Fall Leaf Tea Towel

Fall Leaf Paper Piecing

I am really excited to tell you some bloggy news ...  
                                        Susie's Sunroom has a advertiser!

I am pleased to introduce : 


  Paper Piecing 1/4"  Digital Magazine     

Paper Piecing 1/4" is a digital magazine, filled with  patterns, and more! 
 You can find  "  articles about creative artists with modern and innovative ideas for you to try .  There will be  paper piecing blocks for those new to paper piecing as well as those looking for something of a challenge. "

     

Click here to go to the Paper Piecing 1/4" magazine

Janeen,  a talented artist and paper piece pattern designer,   will be providing me with some of her awesome paper pieced patterns , from  her digital magazine !
And I will be sharing projects and ideas with you! 

Since the  patterns are digital... you know what that means?!   Yep .... instant download gratification when the mood hits you to make a pattern !      (You'll want to go on over to  Paper Piecing 1/4"  magazine  and Quilt Art Designs  blog to see all of the paper piecing patterns there!!) 


Now that brings me to a fun project that I made in an evening...                                

Falling leaves are drifting around everywhere. I love watching them drift off of the trees , while I sew.
When  I saw this   6 inch Leaf paper pieced  pattern , I knew that I wanted to make a block immediately!

Leaf 6 "   out Quilt Art Designs  Paper Piecing 1/4 " digital magazine  Issue 3

I went to my modest little fabric stash and dug out some fall colored fabrics.  
I decided to choose some ' more  traditional fabrics" , and even use a homespun fabric for the background.    I wanted to see what  "mixing it up" a bit would look like  ...a modern pattern design made with traditional fabrics!

Leaf 6 "   pattern from issue 3  Paper Piecing 1/4"

This pattern would be perfect for anyone new to paper piecing! 

I liked how the leaf block turned out, and decided to make it into a tea towel .  I  found my muslin fabric, and used my "go to"  tea towel  pattern.  (Remember my appliqued apple towel?)

My leaf towel in the kitchen

In my powder room

I really like mixing modern and traditional ...  and sometimes  throwing in some primitive.
How about you?  Do you ever "mix it up"  ??

I'm off to my sewing room!

I am linking up at:    Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs  and
                               Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways  and
                               TGIFFriday @ Quokka Quilts

So long, Sew Kitschy!

My Finished Sew Kitschy BoM!

Well, another sewing year has just flown by!  All nine paper pieced  "Sew Kitschy " blocks are completed.

Here's a look at the blocks....

Sew Kitschy BoM   designed by Kristy  of Quiet Play blog

And here are my nine completed blocks....

My Sew Kitschy BoMs     by Susie's Sunroom

I decided to make a mini wallhanging, to place on the wall in my sewing room.

Sew Kitschy BoM Wallhanging    

Patterns-   by Kristy of Quiet Play blog  
                paper pieced pattern bundle is available for purchase on Quiet Play Craftsy                                                                    
Finished size-  34 " x 34 "
Batting-  Warm and Natural 
Sashing- 2 inches wide before sewing

Sew Kitschy Blocks   by Susie's Sunroom

I added a few details ...  

I embroidered " Susie's Cookies  2014 " on the cookie jar  (by machine)-

I put two little red buttons on the drawers in Betty's kitchen-

I used aqua polka dotted fabric for the back, and used a decorative stitch to sew a label to the backing.

I like the aqua and white binding...

One of my favorite blocks... the teapot

I really love this bowl and spoon block, too!

I used 2 command hooks (3M) to hang the wallhanging on my sunroom wall....

It is hanging  beside last year's BoM,   And Sew On  -

Sew Kitschy BoM  and  And Sew On BoM            Susie's Sunroom

I can't wait to see what Kristy is designing for next year's  BoM !

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:      Sew Kitschy Round Up @ Quiet Play  and
                       Paper Piecing Party    @ Quilt Art Designs  and
                          Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop! @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

November Across The Pond Project

November's Across The Pond Sew Along Project

Make fun things... sewing along with us!
You can join anytime!  Here are our projects

The season is changing, and the weather is getting colder.  Time to snuggle up with a quilt and a good book!!

And that brings me to the theme of this month's Across The Pond Sew Along project:
Bookmarks

The internet is full of lots of fun ideas for all kinds of bookmarks!   Here are just a few tutorials  to get you started making one of your own!


From The Sewing Loft Blog-       Be Mine Bookmark

Be Mine Bookmark  by Heather at The Sewing Loft Blog

I love the little patches that she made.  These don't have to be just for  Valentine's Day...


I am really excited to share this next pattern with you! 

From The Patchsmith-     Country Heart Bookmark     ... a brand new free pattern!!

Country Heart Bookmark
A free pattern, created for the Across The Pond Sew Along
  by Amanda, The Patchsmith

This book mark is just adorable!!  I love that you can use felt and fabric and ribbon... or all fabric!  And the pattern and directions are impeccably  written, in Amanda's Patchsmith style!    {click here for your free pattern}


And lastly, I 'll share my idea for a fun little bookmark, using scraps and selvedges:

Easy Print pdf file : click PDF


                                  Selvedge and Zipper Bookmark
                                                   by Susie's Sunroom

The Selvedge and Zipper Bookmark      by Susie's Sunroom

Click here to print a pdf file or save easily:    HERE



Materials:  felt 
                 Zipper parts (  these were cut off from other projects)
                 Selvedges     

My bag of selvedges

                 
Felt-   cut   2 pieces-   3 inches x 7 inches high

Zipper scrap -   pick a piece at least 4 inches long  

Selvedges-    pick out some  favorites from your bag of selvedges.  Look for pieces at least 7 inches long, to cover most of the felt
       * My bookmark used about 5 long selvedges per side.  I had to add some short pieces to cover the felt on selvedges that were too short.

1. Lay out your selvedges on top of one piece of felt.
 2.  Pin them in place, so the edges touch-to cover all felt.
3. Sew-  quilt as you go... I used a feather stitch on my machine.

 Now, lay out your selvedges on top of one piece of felt.  Arrange them so they make you smile when you look at them!

Pin them in place, so the edges touch and all felt is covered.

Now you are ready to sew them onto the felt.  You " quilt as you go" ... I used a feather stitch on my machine.  
                

I call the #27 stitch, in the second row, my "Feather Stitch"
- on my Viking Topaz 30

Lay the two felt/fabric pieces, with wrong sides together.

Trim around the edges, making sure that no felt shows.  Trim any stray threads.

Close up of the feather stitching.  You could use a zig zag stitch, as well

Insert the zipper scrap about 1/2 inch, in the bottom of the bookmark.  (Place between the front and back pieces of the felt.)  Check so that the top of the zipper shows on the side you are calling "front."  Pin the zipper piece in place.

Sew around all four sides of the bookmark.  I used my machine blanket stitch.  Reinforce the side with the zipper piece. ( I simply used reverse, and then forward again, when stitching on the zipper area.  Sew slowly over the zipper.)

The back side- the zipper sewed in between the layers;
the blanket stitch on all four sides

Trim away any stray threads and little sections of felt that may show.

Lastly, curl up under your quilt with a favorite book, using your new bookmark!

For easy printing or saving:  click HERE  for the  complete tutorial in a pdf file !



We'd love to see the bookmarks that you make!  Share them with us at our Flickr Group-
Across The Pond Sew Along Flickr Group

And you won't want to miss seeing the bookmarks at Amanda's  The Patchsmith blog   AND
Amy's   Amy Made That! blog!  They are sew creative and I love all of their work!!

I'm off to my sewing room!

I am linked up at:   Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop! @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict  and
                             Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts  and
                              Fabric Frenzy Friday  @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio  and
                             TGIFF @ aylin-nilya blog    and
                             Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways