From Retro Tablecloths to Floor Cushions

By now you're very aware that I have been busily sewing for the Living Smart Festival which is on next Sunday at Speers Point Park. Today (Sunday) we are experiencing gale force winds that would probably wipe out any type of marquee or market stalls .... so thank heavens it ain't today!!!

I purchased some retro tablecloths from the Salvation Army a long time ago. I think they have a fair synthetic component in them and the print wasn't necessarily "on grain" but I had a go at making some floor cushions.

The first one I made was a complete disaster - I then read about covering the foam rubber with some wadding - which proved to be a very good idea - I also drew up a cardboard template for each piece of foam rubber - cause each one was just slightly different in measurement.


I used the border prints as best I could for the sides of the cushions and I used a plain fabric for the underside of the cushion.
I piped around the edges - just used a zipper foot to make and attach the piping - though I am wondering whether anyone has had experience with the Piping Foot for Bernina machines - does it make any difference???
On the last one - I got wise and added a carry handle .....
You can see how "not square" they ended up! and how I had to make some strategic fabric joins ... all part of the fun!
I used the longest invisible zips I could get my hands on - the cushions are about 55cm square.
This one is not part of the recycled family - this is some lovely Anna Maria Horner upholstery weight fabric - I had to restore my faith after the first muff up!
A little bit more upcycling to go ... then normal programming will resume.

Day Bags

Here is a new bag to add to my collection ..... Miss Day Bag ...
She is fashioned in Anna Maria Horner fabric - in decorator weight - I interfaced and fused Pellon to the bag body......

When I was at the Sydney Stitches and Craft Show, I was impressed to see all the Day Bag variations in the flesh. It's a very versatile pattern - I hope to make all the variations as well.

It has a zippered inside pocket, a zippered closure - shame about that beige zipper colour! But at least I added the cool little bronze zipper puller to restore some self respect!

And even though a girl shouldn't stick her bottom up for the world to see .... here are her purse feet ..... hmmm shame about that lack of pattern matching.... rather a bit too obvious ....

She's super cute and as it happened, as I was in the process of blogging this, my newest student Sam sent me photos of her finished Day Bag .... the fabric is really great - can't recall the name of it sorry .... and isn't the lining fabric cool?

Sam did a different style of strap - sew many variations ...


Great work Sam!

Snap Snap

I've been making bags again ... this time two SNAP bags from NicoleM.
This is the first one - my trial bag ... I have actually made this bag before - quite some time ago ... pre blog days...

The outer material was from a Sydney expedition late last year from The Fabric Store in Surry Hills ... the lining fabric is an Amy Butler ...

SNAP!

Nikki's engineering is precise, instructions meticulous!

Sew, having completed the trial run ... I was ready for the real one .... I have entered a competition here in Newcastle - FROCK ON! NEWCASTLE ... this is my Fashion Accessory entry ... well, this is the 2D format ....And here is the 3D format ...

Fabric - Anna Maria Horner - Drawing Room Collection in decorator weight cotton ..

Cute little purse feet for tap tap tapping on table tops ...

Here she is before the frame went on ...

It's a very roomy bag for such a short stature ....

And now, far more respectable with the frame attached ...

Great shape - retro - fun!

Good luck little SNAP bag - enjoy the night!

I've Topped a Trench

I made a Trench Topper. Here's the pattern from Indygo Junction.

I made it in denim and I used some Anna Maria Horner "Drawing Room" as a contrast - the fabric is a Home Decor weight - can't wait to try it in some bags. Here are the corded buttonholes I did.

Ever used a thing to cut open your buttonholes? Here's mine - a little tap tap and voila!

Not sure how old these buttons are .... but I'll leave the discussion about my local haby / wool / ladies "fashion" / lingerie shop for another day .... needless to say, their buttons are vintage ....

I made a Medium size.

Miss Maggie just HAD to nuzzle in on the act ...

I added the contrast to the cuffs as well as the front facing ..

This is a great pattern. I was very pleased with how well everything went together. There are 3 main variations with lots of interchangeable possibilities. I added a facing for the bottom section of contrast - so that the weight was equivalent with the denim. It's lime green cotton drill ...

Ok, so now should a trench get in my way .... I'll be ready to TOP it!

A Little of Everything

I love the title of this book, AND the sub-title ...In true Anna Maria style, the book is filled with some great projects in fab fabric. The first cab off the rank for me was this "I'll Have One of Everything Bag".

I made it in a mixture of Japanese prints and some lovely silks ...

The handles are really interesting - they are 6 strips of fabric plaited together- giving a wonderful texture ...

I found the instructions fairly easy to follow ...

The end result is an interesting shape and a great way to showcase smallish pieces of fabric - lots of possibilities with this one .....