Oh my goodness! I love learning something new in spite of myself. I often think I can’t take on new sewing skills since I am busy enough with what I already know and can’t seem to accomplish the things I currently have on my plate. It is frustrating to be bursting with projects you don’t have time to accomplish, right? But when Caroline asked me to take her brand new Craftsy course as part of her blog hop, I knew I needed to try it. How can anyone resist these beautiful bags and baskets?
This is not my first time watching a Craftsy course but it is my first time completing one (shh. don’t tell anyone!). Caroline did a beautiful job with her instructions. She has so much experience teaching through her popular blog, Sew Can She, and her book, Just for You, that I knew she would be able to explain things clearly for this class. I was not disappointed! I love my new basket and hope to make one of those gorgeous bags soon!
The “trick” she teaches to sew patchwork with interfacing all in one time saving sit down is AMAZING! To me, at least, since I have been doing it the old fashioned time consuming way all these years. The whole project took me a few hours and since I had such a great time learning these new easy methods, it seems like much less time.
I used 4” squares and my completed basket is about 7.5” x 7.5” x 3.5”. The size is really nice and was easy to work with. I don’t think I would want to go smaller for a basket but I would really like to try the bigger blocks sometime soon. Caroline explains how you can use the same methods for blocks from 2.5” to 10”. I really like a project that gives me so much freedom.
I added a couple of extra fabric scraps from my stash, but the majority of my patchwork pieces were from Stash Builders Box. A really cool monthly subscription program that sends you monthly a monthly box of sewing goodies! The box includes 6 modern fat eights, notions, and a couple of quilt patterns. Also, stash builder box uses their extra stash fabrics to make and donate quilts to children who are sick and traumitized all over the world. I love that.
My only problem now is how to use my new basket. My oldest daughter’s birthday is next week and I saw her eyeing it up for all her almost 12 year old accessories, but I also want to keep it in my sewing room to help keep me organized. Thank goodness I will be making more soon!
Do you want to take this fabulous new craftsy class and make a basket or tote of your own? Caroline has a wonderful offer for Gingercake readers to receive 50% of the class! Just click here!
Over the next few weeks, Caroline has some talented sewers making projects from her class, so be sure to follow along at Sew Can She for some really great inspiration. I can’t wait to see what everyone makes! Thanks so much to Caroline for including me 🙂
