It’s time for another What’s In Your Sewing Bag?
And this time we’re popping over to Quilty Love for a visit with Emily Dennis!
You’ve no doubt seen Emily’s fun modern quilt patterns or maybe even picked up a copy of her Modern Quilts book! I was lucky to participate in her book hop and had the best time creating the Figure Eight table runner!
Love Emily’s work and super excited to dive in and take a peek in her sewing kit!
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INTRODUCTION
Introduction – tell us a little about yourself! How did you get started on your quilting journey?
Hi! I’m Emily. I’ve been obsessed with quilting for over five years now, but it wasn’t always that way. I started my first quilt a couple of years before that. I agreed to make a t-shirt memory quilt for a family member, and I did not love doing it. I made a quilt for each of my kids over the course of a year or two. But then I started creating my own designs and coming up with my own patterns, and that is where the obsession took over. Adding that extra challenge of figuring everything out on my own changed everything. I quickly became obsessed at that point…lol.
I love the extra challenge designing your own quilts brings, too! It also made me think of quilts differently when I started figuring out all the math 😉
SEWING BAG
What kind of sewing bag do you have? (e.g. did you make it? Buy it?)
I use this cute little Tiny Box Zippy that I made years and years ago. This pattern is by Michael Ann. It’s the perfect on-the-go sewing bag. I rarely sew anything besides quilts, but I had to make this Tiny Box Zippy the moment I first saw it. It was such a fun make that I made a second one for my daughter.
Your bag is ADORABLE, Emily! I literally gasped when I opened the photos! Plus, I love a good pattern that has you fired up to make more than one!
ALL-STAR ESSENTIALS
What are your all-star essentials? Your tried and true must-haves that you can never run out of?
Ooooh… for me, it’s these *Thimblepads! I can’t hand stitch without them! I’ve never really gotten the hang of thimbles, and they feel so clunky. These little Thimblepads are amazing! I re use them over and over so this one pack has lasted for forever!
I have those too! I thought they were so cool! I tend to use my thimbles more than these, but I keep them in my pouch in case I ever lose one of my thimbles (it’s happened!).
FAVOURITE ITEM
What is your favourite item in your kit? Why?
Definitely those thimble pads, but next would be my snips. They were from a friend years ago and are perfect for my sewing kit.
I love essential notions that happen to be gifts from friends. Makes using them even more special
SURPRISE ITEM
What’s one thing we’d be surprised to find in your bag?
Maybe my untouched hand piecing project…haha. I used to love having a hand piecing project going, but lately I just haven’t found the time or motivation to keep at it. I usually have a hand pieced hexie quilt in the works. I’m about 3/4 of the way through this current one. Lately I’ve been feeling the itch to pull it out again, so I’m hoping to get back at it!
That’s my Mischief Quilt for me! I always have the EPP blocks in my kit and work on them when the mood strikes.
QUILT KITS WILL TRAVEL
When do you find yourself using your kit the most? (Travelling, on the sofa, attending sew-ins?)
Since I haven’t really touched my hand pieced hexie quilt lately, this kit is being used mostly for the rare hand binding. Time is really limited these days with a one year old so even hand binding has taken a back seat. But I did start hand binding a new quilt the other night. It sure is relaxing! I needed something to keep my hands busy in the evenings while finally getting to chill on the couch after the baby is in bed…lol.
Ha! I bet, Emily! The official quiet time when you can settle in and just be zen – love it!
TRAVEL MEMORY
What’s your favourite travel memory with your sewing bag?
This bag makes it to all of my retreats. I meet annually with a great group of girls, and you can be sure the memories are always good 🙂
Oh, wow! That sounds super fun! I’m hoping to be able to make it a quilty retreat soon – they just seem like the absolute best!
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
Tell people where we can find you?
You can find me mostly over on Instagram at @emily_dennis_. I blog new projects over at www.quiltylove.com.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thanks for having me, Shannon! I’m sharing a few photos of my in-progress hand pieced hexie quilt. Maybe this will motivate me to finish it up 🙂 This one was started about three years ago.
Always fun to see WIP! And even more fun when we’re not alone, still working on some long-term quilty projects!
Thank you so much for participating in the WIYSB series, Emily! It’s been super fun to get to peek inside your kit and learn more about your quilty journey!
For more What’s in Your Sewing Bag fun, check out these guests:
- Amanda from Broadcloth Studio
- Ange from A Little Patchwork
- Kim from Leland Ave Studios
- Lucy from Lucy Engels
- Anna from Wax & Wane Studio
- Karen from Karen Lewis Textiles
Happy stitching!
xo,
Shannon
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