Zakka Style Sew-A-Long: Week 6

ITTY BITTY QUILT BLOCK MAGNETS

Or not.  Busy, busy week this was.  I wasn't even going to attempt to do this week's project.  Not just because I didn't have time, I also have a stainless front refrigerator.  Magnets don't stick.

BUT ...
(There's always a but.)
On Saturday it occurred to me what a great idea this project was for using up scraps.  Which I have begun shoving in a plastic bag.  For now.  Working on a better system, but that's not really the point.  I have all these scrap fabric to use!  But I still don't need magnets.  So I decided to make broaches!  Well, broach singular.  (Hey!  I didn't have a lot of time, okay?!  Get off my back!)

Anyway, it isn't perfect.  I consider it my trial run as I see more of these in my future! 

Now, for the specifics.  I fussy-cut a piece of home dec weight cotton, used some repurposed denim scraps to surround it and attached a layer of fusible fleece behind it.  THEN I used some No. 5 Perle Cotton thread to put a simple running stitch around the flower.  (There I go, hand-sewing again!)  The back is Osnaburg and I used more of that to create a stronger base for the pin finding inside the whole thing.  Just like a scrap folded about 4 times to make it thicker.  Worked pretty well.  Stitched the pin to the backing BEFORE sewing the front and back together, RS facing then turning RS out.  Please ignore the wonky edge there on the back.  I was doing this quick and the seamed backing pulled apart a little.  Then I top-stitched all around the border twice.  Yes, I intentionally made those lines wonky as the edges aren't perfectly square.  Then denim stretches a little bit.

So that's my "Not-a-Magnet" for this week's project!

Zakka Style Sew-A-Long: Week 5

PATCHWORK PENCIL CASE

The project for this week was cute and looked relatively easy.  Thought I'd have some fun with the patchwork portion.  Which I did. 

BUT that being said ...

It's gripe time.
I think the construction for this was W-A-Y more convoluted and confusing than it needed to be.  I think there are better ways to do something so simple.  And to suggest leaving only a 1.25" opening to turn it right-side-out through??  When there is interfacing involved??  And a strap??  Yeah, that's not really big enough and I have tiny fingers!  The material is just to thick.  The linen got stretched out at the opening so it's uneven after closing and stitching it up.  Oh, and "use a knitting needle ..." to help push the fabric through???  Even with a fairly tight-weave linen, the knitting needle will punch right through the weave.  Three times.  I knew better than to use it, but I did anyway.  So, that's on me.  Now I have three holes in it.  Lovely.

If I do this project again, I will do it differently. 
And write up my own instructions. 
And post them here. 
Because this was a pain in the ass.

In my humble opinion.


But it's kick-ass in RED!

** I will admit that I had some unrelated frustrations arise as I was writing this post so if my rant seems a little blunt, I apologize.  But my points I defend.  This could have had simpler and better instructions.

Zakka Style Sew-A-Long: Week 4

SEWING KIT

Well, despite being sick most of the week with some lovely respiratory bug, I managed to finish my sewing kit!  I actually planned to make two - one as a gifty for someone - but that totally wasn't going to happen!

My sewing kit came out a little smaller than it was supposed to.  Apparently trying to cut fabric with a fever means that you misjudge the size of the inner pockets.  Oh, well ... c'est la vie!  I was a good girl and actually hand-stitched my pincushion closed.  Fancy that!

I added some top-stitching because I like it.  Plus, the Osnaburg fabric is a little soft and doesn't hold a shape super great and the extra stitching gives it some "oomph!" I did manage to score some linen the other week to use for future projects in the Sew-A-Long, but I was lazy and didn't feel like getting it out.

Now, I just need to find some tiny scissors for my sewing kit! 

Zakka Style Sew-A-Long: Week 3

ZAKKA PINCUSHION

I'm lazy.  I'll admit it.  
I seldom do any hand sewing.
This project only called for a wee tiny bit.
I still didn't do it.

But it's a cute little pincushion.
Of course, mine is a naughty girl.
She boldly proclaims "Stick It In Me".

She's a bad girl.

------------------------------------------

This project was kinda fun actually!

I played around with fabric stamping.  I was going to design my own stamp using an eraser, but there's a whole saga as to why that didn't happen.  You don't care.  I won't bore you.  BUT I did buy some simple block-letter stamps.  I found this wicked cool fabric-paint-that-works-like-a-fabric-dye that was pretty easy to use.  You have to let it dry for 24 hours then heat set it with an iron.  I can assure you that being lazy and waiting 3 or 4 days poses no issue.  Ahem.

And I like the little dome button on the front.  Reminds me of a gumdrop.  And yes, I understand the irony of NOT wanting to hand sew the cushion closed after stuffing but hand sewing on the button.  Yes, yes ... I'm quite the paradox.

Or just lazy.
Whatever.