NYC Garment District

I am having great fun in New York. I am visiting my two children who live here but while they were at work I checked out the ribbon and trim stores in the Garment District. This is hard to do when my husband and son are in tow so I am taking full advantage during this solo trip!

Knitting and 2012 Summer Olympics

When I heard about the controversy of Ravelry wanting to call their marathon of knitting "Ravelympics" all I could think of was pulling out my UFO green sweater and working on it while watching the Olympics.

It is very close to being finished. I am working on the neckband but it is a kimono sweater and thus a very large neckband. I am determined to finish it in the next two weeks and I got started tonight while watching the opening ceremonies. If all goes well, I'll be able to wear it this fall!

Zakka Delightful Linen Bag

The latest project in the Zakka Sew Along is the Delightful Linen Bag.  It is a rather small pouch but oh-so-delightful!  A big plus is that is has no zipper and no handles so it goes together quickly.  What you put on the front is entirely up to you.  I cut out the cup and saucer from a piece of fabric and Wonder-Undered it onto the brown print.  I have an extensive collection of "writing fabric" and found this scrap amid the pile.  The button came from my button box.  I disciplined myself to make the project entirely from what I had on hand...and it wasn't hard to do!

Visit LRstitched for more information on the Zakka Sew Along.  There is a Flickr group here.

Petal Pouches

When I was in Asheville I visited a quilt shop called Tipsy Star Quilts where I bought this pattern by Valori Wells. These cute little pouches are easy to make. Shown are the small and medium sizes. I haven't made the large size yet.

Trip to Asheville, NC

I was away last week. My husband and I took a trip to Asheville which is a fun getaway if you're in that neck of the woods. It's a small city, easily walkable, with great restaurants and a thriving arts and music scene. Nearby is the Biltmore Estate and The Smoky Mountains, both well worth seeing, for different reasons. Asheville has its own flat iron building just like New York. Pictured is a sculpture in front.

Sewing Sets

I thought it would be fun to make matching sewing items, using the same fabrics. I'd like to make some notebook covers to match also.

Zakka House Pouch

Continuing my meandering through the book, Zakka Style, here is the house pouch. I had great fun making it, picking out buttons and such. Everything came from my stash!

Expandable Tote Bag

I saw this bag at The Little Shop in Haddonfield, NJ, last month. They couldn't find the pattern - it was one of their own - so the owner described how to make it.

Here goes:

1. Make 2 bags. One is the exterior and one is the lining. For each, cut 2 rectangles or squares. I cut mine 14" x 14" but next time I will make it deeper. Line all 4 pieces with fusible fleece. This makes the bag soft and squishy which I like. Sew right sides together on 3 sides and press seams open.

2. Square off bottoms.

3. Put the lining inside the exterior bag, wrong sides together. Match up top edges and side seams and pin.

4. Bind top edge.

5. Make handles. There are different ways to do this but I covered 1" canvas webbing with fabric. My handles were 30" long.

6. Machine stitch handles on inside about 4" down from top. Fold over the top of the bag to form a cuff. Open up the cuff to fit in more stuff, as needed!

Zakka Pincushion

I'm a little late to the Zakka Style Sewalong but I decided to go back and make some of the earlier projects that appeal to me. One can never have too many pincushions, right?

This one is made of linen, a floral cotton from my stash, and a bit of trim. For the back I used a scrap of my son's old pink Oxford shirt. I also covered the button with it.

Happy 4th!

This is a mini quilt I made many years ago. I like to hang it on my door for the 4th of July. Tomorrow we are going to watch our baseball team, the Washington Nationals, play. It is such a fun, all-American activity for the fourth. I hope it's not too hot and I hope they win!