QUILTsocial Fall 2014 Issue | Page 10

Pictures show the evolution of the creative process. Audition pieces of fabric, decorative stitches, and sewing notions to make your handbag a favourite! crazy patch quilting and piecing This is an area of quilting that is totally amazing when it comes to creating artistic pieces. 1. A background fabric or stabilizer, or quilt batting is necessary. 2. Start with a piece of embroidered fabric, and in this case it was the embroidered handstitches. 3. Add piece by piece of embroidered swirls, circular stitching, textured cotton and of course maximize the embellishments to your heart’s desire. 4. Stitch one down at a time and flip, stitch another one down and flip. Attach each fabric to the next fabric. creative zipper Use your zipper foot that's designed with a fairly wide opening on each side, and select a quilting stitch to stitch down each side of the zipper. Once the decorative stitching is complete, stitch this zipper on your project anywhere you like as embellishment using a straight stitch. Make upper band for front and back in contrasting printed cotton fabric. shoulder strap 1. Cut fabric to desired length by 2" [5cm] wide to simply fold and stitch tubular. Or use your Coverstitch wide. 2. Trim the end of the long strip on an angle. This will make it easier to insert into the fabric strip into the foot. If you're using a Coverstitch wide, determine the width for a strap and belt loop foot and stitch down the strip. This foot automatically folds the fabric around guides inside, and makes a wonderful strap. 3. See Serger instructions for Coverstitch wide. completing the bag Back piece and batting 14½" x 11½" [37 x 29cm] Front of handbag completed and crazy patched will also measure 14½" x 11½" [37 x 29cm]. Shoulder Strap 1" or 2" x desired length 1. Fold upper band in half lengthwise, press and place upper band on upper front piece right sides together. Stitch in place. Repeat for the back piece. 2. Right sides together, sew fabric and lining. Fold so that lining and front are wrong sides together. Repeat for back. 3. Determine location for