11.27.2012

Christmas Sewing - Round Potholder and a Tutorial!

I've been doing a bit of holiday sewing! I have lots of "orphan" paper piecing blocks and thought it would be fun to make something from them.  I've created a pattern and tutorial - my little holiday gift to you!!


Round Potholder Tutorial

by Charise Randell

 A fun take on the traditional potholder, this potholder is circular and has cute decorative trim on the pocket.  It can also be used as trivet or mug rug or to hang in your kitchen to add a bit of cheer  : )  It is finished with bias binding trim.

The paper piecing blocks can be found in my  Etsy Shop.
Or use an orphaned paper pieced block or quilt block of your own!
The Circle Template Pattern Link Is Here.
Supplies:

1 foundation pieced block or quilt block 8” or smaller
1 ~  9 ½” square Insul-Fleece or Insul-Brite insulated batting
1 ~ 9 ½” square batting
1 ~ 9 ½” x 7 ½” piece batting
1 ~ 9 ½” square Print fabric for the back of the potholder
2~ 9 ½” x 7 ½” pieces print fabric for Pocket
 30” - ½” wide double fold Bias Binding ~or~ ½ yard fabric to make your own (this includes the top of pocket binding and the hanging loop)
6” – ½” wide double fold Bias Binding ~or~ 6” length  3/8” to ½” wide ribbon for hanging the loop
9” – ½” wide double fold Bias Binding for top of pocket
Matching Thread
9” length of Decorative Trim, at least 3/8” wide - Ric Rac, Lace, etc…..
Basting Spray
1” bias tape maker if making your own binding (optional)
Walking Foot (optional)

 Making your binding – **If you are not using purchased binding**
1. Cut three lengths 20” x 1 7/8” bias strips.  Grain line should be 45 degree from selvage edge.


2.  Stitch the two of the strips together. The third strip will be used for the top of pocket binding and the hanging loop.
3. Make the bias binding:
  -a. Use your bias tape maker and follow the manufacturer directions
  OR
  -b. With the wrong side facing you, fold your bias strip in half along the long edge. Press.
Open the strip and fold the edges to the center crease and press.
4. Repeat step 3a or 3b for the third bias strip.

 Assemble your Block

1. Assemble your foundation paper pieced block or quilt block.
Add Borders so the block measures 9 ½”.

 Prepare the Potholder

1. Make a quilt sandwich with the block:
Place one square of the print fabric wrong side up.  Place one square of the batting on top.
Place the square of insulated fleece on the top.  Place the pp block right side up.
Baste all layers with basting spray.

 2. Quilt as desired.  I like to do an echo quilting design around my paper pieced blocks.

 3.  Using the circle template, center the template on the top of the quilt sandwich.  Trace around the template.
Stitch ¼” inside the line with a basting stitch.  Cut around the template line.

Prepare the Pocket

1.  Make a quilt sandwich:
Place one square of the print fabric wrong side up.  Place one square of the batting on top.
Place one print square right side up.
Baste with basting spray.

 2. Quilt the pocket as desired. I used a diamond stitch for mine.

 3. Place the pocket template on the quilted pocket piece and trace around the template.
Stitch ¼” inside the line with a basting stitch.  Cut around the template line.

 4. Mark a line ¾” down from the top edge. Place the the trim on the top straight edge, so that the bottom edge of the trim meets the line. Baste in place.
*Note, if you’d like more of the trim to show, mark the line lower than ¾”*

 5. Stitch the Bias binding to the top edge, placing the right side of binding to right side of pocket lining matching the raw edges at the top.
Stitch with a 3/8” stitch. 


Fold bias to the right side of the pocket.
Hand slip stitch or machine edge stitch the bias binding edge.

Finish the potholder

1. Place the pocket right side up on the back side of the potholder.  Match raw edges. Baste around the perimeter.
2.  Make and attach the hanging loop:
a. Fold a 6” length of the bias tape wrong sides together, Edgestitch.
~OR~
b. Fold a length of 6” ribbon together wrong side to wrong side.

~Place the loop, to the top center of the Back potholder matching raw edges at the top.
Baste in Place.

3. Attach Binding trim to the Perimeter to the potholder:
a. Fold one short side of the bias binding under on wrong side for 3/8”.
b. Place the folded edge of the bias binding on the pocket side at the center bottom, right side binding to right side pocket.
4. Stitch the binding to the pocket side of the potholder with a 3/8” stitch.  When you reach the starting point, overlap the binding over the folded edge by  ½”.
5. Fold the bias binding to the right side of the pothholder and hand slip stitch or machine edge stitch the binding to the outside potholder just covering the stitching.

Yay....your potholder is complete!!!!
I'd love to see your version.  Pls post pictures to my Charise Creates Flickr Group here.
xo
Charise

11.24.2012

A winner!!!!

 
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks for all your lovely comments on my Stitch Projects!!!  It was fun to read what you are making for holiday gifts!  
I am working on some and will do a post soon.....hope to have a tute in there for you!
 
The winner of the Stitch give-away is
Patchwork and Play who wrote:
COngratulations on having patterns in such wonderful magazines! I love your pretty and so distinctive style! A few cute pouches and purses are on my Christmas list!
 
And a big Thank You to Becca at Sew me a Song and Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics for their generous fabric give-aways!!!

11.23.2012

Fabric Sales

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving ( for those who live in the U.S. : )
 
Both of my sponsors are having sales through Sunday!!



 
At Sew me a Song, Becca is having a sale on shipping :
Orders placed Thursday (11-21) through Sunday (11-24) will receive flat rate shipping of $2.50 US/$6.50 Canada/ $8.50 everywhere else. No minimum required. Refunds will be processed upon shipment. Please put coupon code "THANKYOU12" in Notes to Seller upon Checkout.
 
I love this fun fruit and flowers bundle from the shop~~





Brenda at Pink Castle is having a sale, too!
25% off Kokka (including new Stamped and Ruby Star Sparkle!)
25% off Liberty
25% off Yuwa
25% off all Precuts and Bundles (including new lines like In My Room and Notting Hill)

10% off notions
&
10% off color cards
 
 
And it is not too late to enter my Give Away which you can find here!
 
Happy shopping!
 
xo
Charise

11.18.2012

I'm In Stitch Gifts****and a Give-Away!!!

It has been such an exciting month for me.  First I was published in Quilmaker's 100 blocks and then Stitch Magazine.  Stitch is by far my favorite sewing magazine.  I have been reading it for years.  About a year ago I thought - why not submit some project ideas.  I had lots of ideas and was excited to get them made into actual items.  Fast forward 1 year and here I am - two projects in Stitch!!!
I'm so honored and excited to be in the magazine!!
 
The first item is the gathered clutch and coin purse.  It is really easy to make.  It is so much fun to pick a fun fabric for the center focal point!  The clutch is just the perfect size to carry your wallet and a few essentials.  I designed it with a removeable strap so you can also use it as a pouch!
 
This is the one featured in the magazine. The center fabric is Shasta Daisy by Suzuko Koseki for Yuwa and you can find it at Sew me a Song!
 
I made these this afternoon!
 
 
Here is the other side of the coin purse.  Just love the Kokka Print!  You can find it here at Pink Castle Fabrics.
 
 
And here is the other side of the clutch.  The center panel is Fashion Sewing by Suzuko Koseki for Yuwa and the polka dot fabric is Small Dots in Aqua by Riley Blake.  You can find both fabrics at Becca's shop Sew Me a Song.
 
 
 
The Second Project is"Quilt Blocks Sachet Trio".  These are a fun and easy gift to make.
They are each 4" square so you can use some of your most prized scraps for this project!
 
 
The Pinwheel and Spool Sachets are paper pieced and there is a great tutorial for paper piecing each one in "Stitch".
The Petal Sachet is appliqued.

Amber, the editor of "Stitch" did a great video tutorial on paper piecing a pinwheel which you can find here!
**************************************************************************
Thanks for hanging in there : ) 
Now for the Give Away!
 
Please leave a comment on this post.  I'd love to hear what gifts you are making for the holidays.
 
I will be giving away:
 
The Gifts 2012 Issue of Stitch Magazine!
 
This fun FQ set from Becca at Sew Me a Song.  They are the same fabrics I used for my clutch!
 
 
 
 
 
and this cute F8 set of fabric from Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics.
Perfect for making the coin purse or some lavender sachets!
 
The give away will be open for comments until Friday Nov. 24th.
Please make sure you include a way for me to contact you!
 
 
Good Luck
xo
Charise

11.16.2012

A finish this Friday

I finished my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap!   The center block is the Rose Dreams block from Kansas City Star circa 1930.  I added 3" borders, lace  and a border of hand quilting in red.  The border trim is bias gingham. 
If you want to make this block I have the pattern here as part of my Vintage Block Quilt Along.

Wishing you a happy Friday!
xo
Charise

11.14.2012

WIP Wednesday

Pillow.....
 
 
Pouch....
 
 
& More Little Houses!
 
Link up your WIP at Freshly Pieced!
 
 
I'd love to see what you are working on!
 
xo
Charise

11.13.2012

Quiltmaker Blog Hop Winner and Stay tuned for another give-away!!!

Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful comments.  I loved reading them and wish I had time to reply to all of them.  You know how to make a girl feel good : )
 
The winners are :
A copy of Quiltmaker and a F8 bundle of Vintage Modern from Becca at Sew Me a Song
Lou
Carol SC
 
A copy of Quiltmaker and a F8 bundle from Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics
Gill
 
 
And a little tease.... I will have another give-away, soon, celebrating my projects - yes plural, : )
 in the new Stitch Gifts 2012.  Just in time for your holiday sewing projects!!!
 
 
xo
Charise

11.10.2012

Vintage Feed Sacks - Thrifty Saturday

I wanted to share some new feed sacks I purchased from Ebay.
 
 
The colors are looking really fresh and Fall to me.
Love the Red, Brown, Gold and Green combo.
 
I was so excited to find the top feed sack! 
The bottom print is a Japanese print by Kumiko Fujita if I'm not mistaken.  I find it fascinating that the only thing changed from the original is the scale and the addition of some text. I also noticed that the holly leaves and berries are replaced by a stalk of celery : )
 I got the Fabric from Ayumi's fabulous shop on Etsy.
I think it looks great with the previous feed sacks pictured.
 
 
 
 
 I love these sweet colors and motifs!
 
 
 
 
This little booklet has some fun quilting patterns.  I think "Night and Day" may be the next block for the "Vintage Block Quilt Along".
 
Have a lovely Day!
 xo Charise

11.09.2012

Bundle Sale at Pink Castle Fabrics

Hope you are enjoying your Friday!  It is brisk and sunny here in Seattle : )
Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics is having an awesome sale this weekend!  15% off on all bundles.
Click on THIS LINK to see the Bundles she has on sale!
The code is BUNDLE15 and it works on anything in that link. 
Here is one of my favorites, The Sweetest Thing by Riley Blake:
 

xo
Charise 

11.06.2012

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks & A Give-away

I'm so excited to be in Issue #6 of Quiltmaker 100 Blocks. 
  When I was asked to contribute a block to the magazine I was beyond excited and flattered.
"Two Dresses" is a block inspired by my love of all things sewing related.
 It is so much fun to pick the fabrics for this block. 
 
Here is a peek inside. I'm right next to Jennifer at Sewhooked!!!  Her block is so cute! 
There are so many great blocks in this issue!!
 
 
 

 
**I am giving away three prizes!***
Prize #1 and #2 
A copy of Quiltmaker Magazine and a "Vintage Modern" F8 Set
with a F8 of "Script" in Cream and Sage from the Library Collection by Timeless Treasures
from Becca at Sew Me a Song!!


Prize #3
A copy of Quiltmaker Magazine and this adorable F8 set
from Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics!

 
For one chance to win, Leave a comment by Sunday, November 11th.
For a second chance to win,  Become a follower (leave me a comment letting me know).
Please be sure to include a way to reach you : )

 Doesn't the block look great in "Vintage Modern"?
 
 
 
 I had some fun in photoshop combining "Two Dresses" with the "Rose Dream" block

 
 
And be sure to check out Quiltmaker's Blog for more give aways!
The issue will be on news stands on November 13th.
 
Good Luck!!
xo
Charise