Testing is done, time to play!

Getting patterns ready for testing makes Jen a boring girl, blog wise and social media wise anyway. Yesterday, though, I got to play with fabric. Of course it had to be flamingo fabric, but look at this too cute little pouch! It demanded flamingo fabric!

This pouch is called Charming Tinsel Pouch, and is too cute for words. Amista from Hilltop Custom Designs designed this darling thing. You can find her blog here, and her store here.

I did have an issue with the instructions for the zipper. If it were morning I would say it was because I hadn't had enough caffeine, but since it was in the evening I'm going to go with too much caffeine. Amista was quick with her response and already going though the pattern.

Zipper issue aside, which I know she is fixing so don't let that stop you, this was a quick and easy sew. A couple of hours and you have this sweet little pouch ready to hold your make up, jewelry or, lets face it, all our little sewing notions that we can't live without. 

This is why I order extra fabric when I find something I love, so I can put it on the back and not care, because I have more. Plus, why do we hoard our favorite fabric, we should be using it and adoring it out in the open for everyone to see!

Or maybe not to see. Look at those little flamingos peeking out, aren't they fun? Too much flamingo?  Is there such a thing?!

I say nay! Bring on the flamingos! 

Is there a fabric, novelty or not, that you tend to be drawn towards, and maybe have more of then you might want to admit? Is it as cute as my Holiday flamingos? Is there some that you have been hiding/hoarding and should start making plans for? 

As a post script to this post, I want to remind you that Phat Quarters still has their coupon code for PBJ followers!  It is good through the end of the month, which by the way, is right around the corner. SOB! Where is summer going?

 You can get your own flamingo fabric! OK, fine, get something else, that just means more flamingos for me! They have some really cute prints, and you should really go here and check them out. Use coupon code PBJ25 to receive 25% off of $20 or more. 

Then, pull out that fabric you have been saving and make something!

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Friday, What a Hoot TGIFF and Confessions of a Fabric Addict - Can I Get A Whoop Whoop.

July Picked By Jen ~ Thread catcher

I had to do it. It was time. Past time even. I had to make a thread catcher. I chose Man Sewing - with Rob Appell's Weighted Pin Cushion with Scrap Bag.

A quick and easy sew. I used my new favorite flamingo fabric, this time the fat quarter bundle, from Phat Quarters, as well as emery sand to fill the pin cushion. Y

I followed the instructions from Man Sewing, but I did add an extra piece to hold the emery sand. It's pretty fine, and I wanted an extra layer. 

It looks like a little pillow. Awwww.

I put this pillow into the pin cushion section when the walnut shells are added in the tutorial. 

It works perfectly. 

This was not a set up. My poor Owl You Need Sewing Buddy, found in this PBJ here, was in desperate need of saving. 

Where they should be.

Now I have a set, June's PBJ was the sewing machine tutorial, find out more here. My helpful little owl is all cleaned up and happy again, and only holding helpful tools, not clipped threads.

Find your flamingo fabric at Phat Quarters, and don't forget to use the code JPG25 to receive 25% off of orders $20 or more. This code is good through the end of July.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

June Picked By Jen

Remember when I said June was busy? It was so busy, I forgot about the Picked By Jen post! Which actually works out, because I can do two Picked By Jen posts in a week, and they match. So cute! The first one is for a sewing machine cover. I chose the tutorial from Purls and Pleats.

There are many, many tutorials out there, but I wanted simple. That's kind of my theme, simple, easy, quick. 

Marrie, does a great job walking you through the steps of this sewing machine cover. I did add a touch of my own, because, well, I could. Ha! So can you!

The first change I made, was that I hemmed all the pieces right away, before attaching them. There is no real reason for this, other then I didn't want to mess with the cover when it was put together. Lazy stitcher here. Its definitely a cleaner finish when you hem around the bottom last, though.

I pressed the hem before stitching, making it 3/8" wide, just so I could use my 1/4" foot and not have to worry about catching the fabric.

Who knew I had so many pinks to choose from for the top stitching?

Next, I chose some ribbon to go around the bottom part of the cover. Once hemmed, I measured and marked 2" from the bottom for my ribbon. I marked both sides and front and back.

Black ribbon or...

pink?

Don't forget to change your thread color!!! (There is even dust in there, this cover was needed yesterday!)

Lining up my ribbon along the marked line I stitched one end (look how I can use my foot as a guide, easy peasy).

Then flipped it around and stitched the top end. How you stitch this will just depend on the width of your ribbon. I could have just stitched once down the middle and been done with it.

I cut my ribbon about 1/8" longer then my pieces so that I could match them up when I sewed up the side seams.

Once the sides were stitched and my ribbons were matching perfectly, I trimmed the excess ribbon. If I was really truly lazy, I would have just left them, but I think it would have bothered me.

I was hoping to find a cute flamingo button to go on this, but I want it to be perfect, so I chose a sewing charm for now. Still extremly cute!

This is the one picture I took outside, it shows off the pretty pink flamingos much better. I think lighting needs to be next on my list, especially as we inch closer to cold winter days when we can't go outside.

If you are a flamingo lover, or fabric lover, head over to Phat Quarters and use the coupon code PBJ25, which is still good until the end of July, and receive 25% off orders of $20 or more.

Now I have my own, cute, totally flamingo sewing cover! Short and sweet.

Happy Stitching!
Jen

Guess Who is a Guest Blogger at McCall's Quilting! Plus Two Lucky Winners

Yes, that would be little ol' me. Head on over to McCall's Quilting Blog for a little inside story of Criss Crossing. 

I have included in the guest post  instructions for an envelope pillow pattern. My favorite kind, obviously, since this is the second one I have put together. The first one is here and based on my newest pattern, Star Light, Star Bright Sampler. Can you have too many pillow covers? Possibly, but if you don't count them, who would know?

See, how cute is this? I couldn't NOT make it, could I?

Two winners were chosen for the McCall's Quick Quilts Aug/Sept 2016 issue. Congratulations, Merrilee J and Ioleen! An email has been sent. If you didn't win and would like a copy, you can purchase a printed or digital copy here.

 A coupon code from Phat Quarters is still available in this post. This is the perfect time to pick up some pretty fabrics for a project. Or to just add to your stash. 

A big thank you to McCall's Quilting and Phat Quarters Fabric for a great week. What a way to finish off June. July has a lot to live up to.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Winner of the Foxglove Fat Quarters

We have a winner for the "choose your 3 fat quarters" giveaway from Phat Quarters! Congratulations,  Kathy B! An email has been sent with instructions. Enjoy those  Foxglove fabrics, I'm kind of jealous. Like a lot!

Are you jealous, too? Well, Phat Quarters is giving you a special coupon code to receive 25% off an order of $20 or more. Head to their etsy shop here, and when you check out, use the coupon code: PBJ25 This coupon code is good *Through The End Of July*!

I hope you show them some love, because they showed this new-to-the-blogging-world designer lots of love and support.

I'm not done yet, though! This giveaway may have ended, but there is still a chance to win a copy of McCall's Quick Quilts Aug/Sept 2016 issue. Head back to this post to enter.

I mentioned here that it was a busy month, and it's all coming together now, so don't forget that in that post I offer my own coupon code for a discount on my patterns.

Is it time to breath yet? I don't know, but it is definitely time to get back to sewing. Thank you to everyone who left a comment. You are all extremely busy little quilters. I hope you you continue to have projects to keep your machines humming.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Free Pillow Pattern and a Giveaway!

Continuing with the excitement of a new pattern release, I have a pillow cover pattern for you. Make one as an accent to your snugly Star Light, Star Bright Sampler. If you read all the way to the end, there is a fabulous giveaway from Phat Quarters. Fabulous!

This pillow uses my favorite star from the Sampler. I love this block! I also like to be able to switch out my pillows (well, in my head, in real life I'm lucky to make my bed), so this pattern is for an envelope backed pillow. 

Supplies:

1/4 yard Light

1 fat quarter Med 1

1 fat quarter Med 2

4 1/2" square Dark or Focal (optional, this is for the center square, I used the light for mine)

1 piece of 11" x 15" backing

1 piece 7" x 15" backing

14 in pillow form

Grab your instructions here.
Grab HST instructions here.
Stick around, giveaway information is at the end of the post. 

We start first by drawing a line on the wrong side of all the background squares, both sizes.

 I like using a mechanical pencil, it's a nice thin line, but shows up well.

A little tip I got from Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville is not clipping threads until you have sewn on both sides of the half square triangle. Years I have been stitching, clipping, and then stitching again. Years!

When stitching the 1 1/2" squares stitch just a hair over from the drawn line.

Press, then trim 1/4" over from the seam. Pressing before trimming helps keep the size accurate.

Once your block is assembled, add borders to the top and bottom. I like to stitch this part with the border on bottom and the pieced part on the top. That way I can watch and make sure I don't catch a seam and turn it.

Next you will cut your back envelop pieces. On each one you will turn one long side and press a 1/2" seam allowance. You can totally eyeball this. I usually do, but since I was doing a tutorial I figured I better be accurate. (You can see I'm still a little over the 1/2" mark, so not that accurate.)

I stitch a 1/4" from the edge, that way I know I'm going to catch it all. Lay the large piece on top, right sides together and stitch the top seam.

Lay the smaller piece right sides together, overlapping the larger piece, stitch the bottom seam.

Make sure the smaller piece is laying on top, that way when you flip it, this part will be tucked under.

Pin to keep it all in place. Sew each side seam.

Clip the corners and flip.

Give it a quick press and insert your pillow form.

Shooting quilts is hard!

I'm going to need more practice.

Lets just go with the simple fold. 

Not sure where to start? How about with 3 free fat quarters? Phat Quarters on Etsy has donated *your choice* of 3 fat quarters from the Foxglove Line. Score!

New to Phat Quarters? Check out their blog here. 

Good luck! Happy Stitching!

Jen

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