Wandering Way Quilt

Wandering Way quilt from Quilts in a Jiffy. The finished size is 42 X 60 inches. I found this took longer to cut and sew than the previous two Fabric Cafe quilts. I collected Art Gallery Fabric in red, green and ivory, I didn't have red so had to purchase some, I chose a russet or burnt orange red. I showed my books to Mr W, he chose three he liked, I went with this one to go with the fabrics. I used 2 metres of Art Gallery cotton for the back in a geometric print. Gutermann cream colour 414 for topstitching, quilted in rectangles and squares, edge stitching each side of the seam plus through the blank red and green squares. In hindsight, I should have quilted all in squares as there was a lot of thread trimming, stopping and starting! I think the rectangles make the pattern look less like it is all patchwork squares though, the design is more vertical.

Brick Street Quilt

Fabric Cafe Brick Street pattern from the Fast & Fun 3 Yard Quilts book. It is 49 X 59 inches. Michael Miller cotton painter's canvas in Peach, Art Gallery Fabric flannel in Painted Prairie (3/4 metre remnant) and Entwined (2 metre remnant, 1 metre left over). The backing is Liberty cotton in candles - I'm not sure if I would purchase this fabric again, the ink was not very bright, and Dashwood in chapels, I used grey for the bobbin thread. Quilting is edge stitched each side of the seam in Guterman ivory thread. I used the coral fabric for the binding instead of Fabric 3 as it was the non flannel option.  

North Point Trousers and Orono Top

Itch to Stitch Northpoint Trousers in black stretch cotton I actually purchased for this pattern. It secures with a brass fly zip and two trouser hook and eye on the separate waistband. I lowered and extended the crotch, but made no other adjustments. This us my favourite trouser pattern, I make a pair every year. Worn with Orono Too sweater in organic cotton french terry.

Itch to Stitch Northpoint Trousers (older sizing 00 to 20)

• Classically sleek straight leg silhouette
• Medium rise and curve through hip and thigh
• Ankle length that can be lengthened or shortened
• Contour waistband for a better fit
• Streamlined front slanted pockets
• Strong and durable back single-welt pockets
• Fly front with zipper and double hook and bar closure
• Use of stretch woven fabric for comfort

Itch to Stitch Orono Top - Organic french Terry made up into Orono Top! I really want to make a Newport top in french terry too, plain colour sweatshirts are very on trend and easy to wear. Topstitched in Guterman thread with a narrow zigzag.

Itch to Stitch Orono Top -

• Stand-up collar
• Long raglan sleeves with shoulder darts
• Overlapping, petal-like front
• High-low hem
• In-seam pockets
• Designed for structured knit fabric.

Tote and Zip Purses

I picked up this Laura Ashley pdf pattern S9814 in a Simplicity USA pdf sale. I made a Gift for Mr W, a tote and a matching medicine bag (I don't use makeup bags and it reminded me of my fisher price first aid kit in the 80s so I renamed). I used a denim remnant. I don't have webbing as I make straps myself from interfacing and fabric, but I didn't need interfacing for this rigid denim. I interfaced the front and back pocket edges. Through taking the photos, I saw drag marks, so I interfaced the centre part of the bag where the straps sit using large offcuts of interfacing I had saved from other projects. lined the pockets in the Halloween cotton and cut the top of the pockets 2cm longer and the lining 2cm shorter so that I could sew the lining to the raw edge and fold the edge down. I used the denim reverse for the contrast. To cut your own 1 inch webbing, cut 2 of the length (65 or 60 inches? The pattern said 65 inch or 150 cm and that's not the same length) X 4 inches then fold the raw edges to the inside, fold in half and topstitch. The pattern is designed for quilting, so I thought it would be resourceful to use up scraps for patchwork bags.

Bags for Mr W from his old jeans! I interfaced the top of the bags and the overlay too because the denim had a little stretch. I used a leaf embroidery stitch. Same pattern but I used a smaller seam allowance.

Itch to Stitch Sibiu Top

Itch to Stitch Sibiu Top in organic cotton french terry, supplied by Minerva for review. 

 Itch to Stitch Sibiu Top sizes 00 to 40

• Relaxed batwing sleeves with shoulder inset option
• Bottom band resting on high hips
• Option for cowl or neckband
• Option for long or three-quarter length sleeves (long or short cuffs)
• Designed for knit fabric - I like french terry the best!

French terry supplied by Minerva for review. 

Charm Pattern Jeans

I purchased the Marilyn Jeans at the same time as the Patsy Shirt, which I sewed up in robin print Calico. I used stretch denim as this is my 'muslin', usually I would do a full calf adjustment. I left off the pocket topstitching to save time and the stitching isn't particularly visible in the pale blue. There's a long leg option, or Capri, or Capri with cuffs, I sewed Capri. I used brass studs and a brass jeans button with little stars on. The hidden side pocket is clever and retro, it was a good way of using up oddly coloured zips that don't match my fabrics! Changes: Added interfacing to the top of the back pockets (the front pockets are interfaced in the instructions). I sewed the hems at 3cm pressed up,  instead of 1.5cm turned twice.  I added bias binding to the inside pocket edge as 1.5cm felt too narrow for me. Instead of sewing the denim and pocket lining pocket pieces together, I drafted a new pocket lining piece then zigzagged the denim on top of it to join it at the raw edge. I used pastel sprinkles print fat quarters for the facings.