Tuesday, March 31, 2009

All Het Up

Last fall, when I decided I was going to teach myself to quilt, I bought a Wee Play charm pack to make my sister a school bag. She teaches 2nd grade and she brings home a mountain of homework each night. Anyone that thinks teachers have it easy since they get summers off are crazy. How else would we expect them to survive?

Anyhow, my first attempt at a bag became a mini pillowcase for Tade as it was so small. So back to the fabric store I went for another charm pack because of course I had shown it to Keri and she was expecting it now, right? Fast forward six months to today. I made Keri her bag. I was so glad that I waited as I learned so much and it came out so much better than it would have six months ago.








Or so I thought. I sewed the lining with a 1/2" seam allowance. I thought that would be gobs, but when it came out of the wash......










Why? What am I doing wrong? My 1/4" quilt seams don't do this(often).I just want to sew a seam and have some confidence that it will hold.

In retrospect, I should have used a fusible webbing to add more stiffness to the lining fabric. Next time.......

I'm off to undo some seams and do some more sewing. (Then I'm not going to wash it again. If it happens when she washes it, she'll just give it to my mom to fix and it won't be my problem. Right? )

7 comments:

  1. hi! I tried to leave a comment from work, but I messed it up. Anyway, what you might want to think about is serging the stress seams. Don't have a serger? Tell you honey it's at the top of your wish list! I made great fleece stuff for the girls when they were little, you'll find about a million things to make for Tade once you have one.

    Oh, and I may as well let you know, you never stop "previewing" projects to the recipients, so you'll alwys be obligated, but it's fun:).

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  2. I love it! And yes, I will pass if off to mom if it need fixing. I wonder how that gene skipped me so completely! See you tomorrow, sis.

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  3. You sound like me. I have so many projects started and half finished. I am glad you posted this because I am getting ready to make my youngest daughter a book bag. A friend brought back a beautiful but strange embroidery square from her travels to Asia. I am going to start on it tonight. I don't have a serger but always zig zag the ends of my seams and I am compulsive about loose threads. - LOL

    By the way, it feels good to be done with the apron swap. (I keep getting these feelings of inadequacy especially since I took a look at the aprons and packages from the last swap).

    I wanted to thank you for all your help. I posted my apron last on Monday and shipped to Canada on Tuesday.

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  4. It sounds like you gals all had a busy and fun time today-I'm jealous you have family close! What project's next? Lou will be taking a pic of me in my apron, which I really, really, do love, and I'll send it to you.

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  5. it's so cute! sorry about the lining problems. that stinks.

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  6. It looks great, and I'm sure you'll be able to fix the lining problems!

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  7. So, Mom gets to fix it if it ravels again??? Oh well, at least I'm still "needed". As a former Home Economics teacher, did I ever tell you that the dangling threads and raveling seams of the girl's projects drove me crazy? That's why you have a machine that zig-zags... The bag is very cute and I'm sure Keri will love using it!
    Love, Mom

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