I will be chiming in each Saturday with a scrap busting post this May! I have been sewing, sewing, sewing which is awesome – but it also leads to more scraps. In the past I’ve used up scraps to make doll clothes and stuff handmade toys but I wanted to expand my scrap busting repertoire. I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone and start out with a Mother’s Day present; my Mom has been hand-sewing loads of hexagons so I figured a needle book might be of use!
I used Deanna at Sew McCool’s tutorial as inspiration, which you can find here. The fabric was originally from a fat quarter stack of Moda’s Bonnie & Camille, Scrumptious that I won through a giveaway at Fluffy Sheep Quilting. I used heavy-weight double-sided fusible interfacing,* because I had some on hand.
I’m really bummed, because it looked beautiful and perfectly square and then as I went to insert the KAM snap… it snapped. But only partially, and I couldn’t remove it without cutting it out. And re-doing the entire thing, fraying the edges and distorting the lines. Whine whine whine.
Anyways, I think the spine is a fun little touch, and the snap keeps it closed shut for travel. I have plans to make one for myself soon!
I never blogged about the original project the scraps came from, it was actually an ironing board cover that I made for my Mom’s birthday. It was super cold, snowy, and dark and I couldn’t get a decent picture to save my life. But here are a few of the bad ones!
I used Seraphym’s freebie quilting pattern for the top, which I found on Craftsy here* and then just replaced the body and end with strips instead of the checkerboard in the pattern. A thrifted wool blanket made a cheap, plush backing that I quilted underneath.
This picture was just when I was trying to figure out how far I had to zoom out, but it made me laugh so I’m including it. This sums up my feeling about cleaning:
Phew! Scrapbusting, quilting, and (lack of) cleaning confessions. I’d love to hear any of your favorite scrappy projects in the comments!
Deanna {sewmccool}
Tuesday 6th of May 2014
I LOVE your needle book! Thanks for sharing my tutorial - hope it was helpful to you. And I think I must have that ironing board cover...mine looks really bad and the quilted look is adorable. Pinning!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Wednesday 7th of May 2014
Your tutorial was helpful! I wouldn't have thought of having a 'spine' like that. And ohhh do not ugly up your Pinterest board with my dark photos! I need to make one for myself and take decent pictures, now that it's nice out.
Sarah
Sunday 4th of May 2014
Both the original sewing project, a quilted ironing board cover and use of scraps, a quilted needle book, are gifts to your Mother! HOW GENEROUS with your quilting and sewing talents! I love the colorful floral & polka dot prints in red, gold, pale turquoise, olive, white & coral! BRAVO! You must be pleased to possess patience on the snap failure after "whine whine whine!" Thanks for sharing! Sarah Helene in Minneapolis
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Monday 5th of May 2014
Thanks for the kind comment - hopefully my Mom also loves the fabrics!
Amy of while wearing heels
Saturday 3rd of May 2014
What a great scrap busting project. You, obviously, have some mad sewing skills. Very impressive...as is your ironing board cover.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Saturday 3rd of May 2014
Thanks Amy! I am definitely still learning - I often preface my presents with "well, it's not perfect..." ;)