Monday, June 29, 2009

Fabric salvage now . . .

. . . bits and pieces not much use for anything else, sometimes rescued from other people's bins at workshops (how sad is that?).
This is one of the first set of postcards I ever made, discovered tucked away somewhere when having a workroom clearout recently.
I think it is the colour grouping that makes these interesting.



The compulsion to make these strip things seems to go on for ever, but at last I am moving on a bit . . .
. . . though not for long. Back to strips, but thinner, even more likely to be in the bin, and running stitch all over them . . .


These bags also use up all sorts of offcuts - strips, trimmings and tiny scraps any normal person would just throw away. Lay them out on a piece of fabric cut to the size required for what you want to make. Cover with organza (stripy bag) or net (blue/red bag), pin everywhere then machine stitch all over, handling carefully so bits don't escape. Of course you could use fusible web but I hate the stuff. This bag is done with straight stitch, to show that you don't have to be able to do free machining to use this method of creating fabric.

And this one used up a lot of tiny scraps and bits of thread, and has been free machined with scribbles and zigzaggy lines.

8 comments:

Ann Christy said...

Very nice postcards and 2 lovely bags Barbara. You have been busy.

Linda B. said...

Now why didn't I think of that. I enjoy making 'new'fabrics from scraps too, but often don't like the effect of the machine quilting it's suggested you use. But your bag with strips and straight machine lines is just up my street!

Mandy said...

Those bags are wonderful. I do like the way you used straight stitch on the first of them.

Claudia/Ompompali said...

Hello! I just came across your beautiful blog and all your wonderful work. I am highly impressed. I was just sitting here drinking my morning cup of tea and I can see I have a lot of reading to do for the day - you have so many super ideas. Just wanted to let you know how much I like them. And your work really gives me more courage to start on the ideas that I have in my head. So thank you and good luck! Greetings from Germany by Claudia

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love your strips-creation! How ingenious! They're beautiful!!! :)

Elizabeth

sharonb said...

I really like these fabric cards particularly the ones with simple running stitch. The one with pattern darning on is nice too.

Erica said...

I have just discovered your blog and have been poring over it. I just love your work. I determined to finish my UFO's this year and am thinking about what to do once I have done that...Your blog is inspiring me to try new things and experiment instead of rehashing other people's designs. Thank you.

Your garden looks delightful. We are in the depths of winter here, so lovely to see the lush growth!

MargB said...

I love your strippy embroidered postcards and the bags are very beautiful also