Valentine Patchwork Heart Shopping Bag

Yes, it's another bag and yes, it's another patchwork heart. But this time I've combined the two and made it into a bag. Here's how I made it:

A Twinkly Star Lap Quilt

This lap quilt has been twelve years in the making.

I started this quilt 12 years ago when my eldest was a toddler. I thought that I could continue with my sewing hobbies after having a baby but boy was I wrong.

I had sewn the patchwork stars and border pieces and had started to hand sew clear beads and sequence onto the them. Sewing with a toddler was difficult because he was always attached to me and if I sewed he would crawl around and fiddle with the foot pedal. Dangerous!

Make a Stripe Bag in 3 Different Ways

I've made the horizontal stripe bag before but I had so much fabric left that I decided to make more. But instead of making them all the same I decided to make the stripes for each bag go a different way. So here you have a bag with horizontal stripes, another with vertical stripes and the last one with diagonal stripes.

Which one do you think is the nicest? I can't decide. I like them all! The colours are so pretty and goes really nicely together.

How to Make Horizontal Strip Patch Bags

The other day my husband was going overseas to visit his parents and as usual I bought many gifts to give to his relatives. I had never liked using wrapping paper because I think that they're a waste of resource: you tear it off and throw it in the bin. Usually I would recycle any that was gift wrapped to me but I don't usually use it for others.

So this time, I made bags to put the presents in. After the person opened the presents they have a bag to use to carry whatever they wish to. No waste! And do you know what's also great with these bags? They use fabric scraps that I had from my other projects. It's a win-win-win. 

Easy Patchwork Cushions

These cushions remind me of spring and will brighten up an old lounge. The left and right cushions are the most basic patchwork cushions to make - joining 3 or 4 pieces of fabric together to form a square. They all have a plain bright apple green backing.

Cushion 1 (left):
1. Sew a small rectangle piece (pink) to a larger rectangle piece (green).
2. Sew the bottom edge of the 2 joined piece to another rectangle piece (floral).

Nine-Squares Patchwork Bag

 

This bag is one of my more popular designs. It is a nine-squares patches within a nine-squares patch. It is totally reversible as it is lined in calico. It is so popular that one customer who bought this asked to have another made in pink for her daughter.

Triangle Patchwork Quilt Cover

I made this when I first got married. I wanted something quick but didn't want to make another patchwork using squares. Instead, I used triangles. I alternated the triangles so that it would form diagonals of pinks and diagonals of blues. I also didn't want another quilt as I was given some as gifts so I decided to make it into a quilt cover. What this meant is that I didn't sew a wadding layer in between the top patchwork layer and the backing fabric. Instead, I sewed buttons along one edge so that a quilt (or doona) could be slipped in and out. Afterall, we can't have too many quilt covers!

Triangle Patchwork Quilt Cover

I made this when I first got married. I wanted something quick but didn't want to make another patchwork using squares. Instead, I used triangles. I alternated the triangles so that it would form diagonals of pinks and diagonals of blues. I also didn't want another quilt as I was given some as gifts so I decided to make it into a quilt cover. What this meant is that I didn't sew a wadding layer in between the top patchwork layer and the backing fabric. Instead, I sewed buttons along one edge so that a quilt (or doona) could be slipped in and out. Afterall, we can't have too many quilt covers!

Patchwork Star Cushions

These patchwork star cushions are so fresh - just perfect for spring. They will light up any dark corners. They are also very easy to make - you can see that they are made up of squares and triangles then framed.

Patchwork Baby Boy Quilts

My cousin had a son and I wanted to give him something personalised (and not the usual baby clothing presents!). So I came up with a baby quilt with the baby's name on it. Baby quilts are quite small (this one measures 62cm by 82 cm) so they are fast to make.

Patchwork Squares Quilt

This was the first ever quilt that I made many years ago before I married. I made it for my single bed and it was lovingly used. After I got married I packed it away and it has been in storage, forgotten at the bottom of my things. Recently, I went through my old things and discovered it. My youngest son saw it and grabbed it. He covered himself with it and said that it has my smell. He has since used it on his own bed. Maybe it will become an antique heirloom to be passed onto his children....?! 

Sail Away With Books Library Bag

Since making the I Choose Books library bag for my youngest, my other son wanted me to make him one as well. So this is the one that I made for him. The boat is patchwork and the words were embroidered using a chain stitch. The bag is actually reversible with the inside being the navy fabric (the I Choose Books bag is also reversible). 

Library bags are so fast and easy to make!

Patchwork Lap Quilts

 

If you are ever daunted at making large sized quilts then you should try your hands at lap quilts. Each one is about 1 metre by 1 metre. They are excellent for placing over the lap when sitting on cool autumn or spring days and nights. Since they are smaller than a single or queen size quilt they are so quick and easy to make.

Patched Heart Cushion

This cushion has two things going for it: heart and jean. The blue fabric surrounding the heart is made from a jean fabric. If you have a pair of old jeans then you could cut that up and use it. For the heart, I've decided to go with a blue theme so I've chosen a blue floral cotton fabric.