Back to School with Windham and Giveaways Galore!

It's Back to School time. (Actually, my grandson has logged two weeks already in first grade, so he's a pro at it.)

Windham has lined up seven - that's right - 7 bloggers to showcase their latest lines of fabric and at each stop there is a fat quarter giveaway. Today's my day. Then check the schedule to see the other 6. Remember, at EACH stop is a chance to win a fat quarter bundle and it's open to EVERYONE - USA and international - Yay!! Contest is over.

Now let me show you what I made with the delightful collection called It's a Hoot. I designed a quilt for Windham using this line, but for this post (get ready!) - I didn't make a quilt! Oh, no. Am I sick?

It's a Hoot fabrics by Windham

I made something that any kid in school would love (and adults, too). And, actually, I need some of these right now because I'm fighting the sniffles. (So yes, I am sick!)

Tissue Holders! I have made dozens of these in the past 15 years. I tweaked the original pattern so the little tissue packs fit better (I added 1/2" or so). The pdf download is at the end. But you want to see the pictures, don't you?!!

Step 1: Fabric Requirements (**Good contrast between the fabrics is recommended)

• One 6” x 7” rectangle for OUTSIDE
• One 6 x 8-1/4” rectangle for INSIDE
• Yes: the inside fabric rectangle is larger than the outside. That's what forms the little "binding" overlap.

Paired fabrics cut into 2 sizes of rectangles

Step 2:

• Place rectangles right sides together. Sew the 6” sides together. Yes, one is larger than the other and they donʼt lie flat. You are sewing a tube with one piece larger, but they are connected with two short, side seams.

Step 3:

• Turn seamed rectangles right side out and press the overlaps of the larger rectangle (1/4” seam allowance size) so that your rectangles now lay flat on each other, wrong sides together.
• The owl print is the OUTSIDE of the holder; the blue print is the inside.
• Notice the pins in the centers of the raw edges. Those turquoise finished edges on the sides will orient themselves in relation to those pins. They will overlap.

Let's see more of these, ok?

Five tissue holders with the novelty prints for the outside

Step 3:

• Fold this unit in half along the length (bringing the two finished edges together) and finger-press the center mark at the two raw edge sides. Remember the pins in the picture above? Those finished edges overlap 1/4". Pin in place
• Itʼs bulky; a normal sewing machine stitch is possible.

Add caption

Step 4:

• Sew 1/4” seam on both raw edges. Trim away tiny triangle at ends of seams to reduce bulk when turning. Zigzag or otherwise overcast the raw edges to keep them from fraying.

Zigzag (or serge) the inside raw edges

Step 5:

• Turn the unit right sides out to form your tissue holder.

Finished Tissue Holder

And all 8 of my little tissue holders. What a hoot, right?

8 Tissue Holders made with It's a Hoot fabrics by Windham

Oh, wait a minute! I forgot to show you the quilt I designed for Windham using this collection. It's FREE and soon available at their site. Check it out for that awesome Owl appliqué and simple piecing.

What a Hoot! Pattern