The Patchsmith's Super Speedy Glasses Case

Many years ago, in May 2014 I made a couple of glasses cases from a delightful free tutorial by Hillside Quiltworks.  Needless to say the glasses cases are looking tired and worn so I decided to replace them like-for-like.  Unfortunately I was unable to locate Hillside Quiltworks or the tutorial online so I decided to get creative and create my own tutorial based on their very functional design.  And here it is....

1.         You will need two 6" x 7" rectangles of fabric (one for the outer and one for the lining).  You will also need one 5½“ x 6½” rectangle of lightweight batting/wadding.  

2.           Firstly, print the Patchsmith's  Glasses Case pattern piece.  When printing ensure you select 'Actual Size' on the print screen (sometimes referred to as scaling set to 'none' or 'print at 100%').  Use the print-size-check-box on the pattern piece.

3.         Optional:  Add embroidery/applique to the front of the glasses case making sure to position your chosen design on the right side of the outer fabric rectangle, ¾"-1" in from the right-hand edge of the fabric and at least 1½” up from the bottom edge of the fabric.  (I added a heart to my glasses case using the quick-fuse applique method once I had placed the batting to the back of the outer rectangle thus quilting and appliqueing the heart in place at the same time.)

4.         Next pin the wadding centrally onto the wrong side of 6" x 7" outer rectangle.  This should result in you having a ¼” border of fabric all the way around the wadding rectangle.  

5.        Quilt the wadding and outer rectangle as desired.  (I quilted simple straight lines avoiding the appliqued heart.)

6.         Once all quilting is complete, place the template printed side up, onto the right side of the quilted rectangle and cut out along the top edge to create the curved edges.   

7.         Next pin the lining and outer fabric right sides together and trim the lining to match the  outer quilted section.

8.         Mark a 2½" opening centrally along the bottom edge.  Using a ¼” seam allowance stitch all the way around the unit leaving the opening unstitched.  Backstitch at the beginning and end of the opening to ensure the stitching does not come undone when turning right side out.

 

9.         Carefully trim the corners on the diagonal ensuring you do not to cut through the stitching.  Turn the glasses right side out through the opening, taking care when pushing the corners out.  Press firmly and press the opening closed (this will be stitched closed at the same time as top-stitching the glasses case together at Step 11).  Use pins/clips/glue to hold the opening closed.  (If you prefer you can whip stitch the opening closed.)

10.         Fold the glasses case in half, lining sides together as shown.  Pin or clip to secure.  

11.         Finally, starting at the top left-hand back edge top-stitch along the back, down the right-hand side and along the bottom as shown.  The front curve is left unstitched.

And there you have it – the perfect little glasses case to gift or to keep.   I told you it was quick and it gets even quicker the more you make.

Until next time....

Autumn on the Table

Totem Mug Rug - One of ten patterns 
from the Halloween & Thanksgiving Mug Rug book

The nights are turning cooler and the leaves are beginning to change colour.  So I am changing the mug rugs in my house to welcome the Autumnal season into my home.

Mug rugs are such a quick and easy way to create a homely touch.  You can use novelty charm squares (5" squares) as in this Quilt-as-you-Go pattern from my Halloween & Thanksgiving pattern book (also available via Amazon):

QAYG Halloween Fun

Or you can use shades of green, red, brown, yellow or orange from your stash:  

Pumpkin Patch Mug Rug Pattern

You can even turn a pumpkin into a Jack-o-Lantern with a touch of black fabric or felt:

Included in the Pumpkin Patch Pattern

And whilst you are finding scraps of black felt - look for some white to make a couple of fish-bones to add to the Moonlit Cat mug rug:

Moonlit Cat Mug Rug Pattern

The Moonlit Cat pattern is available as a single pattern or as part of the Halloween & Thanksgiving pattern book.  Either way you will also receive the Scaredy Cat version to make as well:

Moonlit Scaredy Cat Pattern
(included with the Moonlit Cat Pattern)

If pennies or time are short then just make a coaster using part of a mug rug pattern:  

Click on the image for the instructions for these spooky coasters

Whatever fabrics you choose to use - a mug rug pattern will help you create a little bit of fabric art for your home this season.   The Patchsmith's Halloween & Mug Rug pattern book will take you from Halloween to Thanksgiving with ten delicious mug rug patterns:

Available in PDF format from Etsy
or Paperback format via Amazon

So join with the Patchsmith this season and enjoy some eerily frugal fabric fun.  Until next time.................

St Patrick's Day Mug Rugs

 

St Patrick's Day version of Nordic Gnomes Mug Rug 

Sometimes all it takes is an additional free pattern sheet to turn a mug rug into a season special.  So it is with my Nordic Gnomes Mug Rug pattern.

Nordic Gnomes Mug Rug Pattern

With every purchase you receive an additional pattern sheet to turn the Nordic Gnomes into St Patrick's Day gnomes.  

Of course, you may just prefer to celebrate St Patrick's Day with a shamrock.

St Patrick's Day Mug Rug pattern

I love celebrating special days using a few scraps and an hour or two in my sewing room, don't you?

Have a Happy Christmas

 Sending you Christmas wishes across the globe ….

… and wishing you peace and happiness for

the year ahead.

Ghostly Coaster

Ghostly Coaster

Life is busy - I get it.  Even a mug rug just isn't possible - no problem.  But a coaster which can be stitched on the machine and finished by hand - eerily possible.  And here is how using The Patchsmith's Ghostly Duo mug rug pattern (also available in the Halloween & Thanksgiving pattern book) .......

1.   First - choose your fabric (the hardest part of any task for me!).  For each Ghostly coaster you will need:

                   One 6" square

                   Two 3½" x 6" rectangles

                   One 6" square of lightweight batting/wadding
                   One 6" square of fusible webbing

                   Fabric for your ghost 

                  Ghostly Duo mug rug pattern 

(Tip:  I cut my ghosts from an old white linen table cloth as it is a bit thicker than quilting fabric and I know it will wash well.  Felt also works well as it stops the background showing through.)

2.  Fold under 1/4" along the 6” edge of one of the rectangles of fabric as shown and press.

3.  Applique a ghost onto the center of the 6” fabric square following the instructions in the pattern.  Place lightweight batting behind the appliqued square and quilt around the ghost. 

Applique and quilt around your ghost ...

4.  Next lay the two backing rectangles right sides facing upwards, so that the rectangle with the folded edge overlaps the other rectangle slightly, creating a 6” square (the folded edge should lie on top).

5.  Place the appliquéd ghost square on top – right side facing downwards.  Pin to secure.

You should be able to see the quilted line quite easily.  

6.  Now stitch all the way around the ghost, approximately ½” outside of the quilted line.  Accuracy is not essential and smooth corners will work better than pointy ones. 

7.  Once you have stitched all the way around - trim all layers approximately ¼” from the outline stitching.  Take care not to snip any stitches.

8.  Turning out is simple because of the overlapping back.  

(I run my Clover Turner all along the inside of the seam to ensure it is fully turned out.) 

Pink Ghostly Coaster

9.  Give the ghoulish coaster a good pressing and slip-stitch the envelope back closed. 

Easy?  You bet.  So much so you could whip up a whole gang of ghoulish ghosts for your children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and ... oh yes, yourself.  This method would also work well for other shapes.

Perfect for those Halloween cocktails

And if you would prefer a book of Halloween mug rug patterns you will find a paperback version on Amazon or a PDF version in my Etsy store. 

Halloween & Thanksgiving Mug Rug Booklet

Until next time ..... enjoy the Halloween fun and games and keep safe.

Scrappy September - Free 6" Paper-Pieced String Block Template

A quick and easy Autumn table runner

The Fat Quarter Shop is hosting a Scrappy September giveaway with free scrap happy block patterns and the chance to win a Fat Quarter Shop token.  So I thought I would join in.

I like to make small projects so I am using my scraps to make an autumnal table runner for my coffee table.  And here is how I did it.

A large scrappy pumpkin block

Firstly, you will need two 12" (finished size) pumpkin blocks of your choosing.  I chose to enlarge the 6" Orange Pumpkin block from my Sampler Quilt Block pattern book - if you want to resize the block from my book you will need to cut the block pieces as follows:

Piece A:         2½” x 10½” rectangles

Piece B:         2” x 2½” rectangle
Piece C:         2½” squares
Piece D:         3¾” x 2½”  rectangles
Piece E:         2½” squares
Piece F:         2” squares  

You will also need six 6" String Blocks (finished size). 

You will need six of these blocks

I have creased a FREE Paper-Pieced String Block Template which you can download by clicking on the image below.  Just print it onto ordinary printer paper or trace it onto baking parchment.  There are lots of tutorials and videos online showing how to paper-piece if you are new to this method.

The Patchsmith's 6" String Block Template

I  decided to keep my colour palette to autumnal greens and browns for this project.

You will need six string blocks for the runner

Then it was a simple case of putting the blocks together starting with stitching four of the string blocks together to create one large 12½" central string block.  You don't need to match seams but you can if you want.

One large block of scrappy strings

To make the side sections of the runner I stitched the two remaining 6" string blocks together to create one string rectangle measuring 6½ x 12½". 

Which I then cut in half lengthwise to create two 3¼” x 12½" rectangles.

Next I flipped one of the rectangles so the sidebars were a mirror image of each other.  

The finished table runner top measures 42" x 12½" and is all ready for quilting and binding. .

I love bringing the seasons into my home.

Even if you don't want to make a runner, it is worth putting together some scrappy blocks and posting them on Instagram with the hashtag #FQSScrappySeptember for a chance to win one of three $25 FQS tokens.  

And of course, tag me #thepatchsmith so I can see all your lovely scrapilicious blocks too.  Until next time .......

Whales and Flying Geese

Sometimes it just takes a little addition to turn a mug rug into a slightly bigger mini quilt.  Here I have  added a rainbow of flying geese to the Whales mug rug pattern from my Animal and Pets pattern book.

The Whales Mug Rug pattern is also available from Etsy.

But these aren't just any flying geese - these are 3D Flying Geese which are super easy and super quick to make.

A rainbow of flying geese.

The 3D flying geese block requires only one seam and because of this, it is really easy to match up the geese without sewing off the point.  There is a very good You Tube tutorial  showing how to make them but here is a basic run-through of the process for those who prefer a paper copy (click HERE for a PDF print out): 

3D FLYING GEESE BLOCK

(makes one goose measuring 2½” x 1½” raw/2” x 1” sewn in)

Cut one goose rectangle measuring 2½” x 1½”.

Cut two background squares measuring 1½”. 
 
Fold the goose rectangle in half with wrong sides together.  Finger press (do not press with an iron). 

You will now layer the goose between the two background squares as follows:

Lay one background square right side facing up.  Lay the folded goose rectangle on top with the raw edges lined up with the top of the background square as shown. 

Note the folded goose block is slightly shorter than the background square so you should have ¼” excess background square showing at the bottom. 

Next place the other background square on top of the goose, right side facing down so that it overlaps the bottom background square completely. 

In effect, you have a goose sandwich!

You stitch the unit together down one side of the sandwich as shown. 

Open up the sandwich so that the goose lies evenly on the front of the two background squares and press. 

Hey presto – one flying goose (measuring 2½” x 1½”). 

You can batch make a whole gaggle of flying geese using this method and when you come to stitch them together you will be able to see clearly where the tip of the goose is so there is no risk of losing your points!

So there you have it.  You can make the geese any size you like – fat, thin, long, short.  Play around and have fun.  But here are some measurements to get you started:

 
Finished
Goose            Cutting Sizes

2” x 1”             Cut one 2½” x 1½” goose and two 1½” background squares

4” x 2”             Cut one 4½” x 2½” goose and two 2½” background squares

5” x 2½”          Cut one 5½” x 3” goose and two 3” background squares 

6” x 3”             Cut one 6½” x 3½” goose and two 3½” background squares

 

Try it out and turn a little bit of fabric fun into a row of your own flying geese.  Or do as I have done and  add a row to any mug rug pattern of your choosing.  

Until next time .....