Machine quilting is one of my favorite activities because I love the way quilted lines texture the fabric. This quilted bag came in to being for a friend’s birthday gift. It is sturdy and brightly colored. The fabric is a combination of recent acquisitions and old fabrics waiting to be used.
A close up on the handles.
The inside is not quilted. I used the School of Sewing‘s construction, with some personalized touches, such a size and fabrics.
What type of handmade gifts do you like to give?
This tote first started coming together in April, but was set aside for other projects. It caught my eye the other day. I scoped out the previous work, and found I was at the final steps of construction. The instructions are from The School of Sewing.
Free motion quilting is the best, and I love working on improving my skills.
Most of the scraps came from a baby quilt I finished in March.
The fabric scraps are mostly from Lizzy House’s line Natural History. A great line with playful fabrics that I love.
What have you been working on? Thanks for stopping by.
This is a quilt for a special person: first nephew I’ll ever meet! He comes from very bright and sweet people. When I saw Lizzy House‘s fabric line Natural History I fell in love with the playfulness of color and design. She seems pretty awesome. Check her out on Creativebug too (I am a huge fan of Creativebug, but more on that another time). I consulted School of Sewing‘s instructions for a baby-sized quilt, but then added in my own arrangement. 
Carolyn Friedlander‘s new line Caraki tones down the color and adds to a structured effect. Bones are the best. We all need bones and they are beautiful to look at. Caraki is beautiful and strong. Perfect!
I wasted no time using my favorite FM curved shape while quilting. I love this quilt, and I’m excited to meet the little guy it is for.
What have you been sewing up lately? Happy end of March to everyone!
The School of Sewing is a book I return to again and again since being recommended it by my seamstress aunt. A lot of people are worried about using a sewing machine, and I was no exception. The School of Sewing helped demystify my machine and got me comfortable using a variety of sewing schools. It’s a great book for those looking for a book to help them with beginning sewing. The apron, project three, is a great one and well fitting.
This is the child’s size and is a gift for a friend. The dinosaur fabric is Lizzy House’s Natural History for Andover fabrics. Lizzy House is one of my favorite fabric designers. She is playful and vibrant and sweet. These are great prints to work with.
I picked solids for the rest of the apron because it seemed to balance out the print. This apron is for a boy, and I wanted it to have a more stark appearance. The apron is already on its way in the mail to the recipient and I couldn’t be happier. Making a gift for another has always been such a pleasant experience for me.
How have you been sharpening your sewing skills? Thanks for stopping by!
It is finished & I love it! 
My favorite part happens to be the color combination on the binding & how it draws everything together, really popping against the blue background. The colors & layout keep the eye moving across the quilt, almost like water.
Quilting is a calming experience. I loved every step of the process & snuggling under this quilt has been fantastic. The challenges I faced while making this quilt, measuring, sewing consistent seams & threading repeatedly, allowed me to put things in perspective & I stepped away at times. I came back fresh each day more excited than the last to be quilting, at last! Now I have a finished quilt & lots of great scraps for cards & other creations.
When I expressed to my seamstress-aunt a desire to start up sewing again, she recommended Shea Henderson’s School of Sewing. After browsing reviews online & checking out the awesome book trailer I decided to buy the book. Hotdog! It is a hit. School of Sewing has fantastic projects that’re immediately useful. The Half-Square Triangle quilt is the final project, and I couldn’t be more excited to be hand-sewing on the binding.
Right now I’m sewing with mostly solids (Although, there’s a half yard of Cotton + Steel from Sarah Watts’ collection Honeymoon waiting to be an apron pocket!), and went with warm & bold here complimented by grey.
Years ago I made three quilts in a summer with whim guiding my hand, and I doubt a ruler ever entered the room. Over the next ten years I dabbled with a few shirts, dresses, and other random items. School of Sewing helped me feel more confident with myself and a sewing machine.
For the quilt backing I went blue. It feels fresh & light and helps anchor the quilt top’s bright movement.
Happy New Years! What are you working on right now?
Brambleton Threads 