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Liberty Riviera Bag

Liberty Riviera Bag was made using the Sophie Quilt as you go pre-printing batting

I fell in love with the Liberty Riviera fabric range which couldn’t be more summery with its vibrant Neapolitan colours and decided to make a summer bag using the Riviera fabric and the Sophie tote quilt-as-you-go preprinted batting bag kit.
Start by using spray glue 505 to attach your lining fabric onto the wadding allowing it to dry while you cut your other fabrics.
If you are using directional fabrics you will need to check where you’re going to use it on the bag to make sure you have a large enough piece & that the direction will be correct.
When choosing fabrics for the strips, I wanted to include directional prints so I cut them slightly longer, them cut the strips in half and then stitch the bottoms together, as the centre of your strip will become the bottom of the bag and other ends of the strips will become the front and back of the back of the bag so need to be facing the right direction – see photo below.
Starch your strips as recommended on the Sophie bag instructions as it does make construction easier.
Once you have added all the strips to the bag front and you reach the construction stage, fold the tote in half with the outer fabrics right sides together and sew down the two sides as instructed.
I don’t like to see raw edges inside my bag so I cut strips from the spare lining fabric 1 1/2 inches wide to bind the sides before stitching across the bottom pictured in figure 2 on the tote instructions. Once you’ve stitched across the bottom, you can then bind them pieces as well.
Turn the back right side out and check all your seems.
Internal zip pouch for Liberty bag
If you want to add any internal pockets now is the time to do it, before you add the handles and put the binding on. I wanted an internal pocket with a zip to keep keys and money in so for the front of my internal pocket I cut an outside piece and lining piece 6 inches wide by 8 inches long. I then cut 2 inches off the top of both of them. Using a zipper foot, I then stitched the 6” x 6” piece of outside fabric & lining fabric to either side of the lower part of the zip. (You will have to keep the needle in, lift the machine foot, & move the zip along out of the way when you stitch across). Press it back right sides out & top stitch. Repeat on the top part of the zip with the 6” x 2” pieces of lining & outside fabric.
Trim if necessary making sure your zip head is in the centre. Measure this & cut another lining & outside fabric piece the same size. Play these pieces wrong sides together then lay both pieces on top of your zippered piece with outside fabrics right sides together. Stitch down both sides and the bottom leaving the top open. Trim excess zip off & zig zag stitch the side & bottom edges, then turn right side out.
Attach the inner pocket to the top edge of the inside of your bag with an 1/8th” seam. I made myself a key fob from a strip of fabric which I also attached to the top inside bag with 1/8th seam.
To jazz up my bag for summer I stitched some bright coloured Pom Pom trim around the top outer edge. Now you can go back to follow the Sophie bag instructions for binding the top of the bag & adding the handles, but I cut my binding 2 3/4” wide as I’d added the trims etc.
Label it: why not use the selvage edge to make a label? I used “The Riviera Collection” to label my sunglasses case. 😎 ☀️
With the leftover fabrics & scraps of wadding from around the edge of the bag you can make accessories.  A sunglasses case, or an ipad bag, make up bag, etc.  Below are instructions to make a sunglasses case to match.
Sunglasses case :
Outer fabrics – two each of:
Top strip 2 1/2” x 5”
Middle strip 5 1/2” tall x 5” wide
Bottom strip 2 1/2” x 5” wide
Wadding 7 1/4” x 5” wide
Stitch together top, middle & bottom strips & put the wadding in behind the middle & bottom strips, then quilt through to hold the layers together & around the edge 1/8th” in.
Lining – two each of:
9 1/2” x 5” wide
Stitch one lining piece to each of the outside pieces along the top strips (5” edge)
Lay both front & back pieces right sides together with lining on lining & quilted front on top of quilted back. Pin to match seams then sew all the way around the edge with a 1/4” seam allowance, but leave a 2” gap in the centre bottom of lining for turning.
Turn right sides out & stitch the gap closed then push the lining inside. The top piece will be folded in half & pushed inside, so you can insert a magnetic clasp or press stud, or drawstring. You can then stitch around the top seam again to hold the top piece inside.
Go out & be the envy of your friends wearing your beautiful summer bag!
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The New Oliso Smart Iron: TG1600 Pro Plus

How many of us have watched American sewing videos with the amazing irons that pop up by themselves.

The new Oliso Smart Iron is now available in the UK with the following features:

  • iTouch® never-lift technology: lifts and lowers with the touch of your hand, preventing burns, saving your wrists, and saving time.
  • Diamond ceramic-flow soleplate with pro-press core: superior heat, durability, and non-stick, easy-clean even in the stickiest of situations.
  • Smart Sensor extended auto shut-off: Extended 30 minute standby while working for your convenience, 30 second safety auto shut-off if tipped over.
  • 2-inch detailer tip: perfect for seams, bias tape and tight corners. Press under and over pleats, pockets, cuffs and collars with ease.
  • Longest cord in class: 3.7m with a 360° pivot. Largest water tank in class: 375ml for heavy steam usage with easy side fill and fill cup included.
  • Built-in spray: Stubborn wrinkles? No problem. My built-in spray is a powerful wrinkle buster.

To find the Oliso Smart Iron on our website click here

To watch a demonstration click here

 

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Waddings ~ how to care for your quilts & wash them

Hobbs have been making waddings/battings since1978.  Here’s what they recommend on using their waddings:

How should I wash and dry my quilts?
All quilts, old or new, should be washed with care. It is recommended to wash by hand or in a washer on the gentle cycle using cool water. Be especially cautious with front-loading washers as the intense spin cycle on these machines can be very hard on quilts, and avoid agitating your quilts to keep them in tip-top shape.

Drying should be done on the very lowest heat or air-dry setting. If no shrinkage is desired, laying the quilt out to air dry is recommended. Over-drying is detrimental to the long-term strength and colourfastness of any quilt and should also be avoided. Extreme heat and agitation should be avoided for all quilts, but particularly for quilts with cotton/wool, wool and silk battings (quilts made with these battings should be air-dried).

Vintage quilts require a more delicate process of gently soaking in a bathtub of cool water on top of a large sheet. Fill the tub, soak the quilt and drain the water. Repeat until the water runs clear. Do not lift the quilt during this soaking and rinsing process. Allow the final rinse water to drain away and use the sheet to carry the wet quilt to a flat surface appropriate for air-drying your quilt – the sheet helps to safeguard the quilt during transport, and without it, the weight of the wet quilt can cause thread breakage or tearing of fragile fabrics and batting.

Should I prewash my batting?
The short answer is NO! Hobbs Bonded Fibers does not recommend pre-washing our battings. The battings are designed to be used directly from the package and pre-washing, especially in a washing machine, is
likely to ruin them.

How do I remove creases or wrinkles caused by packaging?
You can lightly spritz your Heirloom® battings with a little bit of water and toss them into a cool, no-heat dryer for a few minutes to release stubborn wrinkles.
The one exception to this is our Heirloom Fusible 80/20. Because this batting has a water-soluble fusing medium sprayed on both sides of the batting, and it won’t fuse if it gets wet, this wrinkle-release trick can’t be used on this batting

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Backyard Happenings Spring bunting instructions

 

This is a lovely little project to put together quickly. It is also the perfect way to introduce children or beginners to some simple sewing.

You will need

A Backyard Happenings Bunting kit

Thread to match the panels (off white or beige) plus thread to match the bunting tape.

Sewing machine and general sewing notions, scissors, pins etc

 

Press all your fabric before starting. This ensures accurate cutting and piecing.

Cut all pieces of fabric into 8″ squares to match the size of the images.

Arrange the flags that will face forward in an order that you like and take a photo for reference. I alternated an image with a patterned fabric piece. You will have 9 flag fronts.

Next arrange the fabrics for the back of the flags to also make a pleasing display that spreads the colours and patterns evenly.

 

Pair up each front and back with right sides together and pin or clip to hold in place. Make sure any directional designs are facing the right way up.

Sew down the right hand side, across the bottom and up the other side on each flag. DO NOT sew across the top.

Trim a small triangle off the bottom two corners making sure not to cut through the seams. This makes the turning out easier.

Turn the flags the right way out, easing out the corners to make neat squares.

Making sure the flags and seams are straight, press each flag neatly. At this stage you can top stitch the three sewn sides if desired but it is not essential.

Lay the bunting tape down and finger press in half as you lay each flag into the fold, face up in the desired order, use your photo for reference. Remember to leave a tail each end of the bunting tape approximately 45cm/18″ long for ease of hanging later. Place each flag about 2″ or 5cm apart. Pin or clip the flags in place.

Tucking in the end of the tape, start sewing all the way along the tape anchoring down both sides of the tape and the flag as you go. Sew as close to the lower edge of the tape as possible but check that you are catching both sides. You can use a straight running stitch or a zig zag or decorative stitch if you prefer. Sew all the way along. Check for any stray threads and hang with pride and a little smile.

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Beaks & Bobbins Liberty Wall Hanging

Michelle used the Cottage Garden Stitch Kit from Beaks & Bobbins to create this delightful wall hanging. She has teamed it with pretty Liberty fabrics and we all love it. It reminds us of warm summer days and the heady smell of flowers dancing in the summer breeze.

To replicate this idea you will need the following-

the Beaks & Bobbins kit of your choice

Strips of fabric for the piecing and a piece for the backing to fit the size you make. Michelle used a fat 1/4 for the back, hanging sleeve, and one of the frames around the embroidery, plus a fat 1/8 for one frame and the binding, then three other strips of fabric for the remaining frames, approximately 1″strip x width of fabric or a fat 1/16 or fat 1/8 will do it

An 8″ or 10″ embroidery hoop if you like to use them

wadding approx 12″ square

a wire hanger, Michelle used the Flower Garden hanger

general sewing notions

 

Complete the stitch kit as per the instructions included.

Trim the completed panel to a neat square leaving at least a 1/4″ seam allowance all around. Approximately a 6 1/2″ square.

Cut 2 strips 1″ x 7″ and stitch to the sides of the panel

Cut 2 strips 1″ x 8″ and stitch to the top and bottom of the panel

Press and trim to a square.

Continue to add 1″ strips in this way until you have 5 frames around the panel. Each strip will increase by 1/2″ in length on each round ie frame two strips will be 1″ x 7 1/2″ and 1″ x 8 1/2″.

Layer up the finished top with wadding and the backing. Quilt as desired. Michelle stitched in the ditch between frames one and two, two and three and four and five.

Now add the binding and a hanging sleeve or tabs depending on preference. If adding a hidden hanging sleeve, sew this on before adding the binding. Cut a strip of fabric 11″ long x 2 1/2″ wide. Wrong side up fold over the short ends by 1/2″ and sew down, next fold in half wrong sides together down the length and stitch in place at the top of the back. *You can only use this method if you are using a dowel hanger otherwise you will need to add the wire hanger into your hanging sleeve before stitching the sleeve down. Hand stitch the sleeve down if needed to ensure it is hidden from the front.

Michelle added binding using the mitred corner method. Cut binding strips 2 1/2″ wide joining if needed depending on if you have width of fabric or fat 1/8s to work with. With raw edges matching sew your binding on, mitring the corners as you go. Hand sew the edge down on the back of your quilt.

Slide your dowel through the hanging sleeve and admire your summery creation.

 

 

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Mary’s Show n Tell

Our Mary is an exceptionally talented needle woman, and has designed so many beautiful patterns which we’ve run as classes, and sold as patterns and kits, & you can see a few of them here.

 

Mary used the Sophie mini quilt pattern in the book Little Handfuls of Scraps by Edyta Sitar as inspiration for these two matching quilts. One each for a child and their favourite toy.

The original uses scraps or a mini charm, and for the larger one Mary used 5″ Charm Squares instead. For these examples she used the I Believe in Angels fabric range. The Mini Charm pack for the mini quilt and two charm packs for the bigger quilt. For the lap quilt Mary followed the original pattern but using the bigger squares and added some extra rows to make the larger size. Look at the quilt top photos to see the layout she used and number of rows needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary made this gorgeous quilt using Brenda Riddle fabrics a few years ago that started as a Jelly Roll Race, but ended up as an alternative version of Rail Fence. It has little additions of small embroidered “heart felt sayings” on squares dotted throughout this pretty quilt, that were taken from an old magazine Vingette by Leanne Beasley.

We think it would look beautiful in Brenda’s latest fabrics which are called Grace.

Rail Fence Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

One of Mary’s beautifully designed kits is this Care, Share, Dream Rotary Wrap made from Le Beau Papillon French General fabrics, perfect for carrying your rotary cutters, etc., with purpose made pockets inside.

Care Share Dream

There’s nothing more iconic here in Cornwall than a Mining Engine House perched high on the cliffs, & Mary’s foundation pieced pattern Poldark reminds us of this.
Mary’s kit been made by so many of our customers, who have sent them all over the world to friends and family to remind them of home.

Poldark Country Kit & pattern

 

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Mandy’s Show n Tell

Mandy has used the D is for Dream Milestone Blanket panel and accompanying fabric to make a wonderful sample for us.

She cleverly used the block print fabric to make a frame to highlight the numbers and words in order to make it clear of the Milestone being celebrated for baby. The frames were made by sandwiching pelmet vilene between the top and the backing fabrics to give stiffness.

Luna Lapin and Tilda Fox kindly modelled for us to give you an idea of the use of a Milestone Blanket. No bunny was harmed by the fox during the taking of these photos!!

We love Mandy’s idea and her quilting with little ducks, bottles and rattles is divine.

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely lady called Pam Woods started the embroidered pictures on this Gardener’s Journal Quilt, which Mandy inherited & has now completed & I think you’ll agree, is absolutely beautiful!

The Gardener’s Journal Quilt has been designed by Anni Down’s of Hatched & Patched & is in her book “A Gardener’s Journal”.

There are many small individual projects in the book, each using one of the adorable stitchery designs, or you can complete them all and make the full quilt.

Here are some close up photos of Mandy’s beautiful quilt.

 

 

 

Mandy has been using Songbook fabrics to make a stunning quilt she saw in the Homespun magazine issue 205.  She’s used a Songbook Layer Cake, or you could cut your own pieces from a fat 1/8th or fat 1/4 bundle too.  It has a background made from one Bella Solid Charm pack for a small quilt, or 1.5m of cream background fabric for a larger quilt.  Love the quilting Mandy!