Bags - Hello Pouches - by Kaitlyn Howell

I purchased a pattern called "Hello Pouches" that was designed by Kaitlyn Howell of Knot and Thread Design.  There are 4 bag sizes in the pattern that have fabric bottoms and clear tops.  I thought that they were very cute!

There are several sources for bag supplies in the Portland area and I found just what I needed at Sharon's Attic in Hillsboro, OR.  The list included Soft and Stable by Annie, 16 gauge vinyl, and a couple of double slide zippers.  I decided to make all 4 sizes to match the colors of the zippers that I purchased.

If you've ever sewn bags like these that might be Bags by Annie, you'll know that they are not the easiest things to make and there is a LOT OF BULK.  I broke a few sewing machine needles while sewing through some of the bulkier seams, and then had to hand turn the sewing machine wheel over those areas so that I would jam up the machine and break more needles.

Anyway, they are very cute and here they are all done.

The smallest one measures5" high x 6" wide at the top, and 4-1/2" wide at the bottom

The medium size measures 7" high x 8" wide at the top, and 5-1/2" wide at the bottom

The large size measures 8" high x 10" wide at the top, and 6-1/2" wide at the bottom

And the extra-large size measures 10" high x 12-1/2" wide at the top, and 7" wide at the bottom

I hope you like them!

Here is the link to the pattern: hello-pouches

Graduation Quilt

My granddaughter graduated from High School in June and I presented her with her graduation quilt.

Oh, how amazing it is to gift a quilt to a young person full of energy and plans for her future!

Luau Torches - Part Two

This is the second post about the making of Luau Torches.  I pieced it all together and used my new roll of 80/20 batting.  It was quilted on my sit-down longarm machine.  And, instead of donating it to our charity group, as I had originally intended, I gave it straight to one of my friends who is going through chemo treatments.

It is shown unquilted in this picture.  And I hope you like seeing it anyway!

Huge print fabric and 2 charity quilts - part One

I got a large amount of a huge print fabric from a member in our Clark County Quilters group.  It's kind of nice how other members think of me when they are donating fabric, or just looking at what is already on the free table.  I've made all kinds of things over the years and just love how kind other quilters are.  

I sketched up a couple of ideas and discovered that I could make 2 quilt tops for charity with the fabric that I had.  One of the quilts will be the large squares offset with blue and yellow strips.  The other will have red and light blue strips with the large colorful squares.   

And here they are all finished and ready to donate.  They're 50" W x 60" L.

 I hope you like them!

Batting by the bolt

I used to purchase batting on the bolt at JoAnn's Fabrics when they had it on discount, or when I had a 50% off coupon.  Well, as mot of you know, JoAnn's went out of business.  So, I asked around with my friends, and it seems we are all in that space of not having local retail to source supplies.  The days of getting batting locally are over, unless you want to buy it in pre-sized packages.  

One internet site is doing a ton of advertising and I decided to give them a try.  It's Linda's Electric Quilters.  They are in Texas and ship very quickly.  Of course, there are shipping charges and taxes to pay.  Anyway, I had previously ordered Thermore batting and was pleased with how quickly it was delivered.  The roll of Hobbs 80/20 batting shipped the day after I placed the order.  Here is how it showed up at my doorstep:

It came in a big cardboard box and was wrapped in a sturdy plastic bag.

I took it out of the box and dragged it upstairs to my quilting studio, leaving it in the plastic bag.  Yes, it was heavy with 30 yards of batting on it, but I was able to carry it myself (well, dragging the lower half).   Frankly, it was easier than carrying it to my car, loading and unloading it in the garage, and then dragging it upstairs.  Not that it is an option anymore.

I can't wait to start using it... it should last a long time.

Finishing Charity quilts of Jane's stash

I picked up a couple of unfinished quilts from Audrey Prothero, who is helping to get her sister Jane's charity quilts completed.  Jane passed away a few months back, and had nearly 100 quilts that needed to be finished.  Most of the blocks were done, and some were already sewn together.  It was quick to get them sewn together.  And it was just as quick to get them quilted on my sit-down longarm.  

Here they are:

44" x 56".  The blocks were all done.  I added the black sashing, border, backing and binding.  It was quilted with red thread.

38" x 44".  The blocks were all done and were sewn into rows.  I added the sashing, borders, backing and binding.

I hope whomever gets these quilts likes them!

Luau Torches - Part one

I recently downloaded a free pattern called "Luau Torches".  It looks like it was originally a mystery quilt pattern, but it was offered free as a complete download.  It looked like just the right pattern for a quilt retreat project.  I missed out on several quilt retreats in the last year due to hip issues, hip surgery, and personal travel.  But, this time, I was able to secure a spot and put it on my calendar.

I printed off a couple of sheets of the pattern in black and white and colored them in with colored pencils.  It was no surprise to me that I selected green, turquoise and navy for my colors.   I also decided not to add the borders so that the quilt was the smaller size that our charity group likes to donate.

To make things smoother at the retreat, I precut all of the pieces and placed them in a project box. 

Can't wait for the retreat to sew this up!