Small projects

I took a break from long term projects and did something “small”.   I decided Friday afternoon to make another Chubby Charmer Bag.

There is, of course, a story to go along.  All month I have been sorting through, pricing and boxing up “Second Time Around” items in preparation for our quilt show in July. Check out the website for details on the show –  https://www.oceanwavesquiltguild.org/quilt-show   (If you are in the mid-Atlantic area in July, plan on coming – over 220 quilts are registered, and LOTS of vendors!)

My co-chair and I have been ruthless in “re-homing” things that we just can’t figure out a way to sell or that don’t stand up to the quality of product we want to sell.  So, among the box of things to go to a donation drop-off was a bundle of upholstery samples.  I didn’t want to give away my box, so I was tossing things from the box into a bag in my trunk.  As one hand put those upholstery samples in the bag, my other hand reached in and took them back out.  The fabric was kind of fun, great textures and weight.

I gave the “book of samples” to my hubby to cut off the rivets holding the book together. With the aid of his air tools and cutting blade and 10 minutes of high velocity spinning of the cutting wheel, he had the rivet head cut. Dang, those rivets got HOT in the process.  After they cooled a little, we pulled the book apart and I had a great little stack of fabric.  I got out my 60 mm rotary cutter and ruler and proceeded to cut them into 5″ squares.  Each piece in this small book of fabric had a label on one end and holes for the rivets and pins to pass through on the other end.  5″ squares was the perfect size.  Of course, this kind of fabric likes to ravel, and I had to handle them very carefully.

I arranged the pieces to make ready for sewing.  There are no duplicate fabrics, but some very similar to each other, either in texture or style.

I used fusible fleece on the back of the squares and quilted each panel. In the photo above only the panel on the left is quilted.

The pattern calls for fusible fleece on the back side of the lining too, but I didn’t have enough on hand so I used Pellon Craft fuse on the lining and on the pockets.  I dug through my stash looking for a piece of fabric large enough to make the lining and pockets.  I found a tan with flowers scattered over it.  I didn’t want flowers on the handles, so I found another complementary fabric for it.  This second photo shows a bit of the lining.  I think the choices of fabrics all worked well together. I love the textures of the fabrics that make up the outside of the bag.

A small project gives me a chance to get something FINISHED! These bags will hold a quilt for show and tell!  Or lots of goodies when traveling, shopping, etc.

So, now I have made 2 of these bags.  The blue one was done with charm squares as the pattern intended, and was made exactly to the directions of the pattern by Peggy Sturges. (Pattern ps024 Chubby Charmer – Quilts Illustrated)  (Note; pattern is available on Amazon, just type Chubby Charmer in the search box).

Meanwhile, many long term, big projects await my attention.  Sashing the blocks for my Talkin’ Turkey project is going well.  I have 5 rows sashed, 2 rows sewn together, and one lonely row awaits sashing. That is my project for this rainy afternoon.

Note – Talkin’ Turkey is a pattern by Bonnie Hunter, and can be found in her book “String Fling”. Check out her website/blog – www.quiltville.blogspot.com for more info.

What are you working on?

Edit – almost forgot a couple of things —  Talkin’ Turkey is a Bonnie Hunter pattern.  I am, however, using the Square in a Square ruler (by Jodi Barrows) & OPTION 3 for the flying Geese. I have another 200+ to make for the borders and I like the tool. (PERFECT FLYING GEESE EASILY with the Square in a Square ruler.) http://squareinasquare.com/

Linking up today with “OH SCRAP – http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/  ” .   Follow the link here or use the button on the side of my page.

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