This is the third video in my video series about processing grief through quilting and making my first quilt.

I started my first quilt to deal with grief, thinking it would give me something positive and challenging to focus on. I decided to make a baby quilt for a friend who was moving to another country, and as the stack of blocks grew I started to feel better, but it also made me nervous I would mess up my blocks… My perfectionism took over the project stalled... but their moving date kept getting closer and I had to get going again.

Watch the series on YouTube

This is the second video in my video series about processing grief through quilting and making my first quilt. I'm finally getting in the swing of it and it's wonderful to find solace in the moments behind the sewing machine. Block by block piecing myself and the quilt together. 
Watch the series on YouTube

When my grandmother passed away quilting became a way for me to process my emotions and turn grief into a gift.

This first video of the series is all about the fabric, the saw tooth block and me making mistakes.

Sewing with double gauze can be challenging , but I recently made 25 double gauze napkins with mitered corners and I've made a video tutorial sharing tips and best practices working with this soft fabric.

Tips for Sewing with Double Gauze and Creating Mitered Corners

Double gauze is a wonderfully soft fabric, but its loosely woven nature requires some adjustments. Here are some tips to help you create beautiful mitered corners with double gauze:

Preparation

• Pre-wash Fabric: Double gauze tends to shrink, so pre-wash your fabric to avoid size issues later.
• Check Your Sewing Needle: Ensure your needle is sharp. Run it over your nail—if it snags, replace it. If you hear a thumping sound when sewingor see the tip missing, also replace it.  
• Prepare Extra Bobbins: If you are batch sewing like me, have extra bobbins ready to avoid interruptions.

Cutting

• Straighten the Edges: Press and straighten the fabric before cutting. Pull a thread to ensure you are working with a straight edge and you are working on grain.
• Mark Sections Before Cutting: Measure and mark all sections before cutting. This ensures accuracy and helps in checking measurements. If you miscalculated, you will come up short for the last napkin.
• Pull a Thread to Cut on Grain: After marking, pull a single thread at each interval to guide your cuts along the grain. Time consuming but worth it on double gauze and linen.

Pressing and Folding

• First Fold: Fold the raw edge by 1 cm (3/8") and lightly press. It's more important to keep the edge straight than to measure exactly 1 cm (3/8")
• Press Without Stretching: Lift and press your iron instead of sliding it to avoid distorting the fabric.
• Use Stitches as Guides: If you can see them utilize the small stitches in the fabric to guide your folding and pressing. 

Mitered Corners (these points are best understood watching the video)

• Marking the Corner: Unfold the second fold, leave the first 1 cm fold intact, and mark 5 cm (2 inches) from the corner on each side. Connect these points through the intersection of the creases for a precise line.
• Aligning Edges: Ensure the edges are perfectly aligned before pinning. Pin 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) past the point for better accuracy.
• Sew with Care: Start sewing within a little bit away from the edge, then backstitch to secure. Use tension on thread tails to guide fabric through the machine without pulling.

Final Steps

• Trim and Turn: After sewing, trim the seam allowance to 0.5 cm (1/4 inch), press open the seam using your finger or nail, and turn the corners carefully.
• Final Press: Press the edges again to prepare for topstitching.
• Topstitching: Align the edge of the fabric with the presser foot gap, slow down near corners, and use the hand wheel for precision. Sew over the starting stitches to backstitch and secure the thread.

General Tips

• Take Your Time: Go slow to avoid mistakes, especially with delicate fabrics like double gauze.
• Adjust Techniques: Customize your methods to suit your skill level and preferences.
• Stay Organized: Batch sew and organize your steps to maintain efficiency and accuracy.

I hope that by following these tips, even a beginner can create beautifully sewn double gauze napkins with perfect mitered corners. Happy sewing!

In this beginner-friendly sewing tutorial, I'll guide you through the steps to create a cute mini tote bag that's both fun to sew and functional. I plan to use them as gift bags for books or notebooks. This one fits 2 size a5 notebooks. 

Getting Started

Before diving into the sewing process, it's essential to choose the right fabric. Opt for something like quilting cotton, which is easy to work with and comes in a variety of colors and prints. Additionally, ensure your fabric is on grain when you cut the pattern, though for a small bag like this, perfection isn't crucial. 

Sewing Techniques

We'll be using French seams for this project, which may sound fancy but are actually quite simple and provide a clean, professional finish. Don't worry if you're not familiar with them; we'll walk you through each step. This project is the perfect opportunity to give them a try and practice.

By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a charming mini tote bag that's perfect for carrying small essentials, to use as a party favor bag or as a thoughtful gift(bag) for a friend.

let's create a charming self-closing drawstring gift pouch with just one strip of fabric! In the video tutorial I'll guide you through all the steps. This project is beginner-friendly. 

As you sew, press, and turn the fabric you'll see it, almost magically, come together from just one piece of fabric. Use the bag as a little gift bag or to store some knick-knacks.

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Can you believe it took me less than 5 minutes to cut and sew this pocket tissue holder? The process is not only fast but also incredibly fun. In this tutorial, I'll guide you through the steps, and I'll share the formula to creating a customized tissue holder to fit any packet size. 

Choosing the Right Fabric

I've opted for quilting cotton, but linen is a great alternative. The beauty is that you only need a small piece of fabric, so it's perfect for pretty scraps.

Crafting a Custom Template

To customize the size for different tissue packets, the video includes instructions for custom sizing. I tested this formula on a smaller size, to show how it works.

Watch the tutorial for a detailed guide and start sewing your own quick and easy pocket tissue holders! 

I made this small boxy pouch to add a little bit of padding to my charger and cord that go into my knitting bag. It could also double as a small make up bag for a chap stick and blush. Or turn it into a little gift. 

You can make this tiny box pouch two ways – flat or turned into a cube by boxing the corners. 

I'll show you the step-by-step proces. We'll quilt the fabric, insert the zipper, use binding to finish the raw edges and box the corners. If you don't have batting, you could easily omit the quilting. If you want to give is some more structure without the quilting, use a fusible interfacing or a heavierweight fabric.

Is every new sewer afraid of zippers? I certainly was! However once you get the hang of them they really aren't that bad and scary to sew.

The trick with sewing zipper is to start simple and zippered pouches are simple, don't need a lot of material and if you succeed you'll have a cute little pouch to use.

So In this step-by-step video tutorial, I'll walk you through the entire process, making it easy for even beginners to master.

For this project, I chose materials that strike a balance between weight and easy to work with. A cotton fabric between 150 and 250 gsm should be easy to work with and have enough body to it.

My outer fabric is a 235 gsm cotton from Ikea. As for the lining, I repurposed an old toile made from unbleached cotton. I can 't remember the weight but it's around 140 gsm. 

I let the length of my zipper determine the width pf the pouch. Zipper length (from slider to stop) is 15 cm [6 inches]. The zipper tape total is about 19.5cm [7.7 inch] I used this as the width of the fabric I cut, this way there is plenty of seam allowance next to the zipper ends once I sew the pouch. 

If your zipper tape is shorter, take the zipper length (from slider to stop) and add 4.5cm [1 3/4 inch]. This should give you about 1.5cm [ a scant 5/8 inch] seam allowance next to the end of the zipper.

Finished size of the bag 

• 17 x 16 cm
• 6.7" x 6.3" 

Fabric requirement (seam allowance included):

• Outer 2x : width 19.5 cm x height 17 cm 
• Lining 2x : width 19.5 cm x height 17 cm 

• Outer 2x : width 6.7" x height 7.7"
• Lining 2x : width 6.7" x height 7.7"
  
  

• Gather Your Materials

  Before we begin, make sure you have all the necessary materials on hand:

  • Cotton fabric, look for quilting cotton in fun prints or a light weight canvas. Somewhere between 150 and 250gsm.
  • Lining fabric. Pick a complementary color or pattern. I always have scraps of calico / unbleached cotton on hand so that's what I used. The weight should be light than the outer fabric
  • Nylon or metal zipper with a stop at one end. 15cm [6 inch] 
  • Matching thread
  • Scissors ( or rotary cutter + cutting mat) 
  • Pins 
  • Ruler or measuring tape
  • Sewing machine 
  • An iron preferably with steam. Steam makes the proces of pressing so much easier. Even a cheap one will make a big difference and will work well on cotton.

Are you a beginner looking for a fun challenge to enhance your sewing skills? In this video tutorial, I'll guide you through the process of sewing a lined drawstring bag with a boxed bottom.

This adorable bag, made with cotton fabric, is an ideal opportunity to make the most of  fabric scraps.

The pouch is not only perfect as a gift bag but also ideal for small knitting projects or carrying snacks. Trust me, once you make it, you'll find endless uses for this cute bag!