And you can find it under this post if you scroll down. I promised that the vintage feel to the block and the fabrics was all for a reason and I promised that all would be revealed in the next post - the recipe book text print was a hint too. Here we go....
I have a really old recipe book from my Nana. It is nearly eighty years old and it is the book from which I learned to cook (last century) and I love it. The recipes are mostly written out in my Nana's handwriting and that of her Aunty and they are from friends and family.
But as you can see, it is getting old and it is very fragile. So I thought that I would make a bag for it - a cover would not have worked as its own cover is in such disrepair.
There are so many memories on these pages...
In Australia in the 1970s, there wasn't much to do when a grandchild visited country grandparents so my Nana would teach me to make things. Better than television and no mistake. Every time I go into the kitchen now, my Nana is with me. I am so proud that she chose me out of all her grandchildren to inherit this beautiful memory.
So, these fabrics from the Spring Diaries collection are perfect! This time I have teamed it with some Essex Yarn Dyed linen in a gorgeous colour called cappuccino and some black and white.
And here is the back...
Before we get on to the makings this week, you still have time to win a fat quarter bundle of these Tilda fabrics for yourself. Have a look....
NINE fat quarters! And all you need to do to enter is to leave a comment below. The giveaway will be drawn on April 30th. Good luck!
So, lets make a quilted bag. this make is protective because of the quilting and you can put anything at all into it of course. So grab your block from last week and let's get started.
What do we need this time? And all of the stockist's info is at the end of the post.
-last week's block
-23 cm x 10 cm Essex Yarn Dyed linen: cappuccino
-Fat quarter H640 fusible fleece (Vlieseline)
-Fat quarter of your favourite fabrics from the Tilda Spring Diaries range (Groves)
- qqqcm x qqqcm piece of black and white striped fabric
- qqqcm x qqqcm qqq fabric for the tie.
your usual sewing/quilting needs.
Begin by attaching the linen to the top of the block like this...
Now fuse it to a piece of the H640 interfacing. If you are making a 'real quilt' you don't use a fusible as a rule. This is going to be a lined bag so we can get away with more. Fusible fleece means that you don't need to pin!
Cut a piece of extra fabric 23 cm x 30 cm and fuse that to a piece of fleece too. Quilt the front with a vertical, straight, lines 1 cm apart pattern.
Here is the front....
As you can see, I made an extra line across where the linen and the block meets too. Here is the back, quilted horizontally....
Trim (because even the best behaved fabrics move around) and then place the front and back sections together and sew the sides and bottom. Clip across the corners to reduce bulk and turn the right way out. Here is what you have now......
The casing comes next. As you will know by now, I don't like messy insides and unfinished edges. It is so easy and takes so little fabric and time to do the job properly. So our fabric casing will be fully lined too. Simply hemming the casing isn't good enough because with wear, the edges will become stressed and unhappy and look awful. We want this bag to last at least as long as the book!
Take your casing pieces which measure 45 cm x 12 cm and place the right sides together. Sew the ends only....
Turn the right way out and press. Fold in half lengthways and measure down about 2 cm and sew a line across....
This will create a cute ruffle when the drawstring is tied. I like to sew a very narrow bit on the top edge which creates a nice sharp line...
Trim around 1cm from the bottom of the casing (I was generous in the beginning because with four layers, you get movement even if you use a dual feed foot). You can always take fabric away. I am yet to see a technique for putting it back again!
Pin the casing to the top of your bag leaving the gap at the front....
Sew around. Make the lining next. Cut two pieces of fabric 22 cm x 29 cm and sew the sides and bottom but leave a small gap for turning out in the base.
Slip the lining on over the outer casing so that the right sides are together and tuck the casing down in between.....
Pin the lining on, making sure to match up side seams and so on. sew the lining in. Turn the right way out through the gap and close the gap....
Push the lining down into the bag and topstitch around the top edge, just under the casing to keep it down....
That's the bag finished! But we need a drawstring and you can use ribbon or you can make one so let's do that - ribbon isn't designed for the task and tends to get a bit thin and squashed up.
Cut a strip of fabric on the straight grain. it needs to measure 4 cm wide and about 60 cm long. It is fine to join it. Iron it flat with and joining seams open.
Fold it in half lengthways and iron a centre crease....
Now fold the two raw edges to the centre crease and iron again...
Topstitch down the length of the strip to close it....
I like to do this both sides....
Knot one end and trim....
Thread through the casing and knot the other end and trim....
You now have a stronger sort of cord and the best thing about knowing how to make one of these is that you can use this in other settings too like bag making and dressmaking. It is a handy skill to have.
Here is what it looks like with my precious book inside...
And here with Nana's old Jam spoon. It is also looking a bit worse for wear but I will never get rid of it...
Finally, and most importantly, here is the stockists information for the main things used in this pattern...
I made this on my incredible -Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8200 QCP Special edition sewing machine from www.janome.co.uk
Those fantastic interfacings -Vlieseline from www.vlieseline.com Ph 01453883581 crafts@stockistenquiries.co.uk
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Thanks for stopping by - I would love and welcome any feedback. Debs xxx