Puget Sound Sewing & Craft

Sew Fun = Sew Stylish Jackets in June

Nothing sparks admiration like a beautiful, custom-made jacket.  This month in Sew Fun, you will learn how to take an ordinary sweatshirt and turn it into a stylish jacket.  In Nancie M Wiseman's latest book, Start with a Sweatshirt, Sew a Stylish Jacket you will be inspired to add couture style to an ordinary sweatshirt by combining your favorite palate of fabrics.  These jackets are easy to make. The illustrations and instructions will guide you through the process.  Once you complete your style of jacket, embellish it with dimensional flowers made from coordinating fabrics.  Learn to create new and exciting flowers using "old-fashioned" methods including prairie points and various ruching techniques. Use the flowers to embellish quilts, wearable art or make a decorative pin for clothing or accessories.  Add embroidered buttons and your creation is complete!

Remember, you do not need to register in advance!  Come and join the fun!

Sew Fun Seminars at Quality Sewing:

• Everett: Monday: 6/1: 1p & 6:30p

• Everett: Tuesday: 6/2: 10a

• Kirkland: Tuesday: 6/2: 6:30p

• Kirkland: Wednesday: 6/3: 1p & 6:30p

• Alderwood: Thursday: 6/4: 1p & 6:30p

• Alderwood: Friday: 6/5: 10a

• Ballard: Monday: 6/8: 1p & 6:30p

• Northgate: Tuesday: 6/9: 1p & 6:30p

• Bellevue: Wednesday: 6/10: 1p & 6:30p

• Issaquah: Thursday: 6/11: 10a& 6:30p  

• Tacoma: Monday: 6/15: 1p & 6:30p

• Tacoma: Tuesday: 6/16: 10a

• Federal Way: Tuesday: 6/16: 6:30p

• Federal Way: Wednesday: 6/17: 10a & 1p

• Silverdale: Thursday: 6/18: 10a & 2p & 6:30p

• Burien: Monday: 6/22: 1p & 6:30p

• Puyallup: Tuesday: 6/23: 1p & 6:30p

• Puyallup: Wednesday: 6/24: 10a

The Perfect Summer Bag for Every Outfit

 Have you ever wished that you could change your handbag as easily as you change clothing?  If so, this idea is for you.

During my recent trip to Japan I learned this trick for utilizing furoshiki.  Furoshiki are  traditional Japanese wrapping cloths.  They are used for everything from an impromptu shopping bag to giftwrap.  The introduction of inexpensive paper and plastic bags nearly brought the use of furoshiki to extinction, but they are experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to their "green" nature - the perfect recyclable gift wrap!  There are even instructional sites on how to wrap with furoshiki.

Furoshiki can come in any possible size but for this bag I would recommend at least a 20" square.  Small squares look best on dainty handles, and vice versa.  For this 'handbag" you will no doubt want to vary the size depending on the day's activities.  Of course you don't need to have an 'official' furoshiki.  You can use a scarf, or a simple hemmed piece of fabric.  That's why this is the perfect summer bag - made in seconds with any fabric you can tie!

What you will need:
1 set of round purse handles, available at Pacific Fabrics
1 square/rectangle of fabric

The scarf shown in the photo is 34" x 34".  The faux bamboo handles are bulky, so they look best with a larger piece of fabric.  The size and 'look' can be varied by the size of the knot tied. Click on any image to see a larger photo.

Step 1: Fold the rectangle in half

Step 2: Pull the corners through the ring, from the "front" to the "back"

Step 3:  Bring the corners around to the "front"

Step 4:  Tie!  Adjust the knot size to adjust the bag size.  Make sure that the opening is large enough to put your hand into.  Repeat for the other side.

Wasn't that easy?  Now I think I need a variety of round handles for various occasions.  I think a simple polished ring with a lovely silk scarf would make a beautiful and unique evening bag, don't you?

Enjoy!
--Katrina

Egg Cozy Cups Dress Up a Special Brunch

It feels like Spring has finally arrived, and none too soon!  We still have a way to go before it completely warms up here in the Puget Sound, but in the meantime here is a 'cozy' Easter project that is quick, easy and egg-stra special to make.  (Sorry, could not resist.)

Egg Cozy Cups
Materials Needed:

Scraps of fabric, 7"x4"
Fusible Interfacing, medium to heavy weight
1/4" elastic, 2.5" long
Vintage button
Trim, if wanted

1.  Cut scraps of fabric into 7 inch by 4 inch rectangles. 
2. Fuse fusible interfacing onto fabric following manufacturer's instructions.  This project is great for using up old, boardy interfacing, or interfacing scraps, as you want enough structure to support the egg.  The example in the photo utilizes two layers of tailoring weight interfacing.  If you are using home decorator or similar fabrics, you may be able to omit interfacing.
3.  Cut trim to fit one long edge, minus 1/2 inch (6.5"), if using trim.
4.  Pin trim, aligning raw edges, along one long edge, leaving 1/4 space on either end.
5. Fold the 1/4" elastic in half and pin 1/4 of the way down one short edge, aligning raw edges.
6.  Fold the rectangle in half, right sides together.  The trim and the elastic should be inside, pointed away from the raw edges.
7.  Stitch across the short end holding the elastic, and then across the long edge.  This should create a tube with one open end.
8.  Carefully trim the corners and turn the tube right side out. Gently square corners and press.
9.  Turn under the raw edges of the open end, and press.  Edgestitch end closed.
10.  Check for fit around your favorite egg to determine button placement.
11.  Stitch button in place and enjoy!

This is a great way to use up all sorts of scraps of trim, fabrics, buttons and interfacings.  Consider beading, embroidering or other embellishments.

Have fun!
--Katrina

Preparing a Pattern for Fitting

Fitting a pattern prior to cutting and sewing a garment is one of the most important steps to ensuring a successful garment project.  In training to be a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructor, I have learned some great tips for pattern preparation.  Preparing a pattern prior to fitting takes a few steps, but makes pattern fitting much easier and more accurate.

First of all, remove the wrinkles from your pattern using a dry iron on medium heat.  I prefer to press from the wrong side of the pattern, in case the ink wants to transfer to my iron.

Second, if you are using a multi-size pattern, mark your size line with a colored pencil. It's easy to confuse the different size lines, and inaccurate cutting of these lines may result in unpleasant surprises during fitting and construction.  If tracing a pattern, such as from a Burda magazine, it's especially important to make sure you can see which line is the correct one to follow.

Once the pattern is cut, mark the seam allowances and hemlines, so you can pin fit the pattern accurately.  Remember to check the seam allowances noted on the pattern - they may not be 5/8".  For garments such as pants, you may want to increase the seam allowance on the side seams and waistline to 1" to facilitate fitting the pattern and fabric easier.  This may seem excessive, but remember it is much easier to make something smaller than to try to make it larger after cutting!

Are there any curved areas, such as princess seams, crotch seams or armhole seams?  If so, you will want to reinforce these areas with small, overlapping pieces of 1/2" tape.  Please note the 1/2" size - it is easier to tape around curves with less bulk than a wider tape.  Reinforce the pattern "seam" for fitting by taping along the stitching line on the body side of the stitching line - not in the seam allowance! Taping the curves allows you to clip the seam allowance up to the stitching line just as you would in the sewn garment.  It also keeps the pattern from tearing in these stress areas; if taped properly, you should be able to gently pull on the curve without the paper tearing.  This means you can try on the pattern as you would a garment, allowing you to make the most necessary adjustments prior to cutting your fabric.

I'll discuss further steps in pattern preparation, fitting and alteration in a later posting.  I have lots of projects bundled up and waiting to be sewn.  That means lots of pattern fittings and alterations, too.  Marta Alto says that pattern preparation is easily 1/3 to 1/2 of her total project time.  This may seem excessive but preparation is the key to a successful garment.

--Katrina

Adventures in Upholstery: Easy Chair Recovering

For Christmas, I received a beautiful sewing table – it is a neat little cabinet that folds out to a wonderful generous workspace, with lots of lovely storage compartments and an automatic hydraulic lift for my sewing machine. (Thanks Mom!)

 

I found this pretty chair for my new workspace at a clearance furniture showroom for a great price, but I am not into the white suede seat – it’s just too neutral for me – I am a color girl.  So while we were snowed in at Christmas time, I was inspired by a pretty piece of home dec fabric I found in my stash, leftovers from a messenger bag  I made last year, to recover the seat – this whole project took about ten minutes, and I am delighted with the results, so I’m happy to show you how simple it is to change the look of your dining room chairs.

This is a sewing-free project, so you will just need a few basic tools – a screwdriver, a loaded staple gun, and scissors.
 
First, you will need to figure out how your seat is attached to the chair frame.  Most are like mine – attached with screws that come from underneath the seat.  Flip your chair over and figure out where it is attached.  When you find your screws, unscrew them and pry off the seat.  Mine came off very easily.

 

Once you have taken the seat off, lay it on top of your fabric – you will need a piece of fabric that is larger than your chair by the thickness of the seat (mine was only about an inch and a half thick) plus about another inch and a half for wrapping around the back.  Using this as a guide, cut out your fabric, using your chair seat as a pattern, and adding

the amount you need to cover height and the back.

Next, you will begin on the front of your seat to staple the fabric in place.  Fold the edge over once by about a half inch, then hold snugly against the underside of the seat – staple it in place. If you have a friend around, it is much easier to have one person hold the fabric in place, and the other person stapling.  When you have finished the front edge, move on to the back edge – pull the fabric taut across the chair seat, fold under again, and staple the back edge along the underside of the seat.

The corners are a bit tricky – you will need to pull tight and make a series of folds to allow the corners to be snug on the seat.  Staple in place, then begin to work on the side edges, folding and stapling as before.  Be sure not to cover over where your screw holes are– you will need them to re-attach your seat.

When you have finished, staple any loose sections, then screw your seat back into place and turn chair over – Voila!  You have a lovely new chair!

I loved doing this simple project – I couldn’t get over how lickety-split it was, and how great it looks.  We found our dining set on Craigslist for 25 bucks, and the only flaw is the ugly bedraggled chair seats.  I plan to recover all four seats, and will be sure to make it a blog post – they will be a more intensive project, as they will need new foam and batting, as well as new upholstery, so if your chairs are in a sorry state, keep an eye out for the more intensive recovered dining room chair post.

If you have a real upholstery project you aren't sure how to tackle, we offer great classes in upholstery at PacFab stores!

~ Anna-Beth