Tag Archives: fabric

Outside the box: Topographical Map

23 Mar

(This will make more sense if you saw my previous post.)

  • Upholstery foam foundation
  • Foam foundation and details covered with fabric

Unlike most agricultural land in Indiana, which is flat and tillable for corn and soybeans, this special place is primarily woodland with a mile long creek. The “bottom” has three grassy fields (outlined with dark green). Everything else is woodland with various hardwoods that are 40-60′ tall. In other words, it is difficult to get perspective from any location.

I referred to the satellite map provided by the county government website and made MANY measurements of elevation plus distance. The elevation represented by the blocks covered by green and brown fabric is 850 feet (above sea level) and the highest of the rugged terrain. The blocks covered by brown fabric represents the rugged transition from peaks to valley. The creek bed is 760 feet (above sea level) on the west end, dropping to 740 feet with over a mile length.

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2017 Recycling solution from sewing room

7 Feb

2014, I purchased flannel fabric in one to three yard lengths.  Each Days for Girls International kit includes 8 reversible, tri-fold, flannel pads.  My strategy included sewing pads from 8 different colors and patterns for each kit.  By year-end, I had over 30 types of remnants.   Variation due to cutting, shrinking from washing and fabric width created a significant amount of remnants in strips and block shapes.  I recycled these scraps into two light weight blankets.

In the three years since the original post, I tightened my strategy on purchasing flannel to reduce the waste (given my experience with shrinkage and end of bolt pieces).  The most significant change was to buy 4.5 yard lengths.  My 2017 striped flannel piece represents is a reduction of over 75% scrap.

Stripes

2014 pieced flannel strips, 18 fabrics in 18 different widths

2017 flannel recycling

2017 flannel recycling

 

 

 

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I spy butterflies!

7 Mar

Guidelines for proper selection of fabric for Days for Girls International Kits:

Some prints are offensive or illegal in some communities.

Prints with people, animals, faces and figures cannot be sent to Muslim communities.

NO camouflage fabrics as these are illegal in many countries.

Fabrics with food, bugs, reptiles, guns, knives, culture-specific themes as well as girly-glam should be avoided.

Bugs, reptiles and animals are predators in some areas; fabrics including these are uncomfortable for the girls to wear and use.

Butterflies are OK. 
Rev May 23, 2015

Nine beautiful butterfly designs on flannel!  Enough fabric to supply liners for 40 kits in next shipment.  🙂

 

daysforgirls.org

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Gallery

Sew while the garden is dormant

27 Jan

His and Hers
First three bags with mats
Yoga mat bag Project
Fabric samples in 20 different colors and patterns
Two boxes, twenty each

40 yoga mat bags!  with phone pocket, drawstring and shoulder strap.

Inspired by the bold colors of the yoga mats, this project took on a life of its own.  The colors and bold patterns of the fabrics are delightful.  Now many months since the start, 40 yoga mats with bags are ready for delivery to Sheltering Wings.  I even have a few left in my stash for yoga enthusiasts who I have not met yet. 🙂

img_20160127_070550640.jpg

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Scavenger Hunt

18 Nov

 

As I read “20 ways to organize your craft space”by Laura Gaskill, I kept thinking “scavenger hunt” because I knew I could find these concepts here at home.  One thing leads to another….I turned it into a quiz of sorts and scored myself at 85 of 100.

  1. Sort yarn by color   X
  2. Stand paper rolls in basket (with yoga mats)
  3. Place loose paper in drawers
  4. Tools/supplies in clear bins w/lids
  5. For large paper:  art portfolio
  6. Stack fabric on shelf by color
  7. WIP in totes or baskets
  8. Stash fabric in wire drawers  (discarded wine rack)
  9. Hang fabric in closet (standing towel rack)
  10. Arrange spools on thread rack
  11. Hang tools on peg board   X
  12. Attach scissors to magnetic rail (store in case)
  13. Small items in lidded glass jars
  14. Paint brushes in open container
  15. Handled baskets for frequently used material
  16. Tiered cake stand as portable caddy   X
  17. Pop-up sewing corner  (permanent)
  18. Put storage on wheels  (moving men sliders)
  19. Desk/dining table double duty  (coffee table)
  20. To do list chalkboard wall (bulletin board)

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Office assistant Eve: "Don't you have something better to do?"

Office assistant Eve: “Don’t you have something better to do?”

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Yoga Mat Bag Project: Crossing the finish line?

3 Nov

I purchased several boxes of yoga mats left unsold from a holiday marketing promotion.   That would be a total of 65.  The mats come in bold blue, green, purple, pink and gray.   18 got custom bags and found good homes.  Leaving 47 in the closet.  (7 will stay in my stash for the time being.) 40 mats now have matching bags to be donated to a local women’s shelter.

Two boxes, twenty each

Two boxes, twenty each

The inspiration for Yoga Mat Bags came from One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins.  Yoga classes are one of my favorite activities.  Making bags for mats… natural synergy of my interests.  Now that I engaged phase 2, the best, delightful part of sewing yoga mat bags is working with 20 beautiful colors and patterns of fabric.

Fabric samples in 20 different colors and patterns

Fabric samples in 20 different colors and patterns

Yoga mat bag Project

Bags include new mats

Bags paired new mats

From Dec 2013—–>to Oct 2015  Not much happened because my stitched service was dedicated to Days for Girls International and a “shower caddy” project for Wheeler Mission.  Thanks to Pimla Ponderings to nudge me to complete UFOs (unfinished objects).

 

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Spoonflower

4 Aug

Dreamed of creating custom fabrics?  Checkout spoonflower.com

I first read about Spoonflower in 2010, uploaded images, ordered swatches….outstanding!

They have been very busy over the years adding fabric options.  This is the short list:  Cotton ultra, Satin 100% polyester, Performance knits, Jersey, Light weight canvas, Twill, Faux suede…the latest product introduction is Sport Lycra.

They also offer opportunities to create custom wall paper and gift wrap.

What would look good in “bark”?

446647054307 copy 116237054307 copy

 

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Recycling solutions from the sewing room

17 Dec

I purchased flannel fabric in one to three yard lengths.  Each Days for Girls International kit includes 8 reversible, tri-fold, flannel pads.  My strategy included sewing pads from 8 different colors and patterns for each kit.  Over the course of 2014, I had over 30 types of remnants.   Variation due to cutting, shrinking from washing and fabric width created a significant amount of remnants in strips and block shapes.  My year-end effort recycles these scraps into light weight blankets.

Stripes

Stripes:  18 fabrics in 18 different widths

I chose to have color transitions across the length for the stripe project.  Due to multiple blocks of bold colors for the patchwork layout, I used a random number table for planning.

Blocks

Blocks:  12 fabrics in various widths

Both pieced blankets will be finished with a border and backing.  Nearly four yards of flannel has been recycled!  Now that these projects nearly completed, it will be time to sew kits again in the New Year.

Bonus finding!  Flannel remnants are great for patching/reinforcing sweat pants.  🙂

From an earlier post:

The reversible, tri-fold, flannel pads for Days for Girls International have four corners removed for ease of insertion in the liner.  The math is (45) kits X (8) pads X (2) sides X (4) corners = 2880 remnants that filled a couple of shopping bags.

Remnant trimmed

Remnant trimmed

My idea for recycling was to make a small rug or seat cushion.

2880 times I trimmed the hypotenuse of the flannel triangles of 16 different colors and patterns of remnants.

The stash

The stash

The finished product…

Much better

Much better

 

Four examples of what happens when your conscience keeps you from hastily throwing scraps away.  My grandmothers and great grandmothers would be proud.

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Twice recycled, Thrice used

3 Dec

From curtains, to pillow covers, to three pocket tote

From curtains, to pillow covers, to three pocket tote

I chose this fabric with watercolor hues for curtains.  Alas, the curtains were replaced with blinds.  Shortly afterwards, I had the opportunity to recycle curtains in to pillow covers for screened porch seating.  Now that the seating is being reupholstered, the pillows will have new fabric.  I was about to THROW AWAY these covers when I realized sewing them together and adding a handle would make a respectable three pocket tote.  (Three pockets are made when the pillow backs are intact and sewn together with the fronts.)  DONE!

 

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Cut two pieces: a recycling solution

6 Aug

The opportunity to use remnant fabric from my Helping Hands, Touching Hearts projects to make kits for Days for Girls International set things in motion.  Alas, one thing leads to another.  Indeed, I reclaimed significant fabric for my latest project.  However, the pads for the DfGI kits are made from flannel and the four corners are removed for ease of use.  The math is (45) kits X (8) pads X (2) sides X (4) corners = 2880 remnants that filled a couple of shopping bags.

Remnant trimmed

Remnant trimmed

Please feel free to make other suggestions.  I reclaimed about a third of the small triangular pieces by cutting 1/4 inch strip from the hypotenuse for us in a latch hook project.  This was new territory for me.  I had never latch hooked.

Kitchen stool, short on comfort

Kitchen stool, short on comfort

I assure you this stool is not comfortable for sewing machine work.  My idea was to make a small rug or seat cushion.  Appearance does not matter when you are sitting on it 😉

2880 times I trimmed the hypotenuse of the flannel triangles of 16 different colors and patterns of remnants.

The stash

The stash

Testing….

Testing

Testing

The finished product…

Much better

Much better

Zoom…

Zoom

Zoom

Backside…

Random

Random

One example of what happens when your conscience keeps you from hastily throwing scraps away.  My grandmothers and great grandmothers would be proud.

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