PROGRESS UPDATE FOR COLORBLOCK PROJECTS!

We’re back to give you a sneak peek of our progress on Double Zip Gear Bags 2.0. This is one of the projects we’re making using Tim Holtz’s gorgeous upcoming collection, Colorblock!

This FreeSpirit collection will begin shipping to stores this October, so be sure to be on the lookout for it at your local quilt shops.

We started by quilting “sandwiches” of the main fabric, Soft and Stable, and lining fabric.

Then we completed the very important step of “sealing” the edges. This simple, yet essential, step ensures that the layers remain smooth, helps to avoid puckering and folding, and compresses the seams to make assembly easier.

You can find more information on these steps in our free PDF pattern for Piecekeeper.

Once you practice by making this pattern and watch the accompanying Add-On Video, you will be quilting, cutting, and sealing like a pro!

Soon after we were finished with this step, it was time to install some zippers. This step may be intimidating to some, but we have tutorials that will make it wonderfully easy!

Check out Zippers Are Easy! series of videos. Another helpful video is Make Zippers of Any Length or Style.

You will love our method for installing the zippers with a clean, professional finish.

Here you can see our model maker working on a step that is very familiar to anyone who has made ByAnnie projects: sewing the zipper to the right side of a pocket with a generous ¼” seam.

We recommend having the long edge of the zipper situated so it is overhangs the long side of the quilted fabric by about 1/8”.

When the zipper tape is later sewn down on the other side, this overhanging edge will hide the raw edges and give a nice, smooth appearance on both front and back.

In this photo, the zipper is being sewn to the lining side of the quilted fabric. Here are some tips for this step:

• Go slowly.
• Sew close to the edge of the zipper tape.
• Use your ByAnnie Stiletto and Pressing Tool to tuck any loose threads or raw edges under the zipper tape and to keep everything smooth as you sew. Try holding the Stiletto at a 90° angle as shown here.
• Your bobbin thread will show as topstitching on the front of your work, so choose your thread color accordingly.

Fabric shown is Tim Holtz Provisions in Mocha.

With the wide variety of colors and textures available in Tim Holtz’s fabric lines, it was easy to find a perfect coordinating fabric. The one shown here is Worn Croc in Moonlit.

We chose Atom Red lightweight mesh to go with the bright, fun colors of Colorblock. We showcased mesh on a recent episode of Live With Annie. You can learn all about it and discover helpful tips and tricks by watching the replay here: Week 4: Mesh and Fold-over Elastic (LIVE with Annie)

We will be sharing photos of our finished set of Double Zip Gear Bags 2.0, as well as some other fun projects we made with Colorblock, so check back soon!