Weekender Bag Sew Along : Week Two (Pocket Piecing)

Hey there friends!  I promise I've done some sewing since my last post ... maybe not as much as I had hoped, but I was on vacation.  :-) 

I usually sew on a Bernina 710, but took my smaller 210 to the Outer Banks with me and enjoyed sewing with the ocean and sand dunes, and the occasional wild pony, in the background.  Relaxing and a fun week away.  

If you follow me on Instagram (@sewlux), you've seen these photos, but I wanted to walk you through a little more of my pocket piecing process.

You may have also seen that Sew & Sew by Chloe's Closet arrived right before I left for the beach and I changed my mind about my fabric choices...  I mean, they are just so pretty!

I knew I wanted to put an initial on one end of the pocket.  I decided it would be super cute to put it inside a spool ... I used the Spell It With Moda letter as my inspiration and scaled it down... way down.  The letter finished at 1.5" wide x 2.5" tall.  I made the Mini Spool from Thimble Blossoms a little taller to accommodate that but otherwise followed Camille's directions.  I think it's really cute if I do say so myself! ;-)

My next end pocket is the cute little flower from Handmade - also a mini pattern by Camille. I fussy cut a bunch of flowers from this print as the center.  And can we talk about these measuring tape prints?!  I plan to add some borders to this one and to make it large enough.

Since I was traveling and wasn't sure what kind of iron and ironing board might be available at the beach house, I invested in a cute little travel iron and ironing mat that I got off of Amazon.  While small, this iron definitely did the job and got super hot.  I didn't use steam, but it was hot enough to press my seams nice and flat.  (Side note: after reading some reviews about these ironing mats/pads, I brought along a little tv tray table and used it as my ironing surface just in case ... and that way I didn't risk ruining the dining table at the house.)

I decided to piece some of the small Smitten blocks for both of my larger pockets.  I machine piece these and use the Marti Michell templates to cut and mark my fabrics. 

I used a paper grocery bag to make a template of the pocket size and then the MM templates to mark the layout to figure out how many blocks I would need to make.  And then I had a great time playing around with fabrics ...

Can all the blocks be my favorite? I don't think I can choose just one... ;-)

I think this bag is going to be totally dreamy with these colors and florals mixed up.  To make the pocket panel big enough, I added some partial unpieced hexagons (using the largest whole hexagon template in the set to cut them) along the top and sides.  Since the bottom of the hexagons on the second row will be cut off some, I kept all the most intricately pieced blocks along the top row where they could be seen.

I will be quilting up my pockets and other panel pieces this weekend ... I will post an update in a few days!

Happy Sewing! :-)

Smitten Quilt Along : Small Block Six

Hey everyone!  How are your Smitten quilts coming along?  We are coming to a close on the quilt along ... I know I have a few blocks to catch up on!  But this month's little block is certainly pretty quick and easy even though it looks like it might not be.  No Y-Seams!  :-)

For more details on the Smitten Quilt Along, visit this post here for dates and supplies, etc.  If you haven't purchased templates, go ahead and make your's using the pattern and template plastic or other material of your choice.  (Be sure to add the seam allowance if making your own templates.)

This month is our last tutorial and its Small Block Six ... 

Cut out your fabrics and then mark your pieces.  (I actually chose not to mark this time for two reasons: (1) there are no y-seams and the clipped corners help me line things up and (2) I am pretty comfortable sewing these now!)  Then lay out your block in a pleasing arrangement.  Here, I am just using two main prints and alternating them with a "background."

First, we need to make the pieced triangles.  We'll sew edge-to-edge to join them... one triangle to the diamond at a time.  I also backstitched at the beginning and ends as I chain pieced them.

Then the second triangle to the diamond. I pressed toward the triangles in both steps.

Next, sew two sets of triangles together.  You can sew edge-to-edge since there are no Y-seams in this one! (yay!)

Press and then get ready to add the third triangle to each pair. 

Again, we'll sew edge-to-edge since we won't have to join the two halves with y-seams. 
You'll have two halves like this.  If you are using two alternating prints, they'll be opposite of each other like shown. 

Pin the two halves together and sew your last seam. (I put a pin through the intersections to help line things up nicely. See block four here ... its just like last month!) 

Viola!  Really easy block!  :-)  You need seven of these cuties.

I am still working on completing all my blocks and will need join my small hexagons into bigger ones as well as make the half blocks necessary.  I'll share more of those soon!

I hope these photos were helpful to you...  I can't wait to make a few more myself and to see your's too! Don't forget to use #smittenquilt and #smittenquiltqal on Instagram. :-)

If you have questions, leave a comment, email me or tag me on IG!

Happy Sewing!  :)

Smitten Quilt Along : Small Blocks Four and Five

Hey everyone!  How are your Smitten quilts coming along?  I am sorry I was running late this month getting this posted.  I got distracted with my Thimble Blossoms Scrappy sampler.  In all honestly, these two little blocks took no time at all and were really easy once I finally sat down to make them!

For more details on the Smitten Quilt Along, visit this post here for dates and supplies, etc.  If you haven't purchased templates, go ahead and make your's using the pattern and template plastic or other material of your choice.  (Be sure to add the seam allowance if making your own templates.)

We will start with Small Block Four ... 

Cut out your fabrics and then mark your pieces.  Mark the wrong side of your fabric pieces with dots where the 1/4" seams would meet.  (The acrylic templates have holes, making this super easy!) Alternatively, you could use your ruler and pen to draw lines along the seam allowances to mark your start and stop points.

Lay out your block in a pleasing arrangement.  Here, I am just using two prints and alternating them. 

Next, sew two sets of triangles together.  You can sew edge-to-edge since there are no Y-seams in this one! (yay!)

Press and then get ready to add the third triangle to each pair. 

Again, we'll sew edge-to-edge since we won't have to join the two halves with y-seams. 

You'll have two halves like this.  If you are using two alternating prints, they'll be opposite of each other like shown. 

Pin the two halves together.  I put a pin through the intersections to help line things up nicely. 

Viola!  Really easy block!  :-)  You need four of these cuties.

Next up ... Small Block Five. 

Cut out your fabrics and then mark your pieces.  Mark the wrong side of your fabric pieces with dots where the 1/4" seams would meet.  (The acrylic templates have holes, making this super easy!) Alternatively, you could use your ruler and pen to draw lines along the seam allowances to mark your start and stop points.

I elected to fussy cut all three diamonds from the same fabric for this particular block.  But you could do three prints in the same colorway or whatever you like!

Next, sew two diamonds together.  You'll sew from the outer edge (left) to the dots in the center of the block (right). Be sure to backstitch at the dots. 

Your diamonds should look like the photo below. Next, you'll attach the third diamond by sewing from the center dots all the way to the outside edges. 

When sewing on the second side, be sure you you move the opposing diamond out of the way so it doesn't get caught in your stitching. 

All done!  Quick and easy!  I pressed all the seams in one direction going around the block (clockwise). 

You'll need eight of these pretties!  

I am hoping to get caught up in the next few weeks with all my blocks so far.  Don't forget to use #smittenquilt and #smittenquiltqal on Instagram. :-)

If you have questions, leave a comment, email me or tag me on IG!

Happy Sewing!  :)

Smitten Quilt Along : Large Block Five and Small Block One

Hey everyone!  How are your Smitten quilts coming along?  I've really enjoyed seeing all your blocks on Instagram. :-) 

What's awesome about this month's blocks is that there are NO y-seams!  Yippee!

For more details on the Smitten Quilt Along, visit this post here for dates and supplies, etc.  If you haven't purchased templates, go ahead and make your's using the pattern and template plastic or other material of your choice.  (Be sure to add the seam allowance if making your own templates.)

Cut out your fabrics and then mark your pieces.  Mark the wrong side of your fabric pieces with dots where the 1/4" seams would meet.  (The acrylic templates have holes, making this super easy!) Alternatively, you could use your ruler and pen to draw lines along the seam allowances to mark your start and stop points.

Since this block is mostly triangle-based, we can piece the whole thing with NO y-seams.  You'll use your dots for reference, but you can sew through them to the edges and chain piece. :-) 

Sew a triangle to two opposite sides of the the center hexagon.  And sew a triangle to four of the diamonds as shown. Press toward triangles.

Then sew two of the pairs to the center unit. Press away from center.  
And add the remaining two diamonds to two other pairs making two units of three pieces. Press toward diamond.

Next, the 3-piece units to the sides.  I used pins and pinned through the dots to keep things lined up well. 

Press away from the center.  This is a complete Small Block One.  It's also the same as the center of Large Block Five. :-)

We'll add the border to make the Large Block Five in the same way as we just did for the center/small block one.  

Sew a triangle to two opposite sides of the the center hexagon.  And sew a triangle to four of the diamonds as shown. Press toward triangles.

Sew two of the pairs to the center unit. Press away from center.  

Then add the remaining two diamonds to two other pairs making two units of three pieces. Press toward diamond.

Next, add the three-piece units like you did for the center.  Use pins through your dots to keep everything lined up well while sewing. 

And that's it!  :-)  Now cut and make a few more...

Here is my first Small Block One.  

Easy, right?!  I really love playing with all the different fabric combinations for these. :)

I hope these photos were helpful to you...  I am looking forward to making a few more myself and to see your's too! Don't forget to use #smittenquilt and #smittenquiltqal on Instagram. :-)

If you have questions, leave a comment, email me or tag me on IG!

Happy Sewing!  :)

Smitten Quilt Along : Large Block Four and Small Block Two

Hey everyone!  I hope you are ready for more y-seams!  :-)  This month we are working on Large Block Four AND Small Block Two.  Small Block Two is the center of Large Block Four.  The best part is that once you finish the center of the Large Block, you can piece the rest with no Y-seams! :-) 

For more details on the Smitten Quilt Along, visit this post here for dates and supplies, etc.  If you haven't purchased templates, go ahead and make your's using the pattern and template plastic or other material of your choice.  (Be sure to add the seam allowance if making your own templates.)

Note:  I glue baste my pieces.  I didn't take pictures of this for this month, as I shared them in the first month's post. 

Cut out your fabrics and then mark your pieces!  It's all about connecting the dots!  Mark the wrong side of your fabric pieces with dots where the 1/4" seams would meet.  (The acrylic templates have holes, making this super easy!) Alternatively, you could use your ruler and pen to draw lines along the seam allowances to mark your start and stop points.

Sew the half hexagons into two sets of three pieces. Sew from the outer edges to the inner dots. Then attach the two units to the center. This is just like we've done in previous blocks. 

Your finished center section will look like this.  I pressed toward the center. This completes the Small Block Twos.  It is also the center of the Large Block Four.

To make the Large Block Four, you need six triangles and six diamonds.  Lay them out as shown below.

We're going to assemble this without Y-seams.  So sew edge to edge!  Start by sewing a triangle to the upper left and lower right sides of the center as shown below. Press toward the triangles.

Next, sew a triangle to a diamond as shown below.  Make two units.  Press toward the triangles.

Attach these triangle/diamond units to the center hexagon.  Press away from the center.

Now, you should have a triangle and two diamonds left for each of the remaining two sides.

Attach the triangles to one diamond and then to the other.  Press toward the triangle for both seams.

Sew the remaining sides to the center hexagon.

You'll be lining up the edges as shown below.

Press away from the center hexagon.   And you're all finished!

Now plan and sew some more ... you need 2 completed Large Block Fours and 6 Small Block Twos.

And that's it!  You're done!  Yippee!

I hope these photos were helpful to you...  I can't wait to make a few more myself and to see your's too! Don't forget to use #smittenquilt and #smittenquiltqal on Instagram. :-)

If you have questions, leave a comment, email me or tag me on IG!

Happy Sewing!  :)