I’ve unpicked the block that I made for the Mouthy Stitches tote as I really wasn’t happy with it.
This time round the points on my geese have a better chance of survival and the secret for that is starch. The Essex linen is very floppy and I think that was part of my problem. That and the fact that the fabric is cut on the bias. So this time I’ve sprayed so much starch on my fabric my little sewing buddy left the room!
I’ve gone and done it: after finishing the Brit Quilt Swap Round 3 I’ve signed up for another swap.
Oh, yes. I got into round two of the Mouthy Stitches Swap and I’m so excited about it. Sign up on Saturday closed after only a few hours and it was pure chance that I saw it had opened in the first place. Sunday evening I made my mosaic to show my partner what I like.
Lots of greens, blues and not as much grey as I would have liked but hey ho. I love every single project on there and can’t wait to see what my partner makes of it.
What are we making, I hear you ask. Well, we’re making totes, more specifically this tote by Skip To My Lou.
Mailing window is around my birthday so I know already that I get a bag for my birthday but what it looks like will be a complete surprise. How cool is that?
A little while ago there was a picture of some gorgeous fabric on the Fat Quarterly blog: Katharine’s Wheel by Nel Whatmore. The fabric came with a Designer Challenge to make blocks inspired by circles, swirls and fireworks. Before I could engage my brain I had left a comment to enter the draw. Can you imagine my excitement when I was picked?
Five fat quarters arrived and the fabric was even more beautiful in real life than it had been on the pics; the colours were incredibly rich and zingy. I had had a few ideas buzzing around my head while I was waiting for my parcel but the minute I saw the fabric I ditched them all. No way was I going to cut these beauties into small strips and circles.
I quickly googled Catharine Wheel Fireworks as I have to admit that I know nothing about fireworks, never having bought any myself. Swiss national day (1st August) is celebrated during the school holidays and we were always away. The pictures were lovely and I soon drew some blocks with lines coming from a circle in the centre. I wasn’t quite convinced and started drawing curves. Bingo!
After a few variations and some serious trial sewing I found a curve I liked and started cutting up my lovely fabric. I think the big pieces really showcase the bold flowery prints and rich colours.
I made cardboard templates of my two sections and cut out four of each. Then I sewed together one section a to one section b making quarters, two quarters into halves and then the halves together making sure all the points meet in the centre. After I finished the first block where I used the five different designs I decided that the stripy one was stopping the block’s flow and made another one.
I then wondered what to do with the two blocks I had made and on a whim decided to make a bag. A few weeks ago I bought three different green Konas from Florence‘s pop-up shop on Etsy. Sadly I didn’t make a note of the different names but one of them was a perfect match with Katharine’s Wheel.
There’s a stripy pocket for a mobile phone or key and some fabulously stripy handles.
I also cut off one of the selvages and sewed it onto the lining to remind me of the challenge.
I’m really happy with this bright, swirly explosion of colour and hope that I’ve fulfilled the brief of the challenge.