sewtakeahike

San Juan River Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year, L-man and I decided to do something a little different. 

 

We went on a 3 day float trip down the San Juan River in Utah.  It was a bit chilly at night, but nothing a fire didn't cure!

 

 

We took a few side hikes and saw several Anasazi ruins, petroglyphs and pictographs

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we even saw a wild horse!

 

 

and of course, the general scenery was breathtaking and inspiring.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope your weekend was filled with family, friendship and memory making times!

xo,

Penny

 

 

 

 

Liberty crack pack winner!

is #13-   jan! 

who said: 

I have taken one class and paper pieced a square in a square. I am looking forward to learning more when you visit the KCMQG!  Thanks for the opportunity!

Congratulations Jan!

xo,

Penny

Sew Very Christmas

Pattern set is now available at Sew-Ichigo!

 

The pattern set is perfect for beginning paper piecers and the design element is appealing to seasoned paper piecers as well as beginners.  The set contains a Candy Tree, Christmas dress, NOEL, and a retro bulb.  I'm thinking coasters, gift tags, placemats, pillows, valances, quilts, and on, and on!

 

 

 

I made a couple of gift bags with the Christmas dress and retro bulb

 

 

 

 

And Kerry and I will be giving a few tips later this week for modifying Jeni's bag pattern to include whichever Sew Very Christmas pattern you like!

 

Happy Monday everyone!

xo,

Penny

flexing my liberty scrap challenge

I so appreciate the lovely Nova and Jo for allowing me to be a part of the Liberty scrap challenge.  Jo sent a beautiful parcel of liberty to me, including a mini scrap pack of liberty, and it took about two seconds for me to decide what to make.

btw, have you seen the liberty crack Jo offers in her shop?  If you want to just eat it up like I do, make sure you read to the end of this post!

On to the project!

 

 

Today I'm going to give you the basics for making this flex frame frosty bag.

What you will need:

• two liberty pieces 8"X 4 1/2" plus some scraps for piecing frosty
• linen 8"X4 1/2" plus some scraps for piecing frosty
• embroidery thread
• 1 flex frame (just search for flex frame on etsy)
• one Frosty pattern printed at size, no scaling

Directions:

1. Print your pattern and piece each section then sew the sections together, matching tick lines.  Make sure and leave 1/4" seam allowance around each section.  If you are new to paper piecing or need a refresher, here is a free download on sew-ichigo with lots of tips.

2.  Stitch around frosty with embroidery thread, within about 1/8".

3.  Layer the 8"X 4/1/2" piece of linen with the frosty block, right sides together.  Mark 2 1/4" from the top.

 

Pin and sew around the bottom of the layers, starting at the mark on the R side and ending at the mark on the L side, leaving the top section unsewn. Oh!  And make sure and backstitch at the beginning and end.

4.  Repeat step 3 with lining pieces, leaving a 2" opening in the bottom for turning.

5.  Turn the lining piece right side out and stuff down inside the outside of the bag so the right sides are together and the top flaps line up.  Pin each of the lining flaps to the linen flap it is right sides together with.

 

6.  Sew the pinned flaps together, starting and ending stitching on each flap as close to the center stitching as possible.

7.  Turn the bag right side out through the turn hole in the lining and push both flaps out, using a bone folder to get the corners turned.

8.  Slip stitch hole in lining closed.

9.  Push the lining down into the bag and then turn the back flap into the bag so the top seam of the flap is even with where the flap starts.  Pin in place and stitch down close to the flap edge.

10.  Repeat step 9 with the other flap.

11.  Following the directions on your flex frame package, undo one side of the flex frame, insert one side of the flex frame into each tunnel on each flap, and replace the pin for the frame.

 

And there you have it!  A little gift bag or ornament bag!

And now, for those that have made it all the way through, you have a chance to win a sweet liberty scrap pack (or crack pack as I call it) from Jo.  Just leave a comment on this post telling me if you've paper pieced before and if you haven't, what kind of pattern design would make you want to learn to paper piece and you will be entered in a the drawing.  I'll choose a name on Monday!

The giveaway is now closed!

Good luck!

xo,

Penny

Have you seen this?

Michelle's "sew together" bag!  She has the pdf pattern listed on craftsy here!