Earlier this year, I signed up for my first Instagram swap! Yes, I know - seems like I have been on IG for ever. I was scared that I couldn't manage my current commitments - let alone meeting strict deadlines. So, I watched from the sidelines. When the Sydney Modern Quilt Guild announced that they were going to run an Aussie Zipper Pouch Swap I decided to jump right in. They do say give a busy person something to do and it will get done, right?
So, I completed the questionnaire (badly I now know). Luckily, I am an open book - what with being on all things social media and writing a blog. So I think my style is quite easy to guess. My partner quickly put her mosaic up on IG, so I knew I had to act. I spent a number of hours scouring Pinterest to find some images to use in my own mosaic, I even created a quick board for the project!
Then .... to find a pattern. Being me - I then searched all my pattern supplier's websites and ordered 4 patterns (I thought if I loved the pattern - surely my customers would too). I also found some fob hardware just in case I might need it and bought multiple sets as well. I was pretty sure I would either be making the
Becca Bag from Lazy Girl Designs or the
Rainy Day Sewing Pouch from Thimble Blossoms. I ended up selecting the Becca Bag.
My partner loved Cotton & Steel fabrics - which I don't currently stock, so I contacted my friend Kim Simpson and she selected 4 Fat Quarters for me. The patterns and the fabric arrived almost simultaneously and I spent a pleasant weekend reading through them and working out what zippers I needed to purchase!
With a few days to spare, I made a sample pouch in case I stuffed it up and didn't have enough fabric to make a second pouch! True to form, I misread the instructions (maybe that last glass of wine ....) and the zipper didn't fit! The pattern called for a continuous piece of fabric and I cut it in two and joined it hence the pouch being smaller! After throwing my toys out the cot, I decided a good night's sleep would help me make the perfect pouch in the morning. Of course, being me, I had also decided on a cunning plan to incorporate a quilted section using the mini hex 'n more ruler + Jaybird Quilts Mini Lotus pattern.
What could go wrong? Actually, it did all work out without TOO much drama. It was a little challenging to reattach the zip pull to the zip, once sewn into the pouch. Luckily, I was alone as ears might have burnt. I even faithfully made the extra mini pouch. That truly was a doddle.
Then feeling rather pleased with myself, I decided to make another 2 as samples - well I am now an official reseller of zipper pouch patterns!
Of course, my partner was way more organised than me and I received my swap parcel earlier that week. To say I was delighted with it - is an understatement. I simple love Kaffe Fassett fabrics and COLOUR! I must confess that my partner must have guessed I am addicted to sweets - the M&M's didn't last a day.
