Yesterday was all bustle and excitement, seeing friends they haven't seen since the end of last term, new shoes, new uniforms, new routines. Today was different. My daughter was full of tears, she's moved to a larger (much larger) secondary school and it's all a bit daunting, "What if I get lost?", "What if I'm late because I can't find my classroom?". I remember having those same fears. Has every parent through time stood there and said to their child exactly the same as their parent said to them? "Don't worry about it. All the children in your form are just as confused as you about where places are. The teachers don't expect you to know where everywhere is." Hopefully she'll feel better when I see her later.
The kitchen is traumatised. They rushed in yesterday after school and raided the cupboards and the fruit bowl (! Don't panic. That really doesn't happen often. My children really don't think that 5-a day (fruit and veg) applies to them.). A plague of locusts would have been proud of them.
So, all these new beginnings mean that I won't be seeing all the Mum's in the playground or anyone during the day, unless I do something about it. So, besides meeting up for coffee with folk I thought I might go along to a quilting group in the next town.
Coffee? or ... ...a little milkshake?
The group quite often exhibits in the local church so I've seen the kind of things they do together. Quilts, obviously but more contemporary styles as well as the traditional. They make all kinds of wall hangings, bags, fabric boxes. I think it's worth going along once or twice at least, to see if I like it.
In amongst all this turmoil though there's been a little sewing, and not just endless, countless name tags! (I did refuse to sew tags into the socks! I'm such a rebel!)
Another simply styled tote this time in Amy Butler's Graniflora fabric . I like the way this one turned out.
It has a magnetic snap closure and a divided pocket inside.
It's 12 inches wide, 1 1/2 inches deep, 14 inches tall and has a 28 inches fabric handle (finished length). I've used some 'o' rings to attach the handles to the bag and the magnetic snap is the same nickel colour. I like the bag hardware to match.
This little chap is a boxy style pouch. He's definately an experiment. I've not made pouches this way before. I usually box the corners in bags by aligning the side seams with the bottom seam and sewing across. Probably the same way that most people do it. This is different. With this you sew across the bottom of the bag and then pleat and fold the sides. What you end up with is this kind of effect. It's sort of folded and tucked in. Origami with bags!
I'm convinced that there's scope for a little embellishment on those ends I just haven't quite worked out what that might be yet! I love the tabs across the zip ends. Ribbon would be a nice touch too! It gives it a nice finish, just like little ears!
If anyone wants more of an explanation, I'm willing to write (and illustrate it ) in a little more detail. Just drop me a comment. What do you think though?
It's destined to hold some of the bits and pieces, threads, sewing scissors that kind of thing for me to take to the quilting group. Well, I have to look the part don't I?
The applique was another experiment. I keep reading about quite complex pieces of applique where you use fusible interfacing as a way of turning the seam allowance of your 'shape' under, the end result being a fusible applique motif which looks as if its been 'needle turned'. Start with something a little more simple I say! Hence the heart motif!
I placed some lightweight fusible interfacing onto the fabric with its right side facing the non-fusible side of the interfacing. Does that make sense? Then I pinned a paper template to both of them and machine sewed around the outside of the paper template. I removed the template and made an incision into the interlining and poked turned the fabric through the 'hole'. I then had a fusible patch, with the fabric rightside out and the fusible side of the interlining facing out. I had to clip the edges of the heart to get everything to lie nicely but it worked. It fused beautifully to the bag but you do get an edge around the motif which is not 'stuck' down because that's where the fabric is. So, you'd definately need to sew or do something creative with the edges. I machined sewed around the outside of the patch using a kind of blanket stitch effect. Not too difficult considering I rarely use 'fancy' stitches. I'm more a 'running' stitch kind of girl. I found it quite a fiddly process though - can't say I'd rush to applique this way again.
Now, if only I'd placed the heart motifs (There's one on both sides.) a little higher up the bag. Next time I'll have a better idea about how this design works......... how is it that I only ever seem to understand by doing! It's so frustrating.... Am I alone in that?
Ummm! I think I might call it Henry!
No you are not the only one! I am a hands on learner and always have been. If only maths could be learnt by sewing I would have been brilliant at it, ha ha. The quilting group is a good idea. I go to a tiny sewing group once a week for three hours in the evening and I sew sew sew guilt free of ironing etc. Fantastic.
Posted by: Andrea | September 06, 2008 at 01:00 AM
It is a funny old time of year, new beginnings and summer (!) drawing to an end. I've been knee deep in tidying and my head is full of sewing ideas but no inclination to do anything about them at the moment, I love your bags, they're wonderful. Hope things improve at school, I'm sure they will.
Kimx
Posted by: Kim | September 05, 2008 at 01:00 AM