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