notes from Terry Ann

T.G.I.F.

Welcome blog hoppers! I'm having a great time visiting all of the Fall-O-Ween blogs, and it's been fun getting to know all of you as I click on your comments and visit your blogs. Remember to leave a comment for each designer on their free project post; if you comment on all 10 designers we'll put your name in the hat for some great prizes!

Today is my turn in the spotlight, so let me tell you a little bit about myself. I've been designing patterns for over 15 years, and quilting since I was in college. Many of you are familiar with Atkinson Designs because of our best selling pattern Yellow Brick Road, but we also have over 25 other patterns and 12 books. 

I especially like to make simple quilts that look like I worked really hard - figuring out shortcuts is the fun part for me.

Lately, I've been having lots of fun making little zipper bags. Since I couldn't find zippers in the colors I wanted, we now wholesale 36 colors of zippers to quilt shops in the US and Canada. 

 
"Thank Goodness It's Friday" hasn't even entered my mind since I started Atkinson Designs because I get to do all sorts of fun stuff - like designing quilts, shopping for fabric, writing instructions, and of course, sewing. I get to work at my own pace and choose what I do each day. It doesn't get any better than that! My husband Kirk works with me doing all of the office things like shipping, ordering, etc.

 

We have two kids, and here is how they looked about 18 years ago. I thought I'd sneak their picture in for today's topic of fall clothes! Back in the "good old days" I made many of their clothes; polar fleece jackets and sweatshirts were especially fun to make because they were quick and easy, and sweatshirt weather is my favorite time of year.

My favorite candy would never be chocolate - I would choose candy corn! Today's pattern for you is a little "Sweet Zip" bag to hold your favorite candy. Two fat eighths (9" x 21") of fabric will make three "Sweet Zips" - one to keep and two to give as gifts. When you've eaten the candy, you can put a little pack of tissues inside. Download SWEET ZIP

I bet you think I forgot about Monday's orange fabrics - of course not! See the stripe hiding inside?

I hope I get to see your Sweet Zips - you can upload photos to our Fall-O-Ween Flickr site. Hop on over to the other designer's blogs and see if they are dressed for the weather! Gudrun, Sandy,  Roseann, Kari, Heather, Terri, Carrie, Linda, Pat

Sock Sack

Welcome to the 7th day of the Minnesota Designer Blog Hop. I'm so glad you stopped by!

My name is Terry Atkinson and I've been designing quilt patterns ever since my youngest daughter Megan climbed onto the kindergarten bus. She's almost 20 - and I haven't run out of ideas yet! I really enjoy what I do because every day brings something different -  sewing, writing instructions, teaching, designing fabric, setting up our Quilt Market booth, shopping, coloring on graph paper, taking photos, testing patterns, and even blogging. My husband Kirk works with me and he does all of the boring stuff - shipping orders, paying bills, ordering supplies etc. Pop over to our website to learn more about us and our business, Atkinson Designs.

I had so much fun making bags this spring for my Big Bags, Little Bags book, that I thought I'd share another one of my favorite bags with you. The "Sock Sack" is shown above next to a turquoise Yo-Yo Tote from Big Bags, Little Bags - these are two of my favorite travel companions.

Even if you are not a knitter, you can find all sorts of uses for the sock sack - I even use one to hold my portable GPS  when we travel . . . what will you put in yours?

Leave a comment for me and tell me how you will use your Sock Sack. One lucky "bag lady" will win a Big Bags, Little Bags book and a Tag Along Tote pattern. Just think of all the bags you could make!

Now, let's get back to the Sock Sack!

Sock Sack

Just toss your Sock Sack in your purse and you can take your knitting anywhere. It holds everything you need to knit socks or mittens -  just leave the yarn in the bag and pull the yarn from the middle of the ball as you knit. The easy zipper pocket holds stitch markers, scissors, notes, and all of your other little stuff. 

Yardage
2 fat quarters (1 print, 1 main color)
1 - 9" zipper (or longer)

Cutting
Main Color
cut 2 - 1-1/2" x 20"
cut 1 - 10-1/2" x 10-1/2"
cut 1 - 5" x 6-1/2"
cut 2 - 5" x 2-1/2"

Print
cut 1 - 4-1/2" x 6-1/2"
cut 2 - 2-1/2" " x 8"

Sewing

General Info: All seams are 1/4". Zig-zag the seam allowances together after stitching each seam to keep them from raveling. I like to use the serpentine zig-zag or the feather stitch to finish the seams because they help the seams lie flat.

 

Center the zipper on the edge of the pocket with right sides together and edges even. The zipper pull should be facing down! Using a zipper foot, stitch 1/4" from the edge. Finger press the seam and topstitch a scant 1/4" away from the zipper, making sure to catch the zipper tape underneath.

Place the pocket on top of the 5" x 6-1/2" main color rectangle. Pin. Stitch all the way around, about 1/8" from the edge. Unzip or zip the zipper as needed to keep the zipper pull out of your way. The zipper pull must end up inside the stitching as shown! Trim the ends of the zipper even with fabric.

Stitch the 2-1/2" x 5" main color rectangles to the top and bottom edges of the pocket.  Press seams away from the pocket.

Stitch the 10-1/2" main color square to the side of the pocket panel. Use a zipper foot, and unzip the zipper as needed to keep the tab out of your way. Press.

Fold the pocket over so the raw edge meets the opposite edge. Pin and stitch the seam, making a tube. Adjust the bag so the pocket is centered and stitch a seam across the bottom edge. 

Casings: Stitch a double 1/4" hem at each end of the 2-1/2" x 8" contrast pieces. Press each casing in half, wrong sides together. Note: These will be slightly shorter than the width of the bag.

Matching centers, pin the casings to the top edge of the bag on the outside of the bag with raw edges even. One casing will be pinned to the front and one will be pinned to the back, and there will be a little gap at each side where the casings meet. Stitch a 1/4" seam through all layers around the top of the bag. Zig-zag the seam.

Fold the casings up and topstitch a scant 1/4" from the seam, making sure to catch the seam allowance underneath.

Ties: Press each tie in half with wrong sides together. Press the raw edges to meet at the fold. Fold in half and press. Topstitch through all layers close to both edges. Make 2.

Thread one tie through both front and back casings beginning and ending on the right side. Knot the ends together. Thread the other tie through the opposite way, beginning and ending on the left. Knot the ends together. Trim ends at an angle.

An Ode to Oilcloth

One of the testers for our "Popcorn" Yo-Yo bag  brought her supplies to class in an oilcloth bag. It was love at first sight and I had to have some oilcloth too! Unfortunately, the class ended late Saturday afternoon and I had to wait until Monday to go shopping for oilcloth! But I was there Monday morning right when the shop opened and bought some cherries and polka dots. (and a few more for my stash - you never know when you'll need a new bag!) The bags in the photo are from our new Big Bags, Little Bags book.

Here I am making another bag for our Quilt Market booth. Instead of pressing the oilcloth with an iron, I'm rolling and pinching the seam with my fingers.
 

I smoothed some "Press'n Seal" on my machine bed to help the oilcloth slide through the machine better; and then used a seam ripper to cut a hole for the feed dogs.

The oilcloth was easy to sew, in fact the hardest part was turning the bag right side out because it was so stiff. I wonder if it counts as an aerobic exercise - I'm sure I worked up a sweat turning the bag!
 
Here is the finished bag, with a Peppermint Purse from our new book. I always set up my Quilt Market booth in my garage ahead of time - you can see part of the booth in the background along with a pile of book boxes. Tomorrow we'll pack the van for Market - do you think it's too soon to sew the handles on the Peppermint Purse? They look pretty good just pinned if you ask me. My next post will be some fun pictures from Quilt Market! I'm off now to get all the little Market details finished up . . . and then off we go to Pittsburg.

Airplane Art Binder

Office supply stores and art stores rank right up there with quilt and yarn shops for browsing fun. Look what I found at Staples - some wonderful 5” x 8” pads of graph paper!  Who could resist? These are a perfect size for traveling. I grabbed a pack of Crayola “Twistables” colored pencils too. They are easy to carry along since they never need sharpening – they just twist up like a mechanical pencil.

I decided to make a little binder – just the right size to unfold on an airplane tray to entertain me; or on a restaurant table to entertain a squirmy kid. Actually I still am a squirmy kid – and I still love to color!

MATERIALS
3 fat quarters (18” x 21”)
¼ yd fusible interfacing -I used Pellon Deco Bond
thread

5” x 8” pad of paper
8 Crayola “Twistables” colored Pencils or fine point markers

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
Focus Print
cut two 9” x 12”

Binding and Paper Pocket
cut three  2-1/4” x 21”
cut one  6” x 14”

Tie and Pencil Pocket
cut two 2” x 21”
cut one 8-1/2” x 8-1/2”

Fusible interfacing
Cut two 9” x 12”

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS
Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of each 9” x 12” focus print rectangle. Set aside one piece for the outer binder. Note: I'm switching to cherry fabric so the lines show up better!

Mark a line 5-1/2” from the right edge of one 9” x 12” focus print rectangle. Make it about 7” long.
Mark a line 1” over from the marked line, as shown. Make it about 4-1/4” long, starting at the bottom edge. Mark 6 additional lines ¾” apart as shown.
The first and last spaces will be 1”, and the middle spaces will be 3/4”.

Terry’s Tip: measure over from the long line each time – measuring at 1", 1-3/4”, 2-1/2”, 3-1/4”, 4”, 4-3/4”, 5-1/2” so that you don’t run out of space!

Fold the 8-1/2” square in half and press for the pencil pocket (red).
Fold the 6" x 14" rectangle in half and press for the paper pocket (green).

 

Mark a line 1-1/4” from the edge of the folded square as shown. Mark 6 additional lines 1” apart.
The first and last spaces will be 1-1/4”, and the middle spaces will be 1”.

Place it next to the long marked line on the focus fabric as shown, with raw edges even along the bottom.

Place the folded paper pocket on top of the marked rectangle with raw edges even along the bottom and right edges. Pin.

Stitch a scant ¼” seam through all layers.

Fold the top piece over to the right and finger press. Stitch close to the right and bottom edges through all layers, making the paper pocket.

Align the first 1” pocket mark with the first ¾” mark underneath it. Pin and stitch on the line, backstitching at the beginning and end. 

Repeat to make 8 pencil pockets. The raw edges will be even at the end to make the last pocket.

Place the finished pocket section on top of the second  9” x 12” focus print rectangle, with wrong sides together and edges even. Stitch about 1/8” from the raw edge, all the way around the edge to hold the layers together. Fold a little pleat at the bottom of each pencil pocket as you go. .

Stitch through all layers next to the paper pocket as shown. Repeat between the first and second pencil pockets, stitching all the way to the edge. This will make a “spine” for the binder.

Stitch the three 2-1/4” binding strips together using diagonal seams. Trim seams to ¼”. Press seams open (shown in blue). Fold the binding in half lengthwise, with wrong sides together. Press.

Stitch the binding to the outside edge, using a ¼” seam. Start on the side edge, about 1-1/2” from the bottom. Stop ¼” from the corner and backstitch.

CORNERS: Fold the binding up so the raw edges make a straight line. Fold the binding down, making a crease even with the top edge. Begin stitching at the edge and continue to the next corner.

Repeat at each corner, ending the stitching about 1-1/2” past the fourth corner.

Fold the binding ends back as shown, leaving a little space where they meet. Press. Cut the ends 1-1/8” over from the fold. Terry’s Tip: Use the end of the folded binding to measure because it is exactly the right width!

Stitch the binding ends together using a diagonal seam. This is kind of awkward – but the creases will line up to help you position the edges.

Trim seam to ¼” and finger press the seam open. Finish stitching the binding to the edge.

Finger press the binding away from the center. Fold the binding around to the back and stitch “in the ditch”, catching the binding underneath. Right before you reach the corner, look underneath and fold the edges exactly as shown. You may wish to place a pin to hold it. The side part must fold on top so it stays in place as it goes toward the needle. Stop with the needle down at the corner to turn.

Terry’s Tip: I like to fold each corner when I get there because if I try to pin them ahead of time it doesn’t work as well for me.

Stitch the two 2” x 21” tie strips together with a diagonal seam. Trim seam to ¼” and press open.

Fold the tie in half with wrong sides together and press. Open it and press both raw edges in to meet at the center crease. Press in half and stitch close to each edge.

 

Center the binding seam behind the paper pocket. Stitch the tie to the binder at the side edge and on top of the vertical line of stitching as shown.

Add paper and markers and tie a cute bow! I think I'll fuse some matching fabric on top of the graph paper to hide the ugly black header.

To make a button tab:
Cut the two tie strips to 2” x 14-1/2”. Stitch them together with a ½” seam along the long edge. Press the seam open. Fold the raw edges in to meet the seam edges and press. With right  sides together, stitch a ¼” seam at each end. Trim corners and turn right side out. Fold in half and press. Stitch around the edge close  to the fold.

Add a Velcro or button closure at the ends. Decorate it with more buttons if desired. Stitch it to the binder at the side edge and on top of the vertical line of stitching as shown.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I found these two holiday washcloths on sale today. Perfect for making rice bags to keep our feet warm. One for me and one for Megan.

I folded each washcloth in half and stitched along two sides. Then I filled 'em up with about 4 cups of rice and stitched the last side closed. Two minutes in the microwave at bedtime and our feet will be toasty warm.

Derek's Quilt is almost done!

As soon as I have finished choosing fabrics for a quilt, I consider it done . . . but wait, Derek is expecting more! There has been a lot of progress on his new quilt. Here are some tips to make a big project like this go faster. The single most important tip is to stay in your chair! It's amazing how much can get done when you stay on task.

I chain piece the corners and press them before snipping them apart.

I like to trim the back two layers of each corner. A contrasting piece of paper on the ironing board helps me see if the edges need straightening before I trim.

 

I stack the squares in tens so it's easy to keep track of how many I have.

Look, all of the blocks are done - and the vertical row behind the kitty is even finished! Getting there.

Bonus Pocket for the Tag Along Tote

When I was growing up, every time our family went somewhere, we had to wait for my mom to change purses so that her purse matched her outfit. I never would have guessed that I would be doing the same thing 30 years later! I have had so much fun making Tag Along Totes that every time I’m in a quilt shop I grab three fat quarters to make another one. It’s addicting! These are a few of my favorites.

 
I like to put an extra pocket on the inside of my totes for glasses and a pen. There was room in the pattern instructions for either an optional zipper OR an optional pocket, and it took me forever to decide which one to leave out! The zipper won the spot in the pattern so here are instructions for the pocket:

 

Cut a 5" x 12" rectangle from leftover fabric. Fold it in half and stitch 1/4" seams along the sides.

Turn it right side out and press. Fold the raw edges up 1/4" and press. The pocket in the photo is kind of upside down with the raw edges along the top edge - but you are smart and you probably already figured that out!

Mark a line 1" from the edge - this is where you'll stitch to make the pen pocket.

 

Place the pocket on the lining side of your bag back, with the folded top edge of the pocket 1-3/4" from the top edge of the bag. Stitch in place close to the sides and bottom the pocket. Stitch on the marked 1" line to make the pen pocket.

Finish the bag according to the pattern instructions, and voila! I couldn't wait to show you the pocket - now I'll have to go back and attach the handles . . . but my glasses are right there so I can see to do it.

Best Press Bag

Which bottle of Mary Ellen's Best Press would you rather use?
Or give as a gift to your best quilting buddy?
I decorated mine with a yo-yo and a button. Send me a comment about how you'll decorate yours and I'll enter you in a drawing to win my Let's Do Lunch book.  Two names will be drawn at random on December 1st so the winners can make some easy table runners or tote bags for holiday gifts.

Let's get started. Cut two 9-1/2" squares - one main color and one lining. I used two of the Paisley Party prints that Liz Lois and I designed for Red Rooster. Note from Sheila G in CA: If you have an older bottle, cut your squares 10-1/2" to accommodate the girth!

Stitch the two squares together using a 1/4" seam.

Fold it in half and stitch  a scant 1/4" seam along the long edge.

Fold the lining fabric over the main color - it will wrap around the 1/4" seam so that 1/4" of the lining shows next to the main color. The lining will be on the outside and the main color will be on the inside. Topstitch along the seam as shown.

Press the long seam. If you position the bag on the edge of the ironing board you can press it without making any creases in the bag.

Place the bag on your cutting mat with the long seam centered. Trim the raw edges even at the bottom of the bag. (the bottom of the bag is shown at the right in the photo) Stitch a 1/4" seam along the trimmed edge.

Fold each bottom corner as shown and mark a line 1" over from the point. Stitch on the lines. This will make the bottom of the bag flat.

Turn the bag right side out. Fold the cuff down about 2-1/4" and adjust it to fit the bottle. Tie a contrasting piece of rick rack or ribbon around the cuff for a quick gift or go hog wild and really doll it up! Believe it or not, it took me longer to find a matching button than it did to make the whole bag!

To make the travel size bag, cut two rectangles 7" x 8". Stitch them together along the 7" edge. When making the corners, measure over 3/4" from the point.
 

 Here's another quick gift for you to make .

 

The directions for this wine tote are on page 11 of my Let's Do Lunch book. I'm not good at pouring wine - just look at all the bubbles. I've had more practice pouring beer . . .  Look on the back cover of your book to see how nice it looks after the guys at the printer photoshopped the bubbles out. If you don't have the book yet, ask for it at your local quilt shop. 

 

Fat Sack

Pretty AND practical.

MATERIALS: You'll need 1 yd. of fabric and matching thread. I used August Fields by Amy Butler. It's a decorator weight fabric in a scrumptious color. NOTE: 1-3/8 yds. of 58"-60" wide fabric will make two bags.

Cut one 19" x 36" for the bag and two 4" x 36" for the handles.

Cut one 12-1/2" x 19" for the bag bottom.

Fold and press one edge of each handle under 1/4".

Fold and press the other edge under 1-1/4".

Fold it in half and press.

Stitch close to the edges of the handles. This will be a lot faster if you don't lose one of the handles somewhere in your sewing room like I did!

Fold and press a crease to mark the center of 19" x 36" bag rectangle as shown.

Press a double 1" hem  on each end. Stitch close to both edges of the hem.

Pin the handle in place as shown. The ends of the handles will be 10-1/2" down from the top and the sides of the handles will be 5-1/2" over from the raw edge.

Stitch the handles in place, stitching on top of the previous stitching along the edges of the handles and across the handle even with the hem stitching line.

Press a crease to mark the center of the 12-1/2" x 19" bag bottom. Press under 1/4" along the long edges.

Pin the bottom section on top of the bag, matching center creases. It will cover the raw edges of the handle ends. Stitch close to the pressed edge and again 1/4" away.

Place pins as shown, 4" on each side of the center crease at the bottom of the bag.

Fold the bag in half, wrong sides together.

Fold the top layer down, creasing across between the pins.

Repeat with the other side of the bag. There will be a big pleat as shown.

Stitch the side seams using a 1/4" seam, catching all layers of the pleat. Zig-zag the raw edges to keep them from raveling. I like to use either a 3-step zig zag or a feather stitch because it flattens the seam and finishes the edge at the same time.

Here is how your bag will look. Doesn't Kirk make a great knuckle model?

When you turn the bag right side out, the corners will look like this.

Cut a piece of foam core or cardboard 8" x 10" for inside the bottom of the bag. See Nov. 5 post "After the Election".

Time to go shopping! This bag is a perfect size - even when it its full of cans, it's not too heavy! Because it is fat, it won't tip over in the car, even if your driving is like mine . . .

After the election

This morning on my way out to the mailbox to get my newspaper, I took down my election sign. My first thought was "I wish they would have given us a smaller sign, because now we have to get rid of it." That thought was instantly followed by "Wow, this would be perfect to cut up and use in the bottom of a tote bag!" The sign is made of two layers of lightweight plastic with foam core in between - what could be better?  I used my Olfa rotary cutter and it was really easy to cut.

Look at how nice the grocery tote stands up with its new bottom. But it still is a very ugly bag - I think I need to make a new bag! Off to the sewing machine . . .