Sunday I finished putting together this basket to help tidy up my studio. I had a lot of messy recycled mailing envelopes that were an eyesore overflowing their shelf. I also had some home dec fabric I hadn’t used, and a roll of Peltex cluttering up a corner.

I used the directions for the One Hour Basket, but I substituted Peltex for the fusible fleece. I fused the Peltex in place before sewing, and I didn’t think until much later that I should have scored it where I wanted it to bend. Doing it this way, I literally wrestled with it, but I won in the end.

Today I found out that I should have used this tutorial by lillyella. Go look at it, just to see her beautiful work. She handles the stiffener so much better here. Ah, well, next time. Thanks so much, Jaye, for the link. Do you read Jaye’s Various and Sundry posts? I always find so much there.

Anyway, I’m glad I made this. It lets me use the whole shelf and hides the mess. And I dusted for the photo!

Good luck on your projects!

This week I only used a half yard of quilt fabric to line this tote bag. This is the Sylvie Tote from Sotak Patterns .

This is an easy pattern that comes with the three sizes (I made the middle size). Rather than templates, this pattern gives measurements of rectangles that are easily rotary cut.

I used Shapeflex on the back of the t-shirt panel, and fusible fleece on the back the of whole outer bag, once I’d sewn on the contrasting bottom panels. Then I did a little timey-wimey quilting (sorry!) to keep the layers together.

This was my first time attaching a magnetic snap (easy!). I also added my own pocket to the interior and a key clip.

The only thing I didn’t like is that the handles are only attached to the top half-inch of the bag. I stitched them several times, and top-stitched the top of the bag. They’re not going anywhere, but they’re kind of floppy. Next time I’ll add an inch to each end of the webbing and catch it into the top-stitching at the base of the lining facing.

This week: + 9.5 yards, – .5 yards

This year: + 22.5 yards, – 20 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: 2.5 yards

I’m in the middle of more projects- pillow covers and a large basket- that should be completed by next week.

Are you using your Stash?

February’s Stash Enhancement is beautiful whites. I was down to a quarter yard of Kona White and yard of Snow. Now I have some choices!

This week: + 9.5 yards, – .25 yards

This year: + 22.5 yards, – 19.5 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: 3 yards

So, back in the red, but that’s okay.

The quarter yard I used was to line this zipper pouch made from an upcycled t shirt. Look for it soon in my Etsy shop.

No new fabric, and the donation blocks used 3.75 yards of stash fabric.

This week: + 0 yards, – 3.75 yards

This year: + 13 yards, – 19.25 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: 6.25 yards

Go use your stash!

On this snowy day today I finished a dozen donation string blocks for Kat’s Covered in Love.

Oh, the memories! I know from which project every string came.

After a while it dawned on me to use my walking foot, and that worked very well.

And I got to use my new Christmas gift 14″ turntable cutting board. It has foam on the back, and the base really stayed in place while I turned the top.

Kat specified that you should use a cat to press your blocks. These should certainly be flat enough! (He wants to be let out or fed or, really, for me to make the weather warmer. I would if I could, Yuri!)

Brrr! Hope those of you up north are keeping warm and finding lots of time to sew.

Today I vacuumed my studio, and then got a start on some string blocks for Kat’s Covered in Love. The foundations themselves use a lot of fabric!

I currently plan to head head to Ailsa Craig, Ontario, in May for the Quilt Festival. Here is a link Charlotte Scott sent me to register for classes: https://ailsacraigartscentreampquiltfibreartsfestival.wildapricot.org/page-18145?fbclid=IwAR3Kh64qa6rDyE0nQgMYWYgtWXkTeqhaeqatvK1mUWZpwBw8kS-FqLmF8Pg

I don’t yet know which days I’ll be there or what I want to attend.

Twilter meet-up?

This week I used 4.25 yards for the purple baby quilt, birthday pouch, and lining for my tote. And no new quilting fabric! I’m not counting home dec fabric for bags.

This week: + 0 yards, – 4.25 yards

This year: + 13 yards, – 15.5 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: 2.5 yards

So there I am, in the black! For now, anyway.

Get out there and use your stash!

Today I finished all the cutting of the print fabrics for the Handy Dandy mystery quilt. Tomorrow on to the white and the background!

I didn’t buy fabric! I completed the tree skirt, using 4.25 yards, and seven more donation pillowcases.

This week: + 0 yards, – 11.25 yards

This year: + 13 yards, – 11.25 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: 1.75 yards

Also, I put away some fabric and broke up shipping boxes and put them away, so the studio is starting to look better. Yesterday I started the pull out scraps for the Handy Dandy Scrap mystery.

We have about four inches of snow here, so sewing is a good thing to do!