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
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.