Primrose Corner

The last of the slightly wind battered echinacea flowers.

There isn’t a special reason, well not really. I haven’t made a 100 posts or even 50 yet (but I’m working on it). There’s nothing exciting going on …. unless you count the fact that my son had his brace changed this week and opted for blue ‘elastics’ across his top teeth and red (yes - I did say red) ‘elastics’ across his bottom teeth. Now, with the white teeth inbetween, what European flag do you think that most resembles? I can’t understand it, he’s usually such a quiet boy. I can only be thankful that the school photo’s have already been done and I don’t have to explain that to my mother!

This is really just shop stuff, not celebrating stuff.

I’m having a bit of a Amy Butler fabric sale in the shop at the moment with reductions of between 10% and 15% because I’m expecting new stock soon and I desperately need the space for it. I get a bit carried away sometimes. Imagine the scene when the rep comes to call (I’m sure he doesn’t mind me referring to him like that) and there’s fabric….. real fabric, spread out everywhere and sometimes it’s just too hard to resist and even when I think perhaps I shouldn’t… I do.

Secondly, I have lots of odd bits of fabric left from various cuttings and filling of orders. So, I thought I’d share them by having a little giveaway. (I haven’t done this before….. sometimes you just have to make your own excitement!) They range in size from just about 1/4 metre and there’s one or two almost but not quite, fat quarters in there. The fabrics are a mixture of moda’s , fabric from Amy Butler, (Those home decor fabrics are cut from a 54 inch bolt - that’s a large fat quarter! ) there’s a Joel Dewberry, a couple of Kaffe Fassett’s and some solid colour fabric from Moda. If you patchwork at all, these are all useful pieces.

So, please relieve me of the responsibility of using up these pieces of fabric. If you’re interested, just leave me a comment and on the 31st October at 6.00p.m., I’ll get Rosie to pull a name out of a ‘hat’ (It’ll probably be a bowl.) to see who the lucky person is. You’ll need to check back though to see if you’ve won.

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Two posts in one day … I know it’s simply not done is it? But look what at what Celia the post lady dropped through my letterbox!

It’s finally arrived. I’m so excited to get my hands on it at last.

It’s full of projects - modern contemporary, gorgeous, sewing projects. Manda McGrory (editor) says and I quote, that ‘Sew Hip’ was …..created for all of us that own too much fabric (of course there’s no such thing….. I can’t argue with her on that!

It’s full of things to do with fabric; small pieces…..
Now I wonder who designed you? Link I want one!

Recycled pieces:

Cute little projects for the little people …..

Visit this lady’s blog for more crafty fixes - Raspberry

… and good, potentially messy, (the best sort - in my opinion), ideas for crafting with the little people.

A felted bag - an ideal solution for those sweaters and jumpers you cooked in the wash

From Alicia Paulson of Posie gets Cozy

and quilts from charm packs, needle cases, bunting and gorgeous, gorgeous, plumptious cushions

and then there are interviews with Amy Butler, Alicia Paulson and…and……. I may be here for sometime.

Want a peep at next month……

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Or… ttnp … as it is also called. Crafteroo is a youngish craft forum. There’s a lot goes on in there. The folk are friendly and full of advice and support and it has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Crafteroo is building it’s own tutorials and tutorial links, which are always useful when you’re looking for new ideas or searching for new techniques.

I enjoy reading what everyone get upto. It has chats about etsy, folksy and ebay and all the selling and advertising discussions that are incredibly useful when you’re trying to sell your art and crafts. It’s definately worth a look.

But the mysterious Thursday night project - what might that be? It was started by Pennydog

It isn’t a challenge as such, it just provides an opportunity to show off what you’re up to on a Thursday/Thursday Night. All this activity has been linked to a brand new flickr group which you’ll find here ttnp It’s a public group where you can add photos of your own work and obviously see what others are upto. A building resource, methinks!

So, what did I get upto apart from worrying about the gross national product of Malawi (why do children leave their homework so late!!!!!! is it just mine?)

Well, I finished this;

I’m trying to get a little more arty with the photo’s. Is it working…… Umm!

And because I like feeling part of something ….. I made this too….

What am I going to do with all these bracelets….?

They’re made out of coloured wire threaded with 400 plus, seed beads. The green one used size 8 beads and the silver one used size 9 beads. The knitted fabric is quite soft and pliable. If the beads don’t end up where they’re supposed to (at the bottom of the stitch) then you just pull the wire gently and put it where it’s supposed to go, and squeeze the stitch back together. It’s finished with bar clasps.

Not bad going for a Thursday!

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This has been a week with poorly people. Colds again! Haven’t we done this already? It’s only October. Didn’t we have our colds quota in September. All that mopping of the fevered brow… Do I need to allot an amount in the family budget for cold remedies, tissues and all that paraphenalia? Time to get out the juicer again I think. There’s a wonderful juice made from tomatoes, chillies and red peppers (plus a dash of worcestershire sauce - if you like it) that really blows the socks of a cold. It’s the chillies you know, opens up the ‘tubes’.

Consequently, not a lot of sewing has been done and of what I have managed to do I can only show you this, because I’m taking part in a ‘Christmas Decorations swap’ and I don’t want to upset Father Christmas by giving the game away. Do you like the button in the side bar? The swap’s been organised by Indigo Blue. I’ve never been involved in a swap before - it’s nerve wrackingly exciting….

Anyway, this is the frilly buttonony thing….

I do like it - it’s all sparkly!

Yes, you’re right! It’s another little pouch and another experiment. It’s diminutive. It’s 20cm (8 inches wide) and stands a 12.5 cm (approximately 5 inches) tall (or short if you prefer). It has no depth. It is a flat pouch.

It’s made from a purple moda marbels (why do I always struggle to spell that?) marbles fabric, which I pleated into randomly spaced 1/4inch tucks. I know they were 1/4 inch wide because I used my 1/4 foot on the sewing machine. Once the tucks were finished I sewed straight lines with a variegated quilting thread in between the tucks. All pink, purples and greens. Lovely. To complete the fabric I added a mixture of different sized shell buttons in green and turquoise blue , so it’s all lovely and shiny. It’s a very tactile piece. I used wadding behind the fabric which gives it a nice squishy feel, apart from the hardness of the buttons of course, and it has a simple pink fabric lining. I decided it was just too tiny to add any kind of pocket-ty arrangement.

If you haven’t spotted the similarity already, it’s based on a design in ‘Handmade Embroidered Purses’ by Jenny Rolfe.

Can you see the picture on the top right? She used sequins rather than buttons and I might just make another with sequins. You’d get a slightly more delicate effect I think. In fact I’m wondering what this pleating and sequin/button effect might look like in my favourite wristlet pattern. Umm!

I like her books. I’ve said before that I need to practice my free motion sewing for the course I’m doing and these designs give me lots of ideas for practice. The ‘I can’t wait to get started’ kind of practice, not the ‘oh no! Not more…..’ kind of practice… walks away wih heavy feet…. I can’t cope if things get too repetitive. I get all stressy - as my darling son would say. The books also give you loads of ideas for using the practice bits too. So, that folk like me don’t get buried in the left over deitritus of one more outing with the darning foot and the sewing machine.

Which incidentally I’d better get back to whilst things are quiet!

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Thanks for the lovely comments about the tutorial. I thought I’d show you the bag that the lining eventually got sewn into.

It’s just a little tote bag, petite some might say, but it’s large enough to fit the essentials into; phone, purse, cards that kind of thing. But, not so big that the family can’t resist filing it for you and you begin to understand what a pack horse feels like.

It’s vital statistics are: 28cm (11 inches) tall by 22.5cm (9 inches) wide and it has a depth of 2.5 cm (1 inch). The handle is 96cm (38 inches) long, you could wear it across the body. Inside, I added a divided pocket. Handy for those bits and pieces which otherwise gravitate to the bottom of your bag and get lost amongst the clutter that gathers there. What do you mean you’re bag doesn’t collect clutter? Really! Is that natural? I’m sure it’ll pass… don’t worry.

The lining is the bright red fabric that I was working with in the magnetic snap tutorial. I’m into strong contrasts between the interior and exterior of my bags at the moment. Must be the dull, dark weather we’re having.

Do you want to know about the interlining? O.K, I used a medium sew-in as the fabric needed some support because of the weight of the magnetic snap. I also wanted the bag to feel good in your hands, if you know what I mean.

The green fabric of the exterior has a marbled design on it, swirls of blues through greens and with a splash of light brown. Rich and complex. It’s a Rowan fabric by Carl Miller called Plume marble Quite appropriate really!

The black/grey damasky sort of patterned fabric is a Moda fabric; Muslin Mates sets it off quite nicely.

So, be honest what do you think to the o-ring and the beads? That’s something new for me. I don’t normally do much with beads, but from the look of my ‘craft’ box cupboard that may be changing. (eek! Is it a worsening of the button obsession?) I think it adds a nice touch and the red ‘thonging’ definately accentuates the other colours.

I’ve not done anything much with the back of the bag which may be a missed opportunity. I think I might try that shape and size again but with a zipped pocket where the two fabrics meet. Something to mull over!

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As you probably already know magnetic snaps come in different sizes and are available in different metal finishes. They are not recommended for use on anything which will come into contact with computers, laptops or audio equipment because of the possibility of upsetting or even scrambling/destroying hard disks and other delicate computer electronics. On non-techy items though they provide a secure, unobstrusive closure which are relatively straightforward to apply and add a professional finish to bags and purses, particularly when combined with other matching metal hardware.

Not an easy photo - they kept ’snapping’ together!

A magnetic snap set comprises four parts; one half of the snap is magnetic, the other part of the snap is metal and is ‘attracted’ to the other. They click together to make a closure.

There are also two backing discs or ‘ washers’, with holes in which are fixed on the other side of the fabric to the snap parts. They fit over the snap prongs which are pushed through holes in the fabric. The backing discs or ‘washers’ are then placed over the prongs which are folded back to neatly and securely attach the magnetic snap.

I mentioned a while ago in a previous post that I apply magnetic snaps to my bags in a slightly different way to many. so, I thought I’d show you how I add magnetic snaps to my bags, books covers and anywhere else where they seem useful.

Here, I’m adding a magnetic snap to the lining of a small tote bag.

Requirements

• 14mm magnetic snap set (these instructions apply to any size of snap) Link
• 2, 4 cm (approximately 1 1/2 inches) squares of interlining or something to protect the fabric of the lining from the movement of the metal magnetic snap.
• 2, 5cm (approximately 2 inches) squares of interlining or fleece
• removable fabric marker - I used tailors chalk
• a few pins
• seam ripper - or a way of making two small holes in the fabric
• tape measure

Step 1 - Mark the position of the snap on both lining pieces. Measure and mark the centre point on the lining piece with the marker.
I want this snap to be positioned about 2.5 cm (1 inch) below the top edge when the bag is completed. So using the centre mark as a guide, measure down approximately 3.5 cm (approximately 1 1/2 inches) from the top edge and make another mark.
Step 2 - Mark position of the snap Using the washer (the back of the magnetic snap), as a template, lay it down on the fabric and mark where you need to make ‘tiny’ little holes to be able to insert the magnetic snap prongs easily through the fabric. Use these marks as a guide to where you need to make tiny incisions with your seam ripper. Go carefully now! It’s just a little snap.	Can you see where I’ve marked the centre of the lining and then marked how far down I want the snap positioned? I use the ‘washer’ as a template to mark where the incisions need to be.
Step 3 - Marking the interlining backing Take one of the 4 cm (approximately 1 1/2 inch) squares and using the washer (back of the magnetic snap) as a template mark the position of the side slots using your fabric marker. Make small incisions in this with your seam ripper.	Can you see the marks through the slots showing where to make the slits.
Push the prongs of the magnetic snap through the incisions in the fabric to the wrong side. Place the backing fabric/interlining over the prongs.
Push the washer onto the prongs and … this is where I differ slightly from others.
Some people like to fold the prongs outwards which keeps the snap neatly and securely in position. I have found that where the prongs stick out proud of the area occupied by the snap the fabric wears. I’ve sadly lost a few favourite bags this way so now I fold the prongs inwards. You may need to use a pair of pliers for this. It can be hard on the fingers otherwise. It is of course your decision how you fold the prongs. Inwards or outwards?	Are you an ‘inwards’ or ‘outwards’ magnetic snap kinda person?
Take one of the 5 cm (approximately 2 inch) squares of fleece or interlining and place it over the back of the snap.	Disappeared?
Using a couple of pins, pin the fleece or interlining in position over the back of the snap from the right side of the fabric and take it to your sewing machine. The photograph probably makes this clearer. In order to hold the fabric, the interliningg and the snap securely together I machine sew around the magnetic snap. This is an optional step, you can just hand sew the fleece backing into position behind the magnetic snap to the interlining which will serve the purpose of protecting your bag from wear and tear from the metal snap parts. I like to sew around the magnetic snap because I think it adds a ‘finished’ look to the bag lining.
Sewing around the magnetic snap is not difficult if you take a little time. Attach your zipper foot to your machine and have the needle positioned so that it is sewing on the side furthest away from the snap. It may be clearer in the photograph. Sew two or three stitches then lower your needle, raise your zipper foot and pivot. It doesn’t take long to do and I quite like the look of it. You can of course sew a square around the snap but I find that more difficult to do well than sewing around in a circle.	Click on the photograph for a closer look.
This is what it looks like when you’ve sewn the circle.
And on the back - ends tied off and snipped off …… It’s now all wrapped up in a fleece blanket.	All wrapped up in a blanketty bed! Keep your prongs off my bags!

Thinking about how many different ways everyone seems to interline their bags I’m wondering how many different ways we apply magnetic snaps? Go on, be brave, how do you add your snaps?

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I don’t know what to say…. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. I’m feeling all kind of warm and pleased inside. I’ve been given a ‘Blogging Friends award’, from Marie of Dreaming of Wild Roses Can you see it in my side bar….. (puffs out chest in pleasure and maybe the teenisest little bit of pride.)

I’ve not been blogging for that long as you may already know and this is my very first award …. it’s made me smile. Thank you Marie. I love the idea of online friends. It’s surprising how much online friends get to mean to you and how concerned you can become when they haven’t ‘blogged’ for a while. Are they O.K? Is something wrong …. ? Should you email…. just as you would for friends you meet in your other, everyday life.

What I have to do now is pass it on (they all work that way don’t they?). The rules are fairly simple. You need to share this award with four dedicated followers of your blog and with one nominee who lives in a different part of the world.

Therefore, without further ado, I would like to share this award with Dottycookie, whose ‘geeky’ tendancies regularly make me smile. I love the idea of a Hadron Collider built from toilet roll inner tubes - brilliant!

I’d like to share it with Indigo Blue where there’s always some lovely things being made and ’stuff’ going on. To Ragged Roses who spreads a little vintage calm and prettiness in the world and whose ‘blogging’ friendship I enjoy. And to Sew love to sew, who ‘loves’ to sew quilts and bags and whose ‘chats’ I enjoy. My nominee from another part of the world is Tamara from 1/4 of an inch. Her blog is a new discovery for me (I’ve probably been lurking there for longer than she realises!) and I admire her quilting and ‘crafty’ works. Best wishes to you all, and long may we remain ‘blogging friends’.

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Once upon a time when life was simpler and it was possible to just occasionally to attend workshops. I made this;

It’s a quilt…… no honestly…. it is. How do I justify saying that? Well, it’s like this……

Patchwork or piecing and the construction of a quilt has a long history. It has developed in many different places in the world resulting in a rich diversity of styles and approaches. Originally, it probably developed as a method of producing an inexpensive textile using precious fabric remnants at a time when fabric wasn’t easy to obtain. Many astonishingly beautiful examples can be found in museums and stately homes around the world.

A traditional definition of a quilt is that it must consist of three layers; a top layer which can be a whole cloth or a pieced cloth. A middle layer which may be wadding, which comes in a huge variety of types, different thicknesses, made from different materials; wool, silk, polyester and cotton. Then there is a backing fabric which again can be a whole cloth or a pieced or patched cloth.

Wadding, however may be replaced by other fabrics, in India for example, this middle layer may traditionally be composed of old sari’s stitched together. You may encounter quilters muslin or calico being used.

That’s all very well but how does that make my ‘picture’ a quilt?

Well, quilting and patchwork is a very vibrant area. It is both a craft and an art form. This basic definition of a quilt is subject to a huge variety of interpretations. How the contemporary quilter chooses to interpret those three layers required to make a quilt is entirely personal. (Remind you of the little discussion about interlining?)

My quilt picture was made at a workshop run by Ineke Berlyn. You can see some of her work here on her website. Link .

and in her book.

Ineke’s book - a book full of ideas!

To construct these art quilts she combines layers of sheer, organza, net, tulle and muslin along with sympathetic stitching to create pieces of extraordinarily rich, translucent window art.

This fabric window art, when hung where light can shine through it creates dancing light as though through a stained glass window. Different light throughtout the day and throughout the seasons makes these ’sheer art quilts’ pieces that constantly change.

An example of Ineke’s work - a View of the Malvern.

This little one of mine is a worked example set out for the workshop. It has a layer of polyester organza as the backing layer with pieces of sheers in different colours, layered to create even more colour effects. Painted lutrador was used for the trees and some of the more defined leaves (yes, they are leaves! ) and some pieces of dyed calico to create some areas of solid colour, which helps to give the piece depth.

A tempting heap of sheers, tulle and hand dyed calico and time to play - what more could you ask for?

The shapes you cut out for your ‘picture’ are then ‘bondawebbed’ in position onto the backing fabric. It’s suprising how long that can take. It’s a lot of deciding, is that tree at all like a tree? Enough flowers……. you did guess this was supposed to be bluebell wood didn’t you?

I think that’s part of the fascination that patchwork and quilting holds for me. There is so much variation and just when you think that there can’t be any more that folk can achieve with pieces of cloth you come across someone elses work and the fascination deepens. There is always something new, something wonderful just waiting……….

This is a piece depicting Bethlehem, worked in sheers, with stitching in gold and silver threads. Christmas is coming……. give you any ideas?

So, although you can’t snuggle up in it with your cocoa, do you see now why it’s a quilt?

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One is for butterflies enjoying the sun;

Another is for blackberries of which we ate some…
Not that many are ripe yet!

A third is for baking..

Sorry about the dark and slightly blurry photo ! I can’t do another we’ve eaten it - eaten it all!

I love blackberry picking…eating….baking…eating some more….. I love this time of the year when the birds start to return to the garden and the leaves are just begining to take on all those rich, deep colours. Beautiful.

Some of our 5 lbs of blackberry treasure haul were frozen so that we had some to bake with over Christmas. Our way of remembering how lovely autumn can be, when winter can be so dark, damp and grey.

Hope you enjoyed this weekend of sunshine.

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How you interline your bag is often a case of personal taste and judgement. As you gain experience and develop personal preferences then obviously you make up your own mind. Nothing substitutes for the ‘personal’. That’s the beauty of ‘handmade’. A beautifully ‘crafted’ bag or beautifully ‘crafted’ anything is the result of that happy combination of experience and heartfelt creativity.

You do use it don’t you? It can turn the lightest of fabrics into the firmest of boxy little clutches with just a little know-how. This post isn’t intended as a how-to, however, it is intended as an “For Information” type of post.

Obviously, when Crafters such as you and I use patterns, pattern designers want the ‘Material Requirements’ on their pattern sleeves to be helpful, to ensure that we get the best results and most rewarding experience from making one of their designs. So. following the demise of Timtex, Amy Butler has reviewed her sewing patterns and has recomended the use of pellon products; Peltex and fusible Peltex.

Her recommendations vary with the particular sewing patern so if you’ve bought or are thinking about buying these patterns; Kimberly Bag, Sophia Carry-all, Betty Shopper , Weekender Travel Bag, Chelsea Bags, Madison Bags, or In Town Bags , then take a look at this. ‘Pattern Updates’

So, now you know. Remember though that the decision about which interlining to use is yours. Remember too that combining interlinings such as a fusible fleece with medium or heavy sew-in can give some very nice results. I quite often do this, because I like the tactile, squashiness that the fleece imparts to a bag but I also like the structure which the sew-in gives.

What’s your favourite way of interlining your bags?

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