Patchwork Style: { 241 Tote}

{side a}

 {side b}

Last night, I stayed up late {again} and traced the {241 tote Pattern} on the patchwork pieces that I have been slowly patching. Boy, I made more/ bigger than I needed! Originally, I planned to make make entire {241 tote} with patchwork pieces, but I changed my mind as I cut down the pattern and matching pieces together. The patchwork pieces didn't stand out as I hope. I wanted something bold and almost retro/ modern.

As I cut off the pattern pieces. I realized I wasted some of good patchwork pieces then I rejoined the small pieces and made them into small version of {dumplings}. I am up for 10 of dumplings now and more will be cut from the patchwork pieces later.  I think I've gone far this time! However, I do love all the pieces that I put together and would be so sad to set them in the trash bowl and disposed them later on.

What I have done differently from the {241 tote pattern}. I used {Quilt as you go method} quilted on 100% warm and natural batting for the exterior . For my interior I use 100% cotton and fused to mid-weight interfacing. I have two inner pockets front and back. I used these pockets for my phone and pens. I didn't add the magnetic snap on this tote. For the strap part, I used 1.5" wide cotton webbing. I measure the webbing on myself before sewn onto the tote body.

Lots scraps for the patchwork as always! I really enjoy it!  { 241 tote pattern} is super easy to follow and great descriptions on each step and best of all comes lots photos to show step by step. It is always fun to learn new tips from the designers. I love my { 241 tote}.

{photos taken by S}

 { a great shoot! }

{I didn't make the skirt!} Mom bought it for me last year when I was home visiting! The top sweatshirt is also from her. I

Thank you for so kind comments on { Miss Pumpkin}. They means so much to me and feels really encouraging!  I hope you have fun making one yourself! The strawberry Biscuit is S' special and you can check it out on this {weekending}.

xxC

Paper Piecing Pattern: Miss Pumpkin

{ Deep breath}... I have been thinking and wanting to learn something new. Finally I taken my time to sit down and visited with my colleague who does great computer work. I explained my ideas and she helped me to start out this { Miss Pumpkin} Paper Piecing Pattern. We sat for many hours in the past week and my notebook is full of step 1, step 2, step 3.... how to change and how to add. It has been a great learning experience and surely I will continually learn to create more patterns and allow myself to explore more ideas. 

Remember the {Thursday's Colors}? These are the colors that I have been seeing this Fall season thus far. I decided to used them for {Miss Pumpkin}.  It has been interesting to pull out fabric and thinking how colors corresponded to each other.

I used foundation paper piecing method. It has been a more successful method for me, but it does cost more fabric usage. I tried to reuse any large scraps fabrics that been cut and save them in a bowl that next to the machine.

Working step by step is important! I press as I go! It is a little different compared making quilts, bags, and pouches! My iron has been on all the time and I am thinking maybe I could find a smaller iron by my table instead.

I keep all the paper pieces till I sewn all the joins together. I found this is working for me. Maybe you have different approach. {Miss Pumpkin} block finished size is 5"x6". It would be a great size for coasters or little wall hanging!  It also would be great for making small pouches.  If you are still new for Paper pieing, please make sure to check out great tutorials at Kerry's aka {veryberrykerry}. Paper piecing is time consuming, but it gives great look and it is worth every minute! Enjoy this little pattern!

Free Download Pattern for { Miss Pumpkin}

If you make any please join {made with 1/4"} Flick group!

This pattern is for Personal use only, not commercial use!

xxC

Random: Weekending

 {super sale at Joann's }

The weather dramatically changed from Winter back to Fall. It is sunny, but cold! I open up a few windows this morning just to let the nice air come inside! I particular like this time of the year from the season of colors to the weather and to the time that we spent in the kitchen with great friends making food together. The preparation of getting ready for the winter is what I love; cozy and busy!

Little S is not feeling herself today. She decided to return back to her bed after had a little breakfast this morning.  It is unusual without her chatty voice... I do miss that!  Weekending for us is more than spending time together, but it is also the time for me to catch up the house works.  It is a great feeling after the organizing our home. However, the corner of the sewing room isn't to the point of { neat and clean}. Maybe next weekending... 

The next coming week is very important to me! I will be heading down to Fargo and getting my finger printed by the FBI { Doesn't this sound so serious?}!  It will be another step closer to the citizenship process. I am a little overwhelmed with the super fast process that has been moved.  My friends are covering my teaching class and taking S to school for me.  Meanwhile, I needed to prepared the class material, getting done with the sewing projects, and complete the project that I have wanting to share with you! All is edited and changed and now I just need to test it again!

I might have another {Weekending} later today, if not tomorrow!   How's your {weekending}?

xxC

Random: Thursday's colors

These are the colors I seen today here! The outside is still beautiful with varies oranges, yellows, browns, reds and greens. I love driving through the university avenue and watching both side of trees. I wished there's a cafe where I can park my car somewhere and enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe read a quilting book. The mornings and the afternoons' trees are in different tins, tons, and shades. Do you have a place that you just love during the season of Fall?  I have been working on a little project here! I will for sure to share with you soon! A few checking and few editing are needed!  

Thank you for all your sweet comments on the { log cabin quilt}. I think I am only working 1/4" apart for the center piece then 1" apart for the rest of the quilt. I might go back to make some changes later on, but now I am stick with the 1" quilting apart.    This morning was very surprised to see snow on the windows and ground. Even though there was a winter warning last night, but I really didn't expected the snow!  The wind must be blowing very strong last night. The windows are covered with  snow this morning.   S was so excited when she got home from school today. She had to built her first snow of the year!  Now, it is time to turn on the furnace and be barefoot!

xxC 

Random: Ahead, sew!

It is getting harder to photograph during the later afternoons/early evenings.  We are in the {winter warning} till tomorrow morning and expecting 6" or more snow!?  We might need our snow coat, boots, and all the winter gears tomorrow morning. The wind is blowing really strong as the windows are making the sounds and on the other side of the room that someone is sounded in asleep!  Part of the reason that I love Fall and winter is that S doesn't question going to bed early, since it gets dark around 7p.m. here.  I am slowly working on the {Log cabin} quilt. I quilt  half an hour during the nights. I feel a bigger loop is needed, but  think a trip to IKEA might be better! I used  two of IKEA'S {VIKA ARTUR} for my hand quilting frame in my school studio. I'd love to write more about this later.  The only concern is we have a very small place here, so might not able to have additional quilting frame tool at home.  Plus a super messy sewing space!  S and I decided to work together this weekending... Our goal is clean up our space!

No sure if you can see from this photo. I hand-quilted the center piece 1/4" apart.  The texture of hand-quilting is very soft! For the first time, I didn't used white quilting thread. I went for Gutermann quilting thread {CA02776}. It is almost a light blue gray thread.

I stood up late again and finished seven {dumplings} exterior pieces and ordered zippers today.....hope they will arrive soon! I plan on scale up the pattern and make larger version. My sister has been asking for a makeup pouch since last year I visited home. It is scary to check my over due promises list. 

Finally, Finally... I ordered Anna's {241 Tote pattern}. I read through the file after I download it! It is a great and easy following pattern.  Have you seen {Elnora's 241 tote}. It is super cute!! I can't wait to get mine made and carry it with me! I think my sister might like one, too. 

Stay up late at night isn't my strength anymore! I blame on the dark coffee that I have been drinking lately! I slept through the alarm this morning then jump up when I saw the light came in the room.  I have try to be a little healthier, but I think coffee at 3p.m. isn't ideal... I might needed to get some afternoon tea instead! When I used to live in New York,  I used to  have tea break at 3p.m. with a gentleman from England whom rented a studio space from my boss. That was the first time I try tea with cream and was a new experience for me!  I think the same of the tea was earl gray.




xxC 

Radom: Tips to share

It might sounded crazy! I was working really late last night.  If you check my Flickr you'll find out why. During the sleepless night,  I started the Dumpling making as my second project. { Here is the download pattern}. Thanks to my Flickr friends who have been sending me their scraps and allowing me to make the {scrap quilt} and these fun dumplings.  I am really starting Christmas making!! I shouldn't wait or it will never happen! After many { Quilt as you go} projects and dumplings. I have learned few tips that I though I'd share with you or maybe you have already done so.

Even though I used scrap fabrics and scrap batting for the dumpling making, but I still cut down my batting roughly 1/2" bigger then the pattern itself. So later on when I trace/ trim down the pattern I don't waste much edges sewing area. I found I ended up saving extra scraps from scraps making.

For the {Quilt as you go} method. I used to sew straight lines individually then at both ends there were so much threads wasted then when I trim them down I ended up having threads allover my clothes!  What I have done here is I started one point then I go on the straight line then when I am ready to  turn on to the next parallel line I made a short straight line. That help to avoid stopping sewing and sew continuously.

Here is a hand drawn diagram.  Pretend the dashing lines are the fabric piece and the straight line is  the quilting line.  I sew very close to the edge of the fabric piece.

Then when you lay your second fabric over. The second fabric piece will hide the turning lines and you'll still get the same clean straight lines.  Hope I explains clear.. let me know if I am not clear...

xxC 

Random: Scraps are in

The scrap quilt is coming slowly, but gradually ! I hung them on the pin board, so I can see them {together}.  It would be great to seem them come together as a piece, but now they are hanging there.  The collective mini quilt between me and S still not completed. She decided to let me take over the embroidery part. The mini quilt has been hanging on pin board since school started. I needed to revisit it once the craziness is slowing down.

These six log cabin blocks didn't make it to the quilt. Not even the backing and  I kept it aside. I set them with my kitchen sink quilt blocks together, but decided to pull four blocks out this morning.

After assembling these four blocks.... maybe a tote? a pillow case? a placemat? a small table topper?
Maybe a mini quilt for Kiki, the hippo.

xxC