Rainbow pencil case and project bag

 

I decided to have a bit of a play around with some scraps. I saw a quick YouTube tutorial how to make a pencil case. I thought they looked fun.

Off I went and four pencil cases later here they are.

I then made a colourful project bag.

A clear vinyl front

And a matching rainbow back.

We are to make a project bag for this years Kris Kringle. 

A few of my friends want to know how I make mine so I will be holding a little workshop for them. The way I make these and sew the plastic in with no fuss is different than most tutorials. You end up not sewing on the plastic but it is sandwiched between fabric. This makes it a bit easier. Also, the lining is sewn in and all the seams are enclosed. This looks so neat. All you need to do to finish it is sew the turning opening closed.

I enjoy making them.

Embroidered bag is finished

I have finished this beautiful embroidered pouch.

I took a while to work out how to finish it. I didn’t have any more fabric and it was backed and quilted with satin. I wasn’t happy with seeing the exposed seams and didn’t want to just overlock them. I decided to do a French seam. The ribbon holes were machine stitched buttonholes. The top of the bag was folded over to create the casing. It is the size of a hot water bottle.

After threading the ribbon through I attached little flowers to finish it off.

I am so thrilled with how it turned out.

I’m linking up with 

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2026/02/slow-sunday-stitching_0378814912.html

Dear Jane more blocks. G7 & H7

 I dug out my cream scraps and a fun piece of brown mushroom fabric to make my next block. 

G7 pattern from Susan Gatewood is printed for for and I’m ready

The block is sewn, quilted and sashing put on. 

The blocks in this row have been sewn together as well as the backing strip.

Next on to block H7. This one I just pieced. No papers needed. Quilted and sashes on too.

And here they are altogether so far

Chookshed challenge no. 8 is my Flip la K bag

  Deana has chosen no.8 for us to work on this month. Well this is the 3rd year I have had this on my list. 

https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2026/01/february-chookshed-challenge-number.html

My project to work on is my Flip La K bag.

A bag to put my rulers and patterns all in one place. I have kept putting it off.

I currently just keep them in a binder book. They really aren’t safe like this as they are very delicate. I have my green batiks and some hand dyes that I started to use in a workshop but my machine didn’t want to play ball. It kept skipping stitches. No matter what I did that weekend it wouldn’t improve. That’s probably why it has sat for so long. Time to change that.

February is also GREEN month over at So scrappy for the RSC challenge.

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2026/01/scraphappy-saturday-last-blue-saturday.html

Maybe I can cover both at once.

I did it. Chookshed challenge is completed. Sashiko

 Yes, I did it. I started this quilt back in 2014. https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2014/02/sashiko-with-jane-macdonald.html

   It was with Jane MacDonald on a sewing cruise around New Zealand. It was so much fun about 12 years ago and it is finally finished.

I did do a simple machine quilting in the ditch as I didn’t want to take anything away from the sashiko. Next up was the binding decision. I didn’t want to frame the quilt and have always wanted to try a facing. After watching a few tutorials I decided on this one. You sew corner triangles to cover the ends of the side pieces. 

When folded over it looks very neat without a heap of bulk in the corners.

So I spent a couple of days hand stitching the facing down.

Next up I knew it needed a little bit more to lift is. It was supposed to be tied with red thread in the corners around the smaller blocks but as mine were all different sizes I decided to do some hand quilting with the red thread.

I put some masking tape, which was cut at 1/4”, around each block and went ahead with a running stitch

. 

I think it has worked out great. Just enough colour added. 

The backing was a Japanese print from my stash. Not enough of one so I had 2 * 1 metre pieces in similar colours. I had just enough to get all the facing too. 

I am so thrilled it is now completed 14 years later. 

Thanks to Deana & Chooky for the push with 

Jane’s finished quilt.

And slowing down to rest and stitch on a Sunday

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2026/02/slow-sunday-stitching.html

Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) BLUE for Betty

I have jumped on board with Betty over at 

 https://rainbowconnectionquilters.blogspot.com/

Betty has a group of ladies that make wonderful quilts for charity. They meet monthly but as I am in a different state I join in on their 1/2 hour zoom on the 1st Saturday of the month. In the past we have done a specified block and posted it to Betty. This year is a bit different. We are to make a row of any design we like but it must be made in one colour. All shades or scraps. Your own choice to measure 56” wide and up to 10.5” high. We were told the 6 colours to make. 1 per month in what ever order we choose.

As I also follow Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) I will be making mine in their colour choice. January’s colour is BLUE. That’s easy to do. Out comes the blue tub. 

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2026/01/scraphappy-saturday-last-blue-saturday.html

 I used up some potato chip (PC) blocks 

Blocks are made.

Then joined into a row.

This has been posted and I’m off to find some more designs while I wait to see what February’s colour will be.

A special embroidery gift for a friend.

My friend is having a special birthday soon so she deserved a special gift. On her invitation she said NO gifts but I can’t let that happen. I made a beautiful embroidered monogram for my MIL many years ago (no photo). Here is the pattern I followed. Very simple with my hand scribbled notes. I did a workshop in Gisborne with Delma Moore.

I copied, cut and paste bits of the pattern to make the initial ‘V’

I wanted to use silk but couldn’t get it where I live so I am using satin as the base. All drawn on and ready to start. Then green is stitched in stem st.

Sewing some beads in the centre of the daisy flowers.

I took the beads off a crazy patchwork piece I had made with an online class I did years ago.

After lots and lots of bullion stitches I finished the embroidery. Now I’m hand stitching it to a quilted floral fat 1/4. I lined with the left over satin.

This is a better colour

I have decided to add a flower trim around the edge of the circle. But first I need to add more beads. Out comes that box of goodies.

They do take some time to stitch on. I am getting there.

I will be making it into a gathered bag. So it can be used as a delicates/lingerie bag. OR my first idea was for it to be a hot water bottle cover because she always uses one but then thought it was more suited for delicates. 

When it’s finished I’ll do another post.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, zoom & GREEN sewing for Betty

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

last night Chooky held a zoom session and continued today, AUSTRALIA DAY.

https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/

It was so hot here today so it was best spent inside and under the air conditioner.

I think we got to 45 degrees Celsius, 113 Fahrenheit.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 48 Celsius, 118.4 Fahrenheit.

I finished the day working on my Bonnie Hunter mystery, Lupine and Laughter, border.

I started Sunday night and continued on Monday with my sewing for Betty @ https://rainbowconnectionquilters.blogspot.com/ for her charity rainbow row quilts. I decided to jump ahead and do a green row of terry Roland blocks. These measure 4.9” finished.

And here they are all joined together in a row.

Now, on the blogger, google and apple (iPad & phones) front for doing posts and adding photos. What a nightmare. I have spent hours trying different things. Signing in and out, a different log in, emailing to blog and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. So if you see a photo know that I have been pulling my hair out.

So cheers to everyone for a great AUSTRALIA DAY.

 

Double ended oven mitts for RSC

 Back to clearing out some blue scraps and finish off my oven mitts.

I got 2 made. 

What it looks like on the oven door.

These are going into the gift box.

Linking up with So Scrappy for RSC

Lupine & Laughter mystery clue 8

 I was up to date with Bonnie’s mystery but a special project took over. I am now back to it. Clue 8 which is the last clue and reveal. I feel that this quilt has been easier than a few of my others I have done. Maybe because I am no longer working I have managed better.

Anyway, next pieces are all cut.

I have started sewing the assembly of my blocks. Just taking my time. 

Block ‘a’ is half sewn. No to iron before the next sewing day.