Incolororder

June Monthly Report

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:16:58 +0200

It's time for the June monthly report. See past reports here.

I can't believe we're already halfway through 2021! I know things have been pretty quiet around here this year. Most of my posts have just been my monthly reports. I wish I could promise that more regular posting was right around the corner, but I'm not sure it is quite yet. It's been a tough year so far personally, and I'm just trying to keep my head above water lately to be honest. I know that I will feel better both physically and mentally, but it's just going to take some time. I still love blogging, but I've also become more private over the years so it's a bit of a balancing act. I actually have a good number of finished projects to share (including three quilts!), but haven't been able to take photographs of everything. Michael is going to help me try to get some photos this weekend hopefully. We'll see. Thanks for sticking with me through this lull in posting!

Most of my sewing this month was focused on this courthouse steps quilt made using fabric I've indigo dyed over the years. I made three or four blocks for this quilt last year but then let it sit. So this month I cut out all the pieces for the the remaining blocks, sewed all the blocks and got the top put together! I am now working on the backing, but it's almost done, just a few seams left. I'm excited to get this one done!

I haven't gotten an indigo dye bath going yet this summer, but hope to at some point. If you're interested in indigo dyeing, I have a post about it here: DIY Indigo Fabric Dyeing Tutorial

I made a few drawstring bags this month, including this strawberry inspired one! This is the snack size from my lined drawstring bag pattern. I got lucky and was able to use a set of extra strings that I made when I shot the video tutorial last year, bonus! It's finished off with some beads because why not. The strawberry fabric is by Heather Ross*, tie fabric by Carolyn Friedlander*, and unfortunately I don't know who designed the green accent fabric. Beads and pattern can be found in my online shop here:

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Round Wooden Beads

I can now share this make from May, a bucket apron I made for my Dad for Father's Day! It fits around a 5 gallon bucket. I thought it would be useful in the garden, he can throw weeds in the bucket and keep tools in the pockets. I used leftover binding scraps from a quilt I made him a few years ago, paired with some plain canvas. I followed this tutorial with some adjustments.

I shared a similar shot of my double gauze quilt in my last post, but wanted to actually talk about it here. It's now finished and it got plenty of use on the couch last month! Just need to photograph it.

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in June:

June Fabric
Used up: 24 yards
Brought in: 2 yards
Net: -22 yards
Year to date: -40.75 yards

June Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

Happy with my totals this month! I finished a quilt along with a few other small projects. I also shared a decent stack of fabric with a friend, so all in all a good mix. I bought some Dana Cotton/Modal* knit fabric this month to make a few t-shirts! I made a t-shrit with it years ago and it has held up so well. Hopefully I don't let it linger too long. I haven't made any clothes in a long while. No yarn related finishes, but I have still been weaving and I picked up a languishing shawl project which has been fun to knit on again.

June was the month that I finally returned to the thrift shops!! I missed going so much. I love to buy secondhand and see what kind of treasures are waiting to be found. Here is a mix of a few things I've found in my first month back! No vintage sheets, but a few pillowcases. I can't leave behind this style vintage towel either, they're one of my favorite things to thrift. A few metal goodies for the sewing room and a little sewing chest of drawers that needs some serious TLC.

This month we also went to our first flea market here in CT which was fun. Picked up a record and some vintage ornaments. I absolutely love this style ornament so I was thrilled to add so many more to my collection. Can't wait to display them on our tree this year.

Have a great month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Email Subscriber Update

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 21:37:25 +0200

Hello! This is a quick post specifically for those of you that have subscribed to receive my blog posts via email. Unfortunately, the service that I've been using for this feature since I first started my blog is being discontinued at the end of June. I am working with a new service to seamlessly (hopefully!) transfer over your existing email subscription to their service.

The new email delivery service is called "follow.it". When you receive an update that I have published a new post, that is who the email will be from, so don't be alarmed!

I'll be publishing a new blog post sometime during the first week of July (7/1-7/7). If you don't receive an email letting you know I posted, feel free to re-sign up for emails using the new "Follow by Email" form that can be found at the bottom of any page on my website (incolororder.com). Or simply respond to this email and I'll make sure you're re-added!

Thanks for your patience as I navigate this change with you! And thank you for following along with my blog :)

May Monthly Report

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 00:25:58 +0200

It's time for the May monthly report. See past reports here.

This month's report is going to be brief. I didn't do a whole lot of sewing in the month of May. It was busy, but just no sewing-wise. We got our second shots of the COVID vaccine, and celebrated our newly vaccinated reality by seeing my parents for the first time in a year and a half! I took basically no photos while they were here, but it was great. I also spent lots of time getting the garden planted and arranged for the season. I'll probably share a dedicated post on that soon. Nothing too complicated, just want to document it a few times this season.

One of the few things I did sew was a new set of grow bags. I'm using cotton this time around. For more on what I used last year/how I made them/my choice for this year, see this post: DIY Fabric Grow Bags

I finally figured out a good storage system for the wooden beads I carry in my shop! I bought this plastic organizer at a thrift store earily 10+ years ago. It's held so many different things over the year, but it's working great for the beads. Glad I held onto it.

The first month in a while that I didn't finish a weaving! I did start a new one though and I'm enjoying it. Just didn't get super far on it!

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in May:

May Fabric
Used up: 3.125 yards
Brought in: 6 yards
Net: 2.875 yards
Year to date: -18.75 yards

May Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

Had a good mix of fabric in and out this month. Used up fabric for the grow bags and for my Dad's Father's Day present (which I obviously can't share right now!). I did buy yardage to back my kaleidoscope quilt.

The big non-sewing project that I worked on in May was making an outdoor sofa! I wanted to make one last year but it was tough to get out and source materials. So this Spring I was really determined to make one. We needed somewhere comfy to hang out during the warmer months. We get pretty much full shade all day on our deck, so it's a great spot for a couch. I used these plans from Ana White, and bought the cushions, covers and stain from ikea. The stain matches our other outdoor furniture from ikea, and I think it looks super similar. Very pleased with how it turned out. It stretched my skills nicely but never felt overwhelming which is nice. We've already used it a bunch!

A little taste of the garden this year. Always growing marigolds.

Have a Great Month!

April Monthly Report

Thu, 06 May 2021 18:53:20 +0200

It's time for the April monthly report. See past reports here.

My big accomplishment this month was finally finishing my kaleidoscope quilt top! I am so happy that it's put together and done. Now I just need to get a backing for it and I can send it away for quilting. I can't wait for it to be done. See more of this project here: Work in Progress: Kaleidoscope Quilt

I also finished my first quilt of 2021! And it's a long-term work in progress too, which is great. I'll be sharing more of this quilt soon, but it's made with one of my old fabric collections, Dreamin' Vintage.

My scrap project for this month was this tiny lined drawstring bag. I have had this canvas animal scrap for many years, just waiting to become something. I realized I needed a scrap project still for April so I grabbed it first and pulled a few things around it. The top edge of blue is actually the lining peeking out. It's a variation that can be found in the expansion pattern. I didn't have a scrap big enough for the lining that matched the focal print very well, so I used the wrong side of the fabric as the right side! I used 3/8" cotton twill and 3/4" beads to finish it.

You can find the patterns, twill, and beads all in my shop here:
- Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
- Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern
- Cotton Twill Tape
- Round Wooden Beads

Managed to finish another weaving. This one used a very special skein of wool/mohair blend yarn that I've been hanging on to for a while. More details for this project are on my ravelry, here.

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in April:

April Fabric
Used up: 12.25 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -12.25 yards
Year to date: -21.625 yards

April Yarn
Used up: 423 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -423 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

Feeling good about my totals for this month! Used up a good amount of fabric yardage, I have a few other projects I made this month that I still need to photograph. Keeping up with the weaving projects means my yarn yardage is looking good too. I love how much yardage it uses up!

Didn't try any new baking recipes this month, but did whip up a batch of marshmallows. The recipe I use is for mint chocolate chip marshmallows from the Joy the Baker Cookbook*. I just adjust the flavorings. This time I did simple vanilla, with vanilla bean paste. They turned out so fluffy and tasty.

Spring is really coming on now, my lily of the valley is starting to bloom. I am getting excited to start planting! After feeling super cooped up this winter, I am looking forward to being able to spend more time outside.

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

How I Organize my Paper Sewing Patterns

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 14:05:14 +0200

Happy Wednesday! It's time for another post for the Sewing Room Organization Series. In last week's post I wrote about how I organize my digital pattern PDF files. Here are the other posts in the series so far:

How I Organize my Digital Sewing Patterns
Tips for Keeping Your Sewing Table Organized and Clutter Free
Tips for Storing Projects in Progress (WIPs)
Tips for Organizing and Storing Fabric Scraps

For today's post I'm sharing how I organize my paper and printed patterns. This includes digital patterns that I've printed out at home as well as paper patterns that I have purchased in person or had shipped to my home. Typically I purchase digital patterns, but I do prefer to buy paper patterns for garments. I use two different types of organization for my paper patterns. For sewing and quilting patterns I use three ring binders. I've seperated mine into three different binders, one for home decor + quilting patterns, one for bags + pouches, and one for my own pattern line.

This is just one way of organizing paper patterns that has worked for me and the patterns that I have in my collection. What works well for me may not be best suited to you. I encourage you to experiement and find something that works for your individual work flow, space and collection of patterns. There is no wrong way to organize your patterns!

First up is the sewing + quilting binder where I keep patterns for home decor, sewing organizers, pincushions, quilts, pillows, etc. A bit of everything! I use 5 tab dividers to keep the different categories seperated. If you're planning to use dividers with sheet protectors, make sure they're big enough. Most dividers are meant to be used with 8.5x11" paper that has been hole punched. Just something to keep in mind if you decide to organize your patterns this way too!

These are the 5 tab dividers* I used for my binders. They're not my favorite to be honest, but they were what I could find locally that were the right size and they get the job done!

I use a sheet protector for each individual pattern, to make it easy to keep all the pieces together (if there are templates), and to keep everything nice and neat. This also means I don't have to punch holes in my patterns in order to store them in a binder. This system works well for me since I am combining patterns I've printed as well as paper patterns I purchase, which come in many different sizes. When I'm ready to sew I can open the binder rings and grab the pattern I want!

For patterns that have a lot of little pieces, I'll often include a small paper envelope in the sheet protector with the pattern instructions. That way nothing can fall out!

The bags + pouches binder is set up the same way as the sewing + quilting one. Another set of 5 tab dividers and sheet protectors. I have the patterns organized by bag size. One advantage to this particular set of dividers is each one has a pocket. I store miscellaneous templates in those pockets.

The last binder contains my self-published patterns. They're organized slightly differently. I still use sheet protectors, but there is only one double-sided page per protector. This allows me to flip through the binder and see all the pages of each pattern. I also have an unfolded cover for each pattern to start. Since I refer to my own patterns a lot, it's helpful to be able to quickly see each page. I would recommend this method for those patterns that you use over and over again!

Instead of dividers, I use these post-it tabs* instead. This reduces bulk and is more cost-efficient since this would have requried a large number of dividers!

Next up is my garment patterns. My system for storing these is not quite as streamlined as it is for my other patterns. But I don't sew garments as often, so it works okay for me! All my patterns fit in a storage cube that sits on top of my shelving unit.

Each pattern has it's own manila envelope, I've used a combination of 9x12" envelopes and 10x13" envelopes. No reason for having two different sizes, other than it was what I had on hand. I like using large envelopes because it means I don't need to refold the tissue paper that comes in many garment patterns down to a small size again. I can easily fit the original tissue, my traced pieces and the instructions in each envelope. When I'm ready to sew I just grab the envelope I need!

I hope seeing my systems might give you some ideas for organizing your own patterns in your space!

Happy Sewing!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

How I Organize my Digital Sewing Patterns

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 14:04:55 +0200

Happy Thursday! I'm back today with another post for the Sewing Room Organization Series. I wrote three posts for this series last Spring, and wanted to pick it back up again. Find the other posts in the series here:
Tips for Keeping Your Sewing Table Organized and Clutter Free
Tips for Storing Projects in Progress (WIPs)
Tips for Organizing and Storing Fabric Scraps

For today's post I'm sharing how I organize my digital pattern PDF files. When I asked last year what you all struggle with organizing this was a repeated request. To be honest, at the time my files really weren't well organized. They were all in one central folder, and I often had trouble finding what I was looking for.

Preparing for this post was just the push I needed to really get my files organized and now I can share with you how I do it. I got organized last year and have been living with it for probably 7-8 months. The system I use is really simple and didn't take too long to set up. As always, there is no right or wrong way to organize your files. This is just a method that is working for me, but feel free to organize your digital patterns however you like!

The first thing I did when I decided to get organzied was to create a main folder, which I named "Digital Patterns". Within this folder I created folders for different pattern types. I looked through all my digital patterns to decide what types of folders I'd need. This will be different for everyone, depending on what types of patterns you buy, and how you'd like to have them organized. I set up the following pattern type folders:

Bag Patterns
Craft Patterns
Embroidery Patterns
Garment Patterns
Home Decor Patterns
Knitting Patterns
Magazines + Books
Pincushion Patterns
Pouch Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Softie Patterns

Here's a peek inside my "Bag Patterns" folder. The other thing I did with all my digital patterns was to rename all the files in a consistent way to make them easer to search for. Here is the format I used:

Pattern name - pattern designer.pdf

You could include any other identifying information you want. The date you downloaded the pattern, the type of item it is (if it's not in the pattern name), etc. I'd just recommend you decide on a system and then stick with it. In my opinion that will make it easier to look through your patterns and find what you're looking for.

See my organization method in action in this short video. (Direct link to the video here, if it's not showing up.) I also share how I treat a "new" pattern that comes in and get it organized into my system. I use a Mac, but this method works just as well on a PC.

I hope it was helpful to see one method for organizing digital patterns! It took me a few sittings to get my system set up, but it's been really easy to maintain. For me it has been worth that initial time investment to be able to easily look through and find specific patterns when I need them. The next post in this series will be how I organize my printed patterns. This will include both physical patterns I've purchased and digital patterns that I've printed at home.

Happy Organizing!

Work in Progress: Kaleidoscope Quilt

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 11:00:00 +0200

Happy Tuesday! I wanted to chat today about one of my oldest works in progress. I picked it up again last week and am determined to finish it, for real this time.

I pulled these fabrics for a Kaleidoscope quilt in early April 2012. Whoa, 9 years ago! It's a mix of two collections by Tula Pink*: Neptune and Prince Charming. I paired it with Quilter's Linen* by Robert Kaufman. I think the color is Parchment, but I am not 100% sure since I bought it so long ago.

All the pieces for this quilt were cut with a template. I used the Marti Mitchell Kaleido Ruler*.

This is one of those projects that I would go years without working on it. I know I brought it to a few retreats without even taking it out of my bag! To be honest, this is not the type of piecework that I really enjoy and that made me avoid it at times. It's also tough when so much time goes by, your tastes change. This quilt was just never a priority to finish. For 2021 one of my goals is to finish at least one long term work in progress. I listed this quilt specifically because it is such an old one for me.

Fast forward to last week, I didn't know what to work on so I decided to set myself a small goal to finish 10 blocks for this quilt every day. I had 50 blocks total left to make. Having that small goal really helped. I worked on them before lunch each day except Thursday. I have access to our car on Thursday mornings so that I can go do the grocery shopping. I didn't end up in the sewing room that day, so I made 20 blocks on Friday to make up for it.

10 blocks a day was so much more manageable a task than thinking about all 50 blocks at once. It also motivated me to sew almost every day, which is good. I've really struggled with finding a good routine, especially this year. I only dedicated about an hour a day to this project, and I made so much progress. I think I'm going to try to use this system going forward, to try to get back into a better routine of sewing every day, instead of in randome spurts.

It is so satisfying to be done with these blocks! Now I'm just finalizing the layout and I can start piecing them together. I hope to have the top put together by the end of the week. I will probably end up piecing a backing from my stash. At one point I had a matching backing, but got rid of it before we moved. I'm tempted to buy a backing for it, but I know I should just piece something from what I have in my stash. We'll see!

My new goal now is to get this quilt completely finished during the first half of 2021, and tackle another one of my long term works in progress in the second half. That would be awesome, I hope I can make that happen.

Happy Quilting!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

March Monthly Report

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 11:00:00 +0200

It's time for the March monthly report. See past reports here.

I worked on a random assortment of small projects this month. I share this scrappy pincushion I made in a blog post here. It's the Sit 'N Sew Pincushion Pattern by Shannon Fraser. It was my scrap project for the month of March and also my new-to-me pattern to make in quarter one of 2021.

Made a new lined drawstring bag to share my new wooden beads. I held onto this print by Creative Thursday for many years. It feels good to finally use it up! This is the everything size bag. Pattern, twill tape and beads can be found in my online shop.

This set of coasters was a very long standing WIP. I had a completed set of four and then six more in various stages of completion. I taped a segment for a tv show 5 or 6 years ago and you had to have step-outs of the projects. It felt good to get all of them finished, even if they're mostly the same coaster. I'll never be short on coasters again!

I made two blocks for my vintage sheet bear paw quilt this month. This quilt is definitely taking a while to make, but I'm hoping to pick up steam on it this spring. It's going to be a good one.

Still weaving away! I finished another scarf, this one used up almost two full skeins of yarn. I have so much yarn, I love how much weaving uses. It's been fun.

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in March:

March Fabric
Used up: 4.5 yards
Brought in: 3 yards
Net: -1.5 yards
Year to date: -9.375 yards

March Yarn
Used up: 365 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -365 yards
Year to date: -1400 yards

I made my first fabric purchase of 2021! I bought a couple yards of black canvas to make more grow bags this this season. Pretty exciting! I passed a little fabric on to a friend too.

On my second birthday during the pandemic (whoa), we decided to sneak out and make a trip to a local nursery. It was only for about 15 minutes, but it was nice to go on an adventure instead of just being cooped up at home. They had tons of bulbs and pansies, so there was a lot to see. It was a nice day.

Speaking of plants, I've been busy starting all kinds of seeds. So far I have started dahlia, strawflower, portulaca, rudbeckia, tomoato and zinnia seeds. I've also been doing small batches of microgreens, which has been fun.

Leaving you with a little egg rainbow. I love to dye eggs, but don't really like hard boiled eggs much. So I carefully dye raw eggs. Now we can enjoy them for the next few weeks!

Have a great month!

Shop News: Wooden Beads and New Paper Pattern

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:00:05 +0200

Happy Friday! I have some shop news to share today, it's been a long time coming!

Last Spring I started stocking cotton twill tapes in my shop, as my preferred designs were getting harder to source. I hope it's been convenient to be able pick up some twill right alongside a copy of the lined drawstring bag pattern! With that in mind, I have decided to further expand my offerings. After many questions about where to buy the wooden beads I use on my bags over the years, I am finally stocking them in my online shop!

At this time I have wooden beads available in three sizes: 1", 7/8", and 3/4". They all have 3/8" holes, so plenty big for twill, fabric, or paracord ties to fit in them. They're all shown on 1/2" twill tape in these photos. The beads are raw unfinished wood. You can use them as is or customize them to match your project with paint or stain! I'm excited to experiement with customizing them, I will be sure to share when I do! Beads are sold in packs of four.

Find wooden beads (and twill tape) in my online shop here: Round Wooden Beads and Cotton Twill Tape

For now, I only have shipping set up for the United States. I'm happy to set up a custom listing for international orders, so if you're interested just send me a message here.

Here are all three sizes on Everything Size bags! From left to right: 3/4", 7/8", 1". All on different style 1/2" cotton twill tape. Shall we take a closer look at each bag?

I love this one! My friend Jacey gave me this fabric last year, and I cut it up for a bag during the sew along. Perfect timing for seed starting! This is the 1" beads on the yellow measuring tape cotton twill. Main fabric is from Flora by Marisol Ortega.

Next up, an animal cookie bag! I love this fabric too, one of my last fabric purchases in 2020. Makes me want a snack. This is the 7/8" beads on 1/2" natural cotton twill. Main fabric is from Butterscotch by Dana Willard.

And finally a bag I made last year! This is the 3/4" beads on antique ruler cotton twill. Main fabric is from Sienna by Alexia Marcelle Abegg.

Find the drawstring bag pattern in my shop here: Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Find wooden beads and twill tape in my online shop here: Round Wooden Beads and Cotton Twill Tape

The last bit of news to share is that my latest pattern, the Bear Paw Pillows Pattern, is finally available as a paper pattern! It's ready for mailing! It is also available wholesale, if you're a shop interested in carrying it.

You can find the paper pattern here: Bear Paw Pillows PAPER Pattern

Happy Friday!

Finished Project: Scrappy Pincushion

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 11:00:08 +0200

Today I'm here to share a small project that I made this week! This project ticks the box for two of my goals this year. First, it's made completely from my scrap bin, so it's my scrap project for March. I'm trying to make at least one project from scraps per month in 2021. Second, it's a new-to-me pattern. I am hoping to sew one new-to-me pattern per quarter, so this is my quarter one pattern I'm trying.

This week I finally made the Sit 'N Sew Pincushion Pattern by Shannon Fraser. I bought this pattern over a year ago, so I thought it was a good one to start with for this year. I actually pulled the scraps for this pincushion over the summer, but just didn't get around to making it. It worked out, because I could easily pick this up and make it in an afternoon since I'd kept the pattern and fabrics together in my sewing room cart. Grab and go!

It was fun to use some summery prints in this project. I quilted the pincushion top with straight lines as I put it together.

For the back of the pincushion I used a blender and quilted some random diagonal lines. I filled the pincushion with crushed walnut shells to give it nice weight.

The finished pincushion has a little hanging organizer to keep a few tools. I think it will come in handy, keeping it next to my machine.

Find the pattern in Shannon's shop here: Sit 'N Sew Pincushion Pattern by Shannon Fraser

Happy Sewing!

February Monthly Report

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:51:17 +0200

It's time for the February monthly report. See past reports here.

February was really tough. Saying goodbye to George was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. He had been slowing down over the last year or so, but things went downhill pretty fast. Right before Christmas we shifted our focus to palliative care, and just tried to enjoy the time we had left together. I couldn't bring myself to say it at the time, but that's why I disappeared for a while. We had the help and support of Laps of Love, who helped us navigate the process. He passed here at home, in my arms. It was devastating, but the most peaceful thing we could do for him. Thank you for all the love you've shown us, it means a lot. I wanted to share this artwork that my friend Melissa Averinos did of him. What an angel.

I didn't do a whole lot of anything in February, but I did force myself to do some crafting. The main thing I worked on this month was a few weaving projects. I don't know why, but weaving has really hit the spot during this time. I think because it is so repetitive and mindless for me. I started and finished a long scarf with a skein of sock yarn and some lace-weight yarn. I also started a worsted weight scarf too, which I am still working on. I weave on a 10" Cricket Loom by Schacht.

Towards the end of the month I set myself a goal of getting two quilts in the mail for quilting by the end of February. I had the tops done but needed to make backings for both. It may not sound like much, but it was kind of daunting. I spent most of my time the last few months taking care of George, so it felt like a lot. I'm glad I pushed through and did it though. I know it will feel good when I can get those finished, hopefully it will help propel me forward.

My only sewing finishes this month was another set of scrunchies. I love the ones I made over the summer but I'm always misplacing them. Figured a few more were in order. Plus it was my scrap project for the month, so win-win. I used this tutorial from Made Everyday.

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in February:

February Fabric
Used up: .25 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -.25 yards
Year to date: -7.875 yards

February Yarn
Used up: 642 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -642 yards
Year to date: -1035 yards

No fabric purchases this month, so despite my very small amount of fabric I used up, I'm still in the negative. Will this be the first year I never have a positive "year to date"? We'll see! The scarf I finished used a good amount of yarn, so my yarn yardages are already off to a great start this year.

I did a lot of baking in February, including a coconut cake for Michael's birthday. It was the same basic cake I made for his half birthday this Summer, but this time I frosted it with cool whip and we liked it much better. The buttercream I made for it last time was too sweet and too rich. The cake recipe is from Smitten Kitchen Every Day*.

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

I also made everything bagels. Our favorite bagel shop in Madison, Bagels Forever, had a variety called "New Everything" that had all the everything bits on the inside of the bagel instead of the outside. They were Michael's favorite, so I've been wanting to try recreating them. My first go turned out pretty good! I use this basic bagel recipe from King Arthur Baking, and I used about 43 grams of everything bagel seasoning from Trader Joes in the dough. I topped them with sesame seeds because I find they bake more evenly with the seeds on vs. nothing on the outside. Plus, we love sesame seeds.

It was a snowy month. Hurry up Spring!

Sweet George Bunny

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 22:46:30 +0200

I’m deeply saddened to share that we said goodbye to our dear George bunny this morning. He was the light of our house, and a huge part of our family. We’re completely heartbroken, and also grateful he isn’t in pain anymore after struggling the last few months. We’ll love him forever, our sweet boo boo. Thanks for loving him along with us over the years.

January Monthly Report

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 22:25:25 +0200

Happy February! It's time for the January monthly report. See past reports here.

My sewing this month wasn't anything super exciting, but I did finish some projects that I know will get a lot of use. First up I made more placemats. As I mentioned last month, we've been eating dinner at our dining room table most days since the pandemic started. I have a great stash of vintage tablecloths, but only had one style of placemats. Over the last two months I've made a few sets of placemats from my stash of home dec fabrics. It feels good to use up these types of fabrics, and I'll get to enjoy them on our table instead of tucked away in the fabric cabinet. They're super simple, just two pieces of fabric right sides together and sew around the sides. Turn, press and topstitch. They get the job done, and have been a great stash buster. I cut my rectangles 15"x17" and used 1/2" seam allowances for 14"x16" finished placemats.

My other big project this month was sewing up a set of four new pillowcases. I cut and washed the fabrics for these sometime in 2019 (I think, could have been 2018.). I've pulled them out and ironed them a few times and then put them away without cutting them. Finally in January I cut the pieces and stitched them up. I used some of my voile prints from Geometric Bliss, so they're super soft and silky feeling. I'm glad to have these to add into our rotation of cases. I use the burrito method for making mine, outlined here. Using the serger when doing the French seams really speeds these up.

I made a new cover for one of our long heating pads. This one is a little older and it runs pretty hot, so it needed a more substantial cover. I used some fat quarters of Nani Iro brushed cotton (flannel). I added a layer of fusible fleece to give it some extra padding. I'm happy to report it's back in use already and much improved by the new cover. It closes with a single snap.

My last sewing finish for the month was a pincushion from my scraps. I just barely squeezed this project in before the month ended, so I kept it simple. I decided to use all Minny Muu scraps, which are perfect for small projects since the scale of the prints is so tiny. I followed my own Scrappy Nine-Patch Pincushion Tutorial to make it. I did a pretty dense crosshatch quilting on the top, I like the resulting texture.

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in January:

January Fabric
Used up: 7.625 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -7.625 yards
Year to date: -7.625 yards

January Yarn
Used up: 393 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -393 yards
Year to date: -393 yards

I feel good about my stash results for this month. I wasn't tempted to buy any fabric or yarn, and I finished a decent amount! I'll take it.

I knit more this month than I did in the entirety of 2020! Michael has been working hard on writing and submitting a grant, so I've been spending time keeping him company while he works on the computer. It was the perfect excuse to get back into the swing of knitting. I knit two hats, plus a cowl. You can see the details for all three on my Ravelry page. I'm loving the small projects, and the finishes are keeping me motivated to continue on. Hoping it sticks, I haven't knit regularly in quite a while and it is relaxing. Hats are definitely my favorite!

My baking adventure in January was making chocolate chip bagels! When we lived in Madison, I loved the chocolate chip bagels from Bagels Forever. Getting one toasted with butter was one of my favorite treats after running errands. I've been pining for one ever since we moved away, so I finally took the plunge and tried making them. I was afraid the chocolate would disturb the rise, but it didn't at all. If anything, the dough rose more! I used my go-to bagel recipe (Water Bagels by King Arthur Baking) and I added mini chocolate chips to the dough during the knead. They turned out awesome! Next time I plan to add the chips directly to the flour.

Sleepy George Bunny.

Have a Great Month!

2021 Crafty Goals

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:22:38 +0200

I'm back to share my 2021 Crafty Goals. I'm not making nearly as many this year, in order to focus my efforts. As I mentioned in my 2020 Yearly Review, I wanted my goals for this year to be less project specific and more broad. I followed that with one exception. I really want to finally sew a jacket! I bought the Kelly Anorak Pattern (by Closet Core Patterns), fabric and hardware in 2016 and I've put it on my goals list pretty much every year since then. I feel like I really need to either make it this year or let the pattern and hardware go. One or the other!

The overall mindset for approaching my creative endeavors this year is to listen to my gut and make what feels best. Sometimes I let my goals keep me from working on what I really want to. Sometimes that's good, but I think with everything else going on in the world right now, I need my crafty time to be really satisfying and not stressful. That probably means more quick, one or two afternoon type projects. A little more instant gratification to keep myself motivated to tackle the next project.

I've decided not to make any general crafting goals this year. There are things I want to craft, but I want that to be totally free from restrictions, deadlines or objectives. My crafting will simply be opportunities for play.

Sewing & Quilting Goals:
- Use up more yardage than I bring in. I'll track my yardage each month to help me stay on target.
- Complete one long-term quilt project (kaleidoscope, double wedding ring, HST book quilt tops, etc.).
- Sew four new-to-me patterns, ideally one per quarter.
- Complete one small scrap project per month.
- Finally sew the Kelly Anorak Jacket (ideally in time for Fall).
- Practice techniques that are unfamiliar or new to me.

Knitting Goals:
- Use up more yardage than I bring in. I'll track my yardage each month to help me stay on target.
- Knit a matching hat and mitten set.
- Start a new weaving project.
- Finish or frog one long term knitting project (Briochealicious, Daybreak, Sundial, or Hitchhiker shawls or machine knit socks).

2020 in Review

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:44:52 +0200

I thought we better look back at 2020 before we get too far into 2021. To be honest I have been tempted to skip this post altogether. But I know I'll regret it if I don't mark the year changing at all.

I met almost none of my crafty goals for the year. Never could I have imagined the things that would happen in 2020, and my sewing goals definitely took a back seat. I spent a lot more time in 2020 just trying to stay afloat. Taking care of our household, trying to stay connected to friends and family, and focusing my sewing on more practical projects like masks and things for the house. I also spent much more time this year in the garden; any excuse to be outside and not in the house for a bit.

I think the biggest reason that I did not meet many of my crafty goals in 2020 (other than the pandemic) is that they were really project specific. It didn't allow me much room to be flexible. With that in mind I'm making more broad goals for 2021. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself, but I will admit I'm dissapointed. I know it's an ebb and flow though. Some years are more productive than others, and this is an incredibly trying peroid of time that we've been living through.

So, in order to feel a little better about what I was able to accomplish last year, I'm going to mix up the yearly review a bit. You can see past yearly reviews here.

First up, my proudest crafty accomplishment of 2020. For the fifth year in a row, I tracked my fabric and yarn yardage. (See how I do that in this post.) As in other years, my goal was simply to use up more fabric than I bring in. I'm happy to report that I acheived this for both fabric and yarn! I also wanted to bring in less fabric than last year (which was 48 yards), so I met that extra bit too!

2020 Fabric Stash:
Brought in: 40.25 yards
Sewed up/destashed: 65.5 yards
Net: -25.25 yards

2020 Yarn Stash:
Brought in: 0 yards
Knit up/destashed: 334 yards
Net: -334 yards

My favorite quilt finish:

Photo used with permission from Quilts & More magazine. ©2020 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.
Keep On Turning Quilt

My favorite lined drawstring bag finish:

Tiny Drawstring Bag Advent Calendar

My favorite tote bag finish:

Scrappy Canvas Workshop Tote Bag

My favorite (and only) knitting finish:

Sweet Nectar Mitts

I actually managed to share 13 tutorial or informational posts this year, which is cool! I wrote a number of them for the lined drawstring bag sew along, plus a few based around sewing space organization. I hope to add to that series this Spring. See all the tutorials/informational posts I shared in 2020 below:

Long Scrappy Pincushion Tutorial
Scrappy Nine-Patch Pincushion Tutorial
DIY Quilt Ladder
DIY Fabric Grow Bags
Tips for Keeping Your Sewing Table Organized and Clutter Free
Tips for Storing Projects in Progress (WIPs)
Tips for Organizing and Storing Fabric Scraps
Vote Mini Quilt Tutorial
How to Add Pom Pom Trim to a Pillow
Tips for Choosing Fabrics for Drawstring Bags
Lined Drawstring Bag Video Tutorial
Wine Bottle Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial
How to Add an Exterior Pocket to a Drawstring Bag

I released one new pattern in 2020, the Bear Paw Pillows Pattern. It's currently available as a PDF only, but the Paper version and a little shop refresh are both coming in February.

Find the pattern here: Bear Paw Pillows Pattern

One of the biggest changes I made to my shop in 2020 was I started selling Cotton Twill Tape and Cotton Webbing. I'm excited to add more new products like these this year, first up wooden beads! Hopefully also in February.

Find those products here: Cotton Twill Tape and Cotton Webbing

I want to wrap up this review by sharing a few of my favorite snapshots from my 2020 garden. There wasn't as much to look forward to in 2020 as plans kept needing to be canceled and we hunkered down here in CT. Being able to grow food and flowers really helped me get through it. Every morning during the Summer I'd start the day by going out and walking through the garden to see the progress. Oftentimes I'd do the same again a few times during the day, whenever I needed some fresh air or a pick me up. Usually the growing season seems so slow, but I really was able to savor and appreciate it last year.

I'll be back to share my 2021 Crafty Goals soon!

December Monthly Report

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:36:12 +0200

Happy January! It's time for the December monthly report, before we get too far into the new year! See past reports here.

Just like in November, almost all of my sewing this month was making drawstring bags. I made a couple of the Laundry size from the pattern to wrap gifts in, which is always a good stash buster. This one I made for my Dad using prints from Norikda.

And here is the second Laundry size I made, this one from Geometric Bliss for my Mom.

The Laundry size can be found in the pattern here: Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern

In December I wrapped up the lined drawstring bag sew along with two more tutorials. First up was a tutorial for a new size, that fits a wine bottle. Find it here: Wine Bottle Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial

And the last tutorial and post for the sew along was for adding a pocket to the outside of the bag. Find it here: Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial: Adding an Exterior Pocket

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in December:

December Fabric
Used up: 8.25 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -8.25 yards
Year to date: -25.25 yards

December Yarn
Used up: 334 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -334 yards
Year to date: -334 yards

Nothing too exciting to end the year with fabric wise. I didn't buy any fabric this month and I managed to finish a few things. Beyond the bags that I made in December, I also made a little curtain for our office as well as a couple sets of placemats. I was very happy to finish up a knit just in the knick of time!

My colorwork mittens were my lone knitting finish for the year, and I finished them around 9pm on December 31st, just in time! They're fully lined so they're nice and toasty, I've already been wearing them quite a bit. I finished the outside mittens last year I think, and finally got around to knitting the linings this year. Don't know why I let them linger for so long, the linings didn't take too long. Pattern is the Sweet Nectar Mitts by Tanis Lavallee. For more details on these see my ravelry page here: Sweet Nectar Mitts

Right before the holidays we got our first snow storm of the season. Always magical!

George bunny snacking!

Have a great month!

November Monthly Report

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:40:58 +0200

Happy December! Coming in most of the way through the month to sneak in the November report. Let's keep it short and sweet. See past reports here.

All of the sewing that I did in the month of November was for the Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along! I made a bunch of bags, including 24 tiny bags for my advent calendar. When I wasn't sewing drawstring bags I was working on the sew along posts, editing photos or shooting videos. It was a lot of work, but I hope it was fun! You can find all the posts from the sew along here: Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along.

Here are a few of my favorite bags I made in November:

All made with my tutorial/patterns:
Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial
Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in November:

November Fabric
Used up: 5.25 yards
Brought in: 3 yards
Net: 2.25 yards
Year to date: -17.5 yards

November Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: 0 yards

I bought a little fabric this month, from my friend Holly's shop, Bijou Lovely. I couldn't let those Ruby Star Society apples go by without grabbing them! Plus a few other things jumped into my cart too. :)

We put up our Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving which was fun. I love having it up and digging into all my ornaments. It makes it feel so cozy in the house. We're staying here in the holidays, so I really went all in on decorating to help us stay cheery.

George the bunny, looking as cute as ever.

Happy Sewing!

Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along Schedule

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:57:39 +0200

Thank you for your excitment about the upcoming Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along! I've been working behind the scenes this week and wanted to share what posts you can expect from me starting Wednesday, November 18th! I'll also be posting my progress on my personal bags throughout the sew along! Next week I'll share what I plan to make! Here are the posts I have planned for each week:

Week 1: Tips for Choosing Fabrics for Drawstring Bags
Week 2: Video tutorial for the Lined Drawstring Bag
Week 3: Wine Bottle Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial
Week 4: Adding an Exterior Pocket Tutorial

My personal projects: Lined Drawstring Bags I'm Planning to Make, Drawstring Bag Advent Calendar, Christmas Patchwork Lined Drawstring Gift Bag.

Currently, Instagram isn't showing recent photos added to hashtags because of the U.S. election. I'm not sure when that will change, so in addition to using the #lineddrawstringbag hashtag on your sew along posts, please be sure to tag me (@jenib320) in the photo too so that I don't miss them! :)

As I mentioned in my annoucement post, this is a no-stress sew along. Let's just make some bags together! Sew from the free tutorial, the pattern or the expansion pattern! Both patterns are still on sale, 20% off through 11/20/20. Prices are already marked down. Shop here:

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

Happy Sewing!

Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial: Adding an Exterior Pocket

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 12:00:03 +0200

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to week four of the Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along! If you're just joining in on the fun now, you can find all the previous sew along posts here: Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along Schedule. This is the last of the formal sew along posts, but I'll be sharing more of my personal projects later this week or early next. I'll also be sharing your projects in my Instagram stories this week!

Today I have another tutorial for you! We'll be adding a simple slip pocket to the exterior of the bag! Perfect for a small gift, gift tag or small card! Or make a tiny pocket and use it for the tooth fairy! We'll be working with the Everything Bag size (same as the tutorial), but there are tips at the end of the post for adding one to other sizes from the pattern.

For reference:
Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial
Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

I was inspired to write this tutorial after making some drawstring bags from thrifted button down shirts last year. Read more about those bags in this post: Upcycled Lined Drawstring Gift Bags + How to Cut up a Button Down Shirt .

I had originally planned to simply repurpose the fabric from the shirts, but ended up repurposing the pockets too. They turned out so cute, I knew I wanted to eventually write this tutorial. You'll find instructions for a simple pocket, but you could definitely get creative and make different style pockets to add to your bags! A dress shirt style pocket or maybe a pocket with a rounded bottom would be really fun.

The instructions below are for a 4" finished pocket. Head to the end of this post for guidance on other pocket sizes and apply pocekets to the other bag sizes.

Sewing Level: Beginner Friendly
Finished size: Approx. 10" tall, 7" wide, 3" deep

Pocket Lined Drawstring Bag Materials:
- 3 Fat quarters (18"x21")
- 1 Fat eighth pocket fabric
- 2 yards of 1/2" twill tape, or 1/8 yd fabric
- Coordinating thread
- Acrylic ruler
- Large safety pin
- Water soluble pen

Looking for supplies? Check out my Pattern Supplies and Resources post.

Pocket Lined Drawstring Bag Cutting:
From Exterior Main Fabric:
- Cut (1) 9”x21” strip
- Subcut into (2) 9”x10.5” pieces

From Exterior Accent Fabric:
- Cut (1) 4”x21” strip
- Subcut into (2) 4”x10.5” pieces

From Interior Fabric:
- Cut (1) 12.5”x21” strip
- Subcut into (2) 12.5”x10.5” pieces

From Pocket Fabric:
- (2) 4.5" squares

If using fabric for ties:
- Cut (2) 32”x2” strips

If using twill for ties:
- Cut (2) 32" pieces

Pocket Lined Drawstring Bag Instructions:

*Use a 1/4” seam allowance unless otherwise noted*

Before constructing the bag, we first need to make the slip pocket and attach it to one of the Exterior Main pieces.

Place pocket pieces right sides together. Pin around all four sides, leaving a small opening for turning in the side that will be the bottom of the pocket.

Sew around all four sides, backstitching when you start and finish, leaving the opening unsewn.

Trim seam allowance down to 1/8" at the corners to reduce bulk.

Turn pocket right sides out and press well. Top stitch along the top edge of the pocket piece.

Center the pocket across the width of the Exterior Main piece (for the Everything Bag 10.5" is the width) and place it 1" down from the top edge of the Exterior Main piece.

Pin pocket in place.

Top stitch along both sides and the bottom to secure the pocket to the exterior and close up the opening left for turning. Trim away any threads and press well.

For bag construction, refer to the free tutorial or the lined drawstring bag pattern. If you need extra guidance on the construction, please refer to the video tutorial.

Here are the approximate maximum size pockets you could add for each bag size included in the Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern. Also suggestions for how far down to place the top of the pocket on the Exterior Main. For a pocket that is completely centered in the finishd bag exterior, I recommend checking out my Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern. It explains exactly how to find the center of the exterior main and how to center something on it, in great detail!

	Max. Finished Pocket Size*	Placement from Top Edge
Tiny Bag	2"x2"	3/4"
Snack Bag	4"x3"	3/4"
Everything Bag	5.5"x5.5"	1"
Project Bag	7"x7"	1"
Artist Bag	9"x9"	1.25"
Laundry Bag	17"x10"	2"
CD Bag	5"x5"	1/2"
DVD Bag	9"x7"	1/2"

*Add .5" to both dimensions of the desired finished pocket size when cutting.
(Example: Finished pocket size 2"x2", cut pocket pieces 2"x2")

I hope this tutorial is useful! It's a simple addition to a plain bag, that makes it even cuter for gifting!

Happy Sewing!

Christmas Patchwork Lined Drawstring Gift Bag

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:55:39 +0200

Happy Monday! I'm happy to be sharing another personal finish for the Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along today. We're heading towards the final week of the sew along, which seems impossible! Time has been going by so fast, and I am excited to share the last tutorial on Wednesday.

This past week I finished up my patchwork lined drawstring gift bag. I have a surprisingly small number of lined drawstring bags made up in Christmas fabric. I don't tend to buy too much holiday fabric, so maybe that's why? I honestly probably need to make a few more so that I have enough to wrap our gifts this year! I usually do a mix of bags and wrapping paper, but I'm planning to mostly use bags this time around.

A few years ago my friend Jacey gave me a stack of really cute Christmas fabric scraps and I've been holding onto them waiting for just the right project. I didn't sew as much with scraps this year as I would have liked, so it felt good to get a scrap project under my belt during the sew along. All these fabrics are so cute, I think I originally wanted to make something that didn't cut them up too much, but I'm pleased with how much that could still shine in this bag.

I chose to make the Project size bag from the lined drawstring bag pattern, since it uses larger squares than the Everything size. I really didn't want to chop up those adorable prints! This patchwork variation is a part of the lined drawstring bag expansion pattern.

Find the patterns in my online shop here:
Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

I struggled a bit trying to decide on an accent fabric to use, but ended up with this olive green faux bois print from an old Joel Dewberry collection. This particular green color is in quite a few of the prints, so I think it works in the end. The bag is a bit busy with all the different patchwork prints, so a neutral might have been a better choice. I'm happy with how it turned out though.

I'm glad I still had some of this dusty navy paracord left for the ties. That color is also in a number of the prints, so it felt like a good unifying choice.

I buy most of my paracord from Bored Paracord* on Etsy.

I love finishing off lined drawstring gift bags by tieing it up in a bow! Makes it look even more festive in my opinion.

Happy Sewing

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.