Holiday Sewing

I’m usually the person who insists on waiting until the day after Thanksgiving to do any holiday decorating, but for some reason this year I wanted to put the tinsel and lights in October. I didn’t decorate early, but I did have lots of ideas for holiday sewing swirling around in my head. I ultimately settled on a simple patchwork cushion using Kringle & Claus fabrics by BasicGrey for Moda and three different Aurifil thread colors of two different weights.

BasicGrey fabrics are just a little edgier for the holidays than most, and I love them for it. The aqua Grunge fabric and black and green holly print are exactly the colors and texture I love for holiday decorating. So, when I saw two mini charms of Kringle & Claus fabrics at my local quilt shop, I knew just the project! Simple patchwork pillows add a holiday touch to any home, and they are quick and easy to make. Lay out your squares, sew them together in pairs, then chunks, then rows. Quilt, add a backing and closure, and done!

I quilted my cushion with Aurifil 50wt Red 2250 and Pine 2892. I did a double crosshatch quilting pattern, alternating the thread colors.

Envelope closures are my go-to for a quick and easy cushion project. I used Aurifil thread 28wt Mustard 5022. Paired with the right fabric and project, this thread is the perfect gold for topstitching.

And just like that, I added a new holiday cushion to my home! These Aurifil threads and BasicGrey fabrics paired perfectly to add a touch of the holidays to my home in just a few hours.

What is your favorite handmade holiday decor?

November Aurifil Artisan Challenge: Bag Making

The November Aurifil Artisan challenge was bag making, with a focus on bags for travel. My family took a road trip from California to Washington, D.C. and back this summer – about 6,000 miles of driving and visited 21 states in 21 days. I learned a lot in that trip about what I need to make it work. This challenge was the perfect opportunity to fill in a gap in my travel bag arsenal – a small crossbody bag.

Aurifil partnered with Sallie Tomato Patterns and Thermoweb for this challenge. I chose to make the Zippy Crossbody Bag, which called for fusible interfacing. I’ve made lots of Sallie Tomato bags and have really enjoyed their patterns. I was not familiar with Thermoweb interfacing, but after this challenge, I’m happy to say that I will definitely be using it again in the future. Their woven interfacing is soft with a really nice weight, and fuses really well.

For this bag, I chose to use Alison Glass fabrics, with a hint of Sew Sweetness cork. The strap and accent fabric are Art Theory in Ivory from Ex Libris and the main fabric is Latitude in Anemone from Diving Board.

I used Aurifil Dove 2600 50wt for piecing the entire purse. It’s a bit time consuming to switch between a neutral for piecing and my chosen top stitching thread, but so worth it when all of my seam stitching is hidden, allowing the top stitching to really shine. For top stitching, I used Jade 4093 50wt.

I added an Emmaline Bags “Handmade” tag for the perfect finishing touch, and just like that, my new bag was done! The Zippy Crossbody is perfect for carrying just the essentials, and has lots of pockets for the little emergency items one needs on the go. I’m so happy to have partnered with Aurifil, Sallie Tomato Patterns, and Thermoweb for this challenge!