A Redraw

I have not heard from one of the Triple-Zip Along winners in the allotted time, so I have consulted the random generator again and nissa_f, you are a winner. Nissa made this fun pouch with novelty fabric and an open-wide zipper!


Please contact me by email at aquilterstable@gmail.com or by FlickrMail with your email and address by midnight 2/20/13 to claim your prize! If I have not heard from you by then, I will choose another random winner. Thanks!

Reflecting

The busy few weeks hosting the Triple-Zip Along is over. And it was enjoyable in every way. And I'm still in awe that we made over 200 little pouches together. But what I'm really reflecting on is what happened in the background. The fact that for more than a few of you, this was your first experience with a zipper(!), with flickr, with a sew-along. I've tried to comment on the blog posts I've seen about the triple-zip, and on one I was the very first commenter. Ever. Do you remember how exciting that was? There have been pouches made by folks in quite a lot of countries different from my own - many that are very, very far away! It continues to amaze me how far-reaching our quilting community is. As the days went by, there were friends who checked in to say "sorry, but I'm too busy", and I encouraged them along in what they needed to do. And one friend shared that her son had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and my prayers have been mixed in with checking flickr pics.

So you see, once again, it's been more that a tutorial, a bit of fabric, and an ungodly amount of zippers. It's been you and me, gathering together. And that's always the best part.

Well That's a Zip!

My dear friends, you have done me a great honor. You have taken my wee pouch and made it your own. Again and again. Like 201 times!

1. Triple zippy bag, 2. by quiltedbygina.com, 3. Triple Zip, 4. Triple Zip Pouch 7, 5. Triple Zip Pouch 6, 6. Triple Zip Pouch 5, 7. Triple Zip Pouch 4, 8. Triple Zip Pouch 3, 9. 3ZAL finish 3

1. Triple Zip, 2. Triple Zip, 3. triple zip inset heart, 4. triple zip inset heart, 5. Triple Zip Along, 6. Triple zip pouch!, 7. Joined the #triplezipalong movement and made this bag to bring to #quiltcon, 8. Triple Zip! #2, 9. IMG_1695

1. triple zip pouch, 2. open pouch

To say that I am in awe over all the pouches we have made together in 18 short days - well it's true to be sure! What fun the Triple-Zip Along has been! Along with the three I made, we have made 204. gee whiz.

1. Triple-Zip Pouch, 2. Triple-Zip Pouch, 3. Triple-Zip 3

And of course, there were incentives! Terrific prizes offered by our generous sponsors!

Pink Chalk Fabrics - My favorite local online shop

zipit etsy shop - Source for all my zips.

Pellon - Maker of the 987F Fusible Fleece I use in my Triple-Zips

Aurifil - The default thread for all my sewing

So it's time to pick those random winners! Congratulations to the grand prize winner, who wins gift certificates from Pink Chalk Fabrics and zipit, plus product from Pellon and Aurifil:

NavyRev who made this delightful rainbow linen pouch!

And to FOUR additional winners who win a Pink Chalk Fabrics gift certificate + an Aurifil thread sampler:

SwallowDesigns, whose Michael Miller 'Cross' pouch was one of eight she made!

Hook n Needle, who made a scrappy patchwork pouch.

Amanda Fech, whose fabric choice made one very striking pouch!

and gwenbru, who made three very different pouches, each with their own personality.

So that's a zip! Thank you SO much for sewing along with A Quilter's Table! You can find me on flickr as flickrdeb50 and in the group Quilting with A Quilter's Table. Let's sew together again soon!

Winners: Please notify me by midnight Monday, February 18, PST at aquilterstable@gmail.com OR by FlickerMail with your email and mailing address! If I have not heard from you by then, I will choose another random winner. Thanks!

Nearly Zipped!

181.

I continue to be amazed. 300 members strong, the Triple-Zip Along is nearing its end, and the pouches keep on coming! Scroll through this awesome batch!

1. Triple zip pouch with DS quilt scraps, 2. triple zip, 3. Triple Zip Pouch #8-Notions, 4. Triple Zip Pouch, 5. Triple Zip-Along Pouch, 6. knitting triple zip pouch, 7. Triple Zip Pouch, 8. IMG_0883, 9. IMG_0887

1. IMG_0873b, 2. IMG_1244, 3. Hunters Planes, 4. IMG_1243, 5. Triple-Zip Pouch, 6. Triple zip-along, 7. Triple Zip, 8. Triple Zip Pouch, 9. Bella triple zip

1. #triplezipalong done right this time. Had to add an inch to every thing., 2. See almost perfect. Sigh. Oh well my mom will love it #triplezipalong, 3. Triple Zip Pouch, 4. Triple Zip Pouch, 5. Triple-Zipalong, 6. DSC00394, 7. Third triple zip, 8. Mardi Gras 3Z @aquilterstable 9. Triple-Zip Pouch

1. Triple-Zip Pouch, 2. Triple-Zip Pouch, 3. Triple zip pouch 2, 4. Triple zip pouch 1, 5. Triple Zip Pouch, 6. P1060738, 7. IMG_0891a_1, 8. Triple Zip Pouch!, 9. Triple Zip!

1. "Type" Pouch, 2. Scrappy Triple-zip pouch, 3. Triple Zip Pouch, 4. My first triple zippy, she needs some work, 5. My triple zip pouch, 6. Triple Zip!, 7. 3 Zip Pouch (Lined Up), 8. 3 Zip Pouch (Lined Up), 9. 3 Zip Pouch (Lined Up)

1. 3 Zip Pouch (Lined Up), 2. 3 Zip Pouch (Kokka Animals), 3. Triple-Zip Pouch, 4. triple zip cross body bag, 5. DSC04151, 6. Modern Scrappy Bits Swap, 7. Triple Zip Along!

Feel free to keep linking them up through midnight tonight, Friday, February 15, PST. On Saturday, I'll post the last of them and consult Mr. Random to distribute those prizes!

Zip Report

129.

Fifty-five more pouches were made since last week's check-in post! You really need to take a look. There are some really fun pouches being made! 

1. 3ZAL pouch, 2. Triple zip pouch #2, 3. Triple Zip, 4. Triple-Zip Along, 5. My first triple zipper pouch, 6. Triple-zip along, 7. Triple-zip along, 8. Triple Zip, 9. Another Triple Zip Pouch

1. Triple Zip Pouch, 2. Another triple zip - much cleaner construction., 3. Triple Zip Pouch, 4. 3 zipper pouch, 5. valentinesy triple zip pouch, 6. P1012068, 7. Triple zip pouch ..................Fabric from Cindy and Sarah :)), 8. Triple Zip A Long pouch, 9. Triple Zip Pouch

1. Pretty Little Pouch Swap (back), 2. Triple zip pouch! Storing my safety pins., 3. Triple Zip Pouch, 4. Triple-Zip Along, 5. Noteworthy Triple Zip, 6. triplezipbag2, 7. Triple Zip pouch, 8. Triple Zip Pouch, 9. violin2

1. tripplepouch8, 2. tripplepouch8, 3. Pink valentine's day theme triple zip pouch, 4. Triple-Zip-Along; First Try, 5. Triple Zip Pouch, 6. 002, 7. Triple Zip-Along, 8. triple zip pouch2, 9. Triple-Zip Along pouch

1. Three Zip Pouch 001, 2. My first triple zip pouch!, 3. Triple Zip for my Husband!, 4. Sew Stitchy Triple Zip, 5. Triple Zip, 6. Triple Zip Along Pouch, 7. Triple Zip pouch #2, 8. Not available, 9. Triple Zip-Along

1. 3zippouch, 2. triple zip pouch, 3. Finished Triple Zip!!, 4. Triple zip along, 5. Larger Triple Zip, 6. The Inside, 7. Triple Zip Pouch, 8. DSCN6306, 9. 030, 10. My triple zip! Still had trouble with the top tabs.

Just a few more days to join in! The Triple-Zip Along lasts through Friday, February 15! Details are in the flickr group here. Don't miss out!

W.i.P. Wednesday

You know how some weeks you start new things more than you make progress on your wips? Well that was pretty much the kind of week I've had . . .

Completed projects
Lucky Stars BOM - I couldn't resist tackling the Exploding Star as soon as I could.

Triple-Zip Pouches - I managed to make three, all given as gifts already. I shared about one already . . .

and have made two others . . .

And for those of you who were interested in the Quiet Book I made for grandgirl, I posted about it here.

Ongoing projects

Woodland cross-stitch sampler - no progress.

Modern Crosses - Scrappy binding is made and machine-stitched on. Now need to do the 400" or so of hand stitching.

Scrappy Trip Along - No progress. Haven't touched these blocks since last week except to take them down from the design wall.

do.Good Stitches FAITH circle - This is my first month as a quilter for my circle. I've let my bee-mates know the plan, and I'll post here about it soon. Meanwhile, it starts with these blocks:

Upcoming projects
* Hubby's Christmas stocking
* Emerald mini
* Mod Angles cushion
* flannel pillow for grandgirl
* table topper for mom
* scrappy Metrolink
* x and + blocks {#xplusalong}
* Polaroid block projects
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

Zipping In

74. 

Can you believe it? In the first week of the Triple-Zip Along, there have been 74 triple-zip pouches made (77 if you count mine). Here's a glimpse of them in all their glory . . .

1. Triple Zip Pouch, 2. 001, 3. Triple zip pouch along, 4. Untitled, 5. Triple Zip Pouch QAL from A Quilter's Table, 6. TripleZipBag, 7. Triple pouch tutorial, 8. Triple Zip Along, 9. Triple-Zip Pouch

1. Triple Zip Pouch done!!, 2. Triple Zip Along Russian Doll Pouch, 3. Triple Zip Along Beachy Pouch, 4. Triple Zip Along Puppy Pouch, 5. Triple Zip Along Sweet Tooth Pouch, 6. Triple Zip Along Cross Pouch, 7. Triple Zip Along Puppies n' Puddles Pouch, 8. Triple Zip-Along pouch, 9. 3 zipper bag-cgw2013

1. 3ZSA-1, 2. Triple Zipper Pouch, 3. IMG_6051, 4. Triple zip!! Front view, 5. triple zipper pouch collage, 6. karlynpouch, 7. Triple Zip along done, 8. DSCN20979. Triple zippy pouch QAL

1. Triple Zip Along, 2. triple-zip pouch, 3. Triple Zip #2, 4. Triple-Zip, 5. Triple Zip Pouch, 6. Triple-Zip Pouch, 7. Triple zip pouch, 8. TripleZip Pouch, 9. Triple Zip-Along - my new pouch

1. Triple-Zip Along (front), 2. triple zip pouch (photo not shared), 3. Triple Zip a, 4. Triple Zip Pouch. The top is quite wonky. I assume I sewed too high up the sides. Need to seek out good tutorials for that part. Meh., 5. Triple zip pouch - by Poppyprint, 6. Triple Zip Along, 7. 3zsa-4, 8. 3zsa-3, 9. Triple Zip Pouch

1. Triple Zip Pouch, 2. Finished Triple-Zip Pouch, 3. Triple Zip Front, 4. triple zip pouch, 5. Triple Zipper Pouch, 6. Triple Zip, 7. BatikBag w/2 Zippers...Matches dresser runner., 8. Triple Zip-Along, 9. Triple Zip-Along

1. Triple Zip Pouch, 2. Kaffe Fasset 3Z Pouch, 3. Bicycle 3Z Pouch, 4. image, 5. Triple Zip, 6. Triple Zip Pouch - #1, 7. Triple zip finished, 8. Triple zip along, 9. triple zip

1. Triple-Zip Pouch, 2. Triple-Zip Pouch, 3. Triple Zipper pouch, 4. Triple Zip Pouch, 5. rainbow linen pouch, 6. TripleZip, 7. Finished Triple Zip, 8. Triple-Zip Pouch, 9. Triple Zip, 10. triple zip along,11. 100_6123

There's still plenty of time to join in! The Triple-Zip Along lasts through Friday, February 15! Details are in the flickr group here.

An Alternate Ending

So after working on a pouch for the Triple-Zip Along a couple of days ago, I left you with this. 

If anything, it's the finish of the tutorial that's a little, shall we say, sketchy? When writing it, this last step was really hard to photograph. So I took a couple more shots this time.

Reach in through the main lining fabric fold and turn the pouch inside out, so all you see is the main lining, right side out. Don't forget to reach in and unzip the main zipper. Now work on one side edge of the pouch at a time. Line up edges, pushing main lining out of the way as best you can. Pin edges together, and starting from bottom, stitch up the side of the pouch, removing pins as you go and going up as far as you can. Repeat for second side.

Now bring the lining back where you can work on it, pushing the seam you just sewed into the pouch, out of the way. Press edges of lining in 1/4", pin sides together, and starting from bottom, stitch up the side of the pouch close to the edge, removing pins as you go and going up as far as you can. Repeat for other side.

Turn pouch inside out through open main zipper, pushing out corners to shape. Press edges with your iron for a clean finished look.

Except even though I 'get' my method, and it works fine for me, my friend Marci of Marci Girl Designs came up with an alternate method that I think will be more straight-forward for many of you. And though others hinted at "turning through the main lining," Marci graciously documented each step with terrific photos, and yes, I think you should give her method a try. In fact I did on this pouch, and it worked great.

Though I didn't catch that I should have sewn just 'up to' the last zipper, not clear on over. If I had, I wouldn't have ended up with rounded corners. So do yourself a favor and check out Marci's Alternate Ending Tutorial and you'll see what I mean. She explains it all so well, and I'm confident you'll have a finish you'll be pleased with. "Live and learn" they say. I'm happy to do both.

Zipping Along

So how's it going? The Triple-Zip Along is only three days in and I count 33(!) pouches that have already been made. Wow.

I finally got to work on mine tonight and took some more pics, hoping they'll be helpful to those of you who are just getting going. Here's the zipper ends ready to stitch on to the zips. I took a hint from the flickr group, and used fabric glue instead of pins for every step of the zipper installation - worked like a charm.

It helped me to lay the main fabrics out (fleece already adhered) along with the prepped zippers, before continuing on with the tutorial.

The photo below shows zipper #1B already stitched on. The lining piece gets folded face UP, topped with the  zipper and first accent piece. And an added note - there were several suggestions in the flickr group to use a walking foot when sewing on the zips, rather than a zipper foot. I found I still needed to stop mid-way across the zip, move the pull, and then continue stitching. But it's an option you can definitely try and see how it works for you.

Similar process for the second zip.

And again for the third:

Main (largest) lining face UP

Zipper #3 face UP, zipper pull to the left

Main body fabric face DOWN

And this is what you end up with before the finishing step. I'll be back to share that soon, along with an alternative method!

And the Triple-Zip Along Begins!

Finally! It's time to officially begin the Triple-Zip Along! If you haven't already:

1. Join the Triple-Zip Along flickr group by clicking this link and 'join this group!'
2. Take a pic of the fabric and zips you are planning to use and post it in the group. For those still trying to decide, you'll get some ideas there! Just be sure and choose some fabrics you really enjoy. They can be coordinating prints and solids or all the same. Same with the zips. Use what you like or use what you have - it'll all work!
3. Locate the tutorial we will be following and get a copy you can refer to throughout the process. You'll find it in a blog post here, and a pdf version is here. 

So to start, let's cut out our fabric and fleece!

Cutting Instructions

1 –  main body fabric, 8” x 9 ½”

1 – fusible fleece, 8" x 9 ½” 

2 – front accent pieces (can be the same or contrasting), 8" x 1 ¼”

2 – pieces fusible fleece, 8" x 1 ¼”

6 – zipper ends (all matching or matching pairs), 2 ½" x 3”

1 – main zip lining fabric, 8" x 12 ½”

1 – center zip lining fabric, 8" x 9 ½”

1 – bottom zip lining fabric, 7" x 8”

So this is what you'll have:

fleece for main body + two accent pieces

main body fabric + two accent pieces

3 lining pieces

two zipper ends for each zipper

So let's get started! Go ahead and start cutting out your pieces, and I'll see you all over at the Triple-Zip Along flickr group! Let the fun begin!