Making up surface embroidery

From: "Phylis Maurer"

dimensional object (needs to be washable, just in case.) I'm thinking in terms of adding a layer of interfacing, and then basting both these layers to a lining fabric before starting to construct the bag.<

Phyllis -- have you thought about using quilt batting (instead of interfacing)and then doing a bit of hand or machine quilting to hold the needlework fabric & the batting together before you actually construct the bag? The batting would give the finished bag a bit more body than just some interfacing. Once thequilting was done, I would then add the inner fabric and construct the bag. If you don't quilt but are interested in doing this, let me know. I have loads of good sized,100% cotton batting scraps in my stash and would be happy to send you some. It only needs to be quilted about every 3" so it wouldn't take a lot of time. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary /\____/\ =A9 >^.,.^<

=3D 0.0 =3D ( )~~~~~ Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS! NOTHING is complete without a few cat hairs -- they make the best decorative fibers! Tia Mary's Webshots

I like the idea of the quilt batting, but I'm not sure about the quilting. I'm thinking that the quilting would detract from the design and since the project is fairly small to begin with (a "sweets bag" - 7 X 9) the seams would pretty much hold it in place anyway. But I'm viewing the process as a non-quilter. Am I missing something? Phyllis

dimensional object (needs to be washable, just in case.) I'm thinking in terms of adding a layer of interfacing, and then basting both these layers to a lining fabric before starting to construct the bag.<

Phyllis -- have you thought about using quilt batting (instead of interfacing)and then doing a bit of hand or machine quilting to hold the needlework fabric & the batting together before you actually construct the bag? The batting would give the finished bag a bit more body than just some interfacing. Once thequilting was done, I would then add the inner fabric and construct the bag. If you don't quilt but are interested in doing this, let me know. I have loads of good sized,100% cotton batting scraps in my stash and would be happy to send you some. It only needs to be quilted about every 3" so it wouldn't take a lot of time. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary /\____/\ >^.,.^<

= 0.0 = ( )~~~~~ Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS! NOTHING is complete without a few cat hairs -- they make the best decorative fibers! Tia Mary's Webshots

Normally, linings are not worked "at one" with the main fabric. Linings are used to hide seams, and are worked separately.

You mentioned "dimensional". Is your piece just a "front and back" construction? Or, are you adding a bottom? Or, are you adding side gussets?

Dianne

I'm still considering the options open to me - once I started looking at the possibilities it started to grow. Now I'm thinking about using the embroidered piece as the front panel and constructing the rest of the bag out of a different fabric. That way I can add lots and lots of pockets to the lining. Definately a dimensional bag that way - maybe side gussets (with another pocket) or the squared bottom. But I still come back to the question of how best to "show off" the stitched panel.

Isn't imagination a wonderful gift? I may NEVER get the thing actually made up.

Phyllis

"Phylis Maurer"

I like the idea of the quilt batting, but I'm not sure about the quilting. I'm thinking that the quilting would detract from the design and since the project is fairly small to begin with (a "sweets bag" - 7 X 9) the seams would pretty much hold it in place anyway. But I'm viewing the process as a non-quilter. Am I missing something?

Regardless of *what* type of bag you make, I would still recommend using some batting under the stitching. Using the buckram as mentioned by another poster will make the bag stiff and it wouldn't really be washable. Buckram is stiff because it has been treated with some sort of "starch" to make it stiff. If it is washed much, all the stiffner will disappear. As for doing some quilting on the part with a batting -- you wouldn't need much. I would probably "echo quilt" around the design so that it would accentuate the stitching and make it stand out. Then I would do some sort of quilted grid design. If you want the stitched panel to be really firm, using the batting and a lot of quilting would work on something this small. Basically, the purpose of quilting is to keep the face fabric, batting and backing togther so that it is one piece. The type of batting determines how close together you need to quilt. On something relatively small, you don't need a lot of quilting which is the reason I mentioned it in the first place :-). If you want the whole thing to be washable and be fairly firm, I would probably do the batting & quilt the stitched fabric and then use several layers of a plain cotton fabric (muslin would work) that have been covered with heavy duty iron on pellon and then ironed together with something like Wonder Under. I did this years ago to make brims for "Sun Bonnet Sue" type hats for DD. I haven't used Timtex (a new product that is used to keep fabric stiff) yet so I don't know if it is washable but it would achieve the same thing. It is used to make fabric bowls -- the latest rage!! OOOO Imagine stitching relaated designs on pieces of fabric and then using them to make nice bowls to hold stitched needlerolls or Temari balls something similar!! It's surprising the things that cross over between quilting and needlework :-))! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary /\____/\ >^.,.^< = 0.0 = ( )~~~~~ Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS! NOTHING is complete without a few cat hairs -- they make the best decorative fibers! Tia Mary's Webshots

Thanks for NOT lurking on this topic. That pocket book is very clever - I'm going over to The Examplarery site to see what they have available as well.

Great suggestion Phyllis

Phyllis Since you are considering different options, you might want to use what The Examplarery puts in its pocket book kits (I've made a queenstitch one and am now working on an Irish stitch one). They give you buckram, which is like a stiffened, very fine needlework canvas, to give shape to the pocket book. This has the advantage of holding the stitching firm so if you fill the bag with something like makup, it won't distort your pattern. But the buckram folds into your shape easily. Then you put a lining in - you could add pockets to the lining. In the case of the pocketbooks, there are side gussets with a divider, sort of like a wallet.

this is a link to the picture on the WilliamsburgMarketplace site. Hope this helps.

Margaret (recent lurker now saying hello from Virginia)