Cheers to the New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

It feels like 2024 just flew by!  This past year has been a rollercoaster of experiences, hasn't it? From the highs to the lows, each moment has taught us something valuable. Let's take a moment to appreciate all that we've achieved and learned. Whether it was a personal win or simply making it through tough times, every step counts.

The New Year is a fresh slate, brimming with opportunities. It's the perfect time to set new goals and chase new dreams. Want to pick up a new hobby? Go for it! Planning to travel more? Start packing! Let's dive into 2025 with open hearts and minds, ready for all the adventures it brings.

Don't forget to have fun and celebrate! Gather with loved ones, share laughter, and create new memories. After all, life is all about enjoying the little moments that make us smile. And don't forget to start working on those WIPS!!

Here's to an amazing year ahead, filled with joy, growth, and endless possibilities. Thank you for being part of this journey. Let's make 2025 the best year yet!

Cheers and Happy New Year! 🥂

Elvira

2024 Best of Five

I did not write much on the blog last year but I still want to join Cheryl at Meadow Mist Design for annual Best of Five Link Party. 

When I checked my blog stats, surprisingly the most viewed post was from 2010 about Tutorial making flowing skirt! Those were the days when  I used to make clothes. I keep thinking to start sewing clothes again at least for myself and even bought a couple of patterns. Insha Allah, I will start . 

Without further a do, here's the top 5 blog post from 2024

1. Scrappy Quilt

Frankly this is also my fave. The quilt is now being used everyday, it's perfect for our mild winter weather. Hopefully I can finish one or two big quilts in 2025 

2. Video Tutorial Making Scrappy Mini Pouch

This mini pouches are so much fun to make! The perfect project to boost your sewing mojo! 

3. More Tulip Wallets

This cute tulip wallet is my latest pattern. It's super easy to sew especially for beginners and it comes with video tutorial too. What's more? you can use left over fabrics to create fun one of a kind wallet! 

4. Patchwork Wallet with Keyring

Another personal favorite projects! These patchwork Rosie Wallets are one of the best sellers in the shop. Hopefully I can make more patchwork wallets and bags this year! 

5. Multi Zippered Bag Video Tutorial

I love this multi zippered bag as they are very versatile. Use it as make up bag, passports bag, or even pencil bag! I always carry one when I travel to keep my digital camera and other small essential items. You can get the pattern HERE. 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, reading, and leaving comments. It really means a lot to me. Here's to more fun adventures with fabrics, esp those overwhelming scraps!! May 2025 bring you joy and prosperity! 

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

Block Print Quilted Pouches

Pink Quilted Zipper Pouch

I really love Indian floral patterns, especially paisley! I have a few yards of paisley fabric in my fabric shop that I'm saving for future projects, like this zipper pouch. Just like fashion, Indian fabrics follow trends. I had only a fat quarter of this baby pink paisley left, so I decided to make something quick and easy.

When working with soft cotton fabric, I usually add interfacing, either lightweight non-woven interfacing or all-purpose woven interfacing to give it more structure. And then I added batting and quilted it. I quilted it straight line about 1/4 inch apart. The result is spacious and soft zipper pouch. The size is just perfect to keep in your bag. They are really a multi-purpose pouch, you can use it as a pencil case, glass case, makeup bag or even as a simple zipper wallet. 

Block print quilted pencil pouch

Here are more pouches I made from block print fabrics. The coin pouches with keychains are my favourite to make, and they also make great gifts. My sister picked up a few to gift to her colleagues and they loved it. 

 

Yellow paisley keychain wallet

Block print coin purses 

I have a video tutorial in HERE showing you how to make these coin pouches from start to finish. This is a scrap-buster-friendly project since you literally only need a little bit of fabric. And if you don't sew and looking for a sustainable yet affordable gift, these quilted pouches are available in my ETSY SHOP and WEBSHOP. 

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by!

Have a nice day :)

Elvira

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Simple quilted patchwork table runner

Green Patchwork Quilted Table Runner

Hello, 

This is another quilt project that I recently finished. A simple quilted table runner! When I am feeling uninspired, I like to dig into my fabric stash and found this green fat 16th pack Japanese fabric, which I got long ago from my trip to South Korea.

To make this table runner, I cut the fabrics into 5" squares and decided to make a simple table runner. The finished size is 13.5" x 39" , it's great size for dining table, kitchen table or even coffee table. 

Sometimes simple project is very satisfactory. Nowadays I don't feel like making complicated project, especially quilts. Maybe because I am in my perimenopauses stage now. Although I keep saving a lot of projects on my Pinterest board, maybe one day I get excited to try more complicated pattern again. 

I used cotton batting and quilt it in my Husqvarna viking machine using serpentine stitch. That's another fave stitch! Looking good without too much effort - which I wish I could do the same with my body, hahaha. 

As for the backing, I used this pretty green and yellow floral print cotton fabric. It's local fabric and the cotton is really good. Sometimes we get pretty fabric like this locally, it's 100% cotton, the print and color is good and it's fast color. It's a quilting weight cotton but the width is only 35-36 inches. I used to go to the wholesale market to source these fabrics. I wonder if those shops are still exist because the market was caught on fire a few years ago. 

Anyway, the quilt came together pretty fast and I am happy because I can finish another quilt in one go! I have a few table runners that I need to quilt. Some are simple and some are not. I hope my quilting mojo is not disappear! 

Here's a short video of the process making this table runner! 

The table runner is now available in my ETSY SHOP and my WEBSITE if you are in India. 

That's all for today. Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Have a nice day! 

Elvira

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Quilted Tote Bag

Hello,

It's a bit late for this post, but I just want to write it down here on the blog. Last month, I went to Singapore for a few days. As usual, before I travel, I always have this urge to make a new bag! 

I dug into my fabric stash and found this patchwork print cotton twill fabric I bought from Nippori. Now to decide what kind of bag is another dilemma. I was in two minds between this Batik Bag and the woollen bag (which is my fave). 

I decided to go with the tote bag like the woollen bag. It has gussets on the sides and bottom. I used light denim for the gusset. The colour matched perfectly with the fabric. For the main front and back panels, I just did straight-line quilting around 3/8" apart. And for the gusset, I did curvy lines, just eyeballed them as I go.  On the lining, I used light indigo colour block print cotton fabric that I have in my stash. I added all-purpose fusible woven interfacing to make the bag more structured. 

The tote bag turned out slightly slimmer than the woollen bag.  It still can hold quite a lot of stuff. I did not follow any pattern here, I just made up the bag measurements based on the fabric. I only have a fat quarter and after making the bag, only a few inches left, I am thinking of making a matching mini sling bag. 

I added a key ring on the front handle to hold a small keychain wallet. Although I can actually also use the side D-ring :D. Anyway, the keychain wallet has proven very handy to keep my hotel room key, transport card and small change during my stay in Singapore. 

Here's what the inside look like. The bag has 2 slip pockets for my phone and my reading glasses. It also has a zipper pocket. As shown in the picture below, it can hold my safari passport wallet, the triple zippered bag and more. I sewed a long lanyard inside the bag to keep small pouches so that I could retrieve them quickly. 

Mini pouch to keep my spare camera battery & earphones 

I added D-rings on the sides so that I could attach a long strap and use it as a crossbody bag when I roamed around the city and just remove the strap when I am on the plane. I am quite happy with the size as it's not too big for me. 

That's all for today. Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Have a nice day!

Elvira

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Multi Zippered Bags - New Video Tutorial

I recently made a small batch of Triple Zipper Bags. The pattern I used is the Doitrei Zipper Pouch. A couple of weeks before, I had prepped the fabrics, which were just sitting in my WIP drawer. Finally, they are now done and I am planning to make more for the shops!

Triple Zipper Bags

This time I was experimenting with different types of fabrics. I used linen, cotton and canvas. When working with different types of fabrics, it's important to adjust the interfacing to get the result that you desire. I explained the interfacing I  used in this video. 

This triple zipper bag is about 8" W x 6" H. It's a perfect size to carry around in your tote as a tote organizer. I recently used one for my short trip to Singapore and used it to keep my digital camera, basic makeup, emergency medicine, charging cable and ear pod. It's just so convenient to keep everything in one bag. 

Map Print Zipper Pouch

Floral Travel Pouch

As I was making these pouches, I realized I hadn't done a proper video tutorial, so I decided to record one which hopefully will help to better understand the construction process of this multi-zipper bag. 

If you're looking for an easy gift to sew this holiday season, this Doitrei Triple Bag is an easy and quick project to make for your family and friends. You can use your scraps for more added fun. 

A very handy gift to make for everyone in your family and the bag can be used as a wallet, purse, pencil bag/pouch, travel pouch, make-up bag, etc. You can even add tabs on both sides, add a long strap and it will become a stylish crossbody bag. Use coupon CVG20 to get 20% OFF on the PATTERN only. 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a nice day,

Elvira

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More Tulip Wallets

 

Tulip Mini Wallet

Hello, 

Last weekend, I made more Tulip Mini Wallets. These wallets are just so much fun, easy, and quick to put together, especially if you have fun off-cut fabric scraps. This wallet is pretty sleek and compact, you can slip it into your jeans and hook the key ring on your belt loop. It can easily carry 8-10 cards or a few cards and folded notes. Or just clip it in your small purse or tote bag. 

Pink Blue Floral Wallet

The pattern has two versions, vertical and horizontal. The pattern also included instructions on how to finish the seam in two ways. I did the easy one as shown in the video tutorial. If you have a wrist problem (CTS) like me, don't worry, this one is pretty easy on the wrist :). 

I mostly used polka dots this time because I have a lot of them. I used it a lot in my other projects, so I have quite a lot of off-cuts that I can use to make this keychain wallet. 

Blue Strawberry Keychain Wallet

Blue Floral Mini Wallet

If you're looking for easy gifts to sew, this Tulip Mini Wallet is a great project for you. To make this wallet, basically, you need only 1 fat eighth of fabric, all-purpose woven interfacing and lightweight interfacing. This project is great for beginners as well as seasoned sewists. 

Thank you for stopping by today. 

Happy Sewing! 

Elvira

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