Stitch It and Gift It; My Turn

Posted byCarol AndrewsPosted inBlog Hops, Finished Projects, Life, Quilting, What’s Going OnTags:, , , , , , , , , ,

At last it’s my turn to share, but first, have you had a chance to visit the other bloggers on this Hop? I have been visiting and am so impressed with the creativity these bloggers share with all of us! I’d like to thank Carla of Creatin’ in the Sticks for organizing this hop. What a fun idea for this time of year. How many projects are chasing around in your brain like the sweet nest of squirrels these bloggers are creating in my mind!

Here is the full schedule for you to visit if you haven’t yet had a chance to visit:

Monday, November 11th

Just Let Me Quilt

Selina Quilts

Homespun Hannah’s Blog

Quilt Fabrication
Domestic Felicity
VroomansQuilts
Karrin’s Crazy World
Storied Quilts

Tuesday, November 12th

Life in the Scrapatch

Alycia Quilts

Kaholly

Words & Stitches
Quilt’n Party
Patchwork Breeze
desertskyquilts


Wednesday, November 13th

Moose stash Quilting
Pampered Pettit
Mary Mack Made Mine
The Quilted Snail
Days Filled With Joy
Melva Loves Scraps

Limeleaves

Thursday, November 14th

Beaquilter
Ridge Top Quilts

Cynthia’s Creating Ark
Songbird Designs
Farm Quilter
Kathy’s Kwilts and More
Bumbleberry Stitches
Quilt Schmilt


Friday, November 15th

Quilted Delights

Seams to be Sew
Ms P Designs USA
Just Because Quilts
Inquiring Quilter
Susie’s World
Creatin’ in the Sticks

At our November Executive Guild meeting one of our members mentioned a local organization which does Christmas Hampers and Santa gifts every year. They set up a back room with donated items for kids to go choose an item to gift to their Mom or Dad at the local food bank Christmas Party. They are desperately short of gift items and have asked if we can manage to help in any way. This valley we live in has a strong sense of community and most groups work well together on several different projects. Several of my guild members are making hats and scarves so I thought I would try something different. I love any reason to dig in my scrap bin and play.

When I was in town I picked up some composition notebooks to make some covers for.

This is the finished cover I did for my first notebook.

First finish!

My supply list for each cover is;

  • 2 – pieces of fabric for the outside cover and lining of the notebook cover ( 18” wide x 11” tall).
  • 2 – pieces of fabric for the inside flaps (6” wide x 11” tall).
  • 2 – pieces of fabric for the pockets on the inside flap (5” wide x 11” tall).
  • 1 piece of batting 18” x 11”.
  • 1 piece of fusible interfacing 18” x 11”.

Through trial and error and the use of my seam ripper, I did get this first one done. I added a mechanical pencil to the pencil pocket and called it good. I have made some changes to my pattern to be adjusted before I made the next cover.

The pattern is available HERE

Fabrics, placement and sizes; such fun.

I also decided I needed to make some bags. A couple of years ago I saw a bag made with an interesting snap closure. It utilized pieces of measuring tape. I thought of the knitting bag I had bought which had a zipper closure. I love that bag but hate the fact that my wool catches in the zipper. Perhaps some of the kids might want bags for their Moms.

Almost Finished!

Out came my pieces of muslin to start a scrappy bag front. The rest of my batting scrap pieces and interfacing bin is already out since I am still making notebook covers. Then I just needed to decide on colours and find some strips to play with. I started by laying down my lining piece, then my batting and then the fun part of sewing my strips on in a QAYG method. The piece ended up with a wonky almost square on what would be the front of the bag and stripes on the backside. I sewed on fabric strips to the top of the piece to make the casing for the measuring tape strips. I folded the bag with right sides together and sewed the side seams together. I boxed the corners by measuring 2” in from the bottom corners both ways and drew a diagonal line from the dots. Once I sewed the corners and trimmed the seam. The bag was then turned right side out. All that was left to do was to feed the measuring tape strips in to the casing and hand sew the seam shut. I had cut the measuring tape to fit across the top and then covered the ends of the measuring tape with a couple of layers of painters tape to ensure that the measuring tape wouldn’t poke holes in the fabric. All in all I am pleased with the first one. Then I made some wonky squares over layers of muslin and batting to see how the bag works with using blocks. If it does work I just might have found a way to use some of those orphan blocks I have stacked in a drawer in my sewing space!

Pattern will be available soon on my Patterns Tab.

My goal is to get a bunch of these composition books and fun storage bags done before our Guild meeting in the first week of December. I’m trying for a dozen of each project, wish me luck!

Don’t forget to stop by the great blogs on this hop and leave a comment for these designers. I know I’m collecting ideas for friends and family gifts for this upcoming holiday season.

I am having a gift away for the followers of my blog. To enter leave me a comment telling me you are a follower and what you like to make for Christmas gifts. If you could also make sure your email address is in your comment, I’d sure appreciate it. It makes it easier for me to get hold of you if you are the winner. Closing date to enter my giftaway is midnight November 21 here in British Columbia, Canada. The giftaway prize is a surprise since I have different gifts depending on the location of the winners residence. I dislike having to do it, but shipping and customs can be horribly expensive. 🥴

Have fun fondling fabric and thank you for stopping by to read my blog! 😉 Carol

Q4 Finish Along

Published by Carol Andrews

I have been fondling fabric and creating things with fabric and fiber for as long as I can remember. My children had homemade clothes, blankets, canning and quilts most of their lives. Now I create goodies to share! Hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoy making them! When I am not creating with fiber or fabric I keep busy with Dear Heart, kids, grandkids, great grandkids.

57 thoughts on “Stitch It and Gift It; My Turn”

  1. Making covers for journals is hard!! I remember covering books with paper grocery bags when I was in school – that only involved cutting, folding and tape and they weren’t all that easy to get perfect! Love your cover!! Your snap bag is cute – I like that it is on the diagonal, that makes it unique. I have a snap bag but it isn’t nearly as cute as yours is!! wild_blue_farm at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thank you. The covers really are so difficult once I figured out the how to on the first one! The other side of that snap bag is a wonky square! I started on one spot with a scrap and just kept adding round and round! It was fun. I’m have several more ready to sew together now. 😄 Carol

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  2. That is a very nice and generous gift. Do you include a pen or pencil? Great gift idea, especially to personalize the fabric to the person. Your directions are good. I have saved them.

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    1. Thank you Robin. Yes I do put a mechanical pencil and a pen in the pockets. I’m also doing some fun Christmas prints on both the bags and the covers so they are fun projects the kids might enjoy gifting to their parents. 😄 Carol

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  11. Great gift ideas. I have made a lot of snap bags for friends and they always want more. lol I have downloaded your pattern for the journal covers. That is certainly one project I need to tackle. Thank you! Thanks for playing along with us in the blog hop. I really enjoyed your post. Good luck with finishing all those gifts.

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  13. Hi Carol! You must be healing very, very well to be able to participate in several blog hops. I am so thrilled to know that. I just adore the notebook covers, and especially the fabrics you chose to cover them with. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

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  16. Wonderful way to dress up a composition notebook. I like to make pillow cases for the grandchildren for Christmas. I am a follower.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  17. The journal cover is great idea as well as the snap bag. I’ve never tried a snap bag, but may have to get inspired to do so! LOL Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Great projects! Perfect for gift giving. I am especially fond of the meauring tape closure on bags and such. My good friend made me a fabric glasses case with this type of closure and it is the best! Thanks for sharing!

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  20. The notebook cover is such a great idea!! I like to make mug rugs or little personalized photo quilts (wall hangings) for the special folks in my life. Or quilted potholders or poinsettia pins when I need a hostess gift! I follow … denisepanter (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you!! 🙂

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  22. You are a busy lady!! The kids will surely enjoy having lots of gifts to choose for their families! I think your snap bags are especially nice. I will sign up to follow you. bjkaup(at)(abbnebraska)(dot)(com)

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