Our next guest...

...Is Gerda. Gerda is a lovely Canadian gal. She came up with a cute sewing mat, to stick under your sewing machine. And has shared her pattern with us.

" I was in my local quilt shop one day, and the ownder had just gotten in a bolt of the fabric I used. I saw it, and knew I had to have some. I had seen a couple of sewing mats on blogs, and knew I could figure out how to make one for myself. I'm always looking for my scissors/snips and seam ripper, and knew this would help a lot. It was pretty easy to figure out and make. The quilt shop owner really liked it and asked if I would write up a pattern she could use to sell the fabric, so I did. And then I wanted to gift my online friends with the pattern, so I did! LOL" Gerda said.

And then she posted her fun little mat tutorial on our forum too, as a Christmas gift to us all.

SEWING MACHINE MAT WITH POCKETS

Materials needed: .5 m main fabric
.5 m backing/pocket lining
17 ½” x 19 ½” piece of thin batting
* 3 ½” x 15” non-slip fabric (optional)

Cutting: Of the main fabric, cut one (1) piece 17 ½” x 19 ½” AND one (1) piece 4 ½” x 19 ½”

Of the contrast/backing fabric, cut one (1) piece 17 ½” x 19 ½” AND one (1) piece 5 ½” x 19 ½”

IF USING NON-SLIP BACKING: Cut (1) piece 11 ¾” x 19 ½” And one (1) piece 3” x 19 ½ ”

AND two (2) pieces 3” x 3 ½” (backing)

Sewing:

1. *Piece the back – Sew the 3” x 3 1/2” pieces to the short ends of the non-slip fabric .

2. If NOT using non-slip backing, use the 17 ½” x 19 ½” piece.

3. To piece the backing, including the non-slip back- sew the pieced strip to the 3”x19 ½” strip, then add the 11 ¾” x 19 ½” piece to the bottom of the pieced strip.

4. Layer the main fabric right side up on the batting. Quilt as desired.

5. Piece the pocket section – Along one long edge, sew the narrower piece to the wider backing fabric/contrast piece. Press seam to one side, then with wrong sides together, align long edges and press. You will now have the main fabric with a narrow trim on the top (fold).

6. Pin the pocket section on the main fabric, at the bottom. Pin the backing WRONG side up onto the front (main) fabric. Sew ¼” seam all around, leaving an opening of about 5” to turn.

7. Turn right sides out, make the corners as pointy as possible. Slip stitch the opening closed.

8. Finger press (or iron, making sure you don’t touch the non-slip fabric, if used) the edges to a knife edge. Pin and topstitch all around.

9. Decide if you want 3 or 4 pockets. Stitch through all thicknesses of the pocket section ONLY, making sure to backstitch or lock beginning/ends of stitched lines in place. DONE!

2009 Gerda W. Vantuil,



Thank you Gerda for a great sewing mat!!

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We have our Valentines swap under way, over on the forum. Everyone who wanted to play lists their 2 favorite colors and a fun notion/sewing gadget they want. Whether it be thread, a new cutter, etc.

Then their names goes into a hat and Cupid draws names. We don't know who are Valentine is, till we get our gift in the mail. It's lots of fun!

We have some fabric swaps going on too. And notes are being passed back and forth as to when we'll be doing another 'ugly' contest. Or if maybe we should do a 'this is too pretty to cut' contest.

Come on over and check out the fun!

Have a great, quilt-y day...

Till next time
Dorian