In the Mail Monday: Labels!

Early last year Seam Ripper Joe posted about the labels he bought for his sewing projects.  Since then I've been thinking about all the things I make and how few get labels.  I decided it was time to do something about that.  I did a little looking around and ended up at Labels and Ribbon.com (the same place Joe recommended).  I ordered two kinds of labels to see what I thought of them.

First I ordered some printed labels.  These are printed on a nice satin ribbon.  My only issue with these is that I will have to mind my use of the iron when using these.  As would be expected, the iron surface shouldn't touch the printing.

My woven labels went on a bit of a walk-about on their way from the factory to me.  As you can see, they traveled across the country, seemingly spent a day at Disneyland and then traveled back to Maryland.  Maybe they also wanted to go watch the Os play, too.

Since my favorite color is red I went with it for my label color.  I want to make a statement.  I really like these!  I haven't sewn them to anything yet but I'm going to.  They are so cute!

Have you purchased labels to put your maker's mark on your projects?

Charity Quilting: Colorful Jungle

This one was pieced by another member of the Annapolis Quilts for Kids.  This fun quilt uses bright colors to make a big punch.

I went with this wave design for quilting.  Quilted with Magnifico from Superior Threads.

Another fun quilt ready for binding.

Embroidered Composition Book Cover

I've shared posts about embroidered bags, embroidered clothing and embroidered hand towels.  Today let's look at a custom cover for a composition book.

The composition book is a great way to keep notes on all sorts of things.  But how do you keep someone else from picking your composition book up from the table and walking off with it?  You get a custom cover that no one else has.  These make great gifts for that note-taker, list-maker or doodler in your life.  I really like the graph notebooks for quilt design on the move.

First, go to Urban Threads or another embroidery designer and find a good embroidery.  Since this one is for the game master for a table-top role-playing game set in a fantasy world I thought the dragon and swords design would be good.  Don't think you have to have an embroidery machine to make something like this.  Urban Threads has loads and loads of designs that are also released in hand-embroidery.  Their designs are great for so many things and they aren't not about teddy bears and flowers.  Don't want to try embroidery?  You can piece the cover or even print out blocks on your inkjet printer.

I create all my notebook covers using my own pattern developed through trial and many errors.  Even this one needed a little ripping before it was done.  The cover is made with four pieces.  One continuous piece for the outside, two end pieces (this is where I sometimes add a pocket or pen holder) and the lining.  When complete, there are no raw edges on the outside and I think the cover holds up really well over time.

If I was really worried about the edges coming unraveled I would take a run around the outside edge after sewing it all together with a zig-zag stitch or with the serger.

I think I used fusible fleece for this one.  If you wanted to use regular batting and some quilting that would work, too.  I've also made these using flannel as the backing for the outer cover.

I embroidered a signature and a name inside the back cover before assembly.

Add one composition book.

Gift and hope the GM remembers it and doesn't try to kill you and the rest of the party.

There are loads of notebook cover tutorials out there in the world.  Maybe someday I'll get around to writing a tutorial for this one like I did for the scoodie, the zippered dice bag and cloth napkins.

Sew Together Bag Swap

I joined the Sew Together Bag Swap on Instagram (#sewtogetherbagswap).  I figured it was time to share the fun little bag I put together for my partner.

I had this small collection of 30's reproduction prints from the 2014 Row by Row Shop Hop.  They are doing it again this year and it is even bigger than last year.  Shops in all 50 states are participating. Check out the Row by Row Experience.

I pulled out my copy of the Sew Together Bag pattern from Sew Demented.  Then I grabbed a handful of zippers from ZipIt! Zipper Supply that coordinated.

I had made some tiny Churn Dash blocks for another project and I thought they would be perfect for this.  I made four tiny blocks.  The finished blocks are 3" by 3".  If you want to know how the Churn Dash goes together, you can check out a great video from Missouri Star Quilt Co on YouTube.

The layout for this one took some math, but it wasn't impossible.  A little bit of time with some graph paper and I had it figured out.

I won't go into the assembly process for the Sew Together Bag.  I will tell you that this isn't my first and that the tutorial provided by The Quilt Barn is amazing!  If you decide to try this pattern I highly recommend the tutorial for your first time.

One modification I do to the pattern is to make two needle-landings instead of a pin cushion and a needle-landing.  I can do the same thing with the needle landing that I would do with a pin cushion and I think it is neater.

I used this fun all-over motif called paisley.  You can find a tutorial from Leah Day on her site.  She has loads and loads of great free motion quilting tutorials that can be used on your sewing machine or on a long arm.

Another great resource for quilting motifs is from Lori at The Inbox Jaunt.  Great step by step tutorials for free motion quilting that can be applied to free motion on your sewing machine or on a long arm.

This bag is so versatile.  You can use it for your sewing tools when traveling or use it to hold other artistic tools like pens and pencils.  I use one to hold my hexie piecing tools (needle, thread, little binder clip, pins), fabric squares and hexie papers.  It is easy to grab and go.

I think the finished bag is perfect.  I recommend the pattern if you are looking for great bag and a bit of a challenge.  I think beginning sewers can accomplish this bag if they just take their time.  It isn't fast but I think the results are totally worth it.

I had some scraps leftover so I made a tiny notebook cover in coordinating prints.  This was a fun swap that I'm really glad I joined.

Have you found any fun swaps that you have enjoyed making as much as receiving?  What about great bag patterns that you've made again and again?