Basket and Blocks

The January weather is snowy and really  cold outside, and it is great to be  inside sewing, with a cup of coffee at my side.  Perfect weather to work on my comforting Patchique' blocks!
                                                     

Amanda, The Patchsmith, leads the way to making the blocks from this book

First block:   #15   Kasuri niju kaku  (Kasuri double square)

#15  Kasuri double square from the book

This block , a double square,  uses 3 different fabrics.  I went to the first fabrics that anchored my brown colorway for the blocks.  (Moda FaLaLa)
          
                                                          

#15  Kasuri double square      made by Susie's Sunroom

Second block:  #75  Hoya no hana   ( Hoya flower)

                          

#75  Hoya flower   from the book

#75  Hoya flower    made by Susie's Sunroom

This block had a lot of applique' pieces to cut out, and to blanket stitch around the outer edges (machine). I like the brown and aqua colors together.  I enjoying looking at the blocks together in groups after I make them....

Side by side...  #15 and #75    made by Susie's Sunroom

Do hop over to see Amanda's progress on her Patichique' blocks, and see beautiful  pictures in her Flickr group. 

My progress in the Patchique' journey so far:  (slow and steady progress!)

Completed blocks   Jan 22

Basket time:   a Divided Basket    pattern by  Anna at Noodlehead 

This basket is one of my favorite baskets to make! This is a nice sized basket, with so many possible uses!

Divided basket  by Noodlehead    made by Susie's Sunroom

Fabric:   Le Cerise    berries and script   by Susan Winget
             green tonal blender

Basket Dimensions:  13.5"wide, 7.5" deep, 10.5" tall including handles (7.5" tall without)

I fell in love with these fabrics...  The black and cream  outer fabric has French words for different berries .  The companion fabrics are so pretty... with berry panels, a blueberries and leaves print , and  a cute cream text with  nature sketches.  ( I *heart* these!)
The basket went together quickly, as it was the second time I made it, and I knew what to expect.  The directions that Anna provides are excellent!

I placed a  blueberry panel on one side of the divider section

The other side of the divider has cherries

I was nearly giddy with delight when I noticed that the berry panels fit exactly into the dimensions of the divider, and could be put in as a feature on the front pocket of the basket!  (You , out there, know what a great feeling this is when you first discover something fits exactly for fussy cutting!!)
                                                 

Strawberry panel on the front outer pocket

My  dear friend is using this basket for her mail.  I hope she thinks of me every time she uses it!


Blog Hop Ahead...
Have you noticed the new button on the top right of my blog page? 
                  It is the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop,   Feb. 12- 19. 
The creative and ruffley Mdm Samm , at Sew We Quilt, has organized this Feb. blog hop, with Soma , at Whims and Fancies !

I   have been busy making some projects for the upcoming blog hop that I am in , using  fun and fresh new Valentine's Day patterns designed by the talented Soma,  of Whims and Fancies !  

You can buy Soma's patterns, where donations are being made with the purchase.  

The whole list of the bloggers will be coming out soon, and I will have them on my blog.  You can look for my projects , near the end of the hop (so far that's how I am scheduled!)

Well, I think I need to make a divided basket  for myself now!  One can never have too many baskets..

Linked at :

ASWC Together Linky Party @ And Sew We Craft

I'm off to my sewing room!

A Laptop Case

Trying a new pattern...

A quilted laptop case     pattern by Jennifer at Sewplicity

Last week, I had the chance to try out a new pattern , that I found at Sewplicity  blog.
A friend of mine asked me to make her a case for her laptop.  She wanted a zipper at the top, so she could slide her laptop in and out easily, and store the cord along with it.

I looked on the net, and found this great tutorial, by Jennifer, at Sewplicity blog.  I gathered up some dark fabric , by  Susan Winget, for the outer fabric , and another coordinated  ' texty' and bird sketchy  fabric for the lining.   

Fabric used:                                 

Le Cerise Script Black    Susan Winget

Le Cerise Bird   Susan Winget

Interfacing:  Pellon fusible fleece FF987
 Zipper:  Sport  Coats&Clark   24 inch  black separating 
Velcro:  for easy outer pocket closure
I quilted some simple  parallel lines , on the diagonal, two inches apart, for the outer pocket.

The pattern is easy to follow and  the laptop sleeve didn't take long to make.
 My friend did not want handles, but the pattern includes  directions to add handles to this sleeve.

The outer pocket easily holds her power cord

Some thoughts and observations:

• I did wish that I had a surger, to finish the raw edges of the material, as the seams show in the interior of the case.  I used zigzag stitches on the raw edges.  
• And I would make my zipper thread the same color as the zipper, as you  can see the thread when you look inside the case. 
•  After using the case for a week, a tiny bit of the outside pocket became loose from the seam,  at the bottom seam .   I simply restitched the area with a satin stich, and then made another STURDY seam above this original seam, all along the bottom.  (To make sure this area could withstand the weight of the laptop . I had room to do this,  because the case was oversized.)  Whew!  An easy save.
• This winter, I might try to make a zippered pouch, with lining that doesn't show the seams.  Adding that to my "someday, when I have time.." list

She loves the zipper top

 The Quilted Laptop Case          

This was a fun project to make.  Thanks, Jennifer, for a great pattern!

You may be seeing more of this fabric...  just sayin' I love it!!

I'm off to my sewing room!