Patchwork Pouches - Round 2

Dear Angel,

Welcome home! I know it's only been a few days since we left each other and our families but I already miss you!! It was so wonderful to have some "real" time together and I will forever cherish those moments we spent stitching and chatting on the deck and way too late at night. I hope you're getting settled back in. Can't wait to hear about your camping adventures and the rest of your Washington visit.

I FINALLY finished my patchwork pouches. They are birthday and thank you gifts and I am so shamefully late! I learned a great deal through this project, both about technique (zippers, lining, etc) and about my style.



Thanks to the wonderful tips I got from our readers on my last post, I was careful to properly trim the extra seam allowance and clip the corners before turning these pouches inside out. It definitely helped with the bulk around the edges! I can't believe I forgot that in the first round.


Before I show you finished pouches, I wanted to share some nice little blunders I made along the way. I'm still learning as I go with zippers. Check out this one that I cut after sewing fabric onto it, but before securing the teeth together. Eek.


And look at these mismatched seams. I hope the recipient won't be too picky!! Practice makes perfect, and I'm still very much in the "practice" phase when it comes to piecing and patchworking.


These pouches were meant to be an experiment. I wanted to practice quilting, patchworking and applique. I wanted to use scraps, as it really is the perfect small-size project for those, and pair them with linen. For some of the pouches, I had a clear vision, but for others, I just had a vague idea and a desire to take a little risk and do something different from my usual style.

Here are some pouches on which I experimented without a clear direction. First is Allison's pouch, with another appliqued leaf. I like the combo of red and linen.




The following pouches are gifts that have not yet been given, so I won't name names! More experimentation.





And here are a couple of pouches for which I had a very clear vision. Love these robots!



The last one is mine, featuring scraps from 2 fat quarters you gave me, Angel! I love the random line quilting on the linen, and the simplicity of it. Can't wait to use it!



In conclusion... I both enjoyed and dreaded the experimentation process. Maybe it's because of the pressure of gift-giving? I think I work better when I sketch and plan a bit more. I also confirmed that "less is more" when it comes to my style. When I make pouches again, I'll stick to simple patchwork and probably skip the applique.


I'm glad I pushed myself a bit out of my comfort zone with the improv pairing of fabrics and applique process, though. It made for an interesting learning experience. And I feel like I've come out of it a more confident crafter and sewist.

Dear readers, do you like to experiment, improv and wing it? Or do you prefer to plan ahead and stick to your tried-and-true style and methods?