February 5, 2015 by curlsandq

Cutting Corners

The Razzle Dazzle Bins post last month, mentioned that I had an easier way to sew the corners without cutting them out ahead of time. It takes less time with this method since there is less fussing trying to match up the side and bottom. These are the steps I used to sew up the second set of fabric bins I made.

1. Cut out the appropriate sized outer fabric DO NOT CUT OUT THE NOTCHES ON EITHER SIDE. Fuse outer fabric with the interfacing. Sew up both sides.

Cut on the fold:

Large size : Cut 16″ by 12″ of main fabric, lining, and pellon
Medium size: Cut 14″ by 11.5″of main fabric, lining, and pellon
Small size: Cut 12″ by 11″ of main fabric, lining, and pellon

Note: if the fabric is a directional fabric, don’t fold the fabric add 1/2 inch to the bottom of each piece to make a 1/2″ seam.

Sew up both sides

Step 2. Squish the side corner down to meet the bottom fold line, forming a 90 degree angle.

Squish the corner down to meet the bottom center to form a 90 degree angle

Step 3. Print and cut out the Fabric Bin Template. Using the appropriate template, line it up with the corner.

Line up the template on the 90 degree angle

Step 4. Using a ruler lined up along the edge of the template, draw a line onto the fabric.

Use a ruler to draw a line onto the fabric

Step 5. Use at least two pins to hold the fabric layers together at the angle. Look at the second picture below to see how the fabric bin looks at this point. Gives a good view as to how the corner was squished down.

Use at least two pins to hold the angle

This is a top view showing how the side seams meets the bottom seam line

This is a top view showing how the side seams meets the bottom fold line

Step 6. Sew along the pencil mark on the fabric. Make sure to back stitch to lock both ends.

Stitch along the marked line

Step 7. Use a ruler to cut the fabric at least 1/4″ from the seam line.

Use a ruler to cut at least a 1/4" seam line from the stitched line.

Use a ruler to cut at least a 1/4″ seam line from the seam line.

And one more time, the Elephant-print Fabric Bins

Elephant-print Fabric Bins

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful crafty day!

January 30, 2015 by curlsandq

Finished Object Friday: Thundering Elephants

Elephant-print Fabric Bins

Office Set

Thundering Elephants office set sitting in my daughter’s office. The next time I visit I’ll be checking to see what she has hidden in the fabric bins. Our Razzle Dazzle Bins blog on Jan 5 is a tutorial on the construction of the bins. Although I hate it when I goof up and try to hide any mistakes, I figured any of you dear readers who want to make fabric bins need to learn from my mistake. Notice the elephant lining is upside down in the middle bin. Make sure if you have a one direction print to turn it upside down when you sew the seams together so it folds down right side up. Make sense?

The fabrics work beautifully together, even though they are from two different manufactures and three different collections.

Fabric:

Timeless Treasures Funky Elephant (Mod-C8127)
Moda Half Moon Modern Zig Zags Steel #32217 21
Moda Half Moon Modern Steel #32357 32
Moda Quattro Piccolo Pink #32985 32
Thanks for stopping by and spending time with us. Now have a crafty day!

January 5, 2015 by curlsandq

Razzle Dazzle Bins

Finished! A comment by Heather, “I pin loads of things and then I’m like: I coulda been makin stuff!”, got me up and sewing. Originally intended for aprons, these Razzle Dazzle prints by Donna Wilder for Fabric Traditions have been sitting in my stash because my mom made aprons for all of us. I’m thinking my sewing studio might be redone using this color pallet. Totally love it! The large one is a perfect size to throw scraps into as I’m cutting out patterns.

There are a few tips for this project:

Using the cutting board to add patterns lines.

1. Use the cutting board as a “ruler” to help place measurement lines on the pattern. Notice that I added the dimensions onto the pattern.

The fold line is marked with three circles

2. When there is a place on the pattern that is “put on the fold”, make a notation on the pattern using three circles. This is a widely used notation system that our mom, a fabulous seamstress, taught us. It is a quick visual which stands out from all of the writing.

3. Those of you with rotary cutters will probably find it much easier to use that system instead of a pattern, as I did. For a rotary cutter make the following rectangles:

Large size : Cut 16″ by 12″ of main fabric, lining, and pellon
Medium size: Cut 14″ by 11.5″of main fabric, lining, and pellon
Small size: Cut 12″ by 11″ of main fabric, lining, and pellon

From each of the bottom corners of the rectangles:

Large size: Cut out 4″ wide by 3.5″ tall (from fold)
Medium size: Cut out 3.5″ wide by 3″ tall (from fold)
Small size: Cut out 3″ wide by 2.5″ tall (from fold)

Since none of my fabrics were directional, I used a fold and did not add the 1/2 inch at the bottom for seams needed in directional fabrics.

4. I’ve decided that I will not do that extra step in cutting out the bottom indents from each corner. As with the Angry Birds basket, it will go a lot faster if I use the following method for each bottom corner, using Fabric Bin Template:

Sew up the side seams and press them open.
Press the corners flat, so they each form a “triangle”, making sure the side seams matches up with the middle of the bottom piece.
Using the appropriate template, draw a line across the diagonal (long edge) of the triangle template onto the fabric.
Sew across this line and cut off the extra fabric leaving a 1/2 inch of fabric.
Iron the seam open

This will be a much, much faster method and won’t have the “wonky” ends that the cutouts can have.

Enjoy doing something crafty today!

January 3, 2015 by curlsandq

A Tisket A Tasket, Oh Look At All The Baskets

OK, I admit it! I’m a Pinterest Junkie. Did a search on Pinterest looking for free DIY tutorials for sewn, crocheted, and knitted baskets. Here are a Pinterest Plethora of ideas! Some of my favorites (Click on the pictures to go to the tutorial):