Purses Dominate the Top Ten

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Penny Haren

Purse patterns make up six of the top ten patterns this week. One apron, one table runner, one jelly roll rug and ONE quilt round out the top 10. Maybe calling yourself a quilt shop is an understatement! Your customers love instant gratification and purses are just the ticket! My 17 year old granddaughter wanted me to teach her how to make purses and totes for her friends. What a great way to introduce the next generation to sewing and quilting!

And guess what! All six purse patterns are by Annie Unrein of By Annie. These are quality patterns by an experienced sewist so even beginners are sure to be successful!

CLAM UP

Easy and fun to make, these bags, in five sizes, are perfect for storing and carrying make-up, sewing supplies, tech gear, and more.

The pattern includes complete step-by-step instructions for making the bags with or without quilted fabric and for adding optional iron-on vinyl laminate to make the inside easy to wipe clean. Double-slide zippers and handy grab tabs make the bags easy to open wide and attached side panels prevent contents from falling out. An optional strap with swivel hook may also be added. When empty, the bags nest inside one another to save space.

Finished sizes of bags are as follows:
Extra Small (XS): 2.75in (H) x 3.5in (W) x 2-5/8in (D)
Small (S): 3.5in (H) x 4.5in (W) x 3-3/8in (D)
Medium (M): 4.25in (H) x 5.5in (W) x 4in (D)
Large (L)): 4-7/8in (H) x 6.5in (W) x 4-5/8in (D)
Extra Large (XL): 5.5in (H) x 7.5in (W) x 5in (D)

TWO BIG TOTES

Carry it all with Two Big Totes! This versatile pattern includes instructions for creating two spacious totes—large and extra-large—perfect for everything from beach days and grocery runs to weekend getaways and sewing retreats. The wide openings of these totes make it easy to pack and access your essentials, while a variety of slip and zippered pockets inside and out keep your items organized.

Sturdy, over-the-shoulder handles provide comfortable carrying, and the reinforced base offers added durability for heavy loads. The easy-to-install zipper closure keeps contents secure, and when opened, it falls flat against the tote for full access to the interior. Whether you need a dependable travel companion or a roomy everyday bag, Two Big Totes have you covered!

Finished Sizes:
Large: 13½””H x 16½””W x 6½””D
Extra-Large: 16″”H x 22½””W x 8½””D

ZIP IT UP 2.0

Available in two sizes, you’ll stay organized with Zip It Up 2.0 organizers! An outer zippered closure keeps everything secure, while the quilted exterior pockets on the front and back provide ample space for tablets, e-readers, or other larger items.

These streamlined cases are designed to open flat for easy access. Inside, you’ll find a combination of single and double pockets made from vinyl or mesh, allowing for clear visibility of contents. Elastic straps in the center add an extra layer of organization, perfect for storing tools, accessories, or gadgets. Whether you need a daily organizer, a first aid kit, or a project bag, Zip It Up 2.0 has you covered with its versatile design and convenient features.

Finished Sizes:
Small: 8½””H x 10″”W x 1″”D closed, 10″”H x 18″”W open
Large: 11½””H x 14″”W x 1″”D closed, 14″”H x 24″”W open

DROP ZONE

Multipurpose zippered pouches in three sizes open to create shallow trays that provide great visibility and easy access to contents. Use them to store and carry personal items or a variety of art, office, and craft supplies. Grab tabs make opening and closing easy. The optional hardware on one end may be used to attach a strap or other object.

The pattern includes complete step-by-step instructions for bags in three sizes:
Small: 2½””H x 5″”W x 5″”D when open, 2½””H x 5″”W x 2½””D when closed
Medium: 2½””H x 7″”W x 5″”D when open, 2½””H x 7″”W x 2½””D when closed
Large: 3″”H x 9″”W x 6″”D when open, 3″”H x 9″”W x 3″”D when closed

SIDE HUSTLE

Tired of bulky purses or overstuffed pockets? Meet Side Hustle! This versatile and comfortable crossbody sling bag is perfect for your on-the-go lifestyle. Designed to fit close to your body, it offers secure and easy access to essentials, whether you’re hiking, shopping, or traveling. Its sleek profile even allows you to wear it under a jacket.

With three zippered compartments, Side Hustle keeps your wallet, phone, passport, and other personal items organized and secure. Wear it crossbody, on your back, or around your waist for total hands-free convenience. Plus, customize with two strap styles and choose from two sizes—small or standard—to suit your needs. Side Hustle is your ideal companion for every adventure! It makes a great gift, too!

Finished sizes:
Small: 7″” to 12″”H x 2″” to 7¼”” W
Standard: 7″” to 12″”H x 2″” to 8½””W

ON THE GO 2.0

Small but mighty, On the Go 2.0 is the perfect compact bag for travel or everyday use. Designed with multiple pockets and a secure zipper closure, it keeps your essentials organized and easily accessible. The adjustable, detachable strap lets you wear it over the shoulder or as a crossbody bag, offering versatility and comfort.

Keep your passport, money, or name badge secure in the combination zippered/slip pocket on the flap. Lift the flap to reveal a discreet pocket for your ID and credit cards, perfect for quick access when traveling or shopping. The deep back pocket provides space for your phone, boarding pass, or glasses, ensuring everything you need is within reach. The interior compartment features three credit card slots and ample space for an e-reader, small wallet, and other must-haves. Compact yet spacious, On the Go 2.0 fits all your essentials without weighing you down.

Finished Size: 8″”H x 6″”W x 2″”D

There are Add-on Videos™ available for these patterns. The videos are specially designed to support specific parts of the patterns and help customers learn our best techniques. It doesn’t replace the pattern – it will enhance their sewing experience. To support local quilt shops, related paper patterns include a coupon for the value of the Add-on Video™. This is a $5.00 value. Customers can then use the coupon to get the video for free on the ByAnnie.com website.

Visit our website to see all of the patterns and accessories from By Annie

Easter Basket Pop-Ups

Posted on January 9, 2025 by Penny Haren

Make an adorable Easter basket with a spring inside! Collapses for easy storage. The package includes instructions from Sew Organized Designs, one medium spring, and Craf-tex heavyweight strips for handles. Just add stabilizer and fabric! 8.5″ diameter x 4.25″ high, not including the handles.

And since you will never be able to make just one, The spring is also sold separately.

The pattern is due to arrive later this month – in plenty of time for Easter.

Rope Baskets

Posted on January 7, 2025 by Penny Haren

Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects is a complete craft guide to making stylish bowls, bags, trivets, baskets, and more by coiling rope and joining it together with a simple zigzag stitch! An easy and fun craft to quickly master, this exciting guide features 17 sewing projects and rope crafts with clear, step-by-step instructions, coordinating photography, and expert tips throughout that will ensure success and build your rope sewing skills. Also included are introductory overviews on the basics of sewing with rope, instructions for more advanced shaping, and tons of finishing ideas.

Leisure Arts Quilting & Sewing Learn to Make Rope Baskets Book- Wrap up your miscellaneous items in home made rope baskets with these 8 projects designed to keep your home fashionable and organized.

Each project can be made by machine sewing cotton clothesline into patterns and shapes with endless possibilities. Includes step-by-step project instructions with full color photos showing each step, general instructions and tips and tricks. This book is designed to teach you to create projects using cotton rope at a beginner level, but requires intermediate knowledge of machine sewing. Projects include: rope dishes, lidded pot, one-handled hanging basket, coasters, painted pot, dip-dyed basket, fringed basket and rope tote bag.

100% Cotton Clothesline from The Gypsy Quilter® is the perfect ingredient for the rope sewing enthusiast. Create unique rope projects like baskets, trivets, coasters, table runners, rugs, and more with a sewing machine, thread, and a coil of rope. Wrap the 100% cotton rope with fabric strips as you sew, or keep it plain for a natural look.

The 100% cotton rope is stretch resistant, giving you a beautiful finish to your projects. Comes in a protective plastic bag.

This Cut Loose Press® pattern is chock full of hints for those who have never made a clothesline bowl. The silk adds a touch of elegance and is easy to work with. Each bowl required approximately two bobbins of 30-weight thread, hence the name! One skein of Sari Ribbon and one package of clothesline will make three lovely bowls.

This Cut Loose Press® pattern is chock full of hints for those of you who have never made a clothesline bowl. All you need is thirteen 10-squares to make all three bowls.

The narrow strips are cut with the Creative Grids Stripology XL ruler so cutting it is a piece of cake. A jean or topstitch needle is recommended. Small: 3″ x 6″; Medium: 4″ x 7″; Large: 5″ x 9″.

Why not learn a new craft to start the New Year?

New from Sarah Fulks

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Penny Haren

Sarah’s designs are simply stunning. Her fabric choices and techniques guarantee success. Best of all, most can be completed in a day!

Crosshairs Quilt
This stunning quilt needs six half-yard cuts and your favorite background fabric. Just 12 blocks make this lap quilt! And, since it measures 54 inches in width, a plush 60-inch wide backing will add the awe factor to an already stunning quilt.

Nine Carat Quilt
All you need is ten fat quarters to create this beauty, and it is easier than you think! Piece large nine-patches together, then the magic happens when you sub-cut them and sew them back together in a different configuration. The instructions are written for an oversized throw, but you can add or subtract blocks to make the quilt of your dreams. You may even learn a new technique along the way!

Franken-Patches
Four coordinating packs of 5” squares are used for the main prints of this quilt. The background can be pieced from four 5” square packs or cut from yardage. Or even bust your stash by cutting them from your scraps! The instructions are written for an oversized throw, but you can add or subtract blocks to make it the size you want.

Almost Time
Four coordinating fabrics make this sweet quilt, and yet again, the size is customizable! Try a new technique for creating half-square triangles as you go!

All of these patterns are in stock so place your orders now!

New from Sewn Wyoming

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Penny Haren

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these newest patterns are in stock and sure to make you smile. Create your own “love”-ly drawstring bags, perfect for Valentine’s Day treats! They also work great for birthday gifts, travel, kids, and even small projects. The drawstring closure is very secure and will keep all your treasures safe and sound. A great scrap project! Finished Size: 8″h x 7”w x 2½”d.

Make a statement with our modern drawstring bag, featuring the word “LOVE”. This bold and graphic design radiates positivity and style! Use it as an eco-friendly gift bag, a project bag, a travel bag, and more. Finished Size: 17″h x 14″w x 3¼”d

This fast and easy drawstring bag is made from just (5) 10″ charm squares. It is a terrific way to use up squares left over from other projects. Beginner friendly and makes a great gift! Finished Size: 8″h x 9”w x 2½”d.

Set your creativity to buzzin’ with these darling drawstring bag patterns! These delightful designs feature bee and ladybug motifs, perfect for nature lovers, kids, and anyone who wants to add a touch of whimsy to their lives. Use them as eco-friendly gift bags, treat bags, toy bags, a project bag, travel bags, and more. The pattern comes with instructions for both the bee and the ladybug bag. Finished Size: Bee 10½”h x 7¼”w; Ladybug 9″h x 7¼”w.

This cute, little bag is just perfect for the children in your life. Use it as an eco-friendly gift bag, a project bag, a travel bag, and more. It’s beginner-friendly and a great stash/scrap buster. It’s also a terrific way to use pretty, small-scale prints that you really want to show off.
Finished Size: 10″h x 8″w.

Experience the charm of tradition with our Japanese Rice Bag Pattern. Inspired by the timeless design of traditional Japanese rice bags, this EASY TO SEW pattern allows you to create a beautiful and functional accessory that pays homage to a rich cultural heritage. No set in seams! Finished Size: 11″h x 8″w x 8″d.

Add a little botanical interest to your next project! This drawstring bag pattern features simple backstitch embroidery, and vintage buttons, and looks simply amazing. Use it as an eco-friendly gift bag, a project bag, a travel bag, and more. Finished Size: 12½”h x 8½”w x 2 ¾”d.

Meet your new go-to accessory: The Bucket Bag! This precut-friendly design (mini charm pack) combines functionality and quilty goodness, making it perfect for quilters, sewists, knitters, and crafters. With its spacious interior and unique bucket shape, it easily holds all of your on-the-go project supplies. Finished Size: 10″ x 8″.

Frankly, they are the pefect gift bags for any season so place your orders now!

New from Sew Mariana

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Penny Haren

Hit the ground running with this geometric delight. Hexie Square invites quilters to step into the world of hexagons and make a mesmerizing early-intermediate quilt. It’s precut friendly, best used with fat quarters, and it has absolutely no tricky y-seams or paper piecing.

The half-block offset in every other row creates additional eye appeal.

This pattern is part of the family of patterns that Mariana Diaz designed with her new Creative Grids ruler. This 4-1/2 inch Hexie cuts four different shapes, all from strips, and all easy to follow. Shapes include a 4-1/2 inch hexagon, a 4-1/2 inch half hexagon, a 2-1/2 inch triangle, and a 2-1/2 inch diamond shape.

Gather as many flowers into a bunch in your hands: it’s time for Hexie Bunch! Grab your favorite fat quarter bundle or pick from your stash like picking flowers for a bouquet, before stitching it all together in a piece that will last much longer than a wilting plant. Best of all, no y-seams, no paper piecing, and Hexie Bunch is fat quarter friendly. This is a kind of gardening we can all get onboard with! It will last beyond Spring and Summer! This quilt pattern is a great introduction to hexagons.

Build a tree with hexagons, and decorate it with all your favorite holiday fabrics. Jolly Tree is as straight-forward as hexies can get, repeating the same construction sequence for everything but the simply-pieced base. It’s precut and scrap friendly, plus there are absolutely no Y seams. The grand result, be it scrappy or sleek, will make this the perfect modern quilt pattern to display during Christmas or any holiday season.

What a great centerpiece for any party! All you need is six ten-inch squares and the four B’s: background, border, binding and backing fabric, to complete this darling table runner.
All three units can be cut with the same Creative Grids 4-in-1 Hexie Template: hexagons, half-hexagons, and triangles. Plus, there are absolutely no Y seams. Why not change out the color way for each season?

What a stunning accent! All you need are 14 assorted ten-inch squares to showcase the dramatic hexies in this quilt. All four units can be cut with the same Creative Grids 4-in-1 Hexie Template, and once again, there are absolutely no Y seams. Why not add a splash of color to your home decor today?

Everything is in stock so place your orders now.

New Patterns from Blooming Boldly Designs

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Penny Haren

The Flutterby quilt pattern by Leslie Ryan of Blooming Boldly Designs is fat quarter friendly and features pieced butterflies and blossoms. Traditional piecing methods create this stunner. The finished size is 67″ x 76 1/2″.

Chromatic Blast is a play on the traditional Trip Around the World Quilt. It is so simple yet striking! Finished size is 68 1/2″ x 76 1/2″.

The Metaphor quilt features a series of squares radiating out from a center point. Finished size is 77″ x 77″.

The Color Shift quilt is fat quarter friendly and features pinwheels or windmills with a unique and intricate border. Finished size is 68 1/2″ x 84 1/2″.

May you find that any direction is the right direction with the Prismatic Compass Quilt. 5″ square friendly. Finished size is 53″ x 63 1/2″. Using traditional piecing methods, the pattern includes paper templates for the triangle in a square units. Even though templates are included a Tri-Recs or Triangle-in-a-Square ruler is recommended for ease of cutting.

The Liberty Spin quilt and runner is 5″ stacker friendly and features spinner blocks. Finished quilt size is 54 1/2″ x 68″. Finished runner size is 20″ x 74″.

Visit the Checker Distributor website to see the full line of patterns from Blooming Boldly. The patterns are due to arrive early next month so place your orders now.

Organize your Pearl Cottons

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Penny Haren

I am not the only one that has baskets of Pearl Cottons – and multiples of many! Lisa Bongean has the perfect solution.

This pocket size book from Primitive Gatherings is a log book to help you keep track of your Valdani thread collection, as well as provide some helpful tips on tools and basic stitch instruction. Colored photos will make it easy to know what colors you have or need to purchase for 12wt, 8wt, 5wt and 3-strand. There are also some blank pages to record new colors and pages to record treads used or needed on specific projects.

These books are due to arrive next month and would be a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your favorite stitcher.

New from Primitive Gatherings

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Penny Haren

Here are the latest creations from Lisa Bongean, a variety of Winter an Spring projects:

I Love Snow is a fun table mat with a snowman and trees that could easily be left out all winter long. Finished size is 12″ x 18″

Winter Is Coming is a fun wool applique table mat that has four adorable snowman faces and beautifully stitched snowflakes on it. The finished size is 13-3/4″ x 15-1/2″.

Snowman Winter is fun little wool applique project to decorate for the holidays. The finished size is 11-1/2″ x 11-1/2″

Winter Wonderland Trees is a set of three wool trees that are beautifully stitched. Three different sized trees can be made: 6-1/4″ x 8″, 4-3/4″ x 6″, and 3-7/8″ x 5″.

Coming Home For Christmas is a Wool Applique pattern for three beautiful holiday pillows. The pillows have finished sizes of 14″ x 14″ and 16″ x 16″.

And then there are flowers…

The Flower Table Mat is a beautiful, simple piece that welcomes Spring into your décor. The finished size is 13″ x 13″.

Coat of Many Colors is a wool applique project that will provide hours of joyful stitching. The vast array of colors represented will ensure that this project will never be boring. The finished size is 18″ x 27″.

Follow the Sun contains two beautiful projects. The color combinations on this table mat and pin cushion are just stunning. Finished size for table mat is 14-1/2″ x 22-1/2″, pin cushion is 2 1/2″ x 12-1/2″.

All of these patterns are meant to arrive early next month, so place your orders now.

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