One Man's Trash....My Treasure!

One of the benefits of working in the fashion industry is attending the sample sales.  Oh, boy!  I can get in a lot of trouble at these events.  But, one area  of the sale that many bypass is the  fabric samples, which is understandable.  The pieces tend to be small or have huge chunks taken out of them.  But, they are FREE!  I love free stuff.  So, for some reason, I passed up this damaged little treasure, and it haunted me.  I thought about it for days.  The sale was over and there was nothing I could do about it.  I told my boss, described the piece and then she went out of her way to get it for me.  It helps to know people.

I love this blanket!  It's fuzzy on one side and quilted on the other side.  Hmmmm... I wonder what we can do with this 'trashed' blanket to make it a treasure.  Think, think, think!

My twin, Karri, and I decided to cut off the bad part using a straight edge and a rotary wheel and then bind  the raw edge.  We planned to give it to her daughter, Karra, so we chose a black and white floral fabric that she would like.

Binding a raw edge is super fun and easy.  Here's how:

Iron out the wrinkles.  It's important!  Trust me!

Measure the raw edge of the blanket and add a couple inches.  If your fabric is not long enough, you can sew strips together.  It's always better to make your strip a lot longer than the edge you want to bind.  

Place the strips, right sides facing each other in the shape of an 'L'.  Sew diagonally to the other edge.

Cut the excess fabric about 1/4 inch or less from the stitching.  

Press open the seam.  You could just sew the two pieces end to end, but this method will eliminate some of the bulk.  Trust me, it will look a whole lot more professional.

Fold the strip of fabric, lengthwise, wrong sides together and press.  

To avoid a raw edge, unfold the fabric, and iron a hem about 1/4 inch.  Then you fold it back, wrong sides together again and press again.
Now you are ready to attach the binding to the blanket.

Place the raw edges together, starting with the end that you just ironed that little 1/4 inch hem.  I like to use the edge of my presser foot as the guide for my seam allowance.  Your seam allowance need not be wide (less bulk).  Sew as straight as possible!  You can pin in place if you need help holding it all together.

When you get close to the end, fold in another 1/4 inch hem (but don't worry about ironing it) making sure that the edges are even.  Finish sewing to the end and back stitch to lock your stitches in place.  Now the binding is attached to the blanket. Yay!  

Press the binding toward the raw edge.  The next part is my favorite!  Hand sewing!  

Fold the binding over to cover the raw edge.  Use the line you stitched as your guide.  You may pin in place, but I find that they get in the way.  Use the hidden stitch to attach.  If you don't know how to do the hidden stitch, google it.  There are a ton of tutorials out there.  

This almost landed in the trash, but now it's a treasure!  I am happy with how you don't see much of the floral, making it modern and funky.  

Next Up:

What should we do with this leftover fabric?  Throw it away!  Have you learned nothing, Grasshopper?

Splendid Buttons and Felt Pin

I have inherited a butt load of buttons and I love each and every one of them.  The other day, inspiration hit me and I commissioned my daughter to make something lovely.  Inspiration, in our house, often results in a project for someone other than me.  It's convenient that I have artistic and handy relatives (husband and daughter) that I happen to have a lot of influence over.  Mighty handy, I tell you!  I delegate, and that's the gift I possess and utilize until the cows come home.

Isn't she pretty?  I like her a lot.  I call her Flora.

This is another favorite.  I wore this the other night when I was having dinner with my friend/co-worker, Kim.   People get us mixed up all the time at work and it's very confusing.  Any way,  I was wearing this flower and a man at the restaurant told me he liked it and it fit my personality.  Weird, but  I said, "Thanks, my daughter made it."  I thought to my self, wow, this man knows his fashion!  How hip of him!  Then, my dear friend, Kim, walks up and he says, "Is this your daughter?"  I composed my self, "She is practically my twin, we are so close in age!"  What the hay?  But, I am totally over it and apologized for flinging my sushi in his face.



Anthropologie?

Lucky for us we also have a butt load of safety pins. Karri attached a pin to the back of these splendid creatures, and then I just pin it to my sweater.  They would also look great on jackets and hats.  I really need to learn to knit.  Better yet, is there anyone willing to teach Rick how to knit for me?  He practically collects hobbies.

Splendid Scraps! A Unique Use For Quilt Scraps.

If I had to use all my fabric stash before I entered the kingdom of heaven, the gates would rust while I worked my fingers to the bones.  I have a problem.  I think I'm over the acquisition phase, but I have trouble getting rid of even the smallest scrap of fabric, because I am sure I could find a use for it.  My husband tries to slip little pieces into the trash when we are making a quilt together and I snatch them up and put them into my 'some day I will make something out of this' box.  After all, they are lovely little treasures!

Just look at these precious scraps!  Now tell me you wouldn't risk ridicule over each and every inch.  I acquired the green flower print from my grandma after she died.  She was in the process of making a dress, which she  probably started before I was born!  She was the ultimate recycler! I could tell you some stories about my grandma and her husband, but I will save that for another day!  Remind me to tell you about the collection of elastic saved from her unmentionables.

Soooooooo....what does one do with all this rescued fabric?  I made miniature quilts, to be used as coasters!  I asked my husband to make a little holder so that when they are stacked, it would evoke images of 'The Princess and the Pea' children's story.  The wood came from an old discarded church window.  Splendid Trash?  No?

I would rotate this picture, but I don't know what I'm doing!  The remnants you see are lovely memories of little dresses, baby quilts, party napkins, pillows and the fabric I bought to make my daughter an outfit that never materialized.  At least my grandma cut her pattern out.  Oh my, I am sentimental~

There you have it!  I love my little quilted coasters!  Grandma would be proud that her dress has a purpose, even if it's mission is to keep the coffee table clear of unsightly stains.