Primrose Corner

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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I’m trying to get to grips with free motion quilting. You know, feed dogs down, attach the darning foot etc etc and off you jolly well go…. meandering, drawing, painting with thread across fabric. No particular rules - just freedom! Yay!

Don’t believe them! it’s not that easy, you have to practice, or in my case practice, practice and then practice some more. It’s trying to get nice even stitching whilst manoevering your fabric… and remembering to meander, that’s the challenge. My poor little brain hurts.

My real difficulty was remembering to breathe. That sounds silly doesn’t it but I tensed my muscles up so much that every now and then I’d suddenly get a desperate urge to just BREATHE, which of course interrupted the flow of fabric, thread and machine (Sigh!). That’s my problem of course, I need to relax a little. After three practice pieces my poor muscles felt as if I’d been to the gym!

Relax that’s the key. I’m fresh out of lavender scented candles but that probably wouldn’t have worked anyway because you have to breathe to inhale the soothing aroma…… Music then. so a few precious sewing minutes later I had music to provide a calming, soothing, backdrop to my intensive, physically grueling, learning journey. So, to the sound of Crowded House I tried a few more pieces with a double needle just for a bit of added spice and tried some more.
…must…..breathe….

Free-motion stitching with a double needle creates a kind of ribbon effect, very pretty in skilled hands. The wadding sort of ‘puffs’ up in between giving a subtle impression of cording. I used a green thread in one side of the needle and a variegated quilting thread in the other.

Anyway, with the two ‘best’ pieces I created this pouch or make-up bag. It’s got a curved zipped top. I’ve been seeing quite a lot of pouches with nicely rounded tops lately. They’re quite sweet and feminine looking aren’t they? It’s probably a bit bigger than most, at 22cm (9 inches) across the top and stands 15 cm (6 inches) tall. It’s about 5 cm deep (2 inches). A nice useful size.

Then I sewed on a few buttons, ‘cos buttons are for using aren’t they? They’re not just for squirrelling away in your secret button stash. Alright, I used quite a lof of buttons - I got a bit carried away.

Which side do you prefer?

I ‘buttoned’ both sides and because the fabric wasn’t worked as one piece the sewing is slightly different between them so I used buttons of differing sizes, styles and colour just to add to the really ‘handcrafted’ look. (Obviously, this was all completely intentional. No, really!) I like the overall effect though. Quite light hearted and fun!

Are you trying to learn something new? and what do you use your buttons for?

I’m off to buy more buttons and then I need to get some more relaxed (deep breath), practicing done, with a single needle this time. Oh! and did I mention that I need to buy more buttons….. it’s not an obsession or anything …… not really……

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To answer the questions I’ve had about Timtex, from this talented lady of Indygo Blue and others I’ve had via e-mails I thought I’d post this. It may help but then again……..

Timtex has the texture of a squashy type of crispbread that’s been exposed to moisture for too long and when you sew it, it squeaks like not quite cooked green beans. (Yuk - I hate that sensation! It rubs on your teeth and ….. yuckky!). The wonder of Timtex has always been it’s versatility. It lends itself to being steamed into shape hence it’s loved by folk who make fabric bowls, hats ( Think baseball type hats) and by folk who make bags. Particularly loved by folk who make bags. I think the characteristic that always made it so lovely is that it’s firm but not hard. It takes stitching and quite dense embroidery beautifully without cracking or snapping. Lovely stuff.

I shouldn’t rant and ramble on……. but I do have some bad news and some a little better. Firstly, in case you haven’t heard, is that they are no longer making Timtex. Why? Who knows? It’s bad news for a lot of people who craft because of course you get to know the materials you work with and understand how they perform best etc and know that your lovingly crafted items are going to perform as they should.

The sad demise of Timtex

It’s an issue for a great many pattern designers too. Particularly those who believe strongly and with a passion in the products they produce, like Amy Butler. Her bag patterns recommend using Timtex and here in the UK it has been more difficult for us to source. But it has been here, lurking away in craft type stores. Supplies of Timtex around the world are dwindling …. (sorry! does that sound like an announcement of impending doom and disaster?), but just to cheer you up, there are a few metres left in my own shop. Link

On really a GOOD note, Amy Butler is in the process of writing an article about interfacings or interlinings (whichever term you prefer), as she has been ’searching’ for a suitable substitute or substitutes for Timtex to recommend on her patterns. Brilliant for those of us who love making her bags! (Has anyone ever told you how lovely she and the folk that work with her are?) An e-mail this week promised it shortly, so when I hear any more I’ll post a link or at least share what I find out.

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There I was adding some Christmassy fabric bundles (mixes of reds and greens - which I thought might be useful for those sometime soon Christmas projects) to the shop and suddenly the application which does the up-loading of the photographs disappeared.

Where’d it go….. No warning - no message just stomped off and sulked somewhere. Had it taken itself off to the trash? No! Was it hiding amongst the applications somewhere tired and fed up? Or had it been abducted to that place where socks go to? Anyway, operations came to a halt and I made these instead.

These are the place mats or table mats if you prefer, from the ‘In Stitches’ book by Amy Butler. They’re big! A significant 20 inches by 15 inches. But are they big enough to protect my table cloth from the ravages of tomato sauce and other things that get spilt, dripped and spread around the table. (How old are they?). Time will tell!

They weren’t a difficult make. I just followed the instructions but instead of Timtex I used heavy sew-in interlining. I decided Timtex would be too firm, with a potential to curl up if the mats weren’t stored flat. I haven’t got a drawer to devote to their storage so I used the heavy sew-in, so that I can fold them to put them away.

The fabrics I used are Amy’s designs too. In case you’re curious the central green panel is Wallflower in green and the side panels are in Star Paisley in Lime. The combination makes a splash of ‘bright and cheerful’ for manic family meal times. (At least ours are manic. Stories and giggles from the day. Frustration with homework and deadlines. Aaah! What goes on? Aren’t meal times supposed to be calm?)

I had to sew in a hurry though…… logic took a leave of absence and I had to sew very quickly to make sure …
Look!

…. just made it!

Anyway, it’ll be fine dining at our house tonight. I’d invite you over but I only made four! Though there’s probably room for at least two to a mat, if we squash up a bit…..

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My daughter loves this book.

It’s full of absolutely everything that a young girl could wish to know - how to host a party. Vital facts about pets and first aid, how to treat a snake bite!. Not normally too much a problem hereabouts, but best to be prepared I suppose. There’s (book) reading recommendations, recipes, guidance on how to read the tea-leaves (She can’t stand tea! and she’d probably faint if she saw tealeaves.)

It explains how to play ‘Cat’s cradle’. (Do you remember playing that! ) There are absolutely loads of brilliant sewing, making and general ‘creating’ activities, “Muuuum, it even tells you how to sew on a button!” (Oh well that’s o.k then! You’ll always have a shirt to wear.”)

Her favourite section at the moment is the one on make-up! It is a source of some fascination. In a desperate attempt to prevent young girls looking like they’ve run away to join the circus the authors explain in absolute, no nonsense terms about skin care and how to apply cosmetics. The most chucklesome part is this. It’s an explanation about eyebrows. It begins”……..PLEASE,PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS - unless……” It’s referring to plucking eyebrows very thin. But this is the bit that makes me smile….. “…..done wrong and it will look as if you’ve had an accident with a very small lawnmower (diagram……).

So, don’t say I didn’t warn you of the perils that await should you decide on experimenting…. and if you see an ‘elephant’ in the tea-leaves, you’d best drop me a comment …… and I’ll see what I can do.

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