Back to School basics

When Kerry and I agreed to do a Back to School set, we landed upon a couple of basics.  Pencils and hi-liters.  Kerry's pencils sew up like a dream and are quick, easy and so effective!  I really had a hard time deciding on the fabrics to use for the ones I made.

We both made a version of Lisa's pencil case, pattern here.  Thank you Lisa for allowing us to do that!  I love how Kerry's pencil case is so her; delicate, sweet, and girly.

For our Back to School set, Kerry has included patterns for the pencil wheel block and a single pencil.  She also will be putting up a tutorial here for how to trace and embroider your own message for the center of the pencil wheel.  Also included are my hi-liters, capped and uncapped, and the basic instructions to make this block

Happy back to school!

Tutorial Tips: Button It Tray

When Penny and I design patterns for Sew-Ichigo we always want to think of some practical uses for them.   We always put our creations in the Sew-Ichigo Flickr group and we hope you will do the same!  For Penny's The Button It pattern I wanted to use them to make a button card to feature in a generously sized tray to store mini projects. 

 I used Ayumi's tray pattern scaled up so I though I would share my measurements in case you wanted to do the same.  Firstly I printed the Button It pattern a little  smaller so the buttons would be 2 1/2" finished size rather than 3"- set your photocopier at 83%  for this.

Once I had made 5 buttons using the new Liberty Lifestyle prints and a blank square  3 x 3" of Kona snow, I stamped some fabric with Made in England  and Buttons  and then sashed them together.   There are tips on using stamps here.   I did a little extra piecing at the top to get fit the selvedge in but the measurements are the same as below.

I used a single strand of embroidery floss to turn the selvedge circles into tiny buttons and 6 strands of floss to make the buttons look as if they were stitched on to the card.

My final touch at this stage was to use the 6 strand floss to make a single stitch as if a button was missing from the card.  The block was sashed all around with 6" wide strips of  Essex yarn dyed linen in flax and I trimmed it down so the button card was at an angle, this measured 16" x 20".  

I then followed Ayumi's tutorial!  I used fusible fleece, Vilene H640 which is the only interfacing I can truly trust not to go wrong!   It adds structure and softness and is great for pillows and bags too. I quilted lightly, just following the sashing seam lines on the button cards and a diamond criss cross on the linen.   The gusset measured 8 1/2" but you could change this to have lower sides and a wider base.

I top stitched the sides to make it stand up.  And then I popped it in the post for Ayumi!  It was her birthday present.   We can all never have enough storage and Ayumi's tray pattern is so easy to adapt and make a series of trays Russian doll style!

Penny will be sharing another of Ayumi's tutorials; the fabric basket to show you further uses for the patterns and you can buy for 'Button It' and 'Rainbow Rack of Spools' here and here.  I am seeing some great ideas coming up in the Flickr group so I fancy sharing a gallery of those soon too!

Works in Progress

We are busy here at Sew-Ichigo.  A tea cozy featuring the Tea Kettle from Kitchen classics has gone to Liberty to live in their cafe.   You can read more about this here.

The features prints from the new Liberty Lifestyle quilting cotton collection.  I am using more of these prints whilst I play around with  Penny's new button set for Sew-Ichigo.  This little cutie is called 'Plain Jane' and she is a lovely easy make!  

And whilst I sit and sew listening to the tennis at Wimbledon, I have just had a break for strawberries!  As you probably have read here before, "ichigo" is Japanese for strawberry so I couldn't resist a picture.

I did have a little shock moment today when I picked up Modern Quilting issue 3 (UK based magazine).  An interview I did a while ago which features Sew-Ichigo is inside!

Our new pattern sets: 'Rainbow Rack of Spools' and 'Button It' go on sale next week here and at our craftsy store.  You can find all the Kitchen Classics patterns in the same places including individual patterns at Craftsy.  Penny has had a hard time recently with the forrest fires in Colorado and other difficulties but she is keeping busy, working and we are in constant touch.  She send me the funniest emails sometimes- I have to try not to laugh to hard out loud when I check my phone at work!