Needle Keep Turtorial

Okay I just want to start out letting you know that I have written this for a Pincushion group that I lead. We are venturing out to try other small things.  So if you are one of my other sewing buddies that's what I'm up to. And if you'd like to join our group let me know.

Okay Pin Pal's here we go.  I want to let you know up front I tried to cover every part of how to do both of these needle keeps - it may be too much info - but if there is any part you don't understand please email me and let me know.  I will explain any part that isn't clear.

Here are the two that I made...

This one is a little more detailed but I'll show you how to do it also.

Okay I will start with the easy one 1st.  For supplies you will need two pieces of coordinating fabric, two pieces of wool or felt and a piece of batting.
Now to cut you will need 1 of each of your two piece of fabric and of your batting 5" x 9".  You will also need a additional piece of your inside fabric 3/4" x 3", set that aside for now.

 Now cut  your 2 pieces of  wool or felt to 3 1/2" x 7".   These can be set aside for now also.
Next fold your inside fabric in half and mark it with a pencil or chalk.  Cut a 2" slit on that line in the middle of the fabric.

Next lay this fabric on the bottom right side up, then your outside fabric with right side down, now lay the batting on top of that see below.  Now pin together if you pin - if not - now it is time to sew.  Sew through all layers all the way around the whole thing using 1/4" seam allowance.

When you are done sewing around the whole thing.  Trim your edges down to approximately 1/8th inch and clip your corners.  

Now turn it over and you will see the slit that you cut in the middle of your inside fabric.  You will use this hole to turn your needle keep right side out.

Once you have it turned right side out push your corners out with a pencil, or turning tool, then press it.  Now get the piece of your inside fabric that was 3/4 x 2" - If you have some "Steam a Seam" or other iron on fusible, cut a piece or pieces to go on the back side of your small piece. Iron it on the wrong side of the little strip now pull the paper off and put it over the slit on the inside of the needle keep. Iron it on so the strip fuses in place. 

Now get your wool that you set aside. Fold it in half and find the middle.  Draw a line with a pencil or chalk pencil. Pin your wool in place centering it on the inside of your needle keep.  You will sew a scant 1/4" on each side of the  line you drew.   

Sew a scant 1/4" on each side of the drawn line.

Okay the inside should look similar to the picture above once you have sewn the wool in, and you are done.

You can decorate if you want, the fabric I choose on this one was pretty busy so I didn't do anything else. However you can put an applique or embroider on the front.  you can put a ribbon down the middle.  It's yours be creative. 

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Okay for the next one.  It looks more complicated but it's not that bad.

Supplies you will need 

2 pieces of fabric 8x10"  

one piece of fabric for pocket on inside 5 1/2"  x  4 1/2"  

2 pieces of wool or felt 8" x 4"

Approx 46" of binding material I made mine - 2 1/4" strip, ironed in half lengthwise wrong sides together. 

Ribbon - Optional 

Okay lets get started.  :)  Once you have your fabric and wool cut - Now draw a line down the middle of the inside fabric. -now take your pocket fabric and turn the top edge down and press.  Sew a seam a scant 1/4 " to hold the top edge in place.  Now turn the right side edge of your pocket under 1/4" and press. Line the pocket up with the bottom left side of inside fabric. Sew this down the right side. If you want to make sections in the pocket like I did you can sew another seam about 1 1/2" from right side from top of pocket to bottom. 

Next draw a line 1/2" from the center and 1" from the bottom as a guide for the placement of your wool. Draw a line down the center of  the wool, and pin the center of the wool on the line that is 1/2" from the center and 1" from bottom.  Tip - if you are having trouble seeing the line on the wool, use painters masking tape on the line, then sew right next to the tape. 

  

Sew the wool from top to bottom down the center. 

 

Next I put a little loop to hold a small pair of scissors.

 Now sandwich your outside fabric right side down, batting,  and inside fabric right side up, like a little quilt.

Sew a couple of lines down the center to give it a little fold area.

Now you are going to add the optional ribbons and bind it all in one step. Pin the ribbon to each side of your Needle Keep in the center.  The long part of the ribbon goes to the inside.  

Now bind the Needle Keep like you would a quilt.  Start sewing on the binding raw edge of binding to raw edge of needle keep. 

To miter your corners stop about 1/4 ' from the end and pivot your needle keep slightly so you can sew diagonally to the corner. See how I am headed towards the corner.

Next fold binding up aligning it with the next side and then fold down on the side you are going to sew on. See pictures. The seam you sewed to the corner help you fold this angle up. 

Now as you fold this back down make sure the fold is even with the upper edge. This will give the right amount of fabric int the corner to make a nice miter on both sides. 

Now when you are getting close to the place where you started take your needle keep out of the machine and mark a line 1/2' past the starting piece of binding.  

If you look on the top edge the starting piece is underneath. draw the line and cut the top piece of binding so it overlaps by the 1/2".  See below.

now take those two ends and sew them together with a 1/4" seam. 

Now you should have a connected binding. 

Sew the rest of the binding in place. See how the ribbon got sewn in with the binding. trim your edges iron the binding over to the inside and hand stitch the binding using an invisible hemstitch. 

Viola you now have a beautiful needle keep with pockets for your other sewing notions. 

Have fun be creative - this is yours to decorate adjust to your liking!  

Blessings, Lynn 

Finish Along 2014 Q1

Well if I hurry up and type this I may squeak into the 1st quarter of the finish along because it ends today.  Yikes - I was waiting for it and now it's almost gone.  Okay enough of that.  :) 


#1. Quilt as you go.  We won't talk about when I started this. :)   It just really needs to be finished! Especially since it is a Quilt as you go... It should be done. 

#2.  Modern Christmas (trees) - I'm going to keep putting this on here until it is done.  ha ha.  This was a quilt along hosted by Chirsta of Christa's Quilts and I was going along with the schedule until life happened. So I don't want it to get buried so here it is again.

#3.  This one is a repeat also.  My Fall Pumpkin and Crow Wall hanging by Buttermilk Basin.

#4  Another Repeat - I wasn't going to put this on again - but remembering that I made this in March of last year I felt like I needed to get it done. Sorry couldn't get it to turn right side up. :)

#5.  Okay another repeat - The binding on this quilt - For pete's sake I need to do this just because it's amazing how long it's taken me to do a binding.

#6. This is another one that needs a binding however I haven't started it yet and if I do it the way the pattern was written it is supposed to have prairie points on the ends and not sides.  But hey any binding at this point would be great.

And to give credit to the quilt designer on #1, #5 and this one were designed by Jolyn Buhl whom is an instructor, and inspiration to my quilting and embroidering endeavors.  She teaches classes at our local quilt shop Pioneer Quilt Shop, and out of a studio in her home.  These 3 quilts were ones that were a BOM at the quilt shop. Each month she would give the pattern and instruction on how to make that block. The shop would give us a piece of fabric for part of the block and we would add the sashing and rest of the block. So we were learning how to create our own color combos as we were learning how to make the blocks and quilts.

I have so many more UFO's it's not funny but if I truly finish all this it will be a great accomplishment.

Have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by.
Lynn

December New FO's

Well December was a hundred years ago wasn't it... :)  Since we had December off in the Doll Quilt swap and in my Pincushion group I used December to finish up some things.  But I did have some last minute Christmas gifts that I wanted to add a little something to.  So I have a wall hanging that I did for a friend. Sorry for the quality of photo's some were taken with my phone.

 I was in such a hurry that some of the ornaments did not get pictures of :(  They   were embroidered like this one - just different images.

I also did a fabric basket for a quilting friend of mine - What do you get a quilter that has everything. :) a basket with more stuff. 

Then for my Pincushion Group I wanted to make something a little extra for each of them.  So I made them a Needle Keep and a Thread Catcher. 

And then there was a different Ornament I made for a couple of people.  This is a pattern that I got in a workshop in November, from Bunnyhill Designs.  I don't think it's on the market yet. 

And then there were a couple of mug rugs and a pot holder and who knows. I am usually really good about taking pictures but in the rush it went by the wayside. 

Hope you all had a very Blessed Christmas and wishing you the best for the New year. 

Lynn

A Finish

This is a wall hanging that I wanted to finish this fall to hang up before Thanksgiving - but life happens. :)  I've been working on it for awhile in a class that we have once a month called "Woolies" and most of the time only worked on it there, but it was close and I wanted it done so finished it up. I was able to get it done right around Christmas time and though it's not Christmasy- I wanted to display and enjoy for a while.

 
Normally a wool wall hanging is just blanket stitched around the edge but I actually backed it with another piece of black wool - then bound it with the rust color.  I blanket stitched it on the front, mitered the corners and then whip stitched the back.  I'm very happy with it and since I made it for myself (rare) I am happy. 

Thanks for looking,
Lynn

A Big Finish..

Well I started this quilt in September or October of 2010 and because I don't just stay with one thing it took a while to finish, but I finished the top in July and gave to the quilter and then she had some health issues so it took a few months - but I got it back and I got the binding on so......  It is done. :) 

Here it is "Sweet Land of Liberty" by Cheri Saffiote Payne  

Really happy it's done. 

New FO's 2014

Well I've been so busy and lots going on - that I missed the December NewFO  but I'm sure you know I will be doing several New FO's in the new year and I'm sure even more than the ones I'm listing here. Because what good respectable quilter doesn't see new things through out the year and just have to start them?  (Wink)  



1. Well one of my very first starts for the new year will be a woodsy type of quilt that has been requested by my Sister for their 5th wheel camper.  And I don't have a good picture - because I don't have a pattern - just an idea she has in her head that she made a sketch of on a napkin of the center block.  Not sure that it shows up well - but this was the sketch. She wants the center block to be of two bears.... So I will have to keep you posted on that. 

The rest of my quilts are in no special order just when ever I can get to them and get them started.


2.  Frog Work - My Mom loved Frogs and collected them so whenever I see them I makes me think of her. And my daughter after Mom went to heaven got a frog tattooed n her ankle so it makes me think of her too.  So I saw this quilt kit several times and finally broke down and got it - I'm very eager to start it but have had too much going on, so it is perfect for the 2014 New FO.

3. Next one I bought this pattern over a year ago and I really like it so I need to put it up on the list or it's not going to get done. 

4.  I picked up two of these patterns at one time for reverse applique, one was dragonfly's which I did for myself, and the other was the Giraffes that I picked up for my Sister, because she collects Giraffes.  I've had the pattern and the material for probably 2 years - so I think it's time to get it going.  I have picked similar colors to do this in batiks.


5.  Next is a pattern that I picked up in Las Vegas while on vacation.  That was in September and I thought maybe I would be able to get it going and done for this Christmas.  ha ha ha..  Well hopefully if I start it soon enough in the year I can have it done by next Christmas.



 

6. Next is one that was done in a couple of classes at my local Quilt shop and I was unable to attend the series of classes - so got the pattern want to do for my Sewing Room.   :)

 

7. Next I have a monthly class that I go to and we work on wool projects.  For this next year we have decided as a class to do this quilt that was featured in the French magazine called "Simply Vintage"  It is a quarterly publication that is translated into English now.  The quilt is called "Welcome to Texas".



 

8.  This one is a new one put out by Bonnie Sullivan from "All Through the night" She is local here to Oregon just a few miles south in Salem Oregon.  This one is called "Berties though the year".  Me and the silly birds.  Birds and Lambs get me every time.  :)  A couple of my quilty friends and I are going to do this together. 

 

 

 

Along with all the ones I have listed - I have several other things that I have patterns for and want to do, and will also be doing the monthly Doll Quilt Swap with Barbara and monthly Pincushion Swap that I host. 

 

And of course there are many many projects I want to finish - but that is for another group.  This one is just about starting.  :) 

 

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Lynn  

New FO Challenge for October

Well I certainly drug this out to the last few minutes.  I am don't usually take this long to get my post up but oh well - still in time.  :) 

My first NewFO is "Modern Christmas" It is a Quilt-a-long hosted by Christa of Chirsta Quilts. 

The next is a Wall Hanging that I wanted to get done for Halloween or Thanksgiving (what year ?)

Next is the pincushion(s) that I made for my pincushion group. Acorn & Oak Leaves.

Next is the little quilt I made for the Doll Quilt Swap!

 Our theme this month was "Show us Where you Live" Your Country, State, City or Home ... your choice. So my partner was from Minnesota and I'm from Oregon, so this is what I made, with a matching pin cushion of course.  Front and Back!

And finally the progress I'm making on "Daisy Days" BOM from Jenny of Elefantz.  Thursdaisy is done, and Fridaisy is started.  I'm starting to fall behind.  Fridaisy needs to be finished and a good start on Saturdaisy by the end of this month - Hmm  not sure if that's going to happen as I barely got the pink daisy's done on Fridaisy. (and it's hard to see)  Oh well here they are. 

Okay that's it for October. 

Have a great November!  Blessings,   Lynn