*** Here is the pattern if you don't want to read the blog... I don't blame you ;) ***
I think most hand / EPP sewers agree that one of the things we love most about this style of sewing is that we can take it most places. I started my first EPP quilt because I was spending around 10 hours a week waiting for children at various activities, these days its only 2 hours a week... but when you are in rural locations with no network coverage (no distractions), it's the perfect time for uninterrupted sewing.
Things I have learned the hard way about car sewing... watch where you pop your pin container. Usually I EPP in the car, so no pins required, but with Orbit I am needing my applique pins. I honestly thought they would be OK propped up on the dash board. Out of the way they behind the steering wheel, where weren't going to get bumped. Turns out that if you miss the container, those same wee pins can slip through the tiny seams in your dash and lodge themselves inside your dashboard. Not good.
I managed to get us all home safely, but I will admit to freaking myself out thinking I was going to short a fuse or something. Confessed to the hubby right away, who then gave me the look of a long suffering partner, and took the dash off my car. Ladies, marry mechanics, VERY useful to have around! Thankfully (miraculously) it popped out pretty quickly and life went back to normal.
This all happened two weeks back. Last weekend I was desperate for a dopamine hit and a quick turn around project so I decided to whip up a custom pincushion that fitted my car door.
After a quick measure, and a trouble shoot around the printer being out of ink (I have multiples of everything but cyan, would it let me print in black?? Nope). Have to say, loving the new xTool M1, I managed to get the templates cut out in a few minutes and then it was off to rummage the stash.
I have had these Tula Pink charms in my stash since 2011. They were going to be a HST quilt, but I loved the feature print so much I had decision paralysis and it never happened. Its been 14 years and I still love that print (I have yardage).
Can I just say that this wee ruler is one of my absolute favourites, Jackson over at House of Jackson sent me two in a care package I have the second in the safe just incase I loose this one. For a job this small I didn't want to have to phaff about with making cutting templates so it was old school drawing it on for the win.
A quick basting and we were off and running!! I do love projects that come together quickly. To this point the longest thing to do was trouble shoot not being able to print my templates.
For the construction I sewed templates in the following order:
Side panels to either side of the top piece.
Added the bottom template to one of the sides, which ever one you like.
Aligning the base of the side panel to the base of the end panel. Stitch up towards the curve, then the curve and down the other side. Making sure you sew the base template to the bottom of the end piece.
Repeat for the other side.
At this point you should have one long side open where the side panel meets the base pannel. (Image shown above). This was the weird step for me - remove your templates! Then pop it right sides out through the opening we have left.
Stuff with your prefered stuffing. I keep a jar of all my thread trimmings and old quilt basting threads, the threads I have been using to baste are my Nan's old poly ones. I did not want those just going into landfill, and they still smell like my Nan's sewing room, so I keep them to use in projects like this. That 1ltr jar was full before this project, it took a surprising amount to get it stuffed.
And done! Quick project that I am looking forward to trying out. Best of all it fits in my sewing case so I will never be without it.
So there you have it. Happy husband (no future dashboard surgeries), Happy me = dopamine hit and well blog content and tax for the 'gram. As well as a pattern for you too! The file below will print on US Letter and A4 sheet sizes.
If you do make a car cushion feel free to tag me on socials @cake.and.ale or #Cakeandalemakes!
Until next time Possums, Cass xx
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