Zakka Style Itty Bitty Quilt Block Magnets

Are you still sewing along with Zakka Style?

I am...can't believe I'm keeping up

with this pace, but it's so much fun!

{Come along with us...details are at LRStitched!}

This week I made something that I'm keeping

for myself!

{All of my other Zakka Style projects have been listed for sale in my shop on Etsy, eamylove.}

They really ARE Itty Bitty Quilt Block Magnets! 

They finish at only 1 1/2" square!

This chapter's contributor is Nova Flitter,

who blogs at acuppaandacatchup.com.

Go and say hello to her lovely posts!

Adrienne of Little Bluebell  - another beautiful blog - 

has her own version posted this week for the Sew Along.

She has some great tips for this project!

{I'm going to give you my tips, too!}

One of the coolest things about this project is 

that you barely need any linen at all.  

Here is the scrap I used.  

I actually had enough to make all 6 magnets from this little bit!

{I actually considered...briefly...throwing this irregular bit away!  OMGosh!!!}

I cut all my linen pieces out first.

I used my favorite...100% European linen in Oatmeal.

{CONFESSION:  I cut my pieces for the triangles a tiny bit larger than the directions, 

rounding up to the nearest 1/4".  

That allowed me to cut the HST's to the perfect size when I squared them up.}

Next I cut all of my prints...

I kept them organized, in little stacks,

one for each block.

{I used coordinates from my Winter Dresden Quilts project...still a WIP, but coming along.

The gingham is from Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree Quilts.  The floral is from Martinique by 3 Sisters, and on the back I used one of my Winter scraps from Minick and Simpson for Moda.}

The BEST tip from both Nova and Adrienne was to shorten the stitch length.

It made it so much easier to stitch without the wee blocks shooting through my sewing machine.  

I squared up my pieces everytime I could...

BEFORE finishing each block, and AFTER.

{I LOVE this tiny block!}

Here they are, all done.

They were actually pretty perfect!

I was having fun now!!!

{They are not quite flat in this photo.}

You know me...I use Pellon 987F Fusible Fleece by the bolt.

I diverged a bit from the instructions and used that, instead of regular batting.

I thought the blocks looked very sweet the way they were, 

so I did not do the quilting, as the book suggested.

{I can't believe I'm admitting this...I thought about leaving this block out, 

because I didn't feel like  printing out a paper-piecing template.  

Turns out you don't need one!

And this one is now my very favorite one of all.

And it was THE MOST FUN to stitch!}

When it was time to turn the teeny blocks

right side out, I was sooooo glad I'd used the fusible fleece!

It helped to hold my little stitches in place

during this stressful process.

I used Darice Super Strong Ceramic Magnets

inside my blocks.  I found them at a local crafts store.

{I listened to the good advice to make sure the magnets were positioned correctly, 

so they would stick to the refrigerator!}

I love them so much...

{They are as sweet as a dessert!}

Go ahead...try them!

{But these ones are mine!}

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Zakka Style Patchwork Pencil Case

It's Zakka Day again!

{Join us for the Zakka Style Sew Along...

Details are found at LRStitched.}

This week's project was really fun to make, 

and I LOVE how mine turned out!

The Patchwork Pencil Case was contributed by Shannon Dreval, 

who is an American-born designer who now lives near Paris, France.

Her blog, Petits Details, captures her experiences 

for those of us who may never know what it is to visit Paris.

Her images of France are inviting, 

and her photos of vintage fabrics

 and flea-market finds are equally irresistible.

{Photo from Petits Details blog}

Here is my experience with the Patchwork Pencil Case:

It took a lot of self-discipline to choose my fabrics...this project looks so beautiful in all the variations I've seen.  

{That makes it hard to stick to one idea!}

I settled on my Patisserie scraps, from Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.

I have just a few bits from a fat quarter bundle...

they are among my most precious possessions!

{I used the butterscotch and berry tones.}

For the lining, I found a long enough piece of this caramel print.

{SWEET!}

For the outer fabric, I used 100% European linen in Wheat.

{I love the texture!}

I added my "eamylove" label in a discreet spot...

One thing I loved about this project was 
that I finished it in about an hour, including cutting out the pieces.
So simple, right?


{Well...yes, but...}

 I read about the experiences of some others 

and found that "regular" pencils did not fit 

in the finished case,

if the measurements from the book were followed.

That's why I added about an inch to the length of mine.

{Regular pencils DO fit in mine...

but I like the "relaxed fit" that I got 

with mechanical pencils and markers!}

As others have noticed already,

this "pencil case" would also be a beautiful way to keep

crochet hooks or reading glasses handy!

{Want mine?  Visit my shop, eamylove, on Etsy!}

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