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Mariner Cloth Minimalist Wallets

Posted by Anna Graham
April 13, 2018
5 comments

When I first saw Alison post about her new Mariner Cloth collection I knew it was a must-have. The texture! The stripes! The colors! I’m guessing I might have ooo’d and ahh’d out loud even. Alison (and Chen) must have totally picked up on my excitement so they sent me a sweet package of a few of the colors. It’s really so pretty in person and I’ve already got plans to buy more. It’s such an interesting cloth. It’s a loose weave and could be great for so many things! Right away I was thinking some long lumbar pillows or cloth napkins or an apron.

I decided that I’d try it out with some Minimalist Wallets and I love how they turned out. I had fun pulling fabrics and mixing and matching the fabrics, zippers, leather, and snaps. I did make a test run and decided that the Mariner cloth needed just a bit more interfacing for added stability, so I added that to the small wallets and it worked great. I added an layer of SF101 to the second Main Panel and a layer of 809 to the front pocket. For me, it ended up being just right. I love experimenting with different fabrics like this one! It’s a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Plus, knowing a few small tweaks like adding a bit of interfacing makes substrates like the Mariner Cloth just right for these wallets.

I definitely need some of the black and white to make a few pillows for my bed maybe or living room or both! I know my girls would love the Thistle, Eggplant, and Raspberry, too. Hmm, I’ve got some planning to do I guess!

You can find the Minimalist Wallet PDF pattern in my shop, or in my booklet Everyday Essentials (at your local quilt shop or my shop). I have zippers, snaps, and leather, too if you need any supplies.

Mariner Cloth Minimalist Wallets - Noodlehead

a little shot of the linings – pandas and Friedlander

Alison Glass Mariner Cloth is trickling into shops now (including Alison’s shop)! I’ve spotted shops like Pink Castle Fabrics and Fancy Tiger Crafts having it in stock.

my helper 🙂

sewing

B+W Coram Tops

Posted by Anna Graham
March 27, 2018
16 comments

I’m super pleased with this one. Such a great feeling when you make something AND when it feels good when you wear it. I don’t think much tops that when it comes to clothes. Having made a lot of clothes for myself over the past 9 years or so I learn a little bit every time I finish something. I learn stuff sewing-wise of course, but I’m talking more about learning about what types of fabrics I like to wear, what silhouettes I like, and what I might reach for over and over again vs. sending off to a friend or donating.

Coram Top - Noodlehead

The Coram Top (pattern by Indiesew) is pretty much my dream top. I say that because I love a raglan sleeve and I love the hem. Simple silhouette, but with some interesting details that make it more than just a plain top. I’ve been trying very hard over the past 7 years or so to evaluate what I’m keeping in my closet. It stems much further than my closet, but since we’re talking sewing, I’m going to dive a little deeper into my clothes.

Coram Top - Noodlehead

This is such a huge topic for me daily. I think about simplifying all the time, but I still don’t have a definite answer. I feel like I step closer and closer, but I haven’t found that spot yet where I feel like “Okay, I have arrived at the perfect balance.” A big piece of the puzzle for me is that my taste keeps evolving. I don’t have one specific set of rules that makes a great piece of clothing, but two criteria that I know I need in a handmade garment is 1. fun to sew and 2. feels good when I wear it. And I think I’ve definitely found that in the Coram Top.

Coram Top - Noodlehead

It’s a straightforward design with some great details: beautiful shoulder darts, some flat felled seams, great looking cuffs, and a cute split hem. The white geo daisy print is one I purchased from Indiesew right when it came out. You know me, give me black and white with a hint of daisy and I’m on board. I love how drapey and fluid it is! It also made me really slow down when I was sewing, which is probably a good thing. With shifty slippery fabrics it’s good to go slow and take your time, they require a little bit more finesse than something more stable. The black lawn is one I purchased from Jones & Vandermeer quite a while back. I’ve been waiting to pair it with the perfect pattern and I’m so happy with how it turned out, too.

Coram Top - Noodlehead

I don’t often sew two of the same of any pattern for myself, although I do have some really favorite pattens I need to make again (I’m looking at you Josephine Top!). It was also interesting to compare the different fabrics and how there were slight differences while sewing as well as how they look in the finished top. The neckline of the geo daisies I did have to shorten, as Allie suggests, so that was an excellent tip to the get the neckline to lay just right. It feels really great to have these two tops to reach for now in my closet.

Coram Top - Noodlehead

Pattern: Coram Top by Allie Olson from Indiesew
Fabrics: Geo Daisy from Indiesew and Bye Bye Birdie by Atelier Brunette from Jones & Vandermeer

Coram Top - Noodlehead

I’m a member of the Indiesew Blogger Team this year! I did purchase both the pattern and fabrics for these projects, but am being compensated for my blog post. However, all opinions are, as always, my own.

Coram Top - Noodlehead

knitting

Arm Knit Pillow

Posted by Anna Graham
March 21, 2018
6 comments

I did it! I finished my first arm knit pillow. I’m very happy that it’s done, the supplies sat for so long. Until now, that pretty yarn sat on my shelf and looked at me every time I sat down to make something. I had purchased the yarn a couple of years ago, so now there’s a nice big empty spot on my shelf – score! The biggest thing that held me back from getting started was that I didn’t know how to arm knit. I thought it might be sort of easy because I do occasionally knit, but in my mind I made it much harder than it actually ended up being. Of course stumbling upon a chunky knit pillow at Target one day made me almost weep. I thought about giving the yarn away and just buying the pillow.

I ended up using all three skeins of Cascade Yarns Magnum in Ecru (purchased from Jimmy Beans Wool) and followed along with Anne Weil’s Creativebug class with my most focused attention. I watched the main parts of the class at least twice through, and I don’t think I would have finished had I not done the online class. Anne is a great instructor, you can definitely tell she’s taught many people how to arm knit! For me, once I got the basics down, I was able to knit the pillow in maybe an hour? It was hardly any time. Knitting the swatch was super helpful. And the weaving in and stitching up the last parts of the pillow took maybe a half hour more. Pretty spiffy.

My pillow ended up being perfect for a 22″ square pillow form. I just kept knitting until the size felt right. It’s something I’ll keep out during the winter because it adds so much coziness to the room.

I just looked up the link for Anne’s class and she’s got so many fun looking ones! If you’re looking for a high impact project that’s quick, too, check them out. Or her lovely book, too, Knitting Without Needles.

Lately I’ve been trying to think objectively when picking my next projects to sew or knit or make. I’ve been working this first part of the year on a couple of new patterns, YESSS!!! One will be coming out this fall and the other will be a FREE pattern coming out sort of soon I think. So just recently I’ve been able to take a better look at my personal sewing projects a bit more. Anyway, since I’m anticipating moving all my work items to my studio this fall, I’ve been trying to clear out some of the older supplies and works in progress that I can finish up before the move. I honestly really dislike this part, some projects are abandoned that I’ve simply lost interest in. I hope to sort through them and move them along to someone who might be able to use them. So all that to say I’m glad this project is done! yay!