African Flower Crochet Bag - Lining Tutorial

I have finished up my second african flower crochet bag, and thought I'd share with you how I've made the lining.  The pattern for the crochet bag can be found HERE, keeping mind that I used this tutorial to make the flowers.

I find it is easier taking measurements of your bag before the bottom is sewed on to the body of the bag.  So before your bag is completely stitched up, do the following:

Measure from the top of where the lining will be sewed on (just below the drawstring area), to the bottom.  Add at least 2 inches for the seam allowance, ½ inch for the bottom, and 1½ inches at the top that will be folded over.  When measuring the width, you'll need to multiply it by 2, then add 1 inch for your seam allowance.  

In this case; 

8 + 2 = 10 inches high

9½ x 2 = 19 + 1 = 20 inches wide

Fold the lining in half width wise, and with right sides together sew at least a ½ inch seam allowance.  To check of it will fit properly, place it inside the bag and make adjustments before sewing on the bottom.

Make a template of the bottom of the bag, I used two pieces of printer paper, sticking them together using clear tape.  Then pinning the crochet bottom piece to the paper, mark ½ inch seam allowance around the circle.  

Then pin the template on top of your fabric and cut right against the pattern.  You'll then need to add 'markers' to the bottom and bag lining, by folding the fabric in half, finger pressing or using a hot iron, fold in half again and press.

Match up the creased lines, right sides together and pin.  You'll notice that the circle is bigger than the bag, fold in pleats between the pins, and secure it properly.  Then sew it together using ½ inch seam allowance.

Since the bottom of your finished crochet bag forms a round shape, kind of like a 'bowl', the pleats of the lining will give the same result.  Fold over at least 1½ inches of the bag lining over and press to have flat and even straight seam to sew onto your bag.

Place the lining inside the bag, and hand sew the lining to the crochet bag.  Keeping in mind to grab the yarn with every stitch.  Keep the stitches really small to make sure its properly secured.

  

  

This bag is really small, but the process and steps would apply to a larger bag as well.  Hope you enjoy making your very own bag.

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Karli's Quilt - True Love

I've started piecing this quilt little over three months ago and I am happy to say its at last finished.  I don't think I've ever made a quilt with such care and attention to detail as this one.  

This is the first quilt I've made for a customer, and even though its a paying job its still a labour of love.  I have enjoyed every moment in making this quilt and by far I am most proud of this one.

This quilt's name is 'True Love', not only does the hearts symbolize love, but it also is a reminder of the love felt, even from the first moment when she learnt she was pregnant.  For this Mom to be, she is so overwhelmed with love and emotion for her unborn baby, due in September, that I think this quilt be a beautiful reminder of how she felt even before she is born. 

'Louise, I hope you 'love' this quilt, just as much I loved making it.  May you have a beautiful, healthy, strong and happy baby.  She is going to be the luckiest baby girl, having a Mom like you, and may all your hopes and dreams for her come true...  God bless '    

For this quilt I used Willow Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake and main green yardage of the same range for the backing.

Piecing and quilting was done on my Bernina.

For the free motion quilting I used Colourful Embroidery Thread no C1181, I've quilted, stippling, swirls, feathers, connected circles and pebbles.

The finished quilt measures 65 x 77 inches (165cm x 195cm)

Here are some tutorials for creating the two sided hearts, padded hearts using batting and how I hand baste my quilts.  I've also included a link to a video showing you how I've quilted the circles inside the sashing.  Just click on the images below to direct you to that blog post.

           

Pattern used for this quilt is in a local magazine 'Craftwise' issue 83 Jan/Feb 2012 called Meadow Friends.

For all other blog posts on this quilt click HERE.

Happy quilting.

Anything Goes Quilt and Sew #26 - My First Video Tutorial

I have made a short video tutorial, showing you how I quilted the circles/loops inside the sashing of the baby quilt I'm making, and as I was uploading the video to youtube, I realized I did not even do a little into, or explained any machine settings I use, I just jumped right in and started quilting.  

Next time I will definitely plan ahead before making a video tutorial, this is a first for me.  I guess I was so excited to show you, that I did not think it through properly, and oh boy, the state of my gloves, shame on me, very dirty.. 

I use a Bernina Artista 180.  I bought it second hand little over a year go.  I don't know how old is, if anyone knows which year it came out I am curious to know, I use it for both piecing and free motion quilting, and it runs beautifully.  

Here is the way I set up my sewing machine for free motion quilting, and a few preferences I have that I've learnt along the way.  By no means set in stone, but thus far, I know it works for me...

- Stitch length set at ZERO.

- Feed dogs are UP / engaged. 

- Presser foot no 24 called a "Free Motion Embroidery Foot"

- I prefer to use Schmetz Quilting or -Embroidery needles.  If I know the quilt I'm working on calls for a lot of travel stitching, like I've done on my Goddess quilt, I use embroidery needles. 

- I am using Little Genie Bobbin Washers.  Instead of dropping the washer inside the bobbin casing, I place the washer inside the bobbin housing.  I have written a blog post explaining why I could not use it the conventional way, you can find it HERE.

- Lastly I use machingers quilting gloves.

One thing I've recently played around with, is tension.  I have always used the standard setting which is automatically set at 4, but I noticed that I got even better top and bottom stitches when it is set at 6.

So without further a due, here is the video tutorial.  My Son helped taking the video, I think he got a bit mesmerized by the swirling motion and as he held the camera he started moving it as I quilted, LOL.  I've added text to the video hoping it would make up for the lack of planning on my part.

If the video acts funny, click HERE.

Sew now it's time for this week's linky party

It's Monday and a new week, so lets all share some of our projects, please link up any current projects you've been working on, anything at all...  This link is open for a week and will run every Monday.  Remember to come back next week, or follow my blog to get regular updates.

If you wish feel free to add any other blog posts you write during the week, since this linky stays open for a full week, I think its a great idea to share and keep sharing.

All I ask is that you either add the 'Anything Goes' blog button to your sidebar or add a text link to your blog post, and comment on a few of the other links too, share the love and make this weekly link party a fun way to connect.

<div align="center"><a href="http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/" title="Stitch by Stitch"><img src="http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/MarelizeR/LinkyButton2_zps83805f35.jpg" alt="Stitch by Stitch" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy quilting.

Padded Hearts Using Batting Tutorial

I am amazed at how fast this baby quilt is coming along, not to mention how much fun I'm having.  This quilt has quite a few different elements, like applique and then these padded hearts.  So I'm going to show you exactly how I've made them.

Your first step is to make a heart template.  Take a piece of printing paper and fold it in half, and  roughly draw out one side of the heart meeting in the middle of the fold.  Cut it out on the drawn line, open it up and compare it to the size fabric you want to use and see if it fits.

Once you're happy with your template, take two pieces of fabric, right sides together and trace the heart shape using a fabric marking pen.  I used a fine line water erasable pen.  Pin the pieces of fabric to prevent shifting while sewing, and carefully top stitch right on the marked line taking care to keep the curved edges nice and round.  I noticed that when I speed up a little bit when stitching the round edges, that the curves ended up rounder than when I stitched slowly. Once you've stitched all around, cut a ¼ inch seam all around the stitched line.

Next you'll need to cut away the seam allowance at the point of the heart as close to the seam as you can without cutting into the stitches. Then you split the fabric cutting slits very close to the seam, to ensure once you turn it right side out, that the round edges will fold in smoothly.

 

Then carefully pull the pieces of fabric away from each other and make a cut big enough to turn the heart inside out.  Shape and flatten it out, and press using a hot iron.

You'll then need to cut out heart shapes out of batting, every so slightly smaller than the finished heart, that way it will fit nice and snug and you wont get bumps and lumps if its too big, or gaps when too small.  Carefully insert the batting inside the heart, smoothing out any creases.

You then finish off by hand sewing the opening at the back.  I'm not too worried about it looking perfect, since this will be at the back, and it will get quilted on top of the finished quilt top, this is just to make sure its all secured.

In total I made ten of these hearts that once I'm completely done quilting this baby quilt, it will be top stitched in place.

Linking  up to WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Happy quilting.