Go Cutter Newsletter

I am not sure how many of you have a Go Cutter, would like one, or would like to get updates on their new dies, but if you would like to sign up for their newsletter, go to this link.  They have many giveaways (in fact I hosted one not too long ago) and free projects.  You can also hit the button on my sidebar to signup and download their free projects.

New Developments

So I made, not one, but two strip bags in reds.  I liked the shape, but I think I wish I had placed the strips vertically like the green one.  Here are the pics...

When I finished making these bags, I had a few things to put away.  Which leads me to my next topic.  I started to look through my garage sale finds (embroidered napkins, handkerchiefs, table runners, etc.) and I found this.

I love this!  It is just beautiful.  I do not know if you can tell, but the white background is see-through.  So, it got me thinking of what to do with it.  I decided to sew  down the sides after folding it into 3 sections. 

I am going to fill it with lavender and use it as a sachet in my drawers.  But when I get tired of that, I think I will use it as a small pillow cover, you know the ones your husband hates to have on the bed?

And the last thing I want to talk about is my progress on my red circle quilt.  I finally found a border fabric I liked, a light pink, almost blush fabric.  Now I am in the process of laying out the vines, leaves and flowers on it.  I love laying it out, but hate drawing the pattern on the white paper.  Why?  I don't know why, I just do. 

I Am Back to Making Bags With Fabric Strips

I decided to make a shoulder bag using strips in the front and a solid color on the back.  I quilted the front and back of this bag with cotton batting on the wrong side.  I lined the bag and included a small inside pocket and decided to use a zipper since I have not done one in a while.  Here is the result of my labor.  I have yet to name it.

It measures 11" h x 7 1/2" w x 2 1/2" d.  The shoulder strap height is 13 1/2" (measured from top of bag to where strap will rest on you shoulder).

I really like this bag, but I think I would like to make one that is a bit wider and, perhaps, not as tall.  I guess I know what I will be working on tomorrow.

And the Winner Is

The winner of the Accuquilt 3 Go! Cutter Dies is Joy...

Congratulations, I will be contacting you shortly to collect all the information Carolyn needs to send you your dies.

Thank you to all for entering and for becoming followers.  I look forward to developing friendships.  I have been able to get to a few of your blogs and becoming followers myself.  I hope to get through the list soon.  One thing I have noticed is that many people who commented do not have a blogs of their own.   I did not realize that there were so many out there.



Original Post:

Carolyn from Accuquilt has given me the "go ahead" to have a sponsored giveaway for 3 Go! Cutter Dies.  So go on over to their website  to check out the dies.

These are just examples of the dies that you could win.  There are many more  to choose from.

Here are the rules:

1.  Leave a comment here with your 3 choices of Go! Cutter dies.  They can be found here at Accuquilt.
2.  Become a follower or comment that you already are a follower for another chance.
3.  Post about this giveaway for yet another chance.

Only comments on this post will be included in the giveaway so please do not leave a comment on the Accuquilt Facebook page.  That's it.  Quite easy, huh?  If you are lucky enough to be the winner, please make sure that I have a way to contact you.  If you are a No-reply blogger, I will have to pick another winner.

The giveaway will close Sunday night, June 19, 2011.  I will announce the winner on Monday, June 20, 2011.

WOW

Wow, just wow.  I did not realize how much of a response I would receive on the Go! Cutter die giveaway. I reached a new milestone, I now have 100 followers.  YAY!  So I will have to give this some thought.  Perhaps another giveaway?

While I was using my Go! Cutter for the handbag, I thought I might like to use it on a quilt I have been working on.

I started this quilt on a retreat last March.  I had purchased a Moda Jelly Roll and Honeybun  from the internet.  I don't usually like purchasing fabrics without touching them, but I knew I could not go wrong with Moda.  I decided to pick fabrics/colors that I would not normally choose, so this quilt is very different for me.  The two rolls yielded 20 log cabin blocks.  Since I wanted a larger quilt,  I added some yellow and brown blocks.  When I finished the top, I knew that the solid blocks needed something more, so I appliqued some Funky Flowers (Go! Cutter die) on top of the brown fabric.  Now what to do with the yellow corner blocks.  Any suggestions?

I'm On A Roll...Another Bag

I finished another handbag today.  This will be a Christmas gift for a close friend.  I decided to use decorator fabrics, so it will be perfect for the holidays.  This picture does not show it's true colors.  The decorator fabric is sage green with hints of gold.  The stripe consists of a burgundy and forest green gross grain ribbons.  I found and purchased the green beaded pin a long time ago and it was perfect for this handbag.

I have to put a few of these bags on my web site Talin's Handbags.  Hope you all have a great day.

Becca Handbag Tutorial

Okay so here it is...please let me know what you think.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me, I would love to hear from you.

Becca Handbag Tutorial (finished size approximately 12 ½”h x 13”w x 4”d)

                                                                (handle height is 10” from top of bag)

Materials:


4 different coordinating fabrics (¼ yard each) or 20 Honey Bun strips

½ yard fabric for lining and inside pocket

½ yard fabric for handles

¼ yard fabric for ruffle

5” square piece of fabric for flower

1” square piece of fabric for center of flower

19” x 30” batting

1 yard fusible interfacing

20” eyelash yarn

1 fusible sheet (at least 9” x 11”)

Snap (optional)

*** Read all instructions first. ***
*** All seams are ½” unless otherwise noted. ***
*** Always back stitch when sewing two fabrics together. ***

Exterior of Bag:


1.  Cut 20 1 ½” strips of fabric from the assorted ¼ yard fabrics.  Skip this step if you are using Honey Bun strips.

2.  Arrange the strips in a pleasing manner.  Pin and sew the strips together using ¼” seam allowance.

3.  Iron all seams in one direction.

4.  Cut off selvage from one side.

5.  Measure 29” from this cut edge and cut.  When done correctly, you will have a piece measuring about 19“ x 29”.  Set aside the leftover piece for later use.

6.  Lay the 19“ x 29” on top of batting, right side facing up.  The batting should be larger than sewn piece.  It is very important that the batting be larger to accommodate shrinkage.

7.  Pin these two layers together.  The best way to do this is to start in center and pin every 4” or so, smoothing the top piece as you go.

8.  Quilt as desired. I chose to sew wavy lines along every other seam.  HINT:  If you want your stitches to show or stand out, use contrasting thread.

9.  Cut this quilted piece to 18” x 28”.

10. Take the 5” square of fabric and iron a fusible backing.

11. Iron a fusible backing to the scrap piece of fabric for the center of the flower.

12. Place the 5” square piece of fabric over the flower shape and the scrap fabric over center circle shape on the Funky Flower die (#55042). Hint: If you do not have a Go! Cutter ®, cut a flower shape and a flower center.

13. Run through the Go! Cutter®.

14. Take off the paper backing from both pieces.  Place the flower shape 2 ½” down from top, raw edge and 4” from side, raw edge of sewn/quilted piece.

15. Sew a blanket stitch (or any other decorative stitch) around the flower shape.

16. Wrap the eyelash yarn around your fingers 3 or 4 times.

17. Place in center of flower shape and tack down.

18. Iron on flower center.  Blanket stitch (or any other decorative stitch) around flower center.  Cut the loops of the eyelash yarn and trim as desired.

19. Fold sewn/quilted piece in half width wise, right sides together.

20. Pin and sew down the both side seams starting from top, raw edges and finishing at the bottom, folded edge.

21. Iron or finger press side seams open.

22. Create a box bottom by marking the corners with a 1 ½” square.  Cut on marked lines.

23. Pinch side seam and bottom center together so that they are aligned.

24. Pin and sew.  Reinforce by sewing a zig zag stitch over raw edge. 

25. Repeat on the other side.

26. Turn bag, right side out and set aside.

Ruffle:

1.   Cut 2 3” strips from the fabric for the ruffle.

2.   Place the two cut strips at a 45 ˚, right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line.

3.   Sew on top of this line.

4.   Cut off excess, leaving a ¼” seam allowance.

5.   Press seam open.

6.   Fold the 3” strip, wrong sides together, so that it now measures 1 ½” wide.  Iron.

7.   Take the two ends and sew them together by repeating steps 2 - 5.  If done correctly, you will now have a circle of fabric.  Hint:  Make sure that you do not twist this strip before sewing the two ends together.

8.   Divide this piece into four sections.  The easiest way to do this is to fold this circular piece in half.  Place pins on each folded end.

  

9.   Refold by placing these 2 pins on top of one other.

10. Place pins on the folded ends.  You should have 4 pins in all.  These markings will be used to center the ruffle on the bag.

11. Baste along the raw edges using ¼” seam allowance.   Hint:  A ruffle foot makes this step easy.  If your sewing machine has one, set the dial on 2. 

12. Pull the thread to create a ruffle that will fit along the top edge of the bag.

13. Pin ruffle to right side of bag using the marking pins as guides.  The four pins should be aligned with the left side seam, center bag front, right side seam, and center bag back.

14. Sew ruffle in place using a ¼” seam allowance.

Handles:

1.  Cut 2 8” x 26” from the handle fabric.

2.  Take one of the handles and fold this piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.  Iron to form a crease.

3.  Unfold and refold raw edges of fabric toward the ironed center crease.

4.  Fold again towards center so that raw edges are hidden.

5.  Pin and sew as close to the folded edge as possible.

6.  Take one raw edge of handle and place on top raw edge of bag, right sides together, 3 ½” from side.  Pin in place.  Repeat on the other side of bag with the other raw edge of handle.  Make sure that the handle is not twisted.

7.  Baste in place using ¼” seam.

8.  Repeat with the other handle on the other side of bag.

9. Set aside.

Inside Pocket:



1.  Cut 5 ½” x 7” (h x w) from leftover sewn/quilted piece.

2.  Cut 5 ½” x 7” (h x w) from lining fabric.

3.  Cut 2 5 ½” x 7” (h x w) from interfacing.

4.  Iron interfacing to wrong side of leftover sewn/quilted piece and lining fabric.

5.  Pin these two pieces, right sides together.

6.  Sew around all four sides, leaving a 2” opening for turning, using a ¼” seam allowance.

7.  Clip corners.

8.  Turn right-side out and press (finger or iron).

9.  Sew the 2” opening closed.

10. Set aside.

Lining:

1.  Cut 18” x28” from lining fabric and interfacing.

2.  Iron interfacing to wrong side of fabric.

3.  Turn over and iron on right side of fabric to smooth out wrinkles.

4.  Place pocket on the right side of lining, 3” down from top and 5 ¾” from sides.

5.  Sew the left, bottom, and right sides of pocket to lining top (leave the top of pocket open).

6.  Fold lining piece in half, right sides together and pin in place.

7.  Sew both side seams (14”).

8.  Iron seams open.

9.  Create a box bottom by marking the corners with a 1 ½” square.  Cut on marked lines.

10. Pinch center seam and bottom center together.  Pin in place.

11. Sew and trim seam to ¼”.

12. Sew a zig-zag stitch across raw edge to secure.

13.  Repeat on other side.

14.  Center and attach snap according to manufacturer’s instructions.  Hint:  Placing a small 2” square piece of scrap fabric (or interfacing) between each snap piece is recommended.  

Assembly:



1.  Place outside of bag into lining, making sure that right sides are together. The handles should be sandwiched between the exterior of bag and lining.  The inside pocket should be facing the back of bag.  Pin in place.

2.  Sew around top leaving a 5” or larger for turning.  Hint:  Reinforcing the handles at this time is highly recommended.

3.  Turn right side out.

4.  Push lining into exterior of bag and pin the top border of bag.

5.  Top stitch the top of bag 1/8” down from top, making sure that the handle is pulled away from the inside of bag.  Also, make sure to close the 5” opening used for turning.

6.  Congratulations, you are done.

 Talin’s Handbags ®

2011