Espritpatch

  July has been of course very busy with the end of the school year and all the preparation for the big move across the Channel... I did sneak in some sewing, just to keep sane really! And of course, I had all the leaving presents to complete. I made lots of bags, some pencil cases and some open wide pouches I also managed to finish piecing my Impromptu Quilt top, which nearly got quilted but instead want on a little trip with Parcel Force.... I didn't finish the Persephone Purse that I started in April and that was my OPAM for July sadly. I also parted with a few UFO while going through all our stuff. I haven't a chance to blog about them this month, maybe in the next one. Linking to July Furtle Celine

  Only 4 more... I kind of ran out of steam really but wanted to make 4 more to gift to some of the lovely people my children had interacted with in various clubs over the years.  So with that, here are my last 4 bags.  2 for the dance teachers 2 for the Scouts leaders (one with upside down birdies...) And 4 additional finish for July and off my Q3 FAL list.  Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday ,  Brag about your Beauties ,   Off the wall Friday ,  Peacock Party ,    Whoop Whoop  Friday ,   Patchwork and Quilts Celine

  A break from bag making! Some time ago, while I was going through my UFOs etc, I digged out the blocks for my Impromptu Quilt, with the aim to finish the top to send it for quilting. The top finishes at 90'' square so it is too big for my own frame and after sending my Flabellum for quilting, I thought it would be a good idea to send this one too. The only problem was that 1) the top wasn't anywhere near ready to go 2) I am pressed with time with the house move Anyway, Kerry kindly agreed to squeeze it into her schedule if I sent it by mid-July. So that was my target and I knew I'd have to stick to it. I first finished the 13 disappearing 9-patch blocks over a few evenings. And after that it was a matter of assembling the 25 squares into one big top, before adding the borders 2 week-ends ago .  The backing came from my stash and pressing it during a heatwave wasn't the best time, but never mind, but my parcel was ready to go just in time. I took it to the post off...

  And that will be 3 more, including 2 rather last minute. I needed one for Brown Owl, to be gifted with the open wide pouches so I finished that one with about one hour to spare. And I also needed one for school last Friday as the presents have to be quarantined before being handed to the teachers this week. So that was another one to finish off. This one was with 2 colours as I messed up the cutting of the wave! And some more OPAM for July. Ideally I need to make 4 more bags but I must admit I seem to have run out of steam a little recently. Fingers crossed I will find the time for the last few ones! Linking to  Brag about your Beauties ,   Off the wall Friday ,  Peacock Party ,    Whoop Whoop  Friday ,   Patchwork and Quilts Celine

  It has been long time since I made an open wide pouch (pattern by Noodlehead) so I made 4! More end of year gifts, this time for the Brownies leaders for my youngest daughter.  I used faux leather for the outside a nd cotton for the inside, one with the sports print and the other 3 with an IKEA print that I rediscovered when I emptied one of my cupboard! For the zips I had to raid my stash, they are not colour matching but I think they are complimentary 4 more OPAMs and off my Q3 FAL list.  Linking  to  Brag about your Beauties ,   Off the wall Friday ,  Peacock Party ,    Whoop Whoop  Friday ,   Patchwork and Quilts Celine

An unusually very short list from me this quarter because we will be moving house and countries. Lots of packing/unpacking/settling in/admin jobs etc so I doubt I will have time to do very much sadly.... Quilts: 1. Flabellum - needs binding 2.  Super Mario quilt - this one only need binding  3.  Snowflake - needs binding 4. Impromptu - this one has been put aside for so many years.... I'd really like to finish it soon...  Bags, accessories: 1.    Moonwake handbag  2.  Persephone wallet    3. Infinity Cross-Body bag   4. Closet case pouf 5. Halo swing bag 6. Bags for end of year gifts 7. Pouch/make up for  end of year gifts Dressmaking: 1.  Shirt (button up)  2. Morgan jeans - cut and basted 3. Voltaire top / puff blouse / Tie details top  4. PJ for M 5. PJ for C 6. Summer dress 7. Utility coat Cross-stitch 1. Grimm's Tales stitch along 2. The Nutcracker Parade Celine

  That's it, half of the year is already gone... I feel I have made progress, as well as letting go of unfinished, and probably never to be finished projects so all in all my UFO list has gone a little shorter. Not much dressmaking this quarter because I just hadn't had the time... Quilts: 1.  Modern HST triangles -  I have 23 blocks completed and not enough background fabric to make the 24th block from the pattern. I should decide what to do with these. Either finish the quilt or get rid of it... It is 5 years since I started this BOM so a decision is required. - finished - I am so happy I can gift it to a good friend before leaving. 2. Project 48 quilt with a few Solstice challenge blocks - another one started 5 years ago. I don't think I will be making any more blocks so I should either finish it or get rid of it too - nothing done to this one 3. Farmer's Wife - my goal with this one is to have a finished quilt in 2022 to gift to my mum. I doubt I will work on it soo...

  More end of year teachers' presents on my list but I took a break from the bags to make some pencil cases. I can't really make bags for men I think.  I started with 10'' squares for those pencil cases and added a 1'' square of faux leather on either side of the zip. First step is to sew the zip to the outside and lining so it is "sandwiched" between the 2 layers. Next I turned the tube inside out with the right side out and top-stitched alongside the zip to avoid the lining sticking out. With faux leather I found it was more manageable to not try to sew the full length but just inside the zip. Still have to be very careful to pull the lining fabric all the way along so it doesn't get caught.... Next the tube is turned the other way to have the lining on the outside and the short sides are sewn together, making sure that the zip line with the mid point of the pouch  Once both short sides are sewn, the pouch is quite flat. For a neater finish, I co...