This was written by Leslie for the Miss Matatabi Maker series.

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Hello! I was super happy when I was asked to be a Miss Matatabi Maker. This is exactly what I needed in my life right now: a monthly project to focus on and more Japanese fabric.

I used to live in Japan and was constantly in fabric heaven. My favourite fabric was (and still is) the linen and cotton blends. The medium weight ones. The well designed ones. The very versatile ones. So naturally that is the exact kind of fabric I chose for my first project. And I was not disappointed. I am in love with this animal world fabric and wish I had more of it.

I have a long list of projects that I want to sew. Making a laundry hamper was for my little one’s room was near the top of the list. I went to Pinterest and found a cute little laundry basket that would show off the great design of the fabric I had chosen from Miss Matatabi’s shop. And there was a simple tutorial by ikatbag to go along with it. Perfect. The fabric I chose for the bows and the lining was an older Japanese cotton and linen blend from my personal stash.

This was definitely a family project. I figured out the sewing part. And made a few adjustments to the pattern. And a few mistakes. My husband helped me build the frame. And my daughter was right in there trying to help too. I love that we all love creating. And I also like that my little one is always in love with the finished product. Not only is it a laundry hamper but it is now where all her animals to hang out.

The beauty of this linen and cotton blend fabric is that is the perfect weight for these kind of projects. Stuff for the home. Or tote bags. Or quilts. Or place mats. Or backpacks. The list could go on and on. And I guess that is why it is I love it so much. I like fabrics that give me options. And lots of them.

I am excited to start sewing my next Miss Matatabi project. And, yep, you will see some more awesome Japanese linen and cotton blends. And you should really just go get some of your own.

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Thank you, Leslie! Connect with Leslie on instagram, pinterest, and flickr.