Sewing Vloggers

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Bias Strips and Bags!


I'll get back to this glorious fabric in a moment. Today was spent working on the cushions for DD #2's bay window seat in the family room. She chose a linen fabric, but not being a sewist like her mom, the linen is a bit thinner than I would have chosen for a cushion. No problem.


I will  underline the fabric with muslin for the cushions. But since welting gets the most wear, usually, on upholstery, and I wasn't about to underline bias strips of welting, I backed the fabric I planned on using with a woven cotton interfacing. Here you can see it block fused to the linen. I am pleased with how this worked out. I matched grains so when I eventually cut the strips it all ended on the bias, as it should have.


Above you can see me using the technique for bias strips that can be found here, in the tutorials. I love that it is easy and SO accurate, way more accurate than other technique I have tried.


This gave me 13 yards of bias stripping. Sadly, that is not enough. I had to do another whole section which is giving me ten more yards. I am now good to go! Next step will be filling it with cording. Putting the actual cushions together should go pretty quickly, at least once the zips are in!



Back to that gorgeous fabric: I wasn't sure what my next project would be. I've decided I need skirts. I LOVE skirts and want to try different styles. I also really need a new winter bag. Having recently "Kondo-ized" all my clothing, I find I am down to a lot of bare bones for clothing and accessories. That's OK. It allows me to fill the void with new projects that "will bring me joy". If you have read Marie Kondo's "The magic art of tidying up" you know what I mean. Many of my bags were donated to a local group that helps people get jobs and they provide more professional clothing. They were very appreciative. I've  purchased a wonderful pattern from Studio Kat Designs.  They are an Indie company and their bag designs are so awesome. I have been eyeing them for quite some time, now. I will be using the Bagalista pattern.  Their designs are very well thought out and this one should work well for me. I wanted a style that would let me feature something on the front flap. That had me looking for fabrics with large motifs that would fill that area. I kept striking out on line as it is difficult to do a search for "big motifs" and get anything in response. I LOVE this fabric above. The background is black denim and it is machine embroidered with the fabulous motifs. I have black denim coming in for the rest of the bag. One of the best things about this fabric is this:


Is that selvedge not incredible? I got this fabric at my local small Joanns. I have black denim coming for the rest of the bag. I also picked up this large motif home dec fabric. I think it has great bag potential too.


These each cost me five dollars a yard and I bought one yard of each, 54 wide, so it could make several bags. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for these wonders.

Hopefully DD's cushions will finish up easily. I have this and next weekend to get it all done. That is because the week after that my sister and my two daughters and myself are going to Vermont to have girly time and take classes at King Arthur Flour. Anyone for pasta making from scratch?...... Bunny

13 comments:

  1. Oh wow...that colorful denim fabric sure is gorgeous. I look forward to seeing your creations. I know your DD cushions are going to be beautiful - lucky her!

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  2. I know you will make fabulous bags from these amazing fabrics! I also commend you for donating your older bags to those in need. Karen

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    1. I really like the idea of them going to young women who don't have the resources to dress for an interview. This group helps them pick out their outfit and style it. It is just a great local group who wants to give a leg up to these young women who often are single mothers and have had many obstacles to overcome. I have been supremely blessed with two amazing successful daughters and its the least any of us can do to help other young women in need. I hope others look into this. My friend in the group told me all my pieces immediately got used so that was good.

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  3. That is some killer selvedge, Bunny! What a cool idea to learn to make pasta from scratch! The four of you should have a blast!

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    1. We've done this before and I can't say enough about the quality of their classes. You are in a professional chef's kitchen and have your own big metal table with your own kitchen aid, bowls, ingredients, etc. You make tons of food that you take home to family and they tell you to make sure you bring a cooler. This class is on "Autumn Pastas" and will take most of the day. We will be making various pastas from scratch and sauce them up with "seasonal sauces". Should be lots of fun. I could use a girly weekend!

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  4. Yes, I may have purchased that fabric for its selvedge alone! It is a beautiful fabric. I am looking forward to seeing more of your bags.

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    1. It would be easy to assume that the embroidered areas would be quite dense and stiff but amazingly they are not. I think they may have used a rayon thread as it is quite soft and I am sure it will very sewable. Glad you like it.

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  5. Beautiful fabrics and looking forward to your bag projects. Decided quite a while ago not to make those because of time issues, but it's still itching from time to time.
    Pasta from scratch: love it! I regularly make it and it's wonderful. Especially ravioli with goat cheese en lemon (Ottolenghi) is a huge favorite.

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  6. Every once in awhile, Joann's will pitch a diamond into their inventory. The selvage alone would have sold me.

    Perfect time of year for making pasta. I've gotten into a Marcella Hazan italian cuisine kick, picking up her cook books second hand. Her books are great reads and thus far, all the recipes have been wonderful. Fresh to the max.

    Cannot wait to see what wonders emerge from those fabrics.

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  7. Fantastic fabric picks! I love those moments in JAs or Hancock's when a very nice fabric shows itself...what a treat. I am looking forward to seeing what happens as the bags develop.

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  8. I love those fabrics, they will make lovely bags. Have fun at King Arthurs! Pasta making is really pretty easy, don't let anyone tell you it isn't!

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  9. What lovely crop of projects to take on between clothing ones. I LOVE that fabric too. The colours are delicious.

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