Patchwork, Please! Colorful Zakka Projects to Stitch and Give

145 Pages·2013·13.511 MB·English

by  Ayumi Takahashi

PATCHWORK
PLEASIE
colorful
�akka projects
to stitch AND give
P
A
T
C
H
W
O
R
K
P
L
E
A
S
E
Ayumi Takahashi
PATCHWORK
PLEASE
colorful �akka projects to stitch AND give
Ayumi Takahashi
editor Marlene Blessing
technical editor Katrina Walker
art director Liz Quan
designer Julia Boyles
illustrator Missy Shepler
photographer Joe Hancock
photo stylist Pamela Chavez
production designer Katherine Jackson
© 2013 Ayumi Takahashi
Photography © 2013 Joe Hancock
All rights reserved.
Interweave Press LLC
A division of F+W Media, Inc
201 East Fourth Street
Loveland, CO 80537
interweave.com
Printed in China by Asia Pacific Offset Ltd.
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Takahashi, Ayumi.
Patchwork, please! : colorful zakka projects
to stitch and give / Ayumi Takahashi.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59668-599-4 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-59668-814-8 (PDF)
1. Textile crafts--Japan. 2. Patchwork--
Patterns. I. Title.
TT715.T35 2013
746.46--dc23
2012032362
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
acknowledgments
A big, big hug for everyone at
Interweave! I especially thank
Tricia Waddell and Allison
Korleski for encouraging me to
write this book, and for having
been constantly supportive
of me. I also thank Marlene
Blessing and Katrina Walker for
editing my book very beautifully,
and Elaine Lipson for giving me
great insights. I thank all the
people I have met in the online
craft community who have
inspired me to sew and keep
creating without fear. Thank
you to my grandma, mom,
and mother-in-law, Kim, for
inspiring me to start my sewing
adventure. Last but not least,
I deeply thank my husband, Joe,
for always being there for me,
for being proud of my projects,
and for putting up with the noisy
sewing machine in our small
apartment.

Contents
Acknowledgments 5
for the kitchen
Introduction 6 Bell Pepper Coasters 30
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Towels 34
Lettered Tea Cozy and Teabag Pouch 40
Tools and Materials 8
The Polka-Dot -Café Apron 48
Basic Quilting Tools 8 Diamond Patchwork Placemat 54
Materials 11
Techniques 14
for kids
Combining fabrics 14
Yum-Yum Apple Bib 60
Combining colors 15
Dino-Mite Hat 64
Preparing fabrics 15 Books-for-Baby Quilt 68
Cutting fabrics 15
Pinning 16
for the home
Machine-stitching 16
My Scrappy Box 76
Handstitching 18
Swedish Bloom-Time Lap Quilt 82
Quilting 18 You’ve-Got-Mail Wall Pocket 90
Happy Hexagon Trivet 96
Paper-piecing patchwork
technique 19
Binding 26
for going places
Raw-edged appliqué 27
Piece-of-Cake Shopping Bag 102
Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch 108
Vintage Pencil Case 114
I-Love-My-iPad Quilted Cover 120
Resources 142 Handy Market Tote 124
Index 143
for crafting
Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch 132
Prettified Pincushion 138
Introduction
Born into a family that treasures I can’t think of anybody who is law, Kim, with each person in mind.
the process of crafting, I naturally more passionate about creating I was absolutely touched to see my
became interested in sewing. My and designing, especially for Christmas stocking hanging next
grandma, who spent fifty years other people, than my dad. As an to everyone else’s. I felt so warm
of her life working in the clothing architect, he has designed many and fuzzy—almost teary. That was
industry, sewed lots of clothes for houses in Japan. When he designed when I rediscovered my love of
me as I grew up. Whenever I had an a house for our family, he was nice handmade. I knew I wanted to sew
idea of something she could make enough to include me, a ten-year- and to be able to transfer the love
for me, I would ask my mom to old, in the design process. I chose of handmade items through gift
stop by a fabric store on the way to wallpaper for the bathroom from -giving.
grandma’s house. My heart would a thick catalog. I picked the most
pound with excitement every time animated, crazy one (rows of I was lucky enough to live close
I was in front of shelves packed with serious-looking cat faces), which to a great fabric store with a lot
beautiful fabric bolts, as I imagined still makes people laugh when they of modern fabrics. Even though
the possibilities each fabric held. visit the house. Whether or not it I didn’t yet have a sewing machine,
Dresses? Bags? Baby shoes? was a good choice of wallpaper, my I began collecting fabrics from that
Dreaming about transforming dad surely succeeded in teaching store. Whenever I needed a little lift
fabric into something useful got me about the joy of design. during the day, I would stop by the
me really excited. My mom, who store and pick up a few fat quarters
majored in sewing in school, was It wasn’t until I was an adult that to pet and adore. (I used to call it
a great inspiration, too. I grew up I first dipped my toes into a serious fabric therapy.) Joe surprised me
watching her sew for my sisters and sewing adventure. When I spent my in the summer of 2006 by gifting
me and, at times, for a craft bazaar. first Christmas with my husband me the best thing ever: a sewing
I saw my grandma and mother as Joe’s (back then boyfriend) family machine! Ever since, I have never
superwomen, because they knew in Yakima, Washington, I saw lovely lived without sewing.
how to use that loud gigantic thing Christmas stockings hung on
that somehow produces lovely the wall. They were all different, In April 2008, after teaching myself
things: a sewing machine! custom made by my mother-in- how to sew small zakka items,
6
Patchwork, Please!
I started my sewing blog, Pink your patchwork turned out, just rip error (many errors for me!) is a
Penguin (ayumills.blogspot out the seams and try a different natural process. Sewing won't be as
.com) in order to become a part of fabric combination. (Learning to fun and pleasing if everything you
the growing online craft community. be good friends with your seam make comes out perfectly every
(Zakka, which translates to ripper is one way to enjoy patchwork time. It is okay to produce things
“many things,” refers to objects projects more!) Keep in mind that you aren’t the most proud of every
that improve your home, life, or any leftover fabric scraps from once a while, because you definitely
appearance.) Being a part of the projects have lots of potential, so learn something each time you
blogging community has brought don't throw them away. create that will help make better
me to a higher level in my sewing projects later. The more sewing
journey. It has been completely I hope the projects in this book projects you work on, the more
amazing to make friends online who will inspire you to sew something. you’ll realize what makes you happy,
share the joy of playing with fabrics. All the projects are suitable what kinds of fabric combinations
for anybody with basic sewing and colors you find most lovely.
Over time, I’ve discovered that experience. Even if you are new to Soon you will have your own
patchwork is the most satisfying sewing, don’t worry; this book has distinctive patchwork style!
form of sewing art for me. I enjoy all the information you’ll need to get
never knowing how a finished started, from a list of materials to
patchwork project will look until techniques described in detail. With
I complete it. I can come up with a beginning sewist in mind, I have
my very own designs using fabrics I avoided difficult techniques such as
love. Quite often, several different needle-turn appliqués and Y-shaped
fabrics will unexpectedly come seams. My goal is to inspire anyone
together and create uniform, to enjoy sewing, especially with
beautiful work of art. Such a small scraps.
transformation is a joy to see. I
find patchwork versatile and eco- I always try to remind myself that
friendly too: if you don’t like the way learning to sew through trial and
7
Introduction
Tools & Materials
In this chapter, you’ll find the a zigzag stitch. Everything in this your machine running smoothly and
tools and materials you’ll need book was made using a standard, help avoid repairs.
to make each project in this book nothing-fancy Janome DC4030.
and beyond. Having the right I recommend buying your first
tools and materials is the key to sewing machine from a local sewing Specialized sewing-
enjoying pleasant crafting times machine store. The staff will likely be machine presser feet
and satisfying results. Everything knowledgeable and will let you try
In addition to the regular presser
listed here can be found at your out the machine so that you’ll have a
foot that comes with your sewing
local craft stores, as well as from chance to see if it will fit your needs.
machine, you’ll need a zipper foot
online sources. Good-quality tools Be sure to ask any questions you may
and a walking foot for quilting.
last longer, and often provide the have so you will be satisfied you have
I also highly recommend a ¼"
very best results. Although they chosen the right machine for you.
(6 mm) foot, which helps you
are pricey, I recommend you get Many sewing machine stores provide
achieve a consistent ¼" (6 mm)
the highest-quality tools you can free regular maintenance service,
seam allowance. Slippery fabrics
afford. and often sewing classes, too. As
such as laminated or vinyl-coated
your sewing machine will need
fabric tend to stick and grip rather
maintenance at least once a year, it
than feed evenly under the presser
is great to have a familiar, trusted
foot: I recommend a Teflon-coated
basic quilting tools place where you can take your sewing-machine foot to eliminate
machine when it needs maintenance/
this problem. Alternatively, you
repair. Your sewing machine’s manual
can use tracing paper on top of and
should have a tutorial on cleaning
Sewing machine underneath your project. (After
and oiling your machine regularly on
stitching, the tracing paper is
There are so many different types your own. You might be surprised to
removed.)
of sewing machines available. To see the huge lint balls that form from
make the projects in this book, your the fibers of fabrics and threads that
sewing machine should have these become embedded in your machine!
three basic functions: an adjustable Regular cleaning and oiling will keep
stitch length, a straight stitch, and
8
Patchwork, Please!
handsewing needles
sewing machine
needles ➜
straight pins
sewing-machine presser feet
Sewing-machine needles The larger the ironing board is, the Handsewing needles
easier the ironing process will be,
Your sewing-machine needles You will need two types of needles
especially if you are working on
should be matched to the weight of to make projects in this book—
larger projects. If you like to work
your fabric. A lot of problems are sharps and embroidery needles.
small, I recommend having a Clover
often caused by using needles that General-purpose sewing needles
mini-iron and a small ironing board
aren’t well suited to the fabric. The are called sharps. These are used to
that you can place on your work
heavier your fabric is, the thicker close up openings by handstitching,
table next to your sewing machine.
your needle should be. For all the etc. Embroidery needles have a large
Never having to stand up to iron is
projects in this book, a regular point eye for flosses to pass through. If
quite nice!
Universal needle (size 80/12) for you would like to handquilt your
woven fabrics is appropriate. projects, you’ll also need quilting
needles to pass through layers of
Straight pins
your quilted projects smoothly.
Iron and ironing board Pins hold two or more layers of These are smaller and thinner
Ironing your fabric before you begin fabric together and also hold than both sharps and embroidery
is very important for achieving sewing patterns in place on fabric. needles.
The more pins you use, the more
smooth piecing. It is definitely
accurate your stitching is. I use
worth investing in a high-quality
glass head pins and flat head pins. Marking tools
iron. I use an Oliso iron that has
The thicker pins are stronger, but
an automatic feature for elevating My favorite marking tool is a Clover
create larger holes. For fabric that
itself when not in use. This means mechanical pencil, which comes
is a heavier weight, I use thick pins;
that I never have to turn my wrist with an assortment of colored leads.
the holes disappear if I stroke the
to let the iron stand on its end. I like this pencil because there is no
parted threads a little. For lighter
Previously, I had a cheap iron that need to sharpen its tip. A water-
weight fabric, I like to use thinner
got too hot when it sat ‘on’ for a soluble fabric marking pen is a great
pins so that the holes aren’t as
while, which often scorched my tool, too, as the ink disappears like
obvious after the pins are removed.
fabric—no fun. My Oliso iron never magic when you dab a little bit of
gets too hot and has never burned water on the marks.
my fabric. I love it to bits!
9
Tools & Materials