Pellon Flex Foam Winner

Thanks so much to everybody for playing along, I love this comment game since I never know where it will end up & it's fun to see what everybody has to share.

The winner of the Flex Foam pack is Beth, congrats!  I'll be sending you an email shortly.

Until next time...

Pellon FUSIBLE Flex Foam

Update:  giveaway is now closed, thanks to everybody for playing along! 

Yes, you read that right. Fusible.  Flex Foam.

I was lucky enough to be able to test it out, and let me tell you, it's amazing.  I'll admit, I had my reservations.  I was worried that it wouldn't fuse well, or wouldn't stay fused, or would be horrible wrinkly, but I am so, so happy with it.

First the details, direct from Pellon:

Pellon® Flex-Foam™ is a lightweight stabilizer consisting of a layer of foam sandwiched between two layers of soft fabric. It is excellent for use in crafts, accessories, and home décor projects for an elegant finished look. It can be used in place of or in addition to other stabilizers. Flex-Foam is a breeze to sew through and adds shape and body to projects such as computer cases, eyeglass cases, purses, tote bags, cup holders, diaper bags, and more! It is compatible with a wide variety of fabrics. It is available as a sew-in, a 1-sided fusible or a 2-sided fusible. Available 20” on the board and 60” on the roll*. 

*60” roll isn’t as readily available as the board at the moment, but that should change soon!

Flex Foam is available in three varieties: sew-in, 1-sided fusible, and 2-sided fusible.  I have used the sew-in previously (as well as other brands of sew-in foam interfacing), and while I love the stability it gives a project, I always have issues getting it basted well enough so it's not saggy or have puckers.  I know some people have used Wonder Under to fuse foam interfacings & I have considered using a spray baste to attach it, but having it all in one product is awesome.  I tried out the 1-sided fusible, and let me tell you, it fuses perfectly.  Just as well, if not better than Shape Flex, which is really saying something.

I'm working on testing out a pattern for Sara at Sew Sweetness, her new Filigree Double Zip Pouch (pattern out later this month), and even after having to turn one of them inside & rightside out at least 3 times (user error, I assure you, not a problem with the pattern), my fabric stayed fused to the Flex Foam.  It does crease & wrinkle a bit as you work with it to sew, but a quick hit with the iron when you're done gets everything nice & smooth again.

For one of the pouches, I decided to do some straight line quilting, but forgot to cut my pieces larger than the pattern pieces first, but decided to quilt it anyways & if needed I would just go down a size.  Because the fabric was fused to the Flex Foam & the foam doesn't shift, my pattern pieces weren't warped at all once I was done.

One tip, I suggest cutting your fabric & pieces of foam slightly larger than your pattern piece, then cutting the exact pattern piece once they are fused.  The Flex Foam fuses so well you're not going to want it sticking to your iron or pressing cloth, and like all foams, it's a bit difficult to trim off small amounts because of the thickness.  It's not impossible, but I did find it easier to either leave my fabric larger & trim to match the Flex Foam pattern piece, or leave them both larger & cut them out together afterwards.

My one & only complaint is that there is a slight chemical smell, especially when you are ironing to fuse it.  It seems to have something to do with the fusible adhesive, my non-fusible Flex Foam is completely odorless.  Honestly, it was a bit annoying at first, but I've gotten used to it and it fades after a while, so it definitely won't stop me from using it in the future.

All in all, I can 100% recommend the new Flex Foam & truly hope you love it as much as I do.  Want a chance to try it out for yourself?  Comment here for a chance to win a yard each of each variety of Flex Foam -  sew-in, 1-sided fusible, and 2-sided fusible.  One random winner (sorry, US & Canada residents only) will be drawn next Wednesday, September 15.  We'll play my favorite comment game to enter - your comment must answer the question before you (I'll give the first one), then ask a question for the next person.  You may enter as many times as you like, but can't ask & answer your own questions.  Remember, you're answering the question of the commenter before you & be sure to check to make sure you're at the end of the comments once it goes past 1 page. :)

For the first comment - what was your favorite childhood Halloween costume?

Make sure you check out what everybody else has to say about the new Pellon Fusible Flexfoam:
9/8 – Pellon
9/8 – Swoon Sewing Patterns
9/9 – Mommy’s Nap Time
9/10 – Cut to Pieces
9/11 – My Crafty Crap
9/13 – Pellon
9/14 – Baby Rozen Design
9/15 – Sew Sweetness
9/16 –  Love to Color My World
9/17 – Anjeanette Klinder
9/18 – Pellon

Until next time...

I'm still here!

Hey there! Just a quick note to stay I'm still here, and I'm still crafting. Actually, I've been doing a lot of sewing, stitching, knitting, and all kinds of crafts (but let's be honest, mostly sewing) the past few years. I even made another human! :) If you'd like to see what I've been doing, the best place to find me is on Instagram (@mycraftycrap & #mycraftycrap).

I am hoping to get back to sharing things here in the future, but for now IG will have to do.

Until next time...

Big-City Bags from Sara Lawson

Oh boy, I can't tell you how excited I am to share this with you today.  I've been excited for over a year to share it!  Next week, the amazing Sara Lawson's book, Big-City Bags is finally (finally!) available!

From Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson, Martingale, 2013; used by permission. 

Photo by Brent Kane. All rights reserved.

I was so honored when Sara asked me to test one of her bag patterns (there are 12 in the book).  I had a really hard time choosing, but was ecstatic when she gave me my first choice, the Go-Go Bag.

From Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson, Martingale, 2013; used by permission. 

Photo by Brent Kane. All rights reserved.

I was nervous about making the bag since it included a twist lock (I usually stick with magnetic snaps), but Sara assured me I would have no trouble with it.  I remember sitting at my sewing table, literally shaking because I was so afraid of messing it up.  If you've never installed a twist lock before, you have to cut a hole in your pretty much completed bag to install the twist lock.  Err on the side of too small, you can always cut the hole bigger, but you don't want it too big so the lock falls out!  Sara's instructions for adding the twist lock are perfect (most locks don't come with instructions of their own), and once I got over the initial fear, it was actually super easy.  I've even installed one in couple other bags, and none of them have fallen out! 

As with all of Sara's patterns, the instructions in Big-City Bags are clearly written & easy to follow, even if you're doing something new like the twist lock.  Sara walks you through it so you'll feel like an expert, or at least not so afraid the next time!

Unfortunately even though I had my bag done in plenty of time, I wasn't able to get it sent to Sara in enough time to be included in the book.  I'm still kicking myself for that, but on the plus side I've been able to use it for the last year unlike everybody else who sent their bags in.  I absolutely love this bag!

Sara was even great enough to send the fabric to use for the bag, and I fell in love with this Perfectly Perched by Robert Kaufman.  I even picked up some more to use in other projects!

So what are you waiting for, go pre-order your book right now, or head out Tuesday to pick up a copy for yourself.  You won't regret it!

Until next time...

Cathedral Window QAL WINNERS!!!

There are some really amazing blocks & tops in the Flickr group, I hope everybody checks it out!  I'm so glad we decided to do a random drawing for the winners, there's no way I could have picked my favorite or "the best" blocks!  As I was sorting through the blocks, I kept finding new favorites. :)  And it was so fun when I started recognizing whose blocks where whose based on fabric choices.

First of all, congratulations to everybody who completed any of the blocks!  They were all gorgeous, and I wish we had prizes for everybody!  

First Prize:  Quilting Capers

Second:  Julie @ Distant Pickles

Third:  min_pin_63

Fourth:  Robin (noteverstill)

block 1:  Kallie B

block 2:  Casa Kelley

block 3:  Trillium 12

block 4:  Ellie Q

block 5:  klmunoz 

block 6:  Nikki Meim

block 7:  Christy@a.AmeliaHandmade

block 8:  Negligent Style

block 9:  Whispering Willow 

Cathedral Window QAL - one day left!

Just a quick reminder that you've got until midnight Thursday (central time) to complete your cathedral window blocks & mini quilt tops and get them loaded up to the Flickr group!  The group will remain open since we'd all love to see your blocks/tops even if you don't get them completed in time, but only those uploaded before the deadline will be considered for the giveaways.

What are you waiting for?!  Even if you've only gotten one or two blocks done, these blocks all come together so quickly, I know you can get at least one more finished!  :)  Remember, there are some amazing prizes for completing single blocks as well as completed tops.

Until next time...

Cathedral Window QAL: Block 9

I hope you didn't miss out on Block 9 from Heather at Olive & Ollie last week.  I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to share it with you at the time!  Life just kind of got in the way of things the past couple weeks.  I'm sure you can all understand.  

Heather's block is a fun & simple one, I hope you enjoy making it!

Remember, you have until November 15 to complete all your blocks & completed quilt top (it doesn't need to be backed, quilted, or bound, but the blocks do need to be sewn together) to be entered for the giveaways.  All photos must be submitted to the Flickr group by midnight central time November 15.  There are already some gorgeous completed tops in the group!

by missalissa4him

by Kallie B

by Donna F.2012

by Casa Kelley

by reeskylr

by StaceyinStitches

by bjpinckard

by christy@a.AmeliaHandmade

Make sure you're sharing your blocks & tops in the Flickr group!

Until next time...