Patchwork Expressions
I am a Mum and now work from home after working in retail for 20 years. I love colour, fabric, stitching, quilting, coffee and my Bernina! I design projects and sell the patterns to the public. I would love to hear from others with similar interests.
Wednesday 15 May 2013
A Special Fabric Collection called "LAURA"
Sunday 14 April 2013
Positivity is healthy
Wednesday 3 April 2013
Jeans Apron Tutorial
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirji_UZSvvGeK3fUkrnn5OTa3P_NDyB_xxPtI84UfjJun5R1X8Dkd5Jkaj4seXSGSl-behht1iBphyphenhyphen_5GHpmGUs6fxpZZlZzuTZhIRNvHkBuywSOS0pZWa65KXgeG9htEXlHgF-fhRn_Y/s1600/IMAG0985-1.jpg)
I am always losing my rotary cutter (and other sewing tools) under fabric, so I decided it was time to make an apron with pockets. This way I can keep my tools on me at all times. I wanted to keep it simple, so I figured the quickest easiest way would be to use some old jeans as they already have pockets. This is how I made my new apron.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXycXAjNICc-vWYNbx-vLhjTv4PoQFAXLpbb_vnorYt7a1UTle2hwUe1J43gMYrQ1IxT8wTxKaQzFrvdegu1E0aMK3Ap7xf_b600D0cro78ufoNJ04Cfm-3OeelNkT6Icub8xBkUI6afM/s1600/IMAG0962-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxyZYqFjj9v4le78_23Xp5vQpU0Un4Ibj5VwZ4LFlkeXq6pvhtHAw0ORg1mm5_-E18V1LbTxvhpSDYrsDxQvPDs9au6NHr9udgpfzRNr_GrgNuWjXcpSMe0UsnkY_bYYxKSqJ7VDB5R4/s1600/IMAG0965-1.jpg)
Next I cut off the front panel leaving 1/2inch from the seams on both the left and right, then
trimmed the bottom to straighten.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiybVSYF5lL3thGXQs6wU8gURgHe3GKFlqqUZvKgpokO2iPt0QqGuOkvTDVhGKNyLPkeFjQavIWMMgY2-RzyyDtph-inxy3TPKXTC07zPy5RAK-a1uy8Bd070hyj0wgeY7MGPgpFbzmKI/s1600/IMAG0966-1.jpg)
I laid the pieces out flat and lined up the pocket pieces under the front panel and in line with the sides, leaving a space in between. I then took another photo to show how to make the pocket panel.
As you can see, there is a space between the two pockets. I like pockets and I wanted to fill this space with another. Now I am going to show you my super proffesional pattern making skills (not really), so that you can make the centre pocket. Slide a piece of paper under the pieces and draw lines around the empty space. Use a ruler to add 1/2inch (seam allowance) to the left and right sides of the lines. Measure an inch down from the top and rule a line across the width. This is now the pattern for the centre pocket, so go ahead and cut out along the outer lines.
After ironing all three pocket pieces, I folded the top edge of the centre outer pocket down twice and top stitched it with two rows for strength. Then I placed this piece on top of the slightly longer piece, both with right sides up, and used a narrow seam to sew along three edges (not the top as this will be the opening).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtndDhEQz3DzFv4rXxAn4C_zqJlMOSKWlqTF2TQ2JeAyfi5hNKDH2aTtM0kouvbGI1F6g9PXJUCUCDc6-K1mx8jxNUPIsbwVzSfQfs0MjhB26dy3E-9_IfPFGxGqmrJFiq3y3EHxjf94/s1600/IMAG0975-1.jpg)
Next up I sewed all three pockets together using a 1/2inch seam, and ironed seams to one side. Top stitching to hold seams down finished that part off nicely.
At this stage I decide to cut the band off so I could add my own waistband using a different fabric. Then my second thought was to line the apron with the same fabric, so I decided to make it reversable.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaMj-VeoQkMAXMY69DcfqP37xzg9UxApZOdeDda5McUVcVEuqDFtyzzkJa2dwuwjOVJMTohyphenhyphenoL20f1n_TPwsQR5EbHgMnFQWCbMewF-m9CPWM5w9dH3a5EWH5lU8lgrW_S27iqHDEaeQ/s1600/IMAG0977-1.jpg)
I visited my fabric stash (down the hall, around the corner, further down the hall and into my sewing room), because I use the dining table for cutting, and picked out a beautiful piece by Westminster. Isn't it gorgeous? I used my sewn together denim piece as a pattern to cut a lining piece the same size and shape.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFLUW6nwvo6ZZvY74NGVqZYhBJnP8g3ptDsCyttiti572EgZfBqpVF0gTa5fX_YDixxc0xz1JQ_3IuvjT5Dz2MQ95mHN5qzPOkQpAwYo4VKDSmyf1QC3QJNorTU0unYcj4Qd4KCWyzdY/s1600/IMAG0978-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmEj_DRa50JLd5Zq3rYcLgCjCx6nECQu4IPiPW448vU7x4btURAx59SEdYM8FrOoea7mE68B07d-CzcFwzxWiV137TBDXY5bYWdlwoDvas6X_F8404ZVuWY_Ro_yB-J6WRXPWa8fAgZI/s1600/IMAG0981-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_WkEPfe0ylghZ6cJ-96JxoHYHMJ7iuCv-08MifUQlRbEEI0WolukYV1_SJ4OD7uQ6DW2qa7Uhs6kWjm_KERbotLJd1MjtdY_V0m9SAXUZde_iD9Re9rxJzFgvHhnfvLrbN7xvySs3C0/s1600/IMAG0979-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rKwhoxVCcn0ogKdg1llbG0QpzJZBRI4aKfJfl98nNfiQKZ-aIbQbY6O_g4BimG-7xdG5m7hMtMFfjY7xBwylPzLpJMALoCP0fsj4HJuDmqY77x260_T8Uf5jvdbVphDdFWSLHByyGCA/s1600/IMAG0980-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkfXTMy3w6Hs9zPyXI_GfSvpLvZyr7NKM8E5k69-MArYEZ8P5v2jThLarCupRjkgClEPt8VTyJphvZw8IzJIvJhGcRRIm21fvazyuG69ngM6Sryo_IJ1tfYHEXap3QRj5VfzQqDRc0-0/s400/20130116-075428.jpg)
Saturday 23 March 2013
Fat Quarter Giveaway
Have you visited Make2Sell Australia yet? Make2Sell is an Australian online marketplace for buying and selling handmade wares, fine art & creative works and up-cycled goods, all made in Australia.
Head over to the Make2Sell blog for your chance to win a fat quarter pack featuring fabrics from my Fancy Flight range. While you are there, why not have a look around the site and check out the creative products available to purchase.
Wednesday 13 February 2013
Projects to keep Organised
So whats new? I have been working on a few new projects (patterns will be available on my website soon).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgex48VVi1jcitNLvcjrE39Th4XDsRSmzDy3hUxqPjiDS1pi9oCFDW3KVWioDxUJuOAMgZcAnBgb-JbSLKMXItg4wzFTn9jhwe8hzNHBp3jGZFUT6LyTYOHIIlAmX-brqvaohhn0jj7X8A/s1600/scrap+sack.jpg)
SCRAP SACKS
I have been looking around for quite some time now hoping to find an economical but stylish way to store my fabric scraps. I have even scoured the discount stores where I have checked out boxes, tubs, bins and baskets, but nothing has taken my fancy. So I decided to make my own. The top picture is a basic square bin made from 7.5" squares and wadding. The other was made from many strips of scraps which I randomly pleated. Both Scrap sacks feature fabrics designed by me and were simple and quick to make! I plan to make many more and keep them near my cutting table so that I can seperate my fabric scraps into various sizes. This is a useful way to use up scraps as well as store scraps.
STITCHERY PROJECT FOLDER
I am not the most organised person, so I am quite pleased with myself for coming up with this idea! I usually have bits of fabric, scissors, threads, patterns and needles scattered throughout the house whenever I am working on a hand sewing project (actually on any project). I have trouble keeping it all together because let's face it, I am messy! My mum will tell you that for free. I blame it on creativity, but others may say different. Anyway how ever we look at it, I never would have thought of making a project organiser if I didn't need organising. This folder holds up to 12 different coloured embroidery threads and has a place to keep needles as well as a pocket for fabric and scissors. Turn the page and you will also find a section to keep your favourite magazine in place without losing your page (or you can tuck a pattern into it). Everything is kept together for a mobile project that you can just grab and go! I now need to make several more as gifts for my special stitching friends and my Mum will be getting one too. Maybe she will see that I can be organised...sometimes.
Well that's what I have been making, I would love to here what others have been crafting!
Happy Stitching
Kerryn
Sunday 6 January 2013
New Fabric
Well its the new year and many have returned to work today (I have anyway). I have had a great first day back because I was lucky enough to receive my Fancy Bird fabrics which I have been waiting for since before Christmas. Perfect timing for my first day back, yay! I can't wait to get designing my next project, and this is just the boost of inspiration I needed. There are more to this range to follow and I will post more pics sometime soon, so be sure to visit again.