A quilter making a leather wallet…well why not? I liked the idea of this project and thought it would be fun to do the embroidery and make something with faux leather. The bonus for this particular project is that it was a collaboration with Sulky and Sallie Tomato that comes with an online video. I used the class and found it extremely helpful. Pattern designers write things in different ways and seeing and hearing instructions is very different than just reading a pattern.
The one thing that I find difficult (and still did not conquer) is putting in a zipper on a curve. This is the second wallet I did, a little better than the first. I found I had some double-sided sewing tape (Nancy Zieman) and I loved it. I used it when I was fixing the corners and wished I had done so the first time. I can sew curves but there is something about managing the bulk and getting the seam allowance just right that is really difficult.
I love the embroidery on the front. The thread I used wasn’t perfect, but there is enough for another so I may make that some day. The interior pockets are perfect for this simple tool carrier or organizer. The construction was fairly easy, but I knew from reading some of the comments that the corners would be a challenge. The foam was a little thick and there was a second piece of interfacing (almost like timtex) that I omitted. I was glad that I did.
I am so pleased to have something to hold those tools that are specific to embroidery. There are tools that overlap, but there is an array of scissors that I like to have available: my curved snips, a small pair of Ginghers and a Gingher Duckbill scissor. The other tool is useful for scoring sticky stabilizer to remove the paper, so you can stick the fabric on the hoop.
This was one of my goals for the third quarter of Wips-Be-Gone. I have a lot of embroidery projects lined up but some will wait until I have two commission pieces done, so these are good fillers while I piece a larger quilt.
For those of you who follow Tips and Tutorials January will mark year number 3. I am planning on celebrating by challenging you, my readers, to post a tip or tutorial and link it up in January. I have at least six prizes and may work on gathering a few more – the more the merrier right! So start planning for a fun challenge and get ready to blog about a great tip or tutorial! Entries will be from January 22 to February 1. Put this on your list as a fun task for the new year!
Coming Up on the Blog:
Cheers Embroidered Wine Bag
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd with Challenge/Prizes in January
Polar Bear Plunge Blog Hop (1/24-28)
Linking Up With:
Finished (or not) Friday
TGIFF
Good for you! You took on a challenge, learned a few things, made a project, and shared what you learned. You are a winner in my book! 🙂
I think you did a great job, Kathleen! I can see where omitting that stiffer layer would be helpful. Zippers are hard enough with thicker fabric!
Wow, on pleather?!! That’s amazing, Kathleen! I love the tassel you made, too!
That really turned out cute, and will be so handy for keeping those tools in one place!
That looks great. Congratulations on tackling, and conquering, such a fun, and useful, project.
Ooh, good idea for the Tips challenge. I actually took a picture just yesterday for a tip post, thinking of your linkup. I am super-impressed with your wallet! I haven’t done anything in my hoop on my Bernina for oh over a decade now. That and the serger need to come out to play again methinks.
Hi Kathleen! This turned out just fab in my book. It looks totally handy . . . I love the inside pockets. I just recently pulled off the pillowcase (literally) from my embroidery machine. Could you have selected better choices for the front of your wallet?? I don’t think so! I am so impressed. Great job! Ooh, I’ll have to try and come up with a tip for the new year. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Lovely wallet!!! Good for you, trying something challenging! And with great results! 🙂
Lovely little wallet Kathleen. So brave of you to try using leather to make it! I love the embroidery and how useful this pretty little pouch is. Just perfect for your tools.
What a pretty wallet! I like the idea of a separate place for embroidery tools. Mine are strewn in a big bag with all my projects and usually I have to dig for them. Your embroidery looks great – that thread looks just like an Aurifil thread spool! I’m so impressed.
That is a cool project!! And Leather – love it!!
I think your bag looks great! I could see it in cork also. I agree sewing a zipper on a curve is hard, and I haven’t mastered it either. I have only done it a few times and don’t like it!
Oh my GOSH, Kathleen — putting a curved zipper AND embroidering, and doing both of those things on faux LEATHER?!! I am seriously impressed! Would love to learn more about your fave embroidery tools as I just got a new embroidery machine and am hoping/planning to do more machine embroidery in 2022 than I’ve done in the past 10 years…. ;-). Thanks for linking up with me for TGIFF, and I’ll start thinking about what kind of tips/tutorial post I could write for January. Thanks for the reminder!
OH my goodness, Kathleen!!! The level of detail on that wallet is amazing. I love it. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Such a beautiful wallet for your tools! Corners are hard but you did a fine job. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss. Merry Christmas!