7.30.2024

Home Town Holiday Basket Bag and Open Wide Pouch


 Hi!  I had the opportunity to make a few new projects with the new collection from Lori Holt – Hometown Holiday. Home Town Holiday is a fun, cheerful line of fabrics which include holiday themed fabrics as well as adorable florals, plaids and text prints.


I designed a new bag I call the Basket Bag which is a large bag with decorative piping detail, a top zipper closure, inside pocket, and side seam loops for adding a shoulder strap.


The Bag is adorned on one side with my foundation pieced pattern – “Flowers in Vintage Bottles”, enlarged to a 12″ finished block.



The second side of the bag features the beautiful Chapel Print with side panels in the gorgeous School House Wreath print.



I used the cute Berry Christmas print to make the hexagon zipper end.



Of course I had to make a pouch to go with the Basket Bag : ) I couldn’t resist trying the new pouch pattern from Zakka Workshop – Wide Open Tube Frame Pouch.

I used my Spring Butterly foundation paper piecing pattern to adorn one side of the pouch. I reduced the pattern to 85% of the original which fit the pouch perfectly!

The Pouch is such a fun and easy make! It only took about an hour to assemble. (Not including paper piecing the butterfly) 




Be sure to share your projects using Home Town Holiday fabric with the hashtags:
                                 #ILove Riley Blake #HomeTownHolidayFabric #RileyBlakeDesigns
                                                                              Happy Sewing!











































7.12.2024

Cottage Charm Tote Bag and a "Large Log Cabin Sketch Book Cover"


I had the pleasure to work with the new line of fabric - Cottage Charm  designed by Kenzie Elston for Poppie Cotton fabrics.

The line consists of a super cute cottage print as well as an adorable stripe, florals and a butterfly print.



A patchwork tote seemed like a perfect project to show off the cute prints.  You can find the tutorial for my "16 Patch Tote" at the bottom of this post.


I also created a Scrappy Log Cabin Sketchbook Cover that also highlights the prints in the collection.  
The sketch book is bound with Poppie Cotton "Gingham Picnic". 
The inside fabric is Poppie Cotton "Barnyard Bandana".



The sketchbook cover holds a maximum size 7 1/2" wide x 10" tall notebook.
The inside has a roomy zipper pocket, slots for six pens or pencils and a notebook flap.


I used a 7" x 10" inside journal which you can find online here at University bookstore: SKETCHBOOK

Or on Amazon: SKETCHBOOK

You can also use a Moleskin 7 1/2" x 9 3/4" sketchbook.

I love the vintage button for the closure.

You can find the pattern for the Large Sketch Book Cover HERE

Please share your projects made with "Cottage Charm" on social media with the following hashtags:

  • #cottagecharmfabric
  • #cottagecharmfabrictour
  • #poppiecottonfabric
  • #poppiecotton
  • #lovepoppiecotton

Happy Sewing!
xo 
Charise


16 Patch Tote Bag

Materials

Assorted Prints for Patchwork Panels:  32 - 3 1/2" squares from  12 different prints 

Gingham: Gusset-  36 1/2" x 3 1/2", Straps-  2 - 24" x 4 1/2" (20" x 4 1/2"),        Tabs:    2-  1" wide x 2 1/4" long

Lining:

    1 - 36 1/2" x 3 1/2" (gusset),  2 - 12 1/2" squares (body)

Fusible Batting:

    1 - 36 1/2" x 3 1/2" (gusset),  2 - 12 1/2" squares (body)

Medium Weight Interfacing:

    Straps: 2 - 24" x 4 1/2" (20" x 4 1/2")


*Apply the interfacing to the wrong side of the Straps, and the Batting to the wrong side of the Gusset following manufacturer instructions

*All seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted


1. Create the patchwork purse panels


a.  Arrange  the 16 print squares that make up the panel 4 across in 4 rows..

Stitch each row together.  


Press seam allowances in one direction, each row in alternating opposite direction. 

Stitch the rows together, nesting seams. 

Press horizontal seams open.

 Make 2.



b. Apply the batting to the wrong side of the patchwork panel.

Quilt a diagonal pattern corner to corner.

Repeat for the second patchwork panel.


2. Attach the gusset

a. Quilt the gusset in 1/2 inch rows along the length of the strap.



b. Mark the gusset at 12 1/4" from each raw edge.

Stitch a horizontal line 1/2" on either side of the marking 1/4" from the raw edge.

  Clip at the marking just outside the stitching.

Repeat for the other side.

c. Place the gusset right sides together with the patchwork panel matching raw edges.

Match the corners to the markings on the gusset.

Stitch around the perimeter.

Repeat for the other side.

3. Create and attach the straps

a. Fold under 1/4" to the wrong side of each long edge of the strap.  

Fold in half wrong sided together.

Edgestitch each long edge.

b. Mark the finished strap 6" from the edge.

Fold that strap in half.   Edgestitch between each 6" marking.  You will stitch 8" in the middle of the strap.

Repeat for the second strap.



c.  Place the strap on the top of the purse panel matching raw edges.  Place the inside edges of the strap matching the inside seam of the first and last square on the top tote panel.  Baste in place.

Repeat for the second side.


4. Create the loops


f.  Place the loop centered on the top edge of the gusset on both sides.  Baste in place. 


5. Create the Lining

a. Follow instruction 2b and 2c to construct the lining.  Leave a 4" opening on one bottom edge for turning.

b.   Turn the lining wrong side out.  Place the outside tote inside the lining, right sides together.  Match seams and top raw edges.  Stitch the top edge.  Press seam open.




6. Finish the Tote

a. Turn right side out.

Top stitch the top edge 1/4" from the seam catching the loops.

Add a cute charm to the loops.

You can also attach a shoulder strap to the loops if you want!



 Find more photos of projects at Charise Creates Instagram

7.01.2024

Bee Vintage and Bee Ginghams – Summer Sewing Projects

 


I had such fun working with Bee Vintage and Bee Ginghams designed by Lori Holt. I love all Lori Holt fabrics! The basics line offers a rainbow of colors, but I decided to stick with the very Summery palette of turquoise, pink and sand.



The projects include my “Home Sweet Home Zipper Pouch”. The zipper pouch has a zipper closure and a boxy shape. The focal point is a Summery quilt block – my Berry Basket pattern.



I used the adorable selvage to make the cute little label for the second side of the pouch.



Bee ginghams in coral trims the top zipper closure and the berry basket is also made with bee ginghams.

Berry Basket Pattern 



Since Summer has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, I wanted to make a beach bag – big enough to hold all my beach essentials. The Log Cabin tote bag is the perfect beach bag. I had such fun choosing fabrics for the design! The log cabin panels include both Bee Vintage and Bee Ginghams. 


The Log Cabin Tote also has D-ring loops if you’d like to add a strap.




You can find the Log Cabin Tote Pattern HERE

I Love to see your projects.  Please tag you photos on social media with the following hashtags:

#ILoveRileyBlake #RileyBlakeDesigns #BeeVintageFabric

Happy Sewing!
xo
Charise