Another wee project I've started in the meantime is a ballerina bag for Princess. She has recently started ballet lessons, which are ridiculously cute. All the little girls tiptoe around in lilac leotards with little ballerina skirts, having a lovely time. Hubby foolishly promised Princess I would make her a bag for her ballet gear when she started, but I've never quite got around to it.
When I spotted Juliet's new pattern on Instagram I was all over her like a rash offering to pattern test - it looked perfect for job. I totally was not creepy or beggy about it. At all. Right, Juliet? Anyway it worked, because she sent the pattern through for testing.
It went together exactly like the instructions! The only unpicking I did was due to my own stupidity, and had nothing to do with the pattern (the old wrong size fabric trick, and other such fun).
I think the result is fantastic - she is such a graceful ballerina - although these photos do not do her justice (blame the rubbish light, not my photo editing).
The block is 14" square, and I do not think you could make it much smaller, because two or three of those pieces were itty bitty. But the great thing about paper piecing is that little pieces are no problem. In fact I tend to have more problems with the great big pieces. I have recently learned to use a few blobs of glue (from my Sewline glue pen) to fix the fabric to the paper - which keeps those big pieces from moving around until they are sewn in place.
The pattern did not have shoes, but I thought some pink at the bottom would balance her colours out.
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| This is to help you visualise what it will look like finished ... |
I think the result is fantastic - she is such a graceful ballerina - although these photos do not do her justice (blame the rubbish light, not my photo editing).
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| Pre-quilting |
The block is 14" square, and I do not think you could make it much smaller, because two or three of those pieces were itty bitty. But the great thing about paper piecing is that little pieces are no problem. In fact I tend to have more problems with the great big pieces. I have recently learned to use a few blobs of glue (from my Sewline glue pen) to fix the fabric to the paper - which keeps those big pieces from moving around until they are sewn in place.
The pattern did not have shoes, but I thought some pink at the bottom would balance her colours out.
I added some fabric to the top and bottom of the block, to make it the right size for a little Princess tote bag, and then quilted it in straight line quilting.
I now have to make the block for the back of the bag - I will be using Juliet's ballet shoes block for that. Très perfect, huh? But there is a little problem in that I am out of the aqua crab utensils fabric. I need to have a rummage through the fabric boxes to see what I can find that will blend. I definitely have more polka dots though - one must never run out of pink polka dots, you know?! So finishing the bag is a job for another weekend!
I hope you have had a lovely weekend. Nice of you to stop by!
8 comments:
Oh she is super graceful, just like the ballerina I imagined I was when I was five. Mmm, lucky I had some backup career ideas. You have had a super productive day!
It's beautiful!! I love the shoes, great idea!
I know a certain little girl who would love one too. I'll have to look through my stash for the fabrics and see if I can do it. So pretty!
Gorgeous. The shoes were a great addition, and I love the seam line up from her neck showing how her face is turned away. Very graceful.
You did a great job and no you definitely didn't beg too much. As I said before, after your initial feedback the pattern was always yours to test if you wanted too :-)Can't wait to see the finished bag.
She is gorgeous Liz! And i am feeling slightly freaked about how similar ours was to yours! Great minds I'm going to go with! ;) looking forward to seeing your completed bag! Gotta love a girl that knows her own mind ;)
you don't trust hubby with daylight photos while you're at work anymore? =) too bad because i'm dying to see that finished citrus love in large pixels.
but the ballerina lady is a lovely hold over! i can't believe you thought of the shoes all yourself because they really are so brilliant. (not because you aren't but they just seemed so natural to the pattern.) the fussy placement on the hair is superb! too bad about the utensil fabric because it really works so nicely. i'm sure princess is super happy with her bag. nice contribution, mummy!
Beautiful ballerina! This is the loveliest piece of work I've seen in ages. Well done you :)
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