Random: Weekending

Books, food, sewing, games, preparation.. weekend is all about being home buddy and rest well! Nothing like being home.  The fan is still running and helps air moving around.  S was busy with her games and reading while I was working on the hexie patchwork sewing.  It is always nice that we both occupied by our own projects, but share some thoughts and chat to each other. 

Thank you for all the sweet comments on the {patchwork placemats}. Each patchwork piece measurement is around 4"x5". Each placemat finished at 11"x16".  I trimmed off the sides to get make the size.

Off some editing and hope to share the hexie patchwork project with you soon!

xxC

Random: Patchwork Placemats

Thank you for the sweet comments on the {dumplings}. Have you download your template and try one out?
We are getting some good rain here and the air is cooler and feels good! I was able to sit and sew again! Remember these {patchwork pieces} I made? I decided to turn them into placemats. I have much love to use up scraps even small pieces. This year, I try not to have too many w.i.p.  projects. I like to  finish them in a certain time frame. That helps to limited the ideas gone away and limited too many projects going on at the same time and that would make me feel I never accomplish anything.

I have been thinking what to give for my friend Amy's wedding gift. It is hard for me to think any. Certainly it is a different culture here compared from home. Amy's wedding is going to be the second wedding ceremony that we will be attending.  We are excited about her wedding that's coming up soon. Amy was S' kindergarten teacher, but we have been known each other long before S started school.  We are very closed to her family and miss them very much since we moved away.

I am not sure if she will like these placemats. I chose off white with light green lines to sandwich the patchwork pieces. I have the idea about summer time having a party in the prairie when I was making these placemats.

Each patchwork is different and I think they are a nice set together! I used scraps binding for it. Thanks to my flickr friends who swap some of their scraps to me.

This time I used machine binding on the placements. Somehow I like the stitching lines on the back side of the binding look. It looks like a drawing line on the binding. Now, I need to think of a way to wrap these placemats together. Do you know that I am always nervous sending my handmade gifts to people? I'll let you know what Amy thinks when I meet her in a few weeks. 


xxC

Random: Dumplings

The humidity is back to normal. On the 4th the humidity  reached the highest point of the week, but now we have some really nice breeze came in from windows.  Yesterday morning, I woke up early in the morning and start making these dumplings. It is simple and easy to make. I plan enlarge the pattern and make larger version.

 You might have remember my{ swoon quilt} that I made in April. I used the leftover scraps made a {patchwork handbag} and still have two pieces of patchwork left. I though would make another tote for daily use, but simply mistakes happened. The measurement was 2 inches off and I don't have much leftover fabric for making up plan. 

I saw these cute dumplings in Flickr few weeks ago and download the pattern { you can click and download your own}. These dumplings are fast to make the only trick is baste zipper by hand then sew that  would make the zipper stay in shape!

This is the {harder version} which is resulted very small, but I think it is fairly easy to make if you are a sewer who sew most of the time.

This is the {easy version}, which is the same to the other one, but only bigger.  I plan to enlarge this version to make a larger ones. I think these dumplings are great for storing small sewing project such as hexie patchwork or storing sewing needles, thread spools, and small scissors.

With two leftover patchwork pieces. I was able to make 4 dumplings. Yes, as I mentioned earlier. I am  sad that I had to wasted some of patchwork pieces in order to get the pieces cut. I saved some large pieces and I hope I will transfer them into something else. It is a great feeling that I have used up all my swoon quilt fabric scraps for different projects.

This morning, I set out two jars for sun tea. One is raspberry tea { of course} and the other one is rose tea. It is raining this morning and the weather is cooler. We are back in long sleeves and windows are half way down.

xxC

Random: mistakes

{oh no.. it's a mistake!}

{ i'm fixing}

It is disappointing that I made mistakes on this tote that I had in mind.  I did the machine quilting on this piece and though I'd make it a new tote for daily use. I ripped the handle threads off and feeling sad that I wasted much fabric. I will take a few days off since it is still hot here. It seems like the weather is going down to the 80's this Friday and will get a little comfortable here. I do feel a bit green when I see/ hear our neighbors have their air conditioning on. Our fans have been running most of the time and it is getting better with fresh air in now! The heat is slowing going away, hopefully will be normal temperature again.

We got half quarter gallon jars today { 6 of them}. Two are in the fridge with sweet raspberry tea and S is asking for some green tea. Have you try iced green tea?? mmm.. It is very delicate! The best way to make iced green tea is brew the green tea  first added ice while the tea is still hot then added few tablespoons of corn syrup { One is good for me, but some people like their tea sweet}.  I worked in the tea house when I was a teen back in Taiwan and learn lots tips for making good iced tea.  I shall share more later with you. 

Wish you a great 4th 

xxC

Random: Accomplishments

Thank you for the kind comments on the { Tutorial:  English paper piecing hexagon patchwork}. Please do let me know if I can be more helpful!  I love taking pictures when I work. It is a way of documenting my work in process steps and also reminded myself how long does it take for me to accomplish one project.  The strawberry jam is a success! Although, it is not very jam alike, more like sauce. We had our first half jar opened and spread on the toasted toast. Yumm... We might try to add some on ice cream.

I finished the hexagon patchwork hand-quilting and would like to start the second tutorial soon. It has been really humid and hot here for last two days. Since we don't have an AC, so I went and got a second fan. The hot air is running within our place, so it is hard to sit and sew.b Hope the air cools down soon, so I can be more productive! As I was in the hardware store, I saw some half gallon jar in the store and though they are going to be perfect for making more sun tea. Awhile ago, I broke our sun tea glasses { two at the once. One jar slipped off my wet hand and my other hand was trying to catch then the other one just came after...}  and haven't found one.  We love drinking cool sun tea and I think these half gallon jars are going to be perfect for making sun tea.  Do you like sun tea?? My favorite is raspberry tea and added two pieces of fresh mint and some frozen fresh raspberry.....


I made some new patchwork pieces since the scraps bowl was full again!! I got a good stash going on and will make them into either placemats or a table quilt. I am waiting the air cool off, so I can sew again. Meanwhile, we spent most of day time in school studio and getting more artwork done, drinking sun tea and enjoy long summer listed movie, and some summer reading.  Stay cool if your place is running a heat wave this week.. Drink lots water and stay inside..

xxC

Tutorial: English Paper Piecing for Hexagon Patchwork

Finally, I have a full post for you. I was hoping to get this post up in a day, but it has taken a few extra days to put this post together. It has lots photos and hope you will find it useful! I bough the 1500 pieces of 3/4" hexagon paper piecing when I was trying to make the grandmother quilt three years ago. The package has been saved for a long time and I have a small project in mind and these hexagons are great of it. I'd like to show you how I  baste and piece the fabric and paper piecing together. 

I am a visual person! Usually I like to map out things around when I sew. I could have done a simple math, but I though put the hex pieces out and measure them together by an actual ruler would be more clear.. Here are total of 60 pieces of 3/4" hexies.When they are all joined together will give a roughly 9"x10". I ordered my paper piecing from here.

 Select your fabric prints. With 3/4" size hexagon. I cut my fabrics into 2"x2" squares.

Lay your paper piecing on top of the fabric piece.

Trim the four corners. It will give clean look in the back when you fold them. Often time I might put three pieces together and carefully trim four corners together. I always put a piece of paper on top, so I can get nice cuts around the paper.

Fold the top of the fabric side down { Some tutorials show to used paper clips or sewing pins to held the paper and fabric in place, but I go without both of tools}. You might find using paper clips and sewing pins helpful, so I encourage you try out and see what fits you the best!

Let your needle go through paper and fabric together.  {I used embroidery needles for the basting. I found the thinner needles work better, but you may just use what's available for you}.

Then you will  turn your fabric and paper work clockwise for the second fold. The folding corner { where my fingers were} will overlap the first fold fabric and the second fold fabric.

Use the needle from the back then go through the fabric and paper. This time your needle will go through the overlap fabric{ Hope this explain clear, but let me know it is confused}.

 Fold your third side of fabric then go through with your needle.  There will be total of six folds until you finish.

At the last fold. I like to give it a small pull.

 Tied a little knot and you are done!




 Repeat the same method for your other hex pieces.

 After finished all the pieces. Play with them...  ..

 The back of each fabric and paper piece..

 Pick two pieces of the hex then put them right side together. Make sure corner point to corner point.

Use your needle go through the corner points. I like to double my thread , but you might just use a single tread for this part.

After the needle went through the first time. I always go through the same corner point the second time to reinforce the join corner points.

 Take your needle and slowly go around the side. It is like stitch in loops.

 When you finish the side. It would look like this. Many small stitches.

 At the end, tied a small knot to finish your stitch.

 Here is the small knot.

 I always take my needle and go under the folding fabric to hide the knot that I just made.

 It gives a clean and reinforcement.

 You will repeat the same join method for how many pieces you need.

The back for the  hexagon would look like this { Later on, the paper will be take off}.

 Should we keep going??

 I always match the hexagons before I start my stitches. So I would have ideas about which side would match to each other.

 Take the stitched piece then put it down to match the other piece and put them right side together.

 Use needle then stitch both hexagon corners together. Again, I doubled loop the corner, so it is reinforced.

 You would do the loops again on the side.

 Once you get to the second corner point. Be extra careful to give another double stitches.

 Then you'll need to turn your paper to match the second side of hex together { right side together}.

 I found single thread works better on this part. Since there are many loops you have already make. Single thread would be easier. When I did the single thread, the loops were even closer to each other, so it gives same strenght as double thread.

 Again, double loop in the corner points.

 You would continune the same method till you finish the hexagons.

As the piece gets bigger, you will find it is a little hard to work. In the past, I would start taking the paper off, but this time I save them. I folded the paper around, so it wasn't really an issue.

 Once you have all the hexagons pieces. the back would look like this.

Now! Time to take papers out.. I like to use my seam ripper for this part. Be extra careful! You have just hand stitched all the pieces together. I'd say, it is delicate, but strong as well! You will find you need some time to take these paper and basted thread out.... take you time!

 Once you have all the paper out and thread clean. You will see the sides around is off the folding look.

Give a gentle iron press. Refold the sides before you press! Make them look good, since you have work so hard to get this far!!  Now you have a piece of hexagon patchwork to make into any project that you have in mind! 

It took a a little longer time to put this tutorial together. I enjoy photography and give my best description here for you! If there's any step that's not clear to you.. please let me know!! Try some English paper piecing! You'll love it and it is a great portable project that you can take during your trips and doesn't take up your space. Have fun and enjoy!

xxC