If you haven't heard of Lindsay and Mary from Craft buds or Lindsay's other blog, Lindsay Sews, you will be very happy with this introduction! These blogs have been at the top of my "must read" list for the last couple of years.

Craftbuds is a very, very fun and informative website that is just overflowing with tutorials (I found it by entering the Pleated Boxes Pillows Sew Along last year).  Lindsay and Mary do a wonderful job promoting giveaways too, just click over to the "Win it" page and find more great prizes to win.  Their tutorials are amazing!  I am currently making up a wedding quilt and I've found a lot of Lindsay's piecing and cutting instructions have been very, very helpful.  I'm using a HST cutting technique from this post to get my wedding gift quilt underway... watch for the results at a later date ;).

The Prizes:


Right now Craftbuds is giving away the Boyd St. Bowling Bag ePattern AND Hardware Kit, the Necessary Clutch Wallet ePattern AND 1 Turn lock, PLUS a $10.00 store credit from my Shop at www.emmalinebags.com.  ($42.00 prize value!!)  This contest runs until May2nd.  Sewing patterns can be won by international winners, but hardware can only be shipped to US and Canada (Store credit can be used on sewing patterns as well as hardware.)


Head over to Craft buds to enter the AWESOME sewing pattern and bag hardware giveaway or here is here Rafflecopter entry widget, just enter here, but I do recommend you spend some time on either of these wonderful blogs!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER: LUISA M!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Over the last year or so, I've had one or two bag makers ask me why their pattern pieces weren't matching up properly, and it turns out they hadn't printed their pattern pieces the right size.  Also, looking at some recent (gorgeous) wallets that were made from my Necessary Clutch Wallet ePattern, I noticed that some of the zipper pockets are sticking up out of the wallet too high.  They should actually be slightly recessed.  I figured out that the only thing that could cause this was that the wallet exterior was too small, and this is because the pattern pieces weren't printed properly.   I know because I did the same thing myself ;)

On page one of all of my pattern instructions, there are printing instructions, but I don't think we all read these - because we all know how to click print right?  I think when you download a pattern, you open the PDF and you hit print, and THEN you read the instructions, skipping the printing instructions.

Source: The Graphics Fairy

Why we need to change print settings:
Many PDF patterns or downloads have pictures or words that are outside of the "printing area" or in the margins of the page.  Adobe Acrobat has default print setting that scales the page down to fit to the boundaries of the paper size, it's otherwise known as "shrink to fit".  We don't want this!! This will reduce your pattern pieces.

How to change print settings:
When you open your download sewing pattern in Adobe Acrobat, you will use your mouse to click the printer icon or go to "File" and then "Print".  A box will open so you can change your settings.  In the older version of Adobe Acrobat, you will change your print scaling to "None".  In some versions of adobe, you will change it to "no scaling".


And... in the latest version of Adobe Acrobat on a Mac, you make sure your have selected "Actual Size".

Remember, there is a 1" x 1" test square with your pattern pieces, and it is exactly the right size.  If it is even 1/8th" of an inch too small, your pattern pieces will be too small.

I've just updated all of my patterns, giving the printing instructions on the front page above the bag photo.  It will now be the first thing you see.  I'll also update my pattern details on my website and Etsy and make sure the printing instructions are there too.

I hope this helps, and happy sewing!


 

I love receiving fabric in the mail as much as the next girl, but I admit - I don't often scream with delight.  But today was a different kind of parcel day...  Holy wow I am still smiling and gushing with delight over my 36 Fat Eights Color Wheel from the fab Etsy shop:  Surly Sheep.

My color wheel from SURLY SHEEP

It's perfect, perfect, perfect and I did indeed SCREAM.  I don't know how I will pull out 4, as I only need 32.  It's going to be tough!

I did mention that I was making the NY Beauty Flying Geese wall hanging ( a GORGEOUS creation by Janice at Better Off Thread) to Brooke at Surly Sheep, and she looked it up on the internet and picked out THEE most perfect fabrics for me.  You see... I don't have a stash... :(
But I do now!!

SOURCE:  Better Off Thread

Now to save up for the background neutrals..... Where can I buy those?
Can't wait to make this wall hanging some day and fill my empty wall niche!  Updated: You can get this paper pieced pattern from Craftsy HERE, for the minimal price of $3.00

 

There are so many fun new photos of handbags and wallets in the flickr group!  You guys are amazing and I just love seeing your results.  Please hop over to the group, get some inspiration, and share your own pictures.

Eye Candy: Look at this gorgeous Boyd St. Bowling bag from Tabatha at Bending Pins.
You can read her blog post and see pictures of the inside HERE.  She did some piped handles that turned out really beautiful.

Source: Bending Pins

This is one of her Steph-in-the-City bags.  She actually started with new jean material and bleached it after!  I don't know how she does that....

Source: Bending Pins

And this is her Necessary Clutch Wallet made with Jeni Baker's Color Me Retro fabric collection.  I love this.  My husband even commented on it, which believe me, is really something!

Source: Bending Pins

Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous photos, Tabatha.  You are making my patterns look so fun!!

I really enjoy seeing what fabrics others may use in my patterns. Picking fabric is something I really struggle with and to be honest, I'm not always happy with my choices. I am getting better at it, but you all really inspire me!  Please share in the Flickr group!!