Sweet Sewing Book

Greetings friends! It's NEW pattern day...so let's talk about my Sweet Sewing Book. It all started just playing around in my Studio in March...I was working with the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Collection from Poppie Cotton and I wanted to show off the detailed motifs. I decided to create a log cabin quilt block that would work for a large needlebook cover and show off a fussy cut motif in the center. The project grew from there, adding several pockets and embellishments...and my Sweet Sewing Book was born. I shared photos and a video of it during the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour and the response was so great, I decided to write a pattern.

My Sweet Sewing Book measures 8.5" W x 6.5" H when closed and 17" W x 6.5" H when open. It has a plethora of specially designed pocket to hold all sorts of hand stitching tools. It has wool blend felt needlebook pages for needles, pins, and a needle minder...and a pocket with ties for embroidery scissors. The largest pocket holds a Nurge Extra Small Square Embroidery Hoop. Dividers in the left side pocket are designed to hold embroidery scissors, a pack of needles, a Stitch Starter Ruler, and a pencil or seam ripper...and there is a hidden pocket behind the largest pocket. A triangular pocket holds thread bobbins or spools or any small tool needed close at hand.

A shank button and elastic provide a secure closure for the book and I enjoyed searching through my vintage buttons for the perfect match. For the models, I used a Goody Colored Hair Elastic to coordinate with the fabrics, but a regular piece of elastic would work just fine. I used Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design for the needlebook pages and Hand-Dyed Twill Tape from Lady Dot Creates for the scissor ties. If you want to add the sweetest pins, as I did, you must check out Puntini Puntini - they are my favorites! I also used fussy cut motifs from my fabric choices to embellish the inside front cover and needlebook pages.

To give my Sweet Sewing Book softness and stability, I used HeatnBond Fusible Fleece, adhesives, and Stabilizers. The Fusible Fleece makes the cover soft and perfect for quilting. HeatnBond Craft Extra Firm Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing gives the lining stability and strength to hold the pockets. All of the pockets are strengthened with HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing. I used HeatnBond Lite Fusible Adhesive to add the fussy cut fabric embellishments, then stitched them in place.

The pattern is extremely detailed with foundation blocks provided for the cover and I even include instructions for foundation piecing. The pattern is 15 pages and full of color images and photos for every step. You can find it in both paper and/or digital format in my Etsy Shop.

Sweet Sewing Book Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303984363
Sweet Sewing Book Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303974342

Here are photos of the original Sweet Sewing Book, using the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Collection...and you can visit my YouTube Channel for a video tour: https://youtube.com/shorts/So5FGt-2xfM?si=hpujO6eTllbciGC4

...and here are photos using the House and Home Fabric Collection by Michal Marco for Poppie Cotton...

I hope this new pattern inspires you to create a Sweet Sewing Book of your very own or as a gift for a very special friend...and if you do, I hope you will share a photo or two with me!

Focal and Four Tote Bag - New Quilt Pattern

Yes, you read that title correctly - I have another new quilt pattern! This is my “Focal and Four" bag - a large-sized tote made with four-patch blocks and focal fabrics (perfect for showing off a very favorite fabric!). This versatile tote has two bottom-pointed pockets on the outside (one on each side) and two large pockets inside. It measures 15" W x 15 H x 5" D and has a handle drop of approximately 8". It's the perfect size for a stack of cross stitch project bags, or as a daily tote, or a trip to the farmer's market. The pattern contains comprehensive/detailed instructions with all sorts of color diagrams and a template for the pointed pocket. This 13-page pattern is designed to easily use your favorite fabric collection, is precut friendly, and is good for all skill levels. You can find this new design in my Etsy Shop, in both paper and digital format...

I designed this tote bag several months ago and made my first sample bag with Finding Wonder by Sherri McCulley for Poppie Cotton - you got a sneak peek of this design in March on the Finding Wonder Fabric Tour.  I already have an oversized tote bag pattern (Forty-Five Tote Bag) and a medium-sized tote bag pattern (Mini-Medi Tote Bag) in my current catalog...and this one fits in-between as a large tote. It has a fun shaped pocket on the front and on the back, the perfect size for a cell phone...and has large pockets inside, both measuring 9-inches square. 

The model bag was created with Mushroom Blooms by Jill and Rani for Poppie Cotton (shipping to quilt shops this month). This fabric has a wonderful mushroom print (Shroomies Mint, Shroomies Pink, and Shroomies Yellow) that I knew would be my focal fabric for the tote. This collection also has wonderful florals, dots and stripes. Plus, I knew the color scheme would be perfect for this new bag! I had fun creating the patchwork, putting this extremely useful bag together and writing the pattern...and I hope you will add it to your design collection.

I used a fat quarter bundle to create my model, along with 1 1/4 yards of coordinating fabric for handles, pocket and bag linings, and the bag base (Country Confetti - Strawberry Lemonade Light Pink). It also uses 1 3/4 yards of HeatnBond Fusible Fleece, my favorite for a soft, but structured bag! If a fat quarter stack isn't your speed, a 10" precut stack (layer cake) gives you all the variation in fabrics. This bag also works great for scraps - I am hoping to make a scrappy version from my scrap bins soon. I really want to showcase how easy it is to create this pattern in any fabric collection (or scraps!) and how versatile it really is! 

You can still find the pattern in my Etsy Shop in both paper and digital format.
Digital: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1743028230
Paper: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1762265076 

Thank you so much for visiting with me today and checking out my latest quilt pattern. I will be back tomorrow for my turn on the Mushroom Blooms Fabric Tour, where I will show of this tote bag and what I made to put inside of it! Then, stop back on Wednesday to see my latest project for Therm O Web...and it is a beauty...

For now, I am back to the studio...I am scrambling a bit right now to get things done...I have EXCITING news...I will be accompanying my parents on a trip to Paris and London in September. I just found out about the trip a week ago and I was not prepared to travel out of the country for a couple weeks (in a little over a month). I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be going on this trip and my head is swirling! I have a lot to do in a short amount of time. More all about this in a future post...

Pretty Posies Pouch - Cottage Charm Pattern

I thought I would stop back today and talk a bit about my other new quilt pattern...which is actually a revisited quilt pattern - my "Pretty Posies Pouch." This adorable patchwork pouch is a versatile addition to any tote bag. It can hold quilting and/or stitching tools or a small project...or can be used for health and beauty items...really any small items you need to travel or transport. The small patchwork (mini charm) squares show off the variety of prints...and you can always fussy cut the squares to feature your favorite motifs. I added a removable wrist strap (using a Swivel Clip with D-Ring) and a coordinating zipper pull for added embellishment. This mighty little bag measures 9" W x 8" H x 2" D, making it a perfect accessory for any tote bag. I used a fun focal fabric for the back side of my bag (cute little cottages), using the patchwork only on the front...this gave me the "best of both worlds" with a variety of small quilted squares on the front and lovely favorite print on the back! You can find this new design in my Etsy Shop, in both paper and digital format...

When I started working with the Cottage Charm fabric collection by Kenzie Elston for Poppie Cotton months ago - I thought the prints were perfect for this pattern. I had so much fun fussy cutting some of the cottages and motifs to showcase for this design. I actually worked up this and my other projects in this new collection for Poppie Cotton to take to Quilt Market. The results looked so cute, I decided to put out a new version of my Pretty Posies Pouch pattern featuring this fabric and some new notes/instructions. Don't worry, if you were one of the few that purchased the original pattern, no need to replace it - it is almost identical, minus the photos and some better wording. I just thought I would brighten it up with these gorgeous fabrics, especially for those who aren't fans of the collection I used for the original....or missed this versatile pattern altogether.

This zippered pouch was created by cutting mini charm squares. It features a removable wrist strap - that is easier to add to a bag than one might think! It can be made with one mini charm pack and a couple fat quarters of any fabric you choose, but I thought it was wonderful in these charming cottage prints. The directions and diagrams in this pattern are quite thorough, so this is great project for all skill levels. I used Poppie Cotton Country Confetti Waffle Cone Yellow for the lining and wrist strap (to match the Mini-Medi Tote Bag I showed off yesterday).

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1743029512

Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1757224909

The previous cover model was created with the Dots and Posies fabric collection from Poppie Cotton.

I really wanted to showcase how easy it is to create this pattern in any fabric collection (or scraps!) and how versatile it really is! You can still find the original version with the Dots and Posies fabric in my Etsy Shop in both paper and digital format.

Thank you so much for visiting with me today and checking out one of my new/revisited quilt patterns. Next month I will have a brand new lap/throw quilt pattern, created with the sweetest upcoming collection from Poppie Cotton (Market Day). ...and just wait until you see the amazing quilting - my dear friend Leslie (Quilting by Leslie) did the quilting on her longarm for me and it makes it even more special. Stop back in August to see this new pattern I am calling "Bunting and Berries!"

Mini-Medi Tote Bag - Cottage Charm Pattern

I thought I would stop back today and talk a bit about a new quilt pattern...which is actually a revisited quilt pattern. This is my “Mini-Medi Tote Bag" - a medium-sized tote bag made from mini charm squares. This versatile tote has two rounded pockets on the outside (one on each side) and two large pockets inside. It measures 12.5" W x 12 H x 3" D and has a handle drop of 5.5"....the perfect size for a couple cross stitch projects, or as a daily tote, or a trip to the farmer's market. The pattern contains comprehensive/detailed instructions with all sorts of diagrams and a template for the rounded pocket. This 11-page pattern is designed to easily use your favorite fabric collection, is precut friendly, and is good for all skill levels. You can find this new design in my Etsy Shop, in both paper and digital format...

When I started working with the Cottage Charm fabric collection by Kenzie Elston for Poppie Cotton months ago - I thought the prints were perfect for this pattern. I had so much fun fussy cutting some of the cottages and motifs to showcase for this design. I actually worked up this and my other projects in this new collection for Poppie Cotton to take to Quilt Market. The results looked so cute, I decided to put out a new version of my Mini-Medi Tote Bag pattern featuring this fabric and some new notes/instructions. Don't worry, if you were one of the very few that purchased the original pattern, no need to replace it - it is almost identical, minus the photos and some better wording. I just thought I would brighten it up with these gorgeous fabrics, especially for those who aren't fans of Halloween or the collection I used for the original.

This medium-sized tote bag was also created by cutting mini charm squares - hence the name. It features two pockets on the outside with round bottoms and two large pockets inside, that can be created with feature fabrics or patchwork or charm square 5" precuts. It can be made with one charm pack and one yard of any fabric you choose, but I thought it was wonderful in these charming cottage prints. The directions and diagrams in this pattern are quite thorough, so this is great project for all skill levels. I used Poppie Cotton Country Confetti Waffle Cone Yellow for the bag/pocket linings and handles.

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1743026780

Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1743028230

The previous cover model was created with the Kitty Loves Candy fabric collection from Poppie Cotton and 1-yard Country Confetti Licorice Black from Poppie Cotton (for linings and handles) - I also did a test bag using the Renew fabric collection by Sweetwater for Moda.

I really wanted to showcase how easy it is to create this pattern in any fabric collection (or scraps!) and how versatile it really is! You can still find the original version with the Halloween fabrics in my Etsy Shop in both paper and digital format.

Thank you so much for visiting with me today and checking out one of my new/revisited quilt patterns. I will be back tomorrow to share my other newly released design - a revisited version of my "Pretty Posies Pouch." For now, I am back to the studio...I am working on my new Therm O Web project tutorial - think summer and outdoors - it is a fun one! Until we visit again, happy creating!

A Huge Milestone and a New Quilt Pattern

Greetings friends - thank you for stopping by for a visit today...and it is a BIG day!! I can't believe I am typing this...today is my 1000th blog post...yes, you read correctly, my 1000th post. I'm really not sure how that is possible...it doesn't seem like I started yesterday, but it doesn't seem like I started fourteen years ago, either. My first post was May 18, 2009 - so yep, fourteen years ago this month...that just doesn't seem feasible. Many of you have been here since the beginning and I am thankful you have continued to visit with me over the years. It has been a joy to share snippets of my life with you - this creative space has treated me well, been a diary of so many life events and creative endeavors, and a place of friendship and kindness...it has also been my voice, when needed. As I look back at my very first post (and posts throughout the years), I can see so much growth in who I am as an artist, photographer and writer. Thank you for joining me on this journey - my heart is full.

On to today's news...a BRAND NEW quilt pattern.  Introducing my “Mini-Medi Tote Bag" - a medium-sized tote bag made from mini charm squares. This versatile tote has two rounded pockets on the outside (one on each side) and two large pockets inside. It measures 12.5" W x 12 H x 3" D and has a handle drop of 5.5"....the perfect size for a couple cross stitch projects, or as a daily tote, or a trip to the farmer's market. The pattern contains comprehensive/detailed instructions with all sorts of diagrams and a template for the rounded pocket. This 11-page pattern is designed to use your favorite fabric collection, is precut friendly, and is good for all skill levels. You can find this new design in my Etsy Shop, in both paper and digital format...

The cover model was created with the Kitty Loves Candy fabric collection from Poppie Cotton and 1-yard Country Confetti Licorice Black from Poppie Cotton (for linings and handles), plus HeatnBond Fusible Fleece. I also did a test bag using the Renew fabric collection by Sweetwater for Moda (see below).

Paper Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1478728707/mini-medi-tote-bag-quilt-pattern-paper

Digital Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1478737849/mini-medi-tote-bag-quilt-pattern-digital

Thank you so much for visiting with me today and checking out my new quilt pattern. I will be back really soon to share some needlework finishing and a new ThermOWeb project tutorial. For now, I am back to the studio, where my project bins are full. My husband and I are taking a road trip to Iowa this weekend to see the best of friends and attend the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, so I am trying to make a good dent in my workload beforehand. Until we visit again, happy creating!