#SewPrompted2016: Zippers!

One of the things I love the most about being a member of this industry is seeing and being involved in the encouragement of each other. If you know me or have participated in any of the Schnitzel & Boo swaps, you won't be surprised about that. It's also one of the reasons I love to teach. 

{modified back of the Clara Top by Violette Field Threads}

Just yesterday, in fact, I taught a room full of women who had either never installed a zipper or who had only done it once or twice. Do you know what they were making? The Sew Together Bag by Sew Demented. 

{look at all those zippers!}

Every single one of those ladies left the classroom with a completed bag, that they sewed themselves, zippers and all. 

What is so intimidating about zippers? I'm not sure, but I can tell you that anything is doable, if you can sew a 1/4" seam OR a straight line, you can put one in. There are tricks to make it easier. For example, start with the zipper head zipper all the way up, begin stitching in the middle of the zip, sew all the way to the end of it; back stitch. Remove the project from your machine, take out the pins where you've just sewn, unzip it, then finishing sewing from the top, to just past where you started in the middle. Most of the time, it's getting around the head of it that makes it so frustrating. Use your zipper foot with the needle on the left position. 

{a zipper sewn with my 1923 Super Deluxe sewing machine}

There are several really nice tutorials for sewing various zipper pouches, the following are some of my favorites. 

*Boxy Pouch Tutorial by Pink Stitches

*Open Wide Zippered Pouch by Noodlehead

*DIY Hungry Bunny Pouch Tutorial by Lil Blue Boo

*Triangle Pouch by A Spoonful of Sugar

I have a nice long list of tutorials to post on my own tutorial page, one of which is how to put in the zipper. Until I can get to it, though, here are a few links to some of my favorite zippers and their sources. 

*Lace Zippers via A Vision To Remember on Etsy

*Standard Polyester Coil Zippers via Zip It on Etsy

*Metal Teeth Zips via Zipper Island on Etsy

For more inspiration, have a look at Sew Mama Sew's Pinterest Board "Sew it! ~ Zipper Pouches & Clutches" found here.

Happy Sewing!

-Kristi

PS  I'll leave you with a photo of my seven year old and the zipper pouch she made yesterday.  See?  You CAN do it!

A Few Finishes and Goals

I just finished my second pattern test for my friend Caroline if Nightingale Quilts. This new pattern is called Celestial Cascade and I LOVE it! For the background, I used Kona Cotton in Oyster, the rest is from my stash. I love the way Caroline writes her patterns. They seem like they would be difficult, but she breaks them down in a way that makes it very simple. Small, chewable, doable bites. This pattern is yet to be released, and I'll be sure to let you all know when it's coming out. 

This quilt is going to be a gift, I'm definitely going to make it again, maybe next time I'll try it in white and red or gold.

{Celestial Cascade by Nightingale Quilts}

I whipped up two fast and simple personalized pillowcases for my husband as a Valentine's Day. I took notes and lots of pictures so I can show you how I did it, maybe next week?

{shown without personalization}

When I have a few extra minutes, I'll be starting my next quilt project, a pixel Schnitzel. My friend Andi of YouPatch, created a pattern for me of my first "baby". I posted this picture on Facebook and before I knew it, I had a quilt pattern!

I also finished stuffing, whip-stitching and attaching the button-jointed arms on all 47 dolls I've been working on. That's exciting!

Eventually, they'll look more like this one:

To break up the monotony (mutiny??) of the dolls, I put together another rope bowl and a zippered pouch, both of which were gifts for my dear friend Elizabeth.

When the dolls are off my plate, I'll be working on a few new patterns, a Clara  Top and a Maisie Dress, both by Violette Fields Threads, for Roo and of course more quilts! 

Happy Sewing!

-Kristi

The Worst Blogger In the World

Hello, I'm Kristi and I have a confession to make.

I am THE WORST blogger in the world. The worst. 

I am so far behind on tutorials and book reviews and in-general posts about stuff I've been doing. In fairness to myself, I've been extra busy at home and I've picked up a very part time job that has turned into more of a four maybe five day a week thing. Even if it's just a two hour work day, it still means my creative day is shot. That all needs to change. Goals and dreams are not things I approach lightly and I won't have them on the back burner!

So, with all of that in mind, I'll just leave you all with a few pictures, k? K.

{Roo wearing a crocheted fox scarf and heart headband muff, a gift from my sister.}

{Chelsea, a horse that will celebrate her 31st birthday in May. She belongs to a friend who is moving to Colorado and can't take her with because of her age and fragility. Roo and I will be visiting her on a regular basis until she moves on from this life.}

{Schnitzel McPoo looking adorable!}

{Birthday sh*tkickers for Roo}

{me, in need of a haircut, modeling my Quilter of Awesone t-shirt from Amora Lovely}

{Fenway Frank looking every bit of his goofy personality}

{a baby quilt I had in my head and now I have it in fabric}

{date night with My Handsome}

{Nelson}

I hope all is well with all of you!

-Kristi-