spring fling

We are in the final stages of our Pillow Swap Four Seasons (PS4S) found on flickr. It is a fantastic group of international ladies, avid sewers, and creative geniuses! I am so happy and proud to be a part of this group! We have great support, great feedback, loads of pictures of our progress and our creative process. If you are thinking about joining a pillow swap, or a swap in general, feel free to drop by, get inspired and see how a flickr swap works. We would love to have you come join us to in the next round - Summer 2015. Signs-up start March 2nd and last until the 12th, 2015. Partners will be assigned the following Monday. You can find out more information here.

I am still not allowed to say who my partner is, nor what her dislikes/likes color preferences are, but I am allowed to show you the finished pillow case. ;-)

This was a little challenging for me, because I didn't know what she would want as a final design and left some options open. I first made kites and sewed white fabric to the sides.

After I decided on the final design of kaleidoscopes or stars, I finished the nine blocks. The trouble started when I tried to sew the middle blocks together. The points weren't matching up! I ripped the seams about four times in the center to get things right, but the points still were matching up the way I wanted them too. And what do you do, when your points don't match up? Put a button over them! It's just a pillow right?? Those buttons are ACCENT BUTTONS! ;-) I did very simple outline quilting. I didn't want to over do it. I wanted the "roundness" of the octagon center to come out but not disturb the other blocks.

And if my partner doesn't like the front, she can always turn it over and look at the backside for a while.  I made the braid using my MINI Hex N More ruler!! YAY!! Can you find the zipper? I strategically placed it behind the insert.

And of course I had some extra time, so I made a few goodies using the same fabric. I bought just one charm pack from the series Bluebird Park from Kate & Birdie for Moda Fabrics. I bought extra yardage of the "linen look" and separately, the turquoise bird in trees as well as a panel.

And to be honest, I didn't know if my swap partner was going to be happy with the pattern I picked. So, I made a second pillow in different dimensions this time. I decided on the 16 x 24 inch travel pillow size. I made some cute little butterflies from the charms, worked on a general design, picked up my fabric panel, sliced it in half and came up with this:

So, I am very confident that my partner is going to like her little "care package" if only she likes the fabric!? I used up most of all the fabric that I bought for this project including the charm pack. I was really surprised how far it went. 

Now who could be the lucky recipient of this spring pillow swap? I don't know, but they should receive their package the beginning of March!

I really had so much fun with this pillow swap!! I can't wait until the next one for summer. Oh, the possibilities! Please stop by and check out ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS in the Pillow Swap Four Seasons flickr pool. And don't forget to sign up if your sewing schedule is free!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen, Swap Mama

mini tutorial for paper pieced stars

Yesterday I was working on some four inch stars as a part of an extra to the pillow for my Pillow Swap Four Seasons (PS4S) Partner. In the original pillow, I used straight piecing, but learned I should have printed my kaleidoscopes on paper and sewn that way. But, as you can see, my motif wasn't really the kaleidoscope at all, but these cute little stars! I tried finding a name for them, but am not quite sure what they are called. Do you? What I love about them with PP is that they are PERFECT! Enlarge the pic to see what I mean. =)

I made my templates in EQ7 for a four inch star. It is great when they print out exactly centered four segments on a page! Because that is exactly what I wanted to do. (Here is just a snapshot of the template. Templates are discontinued, but you can also draw your own templates.)

I separated the first star from the second star and trimmed all the way around the seam allowance line. DO NOT SEPARATE THE FOUR SEGMENTS! Then I folded the star in half both horizontally and vertically in the center. The exact center is marked with a "cross" in the center by me.(None of my fabrics are allowed to go over this point.)

Then I made a plastic template of the colored star section. This helps with fussing cutting as well as ensuring that the fabric does not go over the seam allowance line. You will see what I mean later. Cut out the four colored stars (A-1) using the plastic template and cut (4) - 3.5" x 2.75" rectangles for the outer segments (A-2, A-3).

Now the the tricky part begins. Dab a little bit of glue on the backside of the paper template on each star segment (A-1). Glue those fabrics in place. Use a good light source to see the lines through the paper. Do you see how none of the fabrics touch the cross in the middle?

 

Now take one of your outer segments (A-2) and align to the colored fabric star face down on the backside of the paper template. I DID THIS WRONG IN MY FIRST DEMO!! PLEASE sew according to the second picture correctly. =) I just wanted to show you the first step, but it was on the wrong side.

 This is the right way on the backside of the paper template! =)

Flip over and pin at the beginning and ending of the sewing line. Sew 1/4" from the start and stop of those sewing lines using a small stitch - about 1.5 on a Pfaff. Be warned, if you don't pin, it could shift. I hate to pick out mini-stitches.

Flip fold over as you would in normal pp. Now, fold your paper template along the fold line where the fabric overlaps. Trim with your scissors making sure you don't cut the paper. Do you see that the paper template is now correct?? The printed lines should really be on the backside!!

Continue sewing the outer segments until all are finished. NOTE: There is no need to trim off the outer edges of the block until the entire block is finished.

Now the magic starts!! Fold the paper template in half and sew along the sewing line.

Cut along the seam allowance line or through the middle. Whichever is easiest for you.

 

 Unfold. Press seam open. Repeat for the other half of the template! Voila!!

Press seam open.

Trim along outer seam allowance. Press. Admire!

   

And if you want to get really creative, you can make a really cute mug rug! Just look at those perfect points! Everything lines up perfectly! Can life get any better than this? I don't think so! Take a break and sip a cup of coffee or tea. Look at your beautiful creation and enjoy the view outside. It is snowing here in Germany. I wish we had more snow, but you can't have everything, now can you?

And everyone who downloads a template, I would really like to see your creation!!! I want to see all of your beautiful designs! Thanks for dropping by!

hello twenty-15

Happy New Year to everyone! I have taken some time off to think about a few things and get my sewing gusto back on track. The holidays were wonderful, and I really enjoyed the down-time. I hope you enjoyed them as well?

With every new year, there are changes in store...at least for me that is. I need change!! My husband didn't know what he signed up for when he married me. At least he is one of the constants in my life! =)

I started thinking about what type of change I need as far as my blog and communication with others. Why do I blog? Why do you blog? Why do we read each others sites? What would we do without the social networks of today? I have decided that I am going to spend less time blogging and more time sewing. My commitment to myself is to blog three or four times a month usually showing a finish off or what I have learned. A big step for me is joining INSTAGRAM as well. I still want to share with you what I am working on. Maybe you like it and comment on it. Maybe it becomes an inspiration piece. Maybe you skip on over it. But I want to keep going...keep creating...keep sharing....but giving myself more time to do just that - what I love to do.

_________________

Our Pillow Swap Four Seasons is in full swing! I am really enjoying checking in every day and seeing what the spectacular ladies are creating for each other. In the beginning, I admit, I was really nervous and intimidated, because these women are so FABULOUS! I was confused with the swap too...should I make directly from an inspiration photo or make something of my own? I have since found my own method of creating for others in the group...at least a starting point. :) If you are curious to see what I am working on, please check it out here. These are the fabrics I am going with. Since I have already started, there is no turning back now. =)

What have I been working on? I decided to get back to my old advanced sampler I started SEVERAL years ago. I totally love the fabric from Kate Spain called Fandago. All I have to do is finish a few 12" blocks, because the sashing and binding are already finished!

I worked on this wedding ring block which went together much easier than I thought it would. I printed the templates from EQ7 which were a little tight on the outer sides. I cut bigger pieces for fabrics for the fourth block and got myself into a pickle (or trouble). That's why there is a slight fold in the center. ;-) I thought it was more important for my seams to match up rather than a little fold....it won't be noticeable after it is quilted anyway? Right?

Then I worked on a Burnham block. Does anyone know this block? I found it a long time ago and bookmarked it to make the Y-Seam in the middle. I started by sewing strips together instead of making templates for each section. I wanted to save some time and be accurate. The fun thing about it - you get two blocks for one. Do you see the scraps to the right that make an additional block? I might put it on the back for a signature block.

I debated back and forth whether I wanted to sew this with a Y-Seam or skip it. Since this is a sampler for me - of my own skills - I have to challenge myself. I thought about it - how to get this little square into the center of the block. I knew where it connected on a straight line, but thought there could be an even simpler way of getting it in there without a Y-seam. I could applique it in the center. I even did it, but wasn't happy with the result.

Then I after a morning of struggling and be unhappy, I ripped it apart between the yellow and orange strips - where it is really supposed to be connected. I marked my 1/4 dots and it went together perfectly.

The center looks a little funky with the seam pressed forward, but I think I will work that out later.

This was really a fun block to make and could see making it more often. Next up on my sampler list is a folkart applique to test out my hand button-hole sewing. Please join me on Instagram - easypatchwork.

Thank you for stopping by!
Karen