helen shoulder bag {new pdf pattern}

Hello everyone, 

I have a new pdf pattern for Helen Shoulder Bag to show you today.

I designed this bag ages ago (it's been at least two years) so I'm even more excited than usual to have it all finished and ready to go live, yay! I really hope you'll like it as much as I do.

My favorite part of this bag is the exterior pocket. It's perfect to keep one's phone and keys in. Plus, it gives a great opportunity to personalize this bag. I think a patchwork pocket would look quite lovely, don't you?

I've also included instructions for an inner zipper pocket as I believe every bag needs at least one zipper pocket to be truly useful and practical.You can, however, skip this step altogether if zippers are not your thing :)

Finished size of the bag is 12.5” wide x 12” tall x 3” deep and here's the list of materials you'd need to make one of your own:

¾ yard fabric A (back exterior panel, front pocket, top bands)
½ yard fabric B (front exterior panel, handle, D-ring tabs)
½ yard fabric C (lining)
½ yard fabric D (pocket linings)
3 yards SF101 interfacing (or other medium weight fusible interfacing of choice)

one 7" metal or nylon zipper

one magnetic snap closure
two 1.25” D-rings (optional)
two 1.25” swivel lobster hooks (optional)

As you probably noticed, I used D-rings and lobster swivel hooks to attach my handle. I love the way hardware adds that extra finesse to any bag, but you can definitely skip hardware if preferred (instructions for both ways of attaching handle are provided).

Also, this is the first time I decided to offer hardware kits for this bag for sale (click here to be taken to my Etsy shop). Right now I only have three nickel and three anti brass finish kits as this is a trial period to see how much demand there is for these kits.

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And now, let me show you some super lovely versions of Helen bags my amazing testers made.

Look at this adorable bag Jan has made. It's such a happy bag in these bright, sure to get noticed fabrics.

Vicki went with gorgeous black and white fabric combo for the exterior and this totally adorable elephant fabric for the lining. I love that Vicki added a slit pocket to her lining and one extra pocket to exterior.

Lovely Yvette has used some of her long hoarded fabric to make this super fun Helen bag. Yvette used batting instead of interfacing and she made a longer, adjustable strap, I love that :).

How fun is this bright green fabric Stephanie chose for her bag? And she already has another bag cut out and ready to go. Yay!

Last, but definitely not least, is this classy, stylish Helen bag made by Susan. Such perfect combination of colors and patterns.

You did an amazing job, ladies. Thank you for all your help.

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

If you'd like to make a Helen Shoulder Bag of your own, you can purchase pdf instant download pattern by clicking on the button below or by visiting my etsy shop here. (All my pdf patterns are available worldwide).

buy this pattern

 I'm offering this pattern at a discounted $6.00 price for the next 48 hours. After that it will go up to its regular $8.00 price.

Have a very lovely day, friends. Svetlana

when scraps make more scraps :)

On Friday I decided to use up some scraps and made myself a new drawstring bag. Scraps are tricky though. They seem to multiply constantly, so of course I was left with quite a few smallish scraps once drawstring bag was finished.  So, on Saturday I used that second batch of scraps to make a few improv log cabin blocks. I used Essex Linen in natural (I think) to join log cabins into this slab of patchwork. 

Not bad, I say. I think it will make a lovely pillow cover.

I'm curious now. Do you use scraps left over from scraps? Do tell.

Svetlana

patchwork drawstring bag

Yes, I made yet another drawstring bag :).

This time, however, I made it completely out of scraps. Each patchwork rectangle measures  2.5" x 4" (my main panels finished at 11" wide x 12.5" tall). I must say, I really, realy love rectangular patchwork these days.

Once again, I pretty much followed my free tutorial for making a simple drawstring bag with only a few adjustments like adding a layer of batting to main panels which makes for a wonderfully sturdy and chubby little bag. 

I also decided to box my corners - the pouch is 4" deep and I think it will make a great knitting bag. I totally lost count of how many knitting bags I already made for myself :). I think it's time I start knitting more.

And, of course I used striped casing for string ties. So predictable, I know :).

How is your weekend going? Hope you're having tons of fun. Svetlana

scraps giveaway winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in my scraps giveaway. I so loved reading about your favorite scrappy projects. Makes me want to start a new scrappy project :).

The winner of the scraps is Sweet Dreams Sheep Farm who said: Can you say pin cushions! And I love the idea of 9 patch!!

Congratulations! I've sent you an email already.

Wishing you all a super lovely weekend. Svetlana

scraps {giveaway}

I've been cleaning out and organizing my sewing room like a mad woman these last few days. I sorted through my fabric, ribbons, notions, and many sewing supplies I no longer knew I had, ooops :). I even found a new super fun way to store a huge supply of zippers I've managed to accumulate in the last few years (I'll share more on that later).

As I kept sorting and cleaning I realized it was time to let some things go. So I grabbed large priority flat rate box and stuffed it full of these lovely scraps, which I still like but in all honesty I know I have no time to put them to good use.

So, what do you say? Would you like to win this pile scrappy goodness? Leave me a comment saying what your favorite scrappy project is and Mr. Random and I will choose the winner tomorrow morning.

Thank you all. The giveaway is now closed. 

Please note, this giveaway is for US addresses only (sorry about that but international shipping rates are so very high :( ).

Have a lovely day, friends. Svetlana

f.o.r.t.y {plus a discount coupon}

Hello friends, happy Tuesday to you all.

Today is my birthday and I'm officially not in my thirties anymore. Wow, how did that happen?!?!

 
But since I've never been the one to panic over my age, why start now? Anyway, I looked on Pinterest this morning and 40 seems like a super fun age :). Thank goodness for Pinterest.

So, I'm off to enjoy the day with my most favorite people. Before I go though, I wanted to share a discount code for my etsy shop with you all. Use code FORTY to get a 40% discount on all my pdf patterns (this offer has now expired, thank you). Enjoy.

Have a super lovely day, everyone. Svetlana

drawstring bags

Child #2 will be off to an art camp in just a few days, so I decided to whip up these super simple, but so very useful drawstring bags for her. Can you tell we're totally into cats these days?

I used my drawstring bag tutorial (it's free and you can find it here). I scaled the original pattern up and down to also make a larger and a smaller versions of this bag.

I'm still thinking of making a few larger bags for her because these are so much prettier than any ziplock bag can ever be :). 

Happy Sunday, everyone. Svetlana

whole cloth quilt

More than two years ago I made this super easy whole cloth baby quilt. I loved its simplicity and planned to make a lap sized one just as soon as my to do list got a little smaller and I had more time on my hands. Yes, I can be funny like that :). Of course that time never came.

Until now, that is. About a week ago Anna (Noodlehead) blogged about whole cloth quilts she made for her daughters and I simply couldn't resist any longer. Thankfully I had all the fabric and batting on hand so I got to work right away.

I think the combination of buttery soft Anna Maria Horner voile with Carolyn Friedlander's quilting cotton and one layer of Warm and White batting makes for a perfectly wonderful lightweight summer quilt.

I used Perle cotton #8 to do chunky straight line hand quilting along each column of flowers. I love that I didn't have to mark quilting lines - for some reason that's my least favorite part of making quilts :(.

I decided to finish the quilt by rounding corners (I used a plate as a template) and attaching striped binding cut on bias. I've always been a huge fan of striped binding and I absolutely adore how well it finishes this super simple quilt.

Most of all though, I love that it's being played with and dragged around the house already.

Have a lovely day, friends. Svetlana

Linking up to AmandaJean's Finish it up Friday.

sixteen patch baby quilts {plus a tutorial}

 I tried to tame the scrap monster in my sewing room the other day :). I wasn't in a mood for anything large though, so I decided to make a few simple sixteen patch baby quilts for our local homeless shelter.

These quilts are super easy to make and I love that I got to use up some fabrics that are still pretty but not necessarily my favorites anymore. And scraps, of course, if felt good to make a dent in my scraps.

Plus, each quilt needs only 1/2 yard of fabric for setting squares which worked out great considering I buy my fabric mostly in 1/2 yard cuts.

♥ ♥ ♥

In case you'd like to make a sweet little sixteen patch baby quilt of your own, here's a quick tutorial for you.

Finished size: 32" x 40"

Materials needed: 

enough scraps to cut 160 - 2.5" scrappy squares

1/2 yard fabric of choice for setting squares

1 1/4 yard fabric for backing 

1/4 yard fabric for binding

40" x 45" batting of choice

505 basting spray of basting pins

Notes:  use consistent 1/4" seam allowance
             WOF - width of fabric

1. Cutting

scraps: cut 160 - 2.5" squares

fabric for setting squares :  cut 10 - 8.5" squares (make sure to cut very carefully as 1/2 yard of fabric gives you exactly 10 squares with very little fabric left over)

binding: cut 4 - 2.5" x WOF strips 

 

2. Scrappy Squares

Divide your 2.5" squares into 10 piles of 16 squares each. Piece scrappy squares. You will have 10 - 8.5" squares.

3. Layout

Alternate scrappy squares with setting squares on your design wall or floor as shown in picture below. Stitch together to make a quilt top.

4. Quilt Sandwich

Press backing fabric, baste your quilt using either basting spray or pins. Quilt as desired. Trim the quilt.

5. Binding

Stitch binding strips together on bias and attach to quilt.

Congratulations! You're all finished now.

Thanks for reading, friends.

And, as always, if you make a project using any of my tutorials please add it to my Flickr group or use #sotaksixteenpatch on IG. I always enjoy seeing all your amazing creations.

 Svetlana

giant plus quilt

My dad's birthday is coming up and after thinking of million things to get him (none of which he really needs or wants) I decided to make him a lap sized quilt.  

I started off by choosing a few of gray, black, and taupe fabrics + Kona Silver from my stash. And then I came across Leanne's newest tutorial for a gorgeously unique Plus Quilt and I knew instantly its modern simplicity would appeal to my dad.

This was such a fun and quick to sew quilt. I'm loving all those "empty" middles of many pluses and tons of negative space. Plus, I went with straight line quilting, of course. It's my favorite. 

And a gray and white binding. I don't think I'll ever get tired of striped bindings.

The quilt finished at 54" x 60" (fabric was cut into 6" squares and I added 4" strips to both top and bottom).

 All in all, I love the way this quilt turned out. Let's just hope my dad thinks so too :).

Have a lovely day friends. Svetlana

moda building blocks quilt {a beginning}

I have a serious case of startitis as of late :).

See? In just this one pictures there are three!!! of my newly started quilts.

This giant block (finished at whopping 36" square) is block #2 of my Moda Building Blocks Quilt. I love this sampler and somehow I'm thinking it will be a good project to work on over the summer. We'll see how it goes. 

So far I pulled together this stack of fabric and I'll be cutting each block as I go, which of course means some fabric will be eliminated and others still added - my most favorite way to work on a quilt.

And, on a completely different note, here's a picture of Kiki being all cozy in her own crib. I'm starting to think she needs a quilt of her own :).

Have a lovely day, friends. Svetlana