OT - pockets

This is really way outside my knowledge, but Jill used the "right" sort of seam; I think it is called a french seam. Basically the material is folded over twice, so that the raw edge is sewn inside, and cannot fray. HTH.

-- Jim Cripwell. From Canada. Land of the Key Bird. This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter, shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"

Hi Anne, There aren't many options for having a pocket on the inside of a quilted bag. You can attach it after the quilting by hand. Here's another option -- make your "quilt sandwich" as normal; attach the pocket to a second piece of inner fabric and then add that fabric to the "quilt sandwich". Then quilt through the whole thing again, leaving the area around the pocket not quilted. If you don't want to see one line of quilting over the other, use some of the invisible nylon thread for that final quilting that goes through the layer with the pocket. Now, if you need to subscribe to R.C.T.Q. Above, you say you have subscribed to rec.crafts.quilting. You need to add the textiles part and then you will find your way to RCTQ -- a VERY knowledgeable, friendly and prolific NG!!! RCQ is very calm so you'd be better off with RCTQ, I think. Another idea -- when you do your grid quilting, are you going with the grain (vert & horizontal)or on the bias? Bias or diagonal grid quilting is MUCH easier. Also, you need to have a walking foot and a quilting foot (for the 1/4" seam lines) for really good results. If you aren't doing any piecing yet, then the 1/4" foot can wait. For piecing, start off with a simple 4 patch and then do a 9 patch. Another simple design is the rail fence. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

That's a good seam finish Jim, but way too bulky for anything that is quilted. If Anne's machine doesn't have any edge finishing stitches, I would recommend a close zig-zag. ANNE -- if your machine has some edge finish stitches, try them out on scraps of fabric. When I don't want to use my serger, I use an edge my Shell Tuck stitch -- it sews 3 straight stitches and then a zig-zag stitch. Check to see what you have on your machine. If you want, please feel free to e-mail me. Also, we can talk about this when I see you at CATS -- bring some of your quilted stuff, OK?? CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Jill was correct, but you can't use that seam for heavier tasks, such as quilting. Too much bulk. Great idea, though, for single layers of fabric.

There are a couple of alternatives: Zigzag by mach> anne ( snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net) writes:

Why can't she add it during construction? The inside pocket needn't be quilted, although it could be. But that might add too much bulk.

I've stayed away from making a definitive post because I'm unfamiliar with quilting. But I've constructed many items that have both inside and outside pockets. It demands, however, a separate lining. Maybe that's the hang-up for Anne?

Dianne

Here's

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 09:05:32 -0400, anne spewed forth :

Hm. One approach would be to attach the pocket to the lining fabric prior to layering/quilting; the obvious problem is that one must then avoid quilting through the pocket. Another approach is to sew inner pocket WHILE doing the quilting; this obviously limits the size of the pocket and dictates the direction of quilting.

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

It really is simple. Plan your bag first, and put the inside pockets(s) on the inner layer of fabric before you join the layers.

I don't possess a serger, but my purely mechanical sewing machine has several options, such as plain zigzag, three-stitch zigzag, and a dedicated overlocker stitch, any of which can be used to prevent seams from fraying.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

As someone else posted, adding the pocket to the inner fabric and

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. I'll ask future questions in the textiles.quilting or textiles.sewing group.

As with me and most things mechanical, the machine and I are embarking on a love/hate relationship. Current plan is to hand stitch an inside pocket after quilting is done.

In your dreams, Tia Mary ;-) Someone else would have to do the cutting as I can't cut a straight line with either scissors or a rotary cutter. Then someone else would have to sew the seams as I'm struggling with doing them straight.

Try alt.sewing and rec.crafts.textiles.sewing. Both active groups.

Hand sewing is probably easiest, but another easy way would be to add a group of pockets, either on a separate lining piece that's caught to the stitching at sides and bottoms, then edge stitched to the top, or by making a separate pocket section and inserting it.

There are a number of possible seams that would do it for you: flat felled is one. Or you can zigzag the edges of the fabric or fabric sandwich before finishing the tote. Or you could bind the seams with bias. Or... or...

Kay

I'm assuming your outside pocket is a patch pocket. There are other options for the inside.

Cut a second lining for one side. Finish the top, and add it as part of the construction. Then you have a pocket inside suitable for holding a magazine (pattern?). You can always add another patch pocket to that for smaller items.

Cut a piece of fabric as wide as the pocket you want, and twice as deep. Fold over, leaving one side about an inch longer than the other. Finish the sides, and pin it to the inside top edge of the bag as you finish that edge. Hanging pocket. You can put some velcro or insert a zipper if you want it to close more securely.

Tara

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