The Sewing Cottage Issue 10 July 2012
In This Issue Cherry Chip Wallhanging Fabric Dolls & Pocket Book Picnic Quillow Bean Bag Tic-Tac-Toe/Bulls Eye Set Little Summer Travelers Stuffie Block #7 Foxie Adventures BOM My Creative Spot -Marsha Patterns and Designs by www.patchworkposse.com
Table of Contents
Cherry Chip Wallhanging My Creative Spot with Marsha Foxie Adventures Block 7 Bull’s Eye and Tic-TacToe Set
Q & A- Sewing Groups Picnic Quillow Fabric Doll & Pocket Book Summer Travelers Plushie
Welcome to Issue 10 of The Sewing Cottage Magazine~ Summer is all about having fun– outside. We are on the move, traveling, camping, exploring and maybe even napping! This month’s issue has a collection of fun things for the kids– double sides tic-tac-toe and bull’s eye set, little travelers stuffies, picnic quillow and fabric dolls. But of course we won’t forget the ones who are running these kids around! Cherry Chip Quilt shows off cherries and cupcakes! Yummy. To go along with the theme– Marsha is sharing her creative spot, in an R.V. Enjoy the patterns and as always- share what you make! I’d love to see.
Becky
Fresh, fun and bright red– Cherries are a perfect way to try out a new technique. This applique method gives the cherries and leaves a little bit of a 3-d style. They are just a little ‘poofy’ even. To go along with the playful look sew up the cupcake papers using a dresden plate method. The tips are loose keeping with the 3-d look. Nine blocks are all you need to sew up- making the Cherry Chip Wall hanging a great easy and quick way to start your summer vacation!
My Creative Spot with Marsha
Marsha is sharing this month her Creative Spot– which is her traveling RV. Take a moment to find out how she keeps organized and makes
Space is a premium when you live year-round
in an RV. That old saying "A place for everything and everything in its place" definitely describes an RV lifestyle. I actually love the "forced" organization. Now I will say that I still misplace things, especially since I pull things out and put things back over and over again, quilting supplies that is. I have an island in the middle of the RV kitchen/dining room area which is my mainstay for quilting. On this island I have a cutting board most of the time. I cover it with a quilted table runner to keep it clean.
The dining table holds my sewing machine. I carry with me a Bernina virtuoso 150 and a Janome DC150 at all times. The Janome entered my life last summer as a lighter machine to take to quilt guilds/classes. One or the other lives in the closet in the back of the RV when not in use. Thank goodness for closet space! Most RVs have space under their beds which rest upon platforms and that's my quilt storage area. Other things get stored there too, like my painting portfolio and my husband's hand-made dulcimer. We spend our winters in the South where its warmer and Vermont where it's cooler in the summer. The past two winters we've been staying in Summerdale, Alabama at an RV park where there are many avid quilters. I was elected President of the Rainbow Plantation Quilt Guild last January. I love encouraging the members to stretch themselves and try new things. I also love those big tables for basting!
Needles, threadcutters, extra machine needles, pins, etc. stay in my Maine quilting basket which was given to me years ago by my younger sister and it fits perfectly behind my Canadian glider and is handy to my sewing area. Most RVers have a rule about new things. If you buy something new to keep in the RV, something else must go. That does NOT pertain to my quilting supplies. It does pertain to clothing and also dishes/pot and pans/books, etc. I stitch many items every year, including quilts of all sizes (even queens), wall-hangings, fabric postcards, ATCs, blocks for swaps and blocks for blog hops. I love the RV lifestyle and I love the quilting. Thank goodness my dear husband knows how important it is to me. He is very supportive.
Thanks Marsha for sharing your creative spot with us! I love that no matter where it is, you can make it work! Please visit Marsha on her blog: Quilter In Motion
Foxie Adventures Block of a Month, is a fun wall hanging that will teach you the raw-edge applique method. This method makes applique super easy and ‘whimsical’ in style. The Foxie pair love new activities each month– going from raking leaves, fishing, parades, spring showers, flowers and more! Sew along with them, month by month
Foxie Adventures 7th Block By Patchwork Posse www.patchworkposse.com
Materials Needed: · 6” X 6” light cotton fabric for background · Various colors of fabric scraps · Black thread · 2‐‐ 5” X 5” cotton squares
www.patchworkposse.com
Tic-Tac-Toe & Bull’s Eye Game Grab a few kiddos and have some fun with a two in one game with cinch bag to carry it all in. Weighted with Poly-Beads the game pieces are washable.
Word of mouth and our city quilt guild keeps me informed of sewing groups. local quilt shop I have a facebook page; word of mouth Friends, Quilt 'til You Wilt at the Bernina Shop, classes there, too, Helena Quilters' Guild, Friday Night Friends at the Prickly Pear Shop. Just attended my first quilting retreat -- WOW! Local shop and state quilt guilds, also sew alongs on the internet Quilt guilds. I have just retired from 36 years of teaching high school and I am absolutely amazed at the # of daytime groups that are available to me. Like minded friends, and Quilt guild. I just moved to Oregon and did a google search for guilts and quilt shops of course. Internet is a wonderful way to find like minded folks. I am in a County Guild plus just 2 months ago started my own little group that meets at a church. We started with 2 and are up to 4, but I can see it growing. We just bring our own projects and help each other. I belong to a large quilting guild. I also sew with some quilting friends, sometimes here at my home for the weekend (like a quilting retreat of sorts). I started quilting through a community college class and have continued with a local group of sewing ladies! I found them when I moved to Utah on the Internet. I now belong to 2 Quilt Bees and one Quilt Guild. Internet (I live in the country and don't travel much) I find plenty of educational and companionship groups on the internet - like Quilting Board. internet, local council information booklet or magazines. I belong to a guild - my neighbours got me going. The three of us all go togehter and we do alot of retreats. We watch magazines, emails, facebook to find them....fun fun I met a gal at a LQS, and she told me about it... I am currently the guild president! I don't have a local sewing group in my area. Most groups I stay in touch with online. Online, ads in local newspapers, and notices in local quilt shops. friends, ask in stores that sell fabric
community guild, local quilt store group, thru my blog. I'm on the road all the time so don't have time to join local sewing groups unfortunately. a friend introduced me to our local guild - love it! LQS's can lead us to a guild, though we are looking at advertising and are now on FaceBook I find sewing groups through friends, local quilt shops, or I start my own, depending on my particular interest at the time. I searched online and the local newspaper for guilds. Then I was at a small local shop and someone started talking to me and invited me to there guild meeting the next night and as they say the rest is history. I have belonged to a quilt guild for the base five years and found it though a sewing machine dealer in the area. I am not a joiner. However, I am vice president of Quilts From the Heart, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, and we started with less than 15 members who were all at the time (19 years ago) members of Quilters Anonymous, a local quilt guild. Members of Quilts From the Heart heard about us through word of mouth and an article published in the local newspaper. The article coincided with Make a Difference Day. Back in the day (30 years ago) I answered an ad in the local newspaper and helped someone start our own group. It became affiliated with the state Guild. Met a lady through a flickr swap who introduced me to ladies from our local guild. Then I joined the guild. We have a quilting group within the community. We get together every Thursday at the homeowner's association clubhouse. Once a year we have a 3-night/4-day retreat. The ladies are very talented and share their knowledge. We do a lot of charity work for the needy and the hospital. Through the local quilt shop for one, found another from a local news report, and the other was through a friend As we travel, I read the local newspaper for sewing/quilting events and ask people I meet and also the clerks/owners of local quilt shops when I find them. Quilters find each other. Period. I attend a local community centre our teacher was an instigater in starting up the local quilt guild Driving to church one Sunday ten years ago, a marquee on a local hotel announced a quilt show. I had been quilting for ten years, so it was time to join the guild presenting the show. Met wonderful quilters, many of whom were part of several local groups. Seems we go by word of mouth endorsing various local groups. Because my family is dependent on me for transportation, i can only participate in one guild, so I enjoy a few groups on-line. When I retired and had time to join a quilt guild, I did an internet search for local guilds then visited three before making a decision on which to join. I'm thinking of checking out an additional guild soon.
Just joined a guild in nearest big city (50 miles away). We don't have one locally unfortunately. Trial and error. Patchwork groups do not always advertise in local papers. Word of mouth. I join classes at local quilt shops. After forming friendships, I formed a group of six gals . We meet at my home in addition to belonging to a quilt shop sewing group. belong to quilt guild - also off shoots to small size neighborhood group - friends - relatives My first quilting friend told me about one group and from there I've just been invited to others. I've also learned about some through local quilt shops. I have always gone to quilting shops that have groups that gather to sew on special days and Fridays... Through the Guilds.I have a few friends around on a Friday for sewing, eating and talking sometimes there is not much sewing done my quilt group has been working together for 22 years; at present we count 32 members Friends and then when i moved to a small town i started my own. A friend of mine got me back into sewing after I retired. Love it! MY GROUP CONTAINS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND AS ALL ARE FAIRLY BUSY WITH FAMILY, CHURCH, ETC. WE MEET AT IRREGULAR TIMES AT THE VARIOUS HOMES... AND LOTS ON THE INTERNET! Joined a friendship group of the larger guild. Sew with friends when we can get together. I love our local sewing group, I sew with two different groups. I started one with the Women's Institute group and now there are only two of us sewers in the group but there are a couple of friends that sew with us every Tuesday night @ 7 p.m. and another group is a few of us from our quilters guild that sew every Wednesday afternoon. Local guild was listed in a Neighborhood column of th elocal newspaper. Started attending as a guest and soon joined. I started my own, with magazines :) but now I joined to web-group and I like it!! When we moved here to SoCal, I knew no one, so I headed for the local quilt shops for information about guilds, groups & small bees. It took a long time and many classes for me to find a group of like-minded woman to form a friendship group. Along the way, I joined the local guild; joined a committee; became an officer. I meet with a group of 14 ladies who all quilt ( some knit, crochet, rug hook and cross-stitch as well) every Monday night. We rotate as to whose house we meet. We are not a Guild..just women who like the companionship of other crafters.
pocket This is a quick pillow/quilt to toss in the back of the car and use at any summer outings. Add a bit of easy raw edge applique– chickens, and a shade tree will add a bit of whimsy and fun. The pocket holds the quilt inside making it a perfect little pillow to nap on.
This little set is sure to please any little girl who loves dolls. Printed on fabric in black and white you can add a few color highlights with crayons. Tuck them away in the little pocket book carrier and they are ready to go!
Printable dolls are different than shown
Summer Travelers are super simple and oh so lovable! Stitch a few of these characters in fleece, cotton or whatever fabric you have on hand! They are small enough to stow away on any trip and are ready for adventure. The pattern and shape are easy enough for a child’s first sewing lesson. Let the imagination run wild with color, pattern and of course character!
Little Travelers By Patchwork Posse Pic .1 These little guys are around 9" tall. They are perfect to snuggle with, laugh with, and to show the world too. They love to be tucked into bags, blankets, suitcases, and little people arms. They find the world fascinating and want to see and experience it all. Use scraps to get this patchwork crafts made. It is an easy pattern for beginners and maybe even for little sewers who are just starting out. Pic
Materials List: 6 X15 inch piece of Fleece, or anything else soft 6 X 15 inch piece of cotton or whatever else you would like to use
Pic .3 Transfer your pattern: Cut out the printed pattern and lay on the RIGHT SIDES of the fabric and trace. The edges will fray and make them fuzzy and cute. You will need to do this for the body, ears窶田hoose just one kind per little guy, arms and legs. Sewing Arm and Legs: Lay the cotton fabric RIGHT SIDES UP on top of the fleece fabric. You want to make sure that the fleece stretch is going up and down. You want it to stretch long and skinny, not short and fat.
Pic .4
Now you need to sew on the drawn lines. This will keep you straight and nice. Cutting the pieces: Now cut all the pieces out just under a 1/4 inch outside of the sewn line. This area will fray. Make sure you aren't too close to the seam line. It is easier too to cut out with the cotton on the bottom. It won't shift while cutting. no funky edges.
w w w . p a t c h w o r k p o s s e . c o m
Pic .1
Body: On the right side of the fabric you can add a belly. I used a piece of the fleece. I fussy cut the little spiral thingie. Sew this to the front along the edge. Cut your fleece for the back of the body 6 X 5 1/2" with the stretch going up and down the 6" length. Here are all your pieces and parts: Stuff: ONLY the legs. Just a bit. Not too much, not too little. Leave a little space at the top. This will make it much easier to sew into the body later. Believe me.
Pic .
Pinch and Pin: Pinch the ears just a bit and before pinning in place. Pin the ears, and arms onto the front piece of the traveler. Pin again:
Pic .3
Pin the front to the back fleece piece. Notice that the fleece is not cut to shape. It will stretch and move just a bit. Perfect for getting everything just right. Sewing again: Sew around the body edge 1/4 inch inside. Watch those pins!! There will be a few parts that are fat and chunky and hard to get through. Just keep going. Take your pins out and then turn it right sides out. I know i am not having you clip it yet…hold on. You want to make sure that the ears and arms are all sewn in perfect. Nothing should be loose, or dangeling, or sewn into the other side seam. Everything ok? Then pop it all back in and trim around the seam.
Pic .4
Pic .5
w w w . p a t c h w o r k p o s s e . c o m
Pic .1 Legs: Stick the legs in place and PIN. These legs love to run away and move. They are little guys and little guys are wiggle worms, so pin those in. Sew right across this bottom. 1/4 inch is perfect. Then turn over and make sure you got both front and back sides. Then sew across it again. Bend the legs down and trim this just past the stitching. There is large and small parts of fabric everywhere. Even them all out. Make their bum cute people. People will be looking at them!
Pic .2
They would love to have a face either stitched on or use button for thier eyes, red pucker lips, a crooked sneaky smile, starry eyes, eyelashes‌whatever you think this little guy/gal needs. Make sure you make one per child. They all want their own! And they don't like to share! And they won't fight while you are on vacation! Have fun‌ oh, and i would love it if you shared them too!!
Pic .3
w w w . p a t c h w o r k p o s s e . c o m
Cat or Tiger Ear
Little Summer Travelers Body Template
Bear or Dog Ear
www.patchworkposse.com
Little Travelers Arm Bunny Ear
Little Travelers Leg
Are you in love with Plushies? Check out the new site– Plushie Patterns where you will find FREE Plushie Patterns from around the web in one place! www.plushiepatterns.com shares a new pattern daily– Plushie patterns included: all sorts of animals, Dolls, and Teddy Bears.
Subscribe for email reminders for the newest issue of The Sewing Cottage Magazine-
w w w . p a t c h w o r k p o s s e . c o m
for only $3.00 per month
Read the Blog to keep up to date on new Sewing Adventures
Miss an Issue? Purchase back issues onsite & for immediate reading.
The copyright of this e-zine or magazine online (Including without limitation- text, artwork, photography, images, and patterns) are owned by Patchwork Posse. All featured images, pieces and patterns belong solely to the individuals featured. Please Contact the individuals themselves for information Or questions regarding their work. The Sewing Cottage Magazine is not to be reproduced or re-distributed without written permission by Patchwork Posse
Copyright Š Patchwork Posse www.patchworkposse.com