Sew the Library - Simply Retro

Snow Day!  I was able to work on my color wheel star mini quilt today since we are snowed in.  I have been wanting to make this wall hanging quilt as soon as I saw it in Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley.  I love her scrappy version, but I decided to do my scrappy version in a color wheel scheme.  Every time I see a project with the color wheel on a neutral background I add it to my to do list - so here was my opportunity!  I subscribe to the fresh cut bundle from Sew Amelia's Garden and receive a set of 4 half yards and an Aurifil thread in a different colorway each month.  I've been saving the scraps from those bundles and I was able to use a lot of them in this project. 

I really love how this came out so I've decided to leave it unfinished right now...maybe I'll make a few more and it will turn into something else. 

I'm linking up with Sew the Library over at Fabric Mutt. 

Fabric Mutt Wallets

These are super cute little wallets that go with the totes that I made.  You can find the great tutorial for them over at Fabric Mutt by Heidi, it's called the Key Pouch.  These are great for using up some scraps from another project. Fabric is August by Cotton + Steel. 

Shopper Totes

Having made a bunch of tote bags this past holiday season, I created these two at my mother-in-laws request.  She had another similar bag that she loved to have as a daily purse/shopper and she asked if we could pick out some new fabric together.  All the fabrics are from Joann, including the liner, which is called cream crosshatch.  The liner fabric would be perfect for so many projects, it's a great neutral.  If you are looking for a nice tote tutorial, check out the free summer madras tote pattern from noodlehead.  Once you get the hang of the basic construction you can change the sizing and make a tote size that you love.  For these totes I used Dritz 3/4 inch magnetic snaps and used Pellon fusible fleece 987 for the lining backing.  This gives it some structure, but it's still pretty flexible.  I put two small squares of Pellon shape-flex 101 on the liner fabric where the magnetic snaps would be to add more support there.  I recommend using store bought trim for the handles on these totes, since the fabric is decorator weight.  It's a little challenging to make the handles from the fabric itself because of the thickness of the fabric.  The right trim also gives the bag a more 'finished' look.

Caity Did Totes

I made a bunch of totes these past few months.  Started with the Caity Did Bag pattern by Stephanie Dunphy at Connecting Threads using some Cotton + Steel.  The pattern is very easy to follow and the tote bag comes out great, especially if you use the recommended Soft and Stable.