Lily Blog Tour

Hello! Welcome to the Lily Fabric Blog Tour! Lily Fabric is designed by Sue Penn for Penny Rose Fabrics. She has been designing fabric for almost twenty years and it truly shows in Lily Fabric.  With mint, pinks, yellow, floral's, gingham's, and sweet polka dots, this line is simply beautiful and so in line for springtime. So, when I was asked to create something for the release, I was so excited and inspired to make something pretty! 

Pretty stack of Lily Fabric

I made a quilted, springtime bag with hexie detailing. I quilted the side panels and used quilt batting to keep the bag soft and light. 

Quilted Bag with Lily Fabric

Quilted Bag with Lily Fabric

I created a large zippered pocket for the backside so it can hold your phone, keys, and such. 

Back of bag - quilted with a back zippered pocket.

Back of bag

I added inner pockets so it can hold more things like a wallet or a phone, or if you like are me, baby toys, bottles, pacifiers. Oh I didn't tell you, I have twins! I usually add all kinds of pockets to any bag I make because of the stuff I have to lug around ha! Aren't the polka dots and tiny floral's just so sweet?

Inside of bag

I also had time (while my babies were napping) to make a cute pouch using a weaving technique I've been experimenting with. I thought it would be a great way to showcase the floral's in the Lily Fabric line.

Handmade pouch with weaving technique.

Handmade pouch with weaving.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my handmades for Lily Fabric! If you want to make something pretty just in time for Spring or even Summer, Lily Fabric will definitely be a wonderful choice! I'll be back real soon with another project. 

In the meantime, go check out the other talented bloggers for the Lily Bloghop and enjoy! Here's who is up next:

• March 21 - Heidi Staples   www.fabricmutt.blogspot.com
• March 22 - Amy Chappell    www.amerooniedesigns.blogspot
• March 23 - Lindsey Weight  www.fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.com

See you soon!

Karen

Cute Fabric Weaved Pillow

Hello! Thanks for stopping by! It's been a while since I've been here, but I wanted to share how I created the fabric weave pillow since some of you asked (Instagram can only show so much!). I have some upcoming projects and I wanted to test out some designs I've been thinking about for a long time (while I raise my twin babies I daydream of sewing!). I made this small pillow for my baby Rosalie who loves colors and textures. She already has played in my fabric cabinet!

Basket weaved baby pillow

The back of the pillow. I used an envelope flap for the pillow insert. 

Here's how I created the basket weave (excuse my non-professional photos for the step-by-step instructions, I used my iphone for these pics):

First, cut 2 inch strips of desired length of cute, contrasting fabrics. I used "Backyard Roses" by Nadra Ridgeway for Penny Rose Fabrics. If you know me, I am a bonafide fabric hoarder and this stash has been in my special hoarding cabinet, displayed nice and pretty for a long time now.

Next, fold a strip in half.

Now, fold both ends towards the crease, and press with an iron. You can do this for the entire length of the strip or use this handy dandy tool for making bias tape:

I love this tool! It's my go-to tool when I make bias tape for my quilts. It's called the Quilt Binding Express. Got mine at Joann's. You run the strip through the opening and press with an iron.

When you have your desired amount of strips, lay them out evenly and use clips or pins to hold them together. 

Now, with the contrasting fabric, start weaving into the first layer you pinned together. Lift one flap up and place the contrasting fabric onto the layer you created.

Skip the second piece, and go onto the third. 

Repeat this process until you have the desired length.

Here's the end.

Repeat this process with the third contrasting fabric. Until you end up with something like this:

I love this technique because it's a good way to use fabrics you love, without having to cut and sew teeny tiny squares! I ended up with a small 9x9 weaved piece. I trimmed up all the edges, pinned and sewed around the entire piece to hold all the weaving together. Then I proceeded making the pillow, and I apologize, but I didn't take any pictures of the pillow making process (mommy brain!), but I'm sure most of you know how to make a pillow?

Thanks for reading my tutorial! I'll be back soon with a new and cute project!

Karen