A Cover Conversion

What can possibly  be cuter than an Ereader cover with a pocket?  

  {Specifically a Linen Pocket Ereader cover.. designed by  eamylove @ Amy Made That!}

photo courtesy of Amy  @  Amy Made That !

A linen pocket E Reader Cover  AND an E Reader Cover   
                           Across- The- Body Purse !!!

Recently, I made an e-reader case for my Asus tablet.  I used an adorable and practical pattern, designed by eamylove,   @ Amy Made That!  She has it available in her etsy shop and Craftsy shop!

The Pattern to make this Linen pocket Ereader cover  at Amy Made That !

My  Paris Pink and gray  Linen Pocket Ereader Cover                                  

The front pocket-   room for cords and more

 I showed my  tablet / ereader cover to a friend, and she fell in love with it immediately. (I could tell because she kept stroking it and looking at the front, and  then the back.)   She asked me if I could make one exactly like this for her, but with a long handle strap.   I said," Of course!"  I had just made the long adjustable across-the-body strap for my Two Zip Hipster, in this fabric, and knew it would work with a narrower width for this cover.

Side by side....  the Ereader Cover   and   the    Across-the-body  Pouch

                                  

 Gray (my pretend linen)  Quilters Linen  in stone  by Robert Kaufman
  Paris print       Amore Twill Sherbet  by  Premier Prints
 Dots   Ta Dot    by Michael Miller

I added a simple pocket in the inside

       

hanging

I added 2 rows of scrap Paris print to the back.... it reminded me of using cute fabrics with linen in a Zakka project 

Dots on the lining of the outer pocket

What a versatile pattern!!

 I would've been sad to give it up.... if I didn't have my own cover to keep!

I keep my tablet in the cover when I use it at home

This pattern is excellent, written in a  tutorial style with pictures, and is  easy to follow. It doesn't take a long time to make, and makes a great gift!

Linking up to :     And Sew We Craft Together   Linky Party @  And Sew We Craft

                         Sew Darn Crafty      linky party @  Sew Many Ways

I'm off to my sewing room!

Around the Block in July

My July Sew Along Blocks

I wanted to share my July Blocks of the Month with you.
And,include  my "end of June" block for And Sew On... BoM.    These blocks  are a lot of fun to make!

And Sew On BoM  by Kristy at Quiet Play

June was so filled up, that I was only  able to carve out time to make my June block on June 30.

Photo from Kristy @ Quiet Play  Her June block   "A Stitch in Time"

 June's  " A Stitch in Time" block:

Susie's Sunroom   June Block   A Stitch in Time

 The top section was very easy to sew.  The only tricky part about the bottom half, with the hexies, was keeping the fabics straight  in my head, when doing the piecing. I colored my pattern with colored pencils,  and this made the process sail right along.  (I have a slight problem viewing the project in "reverse" or mirror image.  That's when I make my mistakes. So I'd rather spend the time planning it out and coloring the sections, than RIPPING stitches out!)

I want to embroider an eye in the needle when I put the blocks all together.   

July's block:     "Cut It Out!"    Kristy has this pattern available ,during July , as a  free download, at her Craftsy shop .  

Kristy's  "Cut it Out" block for July

This is my July block.... "Cut it Out! "  This block features a rotary cutter!

Susie's Sunroom   July Bom And Sew On      "Cut it Out!"

 I like my fabric for the cutting ruler.  The rotary cutter took a  little bit of time to paper piece, but was  well worth it.   (I took little breaks in between the sections, to keep my mind fresh.)

My Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June and July   And Sew On... BoM blocks

Just two more months to go!  

July's   Modern Blocks Quilt Along Block:

                          Modern Blocks Quilt Along   at   And Sew We Craft .com

July is the Megan's Star block,   designed by Alethea Ballard.  (page 112)

Modern Blocks Quilt Along   from book , Modern Blocks
compiled by Susanne Woods

This is Amy's block,  of Actually Amy,     using solid fabrics.  

Actually Amy 's block  

                        Samelia’s Mum has this month's tutorial blog for Megan's Star.

This is my block....  Megan's Star

Susie's Sunroom    Megan's Star

 I really like this pattern!  The  finished inside diamond is about a 4 inch by 4 inch square.  (I am thinking this is good way to show off a cute charm square!)

I introduced some more fabrics,  that I hope will blend in with my original bundle.

Original fabrics

Plus:  Pink    Garden Pindow   by Michael Miller
        Zinnia flowers   Richloom  MMXII    from JoAnn Fabrics
        Orange tonal swirls    from JoAnn Fabrics

May and June blocks

June and July blocks

May, June and July Blocks

  I'll be linking these blocks to:   
Quiet Play   And Sew On BoM
And Sew We Craft    Modern Blocks Quilt Along

 Next week, I hope to make a few small Christmas in July projects!  Have you gone to our Across the Pond Sew Along Flickr page to see what we have been making?

Have a great summer weekend!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Christmas in July

It's " Christmas in July " in the Across The Pond Sew Along 

The first of July brings a new project, selected by myself,   for our Across The Pond Sew Along!

See our past projects... and join in ANYTIME!  There's no time limits :) 

The 'Christmas in July ' project:  create  a Christmas item.

~  This can mean any item with a Christmas pattern or theme,

  or make something with  "Christmasy Fabrics"  ( Holiday colors and/or themed  fabric ).

Maybe you have a kit that you have been wanting to make up "someday".  Maybe you'd like  to see some ideas that I have.   And, my super-creative Sew Along partners always have wonderful and fun ideas... check out  Amanda , at  The Patchsmith,  and Amy, at Amy Made That!  , to see what they are making.

My Christmas project:   a Christmas theme table runner

Recently I saw this cute pattern, for a row in sew along quilt.
It is designed by Clover and Violet,  for a row in the Round Robin Winter Wonderland Sew Along,  at Patchwork Posse.  I stored it away in my brain , thinking  it would look terrific as a table runner for the holidays.

Merry Gift Boxes  photo by  Clover and Violet 

It is called Merry Gift Boxes .  This is a free pattern, by Clover and Violet!  It is a block, made by paper piecing.  It is easy to download, here,  and easy to make. It would be a great project for a beginner paper piecer, too.

I selected 6 fabrics  (One background, one back/binding,   one for all the ribbons, and 3 for gift wrappings)

After printing my pattern once (for reference and for my folder)  ,  I made 3 copies of the pattern itself.
I studied the directions, and made notes on the pattern this way to join the pattern pieces.  (This wasn't on the pattern, and I think if you are new to paper piecing, it will help a lot.)

Sew together in this order:
B+C
BC + A  (far right box)
E + D 
F + G   long box bottom
ED (on top)  to FG  (on bottom)
EDFG  to ABC

How to sew the sections together to make the block

In my table runner,
Each block used the same background fabric (cream and gold), and the same ribbon color (red).  Then each gift  box was varied between the three fabrics.  I used colored pencils to color in each block, before I cut out  the patterns.  Planning ahead of time saves me a lot of mistakes and a headache!

Additionally, I decided to trace  the bows triangle pieces onto Freezer paper, and then made a 1/4 " seam allowance around each triangle. I cut them out.   Then I labeled and  ironed them onto my red fabric, and cut them out  a little bigger than the seam allowance.   It went  quickly  to put them in place to be sewn, with minimal waste.  (....always testing them to make sure they would cover the area properly.)
After making the 3  three blocks, I  joined them together to form a row that was  48 inches wide by 8 inches high.

My 3 blocks joined together,  with strips added to each side

To make the table runner wider, I added strips to each side, to make a 3 inch border on all sides:
    2 -   48 " wide x 3 1/2 " tall
    2 -  14 " wide x 3 1/2 " tall  (non directional)

A  simple 3 inch border on all four sides

I wanted to make the binding simple,  so I used my black backing fabric  as binding,  by adding one inch to every side.  
Backing and binding piece:    54 " wide  x  16 " tall

I learned this easy technique from a great tutorial by Colleen,  at the  Pretty Prudent blog.
She names this technique the  Cheater Quilt Bind Off.  I think it is so nice for small pieces, because it adds less bulk and I can make it look much neater.  I  stitch it by machine.

The backing is placed so there is one inch extra on all four sides, to fold for the binding

I didn't choose to use any batting this time in my table runner.  I wanted it to lay flat. Finally, I did  some minimal outline- quilting around the boxes.


My finished Merry Gift Boxes Table Runner~

Merry  Gift Boxes Table Runner by   Susie    @ Susie's Sunroom

Fabrics used:   Moda Majestic Yule  by Sentimental Studios  
                     Holiday Flourish III   Peggy Toole for Robert Kaufman
                    Timeless Treasures  Holiday  (stripes)
                      Luxury Blenders  P & B Textiles  (black with gold swirls)    (backing)


Some ideas I had for  Christmas  projects....
If you want to buy a  pdf pattern, that is 'make-able' in a day or so , has excellent directions, and projects perfect for gift giving... hop on over to The Patchsmith's blog.  There are lots and lots of oh-so-cute  Christmas patterns to choose from in her Craftsy shop!

Reindeer Mug Rug Pattern   by The Patchsmith

I want to make one of these sweet reindeer mug rugs, too!


I think it would be sooo cute to make a little  House Ornament using Christmas fabrics...

June's Across The Pond Sew Along project  House Ornament

I'll show you mine when I make it.  
I'd love to see what you are making for Christmas... so link it up in our Across The Pond Sew Along Flickr group!  You can go over there to get some great inspiration and ideas!
I have met such talented quilters through our group!! 

Year after year, I swear that I'll get started making things for the Christmas holidays WAY before December.... and then it is December before I even know it!   So, I thought that making a Christmas project NOW....would be just the thing to get some new items made for Christmas this year.  I really enjoyed sewing with my Christmas fabrics in this project.  

Come on, and  join along , and get into the spirit early!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up to And So We Craft Together Linky Party