Townsquare Pillow Sewing Pattern

Hello! Welcome to my newest PDF sewing pattern, {Townsquare Pillow Sewing Pattern}. This pattern is done before the summer arrived, but with all the traveling that I planned to do with papa it had to get postpone with photo shooting and editing as well. I also want to be able to write about this pattern's idea and inspirations before it releases to the world.

So, welcome to {Townsuare Pillow Sewing pattern} and welcome to quarter inch mark townsquare!  The pattern inspirations came to me during last Christmas time as I had pleasure walking around streets and avenues in the new to me neighborhood that I had just moved in.  I discovered how each house, street is alike a little townsquare with its little charm and later on during my traveling time on the bus, on/off different subway stops and streets. Soon, I knew I want design a pattern that brings comfort and remembrance of the townsquare that I have visited and you might have visited or live in one.

I've lived in many little towns, somewhat big cities, and now resident in the big apple city.  I've always noticed each town and city has its own characters. I've slowly discovered these characters are what bringing people together; similar backgrounds, close aged groups, newly started families and some are in close culture background. Because of these characteristics they bring people together and these connections are forming into a little townsquare, where they could support each other, find comfort to resident in the neighborhood, and start growing their roots down.

My time in the city might be short, but I love watch and walk around different streets and districts. Nothing better than just seeing places in my own eyes and telling stories that I encounter dialy. There are so many little townquares around here. In the city, I found most of the townsquares are formed by the different ethnicity groups. Around the Woodside, Queens, you can find large group of Hispanic families, grocery stores, restaurants. I just love walking in that place, it brings me to a different space and the common language to say is not English is a good smile! and lots gracias and hola! 

Right around the end of Northern Boulevard, Queens. There is a huge Korean townsquare, which I just enjoyed so much for the spicy food ingredients and the billboard writings that I'll never know what do they mean. They've always spoken Korean to me whenever I check out my grocery shopping and it is always kamsa-hamnida.

In Williamsburg, Brooklyn is where the young and little chic boutiques and trendy cafes are surrounded. If I am another 10 years younger, I'd be living in that little townsquare where I might be hanging out with all the dreamers who move to city with big dreams and goals to fulfill!  

I really love the characters of each townsquare, no matter where I have lived or been.  I so enjoy seeing the beauty of the core value of the place, not the fancy kind, but the simple and down to earth kind of places.  I so believe the charm of townsquare has that special attractive characters to you and I in a way. I wanted to bring all these ideas and inspirations into one comfort project and share with you all.

and Townsquare Pillow is just the perfect project to design and transform these little factors, charms and stories I shared into one; comfort and unique. Unlike other pattern, this pattern is alike writing a quilt pattern, which is fun and so much diagrams that I drew on Illustrator. I purposely had design how the back seamallows foldingfrom each other to create the patchwork front look. It took a good time to decided on pop up the square or let the square sits inside.

I sincerely hope when you purchase patterns from me, it is clear and comes with good/clear photos to support your sewing journey as some of us are visual learners and other might not. It is important to me to write a good instructions and provided good illustrations as well.

About the Townsquare Pillow Cover- 

I used 40 plus prints for making one Townsquare Pillow cover ( used 60 plus print for scrappy patchwork style). The idea is working with the colors and create homey cohesive balance using varies prints. 

Did you know each little square window could be play in with fabric fussy cuts as well. Can you picture a fussy chef in the townsquare block cooking? a Fussy cut little sleepy girl within the window? or little oven that is working on? so on.  It is your townsquare, so be creative and be happy! There are endless warm and charm that you can bring to your little square. 

For the quilting: 

Feel free of creating your own quilting pattern, I used really simple lines that 0.25" apart from each other and used walking food to create the good effect. The earthy tone townsquare pillow is purely hand quilted! I know that trying both is important, so I could share the difference. 

** With the machine quilting, you'll find your quilting time is shorter and the line effect is just simple and create much modern clean look to the patchwork top. I simple love that straight-line looks and modern, clean cut finish. 

** With the hand quilting, the quilting time is add on, but really it is labor of love! I love hand quilting small stitches on any patchwork project if possible. I love the additional hand touch to the work. It gives extra finish of the work and the charm of vintage finish. 

About the Pattern: 

- Townsquare Pillow Sewing Pattern is a digital downloadable PDF file. It comes with 19 pages PDF file ( included cutting instruction, sewing instruction and colored photos to walk you through each step).  It also comes with detailed illustrated diagrams to aid for sewing steps.

- Townsquare Pillow is an advanced beginner sewing pattern. Sewers have experience in cutting fabrics, knowing operations sewing machine, experience with instal zippers. This is also a great hand stitching project.

-Don't fear the zipper instal, the pattern comes with step by step of how to make the zippered style closure.

-Townsquare Pillow comes with two finished pillow cover 18"x18" and 16"x16".

- Best of all! This pattern is again a perfect pattern to play within your scrap bin and I found that really turn townsquare pillow out perfectly as you have already created a little fabric townsquare within you stash.

Now, you can find Townsquare Pillow PDF sewing pattern through my
{Etsy} and {Crafty} pattern shops now.

-You'll need Adobe Reader to open the PDF file and free download at adobe read.come.

------ Materials need for making----

- assorted 3"x3" fabrics scraps
- 1 yard of unbleached muslin or fabric for patchwork backing
- at least 1 yard of fabric for pillow backing
- 16" or 18" long nylon zipper
- 16"x16 or 18"x18" pillow insert
- 25"x25" cotton batting

I am running my very first Small Business Sale,  the new Townsquare Pillow Sewing Pattern and other PDF sewing patterns are 20% off in both {Etsy} and {Crafty} shops. The discount has been taken, so no coupon code needed! Sales ends Monday (11/27) 9p.m. Eastern time.

Thank you again for coming to read about the new pattern and continuing support my sewing journey. I hope you enjoy the new pattern as much as we do here!












SaveSave

above and under

Hello! Hello! I hope you are well! I have been under the weather a few weeks now. It started an itchy feeling from the throat then the next day my throat was dry and hurt and then the next thing I know is I got virus attack! I am still talking funny and coughing from minutes to minutes, yuck! Finally today I am feeling staying above myself since then. 

I have made a quick grocery trip run tonight to our corner grocery store for tomorrow and it is going to be pretty simple since I really can't taste anything now.  Unlike a big bird from the past year , I only got turkey legs and wings, so it would not be hours of waiting and cooking and saving me a little time for sewing, which I have miss dearly.  Meanwhile, we'll have all the easy dishes tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll  make all the dishes by 2pm then find a time rest a little.  and I have finally made our pumpkin cake tonight and it is cooling on the countertop now. Tomorrow morning, the first thing is get the icing ready and you know it is the cream cheese kind (yum). 

I did finished another Honey cowl and guess what it is error free! After careful counting and stitching This cowl turns out pretty lovely! Remember this is the celery green? I just love the soft green.Then bigger cowl was casted on a few weeks ago. It has taken me a little longer time for each round as it comes with 220 stitches per a round. It is a slow in progress cowl for sure and my little goal is finish it before Christmas.  It is not as easy to take with as I used two colors and it is kinda too big to fit in my small backpack. I didn't want people stare at me on the bus (how funny), so it is for sure a home project. 

Oh, the new pattern is all done with photo editing, but I haven't have the time and energy to sit down and write. I want to write from my heart about this pattern and tomorrow would the day that I will be working on the writing. I really love how the photos and pattern turns out and after showing to Fifi she said it is a good one! I hope you'll love you as much as we do! 

The pattern will release this Saturday morning, so maybe you can come early and bring your coffee or tea with. It will be a long post, I knew!  I plan on running a small business Saturday sale along with the new pattern and other patterns, if you are looking for something to make for the gifting. Come take a look! 

I'll be spending good amount of time writing tomorrow and hope to get all the sewing bits that I have planned start! You know, I am a slow writer, I type a bunch words then click delete button a lot kind.  

Sometimes, it probably didn't make any sense to you because I probably was thinking something else. 

Wish you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Family time and sewing/knitting time as well! 

more soon! 

p.sI'll be running between workroom and the kitchen, but not alike a mad lady, probably a mad cook (ha)! 

Weekending

It has been a productive week! I can't tell you how many to-dos have been crossed off from the list and it felt so so good! I gave a big pat on my own shoulder and started another cowl (yay)! The new green yarn is celery green, it is just so pretty with slightly yellow blended in between. The new yarn is so much nice to knit with and I should have the new cowl cast off the end of the week!

As the year moving along, I have found myself knowing my ways to shops, places and walking into different stores for ingredients that are specialized. As I get older, I realized that I shopped the way my mama shops. As a child, my mama would go to a particular shop or stand for certain ingredient. She always bought chicken from an older couple as I remember then pork from another middle aged man. She got her veggies from an old lady who grew her own veggies, but mama wouldn't get all veggies from that older lady. She would walk maybe another two streets down and found her other veggies.  

After living in the city, I have slowly discovered places for certain ingredients. I like marinated pork ribs from a small grocery store that is 3 ave walking distance from the bus stop. I can't really tell you how good these pork ribs are, but they are REALLY good! I would get a pound of the ribs and also the fish paste for the soup. I would walk few more blocks up to get the fruits. I've really enjoy shopping fruits on the sidewalk. You might think that I am silly, but I always walk up and down and check on the prices before I stop by the stand. The prices can be really tricky from 1.99 a pound to 2.99 a pound for the same thing.  I guess I just love the number games that the store plays and I am always happy to think that I got the best deal and saved a dollar or two by walking few blocks.  Then you'll probably think me carry hundred of bags and standing on the bus!  oh!  Don't worry!  I always get a seat on the way home because I always walk extra blocks to the first bus stop, so I could get a seat and yes, my small coffee, too!   I could have go on this bus commute stories with you, but you probably will get really annoy by that! But you won't get bored with all the stories, I tell you!

The birthday quilt is done (three cheers)! I used a walking foot for quilting this time and loving it so much! I just love the simplicity of the lines that created the diamond graphics on the back of the quilt.  The backing fabric and you all know that took three attempts to get here! I just love the snowy print and that just help the quiet down the quilt a little!  I don't remember when I started to collect AMH fabrics, but I loved the saturate and versatile colors and bold designs. It has some romanticism in them from color theory! This year, the timing seem so right that I am so ready to make a really bold and saturate quilt for myself and best of all that I could use fabrics that I have in hand and just acquired the backing which was on big sale!

For the quilting label, I had planned on paper-piecing number  3 and 9 (did I really get that old?)  in two of the triangle blocks and incorporated into the quilt top. I knew that I want to leave and keep the backing complete simple, so it can be a reversible quilt. It turned out SO nice! I can't wait to wash the quilt and let it get all wrinkly for winter movie nights!

and my very FIRST shawl is off needle this week and I used wet blocking method. Oh, after the blocking it turns out in a nice size and just perfect wrapping myself twice!  I used 3 DK weight yarn cakes and just play with the colors! Oh, and it is just perfect with my navy wider pants and gray sweaters  ( that's most of my clothes colors anyway). It was really a goal accomplishment for this year as I had "wish" and "hope" to learn to knit then made a shawl!  I really can't wait to cast on the next shawl, but I want to be sure I have the right yarn before I start.  

I've been diving in the kitchen this weekend! I made two chicken pot pies and two lasagnas. These dishes freeze so well and I can simple pop them in the oven and have a quick meal if the time runs short. I had sampling the chicken pot pie for lunch today, um.. so good! I think I could have add more milk and chick broth to make the soup/base a little more running, but maybe the pie itself will turn out alright! As the Fall still remains, dutch baby is being aquired for the weekend. It is such a lovely pancake to make and I always cut extra fresh fruit to go with it. You might want to give this pancake a try! It is an amazing treat for us!

It is chestnut season and have you try any? I found  Korean chestnuts last week on my way home and was so tickle to see these gigantic chestnuts! I have washed and placed them in a baking sheet then set in the oven for 350 degree; bake a good 30 minutes then turn the heat down to 250 degree for another 50 minutes. It is so delicious! It serves well in warm and cold!

Other than the birthday quilt and the shawl, I have made small sewing project in between. I have been pulling fabrics out for the projects and trying to find "that" fabric". I have no idea where is "that"fabric I put away. I just remember it is a floral print and can't really remember the name of the print. It always happen to me and I bet it will "show up" soon! Just don't look for it! 

With the perfect weather, I was able to take photos for the next coming soon sewing pattern! There will be some editing and getting the pattern ready and a proper blog post for it and is coming very soon along with another project I have been working.  I shall talk and share more soon!!  stay turn!




SaveSave

Weekending

Not like any rainy Sunday! This Rainy Sunday is just what I have been looking for! I'll be diving into quilting the birthday quit after here. The coffee will get rebrew for another, maybe 2 cups and warm up the strawberry cake in the oven then skip lunch since it is going to be a serious quilting day here!

I have knitted few more rows to the shawl and crossed fingers it will be cast off in another week or so! The second cake of the yarn is about to  finish and the yellow cake is getting thin as well. I can't decided when to stop the shawl as I "hope" it will be able to wrap twice of me ( that would need maybe another 2 cakes). But truly I will cast off even it won't be wrapping me twice.  

With 10 yards of extra fabrics that I received from the wrong shipment. I was able to make 10 pillowcases and have mailed them to two centers through one million pillowcases project website. It made me feel really good that these fabrics have been put in good use rather than sitting in the box. It would be something maybe you can help to make difference as well!

The week has been busy for me as I have been running around like a mad lady; on the bus then off the bus! The commuting time is longer than I like especially when the road is under construction and everyone, I mean everyone wanted to get on the same direction. This week, I had to run after the bus a few times then catch my breath then quickly swipe metro card and find a small spot to stand before all that happened the bus was already in motion. I was unbalanced and quickly find a pole that was closes to me, thank goodness I got one!  I always try to find a seating in the back of the bus and bring knitting project out and start adding stitches before I get off the bus.

I have been building some small houses this week. It is a project that I have in mind for so long and finally taking the time to work on.  These little houses turn out really darling and just perfect cups and mugs.  Lately I am so interested in small projects and getting them finish as I start! This coming week, I hope I'll be getting the floral appliqué finish and frame!

Oh, time for quilting! 

more later 

Weekending!

It seems most of the Saturdays, I wake up like everyday of the week; 6a.m.  I had used to sleep in, so  the day would started few hours later. I don't remember since when, that every Saturday, I would get up early and go have a very Cantonese style breakfast. It is a little car ride about 20 minutes to Flushing.  I love the car ride in the early morning because the city still asleep in some sense, but buses are running, subway is coming in the station and going out. Streets are already filled with people who might needed to be early for work or get themselves out just like me?

The Cantonese style restaurant is already busy! The window display have hung numbers of pork, roasted duck, and chicken. The steam from the hot stove top that you can see from the window is coming up and leaves the window vaguely to be seen, but the cooks are so busy, chopping the meat, getting the bowls of soup ready and adding more water to let the soup pot going for the rest of the day!

My favorite Cantonese style breakfast is a bowl of congee, a fried bread stick, and shrimp rice roll. Each time, I'd ordered the same dishes! While waiting the breakfast to come, they always send a pot of hot tea to start. I always like to watch people in the shop. The busy people that come in for a quick bite, carry out or people who take their time to enjoy a decent breakfast from a busy week, to slow them down a little. I like the way how early morning is less rush and the second pot of tea is just perfect to end the "course" meal! Sure, I just love that!  Some of the time, sharing table is very common here! A table of 10 might have 5 group of guesses, it wasn't a familiarly dinning experience for me, but then I found I really enjoy this " community table" that I had shared with strangers. Maybe they have had some thoughts just like me?

After the breakfast, I always walk  2 avenues down to a Cantonese style bakery where they sells so many delicious breakfast bread. That's where I pick up S' breakfast and egg custards for afternoon tea time. Um...   That is my Saturday routines!

Oh! I don't just coming here to share my Saturday routines with you! Finally I have the workroom organized! It is a better space to work around and better organizing of stash! I have found a bucket full of County Fair fabrics that have been store away! These fabrics are 10 years old now (wow). So finally, I made a 17"x17" tote for my weekly commute! It is just a perfect size for the bus rides. Then I used the remanning scraps made a 12"x12" zippered pouch for all the new knitting tools that I have in current.   It always feels great have new bags carry around! I've been using the new tote in the entire week and loving the roomy space of it, best of that my yarn project bags can be fit in together.

The second honey cowl casted off just yesterday! I haven't had time to do much knitting as my wrist started bothering me again. I had to let it rest for a few days, then yesterday I was able to work on it! The moss green is so pretty! I never though I like much of the greens, but then I discovered there are some pretty greens out there if I carefully search for it! Especially green yarns knit up beautifully!

So, the birthday quilt! You will not believed the second delivery was failed again, They had sent the same fabric that they sent on the first one. I actually had a good laugh that day before calling the customer service. I though the name of the print they sent me must be so closed to the one I ordered! So, here another 5 yards of fabrics (aaahh)!  That in total of 10 yards of fabrics! I have been thinking hard what to do with them and have decided to make them into pillow cases and donate them to hospitals. I really have felt not deserve getting all these "extras". So turning them into something useful might be fun! I'd be sewing all the pillow cases later this afternoon with windows open and the lovely Fall weather accompanied me (best)!

The third delivery (woo-hoo), yes! yes! It was the correct fabric! I did all the piecing backing and basting that same day! It is so nice that a new quilt for me! It is funny how I say because I haven't made a quilt for myself for awhile! I do love the opportunity for making myself something these days!  It feels like getting gifts daily from my table!

On the sewing tables these days are full with fabric pulls for custom orders, patchwork pieces to hand quilt,  planner to fill with other activities, time to sit down and plan the upcoming weeks and more yarns need to be order as I have officially knit up most of my yarn from the first order! It feels great and productive! I've already started my holiday making this year early! Finally first time that I feel I am prepared, and you?

Before the real cold weather arrives, I hope this is a long Fall season because it is just beautiful and lay back for some reason!

Meanwhile, I am destashing many fabrics via the @quarterinchmark_detash account in Instagram. I am letting go lots fabrics that I don't think I'll pick up in using and hope to light up space a little. If you are interested, come have a look!

Thank you for all the best birthday wishes! So smitten by all the message from cross over the world, friends and families! (hugs)

more later!

Weekend celebration!

What a week! So much goodness throughout the week and so much to capture! I am just freshly entering the second day of last year in the 30's. All I really wanted was a day hanging out with my little family somewhere that's fun and time together. 

We got off the train 7 then waited for F train to come, so we can get on the Tramway in Roosevelt Island. It is such a beautiful part of the city! I just love seeing the city from a high and above distance and slowly approach to the city and watching all these buildings. All the sudden everything is bigger and taller! If it wasn't a gloomy day, the sun would shine over the buildings and that brings out all the characteristic of each. 

For the first time, we stopped a fancy candy store and I had pick up a milk chocolate pop as the first gift then two streets down I went got my second gift,  a bag of roasted almond nuts. The gentleman said two for five, but I said, oh boy! I really need one today, but thanks!  Quickly I had to have some right away then tucked away the half bag in my backpack (save them for later).  

The city was busy as always! The central park is just gorgeous around this time of the year! Endless tourists, visitors, city people and us! For the first time, I stopped by these poster vendors off the street. I really didn't think I want anything, but then all these small reprinted posters caught my eyes. I gave it a careful look, then I thought I'd better pick up third gift. The vendor told me, today is 4 for five! Oh! That is fantastic! I was so lucky found a little quilt and pillow store poster! Then the little ice cream truck was just behind the quilt poster. I have to have that, too! 

This year, I didn't really want to buy or make a full cake, after the walk, we stopped by the Plaza, just around the corner of Central Park. I ordered two slices of cake! It was delicious and really tasty! All I want just slices of cake then by the end of the day when we got home, I totally forgot about the candles (whoops!) 

As we walked down the fifth avenue, we ran into five gorgeous weddings and watched the bride walked down the aisle in the church where I like to stopped by. As I walked out the church, there was another bride on the street and another one cross the street by the public library. It must be a special Fall day for these Fall weddings! 

Our last stop is Muji store, have you been? I just love that store! I pick out my fourth gift, a black fine pen. I love how the pen writes. I would like to bring the whole place home, but I think that would be too greedy and I probably don't really need all that much.  

Then we had to walked around the Bryan Park; another my favorite spot in the city. There are many constructions up now to get ready for the upcoming holidays. Oh, I love how all the lights up during the holiday season.  That was a lot of walk for me and I had wrong shoes on; glad  the train come quicker than usual, best of that were some seating to rest the feet (oh boy!) 

My dear friends have sent me goodness over the week. New yarns, fabrics, new knitting toys, cards, and sweet treats! I am quiet spoiled by these and smitten by all the texts and calls yesterday! So much that I wanted to remember and write down before all the moment memories fade away. 

Oh boy, 39! I am officially towards the end of my 30's! I didn't really think of this year would come so soon! That means a lot of reflections and journey have taken on! I didn't really like being in my 30's. The first few years in the 30's was vulnerable, but I think I managed survived!  Then the mid 30's was the most challenging time ( I say terrible)! I had letting the depression taken away myself. That was the time, I push away good friendships and hid myself in a hole, so no one can see me. I've tried to get better, but it was hard and I had no idea how to be positive again! Life suddenly went into a dark hole and that had affected the personality and the way how to associate and connect with people and I was very lonely!  It did take a good 3 years to gain that confidence back and endless efforts to walk up to people again! Be open and be excited about life ventures again! 

There are handful of people out here and there have encouraged and supported this long dark emotional journey! It wasn't all that easy, but it is slowly turning me back to a better soul again! and boy! I didn't even like myself, so that was most terrible thing ever! 

Now, 39! I might like it a bit more than last 8 years! I seemed to find that rhythm in life and learning more about myself! I see why I was sad and discouraged from the lessons that I ran into and challenges life gave me. It is not easy, but it does only take a step a day! And it is alright to tear up some and that doesn't mean weak! 

It would be my goal to live honestly daily now! Honest the day with good and bad, honest the friendships from beginning to the end, honest the time being a mama, honest of being who I am!

It would be the one to keep on going now! 

And now, it would be hard to say life is perfect because it is not! I am looking into life in a way that how could I give in before others take their parts. I'd be try harder and not easy to give up! That will help me go on and keep things up and running! I learned that if I keep trying and daring on not fear to fail, then things will eventually fall into their place.   

Oh, so much to say when being older! 

p.s. My first sock failed as I tried to pick up the side stitches! I'll give it a try again! It was a bit crazy working with 5 needles at the time and who knows that would be such a fun project. 

p.s.. The basket wave cowl is off needles! I love how all the waves come together! I just am excited about this cowl; so soft and the color is just lovely! This is ready to post, but have to wait till December! 

p.s... Another honey cowl is on needles! It went quicker this time because I've remember the pattern by now! I'll be knitting up another honey cowl after this one, so good excuse for some new yarn ordering! 

p.s.... The fifth gift was two new indoor plants, so I can run a green house here (yup!) Once I have a fully set up green house, you are so welcome to come to sit and have tea ( smile)! 

p.s..... Thank you for checking out all the patterns this week! I truly hope you love these patterns! I've enjoy writing them this year and will keep them coming! 

more later...