Archive for the ‘Pattern Options’ Category

I am so proud to share our first video with you! This is a How-to using a sample of Inn-spire Plus and 4 different Edge finishes! You can use any of the edge finishes shown in this video for your leaves!  Poorhouse Quilt Designs, Innovative Craft Products and Seacoast Sewing of Portsmouth NH collaborated on this video – we hope this will give you some new ideas when you are using Inn-spire and Inn-spire Plus - the heat set, moldable, craft stiffener by Innovative Craft Products!! Check it out here:

Let us know what you think! -Kris

 

 Have you seen the latest addition to the Tea Leaves family? It’s the Tea Leaves Bedroom Suite! This pattern contains project instructions for a bed runner, a pillow and curtain tie-backs.

I really enjoy the Tea Leaf technique and the results that people have been achieveing are amazing! We have updated our technique and we now use “Lapel Stick” to reduce bulk! For more details, see this blog post! 

When designing this pattern, I had the pleasure of working with Cathy Ruggiero (of Candlelite Quilts) on this pattern! She provided me with a pattern for the stitchery which is included in her “Flowers of Hope” pattern! (If you like the stitchery, click here to go to Candlelite Quilt’s website for ordering!). Cathy’s pattern contains the version of the stitchery at the size you’ll need to put into this pillow.

Flowers of Hope is a pattern for mini penny squares which features No-Hoop Redwork. You have to try this out! It’s so easy, even I can do it! This pattern was addapted from antique applique designs for redwork. It’s a versatile pattern which could be used for a wall hanging, sweet additions to a tea cozy, napkin, tablecloths….when I look at this pattern, I see afternoon tea and a warm fire!  Which reminds me…I think I need a cup, right now!  -Kris

Beverly Massachusetts, that is!

I thought I’d share my experience with you – last Saturday at Sew Creative  , I taught our new Natural Inspirations Leaf Bowls project to a special group of fun and creative women!  Here are some photos taken during our class:

What was so special about this class? I think it was the level of sharing that went on during the class! As we created our natural masterpieces, everyone enjoyed choosing fabrics, talking about threads, learning about needles (thanks to Phyllis Vray, shopowner extrordinaire) and swapping stories during our time together. It was fun to watch the different method and processes that people use when they are creating!  We then oohed and aahed at all of the results!

This was the first time for these ladies to use inn-spire, a heat set, moldable stiffener that we specify in our pattern. Here are some things to think about if it’s your first time using inn-spire:

1.  Sew with a Microtex Sharp size 90. Phyllis recommeds that Pfaff owners use an Inspira needle – and what a difference that made for our Pfaff users!
2. You will need to use a fusible web adhesive to bond your fabric to inn-spire. Innovative Craft Products has just introduced inn-spire-plus, which is a double sided fusible product which makes this project even easier!
3. Make sure that when you are going to sew on inn-spire that has had Whisper Web applied to it, that you have used a little steam in this process.  Water helps to complete the fusing/bonding process. If you don’t fully bond the Whisper Web/fabric/inn-spire combo, you will find that during sewign you have some “dust” which is actually glue that is not fully bonded to your fabric and inn-spire. This can gum up your machine (ick!).
4. Edge finishing: We recommend a loose satin stitch or couching embroidery floss to the edge. You may find that you have to go around twice to get the coverage that you want – just make sure that you widen and lengthen your stitch slightly.

What do you enjoy about your sewing/quilting classes? Comment below and you may win a free Natural Inspirations Leaf Bowl Pattern!

Keep sewing!  -Kris

Good rainy morning to everyone! I think we’ve had enough rain this month (in NH) already!

What is new this week? Poorhouse Quilt Designs is coming out with a new pattern for Leaf Bowls!  Here are some pictures:

 The pattern will include a palm leaf, a maple leaf and a birch leaf! We are featuring InnSpire by Innovative Craft Products – it is a heat set moldable non-woven stablilzer! This is what creates these wonderful bowls!

Finally – leaves I don’t have to rake!

If you have an idea for the name of the pattern, comment and you’ll get a free pattern!

Look for this pattern soon! -Kris

Good Morning!

It’s a crisp clear morning here in NH and it really smells like fall . . . but, as a pattern designer . . we must think spring this time of year! Quilt Market is coming so we are busy coming up with patterns that will appeal to quilters and sewing enthusiasts next year!

New from Poorhouse Quilt Designs? We are busy testing the Everyday Bag . . . and here is a sneak preview! We’ve got you covered with pockets for:

• Cell Phone? Check
• Sunglasses? Check
• Keys? Check
• Credit Cards? Check
• Change/Bills? Check

I had a tough time giving up this bag… it’s so convenient! I took it to the Mancuso Quilt Festival in Manchester two weeks ago and intended to use it that day only for a quick road test! Well, five days later, I reluctantly removed my “stuff” from the bag so that it can become my cover sample… I miss it! Looks like I’ll have to make a few more . . . I promise to share! This little bag received rave reviews at the show.. people just loved the strawberries! They are available right now from Timeless Treasures – designed by the fabulous Hoodie- a line called Fruit a la Carte!  Hoodie posted our bag on her blog here!

This bag holds it’s shape with the help of Inn Control and Rigid Weave from Innovative Crafts Products - these products give your creations that professional look! You will amaze yourself!

Look for this bag after November 1st!

Happy sewing! -Kris

Hello all!

What’s on the sewing machine this week? I am just sending off some new goodies made in fun prints to Exclusively Quilters and thought I’d share with you!

Check out the gallery of photos below.   I  made up a Friday bag in Sweet Flirtations - this collection is so upbeat! I then used Sweet Flirtations to make up a Saturday Sleepover – perfect for little girls! I made up a reversible Friday Bag in Pin Up Girls! I have shown both sides of the bag (bound in red shoes) – I think the curvy bag really complements the curvy ladies! And last but certainly not least, we have a view of the Seashell Tote - another free pattern that will be out there soon!   Take a look below!! Have a great Wednesday!  -Kris

Hope you don’t mind..I am showing off my Route 66 bag again!

I’d like to talk about the product that I used in a supporting role: inn-control plus, from Innovative Craft Products. Inn-control Plus is a batting alternative with the supple sturdiness of a polyester foam – with an added bonus… it’s fusible on both sides. This product comes in white – which is important for a light summery print, like this!

I can easily pack a change of clothes in this bag, as well as a book, sunscreen, maps….let’s go!

Here is what I like about inn-control plus:

• It seams together easily (multiple layers are not a problem);
• It holds your bag’s shape and it looks very professional;
• It can be quilted;
• It’s fusible!
• It is available in convenient sizes.

I also installed the grommets with ease; the foam easily compresses enough to receive the prongs of the hardware.

Give inn-control plus a try! Just substitute inn-control plus for fusible fleece – you’ll really like the difference!

Keep sewing. . . . -Kris

“If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.”

I received this ultra cute fabric from  Timeless Treasures the other day and I have to admit I have been humming Route 66 ever since! Isn’t this the perfect choice for the On Tour bag? It sings summer road trip to me!

I paired this fabric (Timeless Treasures fun-c7960-multi) with Timeless Treasures Dotty Orange (dot-c7600-orange) - an unbeatable combination!

 This is a close-up of the fabric – check it out on the Timeless Treasures site!

I also think this would be a great focus fabric for a boy’s quilt – my son (13) loved this print – there are so many great colors to play with in this fabric.

Stay tuned!

Keep Sewing – Kris

Happy Valentine’s Week! Here is a sneak peek of the new Northern Lights Trio of totes pattern at left! Last night I made this tote with Duo Fuse by Innovative Craft Products of Scarborough, Maine.

“It’s what’s inside that counts”  – this is so true with quilting and crafting! It’s Innovative Craft Product’s catch phrase and I really believe this will catch on! 

• Duo Fuse is a double sided permanent fusible fleece that has a web of adhesive that is needled right into the batting. Here is what I found:

1. When I followed the easy instructions that come with the product, I got dependable adhesion to the fabric.

2. I didn’t have any sections that were loose as long as I paid attention!

3. No crunchy glue dots! This is so soft yet has great body (Look at how the tote stands!!).

4. I love love love the straps – they are strong, flexible and not hard. I have specified peltex in my patterns for straps in the past. The Duo Fuse handles perform even better.

Here are some details – at first glance this appears to be a lofty fleece for a fusible but it lays down when fused. Pictured at right is a cross section of Duo Fuse before pressing. This gives you an idea of the material that will be compressed when fusing. It has a nice professional padded feel when fused.

How to on the straps:

I took a strip of Duo Fuse that was double the width of my final strap. This was fused to a piece of fabric that was double the width of the Duo Fuse. I centered the Duo Fuse and fuesd from the back then pulled the rest of the fabric around to the other side of the strap and fused that down. I then folded the strip together lengthwise and topstitched the strap; This gave me a comfortable padded strap. At right is a cross section of the strap.

Duo Fuse is a little more expensive than your conventional fusible fleece, but I was able to make this project without additional interfacing on the lining! It definitely is “What’s Inside That Counts!”

Try it!  You can get it here! Have a great day!  -Kris

Oh- I don’t mean it that way!

My friend, Hoodie designs wonderful fabric – just take a look at the onion fabric at left! This is from her line of fabrics called Veggie Patch by Blank Quilting. Check out her Blog: Hoodie’s Land!

Who could resist this fabric for making a tote for your weekly trip to the Farmer’s Market? I’d love one in the tomato, eggplant and pepper varieties also!

This is the On Tour Bag Pattern - with a twist! I made it a little smaller! How? Take your On Tour Bag pattern and crease it at the pocket line. Fold that crease again, so that the length is decreased by the amount that you desire. Now, place on top of a paper bag that you’ve cut apart so that you have a large piece of paper to work on and trace the top half of the pattern to the fold. Stop and slide the bottom of the bag pattern to meet your drawn line and trace the bottom half of the pattern. You now have a shortened pattern! You will have to adjust the length of the sides also, but you can do that during the construction of the bag. Don’t be afraid to trace and shift…it’s only paper!

Check out Hoodie’s Joy Basket fabric also – http://blankquilting.com/FabricDetails.aspx?collectionid=298 - this is what I used on the inside (brown dot) – very cute!

Off to the post office to send this bag to Hoodie!  Have a great day sewing, all!  -Kris