Lighthearted Quilt : Blossom Heart Quilts for Kokka

I’m Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts, an Aussie ex-pat sewing it up in Chiba, Japan for a few years while my husband does his science thing. I have loved the opportunity to really enjoy the amazing delights that the Japanese fabric industry has to offer, like Kokka’s scientist fabric! So I am thrilled to be here today to share some of that beautiful Japanese fabric and how much fun I have playing with it.

When I opened up the parcel full of these beautiful fabrics, I admit I was a little scared of trying to mix them together with such a gorgeous variety of colours and prints! I normally work within a tight palette of colours, but when I took a step back, I could see the cohesion.

I wanted to create some space and movement, which automatically brings flying geese blocks to mind. The cuts of fabric I was sent were perfect to whip up 5″x10″ blocks, with some inverse blocks to create tails for some print geese using a lighter-saturated print.

I pieced the scraps together for the back, roughly in colour groups, and got to quilting.

By straight-line quilting 1/4″ from each seam and randomly spread out in between, I created trails up and down the quilt to keep the eye moving around from each beautiful Lighthearted print to the next.

Happy hunting!
Alyce

Blossom Heart Quilts
Blossom Heart Quilts patterns

Photo credit: Frances Arikawa

This post was written by Alyce Blyth and coordinated by Frances Arikawa.
Lighthearted is a quilting cotton collection that will be shown at Quilt Market in Houston on October 25th 2014. If you would like to be able to purchase prints from the Lighthearted collection locally, please be sure to let your favourite fabric store know. If you are a store owner planning to visit Quilt Market do come and say hi at booth no. 656, 756.

Cotton Sateen One-Piece Dress

Size: 58cm (garment width), 97cm (dress length)

Huedrawer is echino’s new fabric which comes in soft and silky cotton sateen. From Huedrawer, soaring was selected to create a one-piece dress designed by a fabric artist named Kimie Shimizu. On soaring, a sea of flying birds covers the fabric. To make the fabric’s design shine, the style of the dress is kept rather simple. The treatment around the neckline and armhole with bias binding tape adds style. The accent of the dress is to make it look cute by putting a bow on the front neckline.

Design & creation ：Kimie Shimizu（style of ile)

Fabric shown for this sample:　echino Huedrawer soaring JG99900-902 (D)

Materials:
□ Fabric: 2.1m (110cm wide)
□ Bias binding tape: 3m (finished width 1.1cm)

We interviewed Kimie about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
I wanted to utilize the modestly-soft texture of cotton sateen fabric. Though it is cotton, it drapes loosely which makes it suitable for making clothing.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
The shape of the design drapes down from the shoulder, making it an easy slip on/slip off dress. To create a beautiful profile around the armhole, a bias binding tape was used as an accent rather than cutting off the armhole in a straight line.

KF: What are some tips for making this dress?
Please carefully place the bias binding tape around the neckline and armhole before stitching.

KF: How should we wear this dress in everyday situations?
You can create a very stylish look with this dress. Coordinate it with a pair of tights and pumps or boots, add a long necklace, and with a turtle neck shirt or a blouse. If you use a different type of fabric, you could enjoy a casual style dress with the same design.

KF: Thank you very much, Kimie! Here are sewing instructions along with step by step photos from her. Enjoy crafting!

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Large Rectangle Bag in mori Fabric

Size: 30cm (l) 40cm (w) 14cm (d)

Today’s project uses kirigami fabric, with its design inspired from a paper mobile craft. The sewing instructions are exactly the same as the large square bag in Calendar fabric, which was introduced in the August 2014 column. By simply changing the fabric, you can create a completely different look! The base color of dark brown along with mustard yellow and chartreuse as accent colors add a warm feel to the bag.

Design & creation:Kokka Fabric

Fabric shown for this sample:
P32000-201 (D)

Materials:
□Fabric (with pattern): 95cm (110cm wide)
□Fabric (solid color): 75cm (110cm wide)
□Fusible Interfacing (medium thickness): 75cm (95cm wide)
□Zipper: One piece (50cm)

Click here for Sewing Instructions (PDF format / A4 size)

One Handle Bag for a Quick Outing

Size: 12cm (l) 20cm (w) 3cm (d)

Today’s project uses Tricolor from a retro and bright print series, Lighthearted. A convenient bag perfect for a quick outing is created with two types of dot design fabrics of different color patterns. Mioko Sugino, a famous blogger who is also known as komihinata is here again to introduce her creation.

Design & Creation：Mioko Sugino（komihinata)

Fabric shown for this sample:Lighthearted HFG-105

Materials (for one bag):
□ Fabric: (Flap (cover)) 40cm×10cm
(Outer bag) 30cm×30cm
(Lining bag, Handle) 40cm×40cm
□ Quilt batting: 30cm×40cm
□ Magnet hook (sew on type) One pair (1.9cm diameter)

We interviewed Mioko about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
It’s bright, cute and stylish! Depending on how you use it, it can create many different looks. So I came up with a small size bag that can fully utilize each pattern from a small print to large design.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
This bag is compact yet big enough to carry a wallet and a cell phone, must items for going out for a quick walk. With a quilt batting in every part, flap (cover), handle and the main bag, it keeps its shape.

KF: What are some tips for making this bag?
It is a very simple design and should be relatively easy to make. When sewing the top opening with a flap and handle, I recommend basting all the pieces first so that you can sew them together smoothly.
People sometimes ask me how to shape the curve cleanly. After turning the flap over, follow along the curve from inside to align the shape with a round tip tool, such as a back end of a ballpoint pen, to have a beautiful curved finish.

KF: How should we use this bag in everyday situations?
Besides using it for a quick outing or shopping, it can fit in a bigger purse as a convenient bag-in-a-bag organizer. It would be nice to use a matching wallet with a clasp opening or a small case made with the same series of fabric.

KF: Thank you very much, Mioko! Here are sewing instructions along with step by step photos from her. Enjoy crafting!

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Border with changing patterns

Enjoying the design combination in one fabric

When making clothing or bags, it is always fun to think about different design and color combinations. At the same time, we often hear people say, “I am unable to decide since there are too many options.” Today’s textile is perfect for such an occasion. It is a fun border fabric which allows you to casually enjoy different design combinations!

“The idea behind this series, which incorporate different designs in one fabric, is to make it possible for someone to create an interesting bag or a small case by using only one kind of fabric.” (by Kokka Creative Director)

The center part is for a big bag. The borders on both edges are perfect for a small case. A polka dots pattern can be used for a pocket…One fabric has a variety of possibilities. Why not create items to make your outing fun, like a matching bag and case?

Feminine Border　P33000-300 　Oxford (OX)

The design on this fabric combines large stripes and hand drawn polka dots that look like powdery snow. For making a bag, you may use the stripe for the main part, polka dots as a transitional piece and add an accent with a bias binding tape in a slightly different color. We hope you will enjoy the fun of combining different colors using only one fabric.

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