I am giddy.with.excitement to share with you all today!
It all started with Madame Samm asking me to do a tutorial for Sew we quilt. She asked me to do a tutorial/pattern for a paper piecing project, which prompted me to design the pop bottle pattern. That, in turn, led me to the idea of creating a kitchen curtain for our new home that we'll be moving into soon, using the pop bottles as a border for the bottom edge. I don't have measurements for the window, so I'll have to finish it off later, but you'll get the just of it.
Thank you Madame Samm!
Here's where the curtain will eventually hang.
So if you want to make a curtain of your own, or something else with the pattern, let me walk you through a brief how-to.
First off, you'll need to print off the pattern. You can adjust these to whatever size you like, or if you want to do them the size I did, just save this image to your computer, then print it off with no centering or adjusting with your printer. The pattern will be approx 2.5 X 8.5".
Keep in mind:
- the image is already reversed for you.
- you will need to leave a 1/4" seam allowance around each edge of each of the 4 sections (since it's not included in the pattern).
If you look closely at the pattern, you'll see three lines near the top of the pattern that are bold. Cut on those lines like so, creating four sections that you will paper piece separetely.
I'm not going to go over with you how to paper piece since there are so many great tutorials online. The one I used to teach myself how to paper piece is this one, at Quilter's Cache. It's super basic, but will help you to understand how it works so you can move on to more intermediate patterns like the pop bottle!
Once you've paper pieced the four sections,
sew the cap sections together, then sew the cap section to the top bottle section, then sew those to the bottom bottle section.
And there you have it, your first pop bottle. The only other detail I added to the bottle was to embroider the kind of soda each bottle has in it on the label. Lime for green, creme' for tan, grapefruit for pink, etc.
You could do so many things with these, a long pillow, a tea towel with several of them as a border, a tablecloth with these all around the edges, or a curtain, like I'm doing!
One more thing, if you decide to make this pattern (or even if you don't!), come over and join my Sewtakeahike pattern and Tutorials group on flickr. I'd love to see you there!
~Penny
p.s. Make SURE you go over to Sew We Quilt and enter the giveaway Madame Samm is offering up on my post there! Who wouldn't love 22 fq's of Rashida's new fabric, I heart??
(photo courtesy of Sew We Quilt)
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial!
Posted by: Myra | 11 October 2011 at 03:39 PM
Thank you for taking the time to put this tutorial out there for all of us.
Posted by: pam duxbury | 11 October 2011 at 04:42 PM
Loved your tutorial over at Sew We Quilt. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Summerfield Quilts | 11 October 2011 at 04:47 PM
Wow! This is fantastic, Penny. Great idea for a curtain, such a fun and colourful idea.
Posted by: Katherine | 11 October 2011 at 05:24 PM
Cute tutortial - and neat things on your blog - thanks for sharing at Madam Samm today!
Posted by: Kim Wiley | 11 October 2011 at 05:55 PM
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing!
Posted by: Anjeanette | 11 October 2011 at 06:43 PM
I just "popped" over from Stash Manicure and saw your cute pop bottles. Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Nancy B | 11 October 2011 at 06:50 PM
Another piece of fan mail for those pop bottles! The row of them just about kills me.
also, your pencil sharpener is such a little treasure. Good for you rescuing that poor thing!
Posted by: Rachel at Stitched in Color | 11 October 2011 at 07:12 PM
This is too cute! I love it. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Cindi C | 11 October 2011 at 07:30 PM
Thanks for the cute pattern.
Posted by: Joyce Mitchell | 11 October 2011 at 07:55 PM
such a cute pattern. your curtains will be sew much fun in your kitchen.
Posted by: Cheryl | 11 October 2011 at 07:59 PM
New follower. I really enjoyed your tutorial on SewweQuilt. thank you.
Posted by: Sherill | 11 October 2011 at 08:31 PM
That's going to be an amazing curtain! I'm feeling brave...I might actually try some of this paper piecing cuteness you have going on!
Posted by: Melissa | 11 October 2011 at 09:35 PM
Thanks for the great tutorial.
Posted by: katieQ | 11 October 2011 at 09:48 PM
that is so amazingly cute! I have been paper piecing the last two nights, but nothing nearly as fun as this!!
Posted by: liveacolorfullife | 12 October 2011 at 12:33 AM
Love the design - such a great idea!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | 12 October 2011 at 04:49 AM
A-maaaaay-zing!
Posted by: Laura Jane | 12 October 2011 at 06:01 AM
This is super cute!! I love the pop bottle idea :-)
Posted by: meagan | 12 October 2011 at 07:02 AM
that's so cute! Thanks for the pattern!
Posted by: kendascrafts | 12 October 2011 at 03:02 PM
what a fantastic design, Penny. cute, retro and chic all at once :)
Posted by: quirkygranolagirl | 12 October 2011 at 05:08 PM
I have a mason jar full of colorful bottle caps on the kitchen window sill, adding a fun curtain like yours would look so cool together.
Posted by: Jody Blue | 13 October 2011 at 10:52 PM
Wow, Penny! It's always a treat to stop by and see what your genius mind has to share with us! You're amazingly gifted. This is such a fantastic idea.
Posted by: Dayna | 14 October 2011 at 12:23 PM
Thanks heaps for including the link to the paper piecing instructions, and your tute; but I am now even more in awe at your ability to take a simple technique and turn it into something lovely :)
Posted by: Desiree | 17 October 2011 at 09:02 PM
Wow. Sweetest. Curtains. Ever.
Posted by: Jenny Matlock | 18 October 2011 at 07:44 AM
YOu are so talented. Great design.
Posted by: Carrie P. | 18 October 2011 at 02:01 PM
These bottles are super fun, Penny. Your curtain is fantastic, it will make doing dishes a joyful experience in your new home!
; )
Thank you for so generously sharing your pattern with us!
Posted by: Marit | 20 October 2011 at 03:06 AM
I love this. I just dont' have enough confidence to do the little paper piecing. your work is so amazing.
Posted by: nanette | 25 October 2011 at 10:34 AM
Did you take a course on architecture? How did you draw those patterns? They're very accurate! Well, homeowners who love decorating their houses with cute stuff can benefit from this tutorial. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Posted by: Kathy Carbone | 26 October 2011 at 03:03 PM
This is sooo adorable!! I love this idea, so much better then store bought curtains. Definately an individual and nothing like any one else has. I Love it!
Posted by: Lynn | 06 March 2012 at 10:04 AM
Oh my goodness! Amazing, adorable, awesome. Just saw it on Pinterest.
Posted by: Crissy | 13 March 2012 at 03:17 PM
HI!!!!
YOUR PAPER PIECING IS VERY NICE AND ORIGINAL.
I WOULD LIKE MAKE IT.
BUT I CAN'T PRINT ME THE PDF. PLEASE COULD YOU HELP ME?
THANKS A LOT!!!
Posted by: carol | 05 April 2013 at 04:20 AM
I can't believe I missed this pattern ~ it's so darn cute! And, featured on Howthrone Threads Newsletter today! You make the most amazing patterns ~ thanks so much!
Posted by: elsa | 19 April 2014 at 07:42 AM
I would love to make this....am I missing the link for the printable?? Awesome!!
Posted by: Karen Ann | 20 March 2015 at 07:04 AM
Hi Karen Ann,
Just follow the text above the image of the pattern to print it off. You will save it to your computer then print it! Good luck!
Posted by: Penny | 23 March 2015 at 03:49 AM