We {Love} Dads: That's Jazz

In honor of Father's Day (June 21 if your calendar isn't already marked!), we're showing some of our favorite new masculine-looking fabric collections this week. Just think--plan a project for that special guy in your life and it's an excuse to buy fabric that he can't argue with! Be sure to check out our Facebook page to see Wild Wild West, another guy-friendly collection.

If the outdoors isn't your guy's style, take a look at That's Jazz from Kanvas. A contemporary collection of music-themed prints, this black, white and red collection has a masculine vibe. 

Click here to see the That's Jazz collection

The "Hip to the Jive" free pattern designed by Stitched Together Studios will be available on our website soon!

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all dads out there!

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We {Love} Dads: The Great North

In honor of Father's Day (June 21 if your calendar isn't already marked!), we're showing some of our favorite new masculine-looking fabric collections this week. Just think--plan a project for that special guy in your life and it's an excuse to buy fabric that he can't argue with! 

If your guy's tackle box or camping gear collection rivals your sewing collection, make him a quilt using either The Great North Fishing or The Great North Wilderness collections, both by Maria Kalinowski for Kanvas. 

The Great North Fishing collection: a stripe look from fishing poles, fish and lures, and a canoe print in a cool pattern--imagine fussy cutting it into blocks! 

The Great North Wilderness collection: painterly style North Woods animals prints (love those bears!), snowy forests, and cool geometrics. Choose warm browns and greens or a cool yet subtle gray, beige and white colorway.

Here's a fun and graphic quilt (with a clever name) to make using The Great North Fishing collection: Hook, Line and Sinker by Stitched Together Studios

"Hook, Line and Sinker" by Stitched Together Studios;
download the free pattern here

Click here to see all the prints in The Great North Fishing collection.
Click here to see all the prints in The Great North Wilderness collection.
Click here to download the Hook, Line and Sinker free quilt pattern.
Click here to see a post about another We {Love} Dads collection, Big Sky.

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We {Love} Dads: Big Sky collection

In honor of Father's Day (June 21 if your calendar isn't already marked!), we're showing some of our favorite new masculine-looking fabric collections this week. Just think--plan a project for that special guy in your life and it's an excuse to buy fabric that he can't argue with! 

First up is Big Sky. This handsome tribute to American Indian art has a definite "guy" vibe in deep reds, golds, browns and blues. Geometric prints, a fun zigzag-y stripe, and a new take on argyle round out the collection. 

Plus, there's a free pattern for Big Sky! Remember this one from our March Madness contest?

Round Up by Stitched Together Studios

Click here to see the entire Big Sky collection.
Click here to download the pattern for Round Up.

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Sew for Dad Blog Hop Winners!

Here are the randomly drawn winners from last week's blog hop!

Day 1 (a bundle of Who's on First prints) Winner:

Alesha K.

Day 2 (a bundle of Venezia prints) Winner:

Cal

Day 3 (a 10" square pack of Man Cave prints) Winner:

Susan430

Day 4 (a 10" square pack of Man Cave prints) Winner:

juliehallfeldhaus

Congratulations!

Winners: If there was an email attached to your comment/profile, we are sending you an email to get your mailing address. If there was not an email attached, or if for some reason you don't receive the email, please email us at sewinlovewithfabric (at) gmail.com with your mailing address. 

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Sew for Dad Tutorials: Day 4

It's the fourth day of our Sew for Dad tutorials, and today's project just goes to show that sometimes the fabric choice truly makes the gift. The fun novelty print we used--the "lots of shots" print from Kanvas' Man Cave IV collection--turns a simple concept into a gift any guy would love. Paired with a terrycloth backing, the fabric makes a perfect bar mat--keeping glass bottoms and the table/bar surface dry during a party! 

Materials:

• 1/4 yard lots of shots print
• One 16" x 22" black terrycloth towel (or 1/2 yard black terrycloth)
• 1/4 yard black solid

Cutting:

From the lots of shots print:

One 8" x 22" strip

From the black terrycloth:

Two 8" x 22" pieces (if using a towel, you can simply fold it in half to measure approximately 8" x 22")

From the black solid:

Two 3-1/4" x 42" strips

Make the Bar Mat:

1. Using the chalk or fabric marking pen, draw quilting lines on the 8" x 22" lots of shots strip (We used diagonal lines 1" apart.) Layer the marked fabric right side up on the double layer of terrycloth and pin in place. 

2. Machine quilt with coordinating color thread, following the marked lines. Trim the quilted piece to measure 7" x 20". 

3. Sew the two 3-1/4" x 42" black solid strips short ends together and press strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Use to bind the bar mat. Note: We wanted a wider binding that almost looked like a border, which is why we used 3-1/4" wide strips and a 3/8" seam allowance.

You can use this same idea with a larger piece of fabric to make a drying mat for dishes by the kitchen sink. (It might not be well received as a Father's Day gift, though!)

You can win a pack of 10" squares of these fun Man Cave prints. To enter, simply sign up to follow the Benartex blog via a blog reader or follow by email (both options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment telling us you did so. For a second entry, like us on Facebook and let us know you did so. Also, in your comment, tell us about any father's day plans you have for this year. This giveaway is open through Monday, June 16 at 11:59 PM EST. 


Don't miss our other Sew for Dad tutorials:
Day 1: Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation with a quilt using Who's on First

Day 2: Benartex blog design team with a travel roll using Venezia

Day 3: Jaime from That's My Letter with a work apron using Man Cave prints

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Sew for Dad Tutorials: Day 3

It's the third day of the Sew for Dad blog hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric, and today's designer came up with a great idea for using all those fun novelty prints, like those in Man Cave II, III and IV, combined with solids, checks and stripes.  Enjoy Jaime's tutorial and then head over to her blog to enter for a chance to win a pack of 10" squares of Man Cave prints!

Hello readers Jaime here and I blog over at That's My Letter where I build, paint and sew everything.  It's all DIY all the time and today I'm sharing how to sew these work aprons.  Originally the aprons were designed by Ana White and myself as a feminine work apron.  I have tweaked the tutorial ever so slightly for a more masculine version just in time for Father's Day.  Today I'm sharing how to sew a work apron:

Supplies:

• self healing cutting mat
• rotary cutter
• quilting ruler
• scissors
• thread to match
• straight pins
• iron
• drop cloth (pieces listed below)
• pocket & trim fabrics (pieces listed below)

Step 1: Cut drop cloth pieces as listed above.

Step 2: Cut pocket and trim pieces as listed above.  Trim is cut on the bias.

Step 3: Construct front pocket - layer drop cloth, fabric then trim.  Stitch trim using 1/4" seam allowance.  Press trim open.

Step 4: Flip pocket over to back, press trim raw edge in 1/2", fold over seam allowance and pin.  Stitch trim in place from front stitching in the ditch.

REPEAT STEPS 3 & 4 FOR BACK POCKET.

Step 5: Center back pocket piece on top of main apron body drop cloth, pin at center and stitch.  Begin stitching with a tight zig zag for extra reinforcement then switch to straight stitch.

Step 6: Fold drop cloth body back to left, layer front pocket piece on top of back pocket.  Measure 3 1/2" from center, pin and stitch again using tight zig zag at top. 

Step 7: Repeat process for left side.

Step 8: Lay apron flat and trim bottom edges flush.

Step 9: Pocket pieces should extend 1/2" beyond main apron body.  Pin pocket pieces flush to edge of main apron body and then make one pleat tuck in corner and pin.

Step 10: Pin main trim to edge of apron and stitch using 1/4" seam allowance.  Trim excess at both corners.

Step 11: Press trim open, press raw edge in 1/2" then fold again and pin to back.  Stitch in ditch from front. (Same process as Steps 3 & 4.).

Step 12: Find center of waistband piece and center of apron, pin waistband to apron at top then stitch using 1/2" seam allowance.  Press waistband open.

Step 13: Flip apron to back, press raw edge in 1/2" then fold over to back and pin.

Step 14: Press raw end of ties in and then press raw edges of sides in.  Fold in half and pin.

Step 15: Top stitch ties and waistband.  Start at one end of ties, once you get to the waistband shift the stitching into the ditch. 

Thanks Jaime!

You can win a pack of 10" squares of these fun Man Cave prints. For details on how to enter to win, head over to Jaime's blog.
Don't miss our other Sew for Dad tutorials:
Day 1: Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation with a quilt using Who's on First

Day 2: Benartex blog design team with a travel roll using Venezia

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Sew for Dad Tutorials: Day 2

We're back with another tutorial for a Father's Day gift idea (although this could easily be repurposed for anyone...girl or guy). We hope you enjoy this tutorial from the Benartex blog design team--so quick you can make it in an evening!--and then don't miss the fabric giveaway at the bottom of this post.

How do you give black and cream a little extra contemporary flair? Add red accents. We used the black colorway of the Venezia collection from Contempo (it comes in blue as well) to make this versatile travel case for dads--perfect for phone and iPad charging cords or even bathroom toiletries! We couldn't resist the red zipper, piping and elastic band to add a little zip to these fantastic monochromatic fabrics. Fun for dad and fun for you!

Materials:

• 1/3 yard small black circles print
• 1 fat quarter black stripe
• 1 fat quarter mottled black
• 2" x 15" red solid strip
• 11" x 17" batting piece
• 7" red zipper (or 9" zipper)
• 12" Wrap 'n Fuse Piping
• 1/2 yard red 1/8" wide elastic
• 1/4 yard black 1/4" wide elastic
• Fabric marking pen or chalk

Cutting:

From the black circles print:

Two 10" x 15-1/2" pieces

From the black stripe:

Two 5" x 12" pieces

From the mottled black:

One 10" square

One 2-1/2" x 10" strip

Two 2" x 4" pieces

From the red solid:

One 1-3/8" x 12" strip

Make the Travel Roll:

1. Following manufacturer's directions, envelop the fusible piping in the 1-3/8" x 12" red strip and press with iron to make piping.

2. Align the red piping along a long edge of one 5" x 12" black stripe piece, matching raw edges. Layer the second 5" x 12" black stripe piece on top, right sides together. Pin to secure and then stitch. Hint: Use your zipper foot to get closer to the piping. 

3. Fold so the wrong sides of the black stripe fabric are facing and the piping is peeking out the top edge. Press.

4. Layer the 11" x 17" batting piece with one 10" x 15-1/2" black circles piece on top, right side up. Measure in 4-3/4" from the right edge and draw a line with chalk or marking pen (shown in blue in the picture below). Square up one short end of the stripe pocket piece and align along the marked line on background. Trim excess from other short end. Measure and mark two lines on the stripe pocket to create multiple pockets. (We measured 2-3/4" and 5-1/4" in from the left edge...shown in blue below.) Stitch along the two marked pocket lines, backstitching at red piping to secure.

5. Fold each 3" x 4" black mottled piece in half wrong sides together so it measures 2" x 3". Position so folded edges are just past the top and bottom of the zipper as shown and stitch in place. Press pieces back to make the zipper end tabs. (Note: if you use a 9" long zipper, you don't need these tabs.)

6. Fold the 2-1/2" x 10" black mottled strip in half wrong sides together so it measures 1-1/4" x 10". Sew the folded edge to the zipper and tabs. Fold the 10" black mottled square in half wrong sides together so it measures 5" x 10" and sew the folded edge to the opposite side of the zipper and tabs. Trim sides of tabs to a 1/4" seam allowance.

7. Trim the zipper pocket width to 5-1/2". Your zipper pocket should look like this:

8. Lay the pocket right side down on the background, matching the long raw edge of the pocket to the marked line (shown in blue below). Stitch 1/4" to the left of the marked line and fold the pocket back. Trim to square up the piece and remove excess batting. Topstitch the long side of the pocket opposite the zipper if you like. 

9. Cut two 3-1/2" lengths of black elastic and fold the ends under 1/4". Measure up 2-1/2" from the red piping and center elastic over wider pocket (center area) and two narrower pockets (left area). Sew elastic ends between 2" and 2-3/4" apart to create space to tuck something into the elastic band. Backstitch ends to secure.

10. Cut a 15" length of red elastic, fold in half, and stitch ends to create a loop. Center along the right edge of the top piece with raw edges matching. Lay the 10" x 15-1/2" black circle print piece on top, right sides together. Stitch around all 4 sides, leaving an opening along the top for turning. Turn right side out, poke out corners, and topstitch around outer edge, securing the opening. You're done!

Fill with cords for electronic devices, toiletries, or whatever else might need to be packed for a trip!

Fold or roll the filled travel up and use the red elastic to secure.

You can win a fat quarter bundle of Venezia! To enter, simply sign up to follow the Benartex blog via a blog reader or follow by email (both options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment telling us you did so. For a second entry, like us on Facebook and let us know you did so. Also, in your comment, tell us your favorite dad memory. This giveaway is open through Saturday, June 14 at 11:59 EST. 

Don't miss our other Sew for Dad tutorials:
Day 1: Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation with a quilt using Who's on First

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