Bella Parade 2012 - All Buttoned Up Tutorial

Hello lovelies!

So today is the day (I was dreading until I finished my own pouch and figured out this tutorial actually works!) that you all learn how to make this super cute All Buttoned Up Pouch!

I love this little thing and it is super easy to make with just a little bit of fabric, some hard interfacing, and some industrial snaps. Seriously, this is easily makeable in an hour. I did take tons of pictures though so that's why the post seems so long! So grab some supplies and lets get started!

Here is what you will need:
1. Template (8.5 x 11 template) (11 x 17 template)
2. Exterior fabric approx: 10" x 15"
3. 2 pieces of stiff interfacing each approx: 10" x 15"
4. Lining fabric approx: 10" x 15"
5. 2 sets of industrial strength snaps
6. Snap installation tool
7. Hammer

First you need to print out the pattern template. There are 2 available versions - one that prints on legal size paper and one that prints on regular sized printer paper, but remember you will need to print it 2x and tape the pieces together without overlapping them . Whichever works best for you.

You will need to cut 1 piece of your exterior fabric, 1 piece for your lining, and 2 pieces of stiff interfacing. You can use only 1 piece of interfacing so that the case is a bit more flexible, but do not use more than 2 or you snaps will not be able to make it through all the layers.

Next you need to layer the pieces so that you can sew them all together. First lay down the 2 layers of interfacing, the lining right side up, and the exterior piece right side down. I also suggest spray basting the layers together so that they don't ripple within the pouch once you piece it together.

I suggest starting at the end of one of the long sides and finishing at the top of the same long side. You will need quite a large opening to turn this piece with the super stiff interfacing.

You will need to do this slowly, especially when you get to the corners around the end flaps. If you are using a 1/4" foot the corners will easily get caught up in the foot.

Once sewn all the way around and before you turn it you are going to want to trim all the outside corners to reduce bulk.

Also you are going to want to snip the interior corners. It's hard to see in the photo but I made 3 tiny snips to allow for some flexibility.

Now you are ready to turn the fabric. You will definitely want a turning tool or awl on the corners to make them super square. Then topstitch about 1/8" away from the edge all the way around to sew down your opening and just to make it look a bit more finished.

Now we are ready to attach the snaps!

You will need 2 complete sets to finish the pouch. The outside of the snaps will go on the end flaps, and the bottoms of the snaps will go on the side of the pouch that you did not leave open to turn. That way you have a nicer finished edge on the outside.

Before placing the snaps, fold up the pouch to determine where best to place the snaps on the end flaps. Don't just make them center on the flap because you will lose some length of the flap once it is folded over due to the many layers of the pouch.

Once you figure out where you want to put the tops of the snaps follow the directions on how to install the snap and voila - one part of the snap is in! Repeat on the flap on the other end.

Now the easiest way to attach the bottoms of the snaps on the sides is to fold the pouch as if it were snapped shut and trace around the upper snap with a water soluble pencil so that you can be assured the 2 halves of the snap will line up.

Now this part is a bit trickier, because you have to place the prong side of the snap on the lining side and press through the prongs so that they end up at the center of your traced circle. This can be a bit frustrating as it could snag you fabric if you push it through and it isn't where you want it. So do it slowly and carefully. Once you have the prongs poking through where you want them too finish installing the snap per the directions.

And now you are done!!

Time to start using your pouch for anything like pens, pencils, maybe knitting needles or crochet hooks. Heck you could even make an extra long one to pack chopsticks in your lunch!

Imagine you could embroider your kiddo's initials on the back side or use up old quilt blocks you aren't going to use for a quilt anymore and make it into the pouches exterior. Or better yet, a solid exterior with a pieced interior for that extra little pop of interest!

Well that's it guys! Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and of course if you have any questions, comments, or notice any problems with the tut please don't hesitate to contact me at bomara [at] gmail [dot] com. Until then I hope you are all enjoying the parade and taking every opportunity to win all the amazing free fabric that is up for grabs!

Cheers!
Bry

What a Crafty Year!

2011 has been a bit of a crazy year! Full of swaps, bees, quilts, and tons of craftiness.

I cannot explain how much flickr, blogs, and my online peeps have brought to my life.  It has provided me with inspiration, creativity, new skills, new friends, and more crafty loves!

2011 was full of quilts and swap items.

2011 was full of bee blocks.

In 2011 I even learned that needles are in fact sharp....oops.



2011 proved to be a year of creative growth thanks to all your crafty people and your impact on my life! And I can't wait for 2012! I am even breaking my normal rule about making goals or resolutions.

In 2012 I want to do so much!

• Sew using my "special fabrics", i.e. my Tula Pink, my Heather Ross, my Anna Maria Horner - regardless of the fact that I can't get any more without paying an arm or a leg.
• Just say no thank you!  As others have pointed out I completely overloaded myself this past year with swaps and bees.  I found myself stressed out trying to make deadlines (made worse by my CRAZY work schedule), stressing when I just couldn't make a block as well as I thought I should since it was techniques I hadn't done before (I''m looking at you starburst block!), and just stressed in general that people wouldn't like what I made them.  The worst part though was because I had committed myself to so many other things I never got to sew as much for my family.  I was supposed to make a quilt for one of my grandmothers, a tree skirt for my mom, and a bunch of other things.  So next year I really want to focus on sewing for my family. 
• Make a quilt for myself! 
• Attend Sewing Summit!  I didn't get to go last year because I was already going to my Jane Austen conference, and this year they are on different weekends so I AM GOING! 
• Keep up with my blog a bit better!  Sometimes I go a little longer than I would like without blogging and sometimes I make things and give them away without remembering to take photos of them so I can blog about them! 
• PAPER PIECING!!! I want to practice, practice, practice!!!
• HAND PIECING!!! I love doing this but don't have a lot of time for it, but I want to make it a priority this year!
• Make 1 honest to god wearable garment!  Just 1!  (I am trying to make these goals attainable! LOL!)

So hopefully I can actually work on these things, and 2012 will be even craftier that this year! I am pretty sure making a quilt for myself though will be accomplished quite soon since I am moving to such a cold place!

Happy new years everyone and may your 2012's be beautiful and creative!

Goodbye Houston - Hello Boston

Well guys it is going to get pretty quiet around here for a while because I have big news.



I got a new job!!

Only it's on the other side of the country in Boston, MA.  So I am in the process of turning my entire life upside down and move almost 2,000 miles away from my home in Texas.  And holy cow y'all moving is the most expensive thing ever.  I have moved a couple of times before but always for school - always with set time limits.  So I could leave things at home and only take what I needed in a dorm or an apartment.  Now I am taking everything - or actually it seems like nothing as I am getting rid of almost everything I own, which is a lot harder than I thought.  Although when I get there I am going to buy a whole new wardrobe as it apparently gets a lot colder in the north east than it does in the south!



In moving I am leaving a lot behind more important that just stuff - namely my entire family.  My immediate family though is very close.  Especially my little sister who is who I made this quilt for back in 2008.  Even as I type this I am questioning my decisions like crazy.  In taking this opportunity I am giving up my life here, my possessions, and precious time with my family.  I know they want me to be happy and do what I need to do for my career, but damn its really hard especially since this inst like school and I will be around again in 2 or 4 years.



To date this is my favorite quilt I have ever made.  I used Heather Ross's mendocino line because the Little Mermaid is her favorite movie, and those mermaids were just to die for.  So even though I am going to be almost 2,000 miles away I hope my sister will continue to love her quilt, which she uses everyday now, and I get to come home and visit them all often. 



I quilted it really heavily by following the piecing and following my previous quilting line, so they are about the width of the walking foot apart.  As a result of all of the crazy time consuming quilting and the softness of the mendocino fabric it has the most lovely drape ever. Plus I am a total sucker for white bindings.  I love them because they just totally pop.  You can especially see the denseness of the quilting and the brightness of the binding on the back side. 



So as I prepare to cross the Mason Dixon and head up north (geeze I am going to miss BBQ and Tex Mex) I am trying to stay strong, keep breathing, STAY WARM, and spend wisely (no crazy fabric purchases for me anytime soon) as I start a new life. 

So Many Blocks - So Little Time!

I am a bad bad bee block person.

My life is kinda turning upside down right now as I am attempting to make some HUGE changes.  So I am now so late and so sorry!

Seriously, I am totally hanging my head in shame over here.

But I am caught up now!

First off the one I was most behind on, do. good stitches.   For September we made green monochromatic blocks with a pop of color that was our choice so I used some scraps of Flea Market Fancy gold seeds.



For October we made rectangle and cube blocks using a pattern from Ashley at Film in the Fridge.



Finally for November we all made mod circles blocks using a pattern from Moda Bake Shop that is just adorable. Sadly though my machine doesn't do a blanket stitch as called for in the pattern so I had to use a satin stitch.



Next up are the blocks for my String Me Along bee. Back in September we were asked to make half square triangle blocks using all Amy Butler fabrics. And can I say how much I LOVE HST!! Seriously, that is easily my favorite quilt block. So simple, so versatile, and so pretty!



Then in October we were asked to make more Nicey Jane string blocks, which are always a pleasure to make. So easy to make, yet it makes wonderfully complex blocks.



Finally we have the Neptune Bee, which uses my favorite fabric line ever!! Oh Tula how I love your fabrics! Back in September we were asked to make hexagon blocks - one hand pieced hexie block and one using the awesome Lee's tutorial. This one took me a while simply because of the hand piecing but I loved making them!



Then in October we were asked for 2 dresden blocks, but sadly I really only had enough time to make 1. This was my first dresden block, and while I love the outcome, I did not like the process. I had so many complications with this block. I couldn't ever get it to lie flat, the circle just barely fit. Overall it was just frustrating.



Finally for November we were asked to make Rain or Shine blocks from Elizabeth Hartman's book Practical Patchwork. I loved making these, and I love the outcome, but good grief I had issues making that center point come together, and still obviously failed. Thank goodness the lady these are going to has plans to cover the centers with some awesome buttons.



Finally I did a little bit of secret sewing!  I tried out an X-block and it was a ton of fun!  Sadly though I think I didn't choose my fabrics very well so the contrast isn't quite what it should be.  Still I do love this block!



So there you have it - 3 months of blocks that I have been working on the last few weeks and have finally finished!



Now I just have to get them mailed out on Monday so they can fly their ways home!



Also this weekend I have finished a quilt and finally photographed another that I actually made in 2008 but is my favorite quilt ever that I want to share with you, so there's more to come!

Innocent...Something or Other Quilt

GIVEAWAY POST HERE!

Have you ever spent $100 on fabric, hours and hours in planning, changing, sewing, ripping, resewing, changing some more, and finally throw your hands up and just finish the quilt just to be done with it??

I now have. 



I finished this quilt a bit ago but just never got around to photographing it.  Lazy?  Me??? Or maybe it just has something to do with my apathy towards this quilt.



This quilt was definitely my first real foray into making an entire quilt improve style.  It started out as a charm square quilt, morphed into a charm square on point quilt, and ended as a charm square on point with sashing quilt with days/weeks of agonizing mental debate over each step.



After every change I made it still just didn't look right and I am still not sure if I got it completely.



I really did love this I first saw this collection of fabric, when the idea popped into my head, while it was making it - but now, I don't know, it's just kinda meh to me.  Either way I am hoping someone loves it because I am donating it to the Texas Wildfire collection.

Also as the title suggests I am totally at a loss as to what to call this quilt.  Any ideas?

Fabric: Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush, Kona Sky, Kona Eggplant, and Kona Windsor