Quilting

So much Modern Quilting! Oh, I love it! Let’s talk about my favorite quilting tips, tricks, and how-tos! Learn something new or improve on an old skill.

  • Free Quilt Projects: Jelly Roll Precuts

    Do you love quilts? The vast majority of us do! It’s not hard to see why either. They offer a quick, easy way to create something beautiful and cozy. In this blog post, I’m going to share some of my favorite free patterns for quilt projects made with jelly roll precuts. This includes links to 11 different tutorials that are both easy and beginner-friendly!

    What are Jelly Roll precuts?

    A jelly roll is a type of precut fabric grouping. They come in many different colors, sizes, styles, or themes. In most cases, they measure 2.5″ x 42″ (or the width of fabric).

    My favorite Free Jelly Roll projects!

    1. The Jelly Roll Race Quilt

    The easiest and most straightforward Jelly roll project is a Jelly Roll race quilt. It is a traditional quilt pattern that is usually made with two or more jelly rolls.

    I love using this random pattern for a palette cleanser between larger quilt patterns. Why? because it is a quick sew, but also… there is so little tedious work within this quilt!

    You don’t have to worry about corners matching up or where you’re going to place your fabric… you just have to trust me on this one and get yourself a few Jelly Roll Precuts to play with! This quilt flows together effortlessly!

    I have a full video tutorial on youtube here.

    2. Jelly Roll Throw/Floor Pillow

    This is a great beginner quilt pattern and is really easy to make. This beginner-friendly tutorial for making a quilted throw pillow/floor out of jelly roll strips.

    Bonus: The texture of this pillow is SO comfy.

    This started out as just a play project that I made for fun, but I had such amazing feedback that I turned it into a free download Pattern for you. (yes, that’s one of my puppies. His name is Butters and he loves to find all the soft things to lay on!)

    Want to make your own DIY quilted floor pillow? I had such an overhwlemling response to the fun pillow that I made, I created a pattern to share for FREE!

    3. A Jelly Roll Rug

    I have another tutorial post on this for you. I absolutely LOVE the way this project came out and I don’t know that I will ever be able to replace the rug in my bathroom with something I love more.

    This is the progress I've made so far on the Jelly Roll Rug pattern. Has it been a fun pattern? yes. Has it given me challenges? Yes! I'll fill you in on my learning mistakes here...
    These are the 5 Mistakes that I made while working on my jelly roll rug quilt project. I'm sharing in hopes that you'll learn from seeing my mistakes and jump into making your own jelly roll rug quilt!

    4. Another popular pattern

    This video has been super popular on my YouTube Channel (are you subscribed yet? Click the subscribe button so you know when I post really great new things!)

    I LOVE this pattern because it is super easy and really fun to sew. – It also might be one of my favorite baby quilt patterns out there…

    So when you’re looking for something fun and beautiful to sew with minimal effort and cutting, start with Jelly Roll precut strips, pick a pattern and make something beautiful!

    If you want to browse through some of my favorite fabric sites, check out these stores below. I love their selection and range of fabrics!

    So… what is your next Jelly Roll project going to be? Tell me down in the comments. I would love to hear about what you’re working on next!

  • What You Need to Know About Sewing Machine Needles

    If you are a sewer or quilter, then chances are that you have spent at least some time looking for the best sewing needles to use. There are so many types of sewing machine needles on the market today, and it can be overwhelming to find the right one.

    I want to share with you the different types of sewing needles used for different fabrics, how they should work with your projects, and when you should change out your needle.

    The most popular type of sewing needle is one that is made of steel. It has a perfectly sharp point that pierces through the fabric and can easily be threaded through the eyelet on your sewing machine needle plate

    I really like the Schmetz brand sewing needles, but I have recently tried the generic brand and I haven’t had any complaints yet.

    Most sewing needles are relatively inexpensive and cheap enough to purchase in bulk. (We’ll discuss why you need to have extras on hand in just a minute)

    There are many different types of needles available on the market today: there’s really no one size fits all when it comes to choosing what type you need for various projects (i.e., embroidery, quilting).

    Different Options For Needles

    The Universal Needle

    A universal needle is generally my go-to when I’m shopping because I know that it can handle MOST of the projects that I work on. The machine that I sew with is a relatively recent model on the market and does not require specialty sizes or parts.

    The Universal needle was designed to be able to handle various fabrics.

    It has a sharp point, which means that it will poke clean holes in your fabric while sewing.

    A universal needle is also inexpensive and easy-to-find at most craft stores!

    Larger/stronger Jean Needle

    If you are sewing with material types other than cotton, you may need a stronger needle made from titanium. These are great for using with heavyweight denim or upholstery work because they stay sharper longer than cheaper alternatives while being less brittle under high stress.

    Delicate fabrics

    For thinner or more delicate fabrics, you may want to use a ball-point needle. These are great for fabrics like silk or satin because they don’t create as much friction and pass through the fabric more smoothly.

    Embroidery Needles

    Embroidery needles differ from your regular sewing needles because they are designed to pass through fabric with a lot of ease. They have smaller eyes so that you can embroidery without your thread catching on the needle. It also makes it easier to push your threads back and forth between stitches.

    These needles also take into account the type of thread that will be passing through. Embroidery thread tends to have a sheen and often has a coating to it different from standard threads.

    Notes about needle sizing

    It is important to know that needles are sized according to their diameter, and sewing machine needle sizes can range from size 60-100.

    You’ll definitely want to consult your sewing machine manual or search the internet for recommendations for your specific machine.

    What do the colors on the tops of the needles mean?

    So glad you asked! It is actually a really helpful code that is built into your needle that will tell you exactly what it is meant for!

    The colors at the top of the sewing machine needles are crucial.

    • Red: Nylon and other synthetics, polyester
    • Yellow: Cotton and linen fabrics
    • Blue: Denim, woolens, draperies
    • Green: Silk, rayon, acetate-coated fabric such as satin
    • Purple (or more rarely orange): Leathers and vinyl.

    Why do I need to replace the needle on my machine?

    Read the packaging on your needle. It should have instructions that tell how long each kind of sewing machine needle lasts so remember to check these when purchasing new ones.

    Wear and tear on your machine

    Something to consider: Continuing to sew with a slightly dull or well-used needle may appear to be working just fine, but the wear and tear on your sewing machine isn’t worth the risk, in my opinion.

    Your sewing machine is a complex system of gears and mechanics that force the needle up and down through your fabric. Any pushback or resistance from a worn needle is going to cause further wear and tear on those internal parts. How much wear and tear depends on the age of the machine, the frequency in which you sew etc.

    Here is a real-world example to consider: You can definitely use a dull butter knife to cut your dinner steak. It will eventually cut the meat into the bite sizes pieces you desire, right?

    Wouldn’t it be a much better and more efficient method, not to mention less stress on your hands, wrists, and elbow if you use a sharpened steak knife? Absolutely!

    Think of your hand, wrist, and elbow like the gears in your sewing machine.

    Love your sewing machine and take care of it. Make it easier for it to make you happy for a really long time!

    So, how often should you replace your sewing machine needle?

    No one likes the idea of having to buy more supplies than they need to.

    The general rule that I follow is about every 10-12 hours of sewing.

    Let’s make it even easier to know when to switch…

    When you are sewing in little spurts here and there and broken up bits of time throughout the week… the hours that you actually sew can be super hard to keep up with! …I KNOW!

    So let’s make it even easier by saying that it is a good idea to replace your needle at the start of every quilt project you work on.

    Use your good judgment here. If you know you’ve spent a very long time piecing a large quilt and you’re getting ready to quilt it, your machine may need a new needle for the quilting stage. More layers = more work for your machine and needle.

    The needle packaging might suggest a longer sewing life. It is worth noting that different sewing situations can wear your needle down faster, such as quilting.

    Quilting is sewing through multiple layers of fabric and batting at the same time. That is going to leave a different amount of wear and tear on the needle than sewing through just 1-2 layers of thin cotton.

    Check-in and do a quick comparison when you change your needle

    I always like to compare the needle that I pull out with the brand new needle to see the wear and tear on the needle and help keep myself accountable.

    When you put your old and new needles side by side you can really see the differences! As yourself:

    • Did I wait too long? Is the needle really dull this time?
    • Does the needle hole look evenly worn? (can be a sign that the machine needs a tune-up or a trip to the shop)
    • Should to try to keep in mind to change it sooner next time?

    Hopefully, that helped you know when and why you should switch your needle on your sewing machine!

    If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment down below or contact me. I would love to hear from you!

    Happy Sewing!

    Love Shopping on Amazon? Meeee too! Here are 30 of the greatest quilting tools I've found while shopping on amazon! You can't miss these!
  • 8 Reasons QUILTING RETREATS are IMPORTANT!

    Quilting retreats are a great way to quilt in a group, learn new quilting techniques, and meet quilters from around the world. In this blog post, I want to provide 8 reasons why quilting retreats are important for any quilter who wants to improve their craft.

    I’ve been quilting for a number of years now. What started out as something that I could play with quietly in the hours after my kids went to bed has now morphed into a hobby that I share with the rest of the world and has become my full-time job.

    I love quilting and the creative outlet that it has given me.

    I have met so many quilters and people who are wildly talented.

    It has challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone because I always want to see what else is out there and new in the world of quilting: from patterns to fabrics and all the crazy different techniques and tools too.

    It definitely isn’t my first instinct to sign up and take a “sewing vacation” with a bunch of people I hardly know – But I can tell you that never once have I ever regretted doing it!

    8 Reasons Why You SHOULD Go To A Quilting Retreat

    I believe everyone who loves quilting should give it a try at least once… because just once is all it takes… 😉

    1. Time away

    The first reason is that a quilting or sewing retreat will give you time away from your everyday life so you can focus on quilting without distractions.

    Let me make this crystal clear – no laundry piles to cycle through, no cooking, no dishes (except your own, of course), and no work distractions… except for the fabric and projects that you bring with you!

    You just have TIME to focus on yourself, your quilting friends, and your fabric/crafty projects!

    2. New friendships

    The second reason is that it’s an opportunity to make friends with other people who share your passion for quilts!

    Do your family and friends wonder why you’re always going to the fabric store when you have so much at home?

    The new friends that you’ll meet at a quilting retreat can relate! Chances are that they will not only understand but become your new quilting friends and even send you an email when they see a good sale. 😘🤩 I mean, we all need good friends like that, don’t we?

    3. Be surrounded by people who get you!

    No one will be able to understand you or your passion for creativity and quilting… except for another quilter!

    My guess is that every single one of us gets all geeked out about fabrics and thread colors. We all take moments to pause and ooh and ahh over fancy stitching and perfect binding corners.

    I mean, I could be wrong, but so far… I haven’t met a quilter who doesn’t have an absolute obsession with quilting (or if they’re brand new… a budding obsession in the making!)

    4. To-do list… check check check!

    Another reason to go on a quilting retreat is for the quilting!

    If you’ve lacked the time to finish up some wips and ufos (works in progress and unfinished objects) – Bring them with you!

    You’ll get to quilt a whole bunch of progress toward projects that have been hanging around unfinished! Then you can take them home with you when your quilting retreat is over.

    YAY!!!

    5. Vacationing is part of your retreat!

    Another reason that I love taking quilting vacations or going on quilting retreats, is because it’s just so relaxing! All work and no play makes me feel like a dull girl… which doesn’t sound very good at all 😉

    Plus, if you’re anything like me then you know how much stress there can be in life – this isn’t a bad way to escape from everything and just relax a little.

    There are times where we need reminders about why it’s important to slow down every now and then. Quilty people often forget because we like to take on the world and then some.

    6. You can keep it simple.

    It doesn’t have to be a huge event. You can keep it simple. You can also make it wildly crazy and fun too!

    Planning a quilt retreat can be as simple as hopping in when someone else is doing the planning!

    Or if you’re the one doing the planning, choose to make it as complex or as simple as you would like. As yourself what is going to make you enjoy this time that you’ve set aside?

    I’ve been to retreats where we were each paired up with a partner and were responsible for one meal to feed the whole house over the weekend. I’ve been to retreats where you were responsible for your own meals (but sharing snacks was encouraged). Or you can check out the local restaurants after a long day of sewing if you’re in a new town!

    This game for instance (it’s a free download!) is an amazing and fun icebreaker to pull out at a quilting retreat or even just your Tuesday night quilt guild meeting!

    Never Have I Ever! (Sewing edition) - A super fun game to see just how experienced you are! Great to pull out at meetings or retreat weekends! -- What is your score?

    7. You don’t HAVE to travel far

    though there are retreat houses that are perfect for quilting retreats!

    I’ve also been a part of a small retreat where it was just a big slumber party and we all stayed at a friend’s house!

    The point is to keep the focus on having a fun retreat and enjoy the time you’ve set aside to quilt, right?!

    8. Perspective and Inspiration

    Another reason to plan a quilting retreat is a fresh perspective. I find that I get really inspired by being surrounded by other quilters!

    Retreats help quiltmakers get out of their regular sewing space and see different quilters’ points of view.

    I find that when attending a retreat, there is so much inspiration around me, which can be hard if you’re just sitting at home working on projects all day long. Plus it helps you keep up with what’s new and trending for quilts and supplies as well as ideas for designs we never would have thought of otherwise.

    If you’re feeling like your inspiration is failing you, check out my course on how to pursue your most creative life! Cut to my favorite tips to give quilters to make the most of their time and brain – even when you feel like it is running low!
    The main point I want quilters to get from this post is that quilting retreats are a lot more than just quilting and sewing!

    They can also be really fun, inspiring, surrounded by talented people who share your interests in quilts!

    When you give yourself time to relax and enjoy life, your stress levels decrease, you become more at ease and less harried.

    Quilting retreats are a great way to do just that, but with the added bonus of being surrounded by other quilters who share your interests and create amazing relationships while you’re there!

    I hope this blog post was helpful for quilt enthusiasts out there on whether or not it’s worth attending a quilts retreat for you!

    I’d love to hear any comments from someone who has attended one before as well so feel free to leave them in the comment section below 🙂

  • The Beginner’s Guide to Quilting: 9 Tools You Should Start With and Why It Matters

    Quilting has been such an important part of my life. It’s a great hobby, but it also provides so many benefits! If you’re new to quilting, I want help you by sharing the tools that I recommend for a beginner quilter.

    Quilting is one way that can help you stay productive because it gives you something physical to do with your hands while your mind focuses on the task at hand! It is my favorite form of multitasking. 🤩

    The time you spend quilting will bring a sense of community and self-fulfillment.

    Quilts are often made by hand with love. They are one way that people can connect on an emotional level, which is something we don’t always have the opportunity to do in our day-to-day lives.

    The Reason I Quilt:

    When I’m cutting fabric or piecing together my newest project, I feel like I’ve been given permission to be unapologetically myself. It feels great!

    My favorite thing about quilting is how much joy it brings me and others too. I know I’ll never be bored and there is always something new to learn!

    Quilting can feel overwhelming at first because of the amount of information out there and the tools available at the craft store.

    These are the 9 tools that I recommend every quilter start with!

    1. Quilting pins – These are generally a little longer than regular sewing pins and handy when working with multiple layers of thick fabric.
    2. A cutting mat and rotary cutter
    3. – A quilt pattern, such as this one (it’s FREE on my site and designed for beginners)
    4. Fabric scissors for precise cuts – good sharp scissors are preferred.
    5. A walking foot sewing machine (if you’re quilting on your home machine) You can get by without one if you only sew straight lines. Machines like Janome’s J5030 are designed specifically for quilters who want something lightweight that will be easy to take from place to place!
    6. Seam ripper – I always recommend using these… don’t get into the habit of hating your seam ripper. It’s ok! You’re going to make mistakes! That’s part of the learning process! Seam rippers are perfect to help you along the way.
    7. Quilt basting spray – This one is my favorite brand and is super helpful hen you’re just starting out.
    8. Cutting Ruler or quilt square to help keep your quilts squared up while you’re trying it on the batting (usually comes with pattern)
    9. – Aaaand Fabric! – It’s quilting! You’ll need fabric, right?… and thread too! – there are many different types of thread that will work. I recommend the Gutermann brand of thread. It is a good quality thread for a decent price.

    A quilter can get started with these basic tools, but as your skills progress and the quilts you want to make require more advanced techniques, you may decide that it would be worth investing in a few other quilt-specific items.

    Why does purchasing the right tools make a huge difference?

    – A quilt is an expensive investment!

    – Starting out with the right tools will help you avoid costly mistakes and disappointment as your quilting skills develop.

    A few other quilt-specific items to invest in are a comfortable rotary cutter, mat, rulers, or quilt square templates to help keep your quilts squared up while you’re cutting, plenty of different-sized safety pins for marking where appliqués go before sewing them down.

    This sweet baby quilt pattern is a FREE download that I designed to be easy fro all levels of quilting! Just look at this sweet flamingo print! Its adorable! Did I mention the FREE pattern? ;) Check it out, download it and save it for later!

    As you find more patterns that you want to work on and take a few more trips around the fabric shops… you’ll find more tools that you wish to acquire as your budget will allow.

    These sassy printable gift tags are available for FREE download! Perfect for use on every single gift DIY gift!

    *This post is by no means exhaustive, for those who are interested in learning more about quilting! If you have any further questions, you’re welcome to leave a comment down below or contact me!

    **I hope this helps all of my beginners out there trying to figure out how to start quilting or what supplies they need. Let me know if you have any feedback!***

  • Quilters say this… and it drives me crazy!

    Hello, sweet quilter friend! As a quilt blogger and instructor, I love that I get to meet people from all over the world. I get to converse with people of all different skills, backgrounds, and inspirations. BUT I have one thing that drives me absolutely crazy when I meet another quilter…

    Do you want to know what drives me crazy?

    I meet all these people whose skills and beautiful works of art will make your jaw hit the floor so fast.

    I’ve seen crazy combinations of fabric that would blow your mind and people who use fabric in ways that make me fall in love with quilting all over again!

    I’m am blown away by the depth of creativity that quilters have! I love seeing the works of people from all different skill levels!

    However, it never fails… and it breaks my heart when someone will say something along the lines of… “oh, I love to quilt!… but I could never do what you do!” or “I love to quilt, but I’m not an expert or anything.

    Um… First of all… neither am I.

    I love to share my projects and the things that I learn along the way. I created my blog and my Youtube Channel so that I could start sharing my projects and it blossomed into a community of quilters that I gain knowledge from and share the things I learn along the way.

    This one little bit of conversation can drain all your confidence away and keep it from coming back!

    For most people, you might not even give it a second thought… but audibly admitting that you don’t measure up to someone else will make your confidence take a nosedive.

    Maybe you’re a beginner quilter and in conversation with someone who has years of experience… yes, the statements are true… for now. But not forever.

    I’m not an “expert quilter”.

    I’m not! I’m just a little crazy enough to post all my learning moments and mistakes all over the internet for other people to see. haha)

    Truthfully, I never ever want to get to the point where I’ve learned all I can learn and done everything I can do, when it comes to quilting. (or anything in life really)

    Isn’t that the beautiful part of the creative industry?… There is no end to this journey. No experts exist in this industry. We are all always learning, even if we’re on different parts of the same journey!

    Sure, there are plenty of really amazingly talented people that have years of experience and study on a particular craft or skill. But have they learned EVERYTHING? Have they seen the craft from every single angle and worked with every type of material? – likely not.

    My Vision for Creatives

    One of my missions is to instill an unshakable confidence in quilters who pass off their passions as “just a little side hobby” – which is totally fine to have, by the way!

    There is a difference between a little side hobby and a passion that really brings you joy.

    One of them is something that you do when you’ve got nothing else to do… or you are trying to do something to get your mind off of another project. The other is something that you find yourself dreaming or thinking about at random moments throughout the day… you probably even have a few Pinterest boards or a magazine file with inspirations. You have a closet full of supplies and you’re just waiting for that giddy moment when you can sneak away and be yourself!

    I can usually pinpoint the moment in beginner quilter’s journey when they fully embrace what they love. By owning up to being a quilter and accepting it as something that you love… I can see their confidence level shoot upwards!

    Seriously, just by owning it as a part of yourself! I see their quilts become a little bit bolder and their willingness to try new things increases too. Suddenly the big scary world of quilting is a very comforting and happy place where you’re free from true failure and welcome trying new things!- simply because you want to!

    Do you want to know another benefit that I see when a quilter shifts from meekly dismissing their crafty passions to really loving and going all in on being a quilter?

    There is a what I like to call the time shift.

    And I swear it happens every single time!

    Quilters who make the shift from “just a little side hobby” to “creating is what I really love to spend time doing”…. find out that there is more time to quilt on the calendar! It is like magic. When your passion becomes your priority you let the lesser to-dos take away your time..

    *BONUS* By embracing what you love, you give others permission to be themselves

    I know I talk and share a lot about quilting… but this is true for any passion in your life. Maybe you love to cook, or you’re amazing at making your own furniture, you want to perfect the perfect lollipop formula or you really love to lay out in the sunshine and read.

    Embracing your passion lets other people see who you truly are and what you love to do.

    This subconsciously gives them permission to love and embrace what brings them joy!

    *Without going into a huge campfire snuggle session here… This beautiful circle of inspiration just goes around and around… giving people permission to be happy being their true selves.

    With that amount of freedom and beauty… how could you allow yourself to shrink back or compare your journey to someone elses?

    I would love to hear you thoughts on this subject 🙂 Feel free to drop it down in the comments down below!

    Image of sewing threads and a link to a page with my favorite sewing tools
  • A Review Of The Bowl Me Over Bag Pattern – ByAnnie Patterns

    I just finished this adorable bag pattern and I had to show it off to you! If you’re relatively new to bag sewing, or lurking around the interwebs to scout some tips from sewists before you…. keep reading. I chose to start with the Bowl Me Over Bag pattern from ByAnnie Patterns.

    (*This post is not sponsored by ByAnnie Patterns. Opinions are my own and I share them in hopes that you will learn from my experiences and be inspired!)

    First off, I know I typically dabble my skills in the quilting corner of the sewing world. Today we’re going to go off track just a bit. 🥰 It is worth the ride.

    I have to say that I would not consider myself a sewist of bags or a bag maker. Now that I have this bag behind me, I have slightly upgraded to bag maker in training. I still have some more to learn!

    I’ve always been a little intimidated by bag patterns (which goes against my fearless/try-anything nature in the quilt-making corner). Don’t ask me why. I don’t have a good reason… it just seemed hard and I never let my brain really go beyond that thought to contradict myself or fully analyze WHY I was feeling that way.

    Surely you have something in your life/craft world that you’re too scared to try too?

    When I say “bags” I mean the purse style or overnight bags, not the cute little zipper bags or tote style bag! I’ve sewn those before and they don’t require a lot of special skills.

    I actually have a tutorial for a super cute zipper box tote/pouch that is adorable!

    DIY TLC Teacher Kit - This Zipper Box tote comes together in less than an hour! Fill it with goodies and take care of your teachers #teachergift #ZipperBoxtote #easygift

    The box zipper pouches are so fun and cute. They come together quickly and there is no reason you can’t keep a few of these on hand for a quick gift!

    Even though these are technically “bags” I finally decided that enough was enough. It was time for the real deal bag patterns! I mean, you never know until you try, right?

    If you are a seasoned bag maker…

    Please forgive any misguided instructions, silly thoughts on my part or calling processes/steps by the wrong name. I am a self-taught girl. It will always be my first instinct to jump into a project feet first and ask questions later. 🤣 I doubt I will ever learn.

    The Prep Work

    I looked very closely over the required supplies list. I like that the ByAnnie company does have everything in their own brand to make shopping a little easier.

    You can buy everything from their website and have everything shipped at once rather than sourcing out each item on Amazon. Here is a link to the ByAnnie website.

    A little more about the supply list

    I have read that some people prefer other materials to the ByAnnie branded items.

    I’ve also been told that you can get cheaper versions of the same type of product or hardware from other stores.

    If you’re fairly knowledgeable about the materials, I would suggest looking into them to save a little money when you can. (more money to spend on other craft supplies!)

    I felt the prices on the ByAnnie website were fairly priced and convenience does have a price in my opinion too, but I’m not an expert!

    The Bowl Me Over Pattern

    I decided on the Bowl Me Over PatternbyAnnie Bag. – My reason? It would easily accommodate my ipad when I traveled around running errands without feeling like I was going on an overnight trip somewhere.

    Just look at how darling these bags are! I love the look of traveling homemade!

    (These images are from ByAnnie.com)

    My Fabric Choices

    This was a hard step for me.

    I felt like I was stepping out in faith even creating this bag in the first place. But putting off making a decision on my fabrics felt like I was dragging my feet to jump on this project.

    I didn’t know if I wanted to make a “test” bag to work out any kinks or learning moments then followed up by a “final version” with my favorite fabrics… so I just went with some of my favorite fabrics to start with.

    Carrie Bloomstom is one of my favorite fabric designers. I love her fabric. Everything she creates feels like my heart and soul. I am a graphic designer at heart. The blue with the newspaper star print is my favorite fabric in my collection! Just look how pretty it is!

    I pulled the light aqua fabric as an accent fabric from my main fabric. There is just a small hint of it in there, but I feel like it was enough to make it all pop!

    Isn’t this neon pinkish thread combo with the fabric just to die for? 🤩

    My thoughts on the Pattern

    The ByAnnie Patterns are very detailed. oh.my.goodness. very detailed. There are a lot of pages and diagrams within the pattern as well as complimentary access to pattern-specific videos on the ByAnnie website. (you have to buy the pattern and use the provided access code to see the videos)

    I found the abundance of information really helpful at times and other times I was very overwhelmed. The process is different from the quilt patterns I am used to.

    I also was not as familiar with the terminology as I thought I would be… It could just be because I am a newbie to the bag-making world from the quilting industry?

    Overall, I feel like the pattern was very helpful and informative… you just have to take it slow and I learned it was better to assume that I knew nothing and proceed with caution when making cuts and seams.🤣

    The Bowl Me Over Bag Making Process

    Deciphering the pattern and cutting my pieces was the first hurdle… making the bag and sewing it all together was the second hurdle.

    I am a perfectionist – to a point. I really really want to have a beautiful flawless project, but there were some mistakes that I had to learn to live with because if I didn’t… this bag would not be finished yet!

    Done with a few flaws is better than never finishing because expectations are set too high. – Feel free to quote me on that but please don’t throw it in my face when I am angry with my seam ripper in hand lol

    I have so many “learning flaws” in this bag! 😂 so many! To a random stranger, they won’t know or see the mistakes I see, but I know they are there.

    Thoughts on your machine being up to the task of bag sewing

    While my very reliable Janome sewing machine is up to just about every quilting task I’ve put in front of it… we struggled to sew all the layers of this bag together properly.

    I completed proably about 90% of the Bowl Me Over Bag pattern on my machine without any trouble at all. The quilting, the zippers, the mesh lining and pockets were all slightly different than quilting, but worked fine for me.

    That last 10%, however… was a bit rough. I struggled when it came to assembling the final steps of the bag.

    With the multiple layers of fabric and layers of stability foam… It was A LOT of layers to sew through and keep in place!

    I hated that I had to skip the final finishing step of the bag… which made me sad… It was to essentially bind around all of the raw edges in the interior of your bag so it would be nice and pretty… and not look like…. well… this mess!

    You can’t see this detail from the outside of the bag… and usually, no one is going to go digging through my bag but me… however, I would have loved to have seen that pop of aqua binding in the interior of the bag! Wouldn’t you agree?

    I felt that the thickness of the raw edges and the binding were going to be too much for my machine and my perfectionist tendencies to attempt. Especially after I ran into this issue… oops.

    I might suggest going up on your needle strength too if you are sewing through all the bulk. I used quilting needles because they have worked well thus far, but I wonder if a Jean needle would have served me better?

    Perhaps I could possibly go in and hand-stitch the binding in one day… It would be a fairly quick project… but it is on the back burner as far as urgency on the to-do list! Perhaps someday!

    Also… I would like to openly admit that I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to snaps. And I am sorry because by this point, I was ready to be done with the bag.

    I wasn’t in a bad mood or having a particularly hard time with it, but my alotted sewing time for the weekend was coming to a close and I had to cut a few corners to actually finish this bag! – Something else to ad to the list to learn another day!

    Would I consider making the Bowl Me Over Bag pattern again?

    If I decide to make this pattern again, I may look into nixing the foam that is recommended in the pattern and opting for a thinner, but still firm interfacing material instead to help the bag keep its upright shape with less bulk.

    See My finished bag!

    Here are a few pictures of the finished bag and all of it’s beauty… flaws and all.

    I love it. I am truly happy that I decided to just go for it and make this pattern with my favorite fabrics! The jury is still out on whether or not I will make this pattern again… It could happen!

    I hope you enjoyed reading about one of my latest sewing projects!

    I love to share the things that I learn with you! If you have any questions (or any snap sewing tips! lol) leave them in the comments below!

    Happy Sewing!

    –Christen