Patterns to Try | Maple Street Pouch

Last fall, I began an infrequent series, Patterns to Try, making small projects from new-to-me patterns from a folder I keep on my desktop. Easter Sunday afternoon, after brunch with the family and the kitchen clean-up, I needed a small palette cleanser of a project to sew. Svetlana's @sotakhandmade newly released Maple Street Pouch was just the ticket. I swear it took me longer to choose fabric and lining than it did to sew it up!

The exterior fabric - from Field Study by Anna Maria Horner (now Perry) - has long been a favorite, and the piece I had left was just perfect for this pouch, which was the medium size of the pattern, finishing at 8" x 3.25" x 2.5". And I thought that new gold gingham I'd purchased on retreat recently was the perfect lining. Though there are instructions for using a metal zipper, the pattern primarily uses zipper-by-the-yard, so that's what I used. And I enjoyed making the first so much, I decided to go ahead and try the larger size before moving on to my scheduled sewing for the week.

 The large measures 9" x 4" x 3" and is a nice size - roomy, but not huge.

I really had fun choosing fabrics for both of these - other than the gingham, they were small pieces of beloved prints that have been in my stash for years.

One thing I should note, is that I did not quilt any of the exterior panels, as the pattern actually suggests. No real reason and they turned out just fine, but I'll consider doing that in the future.

Also, if you're zipper-wary, using the zipper-by-the-foot is really an easy way to go. You do have to get the zipper pull on before you start - this video from Sullivan's Trim @sullivanstrim is really helpful - but from there, there is a distinct advantage. At least on my machine, I don't need to use my zipper foot. I just leave my 1/4" foot on and it works beautifully. I do sew across the ends of the zipper so the pull doesn't accidentally slide off though, but since the zipper teeth are actually nylon, it's easily done.

At any rate, these cute pouches were just the refreshment I needed before diving into a pieced quilt back. I wasn't going to make the small version of the pattern, but I think I've changed my mind....

Patterns to Try | Quilted Stripe Drawstring Bag

The minute I saw it, I thought the Quilted Stripe Drawstring Bag would be a fun giftbag, as well as a good use for scraps. The pattern was created by Annabel Wrigley @littlepincushionstudio and posted on the Janome site. I pulled and cut the fabrics needed, packed them to take to the guild holiday party, and spent maybe 15 minutes sewing the initial stripes together, took it back home, and proceeded not to touch it for nearly a month.

Once I got back to it a few days ago, it didn't take long to do the remaining piecing, quilting, etc. etc. And isn't it the cutest?? I did have to cut and add two more stripes to make my slab the correct size. Once pieced and quilted, the slab was trimmed to 10" x 21".

Due to the thickness of the body of the bag, the closure flattens out a bit once the bag is closed. But the cute bag stands by itself, and the quilting and colorful stripes just add to its cuteness.

Patterns to Try | Modern Madras Table Runner

Next up in the Patterns to Try series is the Modern Madras Table Runner pattern by Jennifer Sampou @jennifersampou. The pattern is actually designed to use and feature Jennifer's beautiful SKY Ombré, and that would have been super nice to try. But I wanted to use fabric from my stash, and had a Ruby Star Society warp & weft charm pack that I though would be a nice option.

I had gotten it off the free table at guild meeting a couple of months ago, and it was perfect for fall. Mine is Moonglow, a woven collection by Alexia Marcelle Abegg @alexiamarcelleabegg. The only issue - if there even really was one - was that I'd be using 5" squares rather than the 6" squares suggested in the pattern. I really thought that would still be fine, and set to work arranging the squares.

It took me a while to choose an orientation I liked, and finally just laid them out as they were stacked in the charm pack. I needed to save out six squares for the 'sashing' and chose a couple of solids plus there were two prints that had a bonus square, so I used those too.

I used a layer of Quilters Dream Select batting for my quilt sandwich. Jennifer's pattern suggested an envelope-style finish rather than quilt binding, so I decided to do that for something different. For the backing, I used a Diamond Textiles Textured Woven that I have no idea where it came from. But I had enough, it coordinated well with several of the fabrics on the front, and I think the color is Pink Ginger. Whatever, I'm glad I had something with a similar weight and texture to the warp & wefts. With the woven fabrics and that batt, the quilt sandwich was pretty thin, and easy to turn and press. 

Rather than matchstick quilt the length of my runner, as suggested, I stitched lines across the runner, every three or four stitches wide. I purposely went varying distances from the edge to give an off-set look I really like. 

I used Aurifil 40wt 6722 [Sea Biscuit] since there was such a color-variety amongst the fabrics, and I'm happy with that choice. With using the charm pack, my runner ended up measuring 14" x 54".

I'm super happy with the end result, and would consider doing something like this again. It's relatively quick and easy, and with the mix of fabrics and colors (and texture!), it just makes me smile.

Linking up with Quilting JETgirl's Favorite Finish {October 2025}.

Patterns to Try | Divided Drawstring Bag

So I have a folder on my desktop named Patterns to Try, and it's exactly what you'd think - several patterns that I've acquired that I really do want to try. So in between the quilt projects I have in the works, I'm going to try to get some of them made

First up was the Divided Drawstring Bag by Lou Orth Designs @louorthdesigns.

The pattern comes with four size options, and this is the small version, 5.5" x 6" x 5.5".

The striking feature of this particular drawstring bag is its centered pocket on the interior of the bag, indeed making it divided. Very clever!

I wasn't familiar with the interfacing mentioned in the pattern (H640 and G700 by Vlieseline) so used my standard Pellon SF101 for both the pocket pieces and the exterior, and that seemed to work just fine.

The only tricky part - for me anyway - was boxing the corners once the pocket was already in place. Not sure I did it as intended, but it worked fine, and I was really happy with the result. I've already chosen my next small-make pattern to try, so I'll be working on that this week.