Why substack? Well, there are a few reasons!

• Substack has been a great spot for content creators to share their work. With my blog on substack, you can subscribe to receive each post in your inbox (you don’t have to subscribe, but it’s an option now!). Plus, you might already be familiar with Substack, so that makes it all the easier.

• I also have an interest in simplifying as much as I can at this point. Blogging via Wordpress seemed like it had run its course for me. Wordpress had been great for the past 12+ years (and Blogger for years before that!), but it’s more tech than I need at this point. It already feels easier! Yay for that.

• I wanted to make sure you could follow what I’m up to lately! It’s easy for things to get lost in social media, but with Substack it’s not like that.

  Noodlehead Blog

  Make your own bags and accessories with my easy-to-use, modern sewing patterns. Check out my original patterns & all the supplies you'll need at www.noodle-head.com

  By Anna Graham

  If you subscribe, you won’t miss anything I post here on my blog. It feels like going back to basics and I’m really excited about it. I’ve been a little quieter this summer, mostly posting to my stories on Instagram. I have been sewing up a storm, making a long list of garments for myself and my daughters, so check out my Summer Sewing highlight on my IG if you’re curious. I promise I’ll do a round-up post once I make my way through a few more tops/pants on my list!

• I also have some very fun NEW stuff coming up this fall/winter. Honestly, you won’t want to miss it.

  

Thanks for joining me on this ever evolving ride! I’ve been blogging since 2009 - that’s 17 years if you’re counting. My girls were just one and three at that time and wow, I’m so glad there were there with me through it all. My oldest is now 20 and my youngest is just about 18!

If you spot anything that looks goofy (especially if you’re checking out an old post) just let me know and I can see if I can get it fixed.

One thing that didn’t get moved over are all the comments left on each post over the years! I plan on trying to post some of those historical comments that are helpful on some of the more frequented blog posts, but that will take some time.

I definitely want you to be able to use this blog as a resource as always. On the top of the blog page you’ll find a menu link bar: check out my Tutorials page for all the freebies I’ve done over the years OR stop by the Technique page for tips and techniques I’ve shared, too!

Hope your summer has been relaxing/restorative if you needed it, and creative/productive if you needed that!

My mom is going on a trip to Europe and she needed a bag that was able to be small enough but yet be secure to wear on the front of her body. We decided the Haralson was just right and that bonded nylon would make it super durable! It’s water resistant and it does wear really well.

She picked out the Grove canvas by Cecilia Pettersson for the lining and I grabbed a few scraps of quilting cotton for the zippered pocket linings. We pretty much based the bag around the wavy webbing I have in my shop and I really like how it turned out!

Since we went with a solid exterior I added some leather tabs to the side connectors (a la Jordan Porter Handmade). I think it adds a nice touch to give it a little something extra. So if you have a few scraps of leather and rivets it’s a fun option to try!

Project Details:

Here are the links to the sew-along videos in case you need them.

• Pattern: Haralson Bag pattern (PDF and paper available) (this is the leather/hardware closure or you can use a turn lock or Loxx, all options are included in the pattern as well as cutting layouts for doing the exterior in a single fabric like this!)

• Fabric:

  • Exterior: Bonded Nylon from Sullivan’s Trim (this is Black) no interfacing needed

  • Lining: Grove by Cecilia Pettersson for Figo Fabrics, only one layer of SF101 used

  • quilting cotton from my stash (pocket linings)

• Hardware & supplies:

  • 8″ zip (you can also use nylon zipper by the yard/pull from my shop, but I have a bunch of colors of metal zippers in my shop, too)

  • 6″ zip (cream is the interior zip color)

  • Strap hardware kit (I used the 1.5″ wide webbing for the strap so I swapped it to the Crossbody/Oxbow/Exporer kit to utilize the swivel clasps/strap slider that are the 1.5″ width

  • Closure Hardware and leather piece, and chicago screws

  • Wavy webbing in Black/Natural

So I made my first puff Quarry Tote as a test sample when I was working on the pattern. My youngest uses it so much! She’s a light traveler, so it’s been a great overnight bag when she stays with a friend. I never really got pictures of it, so I decided I just needed to make another so I could have a match!

Modify it!

And I know you savvy readers have noticed that this one is missing the front pocket! Yep, you can omit it! It’s great when you’re using a fabric like this puff coating. It would also be perfect if you’re featuring a large-scale print, or if you just want to skip the pocket (or don’t need one!).

To remove the seam that joins the Top Panel and Main Panel pieces and make it a single cut of fabric (one for the front, the other for the back) is relatively easy. Add the height of the Top Panel to the height of the Main Panel and then subtract 3/4″ (that’s double the 3/8″ seam allowance you’d normally use to join the two). Once you have that measurement, cut one front and one back piece using that measurement for the height of the piece – the width stays the same. Everything else is the same. When you go to construct the tote, you can start at Step 2d. Yay for that!

Puff Fabrics

More about this puff fabric. I’m kind of obsessed. It’s so sporty looking! I loooove that. I’m thinking it’s a perfect gym bag or swimming bag. The puff coating is somewhat water-resistant, so that’s a bonus. I got mine from Style Maker Fabrics. There’s a nice selection of colors, and I think all of them would make good-looking totes!

Pattern Details:

• Pattern: Quarry Tote (Regular size with recessed zipper option)

• Be sure to check out my YouTube Sew Along!

• Fabrics:

  • exterior: puff coating purchased from Style Maker Fabrics

  • lining: waterproof canvas from Sullivan’s Trim

• From my shop:

  • Webbing (1″-wide)

  • Zipper by the yard is available in my shop (donut pulls, too), this zipper pull is from Zipper Zoo

• labels are from Sarah Hearts (black heart) and Kylie and the Machine (You can’t buy This)

The post Puff Quarry Tote appeared first on Noodlehead.

I made these two Fieldstone samples while filming my YouTube video for the Fieldstone. It’s much easier to work with a smaller project on camera.

I had fun picking out fabrics for both of these! Smaller amounts of fabric required make it an even more appealing project to sew. If you have only a few small pieces of fabric that you love, or even an abandoned quilt block, this would be a great project to use it!

Lunch Bag?

Can I make this into a lunch bag? Yes! I recommend using the Insul-Bright (affiliate link) basted on both Main and both Side Panels. The Insul-Bright will give it the insulation you’ll want to keep things cool (or warm).

Secondly, I’d recommend using a wipeable material for the lining. Waterproof canvas is great for this! The 300d from Sullivan’s trim is what I’ve used a lot for lining my samples.

View B (the zip top) is going to be your best bet! The Mini size works for carrying a one-person meal. If you carry a lot of food or for multiple people (road trip!) I think the Regular size would be great, too.

Project Details:

• Pattern: Fieldstone Tote (View A and B, Mini size)

• Free VIDEO sew-along on my YouTube channel!

• Fabrics (blue floral sample – View B):

  • Exterior (Blue floral) is Grove by Cecilia Pettersson for Figo Fabrics

  • Accent is Nuno to Mono canvas by Kokka Fabrics in Beige

  • Lining is Speckled Essex in Cream (Robert Kaufman Fabrics)

• Fabrics (geometric sample – View A):

  • Exterior (geometric) is Geometry by Ruby Star Society

  • Accent Nuno to Mono canvas by Kokka Fabrics in Brown

  • Lining is Fableism Sun Stripe in Bottle Green

• Interfacing:

  • EB-Fuse Medium for exteriors (as recommended and available in my shop), Pellon SF101 for the lining pieces (as recommended)

• Zipper/zipper pull is available in my shop.

• Webbing for handles is available in my shop, I did the rolled handle on both of these, instructions are included in the pattern.

• Leather pulls available in my shop.

The post Two Mini Fieldstone Totes appeared first on Noodlehead.

Sources and supplies:

Since I began working with leather in 2015, a lot of resources online have popped up! That’s a good thing! Leather can be really difficult to determine color online as well as being expensive (depending on the size of leather piece you’re purchasing).

Here are a couple shops I can recommend. They’re great for someone just getting started or those who make bags for craft shows, etc. There are many more shops of course! I would also recommend doing a google search for a shop that’s local to you! I only have experience with US based shops, so if you’re in another country try finding somewhere local. I’m linking the vegetable tanned leather below because it’s what I used for my handles shown in the pictures, there are many types of leathers, but vegetable tanned is very easy to work with and is usually quite economical.

• Tandy Leather

• The Leather Guy

• Weaver Leather

Leather weight

I think there’s a sweet spot for leather weight in the 5-6 oz. range. It’s a nice thickness without getting too heavy and weighing down your project. It’s also sturdy enough to hold up well over time. With anything, we all have our preferences, so you might find a different weight range that you prefer!

Basic tools:

• strap cutter (replacement blades)

• edge beveler tool (size 2)

• Tokonole

• Neatsfoot Oil (plus a rag to apply)

• rotary hole punch

• rounded end punch (1″-wide)

• small hammer (check your local hardware store)

• cutting board

Cutting the strap

• To cut the leather to width, I use a strap cutting tool. It’s a super basic tool, but I think it takes a little getting used to using especially if you’re cutting from a larger hide. I use my rotary cutter and a 4 foot metal ruler for my initial straight cut on a side of leather. Hides are 5-6 feet long or more, so you’ll need a large surface (or a clean floor) to be able to make the cut.

• After I get a straight edge I cut the straps to width using the strap cutter. It adjusts to cut up to a 4″ width.

• You could also use your rotary cutter and ruler to cut the leather. I would probably suggest having a separate rotary cutter for this purpose as it will dull the blade quicker than fabric.

Conditioning the leather

Next, for natural veg tanned leather, I oil it with Neatsfoot oil. Neatsfoot oil is fairly inexpensive. It will condition, soften, and protect the leather. You can do several coats, but keep in mind it will darken the leather. Also, with natural veg tan, it will darken over time with exposure to the sun and use. Below is a picture of a wallet I made years ago, so that hopefully gives you an idea of what the aging process will look like. If you don’t want that, you’ll want to be sure to purchase leather that has already been dyed.

Finishing the ends

This step is optional, but you can purchase strap end cutters if you prefer a rounded end (they have other shapes, too). I use a small rubber hammer with a cutting board to use the punch.

Finish the edges

• Next, I finish the edges of each strap. You can do this to any strap edge. It does depend on your leather type, a soft pliable leather is not going to be a leather where you’ll be able to do this, but any of the straps in my shop (or any vegetable tanned, English Bridle, or Traditional Harness leather) you can finish the edges using this same method. I use an edge tool to bevel the edges of each strap. This eases the sharp edge of the strap and prepares it for the next steps.

• Once the edges are beveled, I use Tocanole cream and a hand tool to burnish the edges. There are lots of ways to burish the edges (beeswax or even water), but this is the most basic with the least amount of tools needed. The Tocanole helps smooth down the leather and creates more of a sealed edge to the handle. You can also use special dyes to color the cut edges, but with veg tan you don’t need to.

Attach to your project

• After the edges are burnished, I use a punch to make the holes for the rivets and then attach them to my project. Here’s my blog post with more depth on rivets and how to attach them to your bag.

• I find that using rivets is quick and easy after you get the hang of things. You could also make/use leather “washers” that get placed on the inside part of your project. It’s especially helpful if you want extra reinforcement or have rivets that are too long for the amount of layers you have punched through.

• I only use a hand press, but you can use a hand setting tool set as well. I find that unless you’re only doing a few projects, the hand press is well worth the cost and has many other purposes for bag making other than rivets (snaps, grommets and more!). Check out KamSnaps for hand presses and related rivets and grommets.

• You could also hand-sew your handles directly on your project, or machine sew the leather into the seam of your project.

I hope that’s helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or if anything is unclear by leaving a comment on this post and I’ll be sure to reply!

The post Finishing leather straps appeared first on Noodlehead.

Reasons to Love it

I really love the Poolside for a lot of reasons! Thanking my younger self for making the pattern! I am the type of person who kind of waits until the last minute to pack. I like the way I can fill up the Poolside and be done. It doesn’t have a ton of fancy pockets (on the front or front/back if you wish), but that’s my vibe. I’m not a big fan of interior pockets in my own bags that I use because I tend to forget what is even inside! I am a fan of using zippered pouches however, if you can’t tell.

I also love the scale of the Poolside Tote, gimme a big bag already! You know I’m full of contradictions. I need mini bags, too, but when I want a big bag, the Poolside is it. The other fun part is that I love this bag with and without quilting. It looks great when I use canvas/foam stabilizer like this, and it also looks just as great when I using a quilting-weight cotton and quilt the main panels. I can’t decide what I like better, but I don’t have to, because I can make it both ways (and so can you!).

Project Details:

• Pattern: Poolside Tote (available in PDF and paper in my shop)

• Fabric:

  • Poolside Too Canvas in Storytime by Ruby Star Society

  • Accent is Speckled Canvas in Balmy – Ruby Star Society (normally I use a quilting cotton for this, but the canvas works well, too)

  • Lining is Poolside Too in Peacock (quilting cotton) for Ruby Star Society

• interfacing is byAnnie’s Soft and Stable, basted to the exterior and SF101 fused to the lining and accent pieces

• Notions/Hardware:

  • 10″ metal zipper

  • waxed cord (Candy Pink)

The post Poolside Too, Poolside Tote appeared first on Noodlehead.

The quilt top was a quilt kit that I purchased from Penelope Handmade last summer I think? The Theodore Quilt pattern is also by Penelope Handmade.

Great retreat project!

I love the super traditional look of it. And I really love how the blocks came together! It was very easy to piece. I might even think about making another with a variety of fabrics. I’d say it was a perfect retreat quilt!

For the backing I found this cute almost feedsack-like wideback fabric over at Stash Fabrics. Thanks to my friend Brianne for telling me to check there! They have a great selection of widebacks, so if you’re in the market, I’d recommend checking there (after your local quilt shop of course). It’s called Prairie Flower Wide and it’s by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Fabrics.

Stumped on Binding

And for the binding, oh the binding! I had no idea what to use for this quilt! I auditioned a lot of different options, but finally made myself commit to this yarn dyed something or another I had tucked in my stash. It’s a yarn dyed Essex, but I can’t be sure. To help move the project along, I told myself I could take it off if I didn’t like it once I got it attached. But! I like it, so it stays. I think it frames the quilt nicely.

I can’t say that I know what I’m going to do with the quilt. It’s so so soft and I can imagine once I wash it, it’ll be even softer. I had thought about hanging it on my quilt wall, but it’s a little shorter than the one I currently have hanging there.

Project Details:

• Pattern: Theodore Quilt by Penelope Handmade

• Fabrics were a kit that I purchased from Penelope Handmade (the linked kits are similar to this, but not the same fabrics), but I think they’re French General by Moda

• Backing is Prairie Flower Wide by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Fabrics

• Binding is a yarn dyed Essex

• Quilting is a clamshell pantograph, quilted by my friend @angiebranlhandmade

The post My Theodore Quilt appeared first on Noodlehead.

Why Nuno to Mono? It’s the name of the specific heavyweight canvas that Kokka Fabrics sells. You might be able to find some at your local quilt shop (or ask for it, they might be able to order it for you!). This is a STURDY canvas. It comes in at 13 oz. which is nice and heavy for bag making. I didn’t add any interfacing to this canvas, but you could, just keep it out of the seam allowances and your machine will thank you.

The lining is a woven by Elizabeth Hartman that I purchased a last Spring from Sewtopia (Kitchen Window Wovens). I think it’s harder to find now that it’s a little older, but you might be able to find some with some internet sluething. I did use SF101 on these lining pieces.

And for the handles, I wanted to get a little fancy and I added these leather ones. I finished these by oiling them, finishing the edges, and then rounding the ends with my end punch. I added them at the very end of making my tote. Just skipped sandwiching the handles between the layers and then when I had the tote all done and topstitched, I punched through the Main Exterior and Main Inner Panel on both sides of the tote and attached the handles with rivets. I added about 3″ of length (to the measurement in the pattern) to each handle measurement to account for the placement, but feel free to adjust as you’d like! This type of installation makes it easy to decide because they’re added at the very end!

Project Details:

• Pattern: Fieldstone Tote (View B, Regular size)

• Free VIDEO sew-along on my YouTube channel!

• Fabrics:

  • Nuno to Mono Heavyweight Canvas in Yellow

  • Lining is Kitchen Window Wovens by Elizabeth Hartman

• Interfacing:

  • SF101 on the lining pieces only

• Zipper/zipper pull is available in my shop.

• Leather handles available in my shop (I no longer stock this color, but have Black/Medium Brown/Dark Brown if you’re interested)

• Leather pulls available in my shop.

• Fun labels are from Sarah Hearts (Then Came June collab) and the back label is from Matchy Matchy

The post Nuno to Mono Fieldstone Tote appeared first on Noodlehead.

First up is the classic Strawberries canvas (navy) by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society. You can’t get more summery than these strawberries, they’re just perfect.

I paired it with the 600d waterproof canvas from Sullivan’s Trim. It’s a wipeable fabric, so I’ve loved using it on my samples for the gusset! You can set it in anything and then just wipe it clean. You’ll notice that all three of these Fieldstone Totes use it for the gusset. Grab some for yourself, I bought a bunch and have really enjoyed working with it. The other thing they have in common is that they all use the Ivory 300d waterproof canvas from Sullivan’s trim. The 300d is a lighter weight than the 600d and is perfect for a wipeable lining!

For the interior hang pocket, I used the calico print from Catnap collection by Alexia Marcelle Abegg (Ruby Star Society) and a denim-look zipper from Sullivan’s Trim as well. Finishing it off is a Roasted Pecan leather decorative zipper pull.

Second Fieldstone is this gorgeous Echino canvas by Kokka. They’re canvas is so perfect and I always have loved the bold designs. I love how this one looks!

Lastly is the See You at Six stripe! The canvas stripe is from See You at Six Fabrics. I got mine from Bolt Fabrics, but you might be albe to scour the web and find more (I think it was from their summer collection from last year). I’m on the hunt for more striped fabric to make more samples! I love how you can change up the direction of the stripe to create more interest.

The interior hang pocket is Alexia Marcelle Abegg’s super cute birds print from her Catnap collection. Zipper is from Sullivan’s Trim, the black coil with the Limeade color is so fun and sporty! Waxed cord on the zipper pull is from my shop.

Project Details:

• Pattern: Fieldstone Tote (View A) Regular

• Fabrics:

  • Strawberry Canvas by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society

    • pocket fabric is Catnap by Alexia Marcelle Abegg for Ruby Star

  • Echino Float Canvas by Kokka

    • pocket fabric was gifted by a friend

  • Horizontal Stripe Canvas by See You at Six Fabrics

    • pocket fabric is Catnap (Birds in Citron) by Alexia Marcelle Abegg for Ruby Star

    • FOR ALL: gusset fabric is 600d waterproof canvas from Sullivan’s Trim

    • FOR ALL: lining fabric is 300d waterproof canvas in Ivory from Sullivan’s Trim

I had so much fun making these, they’re going to be perfect to pass out to my family at our next gathering. I also think they’d make a great gift for teachers for the end of school year – it’s not that far off (says mother of high school senior)!

The post A trio of Fieldstone Totes appeared first on Noodlehead.

Here’s a quick list of the pattern’s features:

• two sizes to sew! Mini & Regular

• two views to sew! View A features an interior zippered hang pocket, View B features a zippered top and interior slip pocket

• minimal hardware needed! Just a zipper and some webbing!

• feature your favorite fabric, use a leftover quilt block/patchwork, or quilt your Main Panels!

Plus, the Fieldstone Tote pattern is so FUN to sew!

• The Mini size is seriously SO cute.

  • It’s small and mighty!

  • Uses small cuts of fabric! Mostly Fat Quarters!

  • It makes a cute project bag for your craft stuff, lunch bag, or for everyday!

• The Regular size is going to be perfect when you need to carry a bit more! Toss in your things and go! It’ll hold a sweater’s worth of yarn or makes a great everyday tote to hold all your things. Perfect for toting back and forth to work or your car.

I hope you’ll love this new tote pattern as much as I do! I’ve been having so much FUN sewing up the samples. My inspiration for this pattern started when I was making the Mini size and wanted to feature my favorite fabrics, then I couldn’t resist adding the Regular size. Plus, the boxy shape lends itself extremely well for patchwork on the Main Panels!

TODAY through Tuesday March 3rd only (ends at 11:59 pm CST) purchase your PDF for 20% off! No code needed!

Construction Notes

The Fieldstone Tote features a super boxy shape. View A is perfect for an Advanced Beginner! If you’ve made a basic tote, the Fieldstone would be a great way to level up your skills.

The pattern includes several options for handles so you can customize it to fit your needs and preferences.

View B is a great Intermediate sewing pattern. If you’re looking to try a new way to make a zippered top closure and are up for a challenge, I know you’ll have fun with this view!

Plus, I’m excited to have some future blog posts that might cover things like adding a key holder, adding a water bottle sleeve, and using one fabric (instead of two) for the exterior.

Fabric Notes

This pattern is perfect for all your fun splashy designer canvas prints (I used a few of the Ruby Star Society canvases for my Exterior Fabric on a lot of my samples and adore them!) with waterproof canvas for the lining. Most of the designer canvases you can find a quilt shop (Ruby Star Society, Windham, Moda, etc.) fall within the recommended 6-8 oz. weight. I also like the way the thicker Fableism fabrics work as well!

I also used 600d Waterproof Canvas from Sullivan’s Trim for the Exterior Accent pieces (and skipped the interfacing – so easy to use and sew and has the perfect structure!). You could even make the whole exterior using this!

For another heavier canvas for the Exterior Accent fabric I used Kokka’s Nuno to Mono Cotton Heavyweight Canvas (it’s 13 oz. which is heavy, grab your size 16 needle for sure!). And same as for the 600d waterproof canvas, skip the interfacing if you’re using the Nuno to Mono.

Another option would be Robert Kaufman’s Big Sur canvas, I would stick with a lighter interfacing or no interfacing when using this 9.6 oz. canvas.

Interfacing Notes

As with many bag projects, the cutting and interfacing take the most time! I would recommend breaking up your making sessions into two parts: one for cutting and interfacing and another for sewing!

For this project I recommend a fusible woven interfacing (Pellon SF101 or equivalent) for the lining pieces and Emmaline Bags (EB Fuse – Medium) for the exterior pieces. In the pattern I do give options for a few different other interfacings, so check those out as well.

Zippers Used

This pattern is written for zipper by the yard (many of which come in nylon finish that look like metal!). As always, be sure to read through all the entire supplies list and instructions before sewing! 

If you’re using up some fixed-length zippers in your stash, grab a nylon coil handbag zipper that’s at least 1″ longer than the size listed in the pattern. Here are the fixed-length handbag nylon zippers I have in my shop.

Upcoming video sew-along and….

• YES! I will be sharing a full video sew-along! I haven’t decided yet if it would be more fun to do it email style or just post to YouTube. Can you let me know if you have a preference? This will probably be a two or three part video to go over both views. I hope to have it ready starting mid-March!

• I am very excited to show you more samples! I’ll be diving into the details of each of the samples that I’ve made with in-depth blog posts – so be sure to stop by my blog in the coming weeks for those!

• For those of you who prefer paper patterns, I’m hoping to have those ready in about a month or so (end of March). Thank you for your enthusiasm & patience!

Click here to purchase the pattern!

Supplies for the Fieldstone Tote:

Available in my shop:

• use any of the handbag zippers in my shop (pick a length that is at least 1″ longer than the listed length needed and cut to length)

• 1”-wide webbing for Handles (1-3 yds)

• waxed cord or leather zipper pulls for that special finishing touch!

• 18″ leather handles/chicago screws if you’d prefer adding leather handles!

• check your other favorite supply shops if you’re buying zipper by the yard!
  
  * Note: pattern assumes zipper tape width of 1 ¼”/3.2cm. Zipper by the yard/continuous zipper is most often found with nylon teeth. Nylon comes in colors that look like metal. Nylon is easy to sew through!

Can’t wait to share more! Thanks so much for your support! I’m SO excited to see what you make using this new Fieldstone Tote pattern!

The post New! Fieldstone Tote Pattern appeared first on Noodlehead.

Chameleon

I’ve really liked how the Quarry can be a chameleon of a pattern! I feel like every fabric combination I’ve sewn up has a whole new look. That makes it fun! I have tried a two-color exterior, which was fun. And once I get some pictures, I’ll share a version I made that eliminates the front zippered pocket.

This canvas is from the Bloom fabric collection by Arounna Khounnoraj (@bookhou)for Kokka Fabrics. I love this canvas, it’s such a nice weight for bag making. The lining is waterproof canvas (Sullivan’s Trim Ivory 300d) that I’ve come to really enjoy using. Not having to use interfacing is super appealing, plus, with a busier exterior fabric, a solid really looks nice.

This is the Small size of the pattern, with the optional recessed zipper. I did the optional crossbody strap as well, which turns it into a really cute and useful everyday bag.

Just for fun be sure to check out the other versions of the Quarry Tote that I’ve sewn up:

• New! Quarry Tote Pattern (two are in this post)

• The summer I turned pretty Quarry Tote

• Dry Oilskin Quarry Totes

Project Details:

• Pattern: Quarry Tote (small size with recessed zipper option and crossbody strap option) plus the zippered pouch!

• Be sure to check out the free Youtube Sew Along!

• Fabrics:

  • Bloom collection by Bookhou for Kokka Fabrics

  • waterproof canvas from Sullivan’s Trim

• From my shop:

  • Webbing (1″-wide)

  • strap hardware kit

• Zipper by the yard is available in my shop (donut pulls, too), and this zipper pull is from Zipper Zoo

The post Feathers Quarry Tote & Pouch appeared first on Noodlehead.

So jumping back to last summer, after looking at the designs she wanted, we decided that the Plover Pouch was the perfect starting point for a cute little handbag. I fully admit this was out of my comfort zone. I hadn’t worked with vinyl much, but was determined to see how it went on a small Plover! For hers I used black Mora Faux leather from Emmaline Bags that I had in my stash. But I never took pictures of it because she starting using it right away. I guess that’s a good thing! I kept meaning to make another, but I guess I got busy with other things.

Pink this time!

So my oldest daughter asked me to make her one for a trip she was going on after Christmas, but she wanted hers in pink. I couldn’t say no!

I used EB-Fuse medium weight interfacing on the Mora and used waterproof canvas for the lining. I kept it simple with no inner pockets (next time I’d definitely add some for her). But I did manage to sneak in a cute patch from Matchy Matchy!

I used some double sided 1/8″ wide tape (WAWAK Double-Sided Adhesive Basting Tape – 1/8″) which worked really well to keep things in place before sewing. Other than that, the Mora sews up beautifully. I did skip the topstitching around the main panel/gussets, felt like it wasn’t really needed there with the faux leather and I didn’t want to mess anything up at that point!

Strap Hardware

For the strap connection I used these strap anchors from Emmaline Bags. They worked great! I was nervous because of the layers at the gusset, but it worked great. For the other one I had made, I used some leather and d-rings and riveted it on to each end of the gusset. I like the look of that one, too!

She said she’ll untuck the one zipper end if closing it (while tucked in) becomes cumbersome. But for now it’s tucked in. I might mess around with trying a different zipper install method next time!

Project Details:

Pattern: Plover Pouch (Small size) with handle attached at gussets

Fabric:

• Mora Faux Leather from Emmaline Bags (Ballerina)

• Waterproof Canvas from Sullivan’s Trim (Ivory)

Interfacing:

• EB-Fuse Medium

Hardware:

• Strap Anchors from Emmaline Bags

• Swivel Snaps from Emmaline Bags

• this zipper from Emmaline Bags (cut down)

• Strap ends from Emmaline Bags

The post Pink Plover Handbag appeared first on Noodlehead.

In 2025 I did manage to sew a few more things personally. I just shared my Meadow Star quilt, and have two more tops being quilted as we speak. And how did I get those done you might ask? I got to attend a sewing retreat in October with old and new friends alike! It was a blast, and good for me to jump into a group where I only knew about half the people. The rest were amazing to meet and I hope to join them more in the future!

Personally

On the personal side, my family and I had another fun-filled year. We enjoyed paddle boarding, I took a trip to Cheyenne, WY to visit family with my mom and aunts, weight lifting a lot more and loving it, hiking, no real vacation this year oddly enough, a trip to the State Soccer Tournament for my youngest (that whole season was a major highlight), tennis, lefse making, and I made so many batches of these cookies that I have the recipe memorized (I split mine into three!).

Same as last year, I filled in at a local University in their costume shop in the theater department! For 200 hours over the course of the Spring semester last year and almost 200 more hours this fall semester I got to help make costumes, do alterations, and generally just have a good time. It does take a lot of time away from my business, but it’s been worth it! The students are amazing, they even made bags using my patterns! We did a workshop on Valentine’s day and it was a huge success.

2025 Recap

A quick recap of the year would include releasing two patterns, the Trail Tote (more of a major update release) and the Quarry Tote. I’m still working my way through the Quarry Totes I want to make. Honestly, I have piles of fabrics meant to become this and that that I hope to get to. Speaking of, I have a couple Quarry Totes that I made and haven’t shared yet.

I did a video sew-along for the Quarry Tote on my YouTube Channel! I had a great time filming it during the summer even though it was 10000% humidity. I really enjoyed making this pattern and the in-person testing group (thanks Mallory!) was amazing. I like mixing up the online testing group, so we had a fun time with a spreadsheet of notes!

Fabric collection!

Orchard Run (my current fabric collection – now in shops!) released in January and I’m pretty sure it was my most favorite fabric collection yet. It was great to have the ability to have my designs traditionally screenprinted, so I got to use a lot more colors. In the past, my collections were all overprinted on fabrics that Robert Kaufman already had as the basecloth (mostly Essex, etc.). I loved that, but the new cotton/flax basecloth was beautiful to work with. This past fall I got to share all the projects I made using Orchard Run, so go have a look if you missed them!

Onward! What’s coming up!

I hope to keep evolving more as a business! I feel like some changes need to happen. After 16 years, you’d think it would be more of the same, but it’s an ever-evolving process.

I’m excited for those changes! I hope to cut back a little on my non-business commitments so I can focus more on the business. Particularly the creative side. The business/admin stuff really takes over if you let it! I love my job and more than ever I love making things! I’m still immensely grateful to have a part-time employee and work with a few contractors that I trust and respect. EVERY DAY I continue to strive to do my best to help you create the projects that you want to create! I want to be very intentional about sharing the things I make. It’s so easy for me to set it aside and move on to the next thing, but I would love to aim at sharing something once a week either on my blog or on social media. It needs to move up the priority list!

Case in point, I never shared these Plover Pouches I made for Moda for their H&H Americas booth!

I’ve got a new pattern that I’m working on, and I’m so excited to show you. I’m hoping to have it ready for the end of January. Get ready to highlight your favorite fabrics! I’m going to continue with video sew-alongs. I also plan to continue to add items to the shop to help you find the supplies you need. I hope to do some streamlining of products, I’m not fully sure what that entails, but time will tell.

I’m hoping there will be a new fabric collection toward the end of the year. I’m pretty excited about some new opportunities on the horizon.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading. Your comments on this blog help keep me motivated to share in this space. It’s been very quiet in the blogosphere this year.

Thank you for your support, comments and encouragement over these past 16 years that I’ve been in business. It truly means everything!

If you’re new here, stop by and check out my previous year-end posts from 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Hope you enjoyed the look back on this year! Looking forward to what 2026 has in store!

The post Goodbye 2025 appeared first on Noodlehead.

Working in small batches

I worked on piecing the blocks at the end of the summer. Meadow Star (pattern by Then Came June) is a fun one, I honestly didn’t get bored at all. I mostly worked on two blocks per sewing session and it worked out great for me. I often don’t take time to just sew something I want, so this was a nice break. Toward the end, I was getting antsy seeing it come together, so I bumped it up to about 4 blocks in a session.

Gotta make it special

The funny thing about this project is that my very first step into the piecing instructions on the first block I screwed up. Definitely was not paying attention and was ready to get going, so I messed up! Good thing I have plenty of fabric to substitute in, so it was kind of a fun side quest finding fabrics that were similar enough to the ones I cut wrong. I found some Carolyn Friedlander prints (see image below, it’s the first/corner block) that were perfect actually and that got me back on track. I honestly like that it’s one super minor thing, but it makes the quilt one of a kind.

The rest of the quilt I followed Then Came June’s layout exactly. The blocks are big so the top came together quick, too! I have only a tiny amount of patience for piecing long rows, but this one was slick! Not a lot of seams to match up, which is definitely something I appreciate! I dug through Meghan’s blog post and did the same quilting and thread color.

Oh, and I made matching pillowcases with the leftover wideback backing! I added some Ruby Star Speckle that I had in my stash for the accent. Pretty cute if I do say so!

Project Details:

• Pattern: Meadow Star (square lap) by Then Came June

• Quilt kit and backing/binding also from Then Came June

• Backing is Favorite Flowers wideback in the color Balmy

• Binding is Ruby Star Speckled in Goldfish

• Read her blog post here for all the nitty gritty details

• Quilted by my friend Angie Brandl, Arches is the pantograph by Anne Bright Designs

I hope you all had a great weekend. I got to spend lots of time with my family and even got some snow! Are you making any gifts for Christmas? I’m hoping to sneak a bit of time to make some smaller gifts, I hope to make some quick videos on Instagram, so hope you follow me there!

The post My Meadow Star Quilt appeared first on Noodlehead.

Above: Oxbow Tote pattern, available in PDF or Paper! Click here to read the blog post.

Starting today I’m having my 14th annual sale on all my sewing patterns and leather in my shop! Yayyyyy! And I’m also having Free Shipping to US customers for orders of $99 or more!

From now through Monday, December 1st (11:59pm CDT) 2025 all patterns and leather items* (all leather straps, leather snap tabs for the minimalist wallet, zipper pulls, and leather patches) are 20% off. No coupon code is necessary. Discount will be automatically applied at checkout. This also includes my Everyday Essentials booklet!

*For the leather items, please note that the discount applies while supplies last. I’ve stocked as much as I could get cut. If you’re looking at getting a certain color/length be sure to stop by early! I’ll try and restock some as the week continues on, so stop back if you don’t see what you want at first.

No coupon code necessary. Discount will be automatically applied at checkout. 

I also have a few fun items that are NEW to the shop:

• Half yard pre-cut pieces of my Orchard Run fabric collection

• Relisted my grab bag webbings, they include 1″-wide and 1.5″-wide pre-cut (4 yard lengths) in a variety of colors at a super deal

• New colors of my decorative leather zipper pulls!

• Check out my hand-stamped dot grid notebooks (makes a fun stocking stuffer)!

Hope you have a wonderful week & weekend! Thank you so much for being a part of this supportive and encouraging community! I appreciate you all every single day!

The post 2025 Thankful Sale appeared first on Noodlehead.

Combining the Lining & Accent

This is the Tote size of my Firefly Tote pattern (the larger of the two sizes included in the pattern, here’s a blog post with both sizes for comparison). For this sample we went with using just two fabrics instead of the three fabric combo. I really like how it turned out. It still features a great combo of fabric! For this I just added the Lining fabric requirement to the Accent fabric requirement and cut everything from the Persimmon fabric. Easy enough!

Canvas & Quilting Cotton

I really like the way Ruby Star puts out collections with canvas and quilting cotton (plus some other fun substrates, too!). As a bag maker, it’s fun to be able to combine the durability of canvas and still have a coordinating quilting cotton to use for the accent or lining pieces. And because the collections all vibe together, it’s easy to come up with all sorts of combinations!

Project Details:

Looking for the Firefly videos? Here are the links to the sew-along videos in case you need them.

• Pattern: Firefly Tote pattern, Tote size (PDF and paper available)

• Fabric: 

  • Persimmon (coming in 2026, can pre-order now!) in canvas for the Exterior, and Persimmon in a quilting weight for the Lining/Accent both are from the Persimmon collection by Rashida Coleman Hale for Ruby Star Society

  • Here’s the google search with a bunch of Pre-Order options!

• Hardware & supplies:

  • 7″ zip (Cream, front pocket)

  • chicago screws

  • drawstring cord (Cookie)

  • 1″-wide  webbing (for the handles, in color Cookie) or you can use 1″-wide leather handles (Rustic) from my shop (18″ length set for the Project size, 28″ length set for the Tote size)

  • decorative leather pull (Pecan) or use waxed cord, both available in my shop

The post Persimmon Firefly Tote appeared first on Noodlehead.

Upcoming Fabrics

I made this Range Backpack as a sample for the Ruby Star Society lookbook for the upcoming Fireflow collection. It features the upcoming Speckle Canvas for the Contrast bottom (designed by Rashida Coleman Hale), Sarah’s gorgeous designs on canvas for the main exterior and her feathers design on quilting cotton for the lining fabric (which also includes the straps/hang loops, etc).

Side Release Buckle Closure

For the closure, I chose to use a side release buckle! I hadn’t sewn a Range Backpack in a while, so as I was digging through my hardware I found a side release buckle and it finally clicked in my memory that I could use it for the closure AND that I had a video. Yay! Lucky for me and you, I had recorded a video back in 2017 on how to make the modification to the Range Backpack pattern. I’d say I did a pretty good job back then, it was an easy modification and I really like how it looks for this sample. Be sure to check it out on my YouTube channel!

Project Details:

• Pattern: Range Backpack (PDF and paper versions available in my shop)

• New! I added a new listing for a side release buckle, in case you want to make one, too! So check it out in my shop. They’re affordable, easy to install and easy to use. Plus, be sure to check out that video on the how-to.

• Fabric:

  • Fireglow canvas by Sarah Watts for Ruby Star Society (for Exterior fabric)

  • Fireglow quilting cotton by Sarah Watts (for Lining fabric)

  • Speckled Canvas by Rashida Coleman Hale for Ruby Star Society for the Contrast Bottom

• Interfacing:

  • I used Emmaline Bag’s EB-Fuse in Medium in place of the Pellon 809 for the Medium-weight fusible interfacing, I highly recommend this one if you don’t like or can’t find Pellon 809

• Other hardware/supplies used:

  • if you want to go with the traditional d-ring closure, I have kits here

  • if you’re using the Side Release Buckle, you can use this kit for the strap hardware! It’s for the Making Backpack, but that way you won’t have the d-rings

  • brass/black 8″ zipper

  • black leather decorative zipper pulls

The post Dragon Range Backpack appeared first on Noodlehead.

Let’s split up the exterior! A how-to

Anyway, I adore this late summer/early fall Quarry Tote! And of course I want to talk about how you can split up the exterior of this tote using two different fabrics if you find a fabric combo you just can’t get out of your head!

When I was designing the Quarry Tote, I had first started off with the pattern having an accent color around the top like this. As the pattern development progressed, I knew I had to keep it simple with a one fabric exterior. So that’s the way the pattern is written.

But, if you’re loving this version, it’s pretty easy to do! Here’s what you’ll do:

• 1/4 yard (for Small) or 1/3 yard (for Regular) of an Exterior fabric – cut the Main Panels and Zipper Facing from this fabric

• FQ (fat quarter = 18×21″) Accent fabric (works for both sizes) – cut the Top Panels, Top Inner Panels from this fabric

• same Lining amount as in pattern

• for mine I used the accent fabric for the base, too, so you’d need a 1/4 yard for the Accent fabric if you’re making the Small, 1/3 yard for the Regular

Project Details:

• Pattern: Quarry Tote (small size) available in PDF and paper format in my shop, also includes a zippered pouch!

• Fabrics:

  • Exterior: Waxed Twill (color is Amber) from AL Frances Textiles on Etsy, stripe is Nippon Hickory Stripes by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (purchased from Hawthorne Supply, but they’re out of stock, I’d recommend a google search)

  • Lining: Leah Duncan‘s newest fabric collection, Fern Grove (Cloud9 Fabrics)

• Hardware & other supplies:

  • mesh & fold over elastic for interior pocket is byAnnie’s (check your local quilt shop)

  • zipper tape/pull are available in my shop (Sand)

  • decorative leather zipper pull

  • strap hardware kit

  • magnetic snap

  • 1″-wide webbing (in Cognac)

  • cutest label is from Cotton & Ochre

The post The summer I turned pretty Quarry Tote appeared first on Noodlehead.

Quilting the Main Panels

Even though Orchard Run is a nice weight for bag making. It still needs a bit of structure for a larger bag like the Oxbow. So quilting it is! I actually love quilting these bags. It’s fun because it’s a fairly quick process (especially if you quilt your own quilts, you know). It’s also a great opportunity to try different quilting designs! I like the process of quilting the Main Panels because it’s relaxing and fun to see the fabric transform.

Basting and auditioning

I used the same process as I show in my YouTube video for the Oxbow sew-along. Spray basting (here’s a link to the spray baste I use) is still my method of choice for bags because it is quick and secures the fabric layers easily. I can definitely understand that there’s a bit of a learning curve to quilting. If you’re new to quilting, it might help to pick a smaller project like a zippered pouch to try quilting on first. It would be a perfect way to get to know the process yet not have so much time and material sunk in. And you could always use scrap fabric and quilt a few small panels, too. Turn them into pot holders!

After quilting the Main Panels it’s fun to see the project come together. If I’m unsure of how the fabrics will look together (especially the front pocket fabric), I like to try a few different fabric and webbing combos just to see what stands out to me. I just lay my auditioned fabrics and webbing on top of a Main Panel and go from there!

I like the way these turned out! Please see the Project Details below for all the source information and shop links!

Project Details:

• Pattern: Oxbow Tote (Regular size in brown and the Overnight size in blues)

  • quilted Main Panels (two layers per panel, 80/20 batting)

• Watch my free YouTube sew-along for the Oxbow here!

• Fabrics used:

  • Exterior fabric is from my fabric collection, Orchard Run, for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

  • Accent fabric (front pocket & reinforced base) is Yarn Dyed Essex in Nutmeg (for Regular size) and Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun in Navy (for Overnight size) by Robert Kaufman Fabrics

  • Lining is more Orchard Run, check your local quilt shop or do an online search for “Orchard Run Anna Graham” or “Orchard Run Robert Kaufman Fabrics”

• Zipper by the yard/zipper pull is available in my shop

  • I also have some solid YKK zips in my shop, 18″ for the Regular, 24″ for the Overnight size!

• Webbing is available in my shop (I used Cookie for both sizes) Be sure to purchase a quantity of 4!!

• Hardware kit available in my shop

• Snap, check out my blog post on snaps (includes a how-to, tool and source links!)

• scrap leather used for the zipper pull/end tab (I have some scrap packs available but they usually sell out pretty quickly)

The post Oxbow Totes in Orchard Run appeared first on Noodlehead.

Basecloth

Orchard Run is printed on a 80% cotton/20% flax basecloth and weighs 6.2 oz/yard. So it’s heavier than the Essex (5.6 oz/yard) and heavier yet than let’s say a Kona (4.35 oz/yd) quilting cotton. With that said, it’s versatile for all types of sewing! I’ve made so many bags, a quilt, and this garment, all with Orchard Run.

For garments specifically, I would recommend sticking to patterns that require a bit more structure like a jacket, pants, overalls, or structured skirts. It’s really a perfect weight for them and it’s an easy fabric to work with, I holds a nice press and is easy to cut.

More projects to try

In case you’re looking for some inspiration for more garments to sew that would work with Orchard Run, here are links to some I would recommend. I’ve sewn all of the following with my past fabric collections and I think they would work great with Orchard Run:

• Studio Tunic (Riverbend)

• Heather Blazer (Riverbend)

• Pearl Dress (Forage)

• Kalle Shirtdress (Forage)

• Cleo Skirt (Forage)

• Wiksten Shift Dress (Driftless)

• Ilford Jacket (Quarry Trail)

• Farrow Dress (Around the Bend)

Project Details:

• Pattern: Ilford Jacket by Friday Pattern Co.

• Fabric: from my fabric collection, Orchard Run (check your local quilt shop)

• Buttons are from Joann (RIP Joanns!)

• And I used tracing paper from Pellon (Pellon Easy Pattern) for the pattern pieces, especially handy if you’re making more than one. It can be pressed flat with an iron which is really nice for when you store pattern pieces in a file system (folded).

The post Ilford Jacket in Orchard Run appeared first on Noodlehead.