DIY: Fall Patchwork Kitchen Trivet Tutorial

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It's National Sewing Month! Did you know that? Did you know it was President Regan who started  National Sewing Month in 1982.  He wanted to celebrate and honor the importance of home sewing in the United States.  If you want to learn more about National Sewing Month check out the National Sewing Month website.  However I am here to show you how to make a Patchwork Trivet just in time for the beginning of tea and soup season.   This is a good project for a beginner or intermediate but you do need to know how to use a sewing machine.

Materials:

scissors or rotary cutter

pins /  iron

double wide bias tape 

cotton woven fabric scraps adding up to 9" square

Insul Bright batting

wool - I use Mary Flanagan wool that comes in beautiful colors and patterns 

1. Cut your cotton woven fabric scraps into 3" squares.  I used 3 different patterns/colors. 

2. Arrange your squares into the design you would like for the top part of the trivet. 

3.  Once you decide on your design, take 2 squares and lay them face to face, pin them and sew 1/4" seam allowance on one side. 

5. Remove the pins and with a hot iron and the back side facing up, press the seam to the darker fabric side. 

6.  Arrange your pieces again into your desired design.  You can see in my photo I sewed 6 pieces together to create 3 2 patch blocks.  My design is 3 swatches across, 2 are sewn and the 3rd isn't.  Now I will sew a third square onto each row of 2.

PATCHWORK TRIVET TUTORIAL 6.png

Continue this step with the other 2 rows of 2 squares each and this will complete your trivet top.

Next Friday will be part 2 of this tutorial and I will show you how to make your quilt sandwich and  complete the trivet. 

Have a great weekend! And please ask any questions or comments below!

Tracey

www.traceytoole.etsy.com

www.traceytoole.com

Mother’s Day Gift Guide + GIVEAWAY

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If you are still looking for that perfect gift for mom, why not give her an ETSY gift card?

After you treat her to a delicious meal she can spend her day browsing the beautiful handmade creations that ETSY artisans offer!

To make shopping easier for her, here is a gift guide with some fabulous finds:

  1. Katrinreifeiss
  2. TamaraGarvey
  3. SdVDesigns
  4. LifeIsBalance
  5. LoellaMedina
  6. JqLovesu
  7. Katrinreifeiss
  8. SdVDesigns
  9. JqLovesu
  10. KnittingGuru
  11. LoellaMedina

Also, this month we have a special Mother’s Day GIVEAWAY!!

Tracey Toole, owner, maker and designer of etsy shop traceytoole is generously giving away this beautiful handmade apron and bandanna scarf. She designs and sews all her products in her Brooklyn studio and specializes in custom aprons for commercial use.

How can you win one of these fabulous traceytoole creations?

It’s simple – all you have to do is “Like” her page on Facebook and write a comment with the hashtag #MayGiveaway and you’ll be entered to win – it’s that easy!

Hurry, contest ends on May 23, 2014, two lucky winners will be selected!

Giveaway by TraceyToole
Giveaway by TraceyToole

https://www.facebook.com/TraceyTooleDesigns

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Rekha Krishnamurthi  //  DivineNYCo

Liberty of London Fabrics

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Liberty of London new collection inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show

Many people who are sewers or quilters know of Liberty of London fabrics. Those who do seem to love them.  As a designer with a background in woven fabrics I appreciate the quality and the design, and personally I think they are absolutely gorgeous. Grant it, they are expensive, but with good reason.

Their fabrics are designed by English artists, the Liberty archives date back to 1875, high quality cotton is used, the process is intense and they are manufactured in England.  With fabric manufacturing this is where the majority of the cost is, where it is manufactured, ( visit this 2 minute plus video by Mollie Makes about the printing process of Liberty). When you buy this fabric you are not supporting child or unfair wage labor.  Rather these are experienced technicians earning an honest wage in England.  So how much is it a yard? On average in the US it runs about $36 a yard. But believe me, if you purchase it and make something with it, you will have it forever.

Liberty just came out with their new collection, inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show. Liberty is known for their floral prints.  What I love most are their prints that are not your stereotypical flower print.  Each fabric has a story and background. If you would like more info you can visit their website and click on each fabric link and they will tell you what this fabric is about.

One of my part time jobs is working at Purl Soho, a fabric and yarn shop in Soho NYC.  I emailed my manager yesterday to find out if we are getting any of the new Liberty collection. Only 3 stores in NYC carry Liberty. She said we were but wasn't sure when it was arriving.  Late last night I received a text message, the fabrics arrived last night.  Today I go to to work and can't wait to see the new collection in person! I wonder which ones the store will be selling.

Are you familiar with Liberty fabrics? Have you sewn with them? What do you think?

Tracey Toole

http://www.etsy.com/shop/traceytoole

http://traceytoole.blogspot.com/