Pattern Review - Padded e-reader Cover by Birdiful Stitches

When Melissa confirmed that we'd be making covers, I knew immediately what pattern I would be using! I first used it to make this cover as a gift and both myself and the recipient were pleased.

This is the Padded e-reader Cover from Birdiful Stitches.

This is a very easy to follow pattern that provides pattern pieces for Kindle, nook, i-pad and Koob. It's also a quick sew and can be made from a small amount of fabric.

 The PDF pattern provides clear, step-by-step instructions with photographs.

The cover is padded either by the use of a hidden layer of batting or fleece. It provides corner pockets on one side to snuggly hold your e-reader in place.

 The opposite side provides additional pockets for storage. Options for 1 large and 2 small pockets included in the pattern. The small pockets are the perfect size for business or debit/credit cards and the large could hold a small notebook or journal nicely.

 It has a button closure that allows you to add a little extra touch to your cover. Instructions are included for making a bias tape closure, but here I have used a small piece of coordinating fold-over elastic to customize the fit to whatever is put inside.

They truly are quick and actually quiet satisfying to make....here are several others I made at the same time.

I didn't have an e-reader to "model" for you, but I think it holds my planner quite nicely! :)

Be sure to check out our September 2012 Monthly Project to find out how you too can be a part of something special by sewing an e-reader cover gift!

SUMMARY

Sewing Experience Level: Beginner

Size Range: Not Applicable

Special Techniques: Sewing layers with batting. Sewing buttons.

 Pattern Format: PDF
Materials Used: Cotton woven prints, batting/fleece, button, fold-over elastic.

Personal Notes: This is my go to pattern for e-reader covers. Love it! The ease of following the pattern and the finished result are both pleasing.

Sewing History - Book Recommendation

 The children and I came across this book at our most recent visit to the library. It's called Queen of Inventions - How the Sewing Machine Changed the World. Well, needless to say it immediately had my attention! While it is a children's book, the historical information and imagery is captivating.

 It covers the importance of stitching and how the sewing machine had such a revolutionary impact on families and industry.

 One of my favorite parts talks of how this "Queen of Inventions" made it possible for mother's to work from home while their children slept. :) Still very true today!

The value of passing on this trade, this craft, the gift of sewing, is undoubtedly significant!

I am so grateful it was passed to me and am now delighted to share it with my own children.

This quick read is also worth sharing, and something anyone with interest in sewing is sure to enjoy. 

Happy Sewing,

Kristy

Pillowcase Tutorial at Contemporary Cloth!

 Sondra, the owner of Contemporary Cloth has been one of the biggest supporters for our "Remember September" project from the start! She is such an encouraging and generous person and has poured both into this project in ways you will see throughout the month. Melissa and I are both so very grateful for her friendship and support!

Today, she has a pillowcase tutorial on her blog for you from Maiden Jane.

Jump over there and check it out!

Thank you ladies so much!!!

Kristy

Birdiful Stitches - Pattern Bundle Giveaway with 3 WINNERS!

I am very happy to introduce you to Birdiful Stitches.

Birdiful Stitches offers a unique selection of PDF patterns for a variety of accessories and children's clothing. Her padded e-reader cover pattern is one I've purchased and used before and will be using again this month for our Monthly Project.

When I shared about our plans for our project this month, Berritt, the designer behind Birdiful Stitches didn't hesitate to show her support! Not only is she offering a giveaway, but she is offering a bundle of 3 of her patterns to 3 WINNERS!!! And the winners get to choose the patterns that make up their bundle!

To enter, just follow the simple Rafflecopter prompts below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway open to all. Winners will be randomly selected, emailed and announced here 9/10/12. Winners are given 48 hours to respond and claim their prize or alternate winners will be selected.

+++PLUS!!!!+++

You can use the code "twentyfive" to receive 25% OFF any purchase from the Birdiful Stitches pattern shop this week too!!!

Thank you Birdiful Stitches for such a generous giveaway and discount!

Good Luck to all! 

Happy Labor Day!

For my US friends, I join you in celebrating and honoring the American worker today!

Happy Labor Day!

 "Honest labor bears a lovely face." ~Thomas Dekker

Craft Book Month - Blog Hop!

I was determined to get a head start on fall/winter sewing this year and I'm so excited to share this special project with you!
This is the scarf pattern from the book Making Children's Clothes. I love this book! I had my eye on it for a while and happened across it for a great deal too good to pass it. It is full of all kinds of great projects I look forward to sewing.

For the scarf, I chose a smoky blue wool for the outer fabric paired with this playful organic cotton print and love the combination.
Circles cut from coordinating fabric scraps dress the outer layer.

 The layers are stitched together with this coordinating button to make the scarf easy to slide on and off, but keep it from coming untied at the same time. Love this idea!

 The soft, organic cotton lining will make it even more comfortable to wear too.

I loved working with these fabrics and this pattern is one I will most definitely sew again. A scarf that stays on a busy little boy or toddler is a great cool weather solution too! Looking forward to more fall and winter sewing ahead!

Hope you enjoy Craft Book Month sewing! See the line up of posts below and find out how you can enter to win a variety of great prizes!
 

 Here are some other projects I've completed from some of my favorite craft/sewing books...

Bobby's Bathers from Sewing For Boys

George the Puppy from Girl's World

Dear Betty Apron from With Fabric & Thread

Girly Room Makeover from Girl's World

And last year's Craft Book Month inspired project...

Dress Ornaments from Softies

This post is part of the Craft Book Month blog hop at Craft Buds.

Week One

Sunday 9/2: Hopeful Threads / The Jolly Jabber
Monday 9/3: Stitchery Dickory Dock / Me Sew Crazy
Tuesday 9/4: Olive & Ollie / Sew Sweetness
Wednesday 9/5: Fabric Seeds / The Busy Bean
Thursday 9/6: CraftFoxes / Stitched In Color
Friday 9/7: Katie's Korner / A Prairie Sunrise

Week Two
Sunday 9/9: Sweet Diesel Designs / missknitta's studio
Monday 9/10: Sew Tara / Clover and Violet
Tuesday 9/11: Sew Fantastic / amylouwho
Wednesday 9/12: Projektownia Jednoiglec / Two More Seconds
Thursday 9/13: Ellison Lane Quilts / Don't Call Me Betsy
Friday 9/14: Live a Colorful Life / LRstitched

Week Three
Sunday 9/16: Fairy Face Designs / Canoe Ridge Creations
Monday 9/17: Inspire Me Grey / Freshly Pieced
Tuesday 9/18: Lindsay Sews / The Cute Life
Wednesday 9/19: The Littlest Thistle / Sew Crafty Jess
Thursday 9/20: Urban Stitches / imagine gnats
Friday 9/21: Sew Bittersweet Designs / The Plaid Scottie

Week Four

Link up your craft book project at Craft Buds from Sept 23-30 from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Monday, October, 1!

To participate in the month-long contest, just link up any project you've made from a pattern in a craft book. That easy! One entry per person, and all craft book projects must have been completed in 2012. Just create a new blog post or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2012 or later) and link back to Craft Buds in your post or photo description.

No time to create a project this month?  

 Just follow Craft Buds and comment to win some new craft books and lots of giveaways!

September - Monthly Project Announcement!!!

For September's Monthly Project I am very happy to be teaming up with my friend and fellow blogger Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs!

When Melissa first shared her idea for sending handmade gifts to deployed service men and women I was immediately on board! An opportunity to share my gratitude and support through my sewing machine for those who quietly sacrifice so very much? You bet!

If you follow Melissa's blog, you already know that her husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be separated from your home and family for such extended periods of time. Be sure to visit today to read more about this from her own perspective.

We have been working behind the scenes for months now to get all the details for this project in order and it's going to be GREAT!!! With Melissa's help, we have narrowed it down to 2 practical and easy to sew items for donation, 

e-reader covers and pillowcases. 

Our hope this month is to send a message to these men and women that not only have we not forgotten them and the work they do, but we support and appreciate them and would like to show that through our handmade gifts. There are just under 50 soldiers in Melissa's husband's battery, and we would like to provide a gift for each of them, and also a gift for them to give to another soldier in a nearby battery, to allow for a sort of "pay it forward" opportunity. With that in mind...

We are setting our goal at 100 handmade gifts donated.

 I know we can do it too!

We are suggesting prints and colors of fabric that can serve for either men or women, with no holiday or religious themes please. When your items are ready to ship just send either Melissa or I an email and we will provide shipping address.

EXCITING THINGS IN STORE TOO!

Some very talented bloggers have agreed to contribute tutorials and there are gifts and prizes to be won from some fabulous sponsors like Birdiful Stitches, Contemporary Cloth and Sis Boom to name a few!
To kick us off, Fat Quarter Shop is offering a 10% OFF Discount Code for the entire month! From now through 10/1/12 use code "usa" to receive 10% off your order!
AND
Contemporary Cloth is offering 20% off your total order, also for the entire month with discount code "remember september"!

We've also created a "pin board" on Pinterest with links to a variety of pillowcase and e-reader tutorials and patterns here. Please feel free to leave a comment with links to others you may know of that we can add too! :)

Grab our "Remember" button from the sidebar and add it to your blog to show your support and help spread the word.

Join our Remember September Project Flickr Group here.

As you sew, be sure to add pictures of your finished donation(s) to the album so we can all be inspired by your work and keep an idea of the progress towards our goal. +++PLUS+++ we might just be drawing some prizes at the end of the month from entries in this album. ;) If you don't have a flickr account, it's free & easy to set one up, then simply join our group and you are able to add any pictures that you have uploaded to your account to our group album.

Get ready to sew! It's going to be another great month!

Remembering,

Kristy