sewing

New! The Yarrow Wristlet & Pouch Pattern

I am so excited to introduce to you my newest pattern, the Yarrow Wristlet & Pouch pattern! It feels like such a long time since my last pattern, so I’m happy to start off with this fun and useful pattern in the new year!

NEW! The Yarrow Wristlet & Pouch pattern

This project is fun to sew! If you’ve been stuck in a rut – sewing the same type of zippered pouch over and over – I think you’ll love this pattern. It’s a fun way to take your pouch making to a new level – with a curve! It uses small pieces of fabric (each size can be sewn with only two fat quarters (18×22″) which comes in really handy if you’ve been wanting to try some fabric combinations but don’t want to commit to a larger project.

NEW! The Yarrow Wristlet & Pouch pattern

Along with having some really fun design details, it makes a great gift! The Wristlet is perfect for running errands or using as a wallet in a larger bag (I’ve been using mine in my Sandhill Sling – it fits perfectly without getting lost!). The Pouch is great for a smaller wallet or to keep small items organized – plus it’s soooo cute! The wristlet has an interior zippered pocket and card slots, and the pouch has a pocket and one card pocket to keep everything tidy and easy to find.

Click here to purchase, grab your copy today through Sunday (January 16th at 10pm CST) for 20% off! No coupon code needed.

NEW! The Yarrow Wristlet & Pouch pattern
Wristlet Interior featuring card slots and a zippered pocket

Here are some of the Yarrow’s features:

  • two fun sizes to sew! Wristlet and a Pouch!
  • take your pouch making to a new level with a fun curve! This pattern is geared for an Intermediate level sewist! (read on for more details)
  • uses small pieces of fabric – perfect for using up those Fat Quarters in your stash!
  • both sizes include interior card slots and pockets, the Wristlet includes an interior zippered pocket
  • Wristlet is perfect for running errands or using as a wallet in a larger bag
  • Instructions included for making wrist strap from fabric or leather!
Cute little Pouch interior! Features a pocket and card slot

Click here for more information and to purchase!

Today through Sunday (January 16th 10pm CST) pick up your copy for 20% off!

Project fabric details:

Pattern: Yarrow Pattern (in two sizes, Wristlet and a Pouch!)
Fabric: Wristlet is Dry Oilskin (Merchant & Mills) purchased at Oak Fabrics in Chicago, IL. Lining it Kitchen Window Wovens by Elizabeth Hartman for Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Pouch is Quarry Trail (printed on Robert Kaufman’s Essex) designed by me, lining is Ruby Star Society (I believe it’s by Melody Miller) purchased at Stitch Supply Co. in Eau Claire, WI a few years back.

I have a bunch more samples to show off! I used a twill fabric for one sample, and it worked out so beautifully. Can’t wait to show you! Quilting cottons will work for the pouch exterior, too, although a bit heavier like Essex is preferable. It’ll definitely be a fun pattern to play around with different substrates!

Can I sew this?????

Skill Level:

This pattern is suitable for intermediate sewists. It can be kind of fiddly (as a lot of small projects tend to be) and takes some finesse. Is is totally doable for anyone who’s up for a bit of adventure. Here are a couple points to check in with yourself about your skill level:

  • Do you feel confident and comfortable with a basic zippered pouch? Are you ready to try something new/different?
  • Are you confident with your topstitching skills? and curves?
  • Do you like the adventure of working with zippers?

If you answered YES to these, I think you can make the Yarrow!!

And be sure to sign up below for when the video sew-along begins! I’ll walk you through step-by-step.

Looking for supplies?

I do want to mention that YES!!!, you can absolutely use zipper-by-the-yard (#5 coil is best!) for this project! I’m working on getting some to add to the shop, but for now shop at places like Zipper Valley, My Handmade Space, etc. I also used Janelle’s plastic coil 24″ zippers (Emmaline Bags), they work beautifully – all you need is to shorten the zipper!

Thank you so much for your support! I can’t wait to see your Yarrows! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@noodlehead531) and use #yarrowwristlet or #yarrowpouch and #noodleheadpatterns

Want to sew along???

Lastly! I will be hosting a sew-along for this project with full videos! Click here to sign up for the sew-along. Beginning on January 27th I will be sending out a weekly email (starting January 27th, and each Thursday through February 10th) with a complete video sew through.  See you sooooon!

sewing

2021 was an interesting year

Whew! 2021 was a year that seemed to fly by, but we made it! A look back through my camera roll and pictures always helps me to see what exactly happened, it’s getting to be a bit of a blur.

On the personal side of things, my family had a full year with sports being back in action. We’re heavy into soccer and so that makes Spring and Summer (add Fall as well!) plenty busy. I was so grateful to be able to watch them grow as humans and team mates. During most of the year my husband and I were whole-heartedly involved in building our new house. We moved in just before Thanksgiving and whew, what a wild ride. We’re all thankful to have wrapped up the majority of that project!

2021 was an interesting year (mosaic) - Noodlehead
Some of my 2021 projects!

Business Stuff

If you know me, I love interior design. So of course I was deeply involved in the design aspect of the new house and I think that’s partly why I didn’t develop much for patterns during the latter half of the year. The other reason is that I just plainly didn’t have the inspiration or motivation to work on that type of work! I guess after 12 years, if there’s anything I’ve come to know is that I can’t force it. It does leave me feeling a bit disconnected, but I’m starting to feel the weight of anxiety lift and am hopeful that things will feel a bit more settled as the year goes on.

However, and this is a big one, 2021 was my busiest and biggest year in business yet. It did help that you all have been so supportive and enthusiastic about the patterns that I’ve produced over the last few years. So thank you for making it the best year yet! I also finally hired an assistant to help in my studio. And wow, what a relief! I didn’t know how helpful that would be – and is!

2021 Recap

A quick recap on the year would include releasing a new pattern, the Firefly Tote! I also hosted video sew-alongs for the Sandhill Sling and Firefly Tote! I had so much fun, but I did feel quite burnt out by the time the Firefly sew-along had ended.

In the shop, I did manage to add some fun supplies this year, including lots of colorful drawstring cord (for the Firefly Tote), chicago screws, and more!

And lastly, I will again be offering a scholarship for our local high school. I’m excited to award that to a local aspiring artist/entrepreneur in the Spring!

New Fabric Collection, Around the Bend!

Around the Bend fabric collection, coming June 2022!
Around the Bend fabric collection, coming June 2022!

Sorting things out

I can’t forget that I also spent a huge chunk of 2021 working on my newest fabric collection with Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Around the Bend (shown above). From design, to color, to sample sewing, it’s a wild ride. I can’t say it’s easy or lucrative, but I do enjoy the variety it brings! Around the Bend will be making its debut in the late Spring/early Summer (that’s when it’s scheduled to start arriving at quilt shops around the world!). I’ll be sharing more of the projects I made using Around the Bend in just a few months! Thanks for hanging in there as lead times for fabric production in general have increased even more! And I am so looking forward to seeing what you make with Around the Bend.

So even though I FEEL like I was terribly unproductive this year, I DID do a lot. I honestly didn’t realize it until I wrote this post! I can get really down on myself for not being organized enough, or having a solid plan for the year, or not being here enough in general. But I am looking forward to things to come. It’s all part of the roller coaster of doing creative work I guess.

Lookin’ Onward

I didn’t want to wrap up the year end post without talking about doing some sew-alongs! Now that I’ve got a few under my belt, I have a better idea of how much time and effort goes into making them. I want to make sure I’m giving you the best quality content I can offer while also having the ability to produce new work . With that said, have tentative plans to host at least two this coming year!

In the coming months, I am planning a website/shop refresh. It’s been a while since I’ve done a website update and I love giving new life to this space.

And if you made it this far, thank you, to those who read these posts – I appreciate you more than you know! I wanted to let you know that a NEW! pattern is coming up in just a few days. yayyy! Very excited about it and hope you love it!

It is with deep gratitude that I give thanks for the sewing (and knitting!) community we have ALL built. I honestly can say that I never would have envisioned that I can do this creative work as my job! To be a witness to YOUR creative work is something I’m constantly in awe of. Thank you for your support, comments and encouragement over these past 12 years that I’ve been in business. TWELVE YEARS! It truly means everything!

If you’re new here, stop by and check out my previous year-end posts from 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Hope you enjoy the look back! Each year I pop over and read some of those old posts, what a great way to reflect on things!

knitting

Frank Ochre Knit Socks

Well, if you’ve read my blog in the past few years or so, you might have seen a few knitting projects come though! I love following knitwear designers, I love yarn, and I love the beautiful things you can make. I however, am a very slow knitter (I don’t mind that one bit) and only knit when the mood strikes. So sometimes a project takes me a very long time – like these Frank Ochre knit socks!

Frank Ochre Knit Socks

I adore this color! It’s warm and happy and perfect for fall and cheerful for winter. I think I finished them in the summer sometime on a car trip, but stuffed them back in my knitting bag and forgot about them.

Frank Ochre Knit Socks

I’m So Basic Pattern is so good!

I used the I’m So Basic pattern by Summer Lee Knits. It was wonderful. Like honestly, the perfect sock to knit. If you recall, I knit my first pair of socks during the first summer of COVID, so it was pretty easy to keep knitting away on them. I did struggle with understanding the toe-up concept with that pair, but I managed and the socks ended up a little wonk, but hey, I made socks! So I was determined to get a pair of socks made that I would wear, and I jumped on the Summer Lee bandwagon when she released this very generous free I’m So Basic sock pattern that includes tons of helpful photos and tips and videos! yay!

So here they are in all their winter glory! Just in time before a huge snow storm here! Thanks for joining along on my blog, I appreciate each and every comment and bit of encouragement. I’m hoping to get my next sewing pattern out very soon. Keep an eye out for that, I’ll be sure to post about it here on my blog.

Sock Details

Have a great weekend! 🙂

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