Monday, October 28, 2013

by request

My son requested a rice bag warmer, so I made one for each of my kids. Two minutes in the microwave and they are nice and toasty. My kids love them! I used up scraps AND an orphan block. Sweet! These are scrap projects #20, #21 and #22.
I was asked to make my Scrap Happy Purse for Quilt Market using Denyse Schmidt's upcoming line Ansonia. I really enjoyed playing with brand spankin' new fabric! I did NOT enjoy hand stitching on those handles. It's worth it in the end, but I always manage to stab myself with a needle way too many times. Ouch.
I had requests to make this sweet and sassy quilt into a pattern. I'm calling it Little Connections. (My husband named it, actually. I may like naming quilts even less than I like sewing on purse handles!) The pattern is available here. I made the first block for a boy version this weekend. If only I had more time to work on that today....
 
Happy Monday to you!

26 comments:

Anna said...

I love those rice bags! I've got one more to make, for Natalie. Maybe I need one for my feet too! Love the tote and the quilt pattern, yayyyyy!

KWILEY said...

Love your new scrap projects! For your rice bags - did you enclose the rice in an inner liner? They are really cute and would be great little gifts! Love your project ideas always! - just wish I had fabric stash as beautiful as yours!

ipatchandquilt said...

I wonder what happens to the fabric after many times in the microwave... Do you or anybody else know?
I love the idea and would like to make some!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com
ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

MaterialGirlQuilts said...

I love all of these fabulous projects! So cheery :)
Amanda

Cheryl Arkison said...

I managed to miss that purse at Market. Fun fabric line though.

Rosa said...

Love your rice bags!

Annie said...

That bag and those fabrics....divine! We all love wheat packs here too...so pretty and functional

Rene' said...

Love the rice bags. Great scrap project. Love your bag in that new fabric line. I started making one using your pattern and selvages. Maybe I'll have it completed one of these Fridays ;-)

Amanda Jean said...

Kwiley,

No, I didn't use an inner liner for the rice bag. I quilted a patchwork piece on some batting, then sewed it up, filled it with rice and sewed the opening closed by machine. It should withstand a bunch of abuse. :)

Hope that helps!

AJ

Amanda Jean said...

Esther F.,

I made a rice bag for myself many years ago, and it's been microwaved countless times. It's still holding up. I'm due for a cute new cover, but they do last a long time.

Hope that helps!

AJ

Tamara Hampton said...

I love the rice bags and have those on my christmas list to make now! Someone asked about how the fabric holds up in the microwave. I had one for 5 years that i used often, it wasn't quilted but was made of fabric and it never showed any extra wear on the fabric.

Linda said...

I made some rice warmers last winter. We LOVE them! I use mine all the time!

Kathy@KayakQuilting said...

Oh, I love the purse and Denyse's new fabric! I can see the future...

~Carla~ said...

All fabulous! You are without a doubt one of my favourite "blog" quilters.. soo much talent! Can I ask how you make your rice bags? Size, etc? :)

Susan K from Canada said...

Amanda, I really love your bag and the fabric from Denyse Schmidt's upcoming line Ansonia. Thanks for sharing as always.

Francesca Celeste said...

I've been making rice warmers too. I use flannel sometimes for extra snuggly-ness!

Francesca

Unknown said...

Love the fabric in the bag!

Lana said...

I love the rice bag idea! They do last a long time! Oh...and that purse. AWESOME!

margaret said...

more great projects, the bag is my favourite

Suzanne said...

Sooooo glad you came over to the warm side with the rice bags. I make mine filled with corn feed. I do it in a down and dirty fashion with an inner liner of whatever scrap fabric I have on hand. I cut that liner, sew around all sized twice for secure seams and then fill. My bags are usually about 12-14" long and 6" wide. When I fill them, I sew dividing seams parallel to the 6" seam so I make 4 pockets and the feed corn doesn't slide all the way to one end.

My outer layer is usually flannel in whatever I have that suits the recipient. I cut it a little larger so I can finish with with nice seams enclosed. I again double stitch the seams because my kids love these bags and they sometimes get tossed around. I finish by tucking the open end in and top stitching it closed.

I used to make the outer layer removable but I have decided it's more fun to make new ones periodically. I just pitch the entire thing when I feel they are not holding the heat as well or I'm tired of the ones we have.

I'm smitten with the handles on your bag. They add a fabulous finish to the bag. I can believe they were a bear to sew on but the result is smashing.

Thanks for a cheery post. Xoxo

Unknown said...

I love the purse made from a collection too.
Love that pattern!

Nilya said...

Oh I love your bag!!!

bethanndodd said...

I seriously love those rice bags...I know I should love the others more but I can't help myself...that patchwork it just too scrumptious! Hope your fingertips are healing nicely ;)
Smiles~Beth

Amanda Jean said...

Carla,

Here's what you do. Make a piece of patchwork about 11" x 11.5", then place it on a piece of 100% cotton batting. Quilt it. Trim to 10" x 10.5". Fold in half so it is 5" x 10". Sew up the 3 open sides, leaving a 3" gap for turning. Fill with approx. 2 cups rice. Sew the opening shut. Heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes.

hope that helps!

aj

leanne said...

that bag looks amazing in the new DS fabric and the contrasting thread on the handles looks great !

Anonymous said...

I like how you identified a common theme for these items.
The purse turned out nicely - as did the others.