Cushion Covers Part 2

I'm not going crazy when I say this, but, sometimes the fabric just needs to talk to you and tell you what it wants to be.

I had chosen the fabrics below to create another pillow case for the pillows on our lounge suite.  The brown and the orange with white are Japanese kimono fabrics and the gold is a quilt making cotton.  Initially the two Japanese prints 'talked' to me, but I needed a third one.  I finally settled on the gold cotton.

Then for the pattern, originally I wanted to do this pillow in the Drunkards Path design with only the two Japanese prints, alas, I did not have enough fabric, that's why I had to find a third fabric. So, maybe some Drunkards Path at a later date.

I finally settled on a pattern called, "Carpenter's Wheel or Star Quilt", I had used this design before in my blog "Happy Retirement".  The design can be found online in Pinterest in many forms.

Well in typical Sandra style I cut enough to make another pillow in this design (could be cushion number 3), but, that's another story...


What will cushion three be?  I don't quite know yet, nothing as 'spoken' to me! LOL

It's Australia Day over here, I'm off to do more sewing before returning to work tomorrow (many a teacher in mourning today).

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Cushion covers. Part 1

My couch is in need of some pillows. This means that l need to make five cushion covers.

I pulled out some Japanese prints, which are cuts from kimonos.  A mix of pieces that are cotton, silk and polyester.

My first cushion cover l have used three fabrics from this lot.  The fabrics, although beautiful, have imperfections - hence the reason they were cut up and sold as fabric pieces.  I didn't go out of my way to hide these imperfections either.

Using the 'Rocket Man', design from Kathy Doughty's book, 'Material Obsession', I created a cushion cover.

Since the block in the book is not meant to be symmetric, l felt this would suit my imperfect fabric. It was more like free styling or crazy patchwork, without the embellishments.

Now for some quilting.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Quilt top made for a man that enjoys fishing

I decided that I need to buy less fabric and sew more. Heard that before?

Every time I look at fabric and buy it, I know exactly what it should become. Trouble is, I have more good ideas than I have time.  Poor excuse really. I should make time.

I purchased a piece of fabric with fishing lures on it. I've had it for over a year. Finally, I decided what the design should be.

So I fussy cut the squares of fishing lures, and I used a pack of fat quarters of graduating shades of green, and so, this is what I created.  The top is done, the quilting will come later.  I'm pretty happy with the finished product:

Besides this, I've become mug rug mad, and at every opportunity been making this for upcoming birthdays, I think I've covered birthdays until July this year.  I enjoy doing them, they would also make great Christmas presents.

I've also gone through my wardrobe and turfed two garbage bags of clothes.  If they didn't make me feel good, they are out.  If they didn't fit, yes, you guessed it, they're gone.  Trouble is, I'm under pressure to sew more clothes!  Anyway two weeks to go until I'm back at work, so I should be able to get a couple of tops done.

What have you been up to? What's your latest project?

Enjoy what you're doing. Happy sewing.

Sandra

Mug rugs

Happy new year.

In keeping with my goal for 2016 (to blog every week), here is my first creation for 2016.

I initially saw this style of coaster at a friends place.

So, l thought l would give it a go.

To create these mug rugs you will need 5" squares of fabric (5 colours).

Place the base colour of your coaster right side facing you, then place on top a folded square, making sure the fold of the square is facing the centre of the square and the raw edges are facing out. Continue to layer each colour around the square:

 When you get to the end, lift up the first fold and tuck in the fourth fold:

Pin all sides down, sew a 1/4" seam all around.

Trim the corners and edges.

Turn inside out , and there you have it:

A nice quick and easy gift for birthdays or for Christmas 2016!

Again, happy new year.

Happy sewing.

Sandra