The Cottage Home: June 2013

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Scalloped Envelope Clutch ~ Free Pattern and Tutorial

This was a project I shared a while back over at Riley Blake Designs and in case you missed it, I'm bringing it home.

When I came across this printed cross-stitch fabric, I just new it would be perfect for some type of bag. It's from the 'Hipster' cotton line and I'm absolutely in love with these prints. Envelope clutches seem to be all the rage right now and I have a thing for scalloped edges, so put them together and what do you get? A Scalloped Envelope Clutch Tutorial. Let's get started.......

Scalloped Envelope Clutch Tutorial

by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama

Fabric Line: 'Hipster' cottons by Riley Blake Designs

Supplies:

1 yard exterior fabric

1 yard lining fabric

**if you have a non-directional print you can get away with only a half yard of each print and cut the pattern on the horizontal.

1/2 yard fusible interfacing

1 button
Free pattern piece found HERE

Instructions:

ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES 1/2", UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

Step 1: Assemble your pattern. This pattern is very easy. All you need is 8.5" x 11" sheets of paper. Print out your scallop piece from the free pattern included above in the supplies list and cut it out. Then place two 8.5" x 11" sheets with the longs sides flush next to each other and tape them together, then place the straight edge of the scallop piece flush up against one of the sheets of paper and tape them together. Now you have your Scallop Envelope Clutch pattern. You may need to angle cut the paper attaching to the scallop piece depending on how your printer prints out the pattern piece.

Step 2: Apply fusible interfacing to the back of the two fabrics you are using. Do so according to manufacturers instructions. You can use any interfacing you would like, but just remember that the thicker the interfacing, the sturdier this will be as a clutch.

Also, if you would like to use this as a case for a kindle or other electronic device, you could apply fusible fleece to the backsides of the fabric as well.

Step 3: Cut out your pattern pieces. You need one in the exterior fabric and one in the lining. Fold up the bottom of the clutch so that it comes up to the bottom of the scallops with the right sides together.

Step 4: Sew along both straight sides. Do this for the lining and exterior pieces. Clip the corners at an angle to remove bulk.

Step 5: Turn the interior lining piece right side out and press.

Step 6: At this point the exterior piece is still wrong side out. Take the lining piece and tuck it down inside the exterior piece. This will make it so that the right sides are together.

Step 7: You'll need to leave a little part open across the front of the clutch so go ahead and mark this with your fabric marking pen so you won't forget.

Step 8: Sew the exterior and the lining together all the way around the scallops. Start where the side seams end and go all the way up, around and back down to the other side seam.

Step 9: Clip around the scallops. Use pinking shears or scissors and clip the seam allowance down and cut each dip in the scallop. You need to cut almost to the stitching at the dips of the scallops, otherwise they will not turn out nicely. If they aren't laying flat when you turn your clutch right side out, that is probably the problem.

Step 10: Sew across the front of the clutch, making sure to leave that one section open that we already marked. Your stitches across the front should meet up with the stitches you did for the scallops. Clip out the extra fabric in the corner so that it turns out nicely. Cut down to the stitches, but making sure not to go through them. Make sure to move the back of the clutch out of the way so you don't catch it in your seam.

Step 11: Turn the clutch right side out by pulling the fabric through the opening. Tuck the lining down into the exterior, making sure to neatly tuck in the corners.

Step 12: Press out the scallops. Sometimes you really have to 'work out' the scallops with your iron to make them look nice. Try rolling the seams out with your fingers......that always works well for me. And press, press, press!

Step 13: Press under the little section you left open so that it is in line with the center front of the clutch.

Step 14: Run a row of topstitching across the front of the clutch to close the opening. You could also topstitch around the scallops as well, but make sure you go slowly because if those stitch lines don't look good, they will definitely show on the front side of the clutch.

Step 15: Make a buttonhole on the center scallop based on the size of your button and according to your machines instructions. Open the buttonhole.

Step 16: Close the top scallop piece and mark for your button placement. Hand or machine sew your button in place.

And now look......you have a completed Scalloped Envelope Clutch!

Feel free to adjust the measurements. Wouldn't this make an adorable case for your ipad using fusible fleece for padding? So many options!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

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Monday, June 24, 2013

Slow Cooker Strawberry Rhubarb Jam ~ Recipe

So last week the kids and I went strawberry picking. We picked a ton of beautiful strawberries and I have really been wanting to try my hand at making some freezer jam. I was searching around for some recipes and couldn't quite find what I was looking for. Many recipes called for fruit pectin, which I didn't have on hand and some of the others required you to cook the jam on the stove-top all day. Nope.......I don't have all day around here with three little ones. And then it dawned on me.......how about using my trusty slow cooker! So that's what I did.........

Slow Cooker Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Ingredients:

3 lbs. fresh strawberries

2 lbs. rhubarb

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Step 1: Grab your strawberries and rhubarb and start cutting them into large chunks. The farm where we went strawberry picking sold rhubarb as well so it worked out perfectly for this recipe.

Step 2: Place half the strawberries and rhubarb in your slow cooker and sprinkle with half a cup of sugar. Then add the other half of the strawberries and rhubarb and sprinkle with the remain sugar and cinnamon.

Step 3: Set you slow cooker on low for 6 - 7 hours. After four hours of cooking, remove the lid but allow the mixture to continue to cook. This will cause some of the liquid to evaporate out.

Step 4: Around 5 hours cooking time, get out your potato masher and mash up the mixture as best you can. I like the jam to be nice and chunky, but if you prefer a smoother consistency then you could always transfer the mixture to your blender.

Spread your strawberry rhubarb jam on toast or serve it warm over vanilla ice cream or add it to your favorite yogurt and granola.

I put some of the jam in our refrigerator in glass jars (it will save for 1 - 2 weeks) and the rest of it I put in freezer safe containers in the freezer.

Also, I really love the tart and sweet taste of strawberry rhubarb jam; however, if you prefer things on the sweeter side, then you will definitely want to add more sugar to this recipe. My oldest daughter Savannah tried this and she said it was 'JUST right!'. She's a pretty tough critic, so I'll take that to mean that it's pretty darn good.

Enjoy!

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Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Trip to the Strawberry Patch: 2013

It's strawberry season here in Chicago. On Monday I was trying to decide what the kids and were going to do for the day and I thought......'I bet it's strawberry picking time.' I called our local berry farm to see if they had berries this year (since the weather has been so strange) and it turns out Monday was the first day they were open for picking! Well that sealed the deal. The kids and I were going to go strawberry picking and get the first pick of the season!

Miss Savannah was really into making sure she picked the very best strawberries she could find. This girl has high standards when it comes to berries.........she passed over many berries before she picked just the right one. She was our quality control manager.

This is what Mr. Caspian did the entire time. He had a feast and didn't get a single berry in his basket. I tried to look past the fact that the berries weren't washed and just let him have a good time. He really enjoyed himself since he absolutely loves berries. You could just see his eyes light up when he realized what we were doing. He was in hog heaven.

Miss Matilda was kind of in between girl. She spent a good amount of time eating and a good amount of time picking berries for her basket. When I told her we were going strawberry picking she said 'I know what shirt I'm going to wear!' And it was just perfect.

We spent about an hour picking our berries and then went and had a picnic lunch under a nice shady tree. It was such a gorgeous day out and I just spent the whole time we were out there feeling so incredibly grateful for all these little blessings in my life. Nice weather will do that for you.

We got a really good amount of berries, but I will tell you that a majority of them were gone by the end of the day. I seriously think strawberries are one of the greatest little treasures......so sweet and delicious!

And this is what the kids looked like after our picnic and strawberry eating fest. And this is why we never wear fancy clothes to pick strawberries........it always ends with a strawberry face or strawberry body.

A nice man saw me trying to take pictures of the kids and offered to take a group picture of us. Don't you just love when that happens? So here's our strawberry picking crew.......it's a miracle that everyone's faces are pointing towards the camera......seriously........a miracle.

A couple years ago I made some really delicious Cinnamon Strawberry Muffins (recipe found here) and this year I decided to try something new. If you follow me over on Instagram (@thecottagemama) you might already know what it is..........it turned out so yummy......I can't wait to share!

Strawberry picking has become an annual tradition for us. I took the girls picking when I was pregnant with Cass, we went last year when he was just a baby and I carried him on me in the Ergo carrier and now look at the three of them. It's amazing how time flies!

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Riley Blake Fabric Fest Blog Hop and Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway!

So I know I mentioned it quite some time ago, but this September I will be heading to Las Vegas to teach at Riley Blake Designs 'Fabric Fest'! I'm so excited about this opportunity. I have really enjoyed working with the folks at Riley Blake Designs and I know their first conference is going to be amazing. There are going to be so many great classes and teachers during this conference.......if you haven't signed up, you definitely should. There is something for everyone!

I will be teaching three hands-on sewing classes during the conference and will be on a panel for one lecture class about finding your signature style. So what exactly am I teaching in the hands-on classes?

CLASS 1 - EMBELLISHING GARMENTS WITH TRIMS:

My 1st class is 'Embellishing Garments with Trims' and you all know how much I love trim! In this class we will be talking about using trims to embellish garments and how to use trims to pull a look together.

We will also be creating an embellished t-shirt during the class using all of the adorable trims from Riley Blake Designs.

Riley Blake Designs really has some of the best trims for embellishing! From every color rickrack, to different lace and crochet elastics, to picot edging and the most adorable buttons in all shapes, sizes and designs. For those students that sign up for the kit for the class, they will be receiving a sampling of trims from Riley Blake Designs!

My hope is that the take-away from this class will be how trims and the proper fabric pairing really can pull an entire look together and take a garment from ordinary to extraordinary!

CLASS 2 - LINED GARMENT CONSTRUCTION:

My second class is 'Lined Garment Construction'. This class makes me so excited because I get to teach some of my very favorite techniques for finishing the inside of lined garments including armholes and the hems of lined garments. These are all techniques that can be applied to some of my own, The Cottage Mama, sewing patterns and can be incorporated into other patterns as well.

Personally, when I sew a pattern from another designer, I don't always follow their construction instructions because I have a specific way I like to finish the insides of garments. I'm hoping the students will take away the techniques from the class and apply them into their everyday sewing. To help us learn the various techniques, we will be sewing the basic variation of The Cottage Mama 'Janey Jumper' pattern using some gorgeous Riley Blake Fabrics!

CLASS 3 - SEWING WITH PATTERNS:

My final hands-on class will be 'How to Sew with Patterns.' I know there are many people who just don't care to sew using commercial patterns. Either they have had a bad experience or just aren't quite sure how to interpret the different symbols and wording in a pattern. In this class we will be talking about sewing using paper patterns and PDF printable patterns, how to preserve paper patterns, transferring pattern markings and explaining what all the different markings mean...plus more. Students will leave this class feeling confident about being able to sew garments using patterns. We will be using the Katie Cupcake 'Elloise' pattern and students will leave with the garment cut out and ready to sew!

FAT QUARTER BUNDLE GIVEAWAY:

And because we are having so much fun talking about Riley Blake Designs Fabric Fest, I've got a great giveaway of one of their beautiful Fat Quarter Bundles (Kensington by Emily Taylor Designs for Riley Blake Designs)!

You can enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the blog post!

During the blog hop, these great sites will be blogging all about Fabric Fest and the wonderful classes they are teaching. They will also be giving away some great prizes, so you'll want to keep this list close by!

Wednesday, June 5

Jina Barney of Riley Blake Designs

Thursday, June 6
Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

Friday, June 7

Elizabeth and Liz Evans of Simply Simon & Co

Saturday, June 8

Nancy Zieman/Deanna Springer of Nancy Zieman.com

Monday, June 10

Melissa Mortenson of The Polka Dot Chair

Tuesday, June 11

Carolina Moore of Always Expect Moore

Wednesday, June 12