Scrappy Swap Package

Today I will show you the rest of the package I sent to my partner in the Scrap Happy Swap on Craftster.

I wanted to get her color palette just right.  I didn't have enough yardage of the right colors in my stash, so I carefully examined the picture I had of her living room colors, and pulled a few fabrics from my stash that seemed just right.  Then I went to Joann's and spent a long time pulling bolts of fabric from the shelves and comparing them to my swatches.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of fabrics that would work, and I bought them all!  I got half-yards of everything except the two main blue fabrics that I used on the pillows (I got a yard of each of those, and used them all up!).  But first, the mug rug.  This is the front:

...and this is the back.  I have to say that I like the back better than the front!  I think the front is too busy, and you lose the circles with all the other fabrics competing for attention.  That's how it is sometimes when you are making something for the first time using an idea from your imagination; this time it didn't come out quite as great as I had hoped it would!

These pillow covers, on the other hand, exceeded my expectations!  They are large (17.5" square), made to fit on the pillow forms she was already using on her sofa.  This first one, with circles, was inspired by some quilts and fabrics I saw on her Pinterest.

I wanted to make the second pillow different from the first, but with a design that related to the first one, so I made it with these leaf shapes.  I spent a lot of time constructing both pillows carefully, with finished seams and a velcro closure on the back.  The circles and leaves were affixed with Heat n Bond lite, then I sewed around the edges to secure them.

I also made her one of my Scrappy Fabric Bracelets, (click on that for the tutorial) using one of her favorite phrases.  I went a little overboard crafting for her--and she went overboard for me too--so we've decided to request each other as partners in a future swap, because there are lots more things we would like to make for each other!

The Post Office Loves Me

When I posted the tutorial for my scrappy patchwork technique, which included a scrap fabric giveaway, I expected to get a few requests for scraps from Craftster members, and that's just what happened the first couple of days.  Then yesterday, my Scrappy Snappy Pouches tutorial (which again included a scrap giveaway) appeared on CraftGossip.com--and now I'm almost afraid to read my e-mail because I've been flooded with requests for scraps!

I went to the post office again today, to send fabric-scrap-filled envelopes throughout the U.S. and Canada.  So far I've mailed 32 envelopes, so if you requested scraps before 10am EST today, your envelope is heading your way right now!  Here's my mail bag:

One of the envelopes in the bag actually contains a scrap of the chicken print fabric left over from making this bag (several years ago)!  Who will get it?

Ironically, after mailing away so many scraps, it actually seems that I have MORE scraps now than when I started!  It's as if every time I put one in an envelope, two more sneak into the pile!  Where are they coming from?  Take a look:

Sadly, this is how my living room looks right now, so if you haven't requested your scraps yet, don't worry, I've still got some!

Scrappy Snappy Pouch Tutorial

After posting the tutorial for scrappy patchwork, my friend Susan (aka The Sloppy Sewer) tested it out and had some questions.  Since another reader asked for a pattern for the red snap pouch, I've decided to present you with another tutorial, with a more detailed explanation of the scrappy patchwork technique, AND directions for the pouch (this time in pink).  What more could you ask for??  Here we go!

Scrappy Snappy Pouch Tutorial

Here's what I will make today:

You will need to make a template for your pouch.  I use template plastic, like that in the picture below, because it is sturdy, has handy grid lines, and you can lay it over your fabric to check pattern placement.  You can buy this at most fabric stores.  If you want to use cardboard, that will work too.

Cut a piece of your template material 5 1/2" by 6 1/2".  To make the curve at the top, find something circular--I am using a plate with a diameter of 8 1/2".

Find the center of your template material on one of the shorter sides.  The arrow marks the center of mine. Line up the edge of your plate (or whatever you are using) with the arrow, and trace the curve.  Cut it out on the line and you have your template, which INCLUDES SEAM ALLOWANCE. (I will move the plate right up to the top of the arrow to mark my curve.)

Now, on to the patchwork!

1.  Start with scraps that are not too big: not more than 2-3" wide, not more than 10-12" long.  Here you can see that some of my pieces were bigger than that, so I cut them up before sewing.  Notice that I cut them at random angles.  You want to avoid 90 degree angles to make it look scrappy.

2.  Start sewing pieces together.  Sew two pieces together, then iron, then cut a new straight edge along one side, at a funky angle--this straight edge is where you will sew another piece of sewn-together scraps.  The section in the center of this picture is what I am starting with.  I sewed together the striped and dragonfly pieces, then ironed, cut a straight edge, and sewed on the flower piece.

Here's the same segment, after I've cut the edges straight.  Since this is the one I'm starting with, I cut all the edges, so I have lots of areas to choose from to sew on the next piece.  After this I will just cut one side at a time; I will choose the piece to sew on based on the size of the piece and color/pattern placement.

Here I've added another section of pieced-together scraps, ironed the seam flat, and now I'm cutting a straight edge. YES, you will end up cutting off a lot of fabric to make the edges straight!  That's okay--it means you're doing it right! (I know it's ironic that you will generate a lot of scraps while using your scraps to make this scrappy fabric! Don't worry about it!  Sometimes those pieces can be sewn to a different side later.)

 3.  As the pieced fabric gets bigger, use your template to check it from time to time.  This will help you decide which area to use for the front of your pouch, and where to sew on more fabric.  I need to do some more sewing!

(You can use narrower seams than usual when piecing together your scraps; one-eighth of an inch is not too narrow, if you can manage it, and it will reduce the bulk on the back of your fabric.)

4.  Okay, now my fabric is big enough to make the pouch. The template includes the seam allowance, so just trace around it with pencil, and cut on the pencil line.

5.  You will need two more fabrics: 
--pouch bottom-front, cut 5 1/2" x 3 3/4"
--pouch lining, cut 6" x 10 1/2" (I like to cut my lining a little bigger to avoid disaster when sewing!)

Sew the bottom-front fabric to the patchwork fabric, right sides together, on the shorter straight edge.

6.  Iron on some fusible interfacing to give the fabric body.  I use Pellon featherweight fusible.  I am also going to use sew-in interfacing (again, I use Pellon, any weight will do--I used a scrap I had laying around).  Here, my inner and outer fabrics have interfacing ironed onto the back; in the middle is the sew-in interfacing.

7.  Layer everything like this:
--sew-in interfacing on the bottom
--lining fabric, face up, in the middle
--patchwork fabric, face down, on top

Pin together, and sew a 1/4" seam around the perimeter, leaving a 2" opening on one side (in the picture I'm pointing to the best place for the opening).

8.  Trim your seams down to 1/4"; turn right-side out through the opening, and iron flat.  Then fold up the bottom-front section (the solid pink section) and iron a good crease there.  You can see the crease in the picture.

9.  Sew the pouch together with a single line of stitching, starting at the bottom front corner, sewing up the side, around the curve, and down the other side to the other bottom front corner (don't stitch along the bottom edge).  Back stitch at the beginning and ending of sewing.

10.  Iron the front curved section down, add a snap, and you are done!

Which one do you like best?



I'm still offering an envelope of scrap fabric!  Just do two little things:

1.   Leave a comment below, it can be about anything.

2.   Click on my name at right to find the link to my e-mail.  Send me an e-mail with your mailing address, color choice for scraps, and Craftster username (if you are active on Craftster ).

I will send you some scraps ASAP, to get you started on your own scrappy project! (That's right--this is a free offer!)

Scraps: I Have a Few

Yeah, I have a few scraps...a few MILLION!  Here they are! After yesterday's post about the Scrap Happy Swap on Craftster, I decided to gather them all together to see exactly what I had.  From the back of the closet and the top shelf above the washing machine, from under my sewing table and behind my sewing chair, I gathered together all my bags and boxes of scrap fabric.

I want to give them away!  Soon after yesterday's post was published, announcing the scrap giveaway, I got my first request...and my only request.  So I thought I would show you what you could expect to receive if you request a packet too--they are good scraps!  Not tiny bits, but mostly big strips that you can really use. This picture shows the scraps next to the business-size envelope they will arrive in:

And just to show how useful they are, I made this cute little pouch from them!  The front flap and back are all scraps; the lower front and lining are single larger pieces:

Here's something else you could make with these scraps:  a patchwork fabric bracelet. 

 So leave a comment here, or under yesterday's post, and then click on my name at right to access my e-mail on my profile page.  If you e-mail me your name, mailing address, and color choice, I will send you an envelope of scraps to get you started on your own scrappy patchwork project.  I'm looking forward to hearing from LOTS of readers!!  C'mon, what are you waiting for??