Get Carded Wallet

For a while, I've wanted to make myself a new wallet. I had previously made a wallet from my friend's tutorial, and I really liked it. But, I didn't do a great job: the card slots were a little loose and the zipper stuck a little. And, while I like the design, I wish that the credit card slots faced the opposite direction because I tended to drop them out if I needed to access the zippered pouch. Not ideal.

So, I started looking for a tutorial or a pattern, and started with Dog Under My Desk, my favorite bag pattern writer. Her patterns are thorough, well-tested, and just all around amazing. I ordered the Get Carded pattern, and set about making myself a new wallet.

I had made a second Dollie cross body bag I made this summer for a friend, and had enough leftover fabric to make a matching wallet.

This pattern, like Erin's other patterns, is well written and well-thought-out. She even has figured out a way to make it without any hand-sewing and no binding. Such a win, and she does it in such a cool way. She also provides several variations for the two outside pockets. I opted for the gathered pocket (it's so feminine!) but I'll probably make one with a flat pocket for my husband, and you can make a vinyl ID pocket, or a plain one. It's so nice to have options, but I found that it made the pattern hard to follow.

Even with that minor thing, the pattern is awesome. Really, if you want to try bag making, try Erin's patterns. They're amazing!

Christmas Table Runner

I wasn't planning on doing any Christmas sewing this year. Sewing gifts, sure. I sew each of my daughters a gift every year. But I didn't plan any Christmas quilts or decor. I have so many other things to sew. And then I was thinking about my brother who moved across the country earlier this year, and how it will be the first year he and his wife will be away from family.

So, of course, I decided to make them a gift. I thought they might appreciate having a table runner, to use all season long. I settled on making the same pattern I had made for my friend, a modified Seaside Quilt from Vintage Quilt Revival. I love that book.

Luckily, I had all the materials I needed, including enough white batting scraps (my big roll is cream) to piece together. It was the first time I've used frankenbatting, and I was pleased that it worked! I wouldn't want to do it for a large quilt, but this small quilt was fine. 

One thing I love about this quilt pattern is the center the four blocks form. Wish I'd gotten those top green corners to line up better, but the others look good! 

Here's a picture of the individual blocks. There are four for this mini quilt, and they go together really quickly.

I used a quilting pattern from Jacquie Gering's book Walk. I LOVE how it turned out and added movement. You can see a little bit of it on the back. The backing I used was this awesome woven green fabric that has woven ovals. It's pretty cool.

Anyway, it's on its way to them now, and I hope they love it!

Christmas Seaside Table Runner
Pieced and quilted by me
Completed November 2017

Beauty and the Beast mini quilt

Many moons ago, I was excited about mini quilt swaps. It took me a while to get the courage to sign up, and then I waited for a swap I was excited about, and over the course of several months, I signed up for three swaps. The first was an Around the World craft swap, and I got a beautiful mini with a bicycle. After how well that one went, I signed up for Kate Basti's rainbow swap round 2, and then couldn't resist signing up for the second round of the Disney quilt swap.

And then I got pregnant with twins.

I was far enough along on the rainbow swap that I was able to finish that one, but while I had started the Disney mini, I wasn't clear enough on my direction, so I dropped out. I was heartbroken, but mostly I was nauseous and exhausted. Exhausted.

My partner was a librarian who loved Beauty and the Beast, among other things. I wasn't familiar with Mary Blair, who she noted she liked, but I had a great idea for Beauty and the Beast. I found a paper-pieced pattern for Chip, and decided to put him on a pile of books. Perfect, right?

I was certain that my partner would love it. Alas, she never got it because I had to drop out and she received a Mary Blair inspired mini that she loved.

Of course, it is perfect for me, too. :-) I have an MA in English literature, so a Beauty and the Beast book-inspired mini is just right.

I wanted to receive a beautiful, perfect, Disney-inspired mini.

And in a way, I did.

I clipped off one corner of a book, which bums me out, but it's not too noticeable. I had a hard time figuring out how to quilt it, but I like what I did, and it was pretty simple. I used one inch painter's tape to mark off columns and then marked the tape with a pen at even intervals to make sure the lines lined up evenly.

Chip
completed March 2017