Friday 28 February 2014

Last Stop of the Book Tour Uncommonly Corduroy

Earlier this month Stephanie from Loft Creations had her first book published, and for nine days we have been visiting blogs showing some projects included in this book. The last stop of the blog Book Tour Uncommonly Corduroy is right here.  You are most welcome!


 
The tour began naturally at Stephanie's own Loft Creations, and we have visited her pattern testers she calls Supremes. If you missed a post, here are the stops once more:
 
 
February 19  --  Stephanie at  Loft Creations
February 20 -- Martingale at Stitch This
February 21 --  Candace at  Squash House Quilts
February 22 -- Carrie at A Passion for Applique
February 23 --  Mary at Mary on Lake Pulaski
February 24 --  Char at  Cloth Stitched 
February 25 --  Mary at Needled Mom
February 26 -- Linda at The Quilted Pineapple  (Linda will be sharing up close and personal details about quilting on corduroy)
February 27 -- Margaret at A Sampler of Stitches 
February 28 -- Ulla at Kotkarankki  - that's right here.

My modest contribution to the book was testing a bag pattern. As a hobby quilter with English as a foreign language I must make an ideal tester: if I can understand the instructions, anyone can. The pattern was named Ethel and MJ, bags for twin aunties. Here is Stephanie's own version, one bag for each auntie. Polka dots are for the designer, I guess. You must get the book to find out why one flower is red and the other is pink!
 

Image from Uncommonly Corduroy by Stephanie Dunphy, Martingale, 2014; used by permission. Photo by Brent Kane. All rights reserved. 

Martingale - Uncommonly Corduroy (Print version + eBook bundle)

 
I made just one bag:
 
 
Instead of corduroy, I used some upholstery fabric rests for the sides and cotton/linen curtains from my childhood home for the centre and the handles. Recycled heavy corduroy pants would also work fine for a bag project like this where all the pieces are large. I have not yet seen and touched  this lovely 21-wale corduroy Stephanie used for her quilts and bags, but if it is anything like the "baby corduroy" I have used for making a dress for my little daughter years ago, you will love using it. Naturally your normal quilting cottons are also a good choice, the firm stabilizer between the layers will guarantee for good looks.

 
The bag has an inside pocket for keys or a train ticket. The lining and pocket are made with quilting cotton. As usual, the instructions are easy to follow and the parts go together like a dream.
 
 
 
Two matching buttons, one for closing the bag and one for the flower. A funny coincidence: these buttons were a gift from Stephanie many years ago and now they found a perfect place on the bag made after her pattern. 
 
The book is full of great projects, guaranteed Loft Creations quality. I hope the Supremes' versions seen together with Stephanie's originals on this tour will help you see how they would look in your own fabrics. Use up your stash! There are bags in various sizes for every taste, beautiful quilts, wall hangings and even a scarf. The books offers useful hints for bag making at the beginning of the book, and a chapter about sewing with corduroy. Every project comes with a little story. I think my first project from the book will be one of the other bags.
 
The publisher Martingale has given 10 eBooks to give away on this blog book tour. Now you have a last chance to win your own free eBook copy of Uncommonly Corduroy by leaving a comment here on this post. Please make sure you are not a "noreply-comment" so I can e-mail you about the win. I will draw the winner on Tuesday the 4th of March. If you want more chances to win, you can go back to the other blogs of this tour listed above and see if their draw is still open. If you prefer a hard copy, you can get it directly from Martingale here, or from Amazon here, or you can buy a signed copy from Stephanie, the link is on her right sidebar.

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY THE 5TH.

36 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. The bag you made is gorgeous Ulla.
    The buttons couldn't be more perfect.
    I've loved being a part of the blog tour. Seeing what everyone else has made from the book has been inspirational.
    Margaret

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  3. lovely bag! I wouldn't have known English wasn't your first language from reading your post!

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  4. Beautiful bag Ulla!
    I used to make bags but got out of the habit a while back. I might have to start up again. Thank you so much
    This has been such a fun blog tour. Thanks to all that participated.
    pam

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  5. Thank you for showing your bag. I want to make one like it.

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  6. Love your bag and the buttons. It's always nice to see fabrics that are still useful being made in a new way. I have followed the tour and there are some wonderful projects in it.

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  7. what a lovely bag! I have seen the book online and I would love to win the ebook. Thanks for the chance.

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  8. Another great bag!! Great to see made up in different fabrics and colors!

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  9. What an adorable bag. There are several bags alone on this blog book tour that have really caught my eye.

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  10. Your bag is fantastic and the buttons and flower are perfect. You are very talented!

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  11. Beautiful bag, I love the flower you added.

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  12. The bag you made is gorgeous. That new corduroy fabric sounds so interesting. I'd love to own that book. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  13. Ulla,
    Thanks for sharing your bag. And, as I have read your blog, a picture of your back yard. All we see right now is snow. Your color selection helps me think of spring. Have a great day!

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  14. Your bag is lovely. I think the fabric for it is perfect too.

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  15. Din väska är härlig och blomman är helt perfekt där den sitter. Har suttit och tittat igenom min bok nu och naturligtvis hittat massa projekt som jag skulle vilja göra.
    Det finns mycket härligt att välja mellan så det är nästan bara att bläddra och sätta ned fingret och sedan börja sy!:-)
    Kramisar

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  16. It never ceases to amaze me as to the creativity from one book, one line of fabric! I have enjoyed this blog hop the most of all I have visited so far. Thank you.

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  17. Your bag is gorgeous, Ulla! Your childhood home must have been very bright and cheery with those curtains! I love how the vintage buttons are so perfect with it, too. Of course you know I have the book, but good luck to your commenters!
    Cheers!

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  18. Beautiful bag...the buttons story--sweet! So many wonderful ideas in the book. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  19. Love the bags and this has been a great blog hop!!

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  20. I really love all I've seen of Stephanie's book. It is definitely one to own.

    How fun that you've made the purse using fabrics from one of your childhood home. That's really neat. You did a beautiful job on your purse. I really like the button you've used.

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  21. It looks like you did a wonderful job in testing out the designs. thanks.

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  22. I love the bag you made. The colors are so beautiful. Can't believe English is your second language from your usage. I would love to have the e-book. I've never made a bag before but I'd love to try and you said the instructions are easy to follow.

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  23. I love the bag you made. The colors are so beautiful. Can't believe English is your second language from your usage. I would love to have the e-book. I've never made a bag before but I'd love to try and you said the instructions are easy to follow.

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  24. Beautiful bags, Ulla. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.
    k.castanette@hotmail.com

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  25. Beautiful Bag...just love the fabric you used. Corduroy is so much fun. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  26. Love the bag you made, Ulla! And the flower turned out so pretty. I have to try it.
    The model of the bag is my favorite one from the book!
    Have a happy weekend!

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  27. Very cute bag. So lucky to have been a tester.

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  28. I do love this book. I've been following the blog tour and all the creations are so wonderful, I'm really inspired to patchwork and quilt with corduroy. I love the feel of corduroy. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  29. The more I see this book, the more I want my own copy! Stephanie's designs are terrific and it has been so interesting (and inspiring) to see how all you clever people on this blog tour have taken particular designs and made them your own. Ulla, I love that you have used fabrics special to you when making the bag; it is indeed a bag of precious memories!

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  30. Your bag is so nice. I'd like to make one in batiks. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

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  31. very nice bag
    I have a stack of corduroy in my stash and must find this book!

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  32. Love your bag,you did a wonderful job. As a matter of fact I have never seen a thing that wasn't just great that you have made. Take care my friend and I will be in touch. Hugs, Marie

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  33. The bags you make are always pretty and filled with memories.
    I always like bags with inside pockets so you don't lose the keys in the bottom.

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  34. Lovely bag Ulla. I like your take on the design. It looks so good against the trees and ferns.

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