4.04.2023

Swan Serenade Blossoms Quilt


 Happy Spring!  I have an extra Springy project to share with you.

I had the pleasure of working with the new fabric line, "Swan Serenade" designed by Melanie Colette of Hello Melly Designs - for Riley Blake Designs.  You can also find Melanie on Instagram at @HelloMellyDesigns

The line includes an adorable swan print as well as florals, stripes and a cute little musical note print. Some of the prints have a glittery gold which adds just a hint of sparkle. 

The color palette is so lovely with shades of aqua, pinks and grey.


I decided to make a king size quilt to fit my bed! It is a drunkards path variation in a Flower design with a leaf pairing for each blossom. 

I love how the quilt turned out!









Each flower block measure a whopping 24"!  

The gorgeous quilting was created by Ashley at Hen House Quilting.



The backing is the adorable 108" wideback - Bee Backings from Riley Blake designed by Lori Holt from A Bee in my Bonnet.

I love a gingham binding and used Bee Ginghams "Natalie" in color Cottage.



The fun sparkly binding spool is from Stitch Supply Co.


If you make a project with "Swan Serenade" please tag your photos on social media with the following hashtags:

#HelloMellyDesigns #SwanSerenadeFabric #RileyBlakeDesigns

Happy Sewing!
xo
Charise

2.28.2023

Down the Rabbit Hole - Tea Party

 


I had the pleasure of working with the new line of fabric from Jill Howarth - "Down the Rabbit Hole" for Riley Blake Designs.

I love every fabric line Jill designs and this one does not disappoint. It is adorable! The first theme that came to mind when thinking of Alice's adventures in Wonderland was a Tea Party!

The fabrics are perfect for fussy cutting so I decided to make tea cup coasters with a cute image of Alice on each teacup.

Both of the coasters use "Blossoms" from Riley Blake Designs, which is a great basic and coordinates so well with "Down the Rabbit Hole".


If you want to make some cute coasters - see below : )

Coaster Tutorial:

Materials: (for one coaster)

7" square fusible batting

7" square fabric

7" tea cup block (I used my Tea Cup and Tea Time patterns which you can find [HERE]

30" - 3/8" wide finished bias binding


* Add borders to your block so that it measures 7" square

1)  Create a quilt sandwich.  Quilt the top block to the batting as desired.   I used a stitch in the ditch stitching around the teacup and straight line stitching beneath the cup.



2)  Pin the backing to the quilted tea cup.  Use the Creative Grids Multi sized curved corner ruler or the edge of a small cup to trace the curved shape on all the corners of the coaster.  Cut the curved edge of all corners.


3)  Baste around the perimeter of the coaster.

4) Head on over to my Bias Binding Tutorial to finish the project.



Continuing the tea party theme, I made these cute and comfy pillows with a fussy cut teapot and coordinating teacup. 


You can find all the teacup and teapot patterns in my Etsy Shop - Charise Creates.

Click [HERE] for a handy little tutorial on making and applying bias binding which I used on all the projects.

Happy Sewing!

Charise


2.01.2023

Curvy Purse in Art Journal Fabric


Hi!  Hope you are doing well!  So happy you are here!

I had the opportunity to sew a project with the new Art Journal Fabric from J Wecker Frisch for Riley Blake Fabrics.  

The fabric line is a beautiful collection of vintage inspired prints including vintage text, sheet music and advertising images. 

The Flower Press Patch Panel has the most lovely vintage images and I knew I wanted to use it in my project. 

I designed the Curvy purse with a Panel Pocket which is the perfect place to highlight a favorite fabric.


The Curvy Purse has a handy zipper closure, adjustable strap, and an inside zipper pocket.



I also designed this version using the fabric "Parchment Art Journal Dear Folks Script", and the lovely gold Floral Guide sewing panel. 


If you make a project with Art Journal Fabric, be sure to tag your photos on social media with the following hashtags:

#ArtJournalFabric #RileyBlakeDesigns #ILoveRileyBlake

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

1.17.2023

"Down the Rabbit Hole" sneak peek!

 


I received the fabric - "Down the Rabbit Hole" for Riley Blake Designs before Christmas.  

I have been having so much fun playing with this new fabric line for a new project.

"Down the Rabbit Hole" fabric is absolutely adorable.  It is designed by Jill Howarth - @zippyboro on Instagram.  

The fabrics are beautifully illustrated and are perfect for fussy cutting the adorable Alice in Wonderland characters. 


A Tea Party themed project seems just perfect so I will be using many of my tea themed foundation paper piecing blocks from my Etsy shop - Charise Creates!  

The finished project will be completed in February and you will find it on my blog here, Instagram - @ChariseCreates,  as well as the Riley Blake Blog.  

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise


1.16.2023

Ruffle Purse with Barbie Girl ™ Fabric

 


🎀 I Love all things Barbie. My love of sewing started as a little girl designing and sewing Barbie clothes.


When I had an opportunity to make a project with the new Barbie Girl fabric from Riley Blake Designs, I jumped at the chance!


My Diamond Patchwork Purse pattern was the perfect choice to highlight the adorable “Barbie Girl Main” print. I added a ruffle in the “Barbie Girl Logo Dot” print in blush. For the purse body I used “Barbie Girl Toss” in hot pink, and the “Barbie Girl Dot” in hot pink for the handles.



Of course I had to make a dress for Barbie. Swipe Left to see that I had a little fun and imagined Barbie in her new dress, strolling through Paris : )

If you make a project using Barbie Girl, be sure to tag your photos on social media with the hashtags

#BarbieGirlFabric #RileyBlakeDesigns #ILoveRileyBlake

Happy Sewing!
xo
Charise

11.28.2022

Happy Patchwork Pouch ~ a Free Pattern



Hello!

I have lots of projects underway but had an idea for a new design based on my 15 patch pouch pattern.

My Happy Patchwork pouch has 10 square patchwork with a solid bottom panel.  I thought it would also be nice to add a handle so the pouch could be used as a clutch purse.

The fun little zipper charm is from Sunny Day Supply - a gift with purchase : )
 







You can find the pattern details as follows.

Enjoy !


Happy Patchwork Pouch

Notes: ~All seam allowances are 1/4" 

Finished Size:  6" tall x 10" wide

Materials:
~ 20 - 2 1/2" squares assorted print fabric (a mini charm pack works well)
~6 - 2" x 2 1/2" rectangles for patchwork handle (optional)
~1/8 yard Linen for bottom of pouch
~1/4 yard Lining fabric
~1/4 yard muslin 
~1/4 yard Fusible batting 
~1/4 yard light weight fusible interfacing

Supplies:
~Zipper Foot
~Matching Thread
~Pins
~9" or longer coil zipper - OR- a metal zipper that measures 
     9" from the top of the zipper head to the bottom of the zipper stop.
~ 1/2" D Ring
~3/4" Swivel Clasp
~Zipper Pull (optional)
~ 1/2" x 2" long ribbon
~Marking pen, pencil or Hera Marker for quilt marking

Cut:
Fusible Batting     ~2  - 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" 
Fusible Light Weight Interfacing ~ 2 - 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" 
                                                1 - 2 1/2" x 12 1/2"
Muslin                    ~2  - 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" 
Lining                     ~2  - 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" 
Print Fabric            ~1 - 1" x 1 1/2" Print for the zipper tab
Linen
    ~2 - 3 1/2" x 10 1/2"  Pouch Bottom
    ~ 1 - 2" x 12 1/2" Handle

Apply Interfacing -  Fuse the Light Weight interfacing to the Lining Panels and Linen Handle.


~ Sewing Instructions ~
1) Arrange the 10 print squares that make up the panel, in your desired design. 

2)  Press seam allowances to one side, each row in the opposite direction.  


3)  Stitch the rows together.  Stitch the linen rectangle to the bottom of the two rows.
Press seams open.
Repeat for the other side side of the pouch.

4) Fuse the batting to the wrong side of the patchwork panel.

Place the muslin on the back of the batting, baste in place.
Quilt diagonal lines on the patchwork  panel.
Trim the panel to 7 1/2” x 10 1/2”.  Repeat for the other side.



5) Shorten the zipper to 9 1/2" measuring from the top of the zipper head to the bottom of the zipper.



6) Fold under the 1" side of the zipper tab 1/4" to the wrong side. Press.
    Press in half wrong sides together.


7) Place the bottom end of the zipper so that it is against the folded edge of the tab.
    Pin in Place.
    Stitch the folded edge with an edge stitch.


8)  Fold back the zipper tape on the top edge of the zipper to the wrong side. 
     Glue baste or machine baste in place.



9) Fold the ribbon in half, wrong sides together and thread the D ring through the ribbon.
Place on the right side of the pouch panel 1" from the top edge.
   Baste in place.


10) Place the zipper to the pouch right sides together with the top edges of the pouch
     and zipper tape matching.
    Center the zipper on the pouch panel.  Stitch the top edge with
    a 1/4" seam allowance, back stitching at ends.


11) Place the lining right sides with the pouch panel right side matching the top raw edge.
      Pin in place.
The zipper will be sandwiched in between the pouch and lining panels.
    Stitch the top edge with a 1/4" stitch back tacking at ends.



12) Press the pouch and lining panels away from the zipper.  Press.
     Top stitch 1/8" away for the seam line starting and stopping your stitching 3/8" 
     from the raw edge.

~Repeat for the other side~


13) Separate the lining pieces from the pouch pieces.
     Place the pouch pieces right sides together, matching seams and raw edges.  
     Pin in place.

     Place the lining pieces right sides together, matching seams and raw edges.  
     Pin in place.
     The zipper teeth should face towards the lining.
     Make sure the zipper is open.
     Sew around the perimeter  leaving a 4" opening on the bottom lining side.

14) Box the corners:
      Place the bottom and side seams right sides together at the bottom corner 
      with seams pressed open.
      Mark 1" up from the bottom corner.  Stitch on the marked line back tacking at ends.
      Trim the seam 1/4" beyond the stitching.  Repeat for the other bottom corner.
Repeat for the lining.

15)  Turn right side out and press.
        Machine stitch or hand stitch the opening in the lining closed.

Make the Clutch Handle


16) Fold the handle rectangle in half along the 12 1/2" edge, press.
Fold under 1/4" on each edge. Press.

17) Thread the handle trough the swivel clasp.  With the right sides together match the raw edges on the 2" side.  Stitch together with a 1/4" seam.  Press the seam open.



18)   Fold the handle in half, folding under the 1/4" on each edge and pin in place.
Edge stitch along the edge of each long side of the strap.
Fold the handle in half with the seam on top.  Stitch 3/4" from the top edge.

~OR~
Make a Patchwork Clutch Handle

1) Cut 6 - 2 " x 2 1/2" rectangles.  Stitch the rectangles together on the 2" side.  Press seams open.

2) Fuse the 2" x 12 1/2" interfacing to the back of the patchwork strip.  
Follow steps #16 - 18 to finish!