CHEZVIES

Bag Interfacing and new videos

2022-09-02T12:04:00.001+05:30

The past few weeks passed very quickly! I have a couple of videos up on my YouTube channel and the most recent one is about bag interfacing for bag making in India. Yes, I am still getting a lot of questions regarding bag interfacing, and even though I have posted about it on the blog HERE and HERE, I thought a video will help, especially for those who just venture out into bag making in India.

All about bag interfacing in India Video

After watching the video, if you still have any questions, simply leave a comment on my YouTube channel and I will try my best to help you out.

ALSO READ: Wallet Interfacing Secret Guide

******

I also finally upload the video for the zippered tissue pouch and made a couple of small pouches for gifts. These pouches are very handy and useful. I always carry one in my bag to store lipstick and tissues, and also a few emergency medicines (I have allergies) and even sanitary napkins. You can make these pouches using scrap fabrics and it really doesn't take much, plus they make pretty small gifts, especially now the festive season is coming. You can find the pattern HERE.

Zippered Tissue Pouch Video Tutorial

Zippered Tissue Pouch

I hope you find the videos helpful. If you have any questions, simply leave a comment or two!

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a nice day

Elvira

--------------------------------

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

--------------------------------

First time mending a quilt

2022-08-05T14:14:00.000+05:30

I mend a quilt! This is the first time for me. I watched a lot of quilt mending videos and I particularly love the visible mending one. This quilt was on my son's bed and last week I took it out for washing when I noticed there's a small tear.

After inspecting it for a little while, I then re-attached the border first, where the stitches came off using a slip stitch. I took a video below while I was working on it.

I used a yellow dyed fabric from my scrap bins. I tried searching for the same fabric but could not find it. And it was a pretty humid day, so I did not want to waste my energy looking for a small scrap piece.

The tear was only on the top of the quilt. So while mending it, I did not sew all the way through the backing. Now I am thinking, maybe I should? What is your opinion?

After washing it, I noticed there are a few places where the stitched came off, so I will mend those in the next week. This was a quilt made from quilt bee blocks, some blocks are sewn with longer stitch lengths. I suppose that's why the seam easily breaks.

I am pretty happy with the result, though! At least for now it will do. If you watch the video, please let me know what you think and what I should keep in mind while mending a quilt.

********************************

And I have some exciting news! As I wrote a couple of months back regarding my fabric shop, I am happy to announce that I am back! I have been taking stocks of what I have and have been busy creating exciting one-of-a-kind fabric bundles. Also, I am able to find a few resources so that I can provide a more competitive price and better service. So more pretty Indian fabrics are coming to the store soon!

For international orders, shipping on ETSY is only via FedEx at the moment. I offer flat rate shipping for now.

Here are a few that are already in the stores:

ETSY | WEBSITE

Check all the collection of fabric bundles in my ETSY and WEBSITE

Cutting fabrics and making bundles always boost my sewing mojo. I have a couple of projects in mind, some Kawandi projects and also 2 hand quilting projects. I think I will make a couple of videos as I am working on it. I started this one but I think I will re-do the quilting. Maybe doing Kantha style. Let's see.

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

______________________________

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Hand quilted scrappy mug rug

2022-07-14T11:36:00.001+05:30

Making hand quilted mug rug video

I made this teal mug rug a couple of weeks ago. Still use the green and teal scraps from my scrap buckets and I cut them into my fave square 2.5" x 2.5". The size is rather biggish - the finished size is 7.5" x 11.5". I think it will be great as a mug rug or mat for smaller tables, side tables, etc

This scrappy mug rug is very easy to make. All you need is assorted 2.5" scraps and you are good to go. And if you prefer you can always machine quilt it but I love to hand quilt it in the kawandi style. That is quilting from the outside edge first and moving inwards in a circular way. The effect on the reverse side (if using solid backing) is just beautiful. Plus with hand quilting, the quilt always turns out softer.

I made many small quilts that I quilted this way and here's one that I recently did. I keep a bunch of ready-to-quilt small items near my computer table and I can easily pick them up and quilt away as I am catching up on the Kdrama or Cdrama!

Rectangle Coaster Set

For the scrappy mug rug, I used Indian mul mul fabrics for the patchwork and poplin cotton for the back. I added a thin fleece batting, sometimes I used cotton batting too. I made placemats in the same color hues earlier.

Placemat set of 2

Don't you love the effect of this big stitch quilting style on the back? This can easily become a reversible mug rug!

If you've been thinking to start learning about hand quilting, you may want to start with this kind of big stitch quilting and you don't have to start with a big quilt! I wrote and uploaded the video about what needle I used and the process in THIS POST

That's all for today, thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

******

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Mini Trifold Wallet Video Tutorial

2022-07-08T21:08:00.001+05:30

Midori Wallet Video Tutorial

Finally, the video tutorial for the Midori Wallet is up on YouTube and I am happy to cross one list from my to-do list! A few days ago I was cutting a Wonderland fabric to make a small bifold wallet for order and I had a small piece left, which is just perfect for the flap part of this trifold wallet. So I went ahead and cut another set. It's still on my RTS (ready to sew) box. I hope I can finish it by next week.

Get the Pattern on ETSY

Midori wallet is pretty easy and quick to sew. Also, it doesn't need a lot of materials. The wallet can hold 6 cards and more. I personally carry about 4 cards and nowadays in India mobile payment via Google Pay is very common. You can even purchase candies and Gpay it. And during the lockdown, we always bought most of the things online and now I sometimes forget to carry cash when I go out.

Zipper Pocket

Wonderland Trifold Wallet

If you love a minimalist wallet, this project is perfect for you. The pattern comes with full-scale templates that you can print out at home. Do let me know if you make one or if you have any questions. I'd be glad to assist you.

Thank you for stopping by,

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

*****************

Linking Up to these wonderful BLOGS

******************

Scrappy Table Runner

2022-07-03T11:19:00.001+05:30

Scrappy Table Runner

Finally another finished quilt! Nothing fancy, just a simple 25-patch table runner. It's been on my mind for a couple of weeks to make a simple scrappy quilt in blue. I pull out a couple of blue fabrics and came one with this table runner.

I only used 1 jellyroll strip from each blue fabric to make this 14" x 38" table runner. Practically we only need 5 jellyrolls for the main patchwork, 4 jellyrolls for the background, and half a yard for the backing. Now I know what to do with the leftover jellyrolls!

Blue fabric bundle

Blue Quilted Table Runner

On the back, I have this pretty blue and white floral Kota cotton fabric. This print is my fave. I had one in green and I made it into a tunic. Ha!

On my center table

And here's the green runner. I used the leftover from the jellyrolls race quilt I made two years ago. I love the combination of green and teal in this one. The size is just perfect for a center table to maybe the foyer table.

I have a couple of Kawandi quilts to finish and also more scrappy quilts in my WIP bucket! And of course wallets and other stuff.

Nowadays I really enjoy making shorts videos and uploading them on Youtube. Shorts videos are easier because I can edit them on my phone. Although I enjoy making longer videos, it needs more planning and of course editing. For now, I just do what I can and when I can, at my own pace.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

Elvira

==============

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Sewing Faux Leather Mini Crossbody Bag

2022-06-29T08:26:00.001+05:30

The most FAQ regarding the mini crossbody phone bag is "can I make it with Vinyl or Faux Leather?"Absolutely! So yesterday, I made one for myself and also recorded a short video as I sewed.

Sewing with faux leather is pretty fun, meaning I cut fewer materials and the result is always looking great! I used high-grade sofa leatherette that I bought from a local furnishing shop. It was pretty expensive but it's worth it! It's just the right thickness, pliable and a dream to stitch.

A few things to keep in mind when making this bag with Vinyl is to skip the interfacing and batting. So basically you cut fewer materials! Unless the vinyl is thin and soft, you might want to add lightweight interfacing for that.

Another thing is to always double stitch the seam.

Faux Leather Bag

For the detachable long strap, I cut 2" wide x 58" Long faux leather. The finished strap is a little wider than 0.5" wide.

As for the D-ring tab, I cut 2 of 0.5" W x 2" H faux leather. Put them on the wrong side together and just top stitch along the edges. I still have a lot to learn about sewing with faux leather. I have a couple projects in mind, but I still keep procrastinating a lot!

Well, I hope these few tips will answer your doubts in case you want to sew the phone sling bag using faux leather. Do let me know if you have any questions, I will try my best to help you.

Until next time,

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

===========

Linking to these wonderful BLOGS

Slim Zipper Pouches

2022-04-13T22:03:00.000+05:30

Slim Pencil Cases

I have not done much sewing since Ramadan started but I have a few projects that are ready to sew when the mood strikes and I have time. Yes, bacthing your work does help! I have many projects (mostly wallets and small bags) that are ready to sew now.

Today I finished these 3 slim pouches. I've always wanted to make these pouches. They are so useful to keep a few pens or digital pens, ear pods, or even brows and lipstick, and eyeglasses.

I used the small size template from the Trapeze Zipper Pouch pattern and added 2 inches length-wise. I placed the template 1" away from the fold and then cut the fabric piece accordingly.

I created the templates in such a way that's easier for you to resize them. Just like these pouches. Here's the comparison with the original size. They are so cute!

Watch Now: How to make a quilted zipper pouch

These pouched are quilted and my current fave is walking foot style quilting. Well, I am using my Jack sewing machine so I do not really use the walking foot. But the Teflon foot that I am using works out fine.

I added a wooden zipper pull using the suede string. I have a couple of suede strings I bought (impulse buying) from Amazon, and glad I can use them.

Striped Pencil Pouch

Ikat Pencil Case

Block Print Indigo Pencil Case

This is a super-duper easy project that you can sew over the weekends. I have the videos for the quilted version and the faux leather version on my Youtube Channel. I am thinking of making a couple faux leather slim pouches next, maybe sometime next month. Right now, a lot of things going on, and my mind is sort of all over the place. First thing firts!

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

*************

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

_________________________________________________

Use code CVG20 to get 20% off on the Pattern Only

Finish Quilts - Finally!

2022-03-21T08:27:00.012+05:30

The past few days I've been busy spring cleaning (and it's not done yet!). The weather is pretty peculiar this year. We had chilly weather throughout February and turned pretty dry and hot in March. And it's pretty dusty too. I usually start packing winter clothes and duvet around April, but this time I am doing it early. Yesterday, all duvet is washed and kept away today.

I have two quilts that came back from Tina at the Square Inch. The first one is the ground cover quilt top that I did 2 years ago. The top was quite big but Tina suggested making it bigger if it's meant for my elder son, who is 6.1' tall. After a few chats over WhatsApp, we agreed on this green border and black and white bear for backing! I used mostly scrap from wallets and bags, and I am glad I did. I still have lots of scraps that I don't have the heart to throw it away. When I look at this quilt, I can't help remembering what stuff I made with those fabrics.

I really love the emerald green fabric that Tina suggested. It really framed the patchwork well. For the backing, I chose the bear print fabric and love it!!

The second quilt is the Jellyroll race quilt in Batik. I think I finished the quilt top back in 2019 when I was doing this quilt. The JR was a gift from my BFF mbak Belly when we first met in Jakarta years ago. At the time, I just started learning about patchwork and quilts. I finally decided to make another Jellyroll race quilt with it. Once I did the top, I was still undecided on what to put for the border and backing. This part usually takes me so long to decide. And when I sent it to SQI and had a discussion with Tina, we decided to use Indian batik for borders and backing. The Square Inch has good collections for Indian Batik. Definitely, 2 heads are better than one, right?

The quilts are washed and now in use. I may need to make another one for my son when he goes to college, but still undecided what pattern to use. I took out one batik JR and also Indian fabrics in the shade of blue. Let's see which one will I finally make first! Just waiting for the idea to strike.

Blue Fabrics

What are you planning next? Do let me know in the comment below.

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Sewing!!

Elvira

********

Linking up to these wonderful blogs

New Video Tutorial - Passport Card Wallet

2022-03-18T16:05:00.001+05:30

Voyage Passport Wallet

Hello,

As promised in my previous post, finally the video tutorial for the small passport wallet is up on my YouTube channel now. And as I edited the original pattern to add the link, I also gave a name to the pattern. Well, I am really not good at giving names but then, as I make more patterns, I suppose it's inevitable for me to give a certain name. This time, I go with the simple name Voyage Passport Wallet. I plan to update the original pattern with better photos when I get the time, so please bear with me.

In the video, I cut the pattern pieces slightly bigger than the original one, because I want to use it for Journal Cover like in my previous post

For the zipper version, all the basics remain the same as the original pattern. If you want to make it with zipper closure, here are the additional materials to cut/change:

✓ Cut 2 - Medium or All-purpose interfacing for main exterior and lining

✓ Cut 1 - Fleece Batting - the same size as the main exterior

✓ #5 Zipper – 24” Long (based on the continuous zipper that is cut to size)

✓ Bias binding (follow THIS TUTORIAL)

Without further ado, here's the video :

If you're new here and wondering about the interfacing I used in my wallets, I wrote my secret guide for interfacing in THIS POST and THIS POST. My suggestion is to keep experimenting until you find the combination that you like the most. In the hydrangea passport wallet above, I used all-purpose interfacing for the main body and using medium interfacing for the sleeves' base. The wallet turned out softer and I can even fit it with more passports - up to 4 passports and it still closed nicely.

I made another Voyage Wallet with Snoopy Print as a custom order. Some of the crafters, DM me on Instagram asking how to do bias binding nicely. As I mentioned in my previous post, before cutting the binding (cross-cut or bias), make sure the fabric grains are straight. This small step is very important to get a good finish. And of course, practice! Practice makes improvement. Sometimes even I had to rip off the already sewn binding because I didn't straighten the grain nicely and resulted in sloppy finish.

Zip Around Passport Wallet

Another question is, can I use cross-cut binding instead? Yes, you definitely can. I made a couple of passport wallets with zippers using cross-cut binding. It will be like the usual wallet binding, like in THIS tutorial. When you want to use cross-cut binding for a zipper wallet, do not CURVE the corners. I will make the video next time when I am working on a wallet binding.

Here is a few Ohana Passport Wallet I did for a custom order.

Mitered Corner binding

Cartoon Print Passport Wallet

I hope the video and a few tips above help your journey in the wallet making. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

*****

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

_______________________________

Happy Women's Day - Let's empower women!

2022-03-08T11:47:00.006+05:30

Yourstory

Happy Women's Day to all the wonderful women!! On this women's day, I've been honored to be featured on Yourstory.com Women's day edition. A few days ago when Disha from Etsy India sent me the questionnaire, I was sitting on my computer thinking what should I write? I am just an ordinary mother of 2, doing what I love the most in my spare time from one of the corners of my home. But when come to think of it, most of the mompreneurs or women entrepreneurs that I personally know, started the same way, from one corner of our homes.

Oh yes, we have many up and downs stories and I am glad I have a circle of craft entrepreneurs friends in my city that empower each other. Truly, I would not have met them if I was not in Etsy.
Today, I'd like to give a shout-out to them, thank you girls for always being there for me!

Achumi from Treasured Elements, I met here 20 years ago when I first came to Guwahati. She was my makeup artist during my wedding!! We lost contact for many years, and finally met up again a couple years ago and this talented girl, now a self-made Jewelry designer. She mostly works with silver and precious stones and has her products displayed at Guwahati Airport and several stores in Northeast India.

Manisha of MrbWatercolor is a watercolor artist and is the first Etsy seller from Guwahati that I know. We chatted several times on Instagram before we met in person a couple of years ago. I love her style of watercolor painting (I got a couple of them!) and of course, her popular watercolor paints that she sells on her Etsy shop.

I first met Meenakshi from Rustic Origin during the Etsy event in Guwahati in 2019. She's a friend of Achumi's. We shared a common interest in fabrics and hand stitching. She loves doing boro sashiko and dyeing fabrics. We met a couple of times, and always planning to meet and do some sewing and quilting together. She runs her Etsy Shop, Rustic Origin Shop, where she sells woven loom home decor from Northeast India.

When we met, we talked about the hustle we have to do, the challenges for selling online now compare to a few years ago from shipping to compliance with the latest government regulations, to the worries for our children, etc. You know the real talk and we often forgot to take selfies! But here's the photo of us from 2019 just before the pandemic started.

Do visit their social media or Etsy shop whenever you are free. Yes, there are always untold hustling stories behind those pretty photos on Etsy and Instagram. For every woman who reads this blog, I hope you can be inspired to pursue your dreams. It's never too late to start doing what you love, what makes you happy! Whether it's a hobby or a business. Just do it!

Happy women's day!

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

----------------------

My Latest Video

-------------------

WOMEN'S DAY SALE

Use Coupon WOMENSDAY and get 20% off on all products

Wallets, Quilts and Bias Binding Tutorial

2022-02-22T12:19:00.000+05:30

In the past few days, I've been busy making a few wallet and placemats orders. I got a couple of passport wallet orders in the past two months. I think now that travel around the globe is eased, many people started to travel again.

This time, the zip around small passport holder seems quite popular and as usual, whenever I make for an order, I cut one extra to add to my shop. Because I am working solo and nowadays hardly have time to sew, this way I can add a couple of new designs in a month. Also, I will always have projects that are ready to sew. Although sometimes it takes days to finish and sometimes I can finish 2 wallets in a day. Well, as long as I can sew, I am a happy girl!

Ah, I also recorded the video tutorial for this small passport wallet - which hopefully I can finish editing and put up on YouTube this week.

I often got questions regarding bias binding. For beginners or someone who never makes or use bias binding, it can be a daunting task. There are a few ways to make a bias binding but this traditional method is my fave because the binding always turns out perfect.

In this video, I made DIY bias binding using FAT 8 fabric (9" x 22"). The rule of thumb is, you must make sure the fabric grains (warp and weft) are straight. That way you will get nice and crisp bias tape.

Please check the video below. I hope the video is clear enough. If you have any questions, you can contact me or leave a comment below.

Here are more fabric wallets recently done and a couple of them are on their way to the new home. I love making this classic bifold wallet. My first wallet was this bifold wallet and even after washing it several times, it is still in a good shape. The interfacing and padding did make the wallet sturdy and did not lose its shape.

GET THE PATTERN HERE

******

And here's the medium scrappy placemats I recently finish and sent out. I hope they will be received well. As a maker and seller, nothing more rewarding than a happy customer!

I kind of love these medium-size placemats and I have a couple more to finish hand sewing the binding before I put them up in the shop.

I also experimented with different quilting lines on my Industrial machine. I tried doing FMQ after watching a couple of YouTube videos where people do freehand machine embroidery using a similar machine as mine. Well, guess what? I worked! I will try in my next project and hopefully can share a few tips with you all. Stay tuned!

Scrappy Placemats

FMQ Trial

*****

On the 16th, my SIL and I went to a wedding in a village nearby. It was great fun for both of us. And of course, I love watching how the folks are having a great time at the party. In the village, a wedding party can last a couple of days (2-3 days) from morning to midnight. People from all around the village and nearby village will keep streaming in, sitting and chatting. I love to see the young girls dressing up to the latest Bollywood trend.

And of course, I enjoyed the ride through different small towns and villages. Since the harvest season is just over, most of the fields are dry now. But it was a lovely day!

The bride and the bridesmaids

Henna - a must in every wedding!

We also went to the market last week. We went saree shopping for one of our helper's daughter's wedding next month. Of course, I wore a double mask even a lot of people are not wearing masks now since the state government announced that all pandemics restrictions are lifted off.

I really enjoyed looking at those colorful sarees. Even though I don't wear colorful clothes myself, looking at those bright colors, makes me happy! And no, I did not buy for myself, I only went to my regular fabric shop to get denim material. I suppose to go look for Mekhla (Assamese dress) border for my kawandi project but it was getting late, so maybe next time!

That's all for today. I hope you enjoy reading my blog. Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment or two.

Until next time,

Elvira

******

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

What's been going on

2022-02-12T23:30:00.001+05:30

We're almost in the middle of February. The past 2 weeks, I was pretty busy, and even though I have so many things I want to write somehow I do not get the time to do.

First, I got back muscle spasm, hence I cannot sit or stand for too long. I am resting as much as possible and also doing a couple exercises and now I am feeling much better.

I ordered a watercolor painting from Nusrat when I met her a few months ago and she painted it so beautifully! Thank you, Nusrat! I have this beachfront photo that I took when we visited my mom's hometown, Makian Island, in Ternate a couple of years ago. The picturesque island holds great memories. It was our first visit to the island and also met many of my cousins, nephews, and nieces. Some of them I met for the first time!

On February 5th afternoon, suddenly we got a hailstorm which was pretty heavy! It was so fascinating to see the yard turning "snowy" white. The last week of January and the first week of February were unusually very cold. And then suddenly this! People in town are pretty excited as this never happened before. The flowers and vegetable garden was ruined but that was a pretty exciting experience.

Another news is the mall next to our house is finally open. Not fully open but at least Pizza Hut was open for online ordering. That's really good news as we have one more option to order in. The area where we live is becoming to feel like a satellite city now. New shops and malls are coming up, in one way it's good that we don't have to spend 3 hours just to get a couple of stuff from the town. I hate going out nowadays especially since the flyover construction is going on nearby. It takes even longer to the city.

****

Last week, I took a Chikan Embroidery Online Work Shop with Saba. It was on my list to learn. I was really excited about the class. Chikan embroidery is a traditional embroidery from Lucknow and is still very popular. I LOVE Chikan embroidery and I have a few sets of kurtas and stoles of Chikankari.

Chikan embroidery is traditionally done on white or pastel colors thin fabrics, like muslin, and with white thread. I did not have the thread that is traditionally used, so I used regular embroidery yarn here.

Although some of the stitches are the same or similar to regular embroidery, I am so excited to learn the stitches' names in the traditional Chikankari terms. Listening to Saba tell us the story of how they came up with the name and some historical background of the design while we were embroidering away was fascinating. 3 hours went by in a flash!

I still have to practice a lot and Saba gave us a couple of designs for us to start. But first, I must get a white muslin or maybe Kota cotton.

Katey Stitch

***

I went to the Guwahati University Post Office last week to send an order to Australia. This is the second time I came to this PO. Since the rate for FedEx and DHL to Australia is too expensive, I started sending packages to Asia and Oceania by Post. It took about 30 days from here to Australia by Speed Post (EMS). The package is trackable but I suppose due to the flight restriction, most packages, even via FedEx experiencing some delay. The PO is not too crowded, so it was nice to go there instead of going all the way to the main PO in town. The officer in here is also more efficient so the process was pretty quick. I hope they keep it up, now that India Post started international services again. And of course, I always like the drive to the University.

A couple of handmade goodies I sent out recently

Extra Spacious Face Mask

Family Passport Wallets

Small Passport Wallet

Gauhati University

And today was the son's farewell party in School. The program was set in the morning and I love to see the boys and girls dressing up. The girls mostly wear Saree and they look really gracious and the boys look dashing in their suits. My son spent 13 years in Sarala Birla Gyan Jyoti Guwahati. I remembered how he used to be very shy and hesitant to start a conversation. Thanks to the teachers and staff in SBGJ now he grew up to be a confident young man, with a clear goal in mind for his future. Insha Allah he will start going to college next fall and we have been going through a lot of discussions choosing subjects, etc. And yes, I do feel anxious and excited for him at the same time. He is going for a big leap this year, will start a new journey et al. My younger one, who is more sensitive, often asks me how I feel about his elder brother going away for college. And when I said, sometimes I feel sad, he said " can you imagine how Nenek (my mom) must have felt when you decided to come here". Ha! I did not see that coming!

Anyway, the party is over now and the boys have to start studying for the Term 2 exam next April. And we still have a lot of things to do. Wish us luck!!

Until next time,

have a nice weekend!

Elvira

****

Linking up to this wonderful BLOGS

NEW Trapeze Zipper Pouch with Video Tutorial

2022-01-31T10:08:00.002+05:30

Trapeze Zipper Pouch

Hello, I'm so excited to introduce you to my newest pattern Trapeze zipper pouch. I always love stackable pouches, but I want something different. Well, I love making zipper pouches for myself or for gifts and this Trapeze pouch is just perfect for that. The 4 pouches are simply great for organizing your stuff whether to use them while traveling, for school or office stationaries or going for sewing /quilting gatherings. And when you don’t use them, you can simply nest them together and store them!

I made it in 2 different versions, faux leather and quilted version. The original idea was just for 3 pouches, but one of our testers, Daryl from Patchouli Moon Studio suggested adding XL size and I thought why not! Thank you, Daryl!!

Faux Leather Pouches

The pattern has 15 pages written in English with detailed photos, diagrams, instructions, and also several templates.

While I wrote the pattern using the quilted version for the pictures, I also included a video for sewing with faux leather and a couple tips about interfacing. Yes, I finally get to use the faux leather/leatherette! I've been experimenting for quite some time now and I will write about it in my next post!

Nest them when not in use

Quilted Zipper Pouch

Here are some trapeze features:

1. 4 sizes to store your stuff. The pattern pieces are designed in a way that you can scale them up or down easily (more of that in my next post!)

2. Learn to sew in a curve (the easy way)

3. You only need half a yard of each material to make 4 pouches.

4. Video tutorials for both quilted and faux leather versions.

5. Make a great gift for basically everyone!

I made a couple of trapeze pouches in fabrics and faux leather too. I will share them in my next post when I'm done with the editing parts.

If you just started learning sewing bag or pouch and want to up your game by sewing on a curve, this Trapeze Zipper Pouch is totally doable for you.

Get the pattern HERE for SPECIAL PRICE through Wednesday!

I also would like to thank my fantastic tester team, for their feedback and suggestions. Check the photos below and click through the link under each photo to check their other works!

Last but not least, thank you so much for your support! I can't wait to see your Trapeze Pouches. Please tag me on Instagram or Facebook if you make one.

Until next time,

Elvira

******

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

******

Some quilting and sewing

2022-01-23T20:24:00.000+05:30

Mini Quilts

Hello, how are you doing? I've been busy with many random things the past few weeks. I share this scrappy mini pillow on my Instagram a few weeks ago. I made it for fun and to test hand quilting using cotton thread which I got from the local shop. The mini pillow is for wrist pillow when I am working on my computer. And I just had fun while taking photos. Hmm, I think it can be a doll pillow too.

I also finished a couple of wallet orders and face mask orders too. Thank you for always supporting handmade! I know there is a lot of more pretty stuff out there that is cheaper and prettier, so I am truly grateful when someone chooses to buy my handmade instead. It really means a lot.

In the past 2 years, the e-commerce business has really boomed and the online market is flooded with all kinds of products. And of course, the competition is tougher too. It is a very challenging year but I believe that if we create with heart and sincerity, it will pay off. I always try to move forward at my own pace. Although sometimes, I got caught up in the 'rate race" of social media. I think we should not lose focus on our goals, things that make us happy. For me, to be able to create something and share my knowledge makes me happier. This reminded me of one quote from one drama I watched that goes

" you cannot just move forward and leave your heart behind".

This statement stuck with me for a few days, trying to make a sense of it. What do you think of the quote?

Mini Zipper Wallet

Ikat Family Passport Holder

Singing Face Masks

I started another Kawandi pillow too and this is the current state! I am still not able to get time to continues as I am currently working on my next pattern! I hope I will be able to release the pattern by end of next week.

There are so many things I want to learn and experiment with. Well, I did a couple of experiments that were halfway done and stashed in my WIP box. I think I will just make a video and show you all what's on my WIP box one day.

Kawandi Pillow WIP

I also went with my son for his IELTS tests last week. The place was near my fave shop, so I went there (after 2 years!) and a pick up a couple of kurtas. I can't resist Indian print tunics!

And when you saw the window with patterns that remind you of quilting lines, you must take a photo! Yup, that was me, taking a selfie with the window :)

looking out

The weather is pretty chilly and dry these past few days. My MIL's flowers are blooming beautifully this time. No, I can't grow plants. Somehow, they always die when I try to grow one. LOL.

We also got a new baby calf yesterday.

Thank you for stopping by! Wherever you are, please take care and stay safe!

Have a nice day,

Elvira

*******

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Hand Quilted Skinny Table Runner

2022-01-04T23:33:00.003+05:30

I started this skinny table runner a few months ago, but I only finish hand quilt it yesterday. Well, as usual, a lot of distractions along the way. The day before yesterday after I finished my wallet's orders I thought I'll start another Kawandi pillow but then I saw this runner and thought " let's get this done first!"

Still in my favorite design from Suzuko Koseki's book and quilted it in kawandi style. I want to make a bigger one but not sure if I can do the hand quilting. And I'd love to hand quilt it. For now, it will be on my bucket list. I will practice more now.

By the way, if you watch Margareth Fabrizio's video that I mentioned in the previous blog post, I saw that she was holding a small pillow when she was quilting and I also saw the Siddi ladies were doing the same. I thought maybe that will make my hand /palm less painful (I have a CTS problem). So I decided to make one and have been practicing when I was working on this table runner. And yes, my hand feels more comfortable. It takes a little time to get used to it but I liked it.

Now that is done, I can start the Kawandi Pillow that I want to start. Somehow doing Kawandi is relaxing and I can sit and just sew without worrying about anything else.

Skinny Table Runner Details

Pattern: from Suzuko Koseki Book "Modern Quilts"

Fabric: Indian Shotcotton / Handloom

Batting: Cotton Batting

Thread: Anchor #8 Pearl Cotton

Ah, today I learned a new saying from one of the dramas "sometimes we have to walk slow, to let our body catch up with our soul". I did some googling and found this article by Beth Bruno "Be Still; Your Soul is Trying to Catch Up With You" on Medium. Here are a few lines that I can totally relate to:

"Sometimes life comes at us so fast and furious we have no time to sit with our souls and check-in." Beth Bruno

"Remember that your list will still be there tomorrow. And many of the things on it can wait. In fact, some things on that list don’t matter at all, when you really examine them. But your soul needs you. And you need it. Take time to reconnect as often as you can. You will be glad you did. - Beth Bruno"

Thank you for stopping by today.

Have a nice day!

Elvira

******

Linking up to this wonderful BLOGS

Best of 2021

2022-01-02T18:26:00.004+05:30

Hello and Happy New Year!

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Design holds an annual "Best of " blog post and I thought I'll join this year. It's some kind of Instagram best of 9, but in the blogosphere, we can always go back to read the full stories.

Looking back in 2021, here are my best 5 blog posts:

1. Let's make a charming quilted pouch - 1338 Visit

This free basic pouch tutorial was made for Love and Healing Swap in Desi Quilters Facebook Group.

2. Potholders from Scraps - 802 visits

Another Video Tutorial from A Swap - We really had fun making potholders.

3. Adding 2 in 1 Zipper Pocket - 750 visits

This one was an additional tutorial for adding an exterior zipper pocket in a wallet. Make sure to watch the video too.

4. Kawandi Quilt Finish - 630 Visits

This is my personal finish quilt in 2021. A lot of learning!! And of course, another fave is my new Kawandi Pillow!

5. Kawandi Style Mini Wall Decor - 611 visits

The quilt was not a Kawandi quilt but I quilted the Kawandi style. It took me a while to finish this and I learned a lot of things in the process.

In 2021 most of us learned how to live amidst Covid with its new variants that keep emerging every few months. When I looked back at my Best of 2020 blog posts, most of the posts were about Face Masks. And now face mask is part of our must-have accessories, if I may say so.

Thank you to everyone who visited my blogs, commented on them, and encouraged me throughout the years. Also, the wonderful bloggers who are hosting linky parties every week and give us a chance to read and learn from other bloggers, from different niches! I love reading blogs even though I don't always leave a comment.

This year, I don't have any specific plans, but I want to learn more about Kawandi, Kantha, and more hand quilting. Also sharing more tutorials and video tutorials. On the family front, as the son is going to college this year, Insha Allah, so there will be a lot of focus on that front too. So, let's just do our best this year!

Until next time, stay creative and stay healthy!

Elvira

************

Linking up to:

Meadow Mist Designs Best of 2021

Quilting Patch

and these wonderful BLOGS

Kawandi Lumbar Pillow - New Video

2021-12-27T23:08:00.003+05:30

Kawandi Pillow Cover

When the stars aligned, I can finish the Kawandi pillow in 2 days! LOL. I bought the lumbar pillow form sometimes in November and keep thinking to make a quilted pillow cover for it. So a few days ago, I was like why not make the kawandi pillow cover? So I took out these purple and emerald/teal scraps which I keep near my cutting table. As usual, many ideas played at the back of my mind, I thought I will just cut the scraps in 5" charm size and will just go along. But after I cut the charm pieces, I left with different sizes of leftovers and decided to use some of those too.

Handquilting and Catching up on my Kdrama

I documented the process in the videos below. In the first part, I talked about the thread and needles that I use. Hopefully will help those who are in India and wondering what materials to use and where to get them. Really you do not need much to start a kawandi quilt.

Materials:

The Kawandi Quilt Top should finish approximately at 12" x 18"

For the Kawandi you need assorted scraps of your choice.

Quilt Backing: 2 layers of cotton fabrics approx. 12.5" x 18.5", I cut bigger because it shrunk after the quilting is done.

The PILLOW backing has 2 parts:

The top part is 12" x 5.5"

The Bottom Part: 12" x 12"

All-purpose zipper #3 - 12" long or so.

Note: In the video, I cut the pillow backing longer but in a way it's good. Make sure the backing after putting the zipper is the same size as the top.

In the second part, I showed how to make the pillow. It's super-duper easy! The pillow closes with an exposed zipper in contrast color. I am so obsessed with this color combo!

I hope you find the tutorial helpful. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I will be glad to help you.

If you want to know more about Kawandi, make sure to watch Margareth Fabrizio Interview on Youtube! I really admire her passion and courage!

The year 2021 is certainly a learning and experimenting year for me, I am looking forward to more learning adventures in 2022. And kawandi and kantha is definately on my top list to explore more.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Elvira

****

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Busy Weeks

2021-12-19T13:31:00.003+05:30

Indian Fabric Bundles

I've been very busy in the past two weeks following my decision to discontinue selling fabrics. After checking my stocks, I decided to create another Webshop, just for fabrics. Since I have many varieties, I thought it will be easier for the buyers to check in one website instead of messaging me on Instagram or Facebook. It will be an easier and cheaper option for me to have a full catalog on one website. What do you think?

I will try to finish importing all the listings from Etsy by the end of the month, as I plan to discontinue selling fabrics there from January 2022 onwards. Many of my friends asked me WHY? Well, frankly, I started selling fabrics just for FUN and as I am getting more buyers, I don't really enjoy it anymore. I just want to do more sewing and quilting as I don't see myself being a full-fledged fabric shop owner in the future.

I got the idea from one of the blogs (sorry I forgot, I will put the link when I recall it) about destashing by offering Pay Shipping Only. I listed a couple of embroidered applique motifs and they are sold out in a couple of hours. I will be adding more as I have a few ribbons and what's not from my dressmaking days.

Setting up a new website ( I use Ecwid) is super easy as I can start selling within a few minutes. However, importing listing, photos, and writing details take a bit of time. I'm working on it for a couple of hours in the morning in the past few days and in the evening I work on my orders and WIPS. Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand!

Here's a couple of sewing that I completed these past few days!

This passport holder was ready to sew a few weeks ago! So happy to finally finish it. I still have a couple more to complete. Meanwhile, this family passport wallet is available in the Shop now.

Ohana Family Passport Wallet | Pattern

This small wallet is one wallet that I never get tired of making. You can find the pattern with the video tutorial here.

Small Fabric Wallet

NUNO SMALL WALLET

My sister in Indonesia also asked for more face masks, so I'll be making more of this breathe easy face mask and sending them to my sisters and my mom.

International shipping is pretty challenging in the past 2 years. And the most recent one was that for now, India Post will not send mails to US and Canada until further notice. As a small business owner/Etsy India sellers, this is really a big blow for the business, since most of us rely on India Post for cheaper shipping rates. For now, there's a major delay delivering orders even via FedEx. I've been sending orders via DHL Express in the past weeks. Even though it is more expensive but it is more reliable.

I wish Etsy will have a better Delivery Setting. Just like on my Website, where I can set up shipping to certain countries with multiple shipping options. Buyers can choose the shipping that fits their budget.

Kids face mask with head loop

So that's all that kept me busy in the past weeks. Now I need to take a break, enjoy some slow stitching and maybe make Indonesian Satay for the boys :)

Thank you for stopping by today, have a wonderful day!

Elvira

*******

linking up to this Wonderful BLOGS

Priority and Clearance Sale

2021-12-09T15:22:00.001+05:30

Fat 16 Scrap Bundle

I've been thinking about this for the past year since the pandemic started. So many things going on in my life right now that I need to prioritize. I really really enjoy going to my suppliers, discussing fabrics, choosing fabrics for my Etsy Shop, and also preparing orders for my customers. But just like the saying, good things must come to an end.

After discussing with DH and a couple of friends, finally, I decided to discontinue selling fabrics and put everything on sale in my Etsy Shop until the stocks deplated.

Well, I feel a little sad, but also relieved to finally made up my mind. I feel more at ease now eventhough there are a lot of works still need to be done. There are a few fabrics that are more than 5 yards in stock and I have more smaller pieces which I plan to create fabric bundles. Now, I have to set up a few days in a week to sort out the stocks. In fact I'm looking forward to this activity. Cutting and making fabric bundles are so much fun.

Fat 16 Mix Bundle

Stash Builder for Kawandi

For International shipping, I offer Flat Shipping via FedEx or DHL express for US, UK, Canada, UAE and EU countries. For Asia Pacific, I will use India Post - International Tracked Package service that is more economical. Shipping is still pretty challenging with new covid variants keep on emerging every few months. But at least the postal service has resumed the international services.

If you're in India and wish to purchase the fabrics, please message me on Etsy or Email me to get quote in INR. I disabled the Fabric category in my Webshop to make it easier for me to keep track of the stocks by only put them on one platform. Because I cannot send to EU countries from my Website (related to the IOSS regulation), I decided to put everything on Etsy.

VISIT CHEZVIES FABRICS

What's next?

Now I hope to have more time for sewing, quilting, learning and sharing. I have a long list of things I want to learn and explore more especially in quilting and traditional quilts. They said, you need to close the door for God to open another one for you.

I truly appreciate your love and supports all these years and I'm looking forward to share more of my sewing and quilting journey with you.

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

Hello December

2021-12-04T12:05:00.000+05:30

my home studio where all the sewing happens

My December started with a lot of blessings. First, Tina Katwal came to my city and she visited me! I was so excited when she told me a few weeks ago. Finally, I get to meet the leader in our Desi Quilters (the biggest Quilt Guild in India). We've known each other for almost a decade on Facebook. She's an accomplished quilter and entrepreneur. Her studio, the Square Inch in Chennai is literally our go-to shop for anything related to quilting or sewing! Online and Offline. It was really an honor to meet her and hopefully, I can visit her in the near future.

We talked about quilts and more quilts and a lot of plans for the Desi Quilters activities. I really admire her passion to take Indian Quilter society to the next level, from managing the group to organizing the India Quilt Festival. The first Quilt Festival in India and also showcasing Indian Quilts in several cities in India. Kudos to her! Do check out her Facebook Page or visit her Website to see more.

Thank you Tina for the beautiful gifts!

The second thing is I woke up to an email from Etsy that I'm a star seller for the month of December. Wow, I really did not expect this! There are a lot of opinions when Etsy first launch the star seller badge and honestly, I still have a mixed feeling about it. Especially as a handmade seller who creates the product from scratch by myself. It's really a nice surprise and a good feeling as the badge is a validation and recognition of your hard work and services. Thank you for all your supports! I would not be able to achieve it without your love and supports!

Sewing wise, in the last couple of days, I finished quite a few wallets, for orders and stock. This family passport wallet in world map print is pretty popular and from these two wallets, only one is available now in the shop now. I still have a little bit of map print fabrics, but I think I'm going to make a new family passport wallet for myself. We need a new one anyway!

Map print family travel wallet

Don't you love these cute zipper ends?

I love this linen floral print wallet so much and I am using one myself. It's also available in Blue with the same beige combination. Nowadays I made more zipper closure wallets and I love it too. Especially I love using a single tape zipper. You can check the tutorial HERE (for the family passport wallet) or HERE for the mall wallet.

I am still following the time blocking plan and frankly, it makes me more focused and relaxed, especially with a lot of things are going on right now. I still have a basket full of WIPS but I am working on it slowly, as time permits. With the combination of time blocking and batching, I am sure we can be more productive.

The lake near my sons' school

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

*****************

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

*****************

Kawandi Quilt Finish

2021-11-28T13:43:00.003+05:30

Kawandi Quilt

Finally, I finished the Kawandi QAL! I said that I am not good at following QAL but this time I did it and I am pretty proud of myself. Even though the quilt is not big, but this is the first bigger quilt that I pieced and quilted by hand. The finished size is about 19" x 42".

If you're on Instagram, you can see all the progress I put up in my Instagram Stories. Especially when I do the motif. I really love the motif and upon seeing Brinda Ma'am's kawandi, I really want to learn more about making the motif.

I learn a lot of things while working on this Kawandi table runner.

1. Batting or no batting?

Well, if you following the Kawandi Quilt hashtag on Instagram, you can see the Kawandi are making a comeback in a big way this past year! Many that I saw are using batting and so I wanted to try. But the problem is I ended up with a bulky batting in the center as I am finishing it. I thought I should not have a problem as I've done many small quilts which I quilt the Kawandi Style, including this Batik quilt.

For this table runner, as it is done in the quilt as you go style, I found that the batting - or least the needle punched batting that I used, is stretched in the process. Which did not occur in the quilts that I made using pieced top. So, I carefully cut the batting and overlap it. This solves the problem!

So, my vote will be no batting! Also, working without batting like in the first Kawandi I did during the workshop is so much easier on my fingers. Also, it will be a perfect summer quilt!

2. Don't worry too much!

Brinda Ma'am keeps reminding us to let go. Let go of the urge to do perfectly matched colors, the even stitches, perfectly straight lines. The Kawandi is about embracing imperfections and being proud of them! In the end, your quilt will reflect your personality. Your mood while you're making the quilt, your state of mind. I did unpick lines of stitches in the beginning, as I go along, slowly I was able to accept that it is OK if the stitch length is not even, it is OK to reinforce the stitches even if it looks odd.

Imperfectly Perfect

Learning Kawandi, first, we must unlearn all about quilt making, be it the color theory, the matching seam, the quarter-inch seam, etc. Don't worry, it will turn out unique and beautiful!

In this table runner, I mostly use leftover fabrics from making fabric bundles in the shop and also, a few pieces from my kurtas' sleeves. During summer, I usually cut off the sleeves of my quarter or long sleeve kurtas and keep the cut pieces.

I recorded a video as I was working on this quilt for my own record as well as a reference. In the video, you will see how I bury the tread in different ways. Do check out the video and let me know if you have any questions. If you want to learn to make Kawandi Quilt, you can contact Brinda Ma'am via her Facebook Page.

Now, I have one small Kawandi WIP and thinking of starting a bigger one, maybe a single-size quilt. It's going to be a long-term project. I really enjoy doing the hand quilting and wonder why took me so long to try it.

Featured on Handmade Monday!

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Happy Quilting

Elvira

******

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Facing Binding for Quilts

2021-11-21T10:23:00.003+05:30

Table Topper

For the past 2 weeks, I've been having trouble accessing my business emails which I purchased from Google Workspace. It was started when I created another email in Godaddy for the newsletter. After back and fro chat with Godaddy's agent and doing some reading, finally, I understand that we cannot create different emails from the different email providers. I wish I knew!

I apologize to those who tried to reply to the newsletter or email me regarding your orders and bounce back. If you like please resend your email. I also added a backup email so that I won't miss any important emails. Hopefully, now the emails will all be back to normal and I can focus more on the work at hand.

Source: Pinterest

This week, I'm able to finish 2 table-toppers still in my fave pattern - the one from Suzuko Koseki's book (I call it moonshine and valentine). I've made and sold a few in different sizes in my Etsy shop. This time, I decided to use a red poinsettia print and a green cotton handloom combo. Added a mustard yellow stripe in the center.

Also, instead of hand quilting, I decided to do serpentine quilting on my Husqvarna Viking machine using the golden thread I got from the swap last time.

Another new thing I tried this time is instead of the usual binding, I did facing binding!

What is facing binding?

A facing is similar to a binding on a quilt, except that it's turned completely to the back so there is no visual line around the edge of a quilt. (source: We All Sew)

I love the clean look of these table toppers. Binding is great to finish a quilt but sometimes I don't want to spoil the look especially when the quilt has a different color on the outer border.

I used a 1.5" wide binding strip and also tried a 2" wide binding. The end result? I prefer a 1.5" wide binding as it gives a narrow binding on the back.

Serpentine quilting with golden thread

facing binding

I have a few more small quilts in the same pattern in the WIP stage that I plan to hand quilt. Now that I have 3 C-dramas to catch up on, I should be able to finish the quilting before the end of the year.

Even though it's been a pretty stressful week regarding the email things, but I'm happy to finish a few on my WIP list. Time blocking really helps! Last week, we went to a wedding party for the first time. My SIL's nephew got married. it was a small occasion but felt good to meet and greet people in person after almost 2 years!

The boys' board exam also just started and as the weather is getting cooler, the younger one needs a new set of winter clothes, so we went shopping!

And one more thing, I made a sofa cover! Upcycle from my old Kantha quilt. It's removable and I can easily take it out to wash and put it back again. Now, this corner looks cozier :). I still need to make the sofa's back cushion covers though. I am collecting ideas on Pinterest right now!

Dotty Purse

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a great week ahead.

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

******

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

******

Placemats and New Books

2021-11-13T22:57:00.000+05:30

Patchwork Placemats

I made more placemats! Not really make a dent in my mini charms bin but I'm pretty happy with how these placemats turned out. Mini charm is my most fave pre-cut and t is also my mood booster. When I don't feel like sewing anything, I just open the mini charms bins and start piecing.

As I started piecing, all sorts of ideas come into my mind but I decided to make a couple of placemats. The placemats finished at approximately 12 x 15 inches each. The pink ones are slightly smaller.

I thought of making all charms for the top, like this one, but decided to make it differently. So I added borders on both sides. For the mustard yellow placemats, I used Indian block print fabric for the patchwork and handloom cotton for the borders. On the back, I used pretty paisley print glace cotton in a matching color and quilted diagonally. It turned out very soft!

Mustard Yellow Placemats

As for the pink placemats, the fabrics are mostly leftover from wallet and bag projects. I used cotton poplin for the borders and the backing. As usual, black and white striped binding when I could not decide what binding to use.

I love to use these placemats as a center table mat too or to put in my side tables. My MIL used in her dressing tables. They do make the room brighter and I always love to see the quilts being used.

Pink Patchwork Placemats

Patchwork Placemats

OK, let's talk about quilting lines. My fave of course is serpentine but sometimes I am just too lazy to set up my HV machine! I always end up using my Jack machine and doing either grid, diagonal, or organic wavy lines. Hmm, it's time to read WALK - Walking foot quilting book by Jacquie Gering again!

OK, I admit the downside of the digital era is even if you have the books, ~~you~~ I still first go to Pinterest or Google.

Recently I bought 2 books! First is Raina Gillman's Create Your Own Improv Quilt which I bought after watching her video on Youtube. And I am glad I bought it cos there are a lot of basic things to learn from the book.

The second one is Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy's Shot and Stripes. Well, the book is packed with knowledge. I decided to buy it because I love working with shot cotton fabrics (even though not the Kaffe Fassett brand).

Sometimes, we see the preview on Amazon and the quilt looks simple and then think "I can do that too" but actually there are a lot of small important details (at least to me) in the book. However, there are many books that have a preview of attractive projects but very little "educational" information, and some even do not have "proper" tutorials. I feel like this kind of book is only for visual pleasure, which we can freely get from Pinterest or Instagram. What do you think?

But I still love buying books, especially Japanese Craft or Quilt Books. They have detailed diagrams (which I personally prefer), full-scale patterns, and also additional step-by-step photos. And of course the visuals!

What about you? Do you love buying craft books? Let me know in the comment below!

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

Elvira

*******

Linking up to this wonderful BLOGS

Learn to Time Blocking

2021-11-07T22:49:00.003+05:30

Time Blocking Tips

I learned about time blocking recently as I always struggle to manage my "working time". Running a small business from home means everything is mixed up. Sometimes I barely have time to do my work, or most of the time, I left my work half done.

What is time blocking?

Time blocking is a time management method that asks you to divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task, or group of tasks, and only those specific tasks. Instead of keeping an open-ended to-do list of things you’ll get to as you’re able, you’ll start each day with a concrete schedule that lays out what you’ll work on and when. (Todoist.com)

For someone who cannot stick to a plan like me, this time blocking method helps me to focus on a single task.

How to start time blocking?

1. First, find out the time when usually your mind is free to do your craft. As for me, I prefer to sew in the evening when everybody relaxes. This is when my mind is also free from other chores that I need to do.

2. Set this time to do Admin Work like editing the listing, taking photos, packing, and sending orders. Oh yes, running an online business is a LOT of work! And set time to do "batching work". I like to do admin work before noon. Find the time when you usually have a little free time after lunch to do craft-related work, like cutting fabrics, fusing the interfacing, etc. I also set a siesta time for an hour!

Packing Fabrics

Mobile Sling Bag

3. Set a theme day. This is where you work on specific tasks. As a creative person, mood plays an important role. There are days when I don't feel like sewing. By setting a theme day, you can break down the boredom from doing the same thing every day. I set twice a week to work on my fabric shop. like making new bundles. Cutting and folding fabrics always bring my sewing mojo back! Or I set time to clean my sewing room once a week! You know, putting the fabric away, sorting out scraps, etc.

Indian fabric bundle

4. Limit social media time. I mean the time when you mindlessly look at memes and funny reels. Well, I do love doing that too! So, I'm trying to do a "social media diet" now. I block 2 times for social media but insert a little time here and there. Like when I wait for the food to get cooked, I use the time to catch up with my social media posting, like creating reel videos or stories. I'm so grateful for these easy-to-use apps like Canva and InShot, creating a beautiful post is so much easier with them. The 2 blocked times for social media, I use to schedule posting in Pinterest and Twitter, either using Buffer or Tailwindapp.

5. Don't be too rigid and most importantly, enjoy what you're doing. Go out meet friends or have a good day at Spa. Well, we also need to pamper ourselves, right? Like last Monday, I went out with my SIL to the mall. The girls at MakersHub were having a craft exhibition in City Centre Mall. I think the last time I went to the mall was around the end of December 2019! So it's been almost 2 years. It was good to be able to go out and about, feels like a pre-covid era but with a face mask. Nowadays most malls, shops, and offices still make masks mandatory.

Speaking about face masks, I made a few snug-fit facemask orders. You can download the template for free HERE and watch the tutorial on YOUTUBE.

Fitted Face Mask

What Apps to use for time blocking?

I'm using Google Calendar app on my phone. You can use other apps whichever you're comfortable with. Why google calendar? Because I found it simple to use and I can get reminders on my phone or desktop without installing other apps and also you can personalize it by adding color to a specific task, like in this video. I am still using my daily journal to write down a list of works I have to get done in a day for my reference.

my Journal

With time blocking, I can multi-task but in a more organized way. Even if I only have 15-30 minutes of the time I blocked for a certain task, at least I am making a little progress because I only focus on one particular task. It is better than no progress at all. I started this method recently and I surprised myself with how much work I can get done without stressing over it.

I have projects which are ready to sew which sitting on my cutting table for some time now. Since I started time blocking, I am able to finish two wallets, a couple of patchwork placemats, and also make progress with my Kawandi QAL.

As a mompreneur, it is not easy to divide the time. Family and home always come first, but with this time blocking method I hope I can work better and smarter. How about you? How do you manage your time between your small business and family?

Thank you for stopping by today,

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

********

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Potholders Swap

2021-10-31T13:19:00.003+05:30

Hello, I hope everyone is doing fine. It's the end of October already. The past few weeks, I have not done much sewing, cos my spondylitis is giving me trouble again. The therapist told me to stop working for a couple of weeks and exercise more regularly. The latter I'm still struggling with. Ha!

But I managed to finish the potholders swap for our Desi Quilters Pot of Gratitude Swap. It's now received with so much love. Thank you, partner!! Well, working with the mood board assigned to you is pretty challenging. I was assigned this cool mood board by Kuppulakhsmi.

It took me a couple of days to think about what would be the best fit. I browse Pinterest and Instagram and even made a couple of blocks that I thought would work out, but it was not. So I add those blocks to my PHD bin. I decided to make mini granny square blocks, using 1.5" squares and the color palette in the photos. Well, some shades and added green to brighten it. I found the blue bird print in my stash that is perfect for backing.

WATCH NOW: HOW TO MAKE SCRAPPY POTHOLDER

And I also got my swap package from Preetha. When she posted the pineapple potholders in the group, I sort of know it's for me but I was not sure. So I'm very happy when they arrived with all the other goodies she sent. The color thread cones are fantastic. I've been searching for one but did not find it in my regular shop. And don't miss the pretty keyring, my initial!! The potholders are so cute that I put them up in my sewing room now. I don't have the heart to use them. Thank you so much Preetha for the thoughtful gifts! She told me the lady who made the beautiful keyring is battling cancer. If you happen to read up to this part, please send a prayer to her.

As I said, making these potholders is pretty challenging. Besides we have to make according to the mood board, we also learn to make a small block that fits the idea. You can choose, either color or shape from the mood board or a mix of those. I was thinking of different ideas, including making flower appliques, but decided to make a simple one, a granny square block, but using smaller pieces so that I can fit in more colors. Now that reminds me of my UFO Granny Square quilt.

ALSO READ: How to make a granny square pillow with zipper

All in all, swap is a great learning process and the feeling of receiving gifts of love from our online friends is really warms my heart.

Thank you for stopping by,

Take care & happy sewing!

Elvira