Fair warning, this might be my longest post ever!
I am so pleased to be kicking off the Patchwork, Please! sew along organized by Lindsey (thank you Lindsey!).
Ayumi Takahashi is the author and not only is she a dear friend, she is one of the most inspiring and encouraging people I know. Her book is full of just that. Inspiring, happy, and impeccable projects with superior fabric choices.
The first project is Ayumi's bell pepper pepper coaster. I don't use coasters much, so I decided to turn it into a hotpad pattern. I mean come on, a bell pepper hotpad??? So cute!!!
So I increased the pattern size by 180% on my printer and got to work. The pattern was super fast and so fun! It's not often that I can make something so cute, fun, and useable in 30-45 minutes. It took me longer to pick the fabrics than it did to sew the pepper up.
To turn the coaster pattern into a hotpad, here are a few basic tips:
-
increase the pattern size by 180% on your printer
-
use a 5" piece of cotton tape for the loop
-
use a 8 3/4"X5" fabric rectangle for the right and left front of the pepper
-
use a 8 1/2"X4" fabric rectangle for the middle front part of the pepper
-
use a 10"X13" piece of batting, insulbrite and backing fabric
And here's some exciting news.
I'm offering up a copy of Patchwork Please! (courtesy of Mama Said Sew! thank you Ange!!!), 5 sample packs of Aurifil thread, and a sample card of Pellon interfacing and batting. (due to shipping costs, US entries only please).
Just leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner on Friday.
And if that wasn't enough, there's also a giveaway for linking up this weeks project by Sunday June 9th on Lindsey's blog. A $25 GC to Fort Worth Fabric Company and 1 crib size Legacy by Pellon bleached cotton batting. So get sewing!!!
Here are the other participants in the Sew Along, and all together we will cover all the projects in the book.
June 3: Penny | Sew Take a Hike :: Bell Pepper Coasters
June 10: Maureen | MC Handmade :: B,L,D Towels
June 17: Anna | Noodlehead :: Lettered Tea Cozy + Pouch
June 24: Angela | Cut to Pieces :: Polka Dot Cafe Apron
July 1: Lynne | Lily’s Quilts :: Diamond Patchwork Placemat
July 8: Lindsey | LRstitched :: Yum Yum Apple Bib
July 15: Sukie | Don’t Ya Know :: Dino-Mite Hat
July 22: Jennifer | Ellison Lane :: Book for Baby Quilt
July 29: Krista | Poppyprint :: My Scrappy Box
August 5: Kerry | Very Kerry Berry :: Swedish Bloom Time Quilt
August 12: Tamiko | Patchwork Notes :: You’ve Got Mail Wall Pocket
August 19: Monica | Happy Zombie :: Happy Hexagon Trivet
August 26: Krista | Spotted Stone Studio :: Piece of Cake Shopping Bag
Sept 2: Lori | Bee in My Bonnet :: Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch
Sept 9: Amy | During Quiet TIme :: Vintage Pencil Case
Sept 16: Svetlana | SOTAK Handmade :: I love My Ipad Quilted Cover
Sept 23: Amber | One Shabby Chick :: Handy Market Tote
Sept 30: Deb | A Quilter’s Table :: Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch
Oct 7: Leila | Where the Orchids Grow :: Prettified Pincushion
And thank you so much for our sponsors for the sew along!
I can't wait to see who the lucky winner is!!
Happy Monday to you,
Penny
The Giveaway is now closed!
Oh, I'm the first to speak!.
Love the coasters and I'll follow the sew along with great interest.
x
Posted by: Tina Short | 03 June 2013 at 04:30 AM
Love the hotpad. Thanks for the give away.
Posted by: Pam | 03 June 2013 at 05:00 AM
Super great idea, love the pattern and also the material used. Makes for a sparkly brite kitchen addition. Love it.
Posted by: Char Rathman | 03 June 2013 at 05:13 AM
What a great idea...I don't use coasters much, but hotpads...hmmn. Think I may be trying this!
Posted by: Joyce | 03 June 2013 at 05:19 AM
What a great idea turning them into hot pads! So cute, and great fabric choices! The book is on my birthday wish list, so here's hoping I get it next week! (If not, I may have to just treat myself to it)
Posted by: Rosewill_Arts | 03 June 2013 at 05:37 AM
Great hot pad. I love the fabrics you chose. Thanks for a chance to win. Hugs
Posted by: Cathy | 03 June 2013 at 05:56 AM
The hotpad was a great idea! They turned out so cute. Thanks for the great give away. I'd love to tackle some projects from Patchwork Please!
Posted by: Tiffany | 03 June 2013 at 05:58 AM
Wow, such a cute, cute, cute hot pad and such a generous giveaway. Thank you.
Posted by: Britt | 03 June 2013 at 05:58 AM
I love how you turned the peppers into potholders instead... great idea! Thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by: Jolinda | 03 June 2013 at 05:58 AM
Super cute hotpad! I'd love to win a copy of the book. I'm still waiting for my library's copy :) And those thread samples actually make me drool a bit, they're so pretty!
Posted by: Trish | 03 June 2013 at 06:04 AM
Ayumi's book and your modifications...What a winning combo! Thanks for such a great review and a lovely giveaway!
Posted by: Suzanne | 03 June 2013 at 06:06 AM
Thanks for the giveaway! I have wanted to get my hands on this book and aurifil for a while :)
Posted by: Stephanie | 03 June 2013 at 06:19 AM
So cute. Great idea to make hot pads. Would love to win.
Posted by: Cathi in Texas | 03 June 2013 at 06:23 AM
My book hasn't come yet, boohoo, but it should be here Wednesday. I'm not sure I'd use a coaster, either, but we ALL use hot pads! Great for gifts, too. From the pictures, did you sew all the way WST then turn it? Did you have to trim the batt & insulbright alot to get that sewn edge down?
Posted by: Alicia Key | 03 June 2013 at 06:25 AM
I just love anything Ayumi does and these bell pepper hot pads are no exception ~ yours are too cute!
Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Posted by: elsa | 03 June 2013 at 06:26 AM
Cute hot pads. Can't wait to see what you all make! Hope I win this awesome book and some amazing thread. :)
Posted by: Jesse | 03 June 2013 at 06:27 AM
Great idea to enlarge the pattern. I love the large size, too. Thanks for the opportunity to win prizes!
Posted by: Karen S | 03 June 2013 at 06:39 AM
Totally love the idea of hot pads! These are adorable!
Posted by: Jeannie | 03 June 2013 at 06:41 AM
Would love to give Patchwork a whirl.
Posted by: Karen lineberger | 03 June 2013 at 06:46 AM
Sometimes picking the fabrics is the hardest part - but it super paid off! I love your finished pot holders!
Posted by: Emily T | 03 June 2013 at 06:47 AM
The pepper hot pad is so cute! I can't wait to see the other projects in this book!
Posted by: Allison C | 03 June 2013 at 06:48 AM
Awesome giveaways Penny! Thanks for the chance to win one! :)
Posted by: Brenis | 03 June 2013 at 07:01 AM
Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win a copy of the book!!! It always takes me a long time to pick my fabric for a project, then I usually end up making several because I find so many great fabrics and can't choose just ONE!
Posted by: Lynette Gross | 03 June 2013 at 07:12 AM
What a cute idea. Love the pot holders.
Posted by: Nancy D. | 03 June 2013 at 07:12 AM
Such a darling coaster and neat book! Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: Carol | 03 June 2013 at 07:20 AM
So cute! I will be making these!
Posted by: Jackie | 03 June 2013 at 07:22 AM
I think I'm going to make the hotpad idea! I wanted to make this for my mother-in-law and like this idea even more than the original!
Posted by: Lisa Mather | 03 June 2013 at 07:24 AM
Adorable hot pads! Fun giveaway!
Posted by: maggie planer | 03 June 2013 at 07:25 AM
Wow, what a fantastic list of participants/sponsors! Thanks for the chance at the give away. That sure should spark some creativity. Thanks
Posted by: Sharon Eshlaman | 03 June 2013 at 07:30 AM
So fun!!! Thanks!
Posted by: Shayne D | 03 June 2013 at 07:38 AM
what a lovely give away! I can't wait to get my copy of this book!
Posted by: Meredith | 03 June 2013 at 07:40 AM
I would love a copy so I can sew along! Thanks
Posted by: Carla | 03 June 2013 at 07:42 AM
Great hotpad! Thanks for the give-away, my fingers are crossed!
Posted by: Caroline | 03 June 2013 at 07:47 AM
I love that you made it into a hot pad, such a great idea! Your fabric choices are so great too!
Posted by: Marci Girl | 03 June 2013 at 07:48 AM
Love the hot pads! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Posted by: Karrie Smith | 03 June 2013 at 07:48 AM
Great idea for my new kitchen! Gotta try it!
Posted by: Patti | 03 June 2013 at 07:49 AM
I'm going to make the hot pads too. What a great idea.
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | 03 June 2013 at 07:53 AM
I am so excited about this Sew Along! Thank you for this idea, I'm going with the hot pad idea because we don't use coasters around here much either! Perfect! Thanks for the great idea!
Posted by: Kim Thomasson | 03 June 2013 at 07:58 AM
THIS IS MY FIRST SEW ALONG AND YEAH THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN! I LOVE THE HOT PAD IDEA...I HAVE TO GO AND GET BUSY!
Posted by: HOUSE OF DUKE | 03 June 2013 at 08:03 AM
Beautiful hotpads! I would like making them too!
Posted by: Adriana | 03 June 2013 at 08:05 AM
Hello from Minnesota! Thanks for the enlarging tips...I've got to get to sewing now.
Posted by: Kristin S. | 03 June 2013 at 08:13 AM
Oh, I love what you did with them! Vegetable hotpads are too adorable.
Great giveaway, too!! I've been wanting to participate in this event so badly, I hope I get the chance to ♥
Posted by: Gwendellyn | 03 June 2013 at 08:14 AM
Really like the hotpads. Thanks for the giveaway.
Posted by: JoNell | 03 June 2013 at 08:17 AM
Those might be the cutest things I've seen ever!! Thanks for the help and the chance at the giveaway!
Posted by: Eileen DiPietro | 03 June 2013 at 08:18 AM
Oh my gosh, so sweet. Great fabric choices. That book is at the top of my amazon wish list. So my fingers are crossed.
Posted by: Anita | 03 June 2013 at 08:28 AM
Am starting on my coasters today! thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: Sonia | 03 June 2013 at 08:40 AM
Very nice indeed. Who would've thought the humble pepper could look so good!
Posted by: The Patchsmith | 03 June 2013 at 08:42 AM
I love Ayumi's style and her designs. I'd love to win all the goodies.
Posted by: Linda | 03 June 2013 at 09:10 AM
Your version is adorable! I love the idea of enlarging it to hot pad size! :)
Posted by: Heidi @ Fabric Mutt | 03 June 2013 at 09:11 AM
OMG--You should win the prize for the best entry, those hotpads are the bomb! That biscuit fabric is so cute too. Thanks so much for the giveaway! XO, Katy
Posted by: Puddingpies.wordpress.com | 03 June 2013 at 09:15 AM