VOLUME
PROJ ECT IDE A S A N D INSPIR ATION
I N S PIRATION BY THE YA R D For those of us infatuated with fabric, a pretty pattern in combination with a unique colour story often results in love at first sight. Whether cut from the bolt, chosen from an irresistible stack of fat quarters or curated from our personal stash years in the making, patterned cottons inspire us with their unlimited possibilities. Choosing fabric is simultaneously an act of confidence and a leap of faith. What will it become? A stylish garment? A trusty bag? A quick and fun craft? An heirloom quilt? It could be any and all of the above—and, perhaps even more tantalizing, something we haven’t yet imagined. Within this idea booklet, I’ll share with you how my third collection from Windham Fabrics inspired me and my friends to sew and make. I hope that you’ll be inspired to explore your own creative potential, too!
JANINE VANGOOL UPPERCASE
publisher / editor / designer
Use the code CircularLogic at checkout for a special subscription rate, valid until 31/12/18.
uppercasemagazine.com
CIRCULAR LOGIC Many of the patterns in this collection actually debuted in print as the spine and masthead designs that decorate each issue of uppercase magazine. They take graphic cues from the mechanics of print on paper: the rollers of a printing press, stacks of paper, halftone dots and registration marks.
IMPROVISED SUNRISE QUILT
I MP ROVIS ATION In improv piecing, we focus our closest attention—and our intimate and valuable time—on the fabric itself. While sewing, we can admire the cloth’s colours and patterns, seeing how the printing marries with the surface of the textile and plays with other patterns. Through our skill, ingenuity and a bit of perseverance, it eventually transforms into a finished quilt top! The finished project is satisfying, but the joy of it is in the making. Repeat the same quarter circle motif in slightly different configurations in sunrise and sunset colour combos.
1 RANDOM
SHAPES
I’m new to curved piecing and so I tried a few techniques to get the hang of both cutting and sewing curves. Above, I used plates and bowls to trace and cut shapes—and I sort of winged it, too! The improvised piece is big enough for a pillow top, though I may keep going and see where it leads.
2 CUTTING
CURVES
For a more controlled result, I experimented with Sharon McConnell’s Classic Curves ruler. The measurements and markings on the ruler made it easy to cut different sizes of quarter convex circles and their corresponding concave mates. The cuts were accurate every time and the ruler came with some basic instructions to get me started with sewing curves. colorgirlquilts.com
L OV E T H E LE FTOVE RS For the sake of exploring colour and shape (and no pressure to make anything just yet) place your leftover shapes on a white surface or flannel quilt wall and see what arrangements you can make with them. Don’t overthink it—be quick and intuitive!
1 SQUIRREL
IT
It seems that I can’t bear to toss any scraps! Very small pieces are squirrelled away in a glass jar; odd shapes, long narrow strips and cuts less than 6 inches go in a plastic bin and the larger remnants are (eventually) carefully folded and stashed on a shelf. 2 SNAP
IT
Snap some photos while playing with your scraps— maybe this exercise will inspire a new design. 3 MAKE
IT SIMPLE
The happy scrap motif that emerged during my play session was a bold tulip. It could be the start of a quilt project, but for now I think I’ll simply appliqué the motif onto a background square and make a potholder. The rope-like motif below has possibilities, too!
BINDINGS & BACKINGS The small-scale designs in Volume 3: Circular Logic make great bindings for your quilts and bias tapes for your garments and craft projects. The large graphic dots in the “Loupe” pattern create an exciting and modern contrast for quilt backings, too. Or choose something more subtle like the “Halftone” or “Stacks” pattern in a variety of colours to back your quilt or line your next sewn bag project.
Cut and iron some bias tape and quilt bindings in various widths. It’s satisfying to see them all rolled and ready for your next quilt or craft project. I’ll use mine when sewing pencil cases, pouches and mini quilts. (And I admit that they’re equally as likely to be admired just as they are, too!)
PR ET T Y LITTLE THINGS Small projects are a gratifying way to see quick results from your efforts. Here are some things that I made to be pretty and useful in my sewing room. Each took at most a couple of hours to complete but I’ll be enjoying them for years to come.
PIXIE BASKET AND CUP Free pattern and tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt. fabricmutt.blogspot.com
No sewing required! Wrap some small cardboard boxes with fabric using a pin to secure the overlapping seam (point the sharp end of the pin back into the fabric) and apply some clear tape to secure the fabric to the interior of the box. Decorate with some ribbon or bias tape, simply tacked in place with a pin. 1 2
1 EVERYTHING
IN ITS RIGHT PLACE 3
Fabric-covered boxes for scissors, buttons, threads, pencils and more.
2 STATIONERY
KIT
The Stationery Kit is a free tutorial from Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt. Its pockets are the perfect size to hold a notebook from Crystal Reynolds. crystalink.ca fabricmutt.blogspot.com 3 LOLA
POUCH
A zippered pouch that shows off multiple fabrics while holding all your stuff. sotakhandmade.etsy.com
QUI LTS I love looking at vintage quilts, their fabrics telling stories of the fashions, hardships and triumphs of a different time. Decades from now, I hope that the quilts we create today can evoke such nostalgia, appreciation and wonder.
Take it slow. This work in progress is English paperpieced by hand, then hand appliquéd to background squares. Though I’ll use a machine for sewing the squares together, the diamonds will be hand appliquéd and the entire top will be hand quilted. It’s going to take time! 1
2
1 CIRCULAR
LOGIC
This design began as a geometric sketch on my computer but has taken a decidedly analogue turn. I’m hand piecing this quilt, slowly and steadily. Details can be found on my website (along with free templates). uppercasemagazine.com 2 DRUNKARD’S
PLANETS
An interpretation of a traditional block, available as a free pattern from Windham Fabrics. Quilt made by The Whimsical Workshop. windhamfabrics.com
RING AROUND QUILT Pattern by Sharon McConnell. Made by Bonnie Vangool. colorgirlquilts.com
1 THE
FOGO ISLAND QUILT Inspired by a summer holiday in Newfoundland, this simple quilt evokes the colours of vegetation along with the ocean waves of Fogo Island. Available as a free pattern. Quilt made by The Whimsical Workshop. windhamfabrics.com
2 PILLOW
CASES
Make your pillow cases with French seams for a clean ravel-free finish. Online tutorials for pillow cases abound—check my Pinterest account for links to helpful instructions. pinterest.com/uppercasemag
Make pillow cases to go with your quilt. Circular Logic’s Halftone and Stacks patterns in aqua, mustard and blush are particularly suitable for the body of pillow cases. Use contrasting fabric for decorative cuffs.
F R OM H EAD TO TOE Dress yourself in pattern from top to bottom! I’m so enamored with these shoes that I might have to pay more attention to where I’m heading rather than looking down and admiring my feet. Still on my sewing wish list is a boxy jacket in the big black dot “Loupe” fabric.
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3
1
1 HAT
BAND
Simply folded and ironed, then basted in place with stitches through the straw. 2 ESPADRILLES Yes, you can make your own shoes! The Espadrilles Kit from A Happy Stitch contains the soles, pattern, a variety of needles, wax and instructions. I have narrow feet, so I used my regular size sole but cut the pattern for a size smaller. They fit snuggly but soon stretched to fit. With flexible jute and rubber soles it’s still easy to feel and control the sewing machine pedal so they’ve become my sewing slippers. I’ll have to make a second pair for going out about town! ahappystitch.com 3 VERY
4
BIG BAG
This self-drafted giant bag gets its shape by using Soft and Stable by Annie. It’s big enough that my eight-yearold son can get inside it, but I actually made it to hold fabric and creative works in progress. Find similar bag and basket patterns at Indygo Junction. indygojunction.com 4 WILLOW
TANK
Make a tank or dress with this pattern by Grainline Studio. I added a fabric tie as a colourful accent. grainlinestudio.com
E X P L O RING TE XTURE As attractive as fabric is when crisply ironed flat or pieced precisely in a quilt, it takes on an entirely different character when texture and shape come into play. Gathered and bunched, ruffled and ruched, the fabric’s patterns get distorted in the most pleasing ways. I’ve always been fond of fabric yo-yos, so I started making a few by tracing out a circle with a vintage bowl. One thing led to another and soon I was on a quest to make over 50 to cover the top of a pillow. Ruffle, ruche and gather some fabric and see what these new volumes and shapes inspire you to create or adorn.
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2
1 YO-YO
PILLOW
Using an inexpensive circular chair pad from Ikea as the base, I sewed a slipcase and handstitched the yo-yos directly on the pillow front. 2 BASKET
BLING
The Flådis seagrass basket, also from Ikea, got a ruffled makeover. The handles were simply wrapped with fabric strips and the binding attached by hand.
1
O TH ERS’ IDEA S Like crayons and paints, fabrics are the medium in which sewists express themselves. As a designer, it is very exciting to see one’s fabrics out in the world being used to make beautiful things. I invited some of my friends to take the Circular Logic collection, in part or in its entirety, to see what it inspired them to make. Whether a large, small or open-ended project, all ideas were welcome!
HAPPY HOUSE CAT KIT #43107QK 2
1 STITCH
IN DYE
Malka Dubrawsky is a fabric maker (she dyes her own textiles using batik or wax resist), designer and quilt maker. “I’m planning pieced binding to mimic the colours of the vertical parts. I think the quilting will also run vertically.” Pattern available on her website. stitchindye.com 2 NEON
KIT FOR SALE: WINDHAMFABRICS.COM 3
KITTY QUILTS
Laurie Russman is a fibre artist who creates whimsical worlds typically involving a feline or two. Look for the Happy House Cat Quilt Kit of her appliqué patterns available from Windham Fabrics. neonkittyquilts.com 3 A
LITTLE GOODNESS
Leslie Good made a cute oven mit for her daughter using a free pattern from bombazine.com.au. Follow Leslie’s sewing, crafts, block printing and creative enterprises @alittlegoodness on Instagram. good-ness.com
NEW YORK BEAUTIES BLOCK PILLOW Ana Buzzalino is an art quilter and instructor who incorporates different elements of surface design, such as embroidery, fabric painting, printing and hand-dyeing, into her work. One of her workshops teaches you how to make this gorgeous pillow. anabuzzalino.com
COOL MINT LIFESAVERS Anita LaHay is a mom of three who often finds herself daydreaming of quilts. She sells patterns, fabric and sewn goods in her online shop. This mini quilt is the start of a larger quilt pattern, The Lifesavers Quilt, named after the candy. The pattern is available in her shop. daydreamsofquilts.etsy.com
1 GOD’S
EYE IMPROV
Cheryl Arkison was inspired by the god’s eye yarn craft hanging in her daughter’s bedroom. She plans on sewing the square blocks on a 45 degree angle. cherylarkison.com
2
2 LOG
CABIN
More explorations from the queen of improv quilting, Cheryl Arkison. The light pink background creates an interesting neutral for the high contrast patterns. cherylarkison.com 3 BECCA’S
Don’t be afraid to use your fabrics on angles other than the “right” ones. Cut and crop in new directions to create dynamic visual tension. Create motion in the background fabrics by changing the directions of the patterns.
3
BIKES
Rebecca Cleaver Burke is a librarian, quilter and avid cyclist. She accessorized her bikes with a self-drafted seat cover. She used the Jordis Crossbar Clutch pattern by Kathy McGee from the book The Happy Bicycle. @cleaverr
GERANIUM DRESS Jenn Chic is an all-round creative woman (she’s a writer, photographer and illustrator, and trained as a chef) and mother of two. This dress design is by Rae Hoekstra with a pocket buddy inspired by a pattern created by Lotta Jansdotter. jennchicdesigns.etsy.com made-by-rae.com jansdotter.com
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1 PJS,
APRONS AND BONNETS Jenn Chic also made colour-blocked pajamas (based on a free pattern by shwinandshwin.com), an artist’s smock and some reversible sun bonnets of her own design. She sells her bonnets and aprons in stores in Nelson, BC, and in her Etsy shop. jennchicdesigns.etsy.com
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2 CAPE
COD SHIRT
Rosalyn Faustino is a textile artist who sews, weaves and knits, and is the founder of the Calgary Craft Alert. She made this shirt with contrasting pocket for her two-year-old son. It’s the Cape Cod Shirt for boys and girls by Peek-a-boo. peekaboopatternshop.com rosalynfaustino.tumblr.com
PRINTING PRESS
50943-1 RED
50943-2 TURQUOISE
HALFTONE
50943-3 GREY
50943-4 MUSTARD
50943-5 AQUA
STACKS
50944-1 RED
50944-2 TURQUOISE
50947-1 RED
50947-2 TURQUOISE
50947-3 GREY
50944-3 GREY
50944-4 MUSTARD
50947-4 MUSTARD
50947-5 AQUA
50947-7 BLUSH
50945-1 RED
50945-2 TURQUOISE
50945-3 BLACK
50946-2 TURQUOISE
50946-3 GREY
50946-4 MUSTARD
LOUPE
50944-5 AQUA
50944-6 RED-BLUSH
REGISTRATION 50944-7 BLUSH
50946-1 RED 50944-8 BLACK
O R DE R ING INF O
U P P ER CA S E M AGA Z I N E A N D BO O K S A R E AVA I LA BLE W H O LES A LE
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IN STORES EARLY 2019