Okay, I have to admit that I am one of those people who LOVE to buy those super-cute coordinating fat quarter bundles! But, there are times when my fat quarter storage reaches maximum capacity, and I need fat quarter help, STAT! Here are a few of my favorite projects that can easily be constructed from fat quarters.

These are two of my favorite Amy Butler patterns, the Swing Bag and the Drawstring Purse from the In Town Bags.

This is the Drawstring purse, and was made from four coordinating fat quarters of Benartex Woodstock fabrics plus a scrap of repurposed ribbon for trim. You can actually get enough fabric for TWO of these bags if you add another fat quarter for the lining of the second project! Super cute, and very suitable for summer.

I just love this project, the Swing Bag. I used different coordinating Benartex City Girl fat quarters for each side of the exterior, the interior, and the ouside and lining of the handles for a total of 6 fat quarters. This is actually a fun way to construct the bag, because you can make two coordinating but different sides to the bag, and just flip it over for a different look.

The Swing Bag is the perfect size for holding all your goodies at the farmer's market, the craft store, a day trip to the beach, or any other summer outing that requires a few extra props.

 I hope this gives you a few ideas of other quick and easy things to do with those fat quarters. I have a few other fav's for using up those stocks of fat quarters that I'll post about soon!

I went out a couple of weeks ago and taught My Label classes to some BERNINA dealers in the Midwest and New England, so I made some new My Label clothes to wear. First I scanned my fabrics and loaded them into the software - a medium weight brown and black woven cotton, and a very lightweight knit cotton paisley print in brown, cream, and peacock blue. I played with the length and flare of the Pull On Pants until I found just what I wanted, then did the same with the Tunic. You can't see it on the model, as the lines are too fine, but I used the drawing tool in the Stitches Drawer to draw a new neckline on the tunic; you can see it in the close-up of the pattern piece. When I printed the pattern I used this line as the edge of my new scooped neckline, adding a 5/8" seam allowance. Then I cut ribbing about 3/4 the distance around the neckline (measured on the pattern, not the fabric).

Here's the finished outfit - dog not included (she decided she needed to be in the picture...or that she needed to sit on my foot, one or the other). I like using the tunic as a t-shirt pattern, as the darts give it a better fit. I have a whole collection of tops based on the My Label Tunic pattern - woven, knit, with the default settings, with altered Style Properties, I've even switched sleeves between the Tailored Shirt and Tunic. The next variation will probably be similar to this paisley top, but in a woven fabric instead of a knit, and a faced neckline instead of ribbing.

I finished stitching all my patchwork strips together and thought of some times to share with you:

When stitching 1/4" seam allowances with a 1/4" foot such as Patchwork Foot #37 or Patchwork Foot with Guide #57, be sure to use the actual edge of the foot as your guide - if your fabric is peeking out from under the side, it's extending past the 1/4" guide. Instead of watching the side of the foot, watch the edge of the fabric as it goes under the toe; this is where you'll align the raw edges of your fabric pieces with the edge of the foot. Another helpful guide is the 1/4" mark on your stitch plate, just in front of the foot. By following both of these guides you'll ensure that your seams are exactly 1/4", and all of your subsequent joins should match properly.

I always buy two spools of thread, then wind one completely on bobbins. That way I know I'll have enough thread on bobbins to last until the needle thread runs out. This works for garment sewing and home dec as well as patchwork. For colors I use a lot (browns, grays, denim blues) I purchase full boxes of thread - I can usually get a bulk discount that way - and I always end up using it all. Last summer I purchased several boxes of brown thread for the My Label wardrobe I put together - 50 weight for my sewing machine, and 60 weight for my serger. I use three or four spools of 60 weight on my serger when sewing garments rather than using serger thread - it comes in lots of colors and is softer on the inside of garments.

I've been poring over Amy Butler's In Stitches for quite a while and have finally decided to do two of the projects at the same time - the Big Dot Pillow from the cover (for my new guest room) and the Decorative Hanging Towels (for the guest bath). Right now the guest room is my "ironing room" and storage area, but soon all the boxes will be empty and there will be room for a bed and some pretty pillows. Instead of using solid fabrics on my towels like Amy did, I'm making extra patchwork and using it for both the pillow and the towels.

I've decided on a color scheme - remember all those lucsious fat quarters I got in February? The Woodstock collection from Benartex has the perfect shades of blue and green for the bathroom, plus the red/pink/orange I've already started in the bedroom. No, really, it's not garish, just cheerful and sunny. I picked up a few things at IKEA and the Crate & Barrel outlet (Naperville, IL) and the Springs/Wamsutta outlet that used to be here in Asheville. The cool colors tone down the hot ones, and the warm ones perk up the cool ones.  

I just finished rotary cutting my strips and I'm ready to go! Time to get out my trusty machine and Patchwork Foot #37... More on my patchwork adventures and changes I'm making to the applique instructions in future posts. Gotta check my stash of Steam-a-Seam 2 and make sure I have enough for all those circles!

Jo's newly stitched Miranda Day Bag has completed her first set of airline adventures, flying through - in alphabetical order - Asheville, Atlanta, Cleveland, JFK, and Hartford. Here's a photo showing how handy all those pockets around the base of the bag are, and how roomy the interior is. The only thing I might add next time is a clear vinyl pocket with a flap on the inside of the tab - a place to keep my photo ID handy when going through security. Miranda is a great travel bag - she even got compliments from other travelers!