Author: Pamela Klingensmith

Sewing is my passion and I always have a notion to sew, but sometimes I get distracted with other crafty endeavors. I share my creative accomplishments (and sometimes failures) here on my blog. I am a licensed Martha Pullen beginning sewing instructor and serger instructor. For 5 years, I taught new owners how to use their Bernina sewing machines at my local Bernina dealer, and for 2 years I taught serger project classes at my local Baby Lock dealer. These days, my professional time is spent retailing handmade purse and bag making supplies and patterns. I also sell a small selection of fabric as well as my handmade bags and purses. "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Prov. 16:9

What’s Sewing On . . .June 2022

Featured ~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ 2 Comments

Happy Summer, Sewing Friends!

Do you find you create more in the summer than in the winter? Or, do you create less in the summer than in the winter? I find my create time slows down in the summer because I spend a lot of time in the yard and the garden during the summer months. That said, I do still have a bit of progress on several items that I would like to share with you. So come on in and look around for a bit. You are welcome here.

First up is this machine embroidery quilt that I finally started – I’ve had the kit for about two years! This is the Vintage Boardwalk quilt by Kimberbell. I am not even half done with all the cute blocks that go into this quilt, but I’ll keep plugging along and by golly I will complete it in the future (hopefully this year).

Before I do any embroidery for the applique blocks, I back the fabric with fusible SF101. I like to use my heat press to adhere the SF101 to the fabric. By using my heat press, I can fuse several pieces of fabric at one time. I find that interfacing applied this way does not peel up at the corners like it does when I use my household iron. It’s also a great time saver.

I’m also embroidering the background quilting before embroidering the applique. This way it becomes a quilt as you go project. The background quilting designs are from Kimberbell and they are sized to fit their various applique block sizes. Yet another time saver! I love that.

Second, I actually completed a cross stitch design. Now all I have to do is mount it to foam board and frame it. I should have the completed project to show you in my July update. The pattern is Stitchy Stars by Lori Holt.

Third, I completed all the little tiny blocks for a small wall hanging. The pattern is Heritage by Betsy Chutchian. I just need to arrange the blocks in a way that is to my liking, then I will quilt it, bind it, and hang it on the wall.

My fourth, and final sewing update this month is a pair of pants from this new Simplicity pattern.

Here is a peek at what my test muslin looks like. I will discuss my thoughts about this pattern in my next blog post. Suffice it to say, I really like the pattern. I will tweak it just a bit before I sew up another pair. Stay tuned for my review.

That’s it for my June edition of What’s Sewing On . . . I must head back to my sewing machine as I am busy sewing up some items to add to my summer wardrobe. Do you sew for the seasons?

Until next time – thank you so much for visiting today.

The Miranda Tote

Featured ~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ 6 Comments

The Miranda Tote is a quick, satisfying sew. The instructions are well written, and as a bonus, Sallie Tomato has a sewing tutorial on You Tube. So if you are fairly new to bag making, this might be a good option for you.

The finished dimensions are 11.5″ wide x 12″ high x 5″ deep. That’s a good size tote! Here I have it loaded up with some orders from my shop. Time to head to the post office!

The bag features a recessed zipper top closure to keep your contents secure. I used a Sallie Tomato zipper by the yard in white with rose gold zipper teeth.

I added a rose gold sewing machine zipper pull for a cute touch.

And a copper zipper end gives a polished finish to the zipper as well as stability when pulling the zipper closed.

After inserting the lining and turning the bag right side out, I added a plexiglass insert into the bottom of the bag between the lining and the outer bag. This gives lots of stability when the bag is full. No saggy bottom!!!

I simply purchase a small piece of plexiglass at my local Home Depot and my husband uses his table saw to cut it to the size I need. He then rounds the corners with his sander so they don’t poke through the fabric in my bag. I insert it through the opening that I left in the lining, then I hand stitch the lining closed.

There are four rose gold, bucket style bag feet on the bottom of my bag. I used a small piece of foam stabilizer on the wrong side of the cork. Once I inserted the prongs of the bag feet through the cork and foam, I added some Gutermann Creativ glue to the prongs and foam for extra security.

I sewed up the bag just as the instructions indicated with a single pocket on one side of the lining and a double pocket on the opposite side of the lining. One thing I would change in my next bag, is that I would add SF101 (or similar) interfacing to the inner pockets. The pattern does not call for interfacing on these pattern pieces (piece M and piece N), but I would highly recommend interfacing them. Without interfacing, the pockets are somewhat ‘floopy’.

The outside front of the bag has two large slip pockets. Those pockets don’t seem to need interfacing. They keep their shape just fine. I used Soft and Stable from byAnnie to give structure to the body of the bag. I used rose gold rivets to give added security to the stitched on handles. The handles are only 1/2″ wide. I find that size handle to be just a bit narrow for this size bag. My next one will have about 3/4″ to 7/8″ wide handles.

I used turquoise cork for my main fabric; quilting cotton from Minki Kim’s Hidden Cottage line for the outer pockets; and quilting cotton from Minki Kim’s Someday line for the lining. My Baby Lock Destiny II does not like to sew through cork, foam, and cotton, so I used my old Viking Mega Quilter to stitch my bag together.

All in all, this is a terrific tote. I highly recommend this pattern for confident beginner sewers to experienced sewers.

Thank you for spending some of your day with me today, sewing friends. Please leave me a hello in the comment section.

A Masculine Quilt

Featured ~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ 2 Comments

When my uncle flew out for a visit last fall, we took an RV trip to Idaho. Of course, any good RV trip involves some shopping – namely, fabric shopping! We came upon a lovely local quilt shop in Rupert, Idaho. Not only was the quilt shop lovely, but the little town was just as lovely. In the window of the quilt shop was a simple but attractive masculine style quilt.

My uncle was drawn to those muted primary colors and the basic style of the blocks. I had my husband distract him while I quickly purchased the fabric – two layer cakes in “Branded” by Sweetwater. This was to be a secret Christmas present for my favorite uncle.

The quilt top went together quickly as I just stitched together 10 rows of 8 squares each. Then I added a 4 inch border around the entire quilt. I made the border using a jelly roll of Wilmington Fabrics Essential Gems in Cookie Dough.

I quilted it with a quick all over stipple stitch and I added straight line quilting on the borders.

Thank you for reading my blog and please leave a comment.

Happy Sewing, Friends!