Love Letters Sewing Kit

About 90% of my sewing time these days is spent on secret things, and most of that has lately been spent on samples for my next book. Each book is its own wonderful journey, but sometimes I need a break from it to refresh my mind and get inspired again. Thankfully, I had signed up months ago to be on the Love Letters fabric tour for my friend Lindsay of The Cottage Mama, and I can't tell you how glad I am that I did!

This fabric is exactly what I needed in my life. I love it so much. How much, you ask? So much that it might just be my favorite Riley Blake collection from all of 2019. The vintage Valentine card illustrations stole my heart immediately, but the supporting prints are just as good. So many cute details are in there like heart stamped envelopes, tic-tac-toe games, and blank postage labels. It makes my vintage loving heart happier than I can say...

My friend Cheri recently released her Tinkandstitch Needlebook pattern which makes the cutest little sewing kit, so I thought I would put the two together to make something adorable that I can use all the time. It's a great pattern for customizing, as Cheri has shown by sharing so many adorable versions of the needlebook on her Instagram account here.

I used a bit of red RBD wool for my needle pennant (decorated with some of Lori Holt's buttons and a few adorable donut pins from my friend Vicki at The Cherry Chick) and added a fabric stamp on one side of the inner pocket with some embroidered postage meter lines on the side. A bit of elastic paired with a vintage white button that belonged to my grandmother makes the perfect closure, and I absolutely love that red, white, and blue stripe for the binding and the faux washi tape on the inside.

This project was so much fun, and I'm thrilled to now have this beautiful little needlebook to use as I go back to the secret sewing on my table. This, I remind myself every time I look at it, is why I love to sew.

Pinnie Pennant Tutorial

My dear friend Julie of The Intrepid Thread asked me to come up with another fun tutorial for this year's Quilt Non event (for all of us who can't make it to Quilt Con East), following in the footsteps of last year's Pixie Basket tutorial. So I wrote up a quick little patchwork pennant with a landing spot for pins and needles that I'm calling the Pinnie Pennant. This little project takes 30 minutes or less to sew, and it's tiny enough that you can even hang it on the hand wheel of your sewing machine. I think this would make a cute little extra for swaps too!

If you make one of these, please share it on Instagram and use the hashtag #pinniepennant (and #quiltnon2017 if you're making it for the weekend challenge!). Be sure to tag me too @fabricmutt!

Happy sewing, friends!

Pinnie Pennant Tutorial

by Heidi Staples

Finished size: 3 1/2 x 4 1/2”

Fabric	For	Cut
Charm square of linen	Main body	1 rectangle, 3 3/4 x 4”
7 print scraps, each at least 2” square	Patchwork border	1 rectangle, 1 x 2”, from each print
Mini charm square of gold stripe print	Needle landing spot backing	1 rectangle, 2 x 2 3/4”, edges cut with pinking shears
Mini charm square of cream felt	Needle landing spot	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2 1/4”
Charm square of batting	Interfacing	1 square, 5 x 5”
String or baking twine	Hanging loop	1 piece, 7” long
Charm square of floral print	Pennant backing	1 square 5 x 5”

Additional Materials

Adhesive basting spray

Twill tape (optional) for decorative loop

Basting clips

Pins & needles

Notes

All seams 1/4” unless otherwise stated.

RST = right sides together

Press seams open wherever possible.

1. On the linen square, use a pencil to mark 1” up on the left and right edges (the 3 3/4” long sides) and mark the midpoint on the lower edge (a 4” side). Use your rotary cutter to trim a straight line from the midpoint to the left 1” marking. Do the same from the midpoint to the the right 1” marking. (See photo above.)

2. Sew the 1 x 2” patchwork border rectangles together in a row, sewing along the 2” edges.

3. Sew the patchwork row to the top straight 4” long edge of the linen piece. Use adhesive basting spray to fuse the wrong side of the pennant to the batting square. Quilt as desired and then trim off the excess batting. (I stitched on either side of each seam on the patchwork as well as on the seam joining the patchwork to the linen piece.)

4. Place the ends of your string on the top edge of the pennant, lined up with the first patchwork seam from each side with the loop pointing down. Stitch in place 1/8” from the top edge.

5. Use the front panel of the pennant as a guide to trace and cut out the pennant backing piece. Place the front and back pieces RST, secure them with pins or basting clips, and stitch all the way around the pennant, leaving a 2-3” gap on the right or left edge. Be sure to backstitch when you start and stop.

6. Trim the corners and then turn the pennant right side out through the gap, gently pushing out the corners with a chopstick or turning tool. Tuck the raw edges inside the gap, press the pennant, and then sew 1/8 - 1/16” from the edge all the way around the outside of the pennant.

7. Use adhesive basting spray to fuse the felt rectangle to the right side of the needle landing spot backing piece, making sure that it’s centered. If you like, tuck in a decorative twill tape loop centered at the bottom between the felt and the backing piece.Then use adhesive basting spray to fuse that piece to the center of the linen part of the pennant. Stitch around the felt piece, just inside the edge of the rectangle, to secure in place.

8. Tuck your pins and needles into the felt, hang up your pennant, and enjoy!

Pocket Mending Book Tutorial

What better way to celebrate the start of another Christmas season than with a new tutorial! I've spent the past week sewing up a handful of these little books which I first shared with you here, and it's been so much fun. I warn you, though, they're completely addictive. Every time I make one, I start thinking about the next...

I'll be sharing more versions of this project in a guest blog post next week for Handmade Holidays at Ellison Lane Quilts. For now, though, here's everything you need to start making one of your own. If you share these on Instagram, please tag them #pocketmendingbook and tag me @fabricmutt too.

Have fun!

Supplies and Cutting Instructions

various feature prints -- 5 squares (1 1/2 x 1 1/2" each) for X block on cover
white dot print -- 8 squares (1 1/2 x 1 1/2" each), 2 strips (1 x 3 3/8"), and 2 strips (1 x 4 3/8") for X block background
blue print -- 1 rectangle (4 3/8 x 4 3/4") for exterior back
white text print -- 1 rectangle for inside of front cover (4 3/8 x 4 3/4") and 1 rectangle for inside of back cover (4 3/8 x 4 1/2")
floral print -- 1 rectangle (4 1/2 x 5") for inside pocket
batting -- 1 rectangle (4 3/8 x 8 7/8") for exterior and 1 rectangle (2 1/2 x 4 1/2") for pocket
felt - 1 rectangle (3 1/4 x 7") for needle insert
thread
adhesive basting spray

*Shortcut Option: Substitute 1 square (4 3/8 x 4 3/8") for the first two fabrics in the supply list to make a quicker, easier project.

Note: All seams 1/4" unless otherwise stated.

Make the Exterior

1. Arrange your feature squares to form the X in the center of the cover block, placing the white background squares around them.

Sew the squares together in rows.

Then sew the rows together.

Trim the block so that it measures 3 3/8" square.

2. Sew the 1 x 3 3/8" background strips to the top and bottom of the X block, and then sew the remaining background strips to the right and left sides of the block.

3. Sew the left side of the cover to a 4 3/8" side of the blue exterior back piece. Use adhesive basting spray to fuse the cover to the 4 3/8 x 8 7/8" piece of batting. Quilt the cover as desired and then trim the piece to a rectangle measuring 4 3/8 x 8 3/4".

Make the Lining

1. Fold the 4 1/2 x 5" floral rectangle in half, wrong sides of the fabric touching each other, so that the 4 1/2" ends meet. Slip the 2 1/2 x 4 1/2" piece of batting inside the folded piece of fabric and top stitch 1/8" from the fold.

Place the pocket on the back lining piece (4 3/8 x 4 1/2"), aligning it with the bottom and side edges of the fabric, and baste it in place 1/8" from the edge. Divide the pocket in two by stitching a line down the middle, backstitching at the top of the pocket.

2. Fold the felt in half so that the short ends meet. Place it on top of the front lining piece (the one with the pocket) so that the fold lines up with the right edge of the piece and baste it in place 1/8" from the edge.

3. Stack the front and back lining pieces on top of each other with the felt pages sandwiched between them, checking to make sure that when you open them, they'll be in the correct positions, and stitch 1/4" from the same side where you basted the felt pages in place. Press the lining open, being careful not to damage the felt.

Assemble the Book

1. Pin or clip the exterior and lining on top of each other, right sides together.

2. Sew 1/4" all the way around the outside of the 4 3/8 x 8 3/4" rectangle, backstitching at the start and finish. Leave an opening of about 3 1/2" on the short end next to the back exterior piece. Trim the corners without cutting through the stitching.

3. Carefully turn the book right side out through the opening on the short end, using a turning tool or chopstick to push the corners out, and give the book a good pressing with your iron. Tuck the edges back inside the opening, and topstitch 1/8" from the edge all the way around the outside of the book. Be sure not to catch the felt pages in your stitching. Close the book and press carefully around the binding to help your book stay closed properly.

4. Fill the book with pins, needles, buttons, thread, and embroidery scissors.

Enjoy!