X and + Zip Pouch finish

 

Today I finished off the X and + zip pouch I have been working on for my partner in Mouthy Stitches. 

    

I used a hot pink zip in the pack as a feature, and inserted a lined zipped pocket into the outside of the pouch. I love how the zip looks against the linen and the green lining fabric.                                          

 

I also added a strip pieced from squares of fabric used on the front, and hand quilted along either side with perle cotton.

  

The lining is some Amy Butler fabric I have in my stash a long time, and it was just right for this project, adding a bit of zing to the inside of the pouch. 

I boxed the ends to give a flat bottom, and this pouch at approx 9" x 9.5" is perfect for holding handsewing supplies, a little hoop etc, it is nice and roomy. 

Despite all the things I love about it, I was disappointed with how my main zip turned out. I worked really hard to try and get the zip ends perfect, but with the fusible fleece and the extra layer for the pocket, it was really bulky and practically impossible to sew through (I broke a needle and bent another before trying a size 16!!). I ripped it back and redid it 4 times trying to get the zip ends just right but it wasn't to be, so I just finished it off. They look all squishy, not nice and neat and crisp like they should be. 

 

The question really is now whether its good enough to send off to a partner. I hate sending something not right. And yet there is lots to love about this pouch, and I never really notice the zip ends on a pouch when it is something I have in use. I'm torn really. If I don't send it, I have plenty I can use it for here so its not wasted. But its a shame to do everything right up to the very end and feel like you fell at the last hurdle. What do you think? Honest opinions please!!

P.S. If you're here for the Modern Mini Blog Hop, you'll find my mini quilt here

Zippy love!

I was feeling in need of a little instant gratification today after spending a lot of time trimming HSTs for the Fresh Pinwheels quilt. I have 112 squares to trim. That's a lot of trimming! I did all the yellow ones...so 56 done, 56 to go. I cut the original squares slightly bigger than recommended to make up for any wonky seams and so I could trim them back to a perfect 4.5" square and am so glad I did, they are all so accurate now when I have them trimmed.

After those 56 squares, I felt in need of a little pick-me-up, After being press-ganged persuaded by Hadley to join the Zippy pouch round of the new Mouthy Stitches group I thought a little practice would be in order.

Plus, everything is in a jumble in my sewing basket and I wanted some pouches for storing zips, elastic and stuff like that to stop it all getting mixed up.

I didn't want to do anything too complicated and wanted to practise my zip ends, as I am never totally happy with how they turn out. So off I went to the stash box and picked two nice not-typically-me fabrics for the exteriors. No patchwork, no piecing, just fabric and interfacing.

The first was this apple fabric which I really like but haven't managed to make anything with yet. This was a smallish one, about 6.5" x 4.75". I used lovely yellow Hideaway fabric on the inside and for the tabs.  Perfect for my zips.

The second was this lovely Tanya Whelan fabric. Again, one I have in the stash because it was on sale and it was pretty, but never found a real use for it. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this pouch made up. The fabric makes me think of water, I don't know why! It is longer at 9.5" x 4.75", perfect for a pencil case. Although my scissors and rotary cutter seem to have found their way into it! Its lined with some 1001 Peeps orange, same as the tabs.

I was really pleased with my tabbed ends. They work out very nicely. I used Kelly's tutorial which I have used before for doing them and I really like the neatness of the ends.

Not quite as happy with the interior lining seams, so maybe I will need to do some more practice! All in all, a very productive afternoon. Hope your weekend was good!

I am hoping that this week, after getting the majority of the introductory tutorials for {Sew} Get Started written and posted, I can get back to reading and commenting on blogs - I have been so busy behind the scenes with all the writing, I just haven't had time. I feel like I missed so much this past few weeks and miss all my lovely bloggy mates :-( So, hopefully this is the week I get back visiting my fave blogs again.

I'm liking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Manic Monday - pop over there and visit some of the talented ladies who also link up!

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