My mum is a huge Laurel Burch fan, so when I needed to make her a gift for Mothering Sunday, I knew exactly what fabrics to use. I'd had these Laurel Burch "Jungle Songs" fabrics in my stash for a few years, and thought they would be perfect for this tote bag pattern "På Quiltelaup" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. I didn't have enough "Jungle Songs" fabric to use the same cutting instructions/ layout that the pattern suggested, so used the same fabric for lining the pockets as I was going to use for lining the tote bag... ...rather than the quilting blending into the fabrics, I wanted it to be a feature, so used a YLI variegated turquoise/teal quilting thread. The quilting lines were marked with a Clover Hera marker. Straight rows for the bag, diagonal lines for the pockets. I used a selection of Laurel Burch scraps in contrasting colours to make the prairie points, and by coincidence this black/gold "Cherry Blossom Festival" by Andover fabrics (another one that's been in my stash for simply ages) went perfectly with the "Jungle Songs" and was just what I needed for the handles of the tote bag. ... ...I added a narrow strap inside the bag for my mum to attach her key-ring to, and bound the top of the bag with the same fabric that I'd used for the handles. These "Wonder Clips" by clover are perfect of holding all the layers together, and you don't get stabbed with pins! The prairie points at the top of the bag are held in place with a button, and this bright purple one in my button tin was perfect!... ...here you can see the lining of the pocket - I used the same blue/green Laurel Burch print that I used for lining the bag... ...and here is the finished tote bag. My mum has a few Laurel Burch bags, and she certainly won't see anyone with one exactly the same as this one!
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Last year I bought this fabric from the Spring Quilt Festival at Duxford. The black and white fat quarters are called "Needles and Yarn" from the "Knit" collection, and the main fabric is called "Do Ewe Knit", also from the "Knit" collection, all by Timeless Treasures. I'm using the text print for the lining - and surprise surprise a Norwegian pattern. My plan was to make a knitting bag for my mother-in-law who is a knitaholic . The pattern I finally decided on is "På Quiltelaup" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. The pockets are quilted in a cross-hatch design, using a Clover Hera marker to mark the quilting lines, and a variegated thread King Tut thread in black, grey and white... ...a collection of smart prairie points add a nice design touch and are also added to the pockets. I used some black and white spotted fabric and some red tone-on-tone spotted fabric scraps from my stash to compliment the main fabrics. A narrow strap was made with a clip attached to the end so my mother-in-law can attach a pair of scissors so they don't get lost inside the bag... ...one of my labels was sewn along the top edge of the bag, and the top edge was finished off with some red binding. The binding was machined into place on the front of the bag, and slip-stitched into place to the lining of the bag by hand... ...the final finishing touch was the addition of 2 white buttons. As you can see, I used the white "Needles and Yarn" fabric for the top panel of one side of the bag (the pocket is also lined with the same fabric) and the black version for the other side... ...and here's the finished bag! What do you think? I hope my mother-in-law likes it. The next project is to make a bag for my mum, who's rather fond of Laurel Burch fabric, so I'd better get busy sewing!!
These beautiful fabrics from the Pastel Floral Collection "Princess Rose" by Lecien (bought from Sew and So's at Bungay a few months ago) were just perfect for my latest project - a Secret Santa gift for one of my colleagues who just loves pink and who loves my bags - so this was the perfect combination, along with my favourite bag pattern, "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and a little bit of lace trimming from Little A Designs. The front of the bag has been quilted very simply in straight rows with a pink variegated King Tut quilting thread. I used a very small blind hemming stitch to attach the lace trimming into place after the quilting was completed and the top edge neatened ready for attaching the zipper... ...as the recipient loves pink so much, the bag is lined with the same pretty floral fabric that I used for binding the front edges before I inserted the zipper. Oh and yes, of course the zipper just had to be pink. One of my labels is tucked neatly inside the side seam too... ...and I even used a PINK ribbon to tie around the top of the cellophane bag! Of course I couldn't share this picture with you until AFTER she'd been given it at work on Christmas Eve - although she guessed straight away who her Secret Santa was - and she was absolutely thrilled with it!
A couple of years ago I made a runner for my dining table, using a pattern called "Kle kjokkenet i 60-tallsdrakt" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, that was featured in the magazine Quiltemagasinet Nr 4/07, and used a selection of cream and gold fabrics from my stash. I'd made a smaller runner for my coffee table, and as I had some fabric leftover, decided to make some matching placemats for my dining table... ...I used using the same backing fabric for these that I'd used for the runner that I'd made for my coffee table, and quilted these with straight rows half an inch apart, using the same metallic gold Madeira thread. I always use Schmetz metallic needles when I'm using metallic thread. It definitely pays to use the right needle with the right thread for a nice finish, and I used a plain cream Mettler quilting thread in the bobbin. Prairie points were added and secured into place with cream buttons. Single fold binding was added and hand stitched into place on the back using slip stitch... ...these place mats will be on my dining table over the Christmas holidays - Mr F will be shot if he spills any gravy or cranberry sauce on these!!
A couple of years ago I made a runner for my dining table, using a pattern called "Kle kjokkenet i 60-tallsdrakt" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, that was featured in the magazine Quiltemagasinet Nr 4/07, and used a selection of cream and gold fabrics from my stash. I had some fabric leftover, and needed a smaller runner to match for my coffee table, and finally this week I've made it! This was quickly pieced together as it just used 8 blocks and 2 end borders. I've used a gold metallic Madeira thread, and quilted this very simply in straight rows. I used a plain cream Mettler quilting thread in the bobbin, to blend in with the backing fabric... ...the wadding in this runner is Pellon, a felted polyester wadding that is quite thin, and my prefered choice for table runners and place mats. I've sewn some cream coloured buttons to hold the prairie points into position. I used a single fold binding, which is hand stitched onto back of the runner, and I've added one of my labels to a corner of the runner... ...this runner has got pride of place on my coffee table this year!
I've had a busy few days getting the last of my Christmas gifts made -now I can relax and spend the next few days getting my last minute shopping done! This is a matching set of toiletry bag and cosmetic bag. The pattern is "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and the fabric is from a selection of the "Flower Sugar III" range by Lecien. I used white quilting thread by Mettler for a simple cross hatch design as this complemented the white lace trimming and the white zipper, and contrasted nicely against the bright red fabric.
At this time of year I always like to have a "Christmas" themed runner on my table. This one is the very first runner that I made with a Norwegian pattern, and started my love of Norwegian patterns! It is called "Adventsløper" and this pattern was featured in the Norwegian quilting magazine Quiltemagasinet issue 4/2008 and was designed by AnnAKa. The original runner was made in purple fabrics for Advent, however I used red and gold fabrics from my stash for a more festive theme. This runner is quilted very simply using the "stitch-in-the-ditch" method with a gold Madeira metallic thread - and a machine blanket stitch around the appliqued hearts. This is a great pattern for using up scraps of fabrics with the same colour-theme for the blocks - and I've made a start on another one using some cream and gold fabrics, but goodness only knows if I'll have time to complete it in time for Christmas 2013!!
A few weeks ago I went to the Autumn Quilt Festival at Duxford and bought a fat quarter bundle of "Music" fabrics by Henley Studios for Makower from the Secret Garden Quilting stand. I chose another pattern by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, this one is called "Godværsveske" and is not too fancy and frilly, so perfect for these fabrics. I used Pellon wadding, and this is quilted very simply with a variegated orange Gutterman Sulky thread... ...this makes a small boxy-style toiletry bag, with a curved edge. I've added 2 small tabs at each end of the zipper, and I've added one of my labels to the inside seam... ...and here it is - now I just need to buy some toiletries to put inside, and that's another Christmas gift sorted out!
When I went to the Autumn Quilt Festival at Duxford a few weeks ago, I bought this funky fat quarter bundle of "Music" collection by Henley Studio for Makower. It's perfect for anyone who likes music or guitars and was perfect for the projects I had in mind! Another toiletry bag was on my "to-do" list for handmade Christmas gifts, and I set to with "Anna's Sminkepung" pattern by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. I've scaled it up a bit, and changed the layout of the fabrics. As this is for a man, I didn't add any lace trimming, and quilted it with a variegated orange Gutterman Sulky thread in a simple cross-hatch design... ..and here's the finished bag - now I just need to get some toiletries to pop inside and that's another gift crossed off my list. This fabric is available at Secret Garden Quilting and I've already ordered from them online again!!
Using the pattern "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa and a selection of Lecien fabrics (this time purple and green) from Sew and So's of Bungay and some lace trimming from Little A Designs and I was all ready to get creative! This time I made a matching set that can be used a toiletry bag and a cosmetic bag. I've quilted these very simply using a cross-hatch design and a straight-row pattern too. This time I used olive green zippers to match the binding along the edges of the bag. The pink lace and velvet trimming is used on both bags - and each bag has a small label sewn inside too.
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July 2023
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