Cookie Monster cupcakes

IMG_0950, a photo by fvs317 on Flickr.

I did do the bag. And it really went ok. There were lots of mistakes and the top zip ended up on the side but otherwise I'm quite pleased. I will say more about the bag in my next post.

This post is just a bit of fun. Had a play at making Sesame Street cupcakes for a friends Birthday and I must say that I'm quite chuffed with the result.

They were quite easy to make as well.

The big scary bag project

IMG_0930, a photo by fvs317 on Flickr.

This is the evil project from over a year ago that put me off sewing ever again (well for a year anyway).

It was the lining that did it. I had to unpick it soooo many times and then there was the horror of sewing the internal pocket UPSIDE DOWN arghhh!!!

So I have now dug out the bits I could find and am determined that I will finish it. But to be honest it is still scaring me.

There are two zips grinning menacingly at me with those evil zip teeth. I am very scared about the external pocket and think that the applique may fall apart when I cut the zip hole. Also I have a white zip that I think won't match.

Then there is the strap. I have rescued a strap off an old bag and thiink it may be the easiest approach (although it is blue and doesn't really match).

The only thing of comfort is that I survived the tea cosy project and it is my first 3d sewing project since this bag scared me off.

Watch this space to see if I got over all my (irrational) fears and actually made the dammed thing

Baby Quilt number 2

IMG_0923, a photo by fvs317 on Flickr.

Hmm three posts in three days. Perhaps making myself seem more productive than I actually am.

So as promised we have the second quilt that I a made using the proper(ish) equipment and my lovely Quilting Bible book.

Am much happier with this one although still feel that the way I finished it (bagging out) let me down. Also the gingham went a bit weird. First of all I managed to melt it a bit with the iron when I was pressing the seams. This made it shrink slightly and go a weird shape. Also when I washed the completed quilt the gingham went a bit saggy. Is this a problem with gingham? Should I be using only proper quilting fabrics? This was after all only £2.50 a meter (or there abouts).

For the backing I used a cheap fleece blanket from asda and while it was cost effective I don't think it is as nice as proper fleece from the cloth shop. but at £2.50 for an entire blanket vs £6.99 a metre it is sooo much cheaper.

So for the next project I need to be forced into binding the quilt properly (but it looks to tricky) and also to try making proper patchwork blocks...

Baby quilt- my first ever quilt :)

IMG_0921, a photo by fvs317 on Flickr.

So for my first foray into the world of patchwork I thought I would make a little baby quilt because it would be a cheap, easy project to start with (ha ha ha). So the cheap thing didn't really work out as I hadn't really thought out how much of each fabric would be required and of course how much wadding I would actually need (a metre of wadding should be more that enough).


My last sewing project had been a bag and I had applied the same methods to quilt making as you would with bag making. For example using a paper template for the squares, cutting with scissors, not being too careful with cutting acurately... Basically it all came out a little messy. I am still quite pleased with the final result although there have been many lessons learned along the way...

...and here's where it got really expensive. I bought the 'Quilter's Bible' by Linda Clements which is fantastic and really so helpful with the most basic of steps, I wish I had had this from the very begining. I also invested in some lovely Fiskars quilting tools which I also wish I had from the start...All certainly helped with quilt number two but more about that next time :)

Beginning

As a beginner at sewing and blogging I apologise for ineptitude at both. I have been inspired by the blogs of others to start up my own to motivate me to do more crafting (and see projects all the way through to the end). By way of introduction meet my first tea cosy.