have been asking me for a tutorial on making my storage boxes.  I have put together a little tute here. This is a basic version of the storage bucket and can be adapted to any size.

For now i'm going to keep it small and simple.  I will post back later and explain how to change up the basket to make it bigger and add holes for carrying.

This basket is about 5.5" x  5" finished.

To start, you need a piece of paper to make a pattern. Any kind or type of paper will work but it needs to be at least 9" square. You are going to cut a 9" square out of your paper.

Next, you are going to fold you paper in half

and then fold it in half again, so you have a smaller square. Now, you are going to cut a 1.5 square corner out of it on the open sides (don't cut on the folded side or you'll just end up with a hole in the center of your square).  It should look like this

And when you unfold it

Ok now you have your first pattern piece.  Place it onto your fabric. You'll need at  minimum a 9" square piece of fabric. I'm using part of a layer cake, so my fabric is 10" square.

Cut out around the pattern piece so it looks like this:

Now you are going to attach your side pieces.  You'll need 4 scraps of fabric that are 4" x 6".  I've used different fabrics for mine but you can use all the same fabrics if you like or anything you choose.

Lay them out alongside your bottom piece like this:

Flip over the pieces and sew along cut edge using a 1/4" seam allowance like this;

Fold the fabric sides out and press the seams upwards toward the side pieces.  Topstitch using a scant 1/8" seam.

 

Optional - for a stiffer more sturdy basket, you'll want to interface this entire piece with Decor Bond/Craft bond or some other interfacing material.  

Now you'll sew up the side seams on all four sides, with right sides of the fabric facing each other.  It should look like this when it's done. 

 

Turn it right side out and poke out the corners.

Next you'll make another square using lining fabric. This time your square will be 16"

 

Fold in half and then into quarters as you did for the paper piece.  Then cut out a square from the corner that is 5".  It should look like this.

  

(Interface this piece if you like)

Sew up the sides as you did for the outer basket, but leave it inside out. 

Next you'll place the basket lining inside the outer basket with the wrong sides facing. Poke the corners in so that it's nice and square and all the seams align, then using a basting stitch, you'll baste along the top raw edge of the basket.  

Cut 2" strip of fabric that is at least 28" long.  Make a double-folded tape using a bias-tape maker if you have one, or just use your iron (turn the steam off so you don't burn your fingers  ~ ask me how I know?)

 

Open up the folded tape and pin it to the top edge of the basket.  Sew along the fold line (this should be about 1/2" SA).  It should look like this when you are done. 

 Next fold down the tape over the raw edge and use pins or clips to hold it in place.  I hand-sewed down the tape to the inside of my basket, but you could also machine sew it if you have walking foot.

And when you are done you'll have a handy little storage basket to use in your home.

Mine is full of my ever growing stash of washi tape.  Yep, I love me some washi!

Everyone needs a little itty bitty basket in their home.

Happy Sewing!