Christmas Basket for May

All of my regular visitors know that

this month's Across the Pond Sew Along

theme is BASKETS...

and that I'm trying to make at least one

Christmas-y project

every month in 2013.

I'm all excited that I combined the two goals

this month, when I created my latest

Divided Basket from the pattern by Noodlehead!

Even though most of my projects for Christmas 2013

have used Cherry Christmas fabrics,

I strayed away from those prints,

opting instead for a basket that is more Winter-themed.

{No surprise that I love the ice blue and lime green together.}

For the accent on the pocket and the handles,

I stepped out and used one of my beloved Boho Girl prints!

This basket could be used all winter,

and not just for Christmas.

As much as I like the front...

I really adore the back, with the little trees

and children making snow angels!

{These prints are from 12 Joys of Christmas by Sheri Berry, from 2011.}

I really have this pattern down now...

and it's a source of relaxation for me to whip one up.
It's my new go-to gift project, too.

Last week, I needed a lovely

Mother's Day present for my mother-in-law.

She has pretty peach and blue tones in her kitchen,

so I selected some Buttercup prints

by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.

She loved her present...

maybe she'll use it for eating outside this summer.

It would be great for carrying napkins and utensils.

The back is just as pretty as the front!

I have yet to leave out the pocket detail,

even though that's a suggested design option.

Come back soon...I hope to have at least one more basket project

to show before the merry month of May is over!

Pin It

Zakka Water Bottle Holder

Welcome back to the Zakka Style Sew Along, hosted by

Lindsay of LRStitched!

This week's project, the Water Bottle Holder, was contributed by

Pascale Mestdagh of "Between the Lines" blog.

{You must go and visit her...her bags and other projects are wonderful!}

I'm not gonna lie...I was not really panning to make this project.

I figured at some point I would have to

take a break from the quick pace of

one project each week...

{Who knew I would be missing 5 projects before this one?}

But here in Southwestern Pennsylvania,
it's been a long hot summer already!
Temperatures have been
in the 90's and holding.


Motivated by the heat wave, I've already finished my
Zakka Water Bottle Holder!

{Ta-dah!!!}

Let's get started with the fabrics I used...

I wanted this water bottle for my own use,

so I picked some Strawberry Fields {top}

and Buttercup {bottom} prints,

both by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.

{The European linen I have in Cream

looks just right with the prints!}

I got started stitching, after I read the Flickr group thread,

which warned of a few pitfalls with this project.

I decided to follow the book loosely,

but make the water bottle holder "my way"

using techniques I use when I make my purses.

One thing I did was make the printed outer piece into a divided pocket,

rather than stitch it down all the way across the linen.

I also used Pellon 987F fusible fleece
for the lining, the outer piece, and the pocket.

{I'ts not a big pocket, but I could put some $ in there!}

Also, for the appliqued rectangle,

I made mine kind of big, to show off the pretty contrasting

lining, since it doesn't show up much when in use.

{I used Heat N Bond, and stitched it with a cute zigzag, which made me happy!}

After sewing the "tube" it was time for stitching the "circle"

in place for the bottom of the holder.

This was rather new to me, since I don't make circular purses.

If I had it to do again, I would mark the seam line on the tube

and also on the circle, to match everything up perfectly.

{Here is where I'm going to show you my feet of clay.

It's not very round.  Hmmm...but it worked anyway.}

For the strap, I used both prints,

and I didn't use a turning technique.

Instead, I stitched the two long sides together,

then ironed 1/4" under on each of the other two long edges.

{I stitched near both edges and had this pretty strap when I was done.

I just inserted the strap ends between the outer piece and the lining,

before sewing along the top edge.}

You know, I don't really like water.

But recently I was introduced to these fantastic

flavored concentrates, and I am crazy about them!

{Have you tried them?  Do you have a favorite?

Mine would be the Blueberry Lemonade.}

I think this little holder will be going lots of places with me this summer!

Pin It