Sewing Project - Scrappy Fabric

I tried my hand at creating fabric from scraps again.  I found a video on Patchwork Crafts on line that documented the process I was thinking would work. 

1. I cut an 11.25 by 11.25 inch of poly cotton for a foundation layer - give it room to be trimmed.
2. Collected a harmonious collection of scraps from my small fabric scraps bin.
3. Start in the middle. Lay another piece on top, stitch, iron open, and top stitch.  Keep doing this in a circular fashion. This is the point I missed so I ended up with the problem corner.  I had to then switch to applique to put pieces in that corner.
4. Trim the finished piece into the shape you need for whatever project you are working on.  I trimmed my piece to 2 pieces for fabric fold over card wallets. Other ideas are bags, quilt squares, accent panel on a tote, a wall hanging, and much more.

I am looking forward to making another piece of the collage fabric.

Sewing Project - Fabric Cheque Book Covers

I find myself the owner of 2 chequing accounts.  It happened back in November when I had to write my annual cheques and had a limited supply because the rest were packed in a box.

I have had a chequing account which allowed me all I wanted as long as I kept a certain balance. 

I was convinced to apply a plan to my account so the cost of my cheques would be covered.  If I maintain a certain balance the cost of the plan will be reversed automatically every month.  I have had to go to the branch every month and have the charge reversed manually.  The issue was escalated to the tech team and the second time the answer was found.  I had the wrong type of account.  So a few weeks ago I went and opened another chequing account and applied the plan to that account which allows me to have 20 accounts under the plan. Who needs that many accounts?

I have not tested the theory yet as the end of the month has not arrived but soon we shall see.

Since I have all those cheques I wanted to keep that old account for my regular chequing activities and use the new one for my online and debit transactions.

I went to the pay my bills and realized that I need a cheque register for this new account so I headed to the bank and asked a young teller for one.  She was perplexed.  I asked the young man who had helped to open my new chequing account and he was perplexed.  I dug the one I had from my purse and off he went to the back room and returned with 4. I was very happy but they don't have any plastic cheque book covers.

I decided that I needed to make my own and here we are.

An online source suggested cutting the fabric 7x13 inches. I added the grey patterned fabric to add some interest.  I chose poly cotton fabric so it will wear well. The grey one was a bit too narrow at 7 inches so I had to cobble an additional strip.  It has plastic inserts on each pocket to keep it stiff.  The knots on the front and back keep them in place.

When checking condition of the plastic cover on my old cheque book it was obvious that I needed another. I cut the fabric 8x13 for this cover and that worked out well. 

Again, I chose poly cotton fabric red on the outside and yellow as the lining. I added a few accents on this one as well. Added top stitching to close the opening and add a bit of structure.

This one is big enough for me to tuck the book of cheques in one of the pockets. Happy with these.

Slow Stitching - No. 036 - Needle Weaving - Pearl Cotton

This is a stitched piece for K3N Cloth Tales slow stitching challenge 2024.

Week 36 - Needle Weaving - I used Pearl Cotton.

I prepared by foundation piece by placing a piece of olive green felty fabric onto a piece of poly cotton in light green.  Folded over the edge to the front and stitched it with sewing thread.  I then basted the middle with the same thread.

I laid down my warp thread in navy blue pearl cotton.  Drawn lines or a couple lengths of tape may have ensured more even top and bottom edges. 

I then wove my short lengths of pearl cotton and wonderful colors all along the length of this little weaving.  I used the head of the needle to go over under all along the warp threads. Tacked the ends and started again with a new color.  It was nice to use pearl cotton - worked really well.   The shape is organic and that is all well.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Japanese 1

 I found a couple small pieces of this Japanese print fabric by Schwartz Liebmen Textiles Inc. in my stash. I believe it to be 100% cotton.

I chose to make the front of the bag be a panel of the gorgeous fabric.  I found some red that my sister gave to supplement to the size I needed. I sewed a piece to the one side but that made it tricky to figure out where to place the the handles.

I placed a row of brown twill tape along the top edge aligned so it would be centered for the purple accent. That was stitched with the wavy decorative stitch then several lines down vertically to quilt the flannel to the outer layer.

Now I would not have a back seam. I did manage the handles correctly but totally forgot about it for the box corners.  I did have to undo the box corners on the outer and lining pieces and then iron the piece well so I would know what was the front.  It had to be done.

With the bottom seams and the box corners now in the right place I could do my 2 rows top stitching at the top of the bag.  

I hand stitched the purple crochet element at the top of panel on twill then added a red button in the center.

I chose red thread and an off white polycotton lining.

Information on "My Bag" Line 

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Updated

When I visited my sister a while back we worked on a wine bottle bag design.

I brought the pieces to make one as we ran out of time to finish one for me.

We had decided to add some height to the bag so we could have 1.5 inches in the top band where we were top stitching. This would add strength and a bit of stifness.

The one on the left was the one I brought home so I cut the outer fabric and added the 1.5 inch blue strip.  That meant I had to add some to the lining as well.  We decided to leave the flannel so it would only reach the top of the bag with out being folded over in the seam.

Learning is challenging. I did add the pieces I needed but failed to remember to put the flannel in and to make the top seam 1.25 inches so there would be extra fabric in the top edge. You can see that it is higher than the other one. Made on Sunday.

The one on the left is the one I made on today which incorporated all the things we planned.  A cotton outer fabric, a flannel layer shorter than the cotton, and a poly-cotton lining the same size as the outer fabric.  The fabric measures 15.5" tall by 12.5" wide. Flannel is 14" T x 12.5" wide.

I quilted the flannel to the diagonal patterned fabric along those lines in black thread. Then I made the box corners on the outer and lining fabrics.  Then made the strap.  Pinned the strap first to ensure it was right with the same side facing the outer, that they were on the sides with the seam at the back, and that they were aligned with the edge of the fabric. I then added the lining ensuring that the box corners were sitting opposite the ones on the outer fabric.  I sewed the seam 1.25 inches wide along the top leaving a opening to turn everything inside out. 

Once the lining is pushed into the bag and aligned, then pressing the top edge flat I sewed the 2 top stitching seams. One really close to the edge to close the opening.  The other to capture the handles a second time to ensure strength.

Note: Maybe a bit of trimming of the flannel in the box corners would help balance out the bottom. They stand on their own without a bottle inside.

Updated:  I redid the one on the right to include flannel, the 1.5 inch top stitched edge and an accent on the blue strip.

I have added the accent for number 2 so this set is finally completed.

Sewing Project - Pojagi Fabric Bags

I added to the piece of Pojagi fabric I made the other day.  I added some on the length and width.

I then had enough fabric to make 2 reusable bags. They both measure about 12x12 square.  I added handles from scrap fabric. 

For this bag I added handles in grey polycotton blend fabric which will wear well.  It came in the box of fabric I was given so bonus. The strip was cut 2 inches resulting in approximately 5/8 inch wide strip.

I sewed the handles right to the bottom to distribute the weight in the bag along a better distance. In this case I sewed the strip and then turned it inside out which was a challenge being so narrow.

Top stitched it on both sides of the strip on both handles on both sides of the bag.

This one again measures approximately 12x12 inches square.

For this bag I decided to cut down on the work.  I ironed the 40 inch handle strip of navy microfiber in half then ironed in both edges then just stitched it from the top. Folded in the raw edges at both ends before I sewed the seam. 

Then I just used a decorative stitch on my sewing machine to sew the handles all the way down the front and back of the bag. Back stitched where the handle meets the top of the bag and at the bottom of the bag.

This took much less time.

These are being donated.

Sewing Project - Tote Bag - Red Tulips

I made another tote bag for charity. See the previous one here.

This is a beautiful red tulip microfiber with green accents and a red zipper.

This pillowcase was small so only 18 inches wide. I was lucky that one of my shorter zippers was red. Win Win.

I used the fabric from a forest green pillowcase of poly cotton for the accents on this bag.  The handles will be more durable rather 100% cotton.

I added a fabric on the bottom again to help with keeping the bag looking good and providing more strength to the bag if it is very full.  I boxed the corners again.

I chose to fold over 3 inches at the top of the bag to strengthen the to edge and help with the proportions. I created handles with the poly cotton green fabric. They were cut 3.5 inches and were 40 inches long on each side. 

I put pockets on both side because I had the fabric and who can't use an extra pocket. Phones, keys, day books always need to be close at hand.

I used the same zipper panel as before.  This works so well.  The red zipper is very visible in the green panel.  I followed the Zipper Panel Tutorial by The Crafty Gemini. Tabs at each end makes it easy to find and open the zipper.  It goes completely across so gives full access to the bag.

I chose to make the handles only go down just below the pockets on both sides.  Well anchored ends and connections at the top.

Boxed corners and a decorative stitch along the top edge of the pocket and the seam which holds the zipper panel in place.

Will be off to charity before Christmas.