My New Yellow Purse

I found these fabrics last week.

Actually it's more like they found me. I was completely innocent. I swear! I just walked into one of my favorite quilt stores to get a fat quarter of something and this fabric jumped out at me shouting, "Me, me, me! I want to be a purse!"

I don't know about you, but sometimes my resistance is at zero. And, truth be told, I desperately need a new purse. Maybe three. The old ones are totally, without question, completely worn out.

I'm going to try to keep a journal about the whole purse process on this blog. I'd be delighted if  you'd like to follow along and sew with me. Measurements are all in bold type so you'll know exactly what I'm doing.

Now for the pattern. Oh, yes, I could easily go to Craftsy and download a lovely pattern. There are literally hundreds to see. But, I have this thing about liking to make my own designs. Nothing is ever quite exactly what I want. As I've said, I can't follow a pattern to save my soul. By the time I'm done tweaking it will have become something else. May as well start from scratch.

So I began mentally sketching it out. A germ of an idea formed. I definitely wanted to incorporate piping. I know, totally crazy. So much work! But that's another side of me. I don't mind lots of fussy work. I enjoy it, in fact. And this purse is just for me. I don't know if I'll write a pattern or not because it really does have a lot of detail and it won't go quickly.

After three days of experimenting on paper and in my head I finally came up with a plan. This is it. Incomplete, but enough for me to begin work.

The purse will be mid-size. I usually prefer either small purses or big totes, but the fabric in this one needed a bit of space to show off. It will measure about 10" tall and 15" wide at the top. The base width will be 11".  Two pockets with flaps on the outside because I like to keep my cell phone and my sunglasses within easy reach. I haven't decided if I should place a big pocket on the back, but I might do that. I love having lots of pockets to keep everything organized. The bag will have a recessed zipper at the top and more pockets on the inside.

Once I start sewing I know that it will have lots of alterations to the plan, but there has to be a beginning.

Today's progress:

1. Make the piping. (This is definitely optional.) The piping I'm using came from Hobby Lobby. I couldn't find the soft, flexible piping in the size I wanted anywhere else. Believe me, I looked!

Next, I cut two strips of the green 2" times the width of the fabric. It will need trimming, but that's good. I want the width of the finished piping piece to be exact.

I folded the piping inside the fabric strips, adjusted my zipper foot to allow me to get really close to the piping and started stitching.

When I had sewn the piping inside both strips of green fabric I needed to trim it. All of my seams are going to measure 1/2", so I used my handy-dandy 1/2" rotary cutting ruler and trimmed away.

2. Make the pockets and flaps. That's right. Pockets first. The reason is that my pockets and pocket flaps be will quilted and stitched into seams in the purse before I quilt the rest of it. At least that's the current plan. 

First off, I cut pieces of fabric, batting, and very thin muslin. I made them large enough to quilt both pockets in one piece and both pocket flaps on another piece. Once again I cut them a bit larger than I'll need because quilting can really alter the size and shape. I cut the pocket pieces 7 1/2" x 14" and the flap pieces 7 1/2" x 10". Then came making the quilt sandwich so all would be ready to quilt.

The free motion quilting was so much fun! It took awhile to decide how the flowers should be quilted, and I went for a simple suggestion of petals - so easy! 

After quilting the section for pocket flaps I realized that the inner quilting on every vein of the leaves was just not necessary. So, on the pockets section I quilted around the leaves and down the main vein only. The difference shows on the back, but one the front it can't be noticed at all.

Pocket flaps come first, both the right side and the lining. I cut them from the pattern I had made and began to began the job of adding piping.

(If you'd like the pattern for the flap, just send an email to klee2strings@gmail.com and I'll get it right to you.)

 I lined the cut edge of the piping right up agains the cut edge going around the pocket. Then I stitched as close to exactly on the stitching line from making the piping as I could. Going around the corners is just a bit tricky. The piping will fold out and away from the pocket when it's finished, so I needed to use easing to make sure that it wouldn't pull too tightly.

Once the piping is on the quilted section of the pockets it needed to be snipped so the seam allowance wouldn't pull in. You can see that happenning as I stitch around the corner in the photo above.

Next, I actually basted the pocket lining to the front! Folks prefer even to skip pinning. Not much basting goes on anymore, but I really needed to bast if I wanted that lining to stay in place when I sewed it. 

Then, once again with the zipper foot, I sewed the pieces together from the quilted side trying to follow as closely as I could to the original stitching lines.

Trim, turn, iron. This is looking good!

Pockets are up next. I cut two pocket front and lining pieces in 7" x 7" squares. Then I drew a 1/2" seam around three sides of the pocket. I know, overkill perhaps, but that's the way it was. I do want these pockets exactly the same. I stitched right on the lines, trimmed, turned and ironed.

Oops! I had mis-measured! Oh, no! 

The pockets are 1/2" too narrow!

Okay. No choice. Make new pockets from scratch. That took the wind out of my sails, but they are finished and just right. Whew!

The last two photos may be misleading. The pockets really are sewn on three sides. The open end is on the bottom because that will be sewn into a seam as will the top of the pocket flap. I think.

Enough for today! Time to fix dinner. Tonight I'll do some crocheting while getting my "Downton Abbey" fix.

Continued sewing and blogging can wait for tomorrow.

A few hints for making the "Home" quilt along house block

Yes, the pattern is finished! I am so excited to have it done.

You've seen this before, but here it is one more time, just for fun. :)

I promised you a few tips for putting this together, and here they are.

1. To Limit Bulk

If you are wanting this for a lap quilt you may want to limit the bulk and stiffness of the fusible web as much as you can. If you are planning on using this as a wall hanging it probably makes no difference. You can reduce the bulk of larger pieces by cutting out the center of your piece of fusible web before ironing it on to the back of the applique fabric. You will need to leave a piece of web at least 3/4" wide around the outside edge to give you a secure fuse.

2. Embroidering Flowers

It's difficult enough to embroider through even one layer of fusible web, but near the bottom of the house you will have two or three layers of web. I wouldn't even try to stitch through that. Instead, I drew the shape of the flower bed onto a larger piece of my green fabric with white chalk, then placed it in my tiny embroidery hoop and embroidered the flowers onto it. The fusible web was ironed to the back after the embroidery was finished.

3. Applique Stitch Choices
The stitches you choose for securing the appliques can add life and depth to your block. Thread colors that contrast will highlight the pieces, especially when made with a standard 50 weight thread or heavier. Stitching in matching colors with lightweight, 60 weight thread will recede into the fabric and almost disappear.

Dark thread and zigzag stitching add contrasting trim to the door and the window.

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Contrast thread made with a straight triple stitch (jeans top stitch) separates the panes on the windows and creates the ropes for the swing. A similar effect could be achieved with embroidered lines.

A blanket stitch in thread slightly darker than the applique pieces adds definition without standing out too much. The machine blanket stitch also makes very clean edge to the applique. Again, a similar effect can be achieved with a blanket stitch made by hand. I simply don't have the skill to produce lovely, even blanket stitches by hand.









A blanket stitch in matching thread, especially if the thread is a fine 60 weight, will blend into the applique and practically disappear.

Now, on to the block #2.

I'll choose from one of the ideas I've been given so far. Please keep adding to our list! This is what we have so far.

Thank you all so much for these wonderful ideas!

needle, thread and scissors

yarn and knitting needles 

a kitty cat

rocking chair

fireplace

plate and silverware 

teapot or coffee pot 

cookie jar and cookies  

clothesline

mixer

birdhouse

bird

potted plant

sewing machine

white picket fence

coffee mug

watering can

flowers

butterfly

Happy Stitching, everyone!

Sewing is finished on my house block!

Wow! I love this feeling of accomplishment!

The pattern isn't ready yet, but the applique stitching is finished. Yesterday was a long day at the sewing machine, but once something nears completion I seem unable to stop until it's done.

I've made the templates for the applique pieces, and that's a big step. I still need to draw the layout plan and write the pattern, so there is quite a bit of work remaining. Even so, I'm hoping to have the pattern ready by Friday or Saturday. Fingers crossed!

I really like the way this block has turned out! It has enough detail for my tastes, but it looks like it would be much more work than it was. Since it's a large block, the pieces aren't terribly tiny and there really aren't too many of them. The only hand stitching was the embroidery used in the flower bed.

It's amazing how much life is added by stitching. The before and after photos really highlight the differences.  I've decided that, at least for now, I won't make one in different colors. I have so many other projects waiting for attention.

Astounding isn't it?

I thought you might like to see a list of the ideas that I used from all of you.

• a 16" block
• just the house and one big tree
• bigger blobs for leaves
• a swing
• flowers under the window
• a sidewalk to the front door

I'll end with a few closeup photos so you can see the details more clearly. When the pattern is ready I'll add a blog post with more information and a few helpful hints for putting it all together. 

The doorknob button won't be sewn on until quilting is finished.

Oops. A stray piece of thread invaded the photo. 

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!

Quilt Along House Block Progress

This center house block is finally coming together! I'm ready to start work on templates tomorrow. Then I'll do the applique stitching and add any details that are needed. I should have the pattern totally finished and up on Craftsy by February 10th at the very latest. Then the new blocks could come out on the 10th of every month.

It remains 16" x 16", and it basically contains the house and just one tree.

I'm so much happier with the leaves on the tree! I moved the house up a bit and added another layer of grass so the empty area on top is much smaller. Now it all seems balanced. What else? Oh, I changed the colors on several pieces. The yellow was just one color too many on this one block. The blocks will contain many colors in my scrappy quilt, but I prefer to have the colors in each individual block harmonious. 

I need to thank all of you for your ideas. 

Thank you!

The swing is an just an idea. It hasn't been ironed in place. If I keep it I'll need to drop it a bit lower. The house looked so deserted and lifeless!

To keep or not to keep? What do you think? 

I'm also considering adding some bushes or a pot of flowers to the front of the house. That would involve some tiny pieces, but it can be made quite manageable. 

Again, what would you like to see? Leave it alone? Add some color?

Ideas for other blocks are coming in. 

Please join in with your ideas. 

This is what I've been given so far:  

needle, thread and scissors

yarn and knitting needles 

a kitty cat

rocking chair

fireplace

plate and silverware 

teapot or coffee pot 

cookie jar and cookies  

clothesline

mixer

birdhouse

potted plant

sewing machine

Chicken and Rice Soup for Whatever Ails You

We had such a fabulous time at my party the other night, but I'm afraid that I overate. It was the chips and dip that finished me off. What is it about crispy potato chips? It didn't help that the dip was fabulous! Thank you, Midge! That wasn't meant to be sarcastic! The dip was awesome!

Not surprisingly, I awoke with an uncomfortable tummy. My digestive system just isn't what it used to me. That cast iron stomach is only a fleeting memory.

Yesterday, I mainly ate broth and yogurt. I was better this morning, but still feeling some after effects. That's where the chicken soup comes in.

This particular soup is very much like one that my grandmother used to make. It's great for tummy woes, colds, and whenever you need something light and nutritious.

Grandma wasn't much with a needle and thread, but her cooking was fantastic. Mother, on the other hand, was a remarkably skilled seamstress, but she couldn't cook. I was fortunate to have both mother and daughter for teachers.

You know how I cook - a bit of this, a pinch of that, a handful of the other - so that's the way this recipe reads. Add, subtract, substitute, design it to fit your taste buds.

CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP
A light, simple soup that's easy on your tummy.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons olive oil
One small onion, chopped
1/2 - 1 cup diced chicken breast
About 1/2 cup diced carrots
About 1/2 cup diced celery
1 garlic clove, chopped very fine
1 can of chicken broth
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup rice
A handful of lentils
1 - 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 medium basil leaf
A sprinkling of dried onion flakes
8 or 10 whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
4 or 5 cups of water

Directions:

1. Saute the onion in the olive oil until it becomes very lightly browned and  translucent. Add the chicken and saute for two or three additional minutes.

2. Add the carrots, celery, and garlic. Saute for another two or three minutes.

3. Add chicken broth, parsley, onion flakes, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaf, salt, rice, lentils, and water.

4. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium low and simmer for about an hour.

Yum! 

  

Quilt Along: first steps on the house block - seeking your opinions

Here it is, then - the first experiment with placing of applique pieces on the 16" square that will make the block. The paper backing is still attached to appliques. I'm not nearly ready to iron anything on permanently!

I will be making two blocks from this pattern. These fabrics are for the brightly colored, scrappy quilt.

Hmm....

First off,  there's a lot of empty space here. I'll could add to the grass and move everything up on the background or I could fill something in at the top of the block. If I put something at the top, what might it be? Pieces can't be too tiny or stitching becomes tricky, so that pretty much eliminates little appliqued birds. Embroidered birds? Flying in a group? Just little, black, curved "v" shapes?

I'm not sure that I like the green blobs on the tree either, but haven't thought of another way to deal with that yet. Maybe if I had more variation in sizes and shapes the tree would look better. Only one blob stands out as being different. The rest are all quite alike.

Of course, the easiest solution would be to cut the block down to 14" x 14" and  add a pieced border all around it. Here are three possible layout ideas for a smaller block.

Just house and grass

House with small tree

House with large tree snug against it (Still need to work on those leaf blobs.)

I see other little problems, too, but those are minor adjustments in proportion and possibly fabric choice.

Help!

I would sincerely welcome your thoughts! This is, after all, a group project and you need to be given a block pattern that you like. Every idea you share will be seriously considered.

What do you think? How shall I deal with the empty space at the top of the block?
What about the green blobs on the tree?
What else do you see that could be changed to improve the plan?

Waiting for your comments ...

Honey Wheat Bread

I did find time to bake bread for my party! I really like this recipe. It's very easy to make and it reminds me so much of the whole wheat bread my grandmother used to bake. She also made delicious white bread, but the whole wheat was always my very favorite. 


The following recipe is for 2 loaves. I almost always double the recipe and give two of the loaves to friends. I slice and freeze the rest to keep it tasting fresh.
The bread freezes well and will keep for about a month.







Ingredients


• 1 envelope yeast
• 2 cups water warm water
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups white flour


Directions


1. Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water.
2. In a large bowl, combine butter, molasses, honey, and salt with the remaining warm water. Stir. Add the yeast mixture and mix with a wire whisk till blended.
3. Add 2 cups of whole-wheat flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well with wire whisk after each addition. 
4. Add the 2 cups of white flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Use a wooden spoon to mix until the flour is absorbed. 
5. Add the remaining 1 cup of whole-wheat flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon till it’s well incorporated.
6. Turn onto a floured surface and knead briefly, adding just enough flour so that dough stops sticking to hands. The amount of additional flour needed will vary greatly depending on humidity, temperature, and the flour used.
7. Cover the dough and Allow it to rest 5 minutes.
8. Knead 5 – 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic, adding flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the kneading board. (Look for “broken blisters” on the surface of the dough to show that it is ready.)
9. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil or melted butter into a bowl. Spread over the inner surface of the bowl.
10. Place the dough into the bowl, and turn so that it is covered with a thin film of oil. Cover with a towel, place in a warm place, and let the dough rise for about 1 hour or until double in size.
11. Punch the dough down, divide it into 2 equal parts and shape into loaves.
12. Place the loaves in greased loaf pans, cover lightly with a towel and let rise until double, 40 – 60 minutes. The center of loaf should rise slightly above the rim of the pan.


Bake at 375º for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the bottom of loaves sounds hollow when tapped. Turn the loaves and cool them on a wire rack.