Slow Stitching - No. 034 - Mola Inspired - Reverse Applique

Week 34 in the K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitching Challenge - prompt - Mola Inspired Reverse Applique. This is practiced by the Guna people of Panama.

I designed my own geometric pattern and I used 4 layers of fabric.  True blue, then lime green, then royal blue and finally tangerine orange.

This was quite stiff - the top & bottom layers were poly cotton, the lime is silky and the blue is for sure polyester.

The shapes are a square, a triangle, a rectangle and a circle.

I used sewing thread to based around the edge. Found embroidery thread to match each color and outlined the shapes with running stitches.   Debated about adding additional stitches and decided against it.

Sewing Project - Repair my Bedspread

My Mom made me a bedspread 16 or more years ago.  She asked me what I wanted and I wanted bright and fun fabric.  She often used second hand fabric and I recognize fabric from Dad's shirts and other garments she made along the way.  I really loved the quilt. Nice and thin but heavy.

It has started to wear and I needed to address the damage before it was too late to save the bedspread.  She is no longer here and I have improved my sewing skills so it is all good. 

The damage is on the top and bottom edges. I do rotate the quilt regularly which explains why both edges are affected.  It is where I handled it a the top when I am in bed.

The front pieces were damaged as well as the backing and in some place even the binding was showing wear.

There were a couple of places where the fabric was ripped or very thin.

I zigzagged the large holes to stablize the fabric.  This will be covered by the fabric I am going to add.

For the hole I place a tiny piece of blue fabric under the hold and used he blanket stitch to finished off the edges all the way around.

There was one polygram piece that was just too thin to really repair so I chose to applique a full piece over it.

It took a bit to find a piece that was bold enough in pattern to match the rest.  The zigzag piece is the replacement and I cut it to be exactly the same size as the other.

I hand stitched small stitches along all the edges with sewing polyester thread.

I was hoping for poly cotton fabric when I went shopping but only found polyester fabric. It was the right color and there was enough and the price of $2 was right so it came home with me.

After washing the fabric, I set out to design a way to cover the damage without it looking to much like that is what I did.

I cut the band 8 inches tall. The fabric was 70" inches wide so I cut 3 strips to have enough to cover the width of the bedspread 2 times (top and bottom).

Once I had sewn the 3 pieces together I cut it in half.  I aligned it 2.5 inches away from the edge on the back side and stitched it down.  I also made a seam in the binding of the quilt along which I was gong to fold. I iron the remaining fabric to the front of the bedspread.  Then I fold up the edge to have the band measure 3.5 inches. I pinned it very carefully and then top stitched it down.  I folded the fabric in on the edges and top stitch those at the same time.

For a while before I started this project I thought I would add additional stitching to the band but I don't think it needs it.

More stitching would make it stiffer and that is where I handle it all the time so I don't think that would feel nice.

It took the better part of the day but the quilt will now last another 10 years.  

Super happy with the end product.

I washed it and put it back on the bed.  Wonderful!

Sewing Project - Book Sleeve

I decided to make a book sleeve today.

It about the same dimensions as the book bag but it has no handles or closure.

I chose these yellow cotton fabric because I have a bit of it and could afford to lose a bit if it was a bust.

I chose a deep brown very polyester fabric which was stiff and slidy.

Making this took a lot of brain power to translate the process I developed for the wine bags to this one.  

The differences were no box corners, a fold on the bottom instead of a seam, and a portrait orientation vs the landscape one on the book bag.

It does hold the largest novel book I own which I have been using as my guide.

The tab originally was to going to keep it closed but that did not work out so it became a decorative tab instead.  The closure would need to be elastic to accommodate the various thicknesses of books.

I added a button to match the yellow fabric on a brown tab.

There is an opening in the lining where I could turn it inside out.

I did zigzag all the seams as the brown lining fabric was thin and may give it put under too much stress,

It should be nice for this purpose.

I used my wavy decorative stitch again to to top stitch the top edge.

I used fleece for the batting in between the outer and lining fabrics.

I used straight lines of stitching to quilt the outer fabric to the batting.

I prefer to have handles but based on my research many of these sleeves are being made and sold so I thought I would give it a try.

I added my "My Bag" tag to the top edge.

 

Sewing Project - ReUsable Bag - Navy and Taupe Squares

This is the last of the 7 inch cotton poly squares in the Navy and Taupe which I received for free.  I paired it with some navy microfiber cloth to have enough fabric to complete the project. I created two 6 square panels then serged all the seam edges. I then sewed the 2 panels together with a French Seam hiding all the raw edges which created the bottom of the bag.

Realizing that it was not tall enough and I needed handles as well I dipped into my good microfiber fabric and chose this navy.  Works well with the pattern in the squares. I cut the navy panel 12 inches wide and ironed it half to 6 inches tall.  I then measured the width of my bag and sewed the strip to be exactly the same width then serged that seam.  Now I sewed the  navy panel to the top of the squares bag with the serger then top stitched fabric to the serged edge from the top on the squares piece.

I then changed my thread to navy for the rest of the project.

I ripped my handles to 3 inches wide and 41" inches long.  I sewed them and turned them inside out.  I fold the raw edges of each end to the inside leaving me a 40" handle.  I pinned the bottom of the handle to the bottom on the first rows of squares 5" inches in from the right and left side.  I created my reinforced squares on the bottom and the spot where the handle meets the top of the bag.  The handle is top stitched on both edges for both handles.

I added a decorative stitch along the top of the bag to keep that fold in place and to add my elastic to the inside of the bag which I can use to roll up if I want it to take less space.

This bag will replace my shopping bag.  This one I made a year ago. It is polyester and is very thin but I just loved the color so I just enjoyed for as long as it was going to last.  

For information on the "My Bag" Line

Sewing Project - ReUsable Bags - Polyester

 
I finished another 5 bags for donation today.  I had a piece of polyester fabric which I had bought when I thought I would be able to sell ReUsable Bags.  This fabric was great colors teal, cream and chocolate brown.

I managed to get 5 bags from the piece.  They measure on average 16 inches wide and 18 inches tall.

The seams are all nicely sealed french seams as the fabric frays like crazy.

The top hem is 1.5 inches folded over double.  I inserted the handles on the first seam at the bottom of the hem then pulled the handles to the top and top stitched the top edge of the hem to secure the handle in the upright position giving them 2 seams to keep them in place.  That should do. 

The handles vary from grosgrain ribbon in a variety of widths and lengths and one regular ribbon.  I made them as long as possible given the length of ribbon.  The ribbons mostly came from the ReUse Center so they have become useful and will be returned to the center.

This is the last of the polyester fabric so I am glad of that.

Sewing Project - ReUsable Bags

I made 3 ReUsable Bags to donate to the ReUse Center this week.  I had some polyester fabric in great colors which does not work as well as microfiber.  I bought these because I was looking for a variety of colors.  They are very pretty.

Polyester fabric frays like crazy so these needed french seams to enclose all the edges. 

I folded the tops over double at 2.5 inches to provide a reinforced edge where the handles were going to be attached.

I did not have much for handle material.  I used grosgrain ribbon on the 2 striped ones.  I made handles with white microfiber fabric left overs for the purple one.   

These measure about 20 inches tall by 16 inches wide.  

The center provides a bin of bags and a table of boxes for customers so these will be used for sure.

Sewing Project - ReUsable Bags - Pillowcases

I bought a couple more of those $1 pillowcases the other day at the thrift store.

I liked the pattern on this one with the warm green and the brown polka dots.

I found a roll of fabric tape at the ReUse Ctr last time I was there and it seems it was bias tape.  Well imagine my luck. It was brown which is what I needed for this bag. It does need to be ironed and folded but I guess that is the cost of getting it.  I understand there is a thing a ma jig that will fold it for you as you iron along.

This was a standard pillowcase with no header band. Polyester fabric.

Measurements: 25 inches T overall, 19 inches W and the bag is 18 inches deep.

Brown bias tape, brown button and black elastic.

Nice to have a bit of variety in the colors and patterns.

This bag was made with a King size pillowcase of good quality micro fiber.  I did cut off a decent amount (about 8 inches) off the top to keep the fold bottom. Nice weight to the fabric in this bag. 

It was a nice purply blue so I paired it with a leaf green bias tape.

Measurements: 25 inches T overall, 20 inches W and the bag is 18 inches deep.

I found a nice button to match the blue color. 

This fabric came from a pillow sham type piece. I like the pattern so I bought it.  It was polyester though so static was quite a problem.

I had to sew all the seams on this one and I got the sides seams wrong.  To make enclosed seams you have to make your first seam right sides out which is counter intuitive. Well, I was saved by the serger!  Yeh Yeh!  I just serged the seams on the inside of the bag just like they would have been inside a pillow case. 

The back is black and had been a fold closure so I had to sew those 2 piece together to get a full back for the bag. 

This bag is quite squat so it is wider than the others I made.  It ended up wider because of the serging of the seams instead of enclosing them. 

Measurements: 25 inches T overall, 23 inches W and 17.5 inches deep for the bag itself.

I paired it with black bias tape, black elastic and a purple button.  I needed a bit more bias tape because of the extra width but I had enough in the 3 yard package.

I love the zebra print on this bag. 

It takes a bit of extra attention when folding at it is that bit wider.

I am bored with  making these so I am taking a break and moving onto other sewing projects.

Lessons Learned:

- Microfiber is very nice for these bags but I have not found any that was patterned.  

- Bias Tape to buy new would make this project not cost effective for selling.

- Polyester fabric was mostly patterned but very easy to ravel. 

- Pillowcases are by far make these a breeze to make because the side and bottom are already done. If you can get them for a good price it is the way to go.

- If you don't have a collection of buttons choose clear button which will go with any color and pattern.

- I am really happy with how the grey thread seems to work well with the colors and patterns.

- The pattern from Fabric Patch worked really well. 

Sewing Project - ReUsable Bag - Bright Big Ones

I bought a piece of polyester fabric on Friday that I thought would make 3 bags. I just loved the bright colors and was quite sure I have bias tape that would work.

Sure enough, I had yellow, orange and green. Brown would have worked too. 

It was a nice change to sew with nice colors rather than the beige, grey, tan ones I have made in recent days.

I decided to maximize the use of the fabric so the bags finished are a bit bigger than the ones I have made so far.

Measurements: Overall height = 24", width = 24 inches and the bag itself is 17 inches tall. 

This fabric was like the other patterned polyester fabric so it frayed easily.  It feels really nice and irons beautifully.

The first one got yellow bias tape with an orange button and a white elastic.

The next one got orange bias tape with a light green button.

And the third got green bias tape with a yellow button and white elastic.

These will perkup the full basket of folded bags I have made this month.

Great to get 3 bags done today!

There they are all folded ready to join the rest in the basket.  It is overflowing with about 15 bags.

I have enough bias tape to make about 12 more then I can get rid of the rick rack that also lives in that box and it will be another empty box to add to the result of de-cluttering.

I have decided to keep the patterned polyester one with turquoise bias tape for myself.

Sewing Project - Patterned Polyester - Large Bag

When I was out shopping with my sister on the weekend I found this lone pillowcase and these nice colors - Turquoise, lime green and grey and a beautiful pinwheel pattern. It was an impulsive decision to purchase it.  Big spender at .50 cents.

This pillow case is made of polyester and is not microfiber.  It is quite thin.  It did not have a wide band at the top like most pillowcases do so that gave me more fabric to work with. 

It was constructed differently as well in that it was folded on one side so there were seams on one side and the bottom.  I like to have a fold at the bottom which I think is stronger.

I reinforced the seams with another of my own. I decided to add a boxed bottom since I had lots of fabric to work with. This also allowed for more reinforcement to the bottom of the bag.

I chose some turquoise bias tape, a turquoise button and black elastic for this bag.

Still working with the medium grey thread which was great.  I have gone through one bobbin and I have a cone of thread so I am good to go for a while yet.

I did have to cut off some of the length at the top otherwise the bag would have been to tall and skinny.

Finished it measures 24" tall x 19.5" wide.  The bag part is 16.5 inches deep. 

I was toying with making a bag to store it since I had cut off some fabric but stuck to the tried and true method.

Despite being bigger I think it makes an overall smaller package when rolled up. 

So a bigger bag in a smaller package and it's pretty may be winner.

The package of bias tape for this bag was prices a $1.50 so an older one for sure.

The fabric as very much inclined to fray so that was a bit of a challenge. Also, it was much more susceptible to a hot iron so I have to be very careful to keep the temperature down.

Getting the cut edges encased quickly was quite important.  

Update: I am keeping this one for my own ReUsable Bag.  I love the pattern, the colors and I brought 14 books home in it the other day so it is strong as well.