My new fabric line,
Emma & Myrtle, (available exclusively at
Connecting Threads) has been out for a several weeks, so I suppose now would be a good time to share a little bit more about it!
The collection was named after two of my great aunts: Emma and Myrtle. Emma was my grandpa's sister, and Myrtle was my grandpa's sister-in-law. Their names should give you an idea of the era in which they lived. :) Originally, I wanted to design a line of fabric based on my memories of them, but the collection evolved into more of a nod to things from that time period. I think that's pretty normal-to start with one idea and land in another place. The prints were inspired by retro kitchen towels, radiator covers, vintage aprons, an ironing board cover, gardens, bed sheets and an old spool of thread. I love how the collection came together! Many thanks to the folks at Connecting Threads for their expertise in developing a line of fabric. There is a lot that goes into it!
Picking out the colors for the line is one of my favorite parts! This was the original color scheme that I selected when I was starting out. It's fun to look back and realize that we didn't veer too far from the original palette.
Along with designing the fabric, one of the parts of the process is coming up with quilts/projects to make
using the new fabric. That part is fun, but also challenging for me, as I'm more of a jump into a pile of fabric and start sewing to see what happens. (I'm usually not much of a planner in that aspect.)
The show and tell bag (pattern available
here) was designed for taking your quilts to show and tell at a guild meeting or for hauling projects to a retreat. When I wrote the pattern, the fabric was not yet printed, so I made all of my samples from different fabrics from the stash. You can see those bags in
this post. The pattern comes with instructions for bags in 3 sizes: Medium, Large and Jumbo.
The bag shown here is the large size. I folded up a few quilts (a lap size and a twin size) and this bag holds them both easily.
The pattern is charm pack or layer cake friendly. There is a kit available
here, if you'd like to make one of your own!
(Full disclosure: in my version I took out the 4 fabrics shown above, which were included in the kit and I still had enough to make the bag as shown.)
I thought it would be fun to do a pattern giveaway today! If you'd like to win a PDF copy of the Show and Tell Bag pattern, please leave me a comment in this post. In your comment, tell me about a friend who you would like to win a pattern for. If I pick your name, you AND your friend will each win a PDF copy of the pattern. International entries welcome! I'll pick a winner in a few days. Please make sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!
I hope you are having a great week!
144 comments:
I would like to win a pattern from my grandmother!
I would like to win pattern for my friend Bridget, she is amazing at sewing and the person I always call when I have sewing problems. Thank you for a great giveaway. x
I would like to win this pattern for my friend Cindy, who loves making bags.
I'd like to win for Margaret, my long-time friend and first quilt teacher. Dot
I had great aunts Emma and Myrtle too!! And I grew up in Wisconsin. Grandfather's sister, and Grandmother's sister.... Do you think we're cousins? Or maybe sisters? :-)
I would make this bag for my dear friend Barb, who does so many nice things for me. I enjoy your blog and your aesthetic. Thank you!
I would love this pattern for my dear friend Lucy who is a "bag lady" - in a complimentary way!
Pretty bag! Your fabric line is so pretty and cheery, too! My friend, Darci, would love to have a bag like this, as would I for our yearly retreat. We've been having our stretched out weekend for 21 years in January!
I would like to win a pattern for my sewing buddy Marilyn. Love your new fabrics!
Very fun! Would love to win a pattern for my friend Cindy ... as she is the one who "introduced" me to you and your blog by way of your book Sunday Morning Quilts. Sometimes life really does come full circle.
I'd love to win a pattern for my friend Tammie. She takes my good natured ribbing about being a "bag lady" because she has a whole menagerie of them. To her credit, she doesn't just collect them, she uses them all the time. She may even convert me to a bag lady one of these days.
(bolderbaker.at.gmail.dot.com)
I would love a copy of the pattern for my friend Peggy who is also my long arm quilter and a member of my local quilt guild.
I would love to win a pattern for my friend Tina, she's a great quilty friend and I wish we lived a little closer together!
I would love to win a copy of the pattern for my friend Connie. She really loves vintage fabric prints and colors. I had a great aunt Myrtle also. She was my grandmother's sister.
If I win I would love my dear friend who has supported me since I was married 16 years ago, caring, praying and spending time with me to have a copy of your pattern. She has recently moved to a new house and has now got her own sewing room where she has unpacked all her quilty goodies and completed her daughter a quilt. Congratulations on the new line of fabric. It is beautiful.
I'd give it to my mom, a quilter. She just moved close to me and we could make it together.
Greetings from New Zealand. I would love to win your bag pattern, and I'm sure my friend Jean would love one too - she is a great bag maker. In fact she made me a "me hospital bag" last year which I used to carry my bits and pieces, including a book, to hospital while I was undergoing weeks of radiation treatment. Many thanks for the chance to win.
I would like to win this bag for my friend Wendy. She has kindly shared her cottage sewing studio with me over the last two years as I work towards improved health. She loves to make bags as gifts.
Email address - scawhite01@gmail.com
Thank you, Sue
I would love to win a pattern for my quilting friend Livy
I love your fabric collection - and the wonderful memories they conjure of an earlier time :) I would love to win a pattern for my mom - the women who taught me everything about sewing when I was a little girl, and now it's my turn to show her a few tricks I've picked up along the way.
Love the fabrics! I'd love to win a pattern for the leader of my charity quilting group.
I’d love to win a pattern for my friend Tim. He makes great bags!
My friend Norba makes bags. She and I would enjoy the pattern.
I'd love to win a pattern for my friend Lorna, who makes beautiful bags!
I would love to win a pattern for my friend Margaret. She is a kindergarten teacher and could use this to carry her books and papers and we both would love it. Paula in KY
I love your new collection and bag....so cute! My friend Emily would love this bag! She is a preschool teacher plus has cute twin boys so she is always carrying items!
Very nice show and tell bag! I would like to win a pattern for my friend, Christine. We have been getting together to sew once a week for years now and it would be fun to work on this project together!
Love your new fabric! I would like to win the pattern for my friend Monica. She is trying to sew new things and learn new skills. She's had some rough days lately and I'd love to cheer her up.
Your fabrics are so pretty together. I would love to win this prize and share it with a friend. My email address is cswilliams1974@hotmail.com.
I love the new fabric line, especially the small prints. They blend well with so many things. I would like to win the pattern for my friend and guildmate, Tiffany. How cute would it be to both use the same bag to carry our show and share quilts to guild meeting?
I am swooning over this fabric!!! I'm all about vintage and the colors and patterns of this line are spot on. This bag is adorable and showcases the fabrics perfectly. I would love to win a pattern for my friend Shawn. He is a rock star when it comes to creating and quilting. gnlenhardt@juno.com
Emma & Myrtle is sure to be a great success and I hope to have it in my fabric collection too! I do love a sweet patchwork tote bag and always have things I need to carry along when I go to work or travel. I know my friend, Amy, would love a bag like this too. She is expecting her 3rd child next month and she will have even more "things" to carry along!
Love your fabrics! They are so fun and pretty. I would love to win this pattern for my friend Lynn. She works on quilts for a charity group and would use this to tote them back and forth from meetings.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Sandy A
I'd love to win with my Aunt Debbie. We hope to plan a quilt retreat at her house sometime soon and it would be great to have these bags to haul my supplies from Ohio to Michigan!
I would love to win the pattern for myself and my sister. She loves far away, but still quilts. I am just learning to and this would be the best first project!!
curtandlaurie@yahoo.com
Thank you for this chance!
Laurie N
Really cute bag and I love the fabric. I think my friend Mary would really like this pattern also. Thanks for the giveaway.
Love the bag in all the different sizes! Would love to win a copy for my friend Sandy in our quilt guild.
Chris M
I would love to win this pattern for my friend Connie. She and I were just talking about learning to make bags and this would be the perfect opportunity. Jumping over to CT now to check out the fabric!
My niece is a beginning quilter & she likes to make bags so I'd love for her to have your pattern.
The fabrics you chose are so lovely together.I love making bags , and if I won, would really like my friend Jenny from Romany Quilting to receive a pattern as well. This is a wonderful give-away for those of us who are International Readers.
I would like to win the pattern for my mother.
aubphg (at) hotmail (dot) com
G'day! It's springtime down-under, and your latest line of fabric is perfect for this time of year. I bought a FQ bundle + yardage from Connecting Threads recently, and it's absolutely gorgeous! <3
I would give the pattern to my best friends' Mum! She loves making bags of all kinds and is a wonderful & generous quilting friend too!
My yoga teacher is going to Australia for a few months and this would be a nice gift to make her!
My yoga teacher is going to Australia for a few months and this would be a nice gift to make her!
I love the Emma & Myrtle color scheme, so soft and pretty! I’d love to share the pattern with my friend Debbie, who often shares with me!
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What a great fabric line. I love the colors! I would like to win a pattern for my friend Peg who is an amazing quilter!
I would like to win a pattern for my friend MaraLu. She loves to sew, and makes lovely baby blankets for co-workers having babies.
What another wonderful collection of fabric! I am currently making a satchel bag with your first collection, which I have adored for awhile! I would love to share this with my friend and co-worker, Jill. She loves to quilt and sew and a has had a challenging year. This would be a perfect gift! Thanks for the giveaway! Lee_gifford@hotmail.com
I love your new fabric line. I would like to win the pattern for my friend Deanna. She moved so far away and I miss her. She would love a new quilt bag! Thanks for the give-away!
I would like to win a pattern for my friend, Jean. We met at freshman orientation as textiles & clothing majors in 1977. She was from the Chicago suburbs and I was an Iowa farm girl but we have been true friends ever since. We live about an hour away from each other and we haul whatever projects we’re working on back and forth for “show and tell” when we see each other, about twice a month.
I love these fabrics. They harken back to a simpler time, when you did your wash on Monday, ironed on Tuesday and shopped on Wednesday. My friend Ellen's house embraces this time of her childhood. Her grandkids call her "Granny" and when they visit, they are always doing "simple" things together, like baking and washing baby dolls in the kitchen sink, which is also very kid friendly. She dries her clothes on the line whenever she can. If you do another "line", please consider the name Edna. She was my elderly spinster aunt, who devoted her life to her crippled father and has pretty much been forgotten by everyone in my family.
HI! I love your new fabric line! I would love the pattern as I am a 'bag' lady. I would love to give a pattern to my best quilting friend Judy. She gave me the quilting bug and taught me so many things! Thank you!
Tammy
I love this new fabric line! And I would love to win the pattern both for myself and for a friend who's husband just died. She enjoys sewing so I think it would give her a nice diversion. Thanks for the chance to win!
I’d really like to win a pattern for my friend Donna. She’s the one who got me started in quilting again after a 15 year “dry spell” by inviting me to a “Stitch ‘n’ Bitch at her home where I was able to finish an entire quilt top in a few hours...inspired me to start using some of the many pieces of fabric I’ve collected (and am still collecting)!
She’s the Lucy to my Ethel, the Thelma to my Louise...a constant source of joy and laughter, an inspiring quilter and my BQFF!
Cute bag! Thanks for the chance!
What a lovely giveaway! I'd love to win a copy for myself and for my friend Benta who is a prolific quilter and almost always has a quilt to show at our monthly guild meeting!
I would love this pattern for me and my mother as well. kpentondecker@hotmail.com
I would like to win the pattern for my friend Camille. When I joined our quilt guild I did not know anybody. She made me welcome and became a great friend! Thanks for the chance to win.
My friend Sue has started quilting only 6 months ago and is of course hooked as strongly as the rest of us! I would love to win a pattern so that we can challenge each other to this versatile and useful bag. Thanks from Adelaide, Australia
I would like to share this pattern with Tink. We are far apart, but our hearts quilt together! -Jean
I love your new fabric collection - and the bag certainly is a great model! I would give this pattern to my sister (after making her the largest size} as she is moving and totally downsizing her household - so she can fill it with the things that are most important to her.
I would give it to my mom. She loves to make things like this to give as gifts. It would be perfect. tiffany.tf@hotmail.com
I love the subtle colours in your fabric line. I would love to win a pattern for my friend Julie; like you, she jumps right into a pile of fabric and has fun. Janice.snell@gmail.com thanks
My friend Sharon and I are both "bag ladies". I love seeing the quilts you create.
What a nice giveaway. I would give the pattern to my aunt. She's just starting to explore the world of quilting, and this looks like it would be a fun project for her to try.
If I won this fun giveaway, I would give the pattern to my friend Connie. She does so much for me, that I would like to give something fun to her.
I would share this with my friend Cathe, who has both a vintage-looking fabric addiction, and a "problem" with charm squares. And she's often seen hauling her quilts around!
I would share this pattern with my sister, Debbie. She loves tote bags.
I would love to win this pattern for myself and my friend Cheryl. We love to make bags together. And we all need another bag to tote show and tell to guild meetings.
I would like to win a pattern for my friend, Diane, who got me back into quilting after an almost 10 year hiatus. I am loving it again, thanks to her!
Would love to win for my friend Karin.
I would love to win a pattern for myself and my quilting sister, Bonnie!
I would love for my friend Jess to win this pattern. I know she would love it! This bag looks like everything you would need would fit inside and just like my friend she is there every time i need her.
Thanks!
mdmn08@gmail.com
I would love to win this pattern for myself and my friend Dorinda who also loves to sew bags. I'm hooked on pouches and tote bags. Thank you. I really enjoy your blog and look forward to all the links on Friday to see what everyone has done for the week.
single0918@rocketmail.com
My friend, Robin, loves patterns like this. She and I could use large totes like this to haul our stuff to guild and retreats. Thanks for the opportunity to win a pattern.
I would like to win a pattern for my friend Cathy who's recovering from a bad accident
Love your new fabric line
I already bought the Emma and Myrtle fat quarter collection (love it!), so the pattern would be awesome... My friend Lisa R who completely understands my fabric addiction should get one too, as I know she'll love retro of this collection.
Dslepper@gmail.com
Well done!
I would share with my buddy, Candy ��
Love the colours in the Emma and Myrtle collection. I would like to learn how to make a bag with this pattern, and then make one for my friend, Amanda, who is expecting her first baby inJanuary. She could use it to transport all the baby stuff she'll need.
I would love to share this pattern with Rose. Although she is 20 years older than me, we share the love of quilting and especially making quilts for charities. We get together every week to sew and I have learned so much from this generous and kind woman. Thank you for the opportunity to win this pattern. It looks lovely.
I would like this pattern for my friend Camille. She is definitely the most talented quilter that I know.
I love useful projects that are charm square friendly! My friend, Sharron, would love this pattern to make a bag for her quilty projects.
Congrats on your new fabric line! My friend Yevonne would love this tote!
Oh I love to make bags and this pattern would be great!! Thank you.
My quilting friend, Jeanette, and I took a class together over 30 years ago. We are still friends, still love quilting, and still go to guild together! I would share with her.
yoyopattycakes@hotmail dot com
I would like to win a pattern for my lovely friend Michele, she could just do with an exciting new sewing project to get her teeth into to give her a bit of a boost at the moment.
I love the color scheme of your new line. Your aunts would be proud of you! Thanks for the chance to win the pattern.
I would give to my daughter, who is taking an interest in sewing and quilting as she's grown older (like to think it's from my example???)Your fabrics are 'so' my style!! Thanks for a chance at the bag pattern. Shirley dot Becker dot 48 at gmail dot com
I would love to win a pattern for my friend , Barb...the best quilt teacher ever....
I'd share a pattern with a friend I've only known a short time (Patti) who is just learning to sew. I would love to help her learn to make it.
How fun! I'd share a pattern with my old neighbor, who I fondly call Lovey! She is an avid quilter too. Thanks!!
I'd love to win a pattern for my friend Andra! She's so fun to sew with and has the most wonderful quilty ideas and is so much fun to be around!
I would make a tote for my sister. It would be fun to shop together with totes that looked the same but with different fabrics.
Oh I would like to give this pattern to my sister Jo and have a sewing party with her. Your fabric looks wonderful!
Love, Love the bags. I am a bagaholic!! I would to have the pattern.
My friend Paulette has helped me with so many many projects . I would love to share with her a beautiful new bag pattern
I'd like to win the pattern for my quilty friend Kate. The two of us and a couple of other friends have been getting together to sew for the past few years, and it would be great to make bags for the group!
I would love to win this pattern for my friend Marie. She has many quilt sandwiches that once quilted she will need to bring to show and tell at our mqg meeting, lol.
I would love a pattern to make your bag for my sister Donna. She doesn't quilt but loves bags made by me.
karenastorey@gmail.com
I would so love to win a pattern for my 84 yr old mother who is still quilting a little each day. thank you
I attend a local sewing group with my neighbour and I would love for her to win a pattern
I would like to win a pattern for my good friend Sharron whom I met through the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.
I would love to win a pattern for my mom!
radosevichr@hotmail.com
I would like to win for Brenda Louviere.
I would like to my friend, Chris, to win a pattern:-)
I love this bag and I know my friend Pat Sloman would absolutely love it!!
I would love to win this for my dear friend Sarah, who is my quilting partner. She's been on a very long journey to become a mama. Shes been making baby quilts and now her baby jas come into her life. She needs this bag to tote baby quilts in!
Buffy (at) dblwoffices (dot) com
I have a friend who is just getting into quilting and hopefully she'll have show & tell soon!
I would love to win the bag pattern! I’d also like a copy for my dear friend & quilting buddy, Rita.
mhscott2@yahoo.com
I love your new fabric line and tote.
I'd love to win a copy for my daughter. She's due with her 3rd child in a week. She could sure use a big bag to carry everything. And I'd love to make it for her.
Clare jfcl.wilkinson@gmail.com
I'm so happy for you. It seems like Good Neighbors just came out and now you have another (very sweet) line.
If I want n this, I would also like my friend Sophia t win. We are in the same guild and take classes together!
I’ve long been wanting to try my hand at making totes, so I’d love to win the pattern. And I’d give the extra win to my friend, Jan, who’s a very active grandmother. She can use a good tote, I know.
I love your Show and Tell bag and your new fabric is yummy.
I would love to win a pattern for my quilting BFF, Shari. She does so much for other people and she would love this bag. Also, I love following you and your scrappy patterns and your fabric lines.
I'd love to share with my sister! She's the person that got me into sewing!
I would love to win a pattern for my friend who is my mother-in-law. She really is a great mom to me and she is the one who helped me learn how to sew. I love your fabric. I have the red daisy fabric and it is in my quilt I am working on right now. So glad you are designing for Connecting Threads. Thanks- K lkw2x6-apq@yahoo.com
I love the sentimental connection to your aunts in this line. I’d like to share pattern with my friend Liz. She is a newer quilter but is doing a great job and I bet she would appreciate making a bag that coordinated with the quilt in process. Xo
I would win this for my friend Micki. She loves bags.
Amanda Jean
You're amazing! I do love the "Thread Drawer" print within the Emma and Myrtle collection. Well heck I adore the "Apron" prints and all of it!
My friend Carol is really my inspiration for sewing /quilting bags. She mentored me thru stitching up a bag using the pet screening material and even cut a little triangle for me to put at my folded corner to box it:) She is an active mom, grandmom always toting someone or something and whom could use a boost with one of your patterns. Thank you for the opportunity.
bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love to win this for my friend Tash. She is my quilting sewing beginning friend. But I think this would be a great achievable pattern for her and I to play with together. It looks like great fun.
Id like to win a pattern for my friend Grace. She and I often are together and laugh because I'll buy a pattern and then she borrows it and ends up making it before I do! She and I met about twenty years ago although we grew up in the same part of the country, now many miles away. This would be a great bag to make!
Love your designs and your fabrics. I would love to win this pattern for my friend Brenda. I would be so useful for lugging our quilting things or retreat and our weekly quilt sessions.
I'd like to win a pattern for my mom! She's always lugging things to and from her many meetings
I think I'm a bag collector, and my friend Carol is, too! We've sewn many projects together over the years, this would be a lovely pattern to win and share. Love your beautiful new fabric line, too!
I would pick my daughter Ashley who is getting started sewing/quilting and helps keep me motivated. Love your fabric and plan to order some soon.
I would love to win a pattern for my lovely daughter-in-law, Vanessa. She is all things creative and fun!
My friend Rhonda always delivers completed tops for quilting - I'm sure she'd love making this bag to carry them in!
My friend Alicia is a real ace sewing up projects, she would make this bag in a flash!
ekmvalencia@gmail.com
Hello, I would love to win this bag pattern for my super good friend Vicki. She has always been there for me and has taught me many things about sewing. I love making bags and wouldn't mind winning this pattern for myself as well. Thanks for posting a giveaway.
Hi, I'd love to win this bag pattern for my friend (and daughter) Anne. She encourages my quilt making even though she is not a quilter herself. I'd use my bag for quilts - I think she'd use hers to transport laundry! Love your blog!
Gretchen
Looks like you created another successful line. If Tina and I both had the pattern, it would be a great excuse to have a sew day together.
Beautiful fabric line! Congratulations. Would love to win the pattern for my friend Romana, who loves to sew bags.
Never made a bag before but this one is making me reconsider. I'd love to win a pattern for my sister Bethan who has also never made a bag before
What a sweet line of fabric! The bag pattern is adorable! I’d love to win the pattern for my friend Hoben, so she could get started in quilting. She keeps saying it looks so hard! This would prove that it’s sew easy!
I'd love to win this pattern for my mom! She taught me how to sew when I was a kid and now she's getting back into sewing after years! This would be a fun project to make together :)
I would share the pattern with my friend Melanie, who loves to share and to sew.
I am very far away... I write from a very distance country and would be so happy to share this pattern with my friend Gloria Urdaneta. We sew together and love to quilt. Thank you and keep doing beauty with your hands.
Laura Morales
auraldelmoral@gmail.com
Or
Lirio.blanco.lirio@gmail.com
My instagram: @lirioblancolirio
I would love to win this pattern for me and my daughter. I am always traveling, so this would come in handy for taking my 'stuff' with me. My daughter has two elementary age children and she always has a load for one reason or the other.
Very pretty fabrics and nice pattern. Show and tell us the best part of our Stitching Sisters meeting. If I win I would give the extra to my Stitching Sisters Christmas name draw as part of her gift-- how special!
Love the collection....sweet memories!
I would love a pattern for myself and my friend Marci.
She is not a quilter but is always encouraging my creativity.
It would be fun to get her hooked! Thanks
I'd like to win for my best friend, Chris. She's a great bag sewer, whereas I'm not. I think she'd love a copy.
I would love to win the pattern for my friend Kim since she is so generous and kind and does so much for our quilt guild!
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