I am so excited to show you my new technique for this month.
Island Batik Ambassadors had a really fun challenge this month. We were asked to try a new technique. Now, I have been sewing and quilting a long time (over 40 years) and I have done nearly everything, yes, even bound buttonholes, but that is a story for another day. The fabrics for this project were given to me by Island Batik.
My inspiration for this month’s project came from Sherry’s project last year for the same topic! Sherry blogs at Powered By Quilting and you can read all about her adventures with fabric weaving here. Ever since she made this, I had been thinking about it!
So months later at QuiltCon, purchasing a Wefty Needle* was on my list of things to do. I also purchased a fabulous zipper, which you will see later. You Tube was my friend and I watched videos on Wefty Needle Channel and also a specific one on Mister Domestic’s Channel. Both were invaluable in teaching me the proper technique.
There are two onerous pieces of preparation. First, you prepare a board. And, second, you prepare many strips cut at 1″, probably 4 WOF strips for each of the fabrics. I used my Clover Bias Maker* which really makes getting the strips ready quite easy.
Here are the first strips put down not the backboard.
I did each strip at a time, trying to make them as tight as I could. Honestly, that needs a bit more work. On the bottom layer, I used a piece of two sided fusible, figuring I’d just add a backing right away.
Here’s the backing piece. You can see where I sewed around the edges. I then trimmed 1/4″ away from the sewing lines. Now, I was still not too sure what I wanted to make. I thought about an iPad case, but the piece was too small (maybe better planning???). I did add two strips of purple to attach the zipper to, so I didn’t have to deal with all that bulk.
In the end, I decided to make this purse. It isn’t going to get heavy wear, so I am not at all concerned about the fact that the seams aren’t covered.
Don’t you love the zipper? The multi-color prongs make my heart sing. More importantly, I did learn how to put on that zipper pull in a really easy way. I purchased the zipper at www.sewdejavu.com while at QuiltCon. Just in case you were wondering, this was an easy bag, and I’ll write up a little tutorial on it.
This is big enough for my iPhone, lipstick and a little money when we head out for an evening. It may make a little strap but my hardware for that kind of thing is elsewhere, so I will just see how it goes. Look at the upper right hand corner; I just love that little bit of yellow in the fabric. This was also one of my goals for this quarter, blogged about here.
GIVEAWAY
I am celebrating my 201st blog entry so it is time for a giveaway! I will either send you 2 1/2 yard pieces OR some 5″ WOF strips of Island Batik – winner’s choice. Just show me a picture of your sewing machine and what it looks like! You do not need to have a blog to enter (so I am told). I’ll keep this open until Wednesday at noon, so the winner can pick when I am near the stash of Island Batik fabrics.
Linking Up:
Main Crush Monday
What I Made Monday
Wednesday Wait Loss
Favorite Finish Monthly LinkUp
2019 FAL Q2
Coming up soon on the blog:
2019 Monthly Color Challenge
Dream to Quilt – how it happens
Let’s Sew Along block – my design on 7/2
Oh wow, your purse is beautiful! I am intrigued by the wefty weaving technique and hope to try it one day.
Oh, you should try it. I did one of the harder ones but rather loved doing it.
Hi Kathleen! Congrats on your 201st blog post. Your bag turned out just great, and I have been intrigued with that weaving technique since I saw Sherry share it last year. Very cool and I love the size you made the bag as well. ~smile~ Roseanne
It makes me happy just to smile at that little bag. To be over the 200 mark is a fun one, as all the milestones are on our blogs.
Great choice of projects for the Try Something New challenge! Very cool zipper.
Thanks, Vicki! It was quite fun and I will definitely plan something more extensive sometime.
So cool. I love your purse. I’m doing fabric weaving as well for the June challenge. Not a purse but probably a pillow or just a mini! I’m loving fabric weaving and the possibilities are endless.
he possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to see yours.
The possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to see yours.
I looooooooooooooooove it! I was actually looking at purchasing the Wefty needle a while back but talked myself out of it…now I just might have to bit the bullet.
Funny how we do it, but it is really a great tool. I wonder a little bit about going bigger, but that’s for another day!
WOW!!! This is fabulous, you did a great job. Oh and I love the zipper.
That zipper makes me silly happy!
Pretty bag. Tried to load a picture to link up, don’t have a url just a picture.
I hope I fixed it. Let me know if you still can’t post a picture.
I may have to try that type of weaving one day. Thanks for the opportunity to win some wonderful Island Batik fabric.
I am sure you will, and it will come very naturally to you! Good luck in the drawing.
That little woven purse is awesome!
Thanks, Michelle!
Beautiful little purse! I love the technique! The visible, multicolored zipper is perfect. Congratulations on your #201 blog post!
Thank you! I am so thrilled to be at #201 and that zipper is so much fun.
The weaving reminds me of the crafts we did in Girl Scouts. Nothing that fancy, but still fun!
Yup, very much like that. I don’t think I have ever done much weaving at all, but loved the challenge of this!
That’s amazing. I’ve wanted to try this technique. I think I’ll try to purchase the tools when I’m in the USA this fall. Well done.
Its a great tool and really fun. You will enjoy it, I’m sure.
That’s been on my list of things to do, I just might have to try it now! Love your pouch.
It is a terrific project and you will enjoy it. I am so wanting to use that pouch – maybe I’ll make my husband take me out tonight.
Kathleen, your purse is wonderful! And so is the cool zipper.
I love how the weaving fabric technique looks and it’s fun to know you are enjoying learning new things even as a expert quilter.
Thank you for the mentoring you have given me
Thanks, Abbie. You are welcome for the mentoring and always happy to help people who are learning.
A few years ago, I did some fabric weaving. Bought a kit at a quilt show (those shows do draw us in to try new things right!) and made a basket, using precut strips of thick Pellon like they use for ball caps. It turned out great, as did your purse; great idea to add fabric and then add that way-cool zipper! I love the combo of fabrics you put together, and isn’t it fun when we get little surprises like your pop of yellow?!
Hi Kathleen your purse looks so great, definitely a technique to try! Also congrats on your 201st blog entry, well done to you !!! 🙂
Thank you, Fi! 201 does seem like a lot doesn’t it? Love the technique, give it a try sometime.
Neat, Kathleen! Yes, that yellow bit in the corner is perfect. Great zipper–who knew they could improve on them?!
It is always so much fun when you suddenly see something in a photo you didn’t see with your eyes (at least this wasn’t a mistake). I guess there is always room for improvement, even with a zipper!
What a wonderful technique! I need to put that on my list of things to try. So beautiful. Love that zipper. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
You will love it, something fun about playing with weaving again (long lost girl scout skill).
Your purse is amazing. That weaving is on my to try list “one day”, and you have just pushed it higher up the list. And the zip is gorgeous!
It is fun and actually pretty portable for a non-sew project – the first part. I rally did enjoy being away for m the machine but having a project. You will love it.
What a fun technique to try out! The pouch seems like a great sized project for a first woven project.
It is the perfect size…now for a date night that’s not raining….
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