The Chatai Fish Kantha

 

After the Kantha Workshop last year, I bought  Inspiration Kantha by Anna Hergert on Amazon to learn more. The book is very good if you're looking for some in-depth knowledge about Kantha, which I also learned during the workshop. Anna also wrote very detail about what kind of fabrics and thread to use, etc. Well, reading the book is not enough, right. We must try and experience it to learn more.

Frankly, when people heard about Kantha, the most common response would be "ah it's only running stitch, right?" but believe me, this "only running stitch" business can be overwhelming or intimidating especially for beginners. I mean, you have this notion that "it's easy" but when you get down to work on your piece, you will start to feel anxious because your stitches are not even, too big, too small, too ugly, etc. Also, there's a question of where should I start, how to end the stitches neatly, and a lot of other things going on inside your head. Well, at least that's what I felt when I started working on this Chatai fish design. 

When working on the fish, I tried to follow the book. The outline work was not tough but when I started the running stitches, I made a few detours. By the way, I am using 2 layers of cotton khadi which I got from the local market just before the pandemic. I tried my best to do smaller stitches but in the beginning, I did a lot of unpicking, because as I said, I feel the stitches are too big or the gap between the lines is too wide. It took me a while to get into the rhythm because I was doing this piece after I finished the placemats which have bigger stitches. 

I love the texture of this khadi fabric

Now, doing the fill-up stitches, I was confused should I work from inside out or just working from the top row by row. It's pretty tricky. I decided to work from inside out by echoing the fish. I imagined the echo stitches are like the splash on the water as the fish swimming away. After a few lines, it's time to take the stitches in a different direction. 

I worked on a section here, one corner at a time started from the bottom. When filling up the top part, I decided to go row by row moving upward. You can see the stitches are going in different directions in the picture above. It showed how confused I was while working on this piece. I even browse Instagram and blogs/websites to learn more about Nakshi Kantha and stumbled upon Fairly Worn website . Valerie is working with an NGO in Bangladesh and Tripty Boutique. Check them out, they are simply stunning. 

The back

Well, I still have a long way to learn and I really really enjoyed doing the hand quilting /hand sewing and this ancient technique is really intriguing and interesting to learn. Yes, there is a lot of work that goes into one piece of (original) Kantha, fair trade or not. But as you start learning the art, you will start to appreciate it more. Kudos to Valerie who decided to work with the NGO in spite of everything. It takes courage to support those people, especially across many continents. 

I hope more people especially in India and Bangladesh will revive this art of Kantha to its former glory. Because Kantha is not just a running stitch! I hope one day I can travel to Bangladesh (which is actually pretty near to my state) to see more about Kantha. 

Now this Chatai Fish Kantha is done, framed, and put up on my wall. I still have a few hand quilting projects for my small quilt shop and have a few ideas for my next Kantha project! Stay tuned! 

Check out more of my Kantha Journey 

Until next time,

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

*****

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VIDEO TUTORIAL - Potholders from Scraps

 Hello,

Pumpkin Potholder Tutorial

 

I have a mountain of scraps in buckets and bags all around the house. Somehow I just don't have the heart to throw them away. Whenever I see my fabric scraps I feel inspired and full of ideas, but then those ideas remain on my "bucket list". 

A few weeks ago, Tina and I discussed the next swap, after the successful swap we has last month in Desi Quilters. This time she has with the idea of exchanging Potholders and as usual, she came up with the most suitable name "pot of gratitude". This is to remind us to always be grateful during this Pandemic and by making a gift for our virtual friends who always be there to help in our crafting or quilting journey. 

So, let me talk about potholders that I usually make.

1. Batting

The first question that people ask is always about what kind of batting to use for potholders. Well, we don't have thermal batting for retail here in India. I usually use double or triple layers of cotton batting. A few years ago before cotton batting was easily accessible, I use a few layers of cotton flannel (like THIS coaster). If you have scrap batting, you can use it even if it's narrow strips you can layer them. 

2. Fabrics. 

Store-bought potholders usually use thicker or canvas cotton. I normally use quilting cotton or poplin cotton. And if I use Indian fabrics (mulmul) I usually use nonwoven interfacing to give additional weight. On the back, you can use casement fabric or canvas if you have one.

3. Quilting.

You can either sandwich two layers of batting with top and backing and quilt them together or you can quilt the top and back separately like in THIS mug rug. I personally prefer the latter because it turned out thicker which is perfect for potholders. You can quilt the top with denser quilting lines but I'd suggest using less dense quilting lines for the backing. 

4. Binding

For square or rectangle potholders, I'd suggest using a jellyroll strip. A 2.5" wide is a good one, but if you use thicker batting, you might want to use a 3" wide binding. I normally used 1.5" wide binding for small quilts, but since we're going to use the potholders a lot, thicker binding is always better. 

The same applied to bias binding. In this pumpkin potholder video, I use scraps of about 11" x 17" fabric to make 2.5" wide binding which yields around 1.65 meters of binding strips. Enough to make 2 potholders. 

I wrote about making bias binding in THIS POST using a square of fabric. You can make bias binding from fat eighth or fat quarter like in THIS VIDEO

Bias Binding Tutorial

Alright, now about the POT OF GRATITUDE SWAP, here are the rules:

- It should be pieced or appliqued

- Should be quilted by hand or machine

- Embroidery can be added but avoid beads and sequins

- The edges must be finished with binding or facing.

- There must be a loop for hanging the potholders.  

- Must be made according to your partner's mood board. Sonalee wrote how to create a mood board on her blog HERE. 

In the videos below, I shared 2 projects that I made using fabric crumbs. Not really make a dent in my scrap bins but I am using only scraps here. So I'm pretty happy! 

Let's get down to work now

For the Crumbs Potholder, you need: 

- 5" long crumbs strips 0.75" or 1" Wide (1.5 to 2 cm)

- Lightweight Fusible Interfacing 8" x 8" (20 x 20 cm) - cut 1 (optional).

Not necessary if using quilting cotton

- Cotton Batting 9" x 9" (23 x 23 cm) - cut 2

- 1 strip Jellyroll or 2.5" x WOF (6.5 Cm x WOF)

- Potholder Loop 2.5" x 3" (6.5 x 7.5 cm) - cut 1

And here what you need to make the Pumpkin potholder:

- Download the Template HERE

- Skinny Strips 1" x 7.5" Long - 20 pieces or so

- Backing Fabric: 7.5" x 9" - Cut 1

- Cotton batting 7.5" x 9" - Cut 2

- Fabric for bias binding - I used 11" x 17" which yields around 65" (165 cm) of 2.5" wide bias

binding. Enough to make 2 potholders.

I hope you find the video helpful, especially for beginners. Please do let me know in the comment below if you have any questions. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

Elvira

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A few WIP hand quilted projects

Quilt in Progress

 

Hello, 

Time flies when you have fun. For the past 2 weeks, I have been busy with a few quilt projects and wallet making for my Etsy Shop. And I also working on my Kawandi QAL which sadly I have not been able to work on it so much. I really enjoy doing this hand quilting and want to start quilting on bigger quilts when I have enough confidence. Right now I have a few smaller projects going on, I'll do it one at a time as time permits. Now both my sons are going to have board exam for grade 10 and 12 and that really make me nervous, though they seem to relax, this hand quilting projects help me to calm down a bit. My DH keeps telling me not to get anxious and he keeps sending me to my sewing room hahaha. 

hand quilted table topper 14 x 14 inches

QIP using Handloom /Shotcotton fabrics

On the (small) business side, yesterday I finally got the dust bags for my wallets from Canvas2Craft. I ordered the bags a couple of weeks ago and Poonam is very helpful and lovely to work with. She updates me about the progress and makes sure everything was per my requirements. 

Dust Bag and Family Passport Holder

I always wanted to make dust bags as an added bonus for my customers, so that they can reuse the bag. Instead of wrapping them in paper, this reusable bag will be more useful and eco-friendly too. So here is the first order that goes in the bag. Yes, the small quilt above. I think I will order another size. 

Another happiness last week comes from Saira my secret swap partner in Desi Quilters Love and Healing Swap. When she posted her pouch in the group, I secretly wish for it et voila! My wish come true. The bag is so spacious and I use it to keep my hand quilting projects. She also sent me the pin and magnetic pins. If you're a hijabi, like me, you know these magnetic pins are a game-changer. Thank you so much, Saira!

I also completed a few wallet orders from my Etsy Shop. These two wallets are popular. I only have enough fabric to make a few more wallets. And now that many states are going to restart offline school, I made a couple of triple and double zipper pouches too. They are very versatile as you can keep extra face masks for them. I guess, we all have to accept the fact that wearing a face mask is necessary even when the pandemic is over. At least, that will be our first guard against any virus, IMHO. 

My fave wallets

Multi Zipper Bag

Triple Zipper Bag


Thats' all update for today. I hope you enjoy reading my blog. 
Take care and stay safe!

Elvira

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VIDEO: Making an Adjustable Handle

 

Watch the Video

Hello,

Today I shared a short video for making an adjustable strap with a buckle for the mobile sling bag. This may look easy but for those who just started their journey in bag making, this can be a bit confusing.

In the video, I am making 3/4" wide strap with patchwork. The length of the strap can be varied, between 50" to 55" inches. If you're making it for kids, 50" should be long enough. 

Here's what you need to make the long strap: 

 * 2.75" W X 50" - 55" inches long fabric 

 * if making patchwork strap: 2.75" W x Wof (44") plus 2 - 2.75" W x 7" Long accent fabrics 

 * All-purpose interfacing: cut 1 - 2.75” W x 49” or 54” 

* If using interfacing roll: cut 2 – 1.25” W x 49” or 54” 

*  2 x 0.75" swivel hooks 

* 1 x 0.75" Buckle

First, if making a patchwork strap, sew the accent fabrics on each end of the main fabric. Then fuse the interfacing on the wrong side of the strap piece.

Let's watch the video:

This mobile sling bag is my fave project to go. I am using one regularly too when I go out also use it to store my hard disc and power bank. It's super versatile. Today I made one using this pretty bird print fabric that I have in my stash. 

Mobile Sling Bag

Mini Sling Bag

On the home front, not much sewing happened last week, except finishing a few wallet orders. Instead, I was busy trying out a few recipes I found on Youtube. I've been craving lemon tart after I watched one Cdrama. We used to have a few shops selling in my town before the pandemic but I am not sure now. I decided to look up the recipes on Youtube and the result is yummy! Well, I am not much of a baker, when this turned out good (my boys approved), I feel good. 

Resource: Tart Shell | Lemon Curd

I hope you enjoy the video and thank you so much for stopping by. 

The weather is changing, so stay safe & healthy!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

*****

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Pattern Update - Relaunch Ohana Passport Wallet

Ohana Passport Wallet Pdf Pattern

Hello,

Finally, I finished editing the Family  Passport Wallet Pattern and decided to rename it to Ohana Passport Wallet. The original pattern was the first pattern I wrote and there is a lot of scope for improvement. As time goes by, the pattern evolved and when  I wrote the tutorial for adding zipper closure, this version became more in demand. 

In the new version,  the main tutorial is for a wallet with a zipper closure based on the previous tutorial, also single tape zipper closure can be seen on the Video. I added links to video tutorials and also blog posts for more references. 

Here is how the wallet looks with the flap closure: 

And here's the zipper around version:

Watch the video on how to sew the wallet from beginning to end. 

The Ohana Passport Wallet is also written in the new format, which I find easier to understand and I hope you agree :).  The pattern consists of 29 pages (including the templates), so it's pretty much compact but details. 

If you already bought the pattern and want to download the new version, please email me using the email you used when purchasing the pattern, and I will send you another link to download the pattern.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

VIDEO TUTORIAL - SAFARI TRAVEL WALLET

Safari Travel Wallet Video

Hello, 

Finally, the video tutorial for the Safari Travel Wallet is up on my YouTube Channel. I hope the video can help to visualize how to make the wallet from the beginning. I am trying to get a better angle as I recorded the video and also try not to skip the process. The video is sped up  2 to 3 times from the original. If you want to watch it at a slower speed, you can do so by clicking the setting on your YouTube screen.  

The original pattern only has instructions for flap closure which is pretty easy, but as many customers like zip-around closure more, I decided to make the video for the zip-around version. If anyone wants to see the flap closure version, I will record one when I make my next wallet. Do let me know in the comment.

Cute Zipper End 

Zip Around Travel Wallet

I really enjoy recording the video and I really hope to share more sewing tutorials in the future. If you heard some funny noise in between the videos, that's because my son was watching a football match, or sometimes, someone came and asked something in the middle of the recording. Maybe I should put a sign like "recording in progress, do not disturb" LOL

I hope you find the video useful and you can understand the process of making the wallet. I'm looking forward to your feedback! 

Thank you for stopping by,

Elvira

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Let's make charming quilted pouch

 

Charming Quilted Pouch (video tutorial)

When Tina Katwal asked me if I'd like to make a quilted pouch tutorial for our Desi Quilters group, I immediately said yes. I was thinking of making one with handloom fabrics as the 7th of this month was National Handloom Day! So it was like serendipity. 

So, I decided to make this pouch or bag using my fave precut - mini charms (2.5" x 25" pieces). To make this bag, you don't need much. 

Materials you need:

20 pieces mini charms of your choice

(40 pieces if you make a patchwork of both sides)

A few Fat Eighth or FQs for Back Panel and lining

Batting (fleece or cotton)

#5 Zipper at least 10" long

(you can use #3 zipper if you wish)

Non-Woven Lightweight Interfacing  

Finished Size 9.5" x 8" (approx)

This patchwork pouch tutorial is for the Love and Healing Swap in our Desi Quilters Group on Facebook. The pattern is for using mini charms but you can easily adapt it using any kind of block or orphan blocks that you have in your UFO baskets. The key is to make the patchwork piece the same size as the interfacing. 

The interfacing will give a perfect finish for the quilted pouch or bag, no matter what batting you're using. I made many patchwork quilted bags and I found this combo is the best. 

Working with handloom fabrics is pretty challenging. If you decided to make one using handloom fabrics, consider prewashing your fabric first. I normally don't ;). As handloom tends to shrink and become out of shame from frequent ironing. Spray starch also helps. 

I'm getting a little bit better with the new editing app. I also found a good angle to place my ring light while recording videos :)

Editing does take time but when the mood is good and the boys are happy with Domino's, I can get it done pretty quickly ^^

I hope you enjoy the video! Do let me know in the comment :)

Now, download the pattern below, and let's start sewing those scraps!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

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Video Tutorial : How to sew family passport holder

 Hello again, 

Video Part 1

Finally, I finished editing the videos for the Family Passport Wallet pattern. The supporting video tutorial comes in 2 parts. The first part is the making process of the passport slots. 

I made a few changes : 

1. The LINING for the zipper pocket, I use ONE piece of lining 5" W x 6.5" H. (in the original pattern it was 2 pieces of lining fabric). 

2. Passport Slot construction is different from what's written on the original pattern. This new way I found it better and faster to make. 

Let's jump to the video below: 

For Part 2, I am showing how to attach the zipper closure using a single tape zipper. It's the same way as the Nuno Small Wallet. For the zipper length, I use the #5 nylon zipper approximately 44-45 inches long. This is my new fave in attaching a nylon zipper. 

I hope the video will give you a clear understanding of the pattern. I will update the pattern when time permits. Do let me know what you think in the comment below.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

Starting Kawandi QAL

 

Kawandi QAL

Hello and happy Monday! 

I mentioned in my previous post about the plan for Kawandi QAL. It was started a few months ago by Brinda Ma'am and we have a Whatsapp group to share our progress. 

 Well, I finally get my quilt prepped up and started making the border. I have a few mulmul fabrics in half-meter cuts and decided to use one of them for this. It's going to be a big-ish table runner. 

I thought of making a lap size quilt but I don't have the confidence to finish it. At least this one will be doable for now. We have to finish it by end of the year. Well, I have a long list of Historical Chinese dramas to company me LOL. 

To motivate me, I make a progress video and will update as I make more progress. I'm very bad at following QAL or SAL, so I hope by making a progress video I can push myself to finish it. 

Hand sewing side effect :)

And why not making two kawandi ? Yup, I'm easily distracted like that. I was searching for scraps and found leftover strips from the Jellyroll Quilt I made earlier. I thought why not started another one? I am making one without border as I plan to turn it into maybe a tote bag? My mind keeps changing as I am quilting it. 

What about you? What are you working on this week? 

Happy Sewing,

Elvira 

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