Sewing pouch tutorial and a recipe...

A couple of weeks ago I shared a tutorial to make my Merry Heart Sewing Bag and inside that bag was a cute pouch which held my scissors, threads and a packet of needles - all I need when I go stitching at Rosie's house (which I did yesterday and had the very best visit!) 

Near the end of that blog post I promised to share an extra tutorial so you could make the wee pouch to pop inside your own version of the Merry Heart Sewing Bag.

Today I'll make good on that promise so let's get started...

Supplies are:

* One piece of red floral fabric 7" x 9 1/4"

* One piece of fusible Parlan (or thin Pellon) 7" x 9 1/4"

* One piece of aqua/cream star fabric 8 1/4" x 9 1/4"

* One strip of aqua/cream star fabric 1 3/4" x 8 1/4"

* 40" length of 6-strand red embroidery thread

* 40" length of 6-strand aqua embroidery thread

* 2 beads

1. Fuse the parlan behind the floral fabric and machine quilt any way you like. I'm rather simplistic with that so I just quilted a few wavy lines.

2. Fold the 1 3/4" x 8 1/4" length of aqua star fabric in half along the length and sew the raw edges together with a 1/4" seam. Bring the seam to centre and press open. Sew across ONE end with a 1/4" seam before turning right side out.

3.  Fold in the open end by about a 1/4" and slip stitch closed.

4. Pin the strip 3/4" beneath the top edge of quilted floral fabric (the fabric is 7" high and 9 1/4" wide - forgot to mention that) and then machine sew it in place very close to the edges but leaving both ends open.

5. Fold the outside of the pouch in half, right sides facing, so that the aqua star strip is at the top of the pouch, and sew the sides and base together with a 1/4" seam.

6.  Make the lining - Fold the 8 1/4" x 9 1/4" aqua star fabric in half, right sides facing and sew the raw SIDE edges together with a 1/4" seam. (the fabric is 8 1/4" high and 9 1/4" wide).

Press the seam open and move it the middle. Press again and sew along the bottom with a 1/4" seam.

7. Using a seam ripper make a 3" opening in the centre of the seam and turn right side out.

8. Push the lining into the pouch, right sides facing, and pin the raw edges flush all around. Yes, the lining is longer than the outside of the pouch but this will all work out in the end...

9. Sew the lining to the outer pouch with a 1/4" seam.

10. Pull the lining out of the pouch...

11. Carefully pull the pouch right side out through the opening in the lining.

12. Slip stitch the opening closed and push the lining inside the pouch. 

13.  You'll end up with a lovely trim of aqua across the top because that's what the extra length in the lining was for. 

14. Sew a line of running stitch in the ditch between the top trim and the red floral.

15. Using the red and aqua 40" lengths of 6-strand embroidery thread make a twisted cord. Get someone to hold one end and you hold the other, and both twist in a clockwise direction. When the cord becomes tight (not too tight though), place your finger in the middle and fold your end up to your friend's end and hold the two ends together. The cord will complete the twist all by itself!

16. Thread the cord through the little aqua channel we made earlier and pop a bead on each end of cord with a strong double knot. Pull the cord and tie a bow.

This sweet pouch sits in my Merry Heart Sewing Bag and all I need do before heading out is make sure I've put the right embroidery threads inside it for the project I'm taking with me that day.

Are you ready to make yours?

If you missed my tutorial for the Merry Heart Sewing Bag it's HERE.

Now, the other promise from way back at the end of May - the recipe for those cinnamon scrolls I make Blossom every year on her birthday.

The dough recipe is one I've been making for so long that I don't even remember where I got the bread book I found it in. Must have been at an op-shop or garage sale when the children were younger because we can't remember how long ago the cinnamon scroll tradition began with Bloss but you know, she has never changed her mind about what birthday sweet she expects each year. 

So this is the dough recipe which I make in the breadmaker using only the 'dough' setting. You could knead it by hand if you like.

Place everything in your breadmaker in the order listed on the ingredients below...

IMPORTANT:

These ingredient measures are metric because I'm an Australian and like most of the world we use metric in all our recipes.

So please weigh the water and the flour before adding to your bread machine.

Also note that 1 tablespoon is 20ml (Americans will need 4 teaspoons for that).

Teaspoons are the same world wide - phew!

The dough setting will bring you to the end of the first rise, on my machine that's 90 minutes. Remove the dough from the machine and give it a few punches before rolling out into a large rectangle about 1/2" thick.

In a bowl mix together 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 3/4 cup of white sugar and a 1/4 cup of soft butter (not melted).

Spread the cinnamon mix across the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch free around all four sides.

Roll up as you would a swiss roll and cut into 12 slices. Place them side by side, with the cut side facing up, in a lined baking dish. Cover loosely with a slightly damp towel or plastic lunch wrap and leave in a warm spot for about 60 minutes until doubled in size. If the day is very hot and humid they may rise much faster and if its mid winter they might need 90 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 190 C (375 F) and when the scrolls have risen enough pop them in and bake for around 25 minutes until golden.

While they bake, make icing. 

I use icing sugar (confectioners sugar), strawberry essence and milk. The icing should be a thick pouring consistency.

As soon as you remove the scrolls from the oven drizzle the icing over each one in a circular rhythm. Is let the icing fall gently from a spoon as I swirl.

 This creates magic according to Blossom. Let them cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.

Goodness me that's a lot for today I think, so I'd best sign off and go begin dinner as hubby and I have a big day planned tomorrow and a picnic basket must be packed and some sewing prepared as well. 

May the good Lord above spread sunshine over your life this weekend, bringing smiles to the weary heart, a sprightly skip in your step, and laughter which multiplies among all your loved ones.

hugs

Remembering to be grateful...

"Mother Love" is one of my new designs for the June Stitchery Club and was inspired by my daughter Blossom and the closeness we share, becoming best friends and confidantes these past few years as well as mother and child.

This new design also reflects her budding role as mother to Cully May and any babies yet to arrive. 

Today Blossom turned 23.

Mr E and I dropped in very early around breakfast time to give her a big hug and lots of love because Blossom's beloved was just about to whisk her away for a few days with their little Cully May. This will be their first family holiday and I'd love it if you prayed for them to have a wonderfully peaceful time, especially as Cully May is teething again. 

She, Ross and the baby came over on Wednesday night for a family birthday dinner as we knew they'd be away on the actual day. Blossom has never swayed from what she wants me to cook for her birthday dinner and this year was no different.

Silverside, mashed potatoes, honey carrots and mustard sauce for the main, and cinnamon scrolls for dessert.

She then takes the remaining scrolls home for supper that night and breakfast the next day (which makes Ross very happy as since becoming a part of the family he's also fallen for my cinnamon scrolls!).

Our gift to her this year celebrates the path she intends taking with her budding home business, sewing and designing baby and toddler clothes.

Both her and Ross want her to be a stay-at-home mama so she makes clothes in the evening when Cully May has gone to bed. An Overlocker was on the "one-day" purchase list for her business so she was VERY thrilled to receive this from her daddy and I.

A home business is hard work (I know) but she is smart, talented, creative and a lifelong learner of new skills so I'm praying the Lord blesses the work of her sweet hands.

Blossom was sharing with me recently about her study of the Proverbs 31 wife and how she worked from home with fabric to bless her family and her husband, and Bloss said she loved that example for her own dream. 

I think having a purpose, a dream to do good and bless others is precious.

In fact, my dear young daughter made me look with fresh eyes at my own work and why I do it. 

To be honest I'd not been as appreciative of the Lord's gift of creativity and design as I once was, having begun to feel this work was burdensome...but now I 'see through a glass clearly'  and my heart overflows with gratitude for how this work has blessed my family, helped to dig us out of much debt, and allows us to contribute where there is a need in spreading the Gospel message.

Every good gift comes from God above and I know there are many other gifts He has given me which I'm not appreciating as I should so with the help of the Holy Spirit I'll hopefully uncover them and take stock of my blessings.

We're babysitting Blossom's two dogs, Bobby and Elmo, while they're away. 

This displeases our Sophie-cat immensely.

I can see some fun and games between the feline-ruler-of-the-house and our visiting canines this weekend!

I hope your weekend is blessed with laughter, grace and much peace.

hugs

PS: You can see all of the June Stitchery Club patterns over here.

Coconuts and scrolls...

It's a tradition in our family to bake Cinnamon Scrolls on Blossom's birthday, but I had such a nasty head cold last weekend that I gave her a rain check on them.

Today was rain check day!

Actually, it all starts the night before.

I make the dough, and roll the scrolls at night, then pop them in the fridge until early the next morning...

Surprisingly the dough will continue to rise in the fridge, so when I get up next morning they go straight in the oven for a hot breakfast treat!

 Served with a hot cappuccino, we celebrated Blossom's 19th once more.

YUM.

Would you like to make them too?

The recipe for the sweet dough comes from an old favourite bread book of mine...

Just add these ingredients, in order, to your bread machine and set to 'dough'...

The measures above are Australian metric, so for my US friends here they are in Imperial...

1 1/4 cups water (300ml water)

1 large egg

2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons butter (40g)

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons of sugar (60g)

3 3/4 cups white bread flour (525g)

4 tablespoons milk powder (60g)

1 teaspoon bread improver

2 1/4 teaspoons dried yeast

(I suggest you weigh the ingredients for the best results)

 

Once the dough cycle is finished, roll out the dough to a rectangle - about 10" x 14".

Mix one third of a cup of soft butter with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder. Spread this over the dough.

Roll up the dough like a Swiss Roll. Cut into 12 slices, and lay them in a baking dish lined with baking paper.

Place in the fridge overnight.

Next morning heat your oven to 190C (390F). Bake the scrolls for about 15-20 minutes.

Mix together a heaped cup of icing sugar (powdered sugar), a teaspoon of strawberry essence, and enough milk to make a smooth icing.

Drizzle over the hot scrolls as soon as they come out of the oven. 

Have I ever told you that we have a Coconut Palm growing right outside our front door?

I was outside this morning taking photos of the original version of Romeo Roses made into a cushion .....

 

...when I realised you may not know about my coconuts. I think it's pretty neat to have coconuts in the front yard!

 I can't wait until they are ready. Mmmm, fresh coconut is wonderful!

(The Romeo Roses pattern is available HERE)

Don't forget to sign up for my Free Friday Newsletter as soon as possible because in tomorrow's newsletter I am sharing the pattern for this gorgeous vase wrap with all subscribers!

 

It's easy to sign up - just go HERE to the sign up page.

Have a lovely evening! Mr E is back from his working trip away so I am smiling from ear to ear...

Hugs

Jenny

xx