Cosmo continues...

Whilst the other Squares were working away on their quilt-y projects (more on that later), I opted to continue my love affair with Cosmo! Luckily for you, I didn't snap a pic of every single step, but here are a few highlights.

The point where it actually looked like a bag instead of a pile of scraps with a tonne of interfacing!

 Moving on to a new colour - Bahama Blue lining! It even has pockets on the inside... a technological wonder that I don't think I've ever managed to include in previous bags!

I covered a button! Way easier than I ever imagined. Q-B and Q-D had a good laugh that I'd never done this before. What can I say? I don't make much in the way of clothing! The colour of the button was a controversy in itself. The pattern called for it to match the straps. Unacceptable to Q-D.

I have to say I'm pretty pleased with myself on this one. As I said in my last post, I've wanted to make this bag for a long time, but when I looked at the instructions, I felt overwhelmed! I can hardly wait to use it. Himself has decreed that it should be the new beach bag... only I should make another one with crabs all over it.... sigh... followed by shaking of the head.

 
So, back to the Squares!
Q-A was working on a project using another of her Sew Sisters fat quarter bundles. This one started out with strip piecing, as shown in the pic. The strips are then cut down into squares which are sliced on the diagonal and then re-assembled in a scrappy way. I suspect she'll plan that scrappiness. It'll be a plappy quilt?! 

Somehow, I didn't get a pick of any of the projects Q-B brought with her (and there were a lot!) She finished a souvenir from her Australian adventure... lots of cool Aboriginal inspired fabrics. I think she might even have decided that it's no longer destined to hang on a wall in her office! And she got to work on a zillion and one placemats!

Q- D continued the madness that is her confetti quilt (which I would actually call her spreadsheet quilt). This quilt is sponsored by MSExcel. Or by Pinterest. Yikes... so much planning. But it will undoubtedly be beautiful. I don't think I'm going to convince Q-D to join an improv group any time soon!

Another lovely day sewing with the Squares... can't think of many better ways to spend a torrential downpour!

And in case all this wasn't enough, my latest Kona bundle arrived. Berry inspiring!

That's raisin, eggplant, crimson, and berry.  I don't know what's better - wondering what will come this month or finding out! More about that here.

Keep calm and sew on, my friends!

J

Cosmo - Bringing two loves together...

So, we all know I have some issues with Kona solids...

When there's no more room in the cubby, does that mean I have to stop buying them?

What about the scrap bin... it's not truly full if I can still get the lid on.



But did you know have a thing for Amy Butler prints? I've been trying really hard to use up my Amy stash. I covered my fabulous ironing board cover, whipped up a thread catcher for workshops, and made a queen size qui-vet (more to come on what exactly a qui-vet is!) With so many of my current projects hitting the unwieldy quilting stage, I thought it might be fun to switch it up a little.

 

Enter more Amy Butler... this time from her book, Style Stitches.I've been coveting the bag on the front cover ever since I first bought this book... we all know that would have been sometime in 2011! Here's where my two loves come together. I chose a floral print A.B print (Water Bouquet in midnight) and two Konas: Peapod for the exterior accent and Bahama Blue for the lining.

 After 2+ hours of cutting, I finally had all my pieces ready to go last night. I decided to save the iron on interfacing for this morning when my brain was a little fresher! A good plan, since it took me another hour to get them all fused!

Now, on to the fun bit - sewing! If you've never used an Amy Butler pattern, you should know that they are DETAILED. The Cosmo bag has 14 steps, each one broken down into anywhere from 6 to 11 sub-steps. And it's listed as being easy. God help me if I ever decide to make the difficult patterns!

Here's one of the early steps that I'm particularly proud of... pleats!

I called it a day at Step 6g. Honestly, I don't know what to do next and am in desperate need of my Q Squares to help me figure out Steps 6h to k!

But here she is so far... glamorous, non?

Hope the sun is shining where you are and that you're sewing up something fun these days!

J